When conversing with co-workers, friends, and/or family online, it can be easy to forget about how dangerous communicating online can be. In most cases, speaking with persons close to you poses little risk, but if that person or yourself speaks to strangers online, it can pose all different types of security risks.
These security risks include corrupted files, virus downloads, hacking of personal information, and more. When you are using an instant messenger to talk to people you are unfamiliar with and don't completely trust online, you are making yourself totally vulnerable to online attacks.
Here are some rules to follow to ensure that you are safe online:
- Don't accept file transfers from users you don't know. If a person tries to send you a file, no matter what they say the file is, it is best that you do not open it. Many files may have harmless file names as a ruse. Also, hackers can also hide behind friendly usernames and profiles in order to dupe users into accepting dangerous files.
- Don't accept file transfers with strange file extensions. If the other person claims that it is a photo, make sure that it ends with a photo program extension, like.jpg,.gif,.pdf, or.jpeg.
- Don't give out personal information. If a user wants to know where you work, your address, your last name, or other information that you are not comfortable giving, then don't give it out. Simply say you are not giving out that information or you can also make up false information- give a wrong last name or a different college you say you're attending.
Kelsey Childress is the owner of Awen Creative and is an Internet Marketing Specialist. One of her recent blog posts is http://blog.brosix.com/is-your-im-program-making-you-vulnerable-online/ and you can find her client, Brosix, on twitter: http://twitter.com/brosix
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelsey_Childress
