By John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com

Transcription

1 By John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com

2 2015 was a banner year for online threats (viruses, malware, scams, etc.), but without a doubt, 2016 will most likely be worse. The fact is, it s becoming increasingly hard to keep your computer and personal information safe, even if you take all the normal precautions (which I go through below). How frustrating! I hate seeing my students struggle as their computers get infected and then end up having to pay a geek to clean them off! I m afraid that I don t have any magic solutions, but I do have some important suggestions that I want to pass along to you, including my latest recommendations on good Anti-Virus programs and Malware checkers. But first, let me start with my list of Top Safety recommendations for 2016 DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 2

3 My Top Internet Safety Recommendations for 2016 If you compare this list to the one from last year, not much as changed. For the most part, I ve been preaching the same safety advice for the past six years. And although there s no such thing as being 100% safe, if you follow these tips you ll be as safe online as anyone can be Install a good Anti-Virus or Internet Security program Below, you ll see my suggestions for Make sure your Windows Firewall is up and running You can open the Firewall window from the Windows Control Panel. It should be automatically turned on, but it s a good idea to check it now and then. Make sure your Windows Updates are happening With Windows 10, updates are pushed at you automatically (you have no choice), and although earlier versions of Windows should have updates set to automatically happen, you might want to visit the Control Panel, click the Windows Updates icon, and check to make sure. Make sure you are also updating Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, and Java (if you have them) Of all the programs you might have on your computer, these three are particularly big targets for Internet hackers to exploit. For the reason, Adobe and Oracle (the companies that make these programs) regularly release updates that fix security problems, and when you see the small pop-up window appear (at the lower left side of your desktop) telling you updates are available, you should get them. DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 3

4 Make sure you create strong passwords for your online accounts Most security experts that I ve talked to agree that the most common reason online accounts get hacked is because of weak passwords.a good password is one that is nonsense (i.e. uses no common words), and contains numbers, special characters, and both upper and lower case letters.a trick I use is to pick a phrase from a favorite song and use the first character of each word, turning certain letters to numbers (such as an i into a 1, or a s into a 5 ), and then adding a special character and a number to the beginning and end. Only enter private information on web pages that are secure As you fill out information on a web page, such as when you are shopping online, always make sure the page is secure.with a secure page, the information you enter is encrypted before being transmitted across the Internet.You can tell if a page is secure by looking for at the beginning of the URL (web page address) which you can see at the top of your browser window. You ll also see a padlock icon somewhere at the top or bottom of the browser you re using. Never click a link in an that seems to be from a financial institution The term phishing refers to s that look to be from a legitimate source (such as your bank), but in reality are fakes sent by a hacker. If you click a link in a phishing , it will typically take you to a fake web site which looks very legitimate, but behind the scenes will steal your private information if you type it in. DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 4

5 Never click on a fix your computer banner or pop-up ad as you are browsing the Internet There are many legitimate companies offering PC Fix-It programs. The problem is, many of the pop-up advertisements for these types of programs are actually the bad-guys enticing you to download a fake fix-it program that will somehow exploit your computer.if you need a fix-it program, visit a known legitimate source for one, or purchase it through the Windows App Store. By the way, my favorite fix-it program is Glary Utilities, which you can download for free from Never talk to anyone who calls you claiming your computer needs fixing. Ok, this is not Internet related, but it still involves your computer being exploited. The past few years there has been a huge increase in the number of scammy phone calls telling you that your computer needs fixing, and that if you pay them, they can do it. Some even claim to be from Microsoft but they are NOT! Don t ever trust these calls. Just hang up on them and go on with your life! Only download from reputable web sites If you are someone who likes to download software, make sure you do it from sites that you know. My favorite place for downloading software (besides the Windows 10 App Store) is from CNet s Download.com. DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 5

6 Always make backups of your important files When all else fails, and your computer either gets infected or exploited, having a backup of your important files might be the only thing that saves you. I m not one that suggests you back up your entire computer, but instead, teach that you should backup those files that you have created (documents, pictures, etc.) and can not be replaced. But in addition to these, I m also again suggesting VIGILANCE, which includes (and yes some of these are repeats from above). NOT clicking on pop-up windows that appear as you re browsing the Internet. NOT opening attachments that come from people you don t know. NOT talking to tech support people that cold-call you saying your computer has problems. NOT downloading programs from sites you don t know Now let s focus in on my suggested Anti-Virus/Internet Security software. DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 6

