F-Secure recently posted the results of the first annual “Online Wellbeing Survey.” The object of the survey was to test the knowledge of Internet users aged 20-40 in the US, Canada, the U.K., and Germany. While the overall results show some positive signs, there is still work to be done.
F-Secure recently posted the results of the first annual “Online Wellbeing Survey.” The object of the survey was to test the knowledge of Internet users aged 20-40 in the US, Canada, the U.K., and Germany. While the overall results show some positive signs, there is still work to be done. (IMG: J. Anderson)
First, you have the good news. A majority of respondents to F-Secure’s survey correctly indicated that online security requires more than just anti-Virus protection. Seventy-three percent said they understood that their systems could become infected with Malware even if they rely on anti-Virus protection alone. Speaking of anti-Virus, seventy-six percent were confident that they were using current definitions. On the other side to this, the respondents also failed to realize just how often those definitions need updated. This makes the previous seventy-six percent who were confident that they used current anti-Virus signatures seem a little too high.
For the record, signatures for programs such as Norton or McAfee will sometimes need updated daily, and most will update weekly. The best assurance you have is to let the program manage and install your updates for you. If you are confidant in your abilities to manage updates, then allow the anti-Virus programs to collect updates and let you pick a time to install them. The best practice is to install updates and patches weekly.
Shifting to email security, almost ninety percent of the respondents were unsure whether or not they can open email without infecting their systems with Malware. Ninety-one percent were unsure of links inside emails. Seventy-six percent of respondents were doubtful that they were safe from the Malware sent via email.
Email security is tricky. Most solid anti-Virus programs, again such as McAfee or Norton, will offer email scanning and protection. There are other steps to take as well. Such as reading email in text only format, using a spam filter, and creating multiple email accounts depending on usage. Layering your email defense will help you avoid most of the problems.
The largest part of the F-Secure survey was knowledge of online risks. The survey revealed that respondents have a basic understanding of online risks and the ways in which their computers could become infected with Malware. However, with their understanding of online risks, respondents expressed a lack of confidence in the security of basic online activities.
One of the reasons consumers are afraid of online activities, or rather unsure of them, is all the attention and hype given to Malware and crime online. The issue is serious, as are the risks, but with a little training and dispelling of a few urban myths there is still little to go screaming towards the hills over online.
Credit card fraud is a big deal. A complete virtual market place exists, dealing with stolen credit information. However, if you only shop online at places you know, such as Overstock, eBay, and other major retailers, your risk is almost zero. Odds are that the credit card you use is protected form fraud; you only need to contact the bank or credit company to obtain the exact liability details.
Malware, or if you follow the mainstream media, “crimeware” or “badware,” are other often hyped problems. Malware is software that is malicious in nature, “crimeware” and “badware” are nothing more than names created by corporations and the press. Defeating Malware is tricky, which is why you should always layer your protection.
Layering system protection starts outside the physical system. Hardware based firewalls are the first things installed on a corporate network, there is no reason why you can’t have one at home. Most houses have them already and do not even realize it. If you have a wireless network, Linksys offers the WRT54G, not the newest router in existence, but the most common seen at home.
The WRT54G is a wireless access point, and a four port router for wired-Ethernet networking. Both the wired and wireless connections to the WRT54G are decently protected by the Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall. The firewall is solid, and while it certainly isn’t on the level of some that cost thousands of dollars, for the typical home user it’s a valuable layer of defense.
The second layer of system protection is the software layer. Starting with installed software, the best advice is to get a robust security software package. Remember that there is no silver bullet. No one thing will protect you, but some come close. The top sellers are Norton 360, and McAfee Internet Security. Other vendors make products just as solid as the offerings from McAfee and Symantec (Norton), do your homework and talk to people you know who are online.
Sticking to the software layer of system protection, the operating system will need attention from you as well. Patch it and update it constantly. Each month, Microsoft and Apple release operating system patches offering fixes as well as security updates. It is in your best interest to apply them, and both OS platforms will do this automatically for you.
In the F-Secure survey, the trend was that people were generally aware of the risks, but most were uncertain as to what the risks meant to them as an individual. They know Malware is spread in email, but does it spread in every email they get? Information will end up being the key to winning the Malware war. The trick is figuring out how to arm the people who are not the fighters, but the ones caught in the middle.
Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter
Advertising
Comment on this Story