PLAY IT SAFE WHILE ONLINE

Basic guidelines to be followed to be safe on the Net

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Indeed these are the best of times for Internet users in India, with dead-slow dial-up connections making way for broadband connectivity, thus paving way for faster means to access informaton.

 

But new ways to threaten your security on the Net are being invented everyday and the dangers you face have never been greater.

 

Although the Internet is a great resource, a place that allows you to access information on almost anything, it is also a place where many thousands of people are just looking for ways to steal your identity, your bank account passwords, meet people for the wrong reasons, and so on. But if you follow certain thumb rules, you can be able to protect yourself better on the Net.

 

Here are five things that you should do:

 

1.Install Security Features On Your Computer - Security features on your personal computer are extremely important. Check the features provided by your operating system, and ensure that some of the critical settings are enabled to protect you from vulnerabilities. 

An anti -virus program that you update regularly will help protect your computer against virus threats. A firewall will act as a barrier, protecting your computer against outside intrusion while you are on the Internet. It will also notify you if spyware or adware is being installed on your computer without your knowledge. Installing an effective firewall and an updated anti-virus program goes a long way in protecting your computer.

2. Do Not Reply To Spam Emails - When you open your email account and you see a mail from someone you do not know, do not reply to it - it could be spam. Replying to the spam emails would result in your mail account being flooded by more spam. Also, never open any unknown email attachment, and be wary of attachments sent by people that you do know.
Always scan the attachment before downloading it. As a thumb rule, do not open any attachment in the .exe format. Scan first, check with the sender, and only then run it.

 

3. Do Not Fall For Phishing - Phishing is a devious way to steal your personal information online. What usually happens is that you get an email, supposedly from your bank, requesting you to give them your user ID and password. Do not fall for this - banks will never ask for your personal details. You should also check whether the website that you visit is genuine before logging in your personal details. There are a lot of fake websites out there, many of which are extremely convincing. Check the URL of the website to be sure.

 

Also check the padlock symbol on the bottom right of the page to make sure that the site is in secure mode before you type in your password. You should also never use a public computer to access your bank account or other confidential data.

4. Never Give Out Your Personal Information On The Net - Whether you are a child or an adult, never give out your phone number or your address on social networking sites or chat rooms. Always use a fake name. In chatrooms, use a gender-neutral name. Also, posting pictures or videos of yourself on the Net is not without dangers. You never know who could go ahead and misuse them.     

 

5. Be Cautious Before You Download - This holds true for software that is freely available for download. Make sure that the software is spyware-free. If you are unsure of this, then do not download it. Use only the sites that you trust to download software. Always exercise caution while engaging in P2P sharing of music and movies as well. P2P programs are a breeding ground for malicious software just waiting to be installed on your computer.