Stay secure on public Wi-Fi

Stay secure on public Wi-Fi

Whether you're using a laptop, tablet or smartphone, you'll want to connect your device securely to protect your data as much as possible.

Nothing Is Private on Open Wi-Fi

 Here's some steps you can take to help make sure your computer and data is safe on open public Wi-Fi.

 1. Use a VPN to connect to the hotspot.

 A VPN provides a secure and private way to connect to open networks.

2.  HTTPS Everywhere from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). 

This allows you to have a secure connection when you visit common sites like Google, Yahoo, ebay, Amazon, and more.

3.Turn off all sharing:

1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel, and then click Network and Sharing Center.
2. In the panel on the left, click Change advanced sharing settings, and then click the arrow next to Home or Work.
3. Check the following settings:
   
   • Network Discovery: Off
   • File and Printer Sharing: Off
   • Public Folder Sharing: Off
   • File Sharing Connections: Use 128-bit encryption...
4. Click Save Changes.

 

4. Run Anti-Virus Software 

Always running up-to-date anti-virus software can help provide the first alert if your system has been compromised while connected to an unsecured network.

5. Avoid Automatically Connecting to Wi-Fi Hotspots

 Your wireless device may be set to automatically connect to any available Wi-Fi hotspot. That  can seriously endanger your privacy. Not only will this allow your device to connect to public networks without your express permission, you may also be automatically connecting to malicious networks set up specifically to steal your information.

6. Confirm the Network Name: 

Sometimes hackers will set up a fake Wi-Fi network to attract unwitting public Wi-Fi users.Make sure you know the name off the network before you connect.If you’re not sure if you’re connecting to the official network, ask.Employees will know the name of the official network.

Don’t enter personal information connected to a Wi-Fi Hotspot unless you’re completely sure everything is safe and encrypted. If you need to do Internet Banking, wait until you’re at home or in the office.

Free Email

Popular Free Email Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tips Everyone Should Know

Tips Everyone Should Know

Shift key and Mouse

Place your cursor at the beginning of a paragraph in a text editor or webpage and left click 1 time , hold down the Shift key and click at the end of the paragraph to highlight the full paragraph.

 

Double-clicking and Triple-clicking

 Any word can be selected by double-clicking the word. If you want to highlight the whole paragraph try triple-clicking.

Lock your computer

Hold down the window key (usually between the ctrl and Alt key) and press L on your keyboard.

McAfee Security Tips

McAfee Security Tips - 13 Ways to Protect Your System

In addition to installing our products, we recommend that you follow these simple, common-sense precautions to reduce your exposure and protect your system.

1. Do not open email attachments from an unknown, suspicious, or untrustworthy source. If you're not familiar with the sender, do not open, download, or execute any files or email attachments.
2. Do not open an email attachment unless you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a friend or someone you know. Some viruses replicate themselves and spread via email. Stay on the safe side and confirm that the attachment was sent from a trusted source before you open it.
3. Do not open any email attachments if the subject line is questionable. If you feel that the attachment may be important to you, always save the file to your hard drive before you open it.
4. Delete chain emails and other spam from your inbox. It's best not to forward or reply to messages like these. Unsolicited, intrusive mail clogs up networks, may contain annoying or offensive content, and may result in security and privacy risks.
5. Exercise caution when downloading files from the Internet. Make sure that the website is legitimate and reputable. Verify that an anti-virus program has checked the files on the download site. If you have any doubts, don't download the file at all. If you download software from the Internet, be especially vigilant of free software, which often carries adware or other potentially unwanted content along with it. Always read the privacy policies and end-user license agreements (EULAs) for software you install, regardless of the source. Be especially wary of screensavers, games, browser add-ons, peer-to-peer (P2P) clients, and any downloads claiming to be “cracked” or free versions of expensive applications, such as Adobe® PhotoShop® or Microsoft® Office. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
6. Avoid downloads from non-web sources altogether. The chances of downloading infected software from Usenet groups, IRC channels, instant messaging clients, or P2P is very high. Links to websites seen in IRC and instant messaging also frequently point to infected downloads. Avoid obtaining your software from these sources.
7. Update your anti-virus software often. Threats are on the increase, and they are constantly evolving. Hundreds of viruses are discovered each month. To make sure that you are protected against the newest breed of threats, update your anti-virus software frequently. That means downloading the latest virus signature files and the most current version of the scanning engine.
8. Back up your files frequently. If a virus infects your files, at least you can replace them with your backup copy. It's a good idea to store your backup files (on CDs or flash drives) in another secure physical location away from your computer.
9. Update your operating system, web browser, and email program on a regular basis. For example, you can get Microsoft® security updates for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Explorer at http://www.microsoft.com/security.
10. Vigilance is the best defense against phishing scams. “Phishing” describes scams that attempt to acquire confidential information such as credit card numbers, personal identity data, and passwords by sending out emails that look like they come from real companies or trusted individuals. If you happen to receive an email message announcing that your account will be closed, that you need to confirm an order, or that you need to verify your billing information, do not reply to the email or click on any links. If you want to find out whether the email is legitimate, you can contact the company or individual directly by calling or writing to them.
11. Do not open messages or click on links from unknown users in your instant messaging program. Instant messaging can be a vehicle for transmitting viruses and other malicious code, and it’s another means of initiating phishing scams.
12. Use a personal firewall.  A hardware firewall that sits between your DSL router or cable modem will protect you from inbound attacks. It’s a must for broadband connections. A software firewall runs on your PC and can protect you from both inbound and outbound attacks.
13. Check your accounts and credit reports regularly.  Identity thieves can begin using your personal information to open accounts, purchase goods, and make your life miserable within minutes of obtaining that data. Check your bank account and credit card statements frequently. That way, if you discover that your personal information has been compromised, you can alert credit companies and banks immediately, so they can close your accounts.