7 Stand Alone Anti-Virus vs. Internet Security Suites Before I give you my 2016 picks for Anti-Virus programs, let me explain the difference between a standalone Anti-Virus program, and what most companies call an Internet Security Suite. Anti-Virus Program This is software that focuses on protecting your computer from viruses, and that s it. It doesn t include the extra utilities that a Suite includes. But keep in mind that although it s called Anti-Virus, these programs also protect you from other bad-things, including rootkits, trojans, adware, spyware, ransomware, and malware. Internet Security Suites These programs are Anti-Virus programs, but also might include other utilities and features, including a firewall, backup, PC tune-up, multiple device protection, parental Internet controls, privacy protection, password management, etc. Many companies offer three levels of security software, starting with an (1) Anti-Virus program, then moving up to a (2) basic security suite (that perhaps adds in a firewall and backup), and finally (3) an advanced suite that includes all the bells and whistles I mentioned above. In my opinion, most typical home users really only need a stand-alone Anti- Virus program. DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 7

8 I say this because Windows users already have a built-in Firewall (Windows Firewall) which works perfectly well, and you can find free solutions to the other utility programs (such as backup and PC tune-up) that Internet Security Suites provide. However, if you watch the pricing of both standalone Anti-Virus programs and Suites on Amazon.com, you can often find the Suites priced almost the same as the standalones. So in summary I d say that you would be perfectly fine in just getting a standalone Anti-Virus, but if the price is close enough, maybe step-up to a basic Internet Security Suite that also includes a firewall. My 2016 Picks for Anti-Virus & Internet Security Suites Now that I ve gone through the entire safety list and explained the difference between standalone Anti- Virus programs and Internet Security Suites, let me offer my program picks for I ll break them up into 3 types Standalone, Suites, and Free. Note that the prices I include are from Amazon.com as of the writing of this article (January 1st, 2016), and if you click on the name of the program, it will take you to Amazon using my affiliate link. Drum Roll Please! DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 8

9 Standalone Anti-Virus Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2016 $38.97 (for 3 PC s for 1 year) Bitdefender was one of the programs I personally started using last year, after throwing aside Norton. If you look at the online reviews from PC Magazine, CNet, PC World, and others, it s always rated toward the top. But it s interesting to note that on Amazon, customer reviews haven t been the best. Not sure why the discrepancy, but in my own home tests, I ve found it easy to use, reliable, and compared to many programs I ve used in the past, it doesn t slow down my computers. Kaspersky Antivirus 2016 $14.95 (for 3 PC s for 1 year) This is another program I switched to last year, and I m currently using on 2 home computers. Years ago (back in the early 2000 s) I wrote a review of Kasperskys for Smart Computing Magazine. At the time, I found the program cumbersome to use, and wasn t very impressed. But over the years it s risen up the ranks and today is often rated at the top of the review lists, and now has a user friendly interface. Internet Security Suites Bitdefender Internet Security 2016 $51.97 (for 3 PC s for 1 year, key only) In addition to what I said about the Antivirus program above, this program adds in a quality firewall and some other utilities, and is considered their basic suite. Kaspersky Internet Security 2016 $38.21 (for 3 PC s for 1 year, key only) Again, refer above to what I said about the Anti-Virus program. As with Bitdefender, the suite adds in a nice Firewall and a few other utilities. DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 9

10 Symantec Norton Security Deluxe $27.99 (for 5 devices for 1 year, download) Back in the fall of 2014, I ended my long relationship with Norton 360 (Symantec s Internet security suite) when Symantec announced they were abandoning the program to focus more on corporate America. In early 2015 they came out with what I (and many others) thought were weak replacements for their traditionally strong home-user security programs.but late in 2015, they again came out with updates that so far, are getting good reviews. It s for that reason that I ve added this program to my pick of Internet Security Suites. Free Anti-Virus I would be amiss not to include my picks for Free Anti-virus programs, since for the most part, the free programs provide the same Anti-virus protection quality that the pay-for versions do. In most cases, the difference with the free versions is that you get little, if any, technical support, and they don t include any extra utilities (such as a firewall). In other words, they have the same core engine that the commercial versions have, but are pretty bare-boned when it comes to features. Would I use a free Anti-Virus program? Well, in our Lincoln, NE, computer lab, we use the free version of AVG, and have had no problems with it. DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 10

