Saturday, November 28, 2009

10 Steps to avoid Cyber Attack during Holiday Shopping.

Holiday season is here and the whole world is shopping. I am sure that a 50 % increase will be recorded in online shopping. Here we have to take out your credit card and open net banking accounts to pay your stuffs. Maximum care must be employed to safeguard your online identity and avoid monitory loss. Cyber attacks are also increased to 50% for your information. Here are some important safety guidelines to avoid a cyber crime.
1. Check your balance regularly even if you are not using your cyber accounts.
2. Pay your stuffs through bonafied vendors only. Now it is quite possible to use verified sites and reputed agents.
3. A disciplined buyer always goes for reputed suppliers and sellers.
4. Follow physical payment methods like checks and documents for large purchases.
5. Opt for instalments and limit your maximum purchase per sale.
6. Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
7. Change your passwords frequently and use guidelines for Password Protection.
8. Your awareness and vigilance will always help you to safe guard your cyber identity and online bank accounts.
9. Be innovative and different in handling your account and this will avoid you from losing money.
10. Don’t ever go for fraud sellers and unauthorized vendors.

Also read

Tips for safe passwords for bank accounts and online accounts.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Cyber Wellness Student Ambassadors program

The Internet is a place of unlimited resources of knowledge and wealth as well as potential dangers. Students and youngsters are more affected due to cyber attacks. But it is important to safe guard your youngsters from cyber encroach. Cyber Wellness Student Ambassadors program is one good example for such an attempt. Ministry of Education (MOE), the Infocom Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and Microsoft Singapore are the partners. Guiding children and youth to safely navigate cyberspace is an important objective for Microsoft. Students who want to play an active role in promoting cyber wellness among their peers can now become Cyber Wellness Student Ambassadors. The Cyber Wellness Student Ambassador Programme is launched today to promote safe and responsible use of Information-Communication Technologies (ICT) among students through peer education. The programme is a part of the BackPack LIVE! Education Initiative led by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Infocom Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and Microsoft Singapore. Microsoft Singapore will also be working closely with the Cyber Wellness Student Ambassadors on the creation of a skit called ‘Buddy Goes to School’. Through positive peer influence and peer education, the Programme will provide a platform for cyber wellness messages to be delivered from the youths’ viewpoint. Student Ambassadors will also benefit from their direct involvement as they are actively engaged in planning and designing activities to propagate cyber wellness messages.

Learn more at Singapore Launches Cyber Wellness Student Ambassador Programme

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Tips for safe passwords for bank accounts and online accounts.


Holidays are here and shopping season is picking up. I am sure that you are going to take out your credit card to buy every sort of services and products. It is the time to make sure that cyber thieves are not benefiting from your expense. So you must take care of the following facts to protect yourself from cyber attacks.
1. So pay close attention to your bank and credit card accounts during the holidays.
2. Update your anti-virus software regularly and rely on it to alert you to a virus.
3. Don't shop from internet cafes and public computers.
4. Create complex passwords
To avoid your cyber identity or account it is important to choose a sufficiently healthy password. Password guessers and hackers are trying their best to robe your identity and password. A wise netizen must aware of the possible
1. Select a password as long as possible.
2. Use as many different alpha numeric characters as possible
3. Do not use personal information
4. Do not use words that are related to you.
5. Do not replicate your account number as password.
6. Do not replicate your username as password.
7. Use both upper and lower case letters in your password.
There are many things you should avoid in your password that include Your name, Your spouse's name, Your parent's name, Your pet's name, Your child's name, Anybody's name, Your phone number, Any part of your social security number, your birth date or Other information that is easily obtained about you. Taking care of these things will make your password stronger and your cyber identity safer. Try this today before you loss valuables or identity.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Cyber security (Online Security) Threat or attacks and the Regulations

