Computer safety and security by Kasia Wakarecy from Kasuwade - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Computer safety and security

by Kasia Wakarecy from Kasuwade FriendlyTech

for Fine Folks Forum

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

About Kasuwade FriendlyTech

• Teaching how to use your

devices using people-friendly language

• Explaining problems and

how to prevent them

• Helping with selection and

purchase

• Troubleshooting and fixing

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

About this presentation

• 1. Data safety - your pictures, music, documents, etc.
• 2. Safety and security on the internet
• 3. Computers, tablets, phones - equipment (hardware) safety

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Data safety - backups - why?

• Your data = documents you created, your photos and videos, your tax return

files, etc. Your documents are stored on the hard drive of a computer.

• Backup = making a copy of your documents, photos, videos to another

device/location Reasons to backup your data:

• hard drives (where data is stored) - about 15% failure rate
• spills often result in hard drive failure
• expensive (or not always possible) to recover data from damaged drive

Computer data backups don’t include backups of your operating system and applications you have installed. For those, there should be original disks or ability to create them from the system.

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Data safety - backups - where to

External drive (wired or wireless) DVD 4.7GB Online “cloud” drive 15GB 1TB = 1,000 GB

10x

USB drive (USB “stick”) 32-64GB

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Data safety - backups - sizes

10KB to 300 KB 10MB 1MB to 10MB 1GB to 4GB = 100 x

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Data safety - backups - how to

• Backup on regular basis - schedule depends on how

much data you produce and how often

• Backup all devices (computers, tablets, phones)
• Type of backup - new backup every time (time

consuming) or synchronizing (only changed/new data would override the backup)

• Free (SyncBackFree) and paid software allowing to

automate backups

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Data safety - backups - SyncBackFree

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Data safety - backups - safety / convenience

CONVENIENCE SAFETY low high low high External drive, next to the computer External drive in a fireproof safe at home Online drive (“cloud” storage) External drive at different location than the computer

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Data safety - online drive (“cloud” storage)

Online drive is an alternative (to external hard drives) place to store your data. PROS: convenience to access it from anywhere, no need to worry about storing external drive in a safe place. CONS: online storage is easier to hack than locally kept hard drive.

15GB 5GB

ALWAYS create a strong password for online storage, there have been successful hacks and pictures leaks.

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Online Local ✔ access it from anywhere simultaneously by many devices ✖ only 15GB free, more expensive for large amounts of data ✔ no need to worry about safely storing backup drive ✖ uses internet connection for data transfer (watch for limits) ✖ easier to hack than locally kept drive ✖ no access from multiple devices at the same time (unless wireless) ✔ cheaper (or larger) than online storage ✖ possible loss due to theft or fire if not kept in a safe location ✔ no need to use internet connection for data transfer ✔ harder to hack

Data safety - online storage versus local drive

7.30

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Passwords - like underwear

Passwords are like underwear. You should change them often (okay, maybe not every day). Don't share them. Don't leave them out for others to see (no sticky notes!, keep them mysterious).

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Passwords - what is a good password

• Not 123, word “password”, birth date or pet’s name
• A password should not be one word that can be found in

a dictionary (in any language)

• Longer the better, ideally longer than 8 characters (20 is

good)

• Use lowercase, uppercase, symbol and a number
• Make password memorable for you

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Passwords - what is a good password

Which password is more secure?

• 1. D0g.....................
• 2. PrXyc.N(n4k77#L!eVdAfp9

Against popular believe, first password is more secure because it’s longer (has more characters). Consider passwords: Pr1yc. ✖ 6 characters long, difficult for humans to remember ThisIsAGr3atPresentation! ✔ 25 characters long, easy for humans to remember, harder for computers to hack than 6 char password

# 1 has 25 characters # 2 has 24 characters

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Passwords - what is a good password

A phrase that is easy to remember, long, and contains uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols. For example: MyNewPa$$wordIsFantastic! IsClaudieMyFavouriteFri3nd? WhenWillWeWinThe50MLottery?!

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Passwords - how to remember them all?

Option 1. Have one or two “base” passwords and add “modifier” for each site. If using that method, use different “base” for low quality, unsecure sites and for banking/online shopping sites. For example password “modifier” can be the first and last letter of the website address, before . in reverse:

Website Password “base” Password “modifier” Final password paypal.com

WhenWillWeWin The50MLottery?!

lp

WhenWillWeWinThe50MLottery?!lp

rbc.com

WhenWillWeWin The50MLottery?!

cr

WhenWillWeWinThe50MLottery?!cr

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Passwords - how to remember them all?

Option 2. Use software that keeps track of all your passwords, like

• KeePass. It is a

password database and has both the master password and (optionally) a key (file) that is needed to open it.

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Internet safety - definitions

Browser = software, a tool to search and open websites, your “car” to get you places in the internet Browsing the internet = running searches to find websites, reading websites

7.50

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Internet safety - most popular browsers

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Internet safety - privacy when browsing

Browsers store information about visited web pages in files called “cookies”.

