Protection from Phishing Attacks

When user receives an e-mail asking him to visit his bank’s web site, it signifies the beginning of a phishing fraud. The e-mail would usually provide a link to bank’s web site and ask the user to click the link. It would ask him to provide certain confidential banking information like his account number, credit card number etc., failing which his account would be doomed. There would be a sense of urgency and panic in the e-mail. This type of attack is called as phising attack.

Here is a checklist which helps to prevent this type of attack:
Check to see if the e-mail is indeed from the user’s bank and not from just any bank. If it isn’t, stop reading further and confirm the same from the by using other means like telephone. If the e-mail is not personally addressed to the user, it is most probably a fraud. Check the language and spelling of the text contained in the e-mail. If the user find misspelled words or substandard language, conclude that it is not from his bank.
If the e-mail urges the user to act immediately without delay, failing which his account will be closed down, stop reading it. It is not from user’s bank. If there is anything that even remotely feels wrong, stop. If something feels wrong, it is most probably wrong. Never click any link given inside the e-mail message. Instead, directly type the URL of the financial institution. If the user does not know the URL of his bank’s web site, take the time to call them immediately to find out. User should never provide personal information to anybody, come what may.
 
Do not visit untrusted websites
It is always recommended that the user should not visit the untrusted websites or download software’s, screensavers or games etc from those untrusted sites. There is a possibility that these types of application software install some kind of malicious code on the user’s system, which can be used to launch attack
on other computer systems without any consent of the user.

Securing Web Browser

Web browsers are capable of parsing active code in many forms, including JavaScript, ActiveX, and Java code. These are automatically downloaded and executed by web browser. Malicious individuals often take advantage of this to attack systems, distribute malicious code, or negatively impact systems. Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) is installed as a default component of Windows Operating System and is closely integrated with it. Because of this, an exploitation of IE can seriously impact the underlying Windows installation, so it is critical to stay current with all IE updates. IE updates can be acquired through
the Windows Update and Automatic updates features as described earlier.

Security Zones
Iinternet Explorer uses a capabilities/trust model called Zone Security. In this model, Web sites are permitted to perform certain actions based on the following zones.

Restricted sites Zone: This zone contains web sites that could potentially damage user’s data. Trusted sites zone: This zone contains web sites that user can trust not to damage his computer or data. Local Intranet Zone: This zone contains all web sites that are on organization’s intranet. Internet Zone: This zone contains all web sites that user haven’t placed in other zones.

Smart Phone Apps for Students

Touch Zebra!
No, don’t worry you are not going to touch the zebra, now we got a very good mobile app called “Algebra Touch”. This application is available for free on internet,  so students can download this app and do your algebra maths with your smart phone with a touch.

For Statistics Students
Quickgraph for iPhone users used for statistical data problem solving, experts say “this application is easy to operate and to manage the statistical data”.

For Chemistry Students
This mobile app also for iPhone users only and widely supports for Chemistry students. This app is called “Quick Periodic Table of the Element”. It has its periodic table and all its information in detail.

Astronomy for every one
Star Walk a IOS app gives details of astronomy useful for students who are interested in astrology and it is also helpful for astronomy research.