Data Selection: Security
By Curtis Argent
Gaining Your Trust!
For an organisation to be successful, they must gain their customer's trust. To do this they must let them know that they take website threats seriously and they will use things such as virus protection and firewalls s to make sure that the following threats will not occur to anyone who is to log onto their website.
Cookies
Cookies is the first example of a potential threat that could allow people to gain access to other's data. What cookies do is that they save your information that you have put into a website. This may be remembering some products that you have purchased, and recommendations to similar products may appear in other webpages in the form of advertisements. They could also be remembering your password to websites or credit card details for example, which can be potentially dangerous.
Worms!
Now by this i don't mean worms that live in the ground or the computer game itself, no no.... I'm talking about the computer threat type of worm. The type of worm that are made up of malware that replicates itself on to other computers. This is dangerous because it goes from network to network, interrupting connection. for example, they may consume some of your networks bandwidth, which means that you will have a slower internet connection. This is, however, one of the least threatening of the list.
Viruses!
Now we are moving on to some of the very dangerous and very, VERY SERIOUS STUFF! We are talking about losing and/or getting your files corrupted by computer viruses. Some computer viruses can be so potentially damaging, that it can render your hard drive practically useless, forcing you to lose all your data, and have to pay for a new hard drive or get it repaired. Like worms, computer viruses are a type of computer malware, only more threatening to your computer, and the files within it.
Spyware!
Spies may be cool in things like Mission Impossible and other things of the sort, but when it comes to computer spyware, we ain't just messing about. Spyware is SERIOUS BUSINESS! and its important that you know what its about. So, spyware is basically a software that allows people to get information about other users and pretty much be able to use their identity for their own personal use without that person even knowing what is going on. This means they could steal your account passwords, address, and even credit card details! Some spyware can be hard to detect so be careful when searching untrustworthy websites.
Spam!
Don't get this confused with your favorite dinner, because you wouldn't like this type of spam with your eggs! This has got to be the annoying little brother of the list of threats in this list. I say this because what this is, is a type of software that people can use to send certain messages of their choice in bulk. This clogs up website with dozens of say advertisements and false messages such as your classic "YOUR OUR ONE MILLIONTH VISITOR!!!". I'm just going to say this now......that isn't legit.
Phishing!
If you come into contact with this, its because someone has flung a piece of bait onto your computer and just waiting for you to have a little nibble on it. Be wary of untrustworthy statements in the form of advertisements and links such as our old favorite "YOUR OUR ONE MILLIONTH VISITOR!!!". Phishing is when people try to scam you by posting false advertisement hoping that you will click on it and enter your details. What will happen is they will receive such details and use them for their personal use. Usually this is your credit card details that they are after, but if you have suspicions its that totally creepy and definitely-not-trying-to-find-out-where-you-live-person you saw at the other side of the shopping isle the other day, trying to get your address instead, then i guess your going to expect a doorbell ring very shortly.
Thankyou!
Thankyou for taking the time to read through my flyer of how to be aware of the potential threats of surfing the web and that you have learnt something from this, Especially you Mike :D