11 BUT, I would also suggest, that with the great prices for many of the commercial versions on Amazon, you might want to consider a pay-for program, just to get the added support and features. I ll leave that up to you! Ok, here are my Free Anti-Virus Picks! AVG AntiVirus Free (2016) get it at free.avg.com I have used AVG free on various computers since 2007, and have never been disappointed. One thing to note, however, is that when you download the free version, make sure that when you install it, you do NOT choose the trial version of the commercial program. Just pay attention to the screen, always choose the FREE version, and you ll be fine. NOTE: Early in 2016, AVG was in the news when it was discovered that a free add-on for the Chrome browser, called AVG Web Tuneup could be exposing your browsing history and other personal data to potential hackers. AVG quickly fixed the problem, but it s possible that that information from some of the 9 million plus users might have been stolen. The add-on in question is NOT part of the AVG AntiVirus Free program, but is a separate download Chrome users can install from the Chrome add-on store. Avast Free Antivirus (2016) get it at Although I ve not personally used Avast for quite a few years, the program consistently ranks high among most reviewers, so I ve included it here. DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 11

12 Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition (2016) get it at Compared to the other two free Anti-Virus programs, Bitdefender does not offer as much manual control. However, the reason many reviewers and users like it so much, is that it silently works in the back ground and does a great job with no intervention by the user. And Don t Forget Malwarebytes All the Anti-Virus programs I ve mentioned above also take care of malware and adware. However, as an added precaution, I think it s a good idea to also download and install the free anti-malware scanner, Malwarebytes. Unlike Anti-Virus programs, Malwarebytes does NOT run in the background as a memory resident program. Instead, you manually run the program on a regular basis, letting it scan your computer for malware that your Anti-Virus program might have missed. I personally use it on a weekly basis (if I remember to). You can Malwarebytes by visiting DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 12

13 More Resources on Internet Safety If you d like more information about staying safe, I have a list of other articles I ve written on the subject. CLICK HERE to see DiscoverSkills articles on Staying Safe ( I also have a book I use for my safety class called Staying Safe on the Internet. CLICK HERE to read more about the book ( guidebooks/#!/staying-safe-on-the- Internet/p/ /category= ) Here are a few of the topics I cover How technology makes you vulnerable to attack What is a Hacker and how to they attack How to make sure your Firewall is turned on How to keep Windows updated How to create strong passwords you can remember What are Viruses and how do they attack What does an Anti-Virus program do What are some quality Anti-Virus programs What if I get a virus infection What is Malware and how do I protect my computer How do I know my private information is safe when I shop What are the most common Internet and Technology Scams And so much more... DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 13

14 And of course, feel free to drop me an if you have any questions about this guide, or if you have any other technology related questions! My address is Thanks for reading, and be sure to STAY SAFE!!! John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com This guide was written by John Lortz, the founder of DiscoverSkills.com, and a professional technology educator located in Omaha, Nebraska. He has been heavily involved in computer technology since 1985, and specifically in teaching technology to students of all ages, including college computer science classes and special classes geared toward senior technology users. When he s not being a geek, he spends time parent-coaching his 15 year old son who plays high-school baseball. For more information, visit DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 14

15 Disclaimer, Terms of Use, & Trademarks The author and publisher of this guide and any accompanying materials have used their best efforts in preparing this guide. The author and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this Book. The information contained in this guide is strictly for educational purposes. Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas contained in this guide, you are taking full responsibility for your actions. The author and publisher disclaim any warranties (express or implied), merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The author and publisher shall in no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the material in this Book or accompanying materials, which is provided as is, and without warranties. As always, the advice of a competent legal, tax, accounting, computer, or other professional should be sought. The author and publisher do not warrant the performance, effectiveness or applicability of any sites or software listed or linked to in this guide. All links are for information purposes only and are not warranted for content, accuracy or any other implied or explicit purpose. All products, sites, and software mentioned are registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations. They are used in editorial fashion only and for the benefit of such companies with no intention of infringement of the trademark. No such use, or the use of any trade name, is intended to convey endorsement or other affiliation with this guide. DiscoverSkills 2016 Internet Safety Suggestions - Copyright John Lortz DiscoverSkills.com Page 15