Forgot your password?
New user?
Information Security Awareness Tips
March 26th 2009 :
Always check the Authenticity of the data on internet
Before transferring the data on internet it is very important to check whether the websites is signed by the verisign, which ensures that the website is secure or not. When visiting the particular websites look out for a small lock symbol in the lower right-hand corner of your browser. These tells you that you are running in SSL (secure socket layer) mode, which means that every request you send, is encrypted using a certificate from a legitimate security authority. Always keep your usernames and passwords strong with the combination of numbers and letters. It should be kept secret and change it once in a week.
March 25th 2009:
Avoid using currency punctuation in text-based e-mails. Use three-letter currency indicators instead. (USD, INR)
New anti-spam features used by many of the e-mail services today are using anti-spam measures like filters, image blockers,. So to avoid your e-mail look like a spam to a content-based spam filter check the From line, Subject line and e-mail copy and also avoid using language and techniques that look like spam. This includes excessive use of punctuation like!!!,??? and excessive use of currency indicators like $$., This type of language usage may make your e-mail to be treated as spam by the spam filters. So use descriptive words like USD, INR instead of symbols to get your message across.
March 24th 2009:
Avoid Subscription services on Internet unless there is a good business reason for subscribing them
While creating e-mails or registering with any web sites, be cautious about subscription services. Many of the e-mail providers or web sites offer subscription services regarding their related products or services. Until and unless you have a good business reasons avoid subscribing to them. Otherwise your mail box may fill up with mails or spam which are irrelevant to you. Also read the End User License Agreement before registering with any site. Subscribe to the services after you feel they are relevant for you.
March 23rd 2009:
Be aware of Personal information when you post in global address groups.
Be aware always when you are Posting Your Personal Information in Global Address groups. Because Phishing attack can be done by hacker Using those information, Your Creditcard, debitcard and all Electronic card can be cloned using those Personnel Information. So when you fill Personnel Information Then You Verify That It is genuine or not Otherwise You has to pay big price for it.
March 22nd 2009:
Use Content Filters to prevent access to websites that are considered Unsuitable
Content Filters are very Useful for Children, Parents and Teachers .Content Filters Work as Web bounds, If You Want that Your Children Does not open these sites Then You Can do using filter. In Organization, System Administrator Use Filters for Stopping Chatting Sites. In cybercafés Filters are used for stopping Unwanted or unsolicited sites as terrorist sites, pornography site.
March 21st 2009:
Be cautious while downloading the Applications through Bluetooth or as MMS attachments.
A Cell phone virus spreads through Internet downloads MMS (multimedia messaging services) attachments Bluetooth Transfers. The most common type of cell-phone infection right now occurs when a cell phone downloads an infected file from a Computer or the Internet, but Viruses are on the rise. Current phone-to-phone viruses almost exclusively infect phones running the Symbian Operating System. So be cautious while downloading the applications through Bluetooth or as MMS attachments.
March 20th 2009:
Check the validity of the certificate and issuer of the certificate for a site from which software is downloaded.
When a web browser encounters an expired certificate, the browser will normally present the user with a warning message indicating that the certificate has expired. Some browsers will continue connecting to the site after presenting the user with the warning, while others will prompt the user with a dialog box requesting their approval to proceed. These warnings are extremely confusing for the typical web user, and cause most users to question the authenticity of the site they are attempting to view. so Always Check the validity of the certificate and issuer of the certificate for a site from which the software is downloaded.
March 19th 2009:
Never download software through email attachment as most organizations don't send them via email attachment.
Most Computer Viruses Spreading through the internet Via Email Attachments. Never open unsolicited or unexpected email attachments .Always scan files with an antivirus program before opening an attachment. Never click an attachment without first confirming that it's virus-free. Most Of the Companies never send software through email attachments.
March 18th :
Make sure you trust the website before downloading any Software
When downloading files from a website, make sure you trust the website and its contents. Before downloading any special software make sure that anti-virus software or anti Spyware software is running on your computer, inoder to avoid virus attacks. Beware of Spyware while downloading files. Spyware is a software program it is installed on your computer without your knowledge when you visit certain Websites. It tracks how you are using your computer and which Web sites you are visiting. To make sure you're visiting a legitimate site, type the website address directly into your browser.
March 17th :
Beware when downloading software that is available as freeware or shareware as they may contain some malicious software.
There is an advantage of using any free program in cost efficiency. But the risks that come along with free software are the malicious code in our system. This gives them all the motivation to manage your security issues. So there are many precautions that need to taken when you are considering whether or not to take the bait of free software solution. This type of software searches for keywords and attempts to interpret the meaning of sentences that compose an email.
March 16th :
Installing unauthorized software programs on your computer may harm your computer.
Software from unauthorized sources can create many problems. For example: Freeware and low-cost software which are downloaded from the Internet or can contain viruses that will infect your system and spread to other computers on the network. Unauthorized software may be poorly written, that can cause crash your computer or send unwanted messages on the network. Unauthorized software may contain sypware that will capture information you type and send it to marketers or criminals. So, downloading unauthorized software may contain anything but harmless. Please use cautions and think twice before downloading.
March 15th:
Block the pop up windows that are not trust worthy by going in to web browser settings.
Legitimate website doesn’t use popups, as popups may not be secure so always enable popup blocker. A popup blocker is a utility that prevents Web site pop-ups from displaying. When you browse a web page you notice number of Web pages that launch browser windows to display additional information, and that small browser windows is a popup. This allows you control over the unwanted, annoying and possibly malicious pop-ups from opening. The 'Filter Level' in the pop-up blocker setting lets you control the extent of pop-up blocker intervention
March 14th :
Do not follow the links that offer free anti virus or Anti-Spyware Software.
