Ten Commandments Of Facebook

Posting certain photos or information on the site puts you at risk of being fired, a victim of crime, or even worse. There are computer programs called 'data mining' that sweep Facebook to collect dates of birth, phone numbers, addresses etc. Here are the things you should never post on Facebook.

1. Date and place of birth: This places you at massive risk of identity theft. They are the most commonly used security questions on password resetting sites.
2. Mother's maiden name: A lot of sites use your mother's maiden name to authenticate who you are. They also commonly use the school you went to as a security question.
3. Address: It again puts you at risk from identity fraud, but also from burglars and stalkers.
4. Holidays: Don’t put any update about your holiday or outing that means you are basically saying: "Come and rob me."
5. Short trips away from home: Again, this can put you at risk of burglary and stalking.
6. Inappropriate photos: Don't post racy, illicit, offensive or incriminating photos. Bosses and prospective employers are increasingly looking at Facebook pages.
7. Confessionals: These can also get you fired or haunt you for the rest of your life.
8. Phone number: Unless you want to be bombarded with unsolicited phone calls from people trying to sell you something don't.
9. Children's names: These can be used by identity fraudsters or, more sinisterly, by paedophiles. It is much easier to steal a child's identity.
10. Don't post a full public profile: It won't just exist on Facebook, it will go on any internet search such as Google. Only give the bare bones such as a name. Keep everything else private.

Security of Firewall

A firewall is software or hardware that checks information coming from the Internet or a network, and then either blocks it or allows it to pass through to your computer, depending on your firewall settings.

A firewall can help prevent hackers or malicious software (such as worms) from gaining access to your computer through a network or the Internet. A firewall can also help stop your computer from sending malicious software to other computers.

View and edit advanced firewall options

• You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.
• Windows Firewall with Advanced Security is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that provides more advanced options for IT professionals. With this firewall, you can set up and view detailed inbound and outbound rules and integrate with Internet Protocol security (IPsec).

Follow these steps to open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security:

• Click to open Windows Firewall.
• In the left pane, click advanced settings. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
• Note: You must be a member of the Administrators group or the Network Operators group to use Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.

Online Seller beware of Fraudsters

Buyers at online auctions and classified sites aren't the only ones who stand to lose money if they get caught in a scam. During National Cyber Security Awareness Month, advocates are issuing a warning to sellers as well.

Did you know that the online classified sales site Craigslist receives more than 100 million new posts every month? Billions of dollars in merchandise are bought and sold through the Web site every year. Similarly eye-opening: eBay reports over 112 million active users who have bought or sold an item in the last year. With so many transactions being processed and money changing hands, many scammers see Craigslist, eBay, and other online marketplaces as the perfect place to take advantage of consumers. In typical online buying scams, the buyer is at risk of “purchasing” fake or non-existing products. However, scams targeting the sellers of goods should be a concern to consumers as well. Seller, beware!

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. All month NCL, in partnership with the National Cyber Security Alliance, theDepartment of Homeland Security, and many other organizations is encouraging consumers to adopt safer online habits. Fraudsters often target people through email, tricking consumers into divulging personal information that leads to a scam. NCL’s Fraud.org receives hundreds of complaints every month from people who have been scammed online. Two consumers who fell victim to the fake buyer scam shared their stories with us recently.

This summer, a woman we’ll call “Mary” from New Jersey listed her Blackberry z10 smartphone on eBay for $425. She was elated when the auction closed and the phone sold for $485, well above her asking price. Upon receiving an email from “PayPal” saying the buyer had paid, Mary was ready to ship the phone. The buyer requested that Mary send the phone to Africa for the buyer’s son’s birthday, which she did. Days passed by and then weeks. Mary desperately tried to contact the buyer but was unable to reach her and later found out that the “PayPal” email was a forgery.

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