Good Security Habits

How can you minimize the access other people have your information?
You might be able to easily identify people who might legitimately or may not have physical access to your computer-family members, roommates, colleagues, members of a cleaning crew, and perhaps others. Identify people who may have remote access to your computer becomes much more difficult. As long as you have a computer and connect to a network, you are vulnerable to someone or something else access or corrupt your data; However, you can develop habits that make it harder.

Lock your computer when you are away from it. Even if you are away from your computer for a few minutes is enough time for someone else to destroy or corrupt your data. Locking your computer prevents another person from being able to just sit at your computer and access all of your information.

Unplug your computer from the Internet when not in use. The development of technologies such as DSL and cable modems have enabled users to be online all the time, but this convenience comes with risks. The likelihood that attackers or virus scan the network for available computers will target your computer becomes much higher if your computer is still connected. Depending on the method you use to connect to the Internet, disconnecting may mean disabling a wireless connection, turn off your computer or modem, or disconnecting cables. When you are online, make sure you have a firewall enabled (see Understanding Firewalls for more information).
Evaluate your security settings. Most software, including browsers and email programs, offers a variety of features that you can adapt to your needs and requirements. Enabling certain features to increase convenience or functionality may leave you more susceptible to attack. It is important to consider the parameters, especially the security settings and select the options that meet your needs without putting you at increased risk. If you install a patch or a new version of the software, or if you hear something that might affect your settings, reevaluate your settings to make sure they are still appropriate (see Understanding Patches, backing up your data and evaluation of the security of your Web browser settings for more information).

What other steps can you take?
Sometimes the threats to your information is not other people, but to natural or technological causes. Although there is no way to control or prevent these problems, you can prepare for them and try to minimize the damage.

Protect your computer against power surges and short interruptions. In addition to providing outlets for your computer and all peripheral devices, power strips protect your computer against surges. Many power strips now advertise compensation if they do not effectively protect your computer. Energy bands are not enough to protect against power outages, but there are products that offer backup power in case of power increase or outages. During a storm or construction which increases the chances of surges, consider turning off your computer down and disconnect it from any power source.

Back up all your data. If you take steps to protect yourself, there will always be a chance that something will happen to destroy your data. You've probably experienced this at least once through losing one or more files due to an accident, a virus or worm, a natural event, or a problem with your equipment. Regularly backing up your data on a CD or reduces stress and other negative consequences that result from losing important information network (see Warnings real world keep you safe online for more information). Determining how often to back up your data is a personal decision. If you are constantly adding or changing data, you may find weekly backups to be the best alternative; if your content rarely changes, you may decide that your backups do not need to be as frequent. You do not need to back up software that you own on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, you can reinstall the software from the original media if necessary.

Cybersecurity for Electronic Devices

Why Cyber security extend beyond computers?

In fact, the problem is not that cyber security extends beyond computers; is that computers go beyond laptops and traditional desktop computers. Many electronic devices are computers, cell phones and tablets to video games and car navigation systems. While computers have more information characteristics and features, they also introduce new risks. Attackers may be able to take advantage of these technological advances to target devices previously considered "safe." For example, an attacker may be able to infect your cell phone by a virus steal your phone or wireless service or access data from your device. These activities not only affect your personal information, but they could also have serious consequences if you store information on the device.

What types of electronic devices are vulnerable?

Every piece of electronic equipment that uses a kind of computer component is vulnerable to software flaws and vulnerabilities. The risk increases if the device is connected to the Internet or a network that the attacker can access. Remember that the wireless connection also has these risks (see securing wireless networks for more information). The connection to the outside is a way for an attacker to send information to and retrieve information from your device

How can you protect yourself?

Remember physical security - Having physical access to a device making it easier for an attacker to remove or alter the data. Do not leave your device unattended in public areas or easily accessible (see the protection of mobile devices: Physical Security for more information).

Keep software up to date - If the vendor releases updates for the operating software of your device, install it as soon as possible. Their installation will prevent attackers from being able to enjoy any problems or known vulnerabilities (see Understanding Patches for more information).

Use passwords - Choose appliances that allow you to protect your information with passwords. Select passwords will be difficult for thieves to guess, and use different passwords for different programs and devices (see Choosing and protecting Passwords for more information). Do not choose options that allow your computer to remember your passwords.

Disable remote connectivity - Some mobile devices are equipped with wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, which can be used to connect to other devices or computers. You must disable these functions when they are not in use (see Understanding Bluetooth for more information).

Encrypt files - If you store personal or professional information, see if your camera offers the ability to encrypt files. By encrypting files, you ensure that unauthorized people can not view the data, even if they can physically access it. When using encryption, it is important to remember your passwords and pass phrases; if you forget or lose them, you may lose your data.