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Staying Safe, Having Fun, And Cruising The ‘Net. Daniel Owens IT Security Professional. Agenda. Introduction Staying Safe Having Fun Cruising The ‘Net Conclusion And Appendices. A Note About Good And Evil.
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Staying Safe, Having Fun, And Cruising The ‘Net Daniel Owens IT Security Professional
Agenda • Introduction • Staying Safe • Having Fun • Cruising The ‘Net • Conclusion And Appendices
A Note About Good And Evil Nothing in this world is purely good or purely evil – to include the Internet and those who use it. -Daniel Owens
With That Said… A Note About Me • Currently • Working as a NASA contractor in IT Security • Formerly • Worked for/with the… • Department of Defense (DoD) to include the NSA • FBI • Justice Department • Microsoft • Oracle • Cisco • And many more… • MySpace • IBM • Xerox • Booz Allen Hamilton • SystemSecurities
Agenda • Introduction • Staying Safe • Having Fun • Cruising The ‘Net • Conclusion And Appendices
Protecting Your Computer • Apply updates and patches • This includes for the Operating System, your web browser, any plug-ins and add-ons for the web browser, any games, and any other software • Use Anti-Malware Software • This includes antivirus, antispyware, and anti-adware software • Examples Include (all free for home use): • AVG and Avast! • Spybot Search & Destroy • Adaware
Protecting Your Privacy • Don’t fill out online surveys or enter contests without permission • Many of these are simply there to get information about you and some can be harmful • Never give out sensitive information about yourself, your family, or others • This includes addresses, school names, your full name, phone numbers, and your schedule/vacation data in advance • Don’t open or respond to SPAM • And don’t give your email address to just anyone
Doubt Everything • If you can’t verify someone’s identity, you can’t trust them with your information • Anyone can post just about anything on the Internet… pretending to be just about anyone • Just like any other medium
Agenda • Introduction • Staying Safe • Having Fun • Cruising The ‘Net • Conclusion And Appendices
Cyberbullying • Often either a source of or voice for rumors • Common places are MySpace and Facebook • Often successful only AFTER the victim starts to respond to the bully(ing) • While it may be difficult, ignoring posts and simply blocking instant messages from people you don’t know is the best way to stop cyberbullying • Can also include compromising a victim’s account and using it • Again, MySpace and Facebook are common vectors, but so are Instant Messengers
Cyberpredators • Few cyberpredators give out their real age, name, and other information • And anyone can find a picture online • Unsolicited instant messages, posts, and emails from strangers should never be responded to • 40% of females have been solicited on the Internet at least once before graduating high school • Males are vulnerable too • Should be treated the same as bullying
If All Else Fails • Change your account name and password • Most bullies and predators won’t be able to track you if you change your information… unless you give it to them • Don’t go there… • Just don’t visit the site • The Internet isn’t anonymous • Well-trained professionals (and criminals) can track down almost anyone on the Internet • If you’re a victim, talk to your parents and/or a trusted adult
Agenda • Introduction • Staying Safe • Having Fun • Cruising The ‘Net • Conclusion And Appendices
Be Suspicious Of The Unknown • Warez and Torrents • Many of the software and videos on these sites are bugged in one way or another • Free Games and Software • Many of the freeware and shareware software gathers personal information • Often the company owning the software then sells the data • Unknown Websites • Some sites are designed to install malware onto visitor computers
Online Gaming • Protect your privacy • Give out as little information as possible • And don’t have your screenname be your real name • Find a ‘room’ where you feel both safe and comfortable and stay there • If things start to go downhill, leave and don’t come back • Avoid games with monthly fees • These often require you to give credit card information and other data that an attacker can steal from the server
Agenda • Introduction • Staying Safe • Having Fun • Cruising The ‘Net • Conclusion And Appendices
For More Information • Media Awareness Network (MNet) • http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/index.cfm • Cyberbullying Research Center • http://www.cyberbullying.us/ • NetAlert • http://www.netalert.gov.au/ • OnGuard Online • http://www.onguardonline.gov/
For More Information (cont.) • Safe Internet Alliance • http://www.safeinternet.org/ • GRC IT Security Office • http://itsecurity.grc.nasa.gov • STOP Cyberbullying • http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/
Acknowledgements • I stole the background and some clipart from Microsoft • I stole a lot from my experiences and previous writings