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Pretty much up to now (if you are working down the menu on the
left) you will see that much of my orientation is to your security and
protection. Like safety in the big city, education and familiarity
with the landscape is the key.
Your security can be total, but you will never do anything.
All of life is compromise and security is no exception. Imagine
you have a squad of bodyguards,.. for total security, they would have
you sitting by yourself in a well lit room in the middle of a fallout
shelter or blast proof bunker! You would remain secure all
right,.. but you would get nothing done! Welcome to life, as some
would say (probably the same type who are classed as cynics by their
acquaintances).
To be secure on the web, first you have to secure your
computer - see the essentials series on the menu if you have not already
and make sure that you have followed the suggestions there.
Parents - let's talk to you first. Your kids might be
angels, too small to know what a mouse is or be precocious little
demons. The one thing all kids have in common is their curiosity!
Even if they are not old enough to operate your computer yet, they will
be!
Password protect your start up profile.
Typically, if you do not have to enter a password to start using your
computer, you are logged in with full administrator rights. Many
will run a computer without a sign-on password; this is not recommended
for many reasons, but stopping administrator sign on by anyone who can
get near your computer should be a good enough reason to NEVER do it!
Get some filtering software on your
computer. It works by blocking sites with adult content,
filtering content and a number of other wonderfully clever ways to keep
kid's eyes off what they shouldn't be seeing. Don't worry, you
will still be able to customise controls enough to allow you to do
whatever you wish without filtering. A word of caution, this
software can be duped by a sufficiently savvy kid. Using an old
military axiom - in the war between armour and warhead, warhead
eventually wins! Educate and talk to your kids,.. keep the
computer use supervised and keeping lines of communications open are the
best ways of securing your kid's computer time.
| Net Nanny |
Link coming soon |
| Cyber Cop |
Link coming soon |
Set up a limited account for casual
users. Windows XP and Vista allows fully customised
profiles for each and every user. Set up a limited account (not an
administrator) for guest use of the computer so friends do not
accidentally navigate to directories you don't want them to see, find
emails that you would prefer to keep private etc. Often this is
referred to as a "Guest" account. This is for friends to check
their web emails, show you a site they found or check on the latest
sports scores. It inevitably happens and accidental file viewings
can happen just as easily.
Keep your identity private!
Photos, names, details etc are all well and good when accessed by those
who you wish to learn all about you. The problems come up when you
find your information being used in a way you did not think of before
posting it. If it is on the open web, it is public domain!
Friends and Foes alike can access information on the open web.
Never post anything that you would not feel comfortable seeing in the
newspaper!
Open web means not protected by passwords issued by you. Web
blogs, Yahoo profiles etc. are examples of open sites meaning anyone who
can open an account can get access to your information.
Limited web means your information is protected by passwords issued
by the site which holds your information. Corporate intranets and
auction sites are good examples of limited sites.
Closed web means inside a site where passwords are issued directly by
you or your administrator at your instruction. Personal password
protected web pages are closed sites.
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