Computer security

1. Information Systems & Literacy Presentation Computer security

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) - can’t multiply

6. 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

7. Threats – Phishing Example

8. Facebook Conversation

9. Facebook Conversation (cont.)

10. 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 • Don’t update or patch system and software • Open links and attachments in emails from unknown senders

11. 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 – Don’t left click or open • Known sender – if unsure, just ask them before opening

12. Action Steps (continued) • Backup • What, When, Where and Where? • Backup any files that you can’t 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

13. 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 • Can’t be found in the dictionary

14. 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?

15. 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

16. 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.

17. Mac Computers (continued) • It isn’t the operating system or computer – it’s the user • Don’t 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

18. Conclusion • Be aware • Research • Know the risks • Don’t 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

19. 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 don’t 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

20. 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/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/. November 22, 2002 . Carnegie Mellon University, Web. 16 Feb 2010. <http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/>. • "Home Network Security." CERT. 27 Feb 2006. Carnegie Mellon University, Web. 16 Feb 2010. <http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/home_networks.html>. • Mills, Elinor. "In their words: Experts weigh in on Mac vs. PC security." InSecurity Complex (2010): 1. Web. 16 Feb 2010. <http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10444561-245.html>. • Abrams, Randy. "Once Upon a Cybercrime." ESET Threat Blog (2009): 1. Web. 16 Feb 2010. <http://www.eset.com/threat-center/blog/2009/11/16/once-upon-a-cybercrime%E2%80%A6>. • "Description of Malware." Malwarebytes. 2010. Malwarebytes Corporation, Web. 16 Feb 2010. <http://www.malwarebytes.org/malwarenet.php?name=Adware.MyWebSearch>. • "Phishing." OnGuard Online. Feb 2008. OnGuard Online, Web. 16 Feb 2010. <http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/phishing.aspx>. • "Spyware." OnGuard Online. Feb 2008. OnGuard Online, Web. 16 Feb 2010. <http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/spyware.aspx>. • "Security Starter Kit." CNET Download.com. Jan 2010. CNET, Web. 16 Feb 2010. <http://download.cnet.com/2701-2023_4-6-1.html?tag=page;page>. • "Confused man about a virus alert ." Shutterstock Images. Web. 16 Feb 2010. • "Recognizing and Avoiding Scams." Howstuffworks. Web. 17 Feb 2010. <http://computer.howstuffworks.com/5-internet-security-videos1.htm>.