CyberSafety.co.za

How to strengthen online security

IT security tools
One of the best ways of protecting yourself against online threats is to install a security solution that includes, in addition to the product itself, daily updates, technical support and customer services.
The product should incorporate all the necessary protection technologies:
•    Antivirus and antispyware – to keep out known viruses and spyware
•    Firewall – to keep out hackers
•    Identity protect – secures your personal data
•    Anti-spam – to blocks junk mail
•    Anti-phishing – to protect against online fraud
•    Proactive technologies – to detect unknown malware by analysing its behaviour.

Vulnerabilities and security patches
Download and apply security patches for vulnerabilities in the applications that you have installed. These patches are available from the website of each developer (e.g. Microsoft in the case of Microsoft Word).

Information as a defensive strategy
Stay up-to-date with news related to crimeware and its methods by visiting reliable security information websites — including this one

Common sense
Use common sense to protect yourself from phishing (emails that try to get you to provide personal information by pretending to come from trustworthy sources).
•    Always verify the information source. Do not automatically reply to any email message that asks for your personal or financial information. If you feel uncertain about whether that company really needs the kind of information it is requesting, pick up the phone book and phone your usual contact, in order to check the information source.
•    Type the web address in your Internet browser yourself. Instead of clicking on the links in the email message, type the web address (URL) in your browser. Even web addresses that look correct in the email message can be the path to a fraudulent website.

Be suspicious! Don’t provide personal details, passwords etc. to people you don’t know.

Above all, act with caution
•    Scan all emails received with your antivirus, even if you think you know the sender.
•    Don’t download programmes from dubious Internet sites and make sure that any programmes you download are certified by a public organization, editorial group or antivirus company.
•    Pay special attention to any signs of unusual behaviour in your computer (increase in file sizes, unusual warnings from Windows, emails from unknown sources or in different languages, etc.)

Panda Security offers various solutions to safeguard your computer.
•    Check the computer with Panda ActiveScan 2.0, Panda Security’s free, online scanner, which will quickly detect any possible threats.