Cyber Safe Practices

Smart Surfing

• Always use Genuine Operating System regularly updated with Internet.
• Always use Genuine Antivirus/Internet Security Software regularly updated with Internet. Also use Anti Spyware to protect your system from Trojans/Spyware/Malwares.
• Keep your firewall ON and updated.
• The Browser should be kept free from toolbars which get automatically installed on your browser.
• Never save your passwords on your browsers and Instant Messengers like Yahoo,Google,Skype etc.
• Keep your browser temporary cache, cookies clear on regular basis.
• While browsing don’t install shortcuts and toolbars from pop ups and ads.
• Don’t download pirated stuff from untrusted sites. (eg. Music,Videos,Free Softwares)
• Always install software’s available at the parent sites.
• Don’t click on suspicious links/hyperlinks which are luring and tempting.

E-mail Security

• Keep your passwords more than 8 characters with alphanumeric and special characters also using UPPER and Lower case. Eg. RaKsHiT-!@#
• Never keep same passwords for all your accounts.
• Keep your recovery options secured. Like Secret Question, Mobile SMS Alert, Secondary Email Address.
• Never post your email address on News Group and Social Network Sites.
• Always login the site on public networks/WIFI with HTTPS.
• Avoid using FREE WIFI Access at public places.
• DON’T Click on SPAMS/Junk Mail.
• Never share your email password with anyone.
• Whenever you need to forward an email to more than one person use the BCC option to write addresses.
• If you are unable to access your email account immediately report it to the Service Provider. They give you a option of forgot password/Account Hacked etc.

Social Networks/Chat

• Never post your Personal /Contact information on the social networking sites.
• Don’t publish your pictures/family pictures on the social media.
• Use the Privacy settings/security settings of the site wisely before you start using the service.
• DON’T FLIRT /Make anonymous friends or share your pictures/webcam with them.
• In case you are Cyber Bullyed/Cyber Stalked immediately report to the service provider of the site or the nearest Cyber Cell (Police Station)
• Never update your whereabouts on the social media. Like for eg. Your current location etc.
• One should never update relationships on the social media sites.
• Don’t Add unknown friends to your Profiles. Keep your Privacy options secured for FRIENDS ONLY. Immediately block unknown friends from your Profile.
• Don’t keep same password for your Social Media Account and your Email Account.
• Don’t click on suspicious posts and Ads occurring on social media. A lots of SPAM Links , luring and tempting with FALSE Information can appear on your account. DON’T Click on them and immediately report it as SPAM.

Prevent E-Frauds

• While using Online Shopping/Banking facility on your Internet always USES THE VIRTUAL KEYBOARD to enter sensitive details.
• Whenever you use Online Shopping/Banking do it from a PC which is secured with genuine OS and Antivirus.
• Don’t use public networks and public places to do Online Shopping/Banking.
• Don’t Share your Banking Passwords with anyone.
• Never give your Banking Passwords/Credit Card Details on phone, sms or Emails.
• Whenever using your CARD for shopping get it swiped in front of your Eyes.
• Erase the CVV Code from the back side of your card.
• Always keep your CARD Signed before you start using it.
• At ATM Counters be careful of cheats. Don’t leave your Transaction Slip at the Dustbin. When you use the ATM just be careful of nobody standing behind you and watching you. Leave the ATM Counter when the machine is completely logged off.
• Lots of FAKE EMAILS posing them to be from the bank asking you to verify your account due to security reasons. DON’T CLICK ON SUCH EMAILS.
• Emails with luring awards/Lottery/Business Opportunity/JOB Opportunity asking you to deposit money to claim are all FAKE /FRAUD.
• Emails claiming for online INCOME TAX REFUND are all fake/fraud.
• SMS on mobile for awards/lottery/winning alerts are FAKE/FRAUD.
• While doing Online Shopping/Banking always check the DOMAIN ( URL) you are working on. It should have HTTPS and PADLOCK. The URL should be of the parent site you are working on.
• ACTIVATE SMS ALERT Facility on all your Cards and Accounts. Whenever you Change your Registered Mobile Number , DO intimate to the concerned BANK in writing.

