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5 Rules for using the Internet safely

2008-09-01

Most people are, and quite rightly so, worried about how safe the Internet actually is. The Internet is about as dangerous as any large city is at night – it is a dangerous place and you are taking risks the moment you walk in, but the risks can be minimal if you use common sense and avoid the dodgy areas.

We have a few basic rules, some common sense, and some, if you’ll bear with me, technical, that will help reduce the 'riskiness' of surfing the net.

Rule 1: Always have a first line of defence
Before you go wondering off into cyberspace, make sure you have a set of first line defences. Make sure you have a firewall between your computer and the Internet. Hardware firewalls are better than software firewalls (e.g. Microsoft Firewall, McAfee Security or Norton Internet Security), however if you only have a software firewall the protection they can offer is better than not having one at all. Also make sure you have an up-to-date anti-virus. The anti-virus will scan emails and downloads for viruses. This protection does not cost much, or anything at all, and it gives your computer essential protection. Without a firewall your computer could become infected with a virus within hours or even minutes.

Rule 2: Protect your identity – protect your privacy
Never leave your personal details where strangers can view them, your full name and birthday can be too much information. To prevent spam, always make sure you ‘opt-out’ from any marketing communications whenever you fill in an online form. By opting out you will also prevent your details from being handed over to a third party – once your details are handed over to them, they may in turn hand over your details to further parties, which makes it is impossible for you to know who has your details.

Rule 3: Protect the keys to your kingdom
Passwords are often the only form of protection offered to stop unauthorised people from accessing your online accounts, so you should never write them down and leave them lying around for other people to see. The strength of your protection can only be measured by how strong your password is, so always use a complex password -  I always advise that a password should be longer than 8 characters, should use a combination of upper and lower case letters and should contain at least one number or special character. Avoid using dictionary words, personal details (e.g. birthdays, phone numbers) and names (e.g. kids, pets, partners) – these are the easiest passwords to crack. Also avoid using the same password everywhere, if someone knows your password, all of your online accounts are at risk – all this can be avoided by never, ever, giving your password to someone else.

Rule 4: Beware of potentially unwanted applications
Viruses are not the only nasty bits of software out there on the internet. There are software programmes also known as spyware. Programmes of this nature are mostly installed with the consent of the end user;  you may not be aware that you have given consent, as this often is buried in the End-User License Agreement (EULA) that you agree to when installing new software. I am not suggesting you read through every license agreement, but I would advise you to be very wary of any software that is magically going to give you free access to something you would normally have to pay for, or makes claims to solve problems you weren't aware you even had in the first place. Use Google to check the reputation of the software and the manufacturer of the software before downloading and installing it.

Rule 5: Check a supplier's reputation before handing over your details
When it comes to shopping, the internet can help you find bargains, or even hard to find items – however always exercise caution before handing over your credit card details. Firstly verify the suppliers reputation (do a Google search). Secondly, before supplying your credit card details make sure there is a lock symbol in the bottom area of your web browser (double-clicking on the lock will give you information about the supplier). When paying for good and services online, it is safest to pay by credit card – credit cards offer you far more consumer protection, including fraud protection, than any other payment method – including PayPal and Debit cards.

Timothy Francis
TEA London Limited