Cyber security (Online Security) Threat or attacks and the Regulations is an earnest attempt to show the inner side of cyber crimes. There are many cyber crimes are happening on every day basis. Rather it is happening on every second basis. Some facts like 1 out of 5 e-mail messages that corporate servers receive are spam and 1 out of 20 is infected with malicious software (software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. Consumer Reports released a report in 2006 showing that United States consumers would spend $7.8 billion over the last two years for computer repairs and replacements because security attacks like malicious software and viruses are unbelievable.
Cyber security (Online Security) is about safeguarding or securing your online identity (cyber identity) from any threat or attack that may use you confidential or valuable data and information without authority or your knowledge, protect you machine from different threat or attacks like viruses, worms, spy ware, and mal-ware. When these threat or attacks are blended together, they can overload and shut down systems and resources.
Everybody seems to rely on online identity (cyber identity) nowadays, bill payments can be done online, communication, transportation, entertainment and other aspects of our lives depend or influenced by computers. This is why computer or Cyber security (Online Security) threat or attacks are important to be dealt immediately.
There are different kinds of online identity (cyber identity) threat or attacks, for example, our browsers are not that safe anymore. Browsers have vulnerabilities where expert hackers can exploit codes and passwords. Hackers would use even our trusted websites to make these attacks. This is why software manufacturers are investing on security to setup tools that would protect users even on trusted sites.
Another alarming online identity (cyber identity) threat or attack is that there are an increased number of incidents where national records are extracted. Economic data of a nation or state can fall victims to cyber theft. National and state governments are not the only victims, in the United Kingdom cyber theft is recognized to be among the biggest crime in the country. Cyber theft could include credit card fraud, illegal bank transfers and phishing attacks.
Phising attacks are fraudulent processes where sensitive personal and financial information are asked from an individual. People would fall victims to phishing scams since they pose as legal and trustworthy institutions, they are normally send out through emails and instant messaging.
Computers are not the only targets of cyber threat or attacks, mobile phones are also being attacked by worms, viruses, and malicious software. Mobile phones are very susceptible to hackers and also viruses. Old cellphones can be immune to viruses, but new cell phones, the smart ones, because of their standardized operating system are now in risk of viruses.
Multimedia messaging services or MMS can send multiple copies of the phone address book or copy the phone book into a new handset just within a couple of minutes. Aside from that it could also infect other phones within the area and disrupt communication protocols.
Cyber-terrorism is also another increasing Cyber security (Online Security) threat or attack experienced by users. Some experts would say that cyber terrorism is just the same as hacking. But experts would agree that it is intended to create or start fear, physical harm or death by using electronic methods.
An example would be the case in Romania, where terrorists were able to control the life support systems in an Antartic research station, putting 58 scientists in danger. This kind of attack can affect a great deal of people, weaken the economy and even make the country vulnerable to military attacks.
Another common Cyber security (Online Security) problem would be the attacks of people themselves, like disgruntled employees. In a survey conducted by the Nucleus Research and Knowledge Storm, 1 out 3 workers would jot down their passwords. This is not the best security practice since jotted down passwords can be lost and used by unsatisfied workers.
There is increasing number of Cyber security (Online Security) threat or attacks that needs to be addressed immediately. Long-term plans and solutions should be created to address the increasing number of victims. While we wait for government and organizations to come up with long-term solutions, it is our individual responsibility to make sure that we keep our personal and work-related information safe.
Cyber security (Online Security) is meant to protect personal and work-related confidential or valuable data and information stored in our computer and personal websites. With the increase of individuals, organizations, and members of the community falling prey to cyber crimes and security attacks, there is an increase in demands for more measures to be taken.
Alarmingly, the number of people getting affected Cyber security (Online Security) attacks is increasing. According to a research by Panda Software in 2006, 1 out of 5 e-mail messages that corporate servers receive are spam and 1 out of 20 is infected with malicious software. Consumer Reports released a report in 2006 showing that United States consumers would spend $7.8 billion over the last two years for computer repairs and replacements because security attacks like malicious software and viruses.
Security attacks like these do not only cost an individual repair, businesses, organizations and the national economy could suffer losses. In 2005, cyber crime led to a loss of whopping $130.1 million, all because of viruses, unauthorized access to computer systems and personal and financial information theft.
There are numerous measures that should be taken by the government to help resolve cyber crimes and attacks. In the United States, there are different legislations in the executive and Congress level that are meant to protect computer systems and other medium of information technology. This is called cyber-security regulations.
Cyber –security regulations is to make sure that companies and private institutions would be using or safeguarding or securing their systems from any cyber attacks like viruses, worms, phishing, denial of service and unauthorized access.
The United States Chamber of Commerce said that there are about 64 % of small businesses that are getting protection for their systems to protect their customer’s financial information. While there are about 72 % of businesses expressed concern about security of the company’s assets and information.
In the United States, there are cyber-security regulations, for both federal and estate governments. For federal government Cyber security (Online Security) regulations, they focus mainly on specific industries and fields, healthcare, organizations, financial institutions and agencies that work with systems and information. Unfortunately, this regulation does not reach and cover computer related industries like Internet Service Providers (ISP).
Additional to this, the federal government is also trying to resolve issues of Cyber security (Online Security) breach by allocating more funds in research and programs directed to research better solutions and recommendations for improving Cyber security (Online Security). The government is collaborating with members of the private sector.
Meanwhile, states are forming their own methods of dealing with security attacks. An example is the regulation passed by the California State in 2003 called Notice of Security Breach Act. Different states have followed the example of California and created their own anti-breach regulations and standard procedure.
There has been an ongoing debate about Cyber security (Online Security) regulation. There are people who comments that creating a regulation is not the answer and not enough, what is needed is better defences against hackers, viruses and similar threat or attacks. The regulation is said to restrict industries to develop programs and software that would boost Cyber security (Online Security). Aside form this, businesses also fears that having the regulation will cut back their healthy profits since they would meet more limitations and would cost them more.
But in spite of regulations and software that could protect your computer and systems, still the best way to boost Cyber security (Online Security) is preventing any attacks from happening in the first place. There are easy tips that could be followed to avoid cyber attacks from happening.

