The following list of rules, assists you to use the Internet and Emails a bit more safer. As you apply these rule into your daily work, you will have less problems with Pishing-Mails, Viruses and so on.



Emails:

• Send confidential information only by encrypted email (Attachments have to be encrypted, too. Most Email-Programs don't let you encrypt attachments, so you have to do this separate). Use programs such as PGP or GPG to encrypt your emails and attachments.
  
• Never click on links in emails, if you don't know the source of the mail. Check the source code of the email for unordinary URL's or very long URL's including different Domains, delete the mail in such cases.
  
• Save Email-Attachments you receive and scan them with a Virusscanner, before you open or use such files.
  
• To request information from a service provider, use free email accounts such as yahoo.
  
• Never answer emails where you don't know the source or when the content seems to be dubiously. If you answer to such email, you just show, that your Email-Address is a valid one. In case you receive Email offering a commission when helping in a financial deal, delete them, that's obviously a scam, especially if you don't know the source of the Email.
  
• Never participate in Chain-Emails, viruses could be spread across the Internet by such Emails. Chain-Emails could also come to you as Viruswarnings, don't believe them as long as the warning comes from an official source.
  
• With Pishing-Mails the sender tries to get your Access Information to Bank Accounts or Credit Cards. Such Emails look like well-known business mails from banks and so on. However, never use links in such Emails, if you feel unsecure, login to your account using the URL you always use and not that one provided in the Email. Never answer such Emails.
  

• Use a Virusscanner, viruses can hit everyone.
  
• Don't depend on free Virusscanners.
  
• Keep your Virusscanner actual, to enable the program to find new viruses. Let the program look for Updates automatically.
  
• Install a Firewall, which checks incoming and outgoing traffic.
  
• In case you use an operating system which allows to set different access rights for users and administrators, only login as normal user. Don't work as administrator to long and not while you are surfing the Internet, this could open security wholes for potential aggressors.
  
• Use a Spyware-Checker to avoid being "intercepted".
  
• When using one Internet-Connectiong with more than one Computer make sure that files and directories can not be accessed from outside.
  
• When you use a Wireless-LAN Accesspoint try to encrypt the connection with a encryption method which is known to be secure. Some WLAN-Encryption Methods are not very secure.
  
• In case you have your own Wireless-LAN Accesspoint make sure, that nobody else is able to use your Accesspoint. Otherwise potential intruders could harm your system and could surf the Internet at your cost. Furthermore they could damage other systems using your IP-Address and you might be punished for the things done with your IP-Address.
  
• If you use Online-Banking only use the URL/Webiste which your Bank has told you to use. Never give your access information to employees of your bank or any other person asking for it. A good Bank will never ask for such information. If you use a Online-Banking-Software (such as Quicken) stay only connected with the Internet as it takes you to send and receive bank account statements and bank transfers. Disconnect from the Internet for a moment after you finished your Online-Banking.
  
• In case you use a computer to surf the Internet and as a Webserver, make sure you have close every security whole as fast as possible. Better you use two separate computers.
  

• Make Backups as often as possible (daily or at least once a week). This will give a bit more security in case you catch a virus or have a hardward damage.
  
• Delete unused software to avoid interception.
  
• If you need more security for your files, you could use a software which encrypt your computers hard-disk. Access to files will than only be possible by using a username and a password.
  

Security

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