In light of the recent news about Harith Iskandar and his baby pictures appearing in a porn strewn web site, Trend Micro Malaysia have released a short list on tips and fixes to protect you and your family online. Recognising that everyone who uses the Internet will be exposed to such dangers, it becomes very important that we also take steps to protect ourselves instead of blindly exposing ourselves to high-profile hacks or identity theft or worse. Check out the steps below and what Trend Micro Malaysia have to say about it all:
- Oversharing ~ social media makes it very easy for kids and other family members to share just about anything from photos, location, and other types of information to their network. Unfortunately, oversharing poses a risk of exposing sensitive details not only to social network contacts, but to cybercriminals who could use them for identity theft and other malicious purposes. The fix: The hard and fast rule here is to simply watch what you post online and keep personal information private. Thinking before posting will cut down the chances of posting something that you may regret later. For parents, educate the kids about the possible implications of posting to a network. Social network accounts can also be secured by going over the privacy settings to limit who can see what is being shared.
- Inappropriate content – while the Internet offers a world of fun and learning for kids, it’s also rife with sites with sexual, violent and inappropriate content. The fix: To avoid accidentally being exposed to these sites, parents should establish rules regarding computer and Internet use and lead by example. Parents can also block access to mature and inappropriate sites by using a browser's built-in content filters, as well as installing security software that offers parental controls and monitoring features.
- Exploitative cyberbullies – the Internet could be the perfect place to meet new people and foster new friendships. However, some kids (and adults) don’t scrutinize new connections and end up being victims of cyberbullying or exploitation. The fix: Privacy and Internet safety is not just about what you share, but more importantly, who your audience is as well. While parents should monitor who their kids add to their social networks, and confirming that they personally know everyone in contact with their children to minimize the risk of exploitation and cyberbullying it is also good to explain the consequences of Friending someone you don't know who could just be there to exploit you.
“The power of social media encompasses communications, connections, and how we gather news, stories, and other pieces of information. However, as we all know, social media is not without risks. With the whole world as your potential audience, anybody can see what you’re doing, what you’re up to, and even know your whereabouts¹. The Internet is inherently public, but that doesn’t mean you should give up your rights to privacy and security. Whether we like it or not, everyone who uses the Internet will constantly be exposed to online dangers. With the many high-profile hacks taking center stage in recent years, it is even more important today to be aware of what you put out there, and to start developing safe and secure online habits when it comes to protecting your social media and how to stay safe online.” Goh Chee Hoh, Managing Director for Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, Trend Micro.
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