December

December 30^th

Respect the IT Laws which are applicable to you

• Respect the IT Laws cover different aspects relating to computer software, protection of computer software, access and control of digital information, privacy, security, internet access and usage, and electronic commerce. These laws have been described as "paper laws" for "paperless environment".
• So we should respect the laws like
• "Unauthorised access to computer materials",
• "Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate the commission of further offences", and
• "Unauthorised modification of computer material."

December 29^th

Download files from reputable and trusted websites only

• Use trusted websites, or more reputed download websites to download any software form the Internet.
• If you want to download any software, use product website or its company’s website to download it or download your application software from trusted websites. The browser will recognize the site as a “trusted” if it is signed by a certificate authority.
• Before downloading the software scan the file using latest anti virus software in order to protect your computer from viruses, worms and spam attacks.
• Always update your operating system with latest patch.
• Most of the spyware and viruses are installed with the freely available software.
• Even downloading antivirus software from non-trusted websites installs spyware and viruses.
• To avoid viruses and spyware, download antivirus software from trusted websites.

December 28^th

Shred any sensitive documents before you throw them in trash

• Many people never consider that sensitive items like files, letters, memos, photographs, IDs, passwords, checks, account statements, credit card offers, and more…which are thrown in trash can be recovered. 
• Dumpster Divers (identity thieves) - will search in recycling bins and garbage for documents like bills, financial transactions, personal information or other details, which are thrown into it.
• So, before throwing any paper into trash be conscious and check carefully that there is no important information in it.

December 27^th

Never participate in peer to peer (P2P) networks, if you are not well known to P2P networks

• Don't install a P2P client or use P2P network file sharing because the other P2P users downloading files from your computer can block the company's network bandwidth. You may also accidentally share company files of a sensitive or confidential nature.
• There are plenty of risks for file sharing over peer to peer networks. So, before sharing the files know what files you're sharing. When you share a file it becomes accessible by millions of people, and computers all over the world.
• Know what you are downloading, and preferably who you are downloading files from. Downloaded files can be a source of viruses, malware, malicious code or other damaging software. Make sure that your computer is protected with up-to-date anti-virus software, and that you scan all files before bringing them onto your own computer.
• Use the Security tools which are provided by P2P software. The tools may include security on peer-to-peer networks, including network firewalls, spyware-removal tools, and newer, more secure file sharing clients. It only takes a few seconds to run these tools.
• Know the laws and share lawfully. Peer-to-peer users should know whether they are disobeying the copyrights in their activities and should keep their file sharing legal at all times.

Source: SurfNetKids

December 26^th

Always use secure communications in financial transactions

• Always check that the locked padlock icon is displayed in the bottom right-hand corner of your browser window.
• The URL in the address bar must start with https:// and a valid digital certificate is issued to the site.
• Care should always be taken when using a computer for financial transactions in public places such as Internet cafes, educational institutions, libraries, airports, hotels, etc.
• Do not respond if you are prompted to save logon details. Never leave your computer unattended when connected to our secure Internet banking site. Make sure you logout of the site specifically when you finish your Internet banking session.

• Everyone always wants more than they have & can always find ways to spend it faster than ways to bring it in. Some sort of online games are their on the internet.
• If you want to progress faster in the game, you can also purchase more virtual money. The scam comes in when you choose to participate in a survey in exchange for virtual dollars. When you complete the survey, they ask for a cell phone number to send the "results".

• Close all accounts that show they have been tampered with or established fraudulently. Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or changed without your permission.
• With proper documents, write to the authorities. Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed. Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.

• Never give the personal details over the telephone to anyone including authorized user. Your user ID and password should be kept secret and confidential. Never write them down or share these details with anyone.
• Never pass the password over the telephone or over the email to anyone including the authorized user. Be careful to care of your personal information as banks or any other companies will not ask for your password.

• Instead of taking backups manually, they can be automated by using the schedule backups. Specify what to backup and the time at which they should be backed up, the job will be done.
• But maintain the backups in a secure facility away from your local facilities. Because even if the primary data source fails, the lost data can be recovered form the backup stored data.
• Storing the backup on secure locations, the backups are not affected by local events, such as power surges, lightning, fire, flooding, earthquakes and other natural disasters.

• In information technology, a backup or the process of backing up refer to making copies of data so that these additional copies may be used to restore the original after a data loss event.
• These additional copies are typically called backups. Backups are used to restore small numbers of files after they have been accidentally deleted or corrupted. Data loss is also very common. 66% of Internet users have suffered from serious data loss.
• Taking backup is important as in worst case scenarios like virus attack, where you lose information.
• Keep backups of the important information on the CDs or DVDs. In the case of data loss, the information will be available on the backup media.
• And do not keep the backup media on the same PC, because in case of Virus attack, the information including the backup media may also be corrupted.