Never download from the links that offer free anti virus or anti spyware software, always download from trusted sites, if you are not sure about the site you are downloading ,enter the site into favorite search engine to see any one posted or reported that it contains unwanted technologies.
March 13th :
Beware of freely download able software and also make sure that the software is downloaded from the trusted website.
If you are not sure whether to trust a program you are considering downloading, enter the name of the program into your favorite search engine to see if anyone else has reported that it contains spyware or other potentially unwanted technologies. Look carefully at the address of the site you are visiting to make sure it is not an obvious spoof. Be particularly suspicious of programs you see advertised on unrelated Web sites. If a maker of a screensaver, "smiley" inserter, or other program heavily promotes its purportedly-free product, the product may include extra software you do not want.
March 12th:
Do not click on anywhere inside the pop up window, while browsing internet
NEVER click anywhere on pop-ups. If you click anywhere on a pop-up ad you will probably get infected. Some pop-ups will have a question with a "YES" or "NO" or "CANCEL" button. Sometimes even when you click on "NO" or "CANCEL" they will install a piece of spyware in your computer. So never click on the buttons. Only click on the closing "X" to remove the pop-up. However, beware of fake closing "X"'s. These appear below the real closing "X". If you get pop-ups from a certain website never go to that website again.
March 11th:
Always clear private data before you logout in internet centres
When you log in, many browsers will offer to store your user name and password is sure not to allow it. Make sure that you log out of every site you've logged in to. Clear the browser history and cache when you are finished using the computer. In Firefox, go to the Tools menu at the top and choose "Clear Private Data." In Internet Explorer go the Tools menu at the top and choose "Delete Browsing History." Be certain that when you leave the computer you have deleted everything you saved to the desktop. If you scanned in an image, saved pictures from your vacation or edited your resume make sure you permanently delete all personal files from the computer. Private Browsing aims to help you make sure that your web browsing activities don't leave any trace on your own computer. It is very important to note that Private Browsing is not a tool to keep you anonymous from websites.
March 10th :
Before logging-in to use internet at public places (cafes, hotels, etc.,), do not select remember password on those computer
March 09th :
Block Popup Windows While Browsing Internet on Your Internet Browser.
Do not click on the web link that has come via email.Instead go to main website by typing the address in the address bar
Never click on the links that has come via email. For example, you have received an email to update your bank account details with a link. That link may redirect to a fraudulent site that look like legitimate site that may ask your details. Never give personal information. Instead go to the main website by typing the address in the address bar.
March 07th :
Always use trusted websites for browsing
Maintain an updated operating system with all security patches installed. Update the web browser before browsing the net. Run the anti-spy ware program depending upon the usage of the system. Maintain an updated anti virus software to protect the system from viruses. Set the operating system to display file extensions. For Microsoft Windows the settings should be made as shown below.
Go to My Computer --> Tools --> Folder Options -->In the View tab un check the option Hide file extensions for known file types.
Always use trusted websites for browsing. Do not give your personal information over Internet. Avoid filling forms that came through email that ask for personal information. Always ensure that website offers security before submitting personal information through web browser. This can be done by checking the web address in the address bar which should begin with “https://” rather than “http://”. Do not click on the web link that has come via email. Instead go to main website by typing the address in the address bar. Never open a link in an email that asks for updating account/personal information. Avoid Phishing scams.
March 06th:
Update the web browser before browsing internet
Only some of the people use up-to-date, fully patched Web browsers, putting the remainder at risk from growing threats from diligent hackers. Web browsers are often a weak link in the security chain, as software vulnerabilities can make it easy for hackers to gain control of a PC. When that happens, hackers can perform malicious acts such as stealing personal data. Mozilla's Firefox came out on top due to its auto-update feature, which tells a user a new patch is available and offers a one-click way to upgrade. Within three days, most Firefox users are up to date.
March 05th
Always check typed web address for legitimate website
A malicious web site could use some carefully crafted web addresses that could lead you to believe you’re really at a legitimate site. This is one of the prime ways you get infected with “spyware”. So update your operating system with latest patches. There are two basic things to pay attention to, when you’re deciding whether to trust a web site:
March 04th
Make sure that your online transactions are encrypted
When ever you perform online transactions, be sure that your transactions are encrypted, since the attackers may view the transaction details or information, so encryption prevents the attacker to view the information.
March 03rd
Always use secured web sites (https ://)
The information which we are sending from our computer to web server and web server to our computer is normally sent in a “plain text”, meaning anyone can able to read the data. So the solutions to this problem are to encrypt this data before sending. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) was created for this purpose. SSL uses the key exchanges between our browsers and the server which we are communicating in order to encrypt the data before transmitting it across the web. There are some general indications of a secured web page:
Normally, when browsing the web, the URLs (web page addresses) begin with the letters "http". However, over a secure connection the address displayed should begin with "https" - note the "s" at the end.
March 02nd
Check privacy policies when you are browsing
When using the internet and e-mail, and while we offer you our own policy on privacy (we keep your information confidential) throughout this, When we visit the web site we may provide us with two types of information: personal information such as Credit Card Information you knowingly choose to disclose that is collected on an individual basis and Web site use information collected on an aggregate basis as you and others browse our Web site.
March 01st :
Shred important information immediately.
Shred or secure in a lockbox all documents with important identifying information on them, such as bank statements, credit card statements, pre-approved credit card offers and pay stubs.