If you have any questions about virus-related issues, please contact virus_research@mcafee.com.

Source: http://www.mcafee.com/us/mcafee-labs/resources/security-tips-13-ways-to-protect-system.aspx

Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts 

• Press the Windows key to enter the tiled Start screen.
• The Windows key + M minimizes everything that's showing on the desktop.
• The Windows key + E opens Explorer for quick access to folders.
• On the Start screen, press the Windows key + D to instantly get to the desktop.
• The Windows key + Tab opens a list of currently running programs.
• The Windows key + Print Screen takes a screenshot and saves it in a Screenshots folder nested in your Pictures folder. 
• To take a screenshot on a Windows 8 tablet, simultaneously press the Windows button and the volume-down button on the tablet chassis.
• The Windows key + Q opens a global search menu. Type what you're looking for and where you would like to look.
• The Windows key + W opens a search in your system settings to quickly locate and change system properties.
• The Windows key + F opens a file and folder search.
• The Windows key + Pause opens the system properties page to show you a quick rundown of your specs.
• The Windows key + "," (that's the comma sign!) makes all current windows transparent, giving you a peek at the desktop as long as you hold down the Windows key.
• The Windows key + "." (the period) snaps a window to the right or left side (toggling each time you press ".").
• The Windows key + R prompts the Run command—useful for quickly launching apps and other routines with a command prompt.
• The Windows key + X opens the Quick Access Menu, exposing system functionality such as the Command Prompt, Disk Management, File Explorer, Run, and more. Alternatively, you can right-click on the bottom right corner of the screen to spawn the Quick Access Menu.
• The Windows key + I opens the settings menu, giving you quick access to the Control Panel, Personalization, and your Power button, among other features.
• The Windows key + O locks orientation on devices with an accelerometer.

Spear Phishing

Spear phishing is a more dangerous cyber attack than typically "blind" phishing or spam attempts because they lull people into a false sense of security. Consumers are on their guard against spam from sources they don't know. But when an email seems to be from a trusted entity, or include personal details such as their name, people are more likely to do what it says.


Phishing IQ TEST-http://www.sonicwall.com/furl/phishing/phishing-quiz-question.php

Scareware

Scareware: Scareware is software that tricks people into downloading or purchasing it, under the guise of fixing their computer, when in reality the faux anti-virus program is the real problem. Scareware programs often run a fictitious or careless system scan, and then present the user with a list of malicious programs that must be corrected, always leaving itself off of the list. The scareware then informs that in order to fix these "problems" it will require the user to pay a fee for a "full" or "registered" version of the software. Examples of scareware include: System Security, Anti-Virus 2010, and Registry Cleaner XP.