• If there are unnecessary user accounts on your machine, disable them. There may be a chance that an attacker might use these accounts to login in to your system.
• For example, the guest account in Windows. Disabling this account prevents users without an account on your computer from logging in remotely or locally. So it is recommended to disable any user accounts that are not necessary.

• Most of the people afraid that they may forget the passwords if they use different passwords for different accounts;
• If the password is compromised by the attacker, there is a very high probability of getting control over the account and all of your other information.
• And using single password for all accounts is not safe. If your password of one account is compromised, even different accounts with the same password can be accessed.
• Maintain different passwords for different accounts, so if one account password is compromised, the other accounts will remain inaccessible and safe.

• If you save any personal data or information and take print of them keep them safe.
• If you leave the desk sensitive information or data must be kept in drawers or cabinets and lock them and carry key with you.
• The important or sensitive information might be misused so always don't leave your papers keep them in safe place.

• When ever you walk away from your computer remove your USB drive.

• Always check the logs of server /firewall.
• Make sure you regularly check the logs and note the is any unauthorized is accessing.
• Review of logs regularly can prevent the IDS attempts and access to unauthorized.

• If your email address appears on a certain website, you are at high risk of having that address "harvested" and added to mailing lists used to send "spam" — unsolicited bulk email.
• There are some of the methods for protecting email addresses on your web pages, they are: Return email addresses through JavaScript, Accept email via contact forms, Require authentication to view private pages etc.

• Never respond to spam emails.
• If you open spam mail, always recommended not to give reply.
• Spammers send a fake email like give reply to “remove” you from their mailing list. But if you reply, your email ID will be added to spammer’s mailing list and they start sending spam messages continuously this may fill your inbox.

• Provide a form not an email address. If you want to enable users of your website to contact you online, provide a form.
• Makes sure the send to email address is not conatined in the page HTML, but in the form processing script

• Spammer’s uses computer some programs to guess the email with names so always create an email ID with combination of numbers as shown in example.
• Create a email ID with a nickname and numbers so that spammers cannot guess them.

• Always ignore emails received from unknown users with links.
• The link may contain virus so never click on the link.
• Sometimes fake emails are received to avoid the spam just click on the link but it is always recommended not to open or click those links.

• You can minimize the spam by using spam filtering tools.
• Now a days all service providers are built with spam filtering option you can enabling the spam filtering and minimize the spams.
• Spammers will collect e-mails address from websites and blogs and many more so minimize posting your email address and instead personal email ID use separate email ID which will reveal your identity.
• It is always recommended not to open spam mails it is better ignore or delete them.

• Backup should be an essential part of your computing experience if you spend great amounts of time on your computer and/or use your computer for important personal or business dealings
• It is wise to store back-up copies of files separately from your computer; that is, you should make use of some form of file storage which is not permanently attached to your computer
• The following are some storage devices and locations to consider.
  • External Hard drive
  • CD
  • DVD
  • USB Flash Drive

• If you're uncertain, don't download the file at all or download the file to a floppy and test it with your own anti-virus software.
• Always read the privacy policies and end-user license agreements for software you install, regardless of the source.
• Be especially wary of screensavers, games, browser add-ons, peer-to-peer (P2P) clients, and any downloads claiming to be “cracked” or free versions of expensive applications.

• If you receive unsolicited e-mail E-mail is typically a one-to-one communications system. With an AOL screen name, you can e-mail with other AOL and Internet users. with a file attached to it, do not download the file, no matter how wonderful the sender of the e-mail says the file attachment is. 
• The attached file is most likely either a virus Viruses are small programs that can reproduce themselves and spread from one computer to another. Viruses are sometimes benign, doing nothing more than filling up space on your computer's hard drive. Unfortunately, some viruses are actually malicious. They can destroy critical data on your computer. Reminder: Equip your computer with a reliable Anti-virus software. You can download or purchase virus protection software in the AOL Computer Protection Center at Keyword: Virus Info or a Trojan Horse program.
• If you recently accepted a file from a stranger please scan your computer for viruses
• Ensure that the source is a legitimate and reputable one

• Forwarding virus warnings and prize draw chain e-mails can get you more than you bargain for, but never what you intended or hoped for.
• Most of these types of e-mail are scams some are even damaging and by forwarding them you are adding to the problem and becoming a executor of e-mail abuse.
• Use the junk mail tools in your e-mail program. For example, Windows Live Hotmail gives you the option to unsubscribe from mail that you previously had trusted or requested.

• Do not open any files attached to an email with the subject questionable which is an virus
• When we open such type of attached files our task manager gets hidden which gives virus to spread and chances of OS corrupt
• Simply delete from your mailbox and also from the trash folder

• Do not open any files attached to an email unless you know what it is
• Check the email address whether it is legitimate or not otherwise simply delete it
• Avoid the messages which comes from the advertisement

• Do not open the files which comes from unknown address or which contains some strange information like question mark
• You should be alert with an attached filed called "Invitation" regardless of who sent it
• By default, the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus option