Online Security Thinking
Regardless if you are an online marketer, a web business professional or
just a regular person surfing online you need to be aware of a very common security issue.
The amount of virus files that gets spread as well as harmful links is quite shocking these days.
In this post I will share with you my own personal protection methods to
deal with this ever increasing online security threats.
I have grown up with computers on and witnessed the birth of the computer age.
I have also 6+years of professional security work experience and below you will find
my personal safety measure to safeguard myself and my computer from viruses and harmful links.
Step 1. STOP, SLOW DOWN. THINK
Whenever someone sends you a link or a file an Alarm bell should be
ringing in your head.
Don’t automatically accept the file transfer or click on the link.
Stop and think about it for a moment!
Then Qualify the message.
Step 2: Qualifying the message
Ask yourself these questions.
- Who is the message from? Unkown source or known source?
- How is the message written? Do your friend normally write in this fasion?
- Does the message make sense? Ex someone send you “work images” but the file
format is in .scr which is a screen saver file. People don’t send work pictures that way…
Gather information about the message
Step 3: Do you really need to open or view the link or file?
Based on the information you just collected if it doesn’t make sense or qualify then
simply don’t open it! Delete IT!
Especially if it comes from an Unkown source!
Step 4: The message makes sense or comes from a friend or known source
Don’t click on accept or click on the link yet.
Ask some control questions. Ask the person that sent the message what the l
ink or files is about. What the file name was or link they sent was.
This protects you from 99% of the self sending viruses through files using
chat programs and e-mails.
If you don’t get a sensible response or a response at all. Delete the message
don’t click the link do not accept the file.
Step 5: Dealing With Chat Bots
Another annoying security threat is spam bots, they normally attack through chatting software.
They add you and start talking with you. Naturally they are easy to identify and defend against.
Normally they follow a script spamming their most wanted response which is normally trying
to get you to visit a website or sending you a file.
Don’t click the link or accept the file. Try to have a normal conversation with the person and
ask them out of topic questions. Ex the person talks about cars or something you start talking about the beach.
If you don’t get a response relating to your topic ask them what 1 + 1 is this will catch 99.99% of all spam bots.
Just ban these persons.
What are your own online security tips? share them by commenting below.
