3 Common Security Myths
Myth: A random password like “g5x@6^” is the best way to do a password.
Fact: While having a mix of character types is important, the length and content types of the password is more important so long as it isn’t a famous phrase. It should be easy to remember and type but hard to guess.
Examples of good passwords:
- $anP3ngu1nwich (This is combining the words penguin and sandwich)
- Zoe1sMyf@tCat (Spells zoe is my fat cat)
Myth: Antivirus is enough to protect me online
Fact: While it’s important to have AV, many attacks on online accounts use social engineering and phishing. This is just another way to sayhustling and scamming in the internet.
Protection: Think about what you do. Would you give a stranger on the street $50 bucks because he says he needs it for something and will share the profit with you?
Myth: Using bit torrents are an easy way to get music and movies for free.
Fact: While Bit torrents have legitimate uses, it’s usually in the form of large data for open source projects and scientific research. Media files and copyrighted software obtained this way probably have viruses that will make your computer too slow to use. They will also steal your information, possibly delete all your files, and it is against the law.
Protection: Don’t steal media. Use legal streaming sites such as hulu, netflix, and youtube. Also, use Antivirus! Avast is free and is available for your phone and PC.
Phishing Checklist
What to check
Look for the lock! If your website is legitimate it will have a green lock next to it’s name in your browser.
Check where your mail comes from
Before clicking on any link in email let your mouse hover and see where it’s really taking you.
Check grammar and punctuation. Your school and bank shouldn’t be doing worse than you.
If you get a virus infection warning close you’re browser completely with “command q” on Mac, or atl f4 on windows. Never click anything on the warning. The entire window can be a huge yes button.
Common scams
You won 150 million dollars!
You‘ve been selected for a secret beta server on xbox live!
This mod will improve your Call of Duty Black Ops 2 rank 10 levels!
I saw you in class and I got a big crush on you…
Click here for secret, unlimited, free, and legal TV streaming!
I’m stuck in South Africa and need you to Western Union me money.
You’re PC has malware! Click here to scan and clean it!
Password Checklist
Use a long password or a passphrase
Don’t use common words
Use password checking websites
Use a password database so you only have to remember a master password
Use a cloud service like spideroak to make your keypass file available to you anywhere you go.
Make it unique enough so that it can’t be guessed from going to your facebook or reading your tweets.
Get creative and put a word inside a word
Make your password recovery questions answers hard to guess from going to your facebook