Internet Security – What Can They Take From You?


Posted by admin


You may have read a lot about Internet security and the things that they put you at risk for. Identity theft is one. Sexual predators targeting children is another. However, have you ever really looked into what these unwanted elements online are actually snatching from you so the risks begin to take shape? Sure, you know they take your credit card number, your banking usernames and passwords, but how exactly are they able do what they do?

Knowledge always puts us in a better position to defend ourselves. Hence, we must take a look at the things that these black hats are actually setting their sights on each time we go on line. And because we know information is what they always want from us, we can significantly control the problem by limiting the amount of information we make available. We can do this by making sure we visit only secure sites, check privacy policies of sites we do visit and basically be more cautious about the amount and substance of information that we expose.

Because our usual first connection with a hacker is the website we visit, we need to know what the hacker can take from us in order to appreciate the reasons why always need to be careful. Each time we connect to a website, the webmaster can take a look into the domain name where we’re connecting from. As you may know, sites on the Internet are identified as a domain name and each one can be further identified by its actual URL. For example, .gov means the site is government-owned, .edu means it is owned by a school and .com means the domain is for a commercial purpose.

Other details that a webmaster can obtain when we visit his site are those concerning the browsing software we use. He would know which browser we’re using as well as the version and other details about it. The webmaster may also look into what operating system you’re using. Our behavior while being on a particular site may also be monitored and the webmaster can keep track of the pages we visit, the length of time we stay on a page and whether or not we’ve come from a search engine or if we typed in their URL manually on our address bar.

And then, of course, another piece of information they can get from us is our IP address. Each computer connected to the Internet is identifiable with the use of a series of numbers which serve as the computer’s fingerprint. By this set of numbers, a user is able to send and receive information through the network. In other words, when this IP address is obtained, anyone can now freely do whatever he wants, even remotely control your PC as long as he has the right software or program to do that.

Usually, these things are harmless when obtained for legal and official purposes. For example, a government site that seeks to verify the identity of a citizen who is lodging a benefit claim online may need certain information about the person in accordance with site policies. The only time information is dangerous is when it lands in the wrong hands. The classic example of credit card details being stolen can result in the card owner having to pay bills for purchases he didn’t make. This is an example of an identity theft case wherein the card owner’s identity has been faked. Some hackers don’t have personal interest in credit cards but will still steal people’s identities so he could sell them to those who actually use the information.

Because one needs to maintain a level of privacy even while on the Internet, protective measures must be in place such as the use of an IP hiding software. This is a program that allows a user to go online with his IP address hidden so if he ever lands on a hacker’s site, there will be no harm done because the hacker won’t be able to track him down. Why? Simply because he has hidden his real IP and is disguising with a fake IP. Surely, you can’t be traced.

Internet Security


Posted by admin



To survive in today’s highly competitive business environment, which is rapidly transmuting into a cyber village, businesses have to participate in the virtual world by using Internet for not only emailing and chatting but also to tap the vast e-commerce market. However, on one hand, Internet offers limitless opportunities for the entrepreneurs. On the other hand, Internet security and risk management pose monumental challenges for the corporate world today. However, countermeasures can be and must be taken in order to address the issue.
Before plunging into the sea of security issues that surround the use of Internet, let us first look into the commonly followed definition of the umbrella term Internet Security.

Defining Internet Security

Internet security as defined “is the practice of protecting and preserving private resources and information on the Internet” (Internet Security). Hence, Internet security is the fundamental to prevent breach of e-commerce clients’ trust and the resultant violation of privacy policies in order to avoid defamation of the companies’ hard earned corporate image. This leads us to the next section of our research assignment that discusses the scope of the issue under discussion.

Why Discuss Internet Security? Scope of the Problem

Information is exchanged via Internet use in the corporate world where people can communicate with each other and sell and buy products online using credit cards. Even confidential company data and many other secrets are shared via Internet. However, this paves way for security issues, which make the “circuitous route” of the information being exchanged prone to deception, unauthenticated interruption and other security risks. On the same account, Internet security has transformed into a major concern for all Internet users (Definitions of Internet Security on the web). Therefore, Internet security issues and risk management tips need to be discussed and highlighted for the benefit of the readers and the users alike.

Security-related Risks Associated with Internet Use and Management Strategies

Internet doubtless ameliorates corporate communication, “information sharing, market effectiveness and productivity” (Paliouras). Nonetheless, Internet use has often resulted in “security breaches with known or unknown undesirable consequences ranging from a crippled or hacked corporate network to a ruined reputation and costly litigation”. Consequently, content of the emails must be filtered to prevent the above mentioned organizational issues. (Paliouras).

