Get smart with 5 minutes tutorials/IT-Security/Part 4: Surf more secure-which web sites to trust?

Hi,

I start a new series of blogs with educational vocation who will be easy to follow as they take only +/- 5 minutes and by following them and by applying my advice you will become a champion in IT-Security 😉

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What we already learned in Part1 + Part2 + Part3:

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The browser, such as: Internet Explorer [IE], Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari + … is the gateway for malware. You use your browser to navigate Internet and if your browser and add-ons are not updated they might lead you to a “drive-by-download“; thus meaning you infect your computer by only visiting a web site!!!

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• See Part1: browsers https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/get-smart-with-5-minutes-tutorialsit-securitypart-1-browsers/
• See Part2: Check your computer https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/get-smart-with-5-minutes-tutorialsit-securitypart-2-check-your-computer/
• See Part3: Update your Third Party Applications! https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/update-your-third-party-applications/

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Very important and what most of people don’t know and don’t realize: 

• Any installed software on your computer must be updated as older versions might have a vulnerability who could get exploited by the bad guys to take control over your computer!
• Not every web site you are visiting and/or who you find in the search results of search Engines are trustworthy and/or secure!

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Let’s go for part 4: Surf more secure-which web sites to trust?

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A bit of theory. If you don’t like, switch to first screenshot shown below to start straight of for practice. But it might be good (important) to know that theory, take your time, please 😉

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First a reminder and the most important to know to have best protection on your computer:

What you MUST KNOW! Automatic Windows Update must be enabled Third Party Programs are responsible for 78% of vulnerabilities!!! What are Third Party Applications (Programs)? Knowing that third party programs are vulnerable also, we must update them also! Use SECUNIA PSI to update automatically third party programs https://secunia.com/ Browsers (ALL) need to get updated! The weakest link in the Security Chain is the human! If you don’t respect certain advice you will get tricked by the Cyber-Criminals! ===> NOBODY is perfect! A security by 100% doesn’t exist! <===

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Secure Surfing Behavior

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One can’t trust any web site and any content published on Internet, don’t be naive! It’s the same as on real world, there are bad guys and good guys, but how to find out? My favorite FREE Software to make me my Online Life easier and more secure as they show me which web sites are trustworthy and which web sites I shouldn’t visit at all because they are malicious and could infect my computer is McAfee SiteAdvisor!!! But don’t forget also, there is and never will be a 100% security!

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Tip: you may use different similar software and add-ons together, there is no problem to do so. I use McAfee SiteAdvisor, WOT and as I have installed Symantec Internet Security (security suite) I get also their results shown… Other Security-Suites from different security manufacturers are also proposing similar solutions…

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First look what happens when clicking on any link without knowing if that web site is trustworthy and/or secure (not malicious), watch the video below please.

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McAfee SiteAdvisor™ software

McAfee SiteAdvisor™, software is an award-winning, free browser plug-in that gives safety advice about Websites before you click on a risky site. These site ratings are based on tests conducted by McAfee using an army of computers that look for all kinds of threats (detailed below). The result is a guide to Web safety. The SiteAdvisor software is free, easy to install and even easier to use. And it doesn’t collect any personally identifiable information.

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===> Check out here for downloadMcAfee SideAdvisor: http://home.mcafee.com/store/free-services <===

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Let me show an practice example here with a request on a Search Engine (Google) with search word “serialz“, I choose this word to show you ALSO the danger of trying to use illegal software, as you will get a “special bonus“, an infection of your computer with a “Trojan“, “backdoor” and other “malware” while downloading them and/or by using these not serious and illegal services, but check yourself by “learning by doing“; search first without having installed McAfee SiteAdvisor (but without clicking the proposed links, otherwise your computer will be infected) and then install the FREE service from McAfee SiteAdvisor and make the same search, screenshot below shows you the results obtained with different protection software installed (WOT, McAfee SiteAdvisor)…

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First result found in Google shows a web site which is detected as malicious, so don’t use the web sites marked wit a red dot!

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By moving the cursor over that “red dot” you will get more information about the state of security of that web site, so NEVER click on such links!!!

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This works ALSO for photos, e.g. search for “justin bieber”, check out screenshot below please.

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You will see again this “red dot” on right hand photo, NEVER click on such photos and don’t download them also!!!

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ALSO available for Mac users now

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• McAfee SiteAdvisor now supports Safari for Mac users

Other similar products:

• WOT (Web Of Trust)
• …

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..Don’t want to read all the above text and start the practice?

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Download Links: SECUNIA PSI ===> Automatic check and download of Third Party Applications WOT ===> Web Of Trust helps you identifying suspect web sites McAfee Site Advisor ===> helps you identifying suspect web sites Free Online Checks: F-Secure Health Check ===> ===> Reminder: NOBODY is perfect! A security by 100% doesn’t exist! <===

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Lots of new technical words, isn’t it? I will try to prepare also a technical dictionary about ALL these strange used words and review my tutorials by publishing inside them the signification of these words, coming soon, stay tuned… Step by step we go further 😉

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.Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness andSecurityEnhancementStructure)...... The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).

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