I want to let you know of a nasty situation where through opening an invitation to a Google Doc, a spyware program has been installed into the users computer.
Spyware’s aim is usually to capture passwords, banking credentials and credit card details – and send them over the internet to fraudsters 😦
As you can imagine this is a major concern as we use the computers to do so much these days.
Here’s a few tips to keep you safer.
* When clicking a Google Doc invitation link, the “destination” URL pops up at the bottom of the browser window – as indicated in the below image:
Check the destination URL to see if it makes sense – if you are suspicious,
DO NOT CLICK IT – contact the sender to confirm.
* When clicking on a link in a communication (email, doc…) the “destination” location usually pops up – as indicated in below image:
Check the destination to see if it makes sense – if you are suspicious – DO NOT CLICK IT – contact the sender to confirm
Be careful what you download.
Never open an e-mail attachment from someone you do not know, and be wary of attachments even from those you do. They may contain malicious coding. Also get permission from your parents before downloading anything from the Internet to your computer.
Take advantage of options to limit exposure of private information –
Default options on certain websites may be chosen for convenience, not for security. For example, avoid allowing a website to remember your password. If your password is stored, your profile and any account information you have provided on that site is readily available if an attacker gains access to your computer. Also, evaluate your settings on websites used for social networking. The nature of those sites is to share information, but you can restrict access to certain information so that you limit who can see what
Keep your operating system up to date.
Your software needs to be periodically updated to make sure it has the latest information out there for fighting those nasty viruses and worms. You need the newest medicine to battle these illnesses.
Install and/or update antivirus software.
HKIS has an automatically updated antivirus software installed on all HKIS computers.
This software will protect your computer from other software that someone might want to embed in it. It looks for malicious code and if it finds it, attacks it, and removes it as fast as possible.
Evaluate your security settings in online environments (Facebook, Google, )
Keep your laptop physically secure.
Back up your data.
Turn off your computer.
Although many people tend to leave their computers on 24/7, this just increases the number of hours the machines are vulnerable. Turn yours off while you are going to bed, not using it for extended periods of time and so on.
Some addition information for your reference:
BBC : Online Security : http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/topics/safety-and-privacy/online-security/Top 5 Facebook Privacy Tips: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/top_5_facebook_privacy_tips.php US-CERT: Good Security Habits: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST04-003.html US-CERT: Protecting Your Privacy: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST04-013.html US-CERT: Recovering From Viruses, Worms, and Trojan Horses: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST05-006.html US-CERT: Securing Your Web Browser: http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/securing_browser
