Computer security

1
Computer security

• Information Systems Literacy Presentation

2
Outline

• What is computer security and why it matters
• Threats
• How computers become insecure
• Precautions to take
• Recommendations
• What about Macs?
• Conclusion
• Summary
• Questions
• Works Cited

3
Computer Security

• Process of preventing and detecting unauthorized
  use of your computer
• Prevention helps you stop intruders
• Detection helps you determine if someone
  attempted to access your information and whether
  it was successful

4
Why It Matters

• We use computers for everything
• Banking
• Entertainment
• Work
• School
• Productivity
• Shopping
• Communication
• Responsibility you could put others at risk

5
Threats

• Malware A generic name for all malicious
  programs
• Adware designed to show advertisements. It
  often reports personal information back to its
  owners privacy can be violated
• Spyware installed on your computer without your
  consent to monitor or control your computer use
• Rogue disguised as a trustworthy program (ex.
  anti-spyware)
• Virus multiplies and is capable to attach
  itself to other programs after being executed
• Trojan pretends to have a particular function,
  but that only shows its real purpose after
  execution (often destructive) - cant multiply

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Threats (continued)

• Phishing a scam where Internet fraudsters send
  or pop-up messages to lure personal and financial
  information from unsuspecting victims.
• Ignorance significant part
• Less than 50 of Americans even know what
  phishing is

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Threats Phishing Example
8
Facebook Conversation
9
Facebook Conversation (cont.)
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How Computers Become Insecure

• Computers are made secure
• Firewall keeps the unwanted out while allowing
  appropriate traffic in and out of the computer
• Recent updates
• No viruses, spyware or malware
• The user and operator
• Visiting unknown/ dangerous websites
• Dont update or patch system and software
• Open links and attachments in emails from unknown
  senders

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Action Steps

• Essential programs to have installed
• Anti-virus software
• Firewall program
• Anti-spyware and/or malware software
• Frequent Updates
• Operating system and software
• Automatic Updates
• Wary of emails from unknown senders
• Attachments Links Dont left click or open
• Known sender if unsure, just ask them before
  opening

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Action Steps (continued)

• Backup
• What, When, Where and Where?
• Backup any files that you cant replicate
• Backup as frequently as possible
• Backup on whatever you have CD-ROMs, external
  hard drives, Internet, flash drives, SD cards
• Store the media in a safe, known place

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Action Steps (continued)

• Secure Your Passwords
• The Strong Test Is it strong enough ( length
  content)
• The Unique Test Is it unique unrelated?
• The Practical Test Can you remember it ?
• The Recent Test Have you changed it recently?
• Use passwords on your home computer and services
  used on the Internet
• Combine upper lowercase
• Numbers punctuation
• Cant be found in the dictionary

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Action Steps (continued)

• Use caution when downloading installing
  programs
• Shareware Paid for software (Microsoft Office)
• Freeware Free software (Adobe Reader)
• Open Source Free and Open Software (Firefox)
• Questions to ask
• What is it?
• What does it do?
• Do I need it?
• Where is it coming from?
• Is it worth it?

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Recommendations

• Anti-virus Software
• Avast Free Antivirus
• Avira AntiVir Personal Free Antivirus
• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Spyware removal
• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
• Firewall
• Comodo Internet Security
• Provided Windows/Mac firewall
• Backup
• Windows Backup Restore Center Default (backup
  on External HDD/ CD-ROM)
• SyncBack Freeware (backup on External HDD/
  CD-ROM)
• SugarSync Online Backup
• Live Mesh Online Backup
• Web Browser Add-ons/Plug-ins
• Web of Trust for Firefox, Internet Explorer and
  Chrome
• LastPass Password Manager for Firefox, IE and
  Chrome
• www.download.com

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Macintosh Computers

• Who feels Macs are more secure than PCs?
• More than half of Americans believe that PCs are
  very or extremely vulnerable to cybercrime
  attacks, while only 20 say the same about Macs
• The survey of more than 1,000 people found that
  while both PC Mac users perceive the Mac as
  being safer, Mac users are victims of cybercrime
  just as frequently as PC users.

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Mac Computers (continued)

• It isnt the operating system or computer its
  the user
• Dont fall for the marketing techniques Apple
  uses to entice consumers to buy their product.
• Macs can get viruses too
• At the 2009 CanSec-West conference a security
  researcher broke into a mac within 10 seconds
  through flaw in the Mac internet browser, Safari
  (Discover Mag)
• It is up to the user and operator of the computer
  to stay safe online

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Conclusion

• Be aware
• Research
• Know the risks
• Dont trust everything you see on the Internet
• Be prepared
• Have updated software and operating system
• Use an anti-virus and protect yourself
• Backup your files
• Use the web and its services responsibly

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Summary

• Computer security prevents and detects
  unauthorized use of your computer
• Computer security matters because your
  information matters
• Users lack of knowledge or care is what truly
  causes security issues in computers
• Have a plan and action steps to ensure safe use
  of your computer
• Macs are great, but dont buy one for security
  reasons, buy it because its what you want
• There are several types of threats out there, but
  you can beat them all with one stick awareness
  and preparation

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Questions
21
Works Cited

• Coffey, Rebecca. "20 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT
  COMPUTER HACKING." Discover 30.10 (2009) 80.
  Academic Search Elite. EBSCO. Web. 16 Feb. 2010.
• "Home Computer Security." http//www.cert.org/home
  users/HomeComputerSecurity/. November 22, 2002 .
  Carnegie Mellon University, Web. 16 Feb 2010.
  lthttp//www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurit
  y/gt.
• "Home Network Security." CERT. 27 Feb 2006.
  Carnegie Mellon University, Web. 16 Feb 2010.
  lthttp//www.cert.org/tech_tips/home_networks.htmlgt
  .
• Mills, Elinor. "In their words Experts weigh in
  on Mac vs. PC security." InSecurity Complex
  (2010) 1. Web. 16 Feb 2010. lthttp//news.cnet.com
  /8301-27080_3-10444561-245.htmlgt.
• Abrams, Randy. "Once Upon a Cybercrime." ESET
  Threat Blog (2009) 1. Web. 16 Feb 2010.
  lthttp//www.eset.com/threat-center/blog/2009/11/16
  /once-upon-a-cybercrimeE280A6gt.
• "Description of Malware." Malwarebytes. 2010.
  Malwarebytes Corporation, Web. 16 Feb 2010.
  lthttp//www.malwarebytes.org/malwarenet.php?nameA
  dware.MyWebSearchgt.
• "Phishing." OnGuard Online. Feb 2008. OnGuard
  Online, Web. 16 Feb 2010. lthttp//www.onguardonlin
  e.gov/topics/phishing.aspxgt.
• "Spyware." OnGuard Online. Feb 2008. OnGuard
  Online, Web. 16 Feb 2010. lthttp//www.onguardonlin
  e.gov/topics/spyware.aspxgt.
• "Security Starter Kit." CNET Download.com. Jan
  2010. CNET, Web. 16 Feb 2010. lthttp//download.cne
  t.com/2701-2023_4-6-1.html?tagpagepagegt.
• "Confused man about a virus alert ." Shutterstock
  Images. Web. 16 Feb 2010.
• "Recognizing and Avoiding Scams." Howstuffworks.
  Web. 17 Feb 2010. lthttp//computer.howstuffworks.c
  om/5-internet-security-videos1.htmgt.