• Information about your activity on every website
• Were designed to either take you to a place on the website you were last or

show you information to help you continue your past activity on that website

• Keep you logged in to websites if you didn’t log out (session cookie)
• Can be used to learn about your internet browsing behaviours, which sites

you visit, which bank you use

• Third-party cookies (generated by ads on the websites you’ve visited) can be

used for social engineering (psychological manipulation of people into performing actions or divulging confidential information) and target advertisement

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Internet safety - clearing cookies/cache/history

Clearing cookies, cache and browsing history makes the browser “forget” your internet activity, your passwords (if you stored any), selections you made. That way it’s harder to find out where you bank, what is your favourite online store and what email provider you use (which all could be used for hacking or phishing attacks). Clearing cookies not convenient if you want to start from the same place as last time or want the website to suggest things you may be interested in. Solution: use different browsers for different purposes, to get best from both worlds.

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Internet safety - why use multiple browsers

In the armoured car, set security high and clear private data (browsing history, cookies, passwords) every time you end your

• visit. Use for banking and online

shopping. Use “joy ride” car for casual browsing the internet but do not use it for logging into websites. Use for reading news, checking weather, playing games, watching online videos.

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Internet safety

Example of cache and

• ther data clearing page

in Chrome browser You can set your browsers to always clear everything every time you close it.

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Internet safety - “to click or not to click”

Phishing attack or scam - (wikipedia) attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and sometimes, indirectly, money) by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Medium:

• ver the phone (recent spam calls about winning points with Aeroplan or

WestJet) asking to provide your credit card information

• ver email - pretending to be an email from a bank (for example, urging you to

change a password due to a “hack”) or asking to update your personal information (pretending there was a data loss), etc. In any circumstances, don’t provide your personal information over the phone

• r email if you are not sure about the identity of the recipient.

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Internet safety - phishing attacks summary

• Do not follow email prompts to change your password. If you

want to change the password, go to the website directly.

• Do not respond to emails that ask you to provide your financial

information.

• If you want to use a link from an email, hover over it first to see

what is hiding under the text (what is the actual website address it will take you to)

• To log into your bank, use links in favourites or type in the

address, don’t do search for “PC Financial login” - you may end up

• n the wrong site.

8.10

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Internet safety - certificate and secure protocol

To ensure you are on the proper, legit site, check for site certificate (an icon on the left from the website address). Also, https in front

• f the website address

suggest it is using secure protocol to send your information.

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Internet safety - examples of certificate

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Internet safety - examples of certificate

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Internet safety - examples of certificate

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Internet safety - antivirus software

• Antivirus or internet security software provides additional layer of

security from opening unsafe websites or email attachments

• Free (less features) or paid (more up-to-date virus definitions, more

automatic scan options)

• “Antivirus” (checking unsafe attachments) or versus “internet

security” (checking if websites are legit, parental control) versus “total security” (may have other options like passwords storage)

• What happens when such software expires? It still works but
• perates on outdated information about threats
• Do I need one?

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Internet safety - wireless internet at home

Routers or modem/router send your Bell or Rogers internet signal wirelessly to laptops, tablets, phones. 1. Change default password, especially for older routers that came with “admin” or “password” password 2. Make sure the encryption of the connection is at least WEP or better, WPA 3. Change default SSID (name of the network) 4. Hide SSID broadcasting (will require manually entering it for new connections)

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Internet safety - using internet in public places

• Internet connections in public places may not have

encryption which means sending information that is easy to intercept and read. When connected to insecure network, your device should give you a warning.

• Avoid using for online banking or shopping or for

logging into sensitive websites like Facebook. Don’t type in your credit card numbers, passwords, personal information.

• Disable internet connection when not in use

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Internet safety - social media safety

• Do not provide your real birthday. To make it easier to remember,

provide the month and day of your real birthday (if you want others to wish you happy bday) but change a year (watch for 18+ year).

• Make the birthday and other sensitive information visible to Friends
• nly (or no one). Verify who can see your posts and profile (friends or

public)

• Do not provide your address or phone number (but some sites want

it for account recovery purpose). Don’t share information you don’t have to since it can be used for identify theft

• Use email address without your full name

8.30

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Equipment safety - securing from theft

• For laptops - steel cable attached to solid furniture. Add

password.

• For tablets and phones - add contact information to the

front screen so that it can be displayed even if the phone/tablet is locked. Offer reward and provide contact

• info. Add password.

Kasuwade FriendlyTech http://friendlytech.ca 613-804-4200

Equipment safety - tracking/location services

• Software like LoJack to locate stolen device (computer,

tablet, phone) even if system restore is performed or hard drive replaced. Paid.

• Phones and tablets: tracking, remote locking and erasing

(most apps are free) ○ Android phone - Google’s Android Device Manager (login to Google account to perform the changes) ○ Apple Find My iPhone (login to iCloud to perform the changes)

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Equipment safety - spills

• Disconnect from the power source immediately, TURN

OFF

• Turn up site down
• Dry with paper tower
• Remove battery
• Continue drying with paper towels
• Take apart, leave in the sunny place to dry
• Contact tech support to verify next steps