Grass Valley Learning Center Surf the Net Safely Roger Thornburn

Grass Valley Learning Center March Topics to talk about The Three Main Threats to Your Computer Hackers Viruses Spyware/Hijackers Annoyances Spam Pop-up Ads

Grass Valley Learning Center March Why This Topic Things you’ve heard From us at the Learning Center From the media From ads But Now… With new tools from Microsoft for Windows XP Simple to use Reduces risk significantly And “free” services That provide virus free And Spam free

Grass Valley Learning Center March Risk Does this now mean you are risk free? What is risk “free”? Can you guarantee you won’t have an accident going home today? You need to assess your risk tolerance and decide on the tools and expense for you! What I’m showing you today are FREE tools that I believe reduce risk to an acceptable level (for me)

Grass Valley Learning Center March Hackers What do Hackers do? Try to get your passwords Use keystroke loggers Look at your files What Hackers don’t do Typically cause problems Slow down the computer Add viruses How to protect your computer from Hacking Use a FIREWALL (only one) Now comes as standard with Windows XP (SP2)

Grass Valley Learning Center March Hackers Now Let’s Do It! Hacker Dial Up DSL Cable etc Your Computer Unique IP Address (just like your tel#) The Internet (just a collection of computers connected together) Your ISP Hacker’s ISP

Grass Valley Learning Center March Viruses How do you get a Virus? It must come into your computer in an “infected” file Only from “program” files Not from pictures, and most documents and files Almost all viruses are an ATTACHMENT to an . Can be caught by downloading programs from Internet Only download from a “known/reputable” site Can also be transmitted by an infected CD or floppy Only accept programs on floppies and CD’s from “friends”

Grass Valley Learning Center March Viruses How to prevent Use an AntiVirus program (eg Norton, McAfee, etc) Effective But $$, large downloads, and slows computer AVG free is available – but updates can be slow Use an service that scans ALL your Yahoo, Excite, Google, Dell, etc. These companies use the very best AV technology and scan all your Only download programs from known sites I download ~5 programs a month – never had a virus Don’t accept programs on CD from unknown people

Grass Valley Learning Center March Spam/Hijacking & MalWare What is this? Probably the most annoying and intrusive Much of it is innocuous and maybe useful Tracking cookies – can help pay for free websites Often installed with new computers or Programs Backweb, Broderbund, etc. to track your internet habits Too much of this can slow your computer (always running) Most is installed from Internet sites Kazaa, other “less desirable” web sites Often requires the user to “Accept” something Some is malicicous Change installed applications Change internet settings (home page, plug-ins, navigation) Alter security settings

Grass Valley Learning Center March Spam/Hijacking & MalWare How to protect your computer Install programs like Ad-Aware or SpyBot These scan and provide a “cure”, not “prevention” Download and Install MS AntiSpyware Free program and updates Integrates with the operating system Offers PREVENTION – intercepts:  Changes to your Internet Browser  Changes to your installed applications  Adding known spyware  Changes to your security settings  Etc. Let’s do it!

Grass Valley Learning Center March Web Based The Internet (just lots of computers connected together) Friend’s Computer Dial Up DSL Cable etc Your Computer Your ISP (eg theunion.com) Friend’s ISP Web Based Server (eg Yahoo) Your Inbox, etc. Internet Explorer View of Your Inbox, etc. Internet Explorer View of Friend’s Inbox, etc. Friend’s Inbox, etc. & Web Server

Grass Valley Learning Center March Web Based Your folders are NOT on your computer They are on the Service provider’s computer Inbox, Outbox and other folders only viewed when you are connected to the internet The service provides virus protection Latest technology, fully up-to-date – ALL and attachments are scanned The service provides Spam protection Customizable, self learning, filters, blockers Let’s go create an account! Yahoo.com Dell.Myway.com

Grass Valley Learning Center March Pop-up Ads To stop pop-up ads, use a popup blocker Many free ones available Built into MS Internet Explorer (with SP2) DON’T use more than one pop up blocker Let’s do it!

Grass Valley Learning Center March To Sum Up Hackers: Use the Windows XP Firewall – safe and easy Will stop anyone “seeing” into your computer Spyware & Malware, etc. Download and use the MS AntiSpyware product PREVENTS unwanted changes to your computer Fully automatic Virus Use a web based system, and be careful of what Programs you download If you’re risk tolerance is low, buy an AV product, or use AVG “free” (

Grass Valley Learning Center March To Sum Up (cont.) Spam control Use a web based service Excellent “self learning” spam control Pop Up Blocker Use MS Internet Explorer in SP2

Grass Valley Learning Center Enjoy Your Surfing Experience