MOBILE SAFETY TIPS

• Keep your phone with you at all times. If you are worried about someone taking it, at school or if you are out, leave it at home.
• Give your mobile number only to your friends and people whom you trust.
• Don't lend your phone to someone you don't know or trust, or put it in a place where other people could get hold of it.
• Most phones allow you to lock your phone with a PIN code. If you don't have the code you can't unlock it, so if anyone steals your phone they won't be able to use it.
• If someone is pressuring you into giving him your number, tell someone about it to your teacher to your `parents.
• If you have Bluetooth on your phone, keep this switched off when you are not using it.
• Keep your WI-FI Off on a smartphone and also don't connect to WI-FI in public places.
• If using Smart phones like Android, Blackberry, Apple i-phones, keep GPS disabled with Social Networking Sites and aslo in Camera Settings keep GEO TAGGING disabled as it has a risk of sharing your location to public.
• Don't download unauthenticated applications fromunauthentic sources.
• Be very careful whenever you receive a call from or call back on unidentified numbers specally having 4,7,11,13 digits.
• Don't reply to SMSes with luring or tempting offers of prize winning or award winning.
• Every phone has SECURITY WIPE feature (security options) use this before selling your handset or exchanging your handset with anybody. This will prevent data theft from your device.
• Whenever you give your handset for repair or maintenance, always remove memory card, SIM card, battery and then handover. Transfer all your personal information from phone memory to memory card before giving it.
• Children should always give their parent's mobile phone number in public places, they should not share their personal number.
• Don't store personal pictures in your mobile phones because if stolen or lost, it can be misused.

FACEBOOK SECURITY

• Enable login notifications : This lets you know when your account has been accessed.
• Use a dedicated email address for Facebook.
• Create a strong password and use it only for Facebook.
• Change your password on a regular basis.
• Make only those people your friend whom you know.
• Share your personal information only with people and companies that need it.
• Log into Facebook only ONCE each session. If it looks like Facebook is asking you to log in a second time, skip the links and directly type www.facebook.com into your browser address bar.
• Use a one-time password when using someone else's computer.
• Download Apps only from trusted sites.
• Log out of Facebook when you are not using it.
• Use secure browsing whenever possible.
• Use trusted browser add-ons, eg. Web of Trust of Google Chrome.
• Beware of tempting and luring posts from anyone even friends. If it looks like something your friend wouldn't post, don't click on it.
• Scammers might hack your friends' accounts and send links from their accounts. Beware of enticing links coming from your friends.
• Keep separate password for email address and Facebook id.
• Enable Mobile Protection using your parents mobile number.
• Edit Profile and hide your Friends list, Relations, Mobile No., Email ID - ONLY ME
• For Rest, in Edit Profile Select - Friends only.
• In Privacy settings - App/Games/Website- disable Public Search. Turn Off all Spammy Apps.

Modem and WIFI Router Security

• All routers/Modems can be accessed by your browser with the default IP 192.168.1.1
• Username/Passwd to access is admin/admin or admin/password or admin/blank"leave it empty" once you do this you get the main setting screen of your router.
• First to change your access control password i.e. setup a new password for admin user.
• If its a WIFI then goto Wireless Settings->Security_> enable a WPK2 Security with AES Algorithm and a secret KEY.
• Minimise the threshold Frequency so that the range of your WIFI Router is limited to your premises.
• Also can USE MAC FILTER to predefine the MAC ID of your DEVICE around. So that no other can get connected to your WIFI.

There are a few things you should do to protect yourself while using wireless.

Be smart about what kind of data you transmit on a public wireless connection. Only transmit critical data from secure sites, ones where “HTTPS” appears in the address bar. These sites have additional encryption built in.

Don’t store critical data on a device used outside the secure network. I have a laptop and an iPhone. If they are hacked, there’s no data on either device that would compromise my identity or financial security.

If you have file sharing set up on a home network, when venturing to wireless hot spots you need to manually turn it off on your laptop.

Turn off WiFi and Bluetooth on your laptop or cell phone when you’re not using them. An unattended device emitting wireless signals is very appealing to a criminal hacker.

Beware of free WiFi connections. Anywhere you see a broadcast for “Free WiFi,” consider it a red flag. It’s likely that free WiFi is being used as bait.

Beware of evil twins. Anyone can set up a router to say “T-Mobile” “ATT Wireless” or “Wayport”. These are connections can appear legitimate but are actually traps set to snare anyone who connects.

Keep your antivirus software and operating system updated. Make sure your antivirus software is automatically updated and your operating system’s critical security patches are up to date.