Home and Business Computer Security

1. Home and Business Computer Security Basics to Stay Safe in Our Computerized World

2. A Brief Intro Sci-Fi Junky • Elly Poppe • Live in Wisconsin, Work in Minnesota • I love technology • 12 years in I.T. field • Work Experience – SMP, sP, ALT • Alt IT Services • Computer Support Personalized • Services – Residential and Business Nerd

3. Definitions • Router – device that switches the Internet address to an internal address – adds a layer of protection between you and the Internet • Firewall – software or hardware that limits network traffic • Cloud – General term used to refer to internet based computers/services • Public Wi-fi – Wireless Internet connections in public places, generally unsecured • Virus/Malware/Trojan – variety of softwares that are designed to cause destruction, steal data, etc.

4. Home and Business • All (or most) of what I talk about today relates to both home and business computing. • Small Businesses often opt for ease over security • Home and business often cross over as people take laptops home or send files to work from home computers

5. What are the Dangers? • Viruses/Malware • Bot networks, Keystroke loggers, Trojans • Fake AV/related malware(Scareware) • Identity Theft • Phishing • Data Loss • From Failed Hard drive • From Thieves • Predators/Stalkers

6. How Do We Protect Ourselves? • Antivirus • Data Backups • Passwords • Routers/Secure Wireless • Facebook Settings • Parental Controls • Common Sense Computing

7. Antivirus • Don’t leave home without it. • Without AV, you WILL get infected • Keep it updated! • Free or Paid Versions? • Type and amount of online activities • Do you need a Firewall? • Ease of Use? • More than one? • I have a Mac – do I need AV?

8. Backups • Do it, Do it, Do it! • Data Should Exist in 2 Places • Manual/Automated • Software Utilities or Straight File Copy • Fbackup, GenieSoft, etc. • OnSite or OffSite (Cloud) • Flash drive, external Hard Drive, DVDs • SOSBackup, Carbonite, Mozy, or Locally hosted backups

9. Passwords • Why Should I Use a Password? • Parental controls • Slow viruses • Protect Data • Sensitive info, calendar, addresses, photos • Don’t Use the Same Password for Everything • Don’t Put Password on Sticky on PC! • Password Managers • 1Password (Mac), Kaspersky Password Manager, LastPass, RoboForm, pwd protected Excel Sheet

10. Wireless Networks • Password Protection is a must • Encryption • WEP vs WPA/WPA2 Encryption • Turn off WPS • Controlling who’s on your network • Protecting data on your network

11. Public Wireless Networks • Firesheep – What is it? • Choose secured networks if possible • Will need password • In Windows – set network location as Public • Use VPN • Use Add on like httpsEverywhere • Turn on Firewall • Turn off File Sharing

12. Facebook • Privacy Settings – Get to Know Them • Visit them regularly – They keep changing! • “Only My Friends” • Monitor tags of you • Create friends lists to filter who sees what • Limit who can find you on Facebook – turn off public search • Limit what Applications can access your info

13. Facebook - continued • How Much Should We Share? • Personal Info • Don’t post pet’s names, children’s names, phone number, address, year of birth • Don’t Tell the World that your Home will be empty all Week! • Places – Yikes – Don’t let Everyone know where you are at all times! • Photos – don’t post potentially embarrassing or revealing photos

14. Keeping the Kids Safe • Know the Dangers – Talk to your Kids • Stalkers, Predators, Bullys • Educate Yourself on Internet Dangers • Educate your Kids on how to stay safe – people might not be who they say they are, don’t give out personal info or passwords, etc. • Monitor/Limit their Activities • Parental Monitoring vs Parental Controls • NetNanny, iShield, Bsafe Online, Webroot Parental Controls • Sit with them sometimes • Check their privacy settings • Disable location settings on phones, iPads, etc. • Keep computer in common rooms – not kid’s bedrooms

15. Keeping the Kids Safe • Signs of Problems • Large amounts of time spent online, especially at night • Finding porn on the computer • Kid’s getting Phone calls from people you don’t know • Child turns monitor off quickly when you come into room • Child becomes withdrawn from family • Child using online account belonging to someone you don’t know

16. Some Basic Guidelines • Keep your Windows updated • Think Before you Click! • Mouse over links to see what they are before you click on them • Is the Cute kitty video worth a possible virus infection? • Email Attachments • Did you expect it, Do you need it? • .exe, .bat, .com, .scr – extensions that run programs • .zip, .doc, .html – can also be harmful

17. Some Basic Guidelines • Just because it Pops up – doesn’t mean you have to click on it! • Read alerts or Pop ups carefully before deciding to click “OK” • Task Manager – use to end processes • Deal with odd behavior or obvious virus activity immediately

18. Happy Computing ! • The Technology we have at our disposal today is incredible – but we must all take an active role in ensuring the safe use of it.

19. Resources • Password managers http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407168,00.asp • https://www.sosonlinebackup.com/ • http://onguardonline.gov • http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/computer_protect • http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Safe-on-Facebook • http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2272557,00.asp • https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere

20. My Contact Info • Elly Poppe • 902 E. 2nd St. Suite 140, Winona • epoppe@alt-itservices.com • 507-450-2707 • www.alt-itservices.com • www.facebook.com/alt.itservices