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Everyone from NASA, to the New York Times, even Microsoft and Google, to you and the guy next door, have felt the pain, irritation and inconvenience (or more) of being hacked. Ironically Google was hacked shortly after publishing a blog about security. In that instance it was a flaw in the program for Adwords that allowed a malicious file to be installed onto users’ computers which then obtained their passwords and got into their banks accounts, etc. Strangely even though it often doesn’t make much, if any, money, hacking is big business. So why do they do it? Some people just have too much time on their hands and they get a thrill out of the notoriety of getting into some high flying site or they just enjoy wreaking havoc. That said, international organised crime is also becoming more involved in hacking but they’re in it for the money. Nothing is sacred when it comes to security breaches including your bank accounts and credit cards plus anything else you may have on your computer. Identity theft, often via the Internet, is also alarmingly on the rise. The reality is that with a bit of skill, some precautions and lots of common sense, you don’t have to lose your website or your identity. Identity Theft Is Not Just For People What exactly is identity theft? It is the theft of personal details and/or documents which are then used to apply for credit cards, bank accounts, loans, other financial services, benefits such as housing, tax credits, income support, child benefit, a driving licence, vehicle registration, a passport or a mobile phone contract ALL IN YOUR NAME and without your knowledge. With a few bits of information from your PC, from your emails, your post or paper from your dustbin, criminals can become YOU. Companies and company directors can also have their identities stolen when someone fraudulently attempts to change their details with Companies House. Companies House reduces the chances of criminals being successful with a three point plan – WebFiling, PROOF and Monitor. For details about these services go companies house dot gov dot uk Ways to Protect Yourself – Companies or Individuals • Shred anything that contains personal or identifying information – invoices, receipts, bank statements, credit /debit card receipts or letters. • Check bank and credit card statements when they arrive and notify the bank or card company of any activity that is unfamiliar to you. • Use secure websites for all Internet shopping. Always look for the padlock in the lower right hand corner of the screen and a URL (web address) in the address bar of the website that starts with “https”. • Don’t enter personal or account details unless you know for sure you are on a secure page that will encrypt the information. • If an email comes in asking for personal details like account numbers, password, pin numbers, dates of birth etc. delete the email, DON’T RESPOND. Don’t be fooled by an email that says your account will be closed if you don’t respond. Legitimate organisations such as banks will never ask for this information via email. • Always keep your computer virus protection up to date and install a firewall to protect your computer while you’re online. • Keep all documents, credit cards and PIN numbers secure. Don’t carry credit cards if you don’t need to. Don’t put your PIN numbers in your wallet or purse with your credit or debit cards - this is considered negligent by the credit card companies. • If a passport or driving license has been lost or stolen notify the issuing agency immediately. There is much more information available – your bank and credit card websites all have sections on protecting yourself. identitytheft dot org dot uk is really useful for information for individuals and companies. And if that isn’t enough, google particular issues of interest about Internet security and identity theft – you’ll find loads more. Additional Ideas for Internet Security - this time for Keeping your Website Safe Chances are that your web site is safe, but do you know that for sure? Many users new to managing a website rely on something we used to call “security by obscurity”. They assume that they are too small and not well-to-do enough for anyone to be interested and that anything more than an anti-virus package is too much security. Nothing could be further from the truth. You need to proactively defend yourself against hackers. Again, although software has its place, often it’s common sense that will provide you with the best defences against being hacked. A few simple rules do apply. • If you are selling products and services on your web site, be sure you know enough about the software you’re using to set up the security correctly, and if you don’t, hire someone who does. • Change your passwords regularly and use complex, difficult to crack passwords that include letters, numbers and symbols. • Unless they work for you, DO NOT give out your server password to anyone, for any reason. Limit access to the server to people who really need to have it, and when they no longer need it, delete their account AND change the passwords. • KNOW, or learn, how your firewall operates and either know how to maintain your own server and other vital equipment or find someone you can trust to do it for you. • Check web logs regularly for strange or unusual activity. There is software available that will help keep track of log files and send an alert if there is any unusual activity. • Keep a complete backup of your website along with all the files it contains. Keep a copy on your computer and somewhere else e.g. an external hard drive. Update the backup weekly to accommodate any changes you may have made. Practice commons sense and vigilance and be safe.
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