Tips & Precautions for a safer online stroll
by Vijay Rajmohan for ISTM Lecture to Level D Trainees - July,2011.
o Create a personal mail a/c apart from your NIC mail a/c. This will be handy in cases of (i) server failure at NIC (ii) other accessibility problems (iii) if your mail a/c is operated by your PA (iv) if your password is known to your co-workers. This will also help you separate your personal and work related email activity.
o Write down your username and password at some secure place at home. Try to give actual/memorable details while creating a personal email id. This will be handy for retrieving your passwords.
o While creating passwords for your personal mail accounts, don't give out passwords that can be easily guessed out by hackers (or curious colleagues!). Create passwords that are little longer, which have alphabets in upper & lower case, some numbers and signs. An example: Uf1eaY*!56
o Don't use office systems for any illegal activity. All this can be tracked. Even the data which is deleted can be retrieved in cases of any investigation. Apart from the PCs, the activities can be tracked at the server end too by NIC.
o Remember that anonymity over the net is a misconception. You leave your digital footprints everywhere and can be tracked easily.
o Also remember that as Civil Servants, you need to abide by the Conduct Rules. Be careful before expressing any view on net (over facebook or Twitter) that may project bias, political opinion or anything that may cast a shadow on your role as an impartial and law abiding civil servant.
o In addition to this, you have a responsibility for the security of your systems. Don’t download any malicious program that might open your computers/server/Lan for hacking or for tracking the activities of your organization.
o Periodically update your OS (operating system). Install the security patches.
o Ensure that your anti-virus program is renewed periodically and updated.
o Be careful before saying "YES" in any pop up window.
o Be careful before opening any ".exe" file.
o Be careful before saying installing any program in your system.
o Don’t install any file sharing software in your system. They open your computer to the world of illegal sharing of information and it is like leaving your house without doors when going out on a vacation.
o Don't download any software, picture, clips from unknown sites or sites which are not of the mainstream variety(good example is sites with unknown suffixes, these are usually free and haven of hackers).
o Avoid Flash and Java applications. Download web videos instead of viewing them directly in your browser.
o If it is possible, enter personal data on web sites only if they are secured by HTTPS. This is seen within the address bar.
o If it is possible, enter your correct personal data only if you want to order some physical product.
o Avoid ordering anything from dubious sites. Be wary if someone is offering you goods at 1/10th of the price or something like that. They might be gathering details about your credit card.
o Deactivate Flash and JavaScript in the settings of your Acrobat Reader.
o Allow JavaScript only if you need it necessarily.
o Allow cookies just temporarily. Cookies track your online activity; some are harmless and some harmful. The anti-virus programs usually identify and tell the seriousness of the tacking cookie.
o The famous saying that there is no free meal is truer than ever for the online tools and facilities. Every free program gains something out of you. They track your browsing habbits, ‘see through’ your mails (ex: you will receive a travel offer to Shimla or discounted coupons for a shimla hotel, if you have searched for Shimla while online).
o Never get panicky over the net. There are various scams which create panic in you and use your impulsive actions to their advantage.
o Never send money to anyone based on emails. Widely prevalent scam is to hack into somebody’s email and send mails to all those in the contact list, seeking money or help. Nowadays there are even groups which use telephone to call you and cheat you, after hacking your mail id and understanding your needs (and greed!).
o Never believe the lucky draws and winning announcements.
o Be careful about employment offers through email.
o Be careful about sharing your CV or other details over the net.
o When any website asks for your email password, be cautious. Better still, don’t give your password anywhere.
o Never forward emails with the forwarding email ids. This is used to harvest mail ids. Such forwarded mails also might contain malicious software embedded in them.
o Periodically clean your computer using tested software.
o Always download software from reliable sites (ex: cnet.com) which authenticates that the software is free from malware.
o Be careful before clicking anything with facebook icon. Sometimes it will be like shouting from the roof-top.
o Always say or write anything on net after asking this question: “Will I talk or behave this way if my friends and family watch me doing this?”. It is easy to lose your temper while online or impulsively react when emailing someone. However, it will be difficult to retract these at a later stage and you will be permanently regretting this later.
o Since the net is an unknown jungle and we are not professionals or teenagers who keep track of things, it is always better to go by ‘precedent’! Never venture in to unchartered territory easily and if you do, take some advice or check before doing so.
o Periodically review the installed programs and delete unwanted or unknown programs.
Some additional tips :
o Keep your desktop uncluttered. Cluttered desktop would slower the system.
o Periodically clean your download folder.
o Periodically clean your browser.
o Try to categorize your documents and other things (pictures, videos, mp3). This will be useful during work and also would prevent malicious programs from sitting in your folders.
o Back up your data once in a while, if possible.
o Back up your mobile phone contacts.
o Keep a list of essential phone numbers in your mail or in the documents folder (which is available in gmail). This will be handy if you are stranded and you lose your baggage during travel. However, don’t store anything that is confidential or secret in the online storage facilities.
o Organize your emails. Many emails have facilities to categorize the mails or adding tags. Use these, for easy retrieval of information.
o If used effectively, IT will greatly enhance your work skills. At the same time, it can damage you, if you are careless.
Nice photo..
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