Here are some simple tips to connect online in a safer manner. Whether you borrow an Internet computer or own your own, there are plenty of easy and safe habits to use while enjoying your online experience.
While at first glance there appear to be many guidelines, the more you can implement means the more secure you will feel in your Internet experience.
Kids and the Sneakernet
Train your kids to use the Internet as you do. Teach them how to surf alone and how to use security tools available to them. Watch your kids as they surf and ask them to perform tasks for you on the computer after you train them.
Kids love to download free things from the web, so you must show them how to use security tools to evaluate downloaded files and programs for viruses and malicious software.
Most kid-oriented downloads will include viruses and spyware, so they must be as vigilant as you are in first saving a download to a safe area, then testing the download without opening or running it by using antivirus and antispyware file checkers.
Reputable and knowledgeable free security services online can accept uploads of suspicious files and check them for you and your kids. These may even be more updated than your own antivirus and antispyware software. Such services are great for second and third opinions on downloaded files.
Reward your kids for reporting to you any bad files they “find.” This will be a consistent reminder and reinforcer of Internet security and a lot cheaper than recovering from identification theft, repairing a computer, or losing money. The idea here is to reinforce kids’ communication to you about problems so you are in time to take action.
The sneakernet is a network of people who move from computer to computer, bringing their floppy diskettes, compact discs, memory sticks, digital cameras, and game consoles with them. Kids and adults comprise this informal sneakernet. All this exposure to different volumes and media will guarantee a virus or malicious software (malware) to enter a computer. Train your sneakernet members to perform antivirus scans on all media they bring to the computer before transferring files. Teach them to run a resident antivirus program to monitor file transfers in real time.
All email is a suspicious download! Email can bring you spam, viruses, malicious software, spyware, Trojan horse programs, keyloggers, stealthkits, rootkits, and much more. Think of emails as another source of unknown file