Data Theft

Practices

• Never send any passwords or critical information to anybody through a public medium like a chat-room or an instant message: In a public place like the Internet, people can listen to conversations without being noticed. If you need to send sensitive information such as a credit card number or a password, there are special secure channels to do so. For example, whenever you buy a product online, a secure channel exists between the online store and your computer that can’t be tampered with. Chat rooms and instant messaging don’t use this type of security, so other people may be able to see what you are sending.

• Conduct regular anti-virus scans: Be sure to scan all files that you have received from other people. All major anti-virus software can be set to automatically scan files when they are transferred, but it's a good idea to also scan your computer manually on a regular basis. You should do this at least once every two weeks, or when you suspect a problem.

Settings

• Set your anti-virus package for "Real-time Protection": Anti-virus software should provide the option of real-time protection, which means that it actively checks files that come into your system while you work. Although this might not be necessary for mobile devices, it does lower your chances of contracting a computer virus, so check if your brand supports this configuration. If it does, activate it.

• Set your anti-virus package for the types of files you want it to check: To set the types of files the anti-virus software will check, click on Start, then Programs, and start your anti-virus package. Usually, the program gives you the option of choosing between a few scanning methods. Symantec, for example, offers:

  • Scanning all files: All files on the computer will be checked regardless of the extension or file type.
  • Scanning by file type: The package will check all files of the chosen type, regardless of the potentially deceptive file extension. This is especially important in catching files with a double ending such as ".gif.doc".
  • Scanning by file extension: This scan is the fastest, since only files with the chosen extension will be checked.

  If you have a different brand of antivirus software, consult the manual for instructions on how to configure the settings for real-time scanning and scanning method.

• Set your firewall to filter ports: Make sure your firewall is filtering the ports that correspond to your community applications. For example, Yahoo Messenger uses port TCP-5050, so you would set your firewall to only allow Yahoo Messenger to use that port. This way you keep any possible intruders from using that port.

Tools

• Anti-virus software: The popularity of the Microsoft Windows operating system makes it a prime target for hackers and other virus writers, so anti-virus software is crucial for users of this system. Anti-virus software works by identifying files that match definitions of known viruses and keeping them from infecting the system. Make sure that your virus definitions are kept up to date by automatically or manually downloading them from your software manufacturer's Web site. Do not install more than one anti-virus program because incompatibility issues between the programs may end up leaving your system unprotected.

  Two popular anti-virus packages are Symantec’s Norton AntiVirus  and McAfee AntiVirus . AVG , AntiVir  and ClamWin  are free alternatives. The major anti-virus programs, such as Symantec and McAfee, can protect against worms and Trojan horses as well as viruses.

  PDA and mobile phone anti-virus applications normally interact with the full version on a PC and hold fewer virus definitions. New virus updates are automatically transferred from your desktop computer each time you synchronize your PDA. Therefore it is important to keep your desktop computer's anti-virus software updated and synchronize your PDA regularly. Some commonly used anti-virus packages are Trend Micro's PC-cillin for Wireless  and Symantec AntiVirus for Windows Mobile .

• Firewall: A firewall is like a security guard for your computer that monitors the traffic into and out of your computer. A firewall is your first line of defense against intrusions, especially Trojan horses. One popular firewall is Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall . The Windows operating systems such as Windows XP and Windows Vista  include a firewall that is turned on automatically. This built-in firewall is described in more detail on the Microsoft site .