Beware The Dancing Bunnies: Internet Security From The Bottom Up

Internet security is a hot issue. Many news stories concern the spread of a new virus or the most recent fraud committed online in which hundreds or thousands of people lost a fortune to criminals. Many actions are suggested for helping to defend yourself against this, such as buying the latest internet security suite, but in this article, we will look at three other examples of things that can keep you safe. We will look at passwords, ideal behavior online and device reputation as ways to keep your sensitive information confidential.

Passwords

Many people fall at the first hurdle by not spending enough time on their passwords. All too often they assume that it is a human being who will be attempting to guess it. However, a far more common approach is simply to have a computer program run through thousands of combinations of dictionary words in a second to try to find a match. Therefore, dictionary words are not safe. A better solution may be to choose a random string of letters and numbers and then keep a note of it somewhere. A random sequence is far harder for a computer to guess.

Device Reputation

A more elaborate form of security that is now operating behind the scenes in many cases is called device reputation. This means keeping track of what computers are used for nefarious purposes and then limiting their access. A great many internet attacks are caused by remote computers whose users are often not aware of what is happening. These computers can be taken out of the equation by labelling them as dangerous and then limiting their access to the internet. Thankfully, this process occurs behind the scenes and does not require any action on the part of the users.

Online Behavior

The final point: do not click the dancing bunnies. This simple piece of advice would help many people avoid danger if only they took it seriously. Any attention-grabbing advertisement or pop-up could potentially be a security breach waiting to happen. One of the ways criminals try to get through the various defenses is simply by tricking their target into giving them permission. Therefore, do not click on seemingly trivial banners, do not open emails promising amazing things, and try to avoid any behavior that could potentially be turned against you.

Conclusion

Online security is a result of many factors. While a good security suite is still recommended for the best safety, you can greatly enhance your experience by simply avoiding many of the dangers in the first place. Avoid clicking on attractive ads and banners, do not open questionable emails, and device reputation systems should take care of the rest. Security is a combination of active and passive approaches, and these should give you the best chance of staying safe.


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