Risk Management via Content Filtering

“Klez worm” including other viruses that can seriously damage the computer system, “junk mail”, shopping online using Internet and visiting obscene sites at the organizational cost augment security risks (Paliouras). These risks can be reduced by making sure that employees avoid using company Internet services for irrelevant tasks. However, emails are highly important for business communication and “content filtering” is the best solution to manage security risks. “Advanced text analysis is necessary to prevent users from sending sexually explicit text and racial epithets or sensitive information to unauthorized parties. Lexical analysis is one way to cut down leak of confidential information as most of these files include special words or phrases” (Paliouras). Moreover, “keyword searching and inspection” as well as “advanced image analysis” are some of the really effective weapons to reduce security risks associated with Internet use.

This is where the significance of information systems comes into play. With the aid of constructing appropriate systems and using adequate content filtering software, companies can block unnecessary and potentially harmful and insecure attachments from entering and infecting the computers.

A three-step approach inclusive of conceiving, constructing and consolidating been recommended by information systems companies in order to efficiently with security risks associated with the use of Internet (Internet security challenges). However, the extent to which Internet use is secured primarily depends upon the company’s “security awareness” (Katos). When electronically operating firms believe in cherishing their clientele’s trust and therefore make every attempt to secure their operations via security checks, secured systems and well-planned security policies, security risks tremendously plummet and the firm’s reputation improves. Also, with security awareness, firms tend to be better equipped with latest advancements in the field of information systems.

Conclusion

Hence from the above discussion it is evident that Internet security and risk management pose monumental challenges for the corporate world today. However, countermeasures can be and must be taken in order to address the issue. Those computer organizations that take help and make the most out of Information Systems are the ones that benefit the most in the long run. This is because Information systems offer a vast variety of security software, with the aid of which, organizations can reduce the risk of Internet use. Managing Internet security related risks is no long an out-of-this-word task if adequate knowledge and timely application of Information systems is made available. Therefore, to address Internet security issues, the basic knowledge of Information Systems Fundamentals is essential. Moreover, extensive research and progress is demanded in the field of information systems in order to create “new defense mechanisms”


Internet Security – Why It Is So Important


Posted by admin


In today’s world, the internet is considered to be one of the most useful tools for people to communicate, find information and to buy goods and services.

It is also a great tool to start your own online home based business. With the fast and relatively inexpensive data transfer that the internet provides, it makes sense to put it to use and to try and earn an income or just make life easier.

However, with all the advantages of the internet, there are also some disadvantages. Because all financial dealings are made over the internet, it is estimated that billions or even trillions of dollars are being exchanged online everyday. This has spawned a new generation of criminals.
These cyber criminals develop programs or software called spyware that invades your personal computer and starts gathering information such as your financial or personal details and sends it back to the person who developed the software.

The thought of letting a stranger look at your personal and financial information without you knowing about it can definitely make you cringe in fear. Armed with this information, the cyber criminals may be able to steal money from you by committing a very serious crime called identity theft or identity fraud.

It is a fact that many people already have been victimized by identity theft resulting in their losing money or even facing charges for crimes they did not commit. This is why it is very important for you to secure yourself from these crimes not just in the real world, but also in the cyber world as well.

You can stop these crimes from happening by simply installing the best kind of internet security software available. Internet security software are programs that combat modern day threats, such as viruses, spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers and hackers. It is software that will protect your computer from being invaded by these malicious programs.
It is an absolute necessity to have this kind of software in your computer.
Good internet security software should include:

o Antivirus – This particular software is an absolute ‘must have’ in your internet security suite to protect you against viruses that are circulating the internet today. The software should also have an automatic update feature to keep pace with new viruses that emerge regularly.

o Anti spyware / adware – Spyware and adware are very dangerous programs that can give the developer access to your files in your computer that may contain financial and personal information. This is why this feature should be included in your internet security software and should be active and also automatically updateable.

o Firewall -This particular software prevents unwanted guests be they hackers or viruses from entering your computer.

o Parental control – An optional program which you may want to include in your internet security suite if you have children. It is designed to control their internet activities and prevent them from visiting websites that may contain violence, pornography or other unsuitable material.

These are the main things that you should look for in internet security software. With all these features, you will be able to protect yourself and your family from being victims of serious and malicious crimes which are becoming commonplace on the internet today.