The threat of online security: How safe is our data?

Internet such as online shopping, online banking, communicating with overseas friends and others activities are becoming part of our life no matter for young peoples or old peoples. So, online security is important for all Internet users because Internet is not a safe place unless an adequate security against different types of threats that exist in cyberspace. 

There are 3 categories of cyber attacks:                

(1)  Accidental actions cover problems arising from basic lack of knowledge about online security concepts. Moreover, issues such as unintentional or erroneous business transactions, poor password choices, erroneous or outdated software, and unintentional disclosure are also included in accidental actions. It contributes to a large number of computer security risks.

 

(2)  Online fraud is also known as cyber vulnerability. It is a broad term covering Internet transactions that involve falsified information. The newest form of scheme that has been viewed in traditional settings for many years is personal identity theft on the Internet. Some most common forms of online fraud are the sale through Internet of counterfeit documents such as diplomas and recommendation letters sold as credentials. In the Internet world, electronic commerce information can be captured as a result of vulnerabilities in computer precautions.

 

(3)  Malicious attacks are attacks that particularly aimed to do harm and are known as premeditated. The typical malicious attacks are virus, worm, Trojan horse and rookit. Examples for malicious attacks are data theft and Denial of Service (DOS). Denial of service attacks is another form of malicious code and are carefully crafted, executed. DOS crash computers or issue floods of commands to overwhelm websites to steal personal information, such as credit-card and bank numbers. DOS are not fresh but they are rising in difficulty.

Security Tips

-        Install a firewall which is software that runs on another computer. Protective barriers between your computer and potential harmful attacks can create by firewall. Some more, it inspects network traffic passing through it and denies or allows passage based on a set of rules.    

-       Use one of the antivirus and antispyware programs on the market. This software protects against viruses and malicious code that come through email and other else. Good anti-virus software will automatically update itself on a regular basis and they can recognize the new threats.                                                

-       Pay attention to the messages from Windows that pop up on your screen, especially in the new Vista operating system.

-       Don’t click on any links in social network messages from people that you don’t know.

-       Keep security and system patches up to date.

-       Choose your computer passwords wisely.

-       Turn on Windows’ automatic- update function to get Microsoft’s regular security patches.