US-CERT Cyber Security Tip ST04-003 -- Good Security Habits
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Cyber Security Tip ST04-003
Good Security Habits
Good Security Habits
There are some simple habits you can adopt that, if performed
consistently, may dramatically reduce the chances that the information
on your computer will be lost or corrupted.
How can you minimize the access other people have to your information?
You may be able to easily identify people who could, legitimately or
not, gain physical access to your computer--family members, roommates,
co-workers, members of a cleaning crew, and maybe others. Identifying
the people who could gain remote access to your computer becomes much
more difficult. As long as you have a computer and connect it to a
network, you are vulnerable to someone or something else accessing or
corrupting your information; however, you can develop habits that make
it more difficult.
* Lock your computer when you are away from it. Even if you only
step away from your computer for a few minutes, it's enough time
for someone else to destroy or corrupt your information. Locking
your computer prevents another person from being able to simply
sit down at your computer and access all of your information.
* Disconnect your computer from the Internet when you aren't using
it. The development of technologies such as DSL and cable modems
have made it possible for users to be online all the time, but
this convenience comes with risks. The likelihood that attackers
or viruses scanning the network for available computers will
target your computer becomes much higher if your computer is
always connected. Depending on what method you use to connect to
the Internet, disconnecting may mean ending a dial-up connection,
turning off your computer or modem, or disconnecting cables.
* Evaluate your security settings. Most software, including browsers
and email programs, offers a variety of features that you can
tailor to meet your needs and requirements. Enabling certain
features to increase convenience or functionality may leave you
more vulnerable to being attacked. It is important to examine the
settings, particularly the security settings, and select options
that meet your needs without putting you at increased risk. If you
install a patch or a new version of the software, or if you hear
of something that might affect your settings, reevaluate your
settings to make sure they are still appropriate (see
Understanding Patches, Safeguarding Your Data, and Evaluating Your
Web Browser's Security Settings for more information).
What other steps can you take?
Sometimes the threats to your information aren't from other people but
from natural or technological causes. Although there is no way to
control or prevent these problems, you can prepare for them and try to
minimize the damage.
* Protect your computer against power surges. Aside from providing
outlets to plug in your computer and all of its peripherals, some
power strips protect your computer against power surges. Many
power strips now advertise compensation if they do not effectively
protect your computer. During a lightning storm or construction
work that increases the odds of power surges, consider shutting
your computer down and unplugging it from all power sources. Power
strips alone will not protect you from power outages, but there
are products that do offer an uninterruptible power supply when
there are power surges or outages.
* Back up all of your data. Whether or not you take steps to protect
yourself, there will always be a possibility that something will
happen to destroy your data. You have probably already experienced
this at least once-- losing one or more files due to an accident,
a virus or worm, a natural event, or a problem with your
equipment. Regularly backing up your data on a CD or network
reduces the stress and other negative consequences that result
from losing important information (see Real-World Warnings Keep
You Safe Online for more information). Determining how often to
back up your data is a personal decision. If you are constantly
adding or changing data, you may find weekly backups to be the
best alternative; if your content rarely changes, you may decide
that your backups do not need to be as frequent. You don't need to
back up software that you own on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM--you can
reinstall the software from the original media if necessary.
_________________________________________________________________
Both the National Cyber Security Alliance and US-CERT have identified
this topic as one of the top tips for home users.
_________________________________________________________________
Authors: Mindi McDowell, Allen Householder
_________________________________________________________________
Produced 2007 by US-CERT, a government organization.
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