So far in our series on Internet Safety and Security we've looked at the passive attacks you may be subject to - scams, viruses, phishing emails, and spyware. In part 3 we'll look at how to stay safe from the more direct attacks: hackers trying to intercept your data or break into your system!

Hackers

Although most of the threats on the internet these days are from automated attacks such as phishing and malware, there are still people making an effort to break into computer systems. For the most part, these hackers target large organisations with potentially huge payoffs, like online banks, but there are still those who target any unprotected connection.

The defense against these attacks is a Firewall. This can be a software program running on your computer or a hardware device sitting between your computer and the internet. Most modern internet connections run through a router (to be shared around the house) and these usually contain a firewall. Even if you do have a hardware firewall, you should still protect your PC individually. Since Windows XP, Windows Firewall has been included as standard in the Operating System and provides more than enough functionality for most users.

If you're using an online program like iTunes and you turn the Firewall off to get it to work, you're opening yourself up to potential attacks. Always make sure your Firewall is turned on and configured properly.

Secure webpages

Information you type into webpages is always sent somewhere. When you log in to a website, you're sending your username and password to their system to be checked. A secure connection encrypts the data so that only the computer you're trying to send to can understand it. Without a secure connection, it's possible for somebody to intercept the data and steal your information. This is often known as a 'man-in-the-middle' attack.

Think of it as handing an unsealed letter to a complete stranger to deliver on your behalf - you'd be kidding yourself if you thought the contents would go unread.

This is most important when shopping. You wouldn't just let anyone have your credit card details; you want them to go to the retailer and only the retailer. Secure connections are indicated by a padlock icon in the address bar of the major browsers. If you don't see this symbol when you're about to make a payment, think twice.

If you're concerned about attacks on your network, or have any other questions about your business' IT needs, get in touch!

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