Technology
Workshop ~ Internet Security
Definitions
Malware: (short for malicious software) is software designed to infiltrate a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.
Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojans, most rootkits, spyware, dishonest adware, crimeware, and other malicious and unwanted software, including true viruses.
Spyware: typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's personal computer. Sometimes, however, spywares such as keyloggers are installed by the owner of a shared computer on purpose in order to secretly monitor other users.
Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, such as Internet surfing habits and sites that have been visited, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software and redirecting web browser activity. Spyware is known to change computer settings, resulting in slow connection speeds, different home pages, and/or loss of Internet or functionality of other programs.
Virus: A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer. The term "virus" is also commonly, but erroneously, used to refer to other types of malware programs that do not have the reproductive ability. A true virus can only spread from one computer to another (in some form of executable code) when its host is taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it over a network or the Internet, or via floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive. Viruses can increase their chances of spreading to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer. The term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware.
Viruses are sometimes confused with computer worms and Trojan horses, which are technically different.
Worm: A worm can exploit security vulnerabilities to spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host, which means that it can enter your computer (via the internet) even without you doing anything.
Trojan: A Trojan horse is a program that appears harmless but has a hidden (usually malicious) agenda. An example would be an e-mail that appears to be from a friend and may have a "video" attached. When you try to watch the video a virus is unleashed instead of a video shown.
Tools
Anti-spyware: Software that screens incoming files and materials for software designed to “spy”, and either blocks or alerts to those applications. Some anti-spyware applications will also filter out pop-up windows and pop-up ads.
Anti-virus: Software that screens incoming (e-mails and attachments) or executed files and materials and either blocks or alerts to those that are infected.
Many "anti"-applications will do both; filter for spyware AND viruses and other malware.
Applications
This application is highly recommended and may be the best on the market. It is designed to catch all the big ones: adware, browser hijackers, data mining, key loggers, malware, parasites, registry entries, spyware, cookie trackers, Trojans, and handles anti-phishing, anti-spam, and scans e-mail.
This one combines anti-spyware and anti-virus in one application.
If you’re not keen on either of these, here is a link to a pretty decent comparison of anti-spyware applications. You will notice that Webroot’s Spy Sweeper (linked above) runs at the top of the pick list.
http://anti-spyware-review.toptenreviews.com/
Pricing notes:
1) If you’re going to use anti-spyware/virus software, don’t bother downloading free stuff. Nothing in life is free and that is true of anti-malware as well. The free downloads will not provide complete protection (or anywhere close).
2) Most of these applications (anti-spyware and anti-virus) will require an annual “renewal” to keep them updated. If you’re not going to keep them updated…don’t bother installing them. Criminals and internet jerks continue to evolve and develop new malware…anti-malware has to be updated to keep up, and to keep you protected.
3) “Price = Value” is not necessarily accurate. Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s the best. For example, Norton Antivirus is a little pricier than some, is a well-known name, and it gets some good marks from industry critics, but USERS – that’s you – don’t like it. It is an invasive application that is hard to get rid of if you should decide to use another software at some date in the future, and it’s not particularly user-friendly.
Your Kids and the
Internet
There is very little control through your browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari, etc.) for internet protections for you and/or your family. You will probably need to add some software or subscribe to a service to block your kids from accessing certain types of websites.
There are many applications for web controls, key logging, filtering, etc. Some have monthly/annual fees, some have a one-time purchase price. Do your own research to find what works for you, your family, and your budget.
Here are some links to get you started:
http://www1.k9webprotection.com/
Here are some designed for the Christian community:
http://www.hedgebuilders.com/standard.html
http://www.wisechoice.net/forchristians/
Other Information on internet safety and kids
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/parents/childsafety/steps.aspx
http://www.jcfaith.com – an alternative to Facebook or MySpace for your kids
Layers of Security
1) Education
Nothing you can install or sign up for can keep your family 100% safe, keep your data 100% off the internet, or prevent 100% of malware headaches. Eventually your children will access computers that YOU don't control which means they may have access to things that you have filtered, blocked, or disabled on your computers at home. Education can help them to know how to handle what they may see or experience when they are away from you home. Filtering, blocking, and disabling can be a PART of your internet safety protocol, but education MUST be a part of it also.
Teach your kids to not share ANY information over the internet unless they KNOW EXACTLY who they are talking to - like a friend from school or a family member.
Consider a time limit on "screen time".
Consider keeping the computer that your kids use in a common area where you can easily see what they are doing.
Be involved in their computer experience.
Raise up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6
2) Computer users
In addition to educating your family about internet safety you can set up a system of computer users that is custom-made to each family member. You can create multiple users for a computer that reflects the kind of user that person is limiting or granting access as it is appropriate - i.e., more access for adults, less access for kids.
The following screenshots come from clicking on the Start button at the bottom of the screen (I run Microsoft Vista). These are the steps to create a new user:
>Start
>Control Panel
Select "User Accounts and Family Safety", or specifically "Add or remove user accounts".
This is the window that you get with "User Accounts and Family Safety".
Select "Add or remove user accounts". You will see a window that looks something like this:
Select "Create a new account" and then follow the steps to set up this new user.
- give each user a unique, easy-to-remember name (typically their first name is sufficient)
- give each user a unique password and keep a master list of those passwords; kids should not be allowed to change their passwords nor should they have the accessability to do so. If they manage to change their password...delete them as a user and create a new user. PARENTS, YOU SHOULD BE THE ADMINISTRATOR...NOT your children.
- once you have set up your users, go back and set up the Parental Controls for each of the juvenile users, as you see fit.
3) Internet protections/controls (links above)
If you would like another level of security, you can add a service or software application for logging key strokes, tracking web surfing hits, blocking unwanted materials and websites, etc.
Before you spend hours researching filters, blockers, and key loggers you should spend a few minutes formulating your Web Philosophy of internet information and safety.
Ask yourself what you want to accomplish by blocking, filtering, tracking, or spying - or not doing any of these things. Do you simply want to protect your computer from junk and malware? Do you want to keep all your data private? Do you want to allow total freedom on the internet, but track what your kids do and where they go?
Remember, you can keep everything private; no Facebook, no websites, no blogs, no pictures, no directory listings, no nothing…but it is likely that something will get “out there”. Someone else may post a picture on their own Facebook profile, or your number will end up on a directory somewhere…the odds are high.
You may need to accept that some pieces of your personal information are going to end up on the internet, especially those pieces of information that are "public record" …you may not be able to stop it.
What you CAN control is how you behave on the internet and what information YOU put out there.
Here is my philosophy (it changes as time goes on, but these are the points that define my internet behavior today):
- I understand that information put out on the web is, theoretically, out there forever.
- I understand that my (and/or my family’s) information may find its way to the web by someone other than me.
- I understand that there are more than 1.7 billion users of the internet and not all of them are “friendlies”.
- I am interested in keeping my kids safe.
- I am interested in sharing pictures and stories and information with my family and friends, all over the world, via the web.
- I cannot control the flow of information, but I can teach my family how to be safe on the web and I can implement tools and resources to assist in that as necessary.
- The internet is an amazing place and I want my family to explore it, learn from it, enjoy it, and benefit from the wealth of knowledge that can be found there. I also want to protect them from unnecessary exposure to smut and filth.
- Ultimately, God is in control. We can
be wise and prudent users of the internet, and should do so. Predators are out there - they have always been out there. I will not live my life in fear, nor will I encourage my children to live that way. We will be cautious, but not obsesssive. We will be private, but not reclusive. We will seek to be wise and prudent users of the internet, surfing with our eyes open, guards up, and awareness at the ready.