Additional Security Guidelines from RBI

To make online payment safer, the RBI has made it mandatory, from 1st August onwards, for all online transactions to have an additional level of authentication. The additional level is a password that you will have to enter after entering your credit/debit card details. You will require this password for transacting on any website in India. This process will ensure that unauthorized individuals will not use your card to make payment online.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Popular Articles - Security

Online Child Protection Act

It is said that a child has an innocent mind. Children learn from what they see. Hence it is important to show those things that will be beneficial to them. If an inspiring movie is showed, it will definitely motivate them. It is said that children should be prohibited from watching any adult content. A law called child protection act was initiated in this regard.
Parents generally do not allow their children to watch any adult content. Today a variety of sources have become available to children that show obscene content. There are many websites that showcase content which is very harmful to children.
Online child protection act was passed in United States in 1998. The law is made in order to protect minors from any kind of harmful sexual material that is available on the internet. A minor in United States is a person who is less than 18 years old. Child online protection act has not come into effect as the law has been ruled out by federal courts.

Many federal courts feel that the law violates the constitutional right of freedom of speech. That is why this law has not been yet implemented. The Supreme court also declared this act as unconstitutional. Although this law has not been passed, similar laws have come into effect in United States.
The internet contains a lot of unwanted material. There are various online sites that provide harmful sexual material. This harmful material if seen by children can have a negative effect on them. In order to make this material inaccessible to children, child protection act was passed.
Internet pornography is distributed via websites and Usenet groups. The makers of child online protection act wanted to restrict the access of internet pornography. The makers wanted internet pornography to be inaccessible to children who are less than 18 years.
Online child protection act limits commercial and affects providers that are based within United States. Makers of Online child protection act wanted all commercial distributors that provided harmful sexual material to restrict their websites from access to children. Sexual material that explicitly demonstrated sexual acts or showed nudity was considered extremely harmful for minors. According to this law obscenity was also considered harmful to children who are less than 18 years old.
Although makers of child online protect act gave reasons for enforcing this law, the Supreme court found these reasons insufficient and hence the law could not be enforced.
Some believe that online child online protection act should be implemented as we harm the children by showing any obscene content. The lawmakers of child protection act believed that restriction of access to websites that displayed harmful sexual material is beneficial for minors. They believed that some minors may commit crimes after watching this content.
Minors are citizens of tomorrow. In order to make better citizens of tomorrow, they believed that this law should have been implemented.
As internet is growing rapidly it is essential to protect the kids from any harmful content. Hence it is important to enforce this child online protection act.