You’re not alone

5 March 2007

Summary

The threat of online attacks targeting home users is growing. Research released by Symantec in September 2006 showed that computers in the home were now the target of 86 percent of all attacks by criminals. Cybercriminals are getting savvy faster than most people are improving their defenses and the rise of high-jacked home computers is one example of this trend.

Many home computing networks are still not secured against viruses and hackers. If your network (fixed line or wireless), computer, game station, TiVo, cell phones, or other Internet-connected devices—even that electric piano!—are not adequately protected, you and your family are at risk. You've learned to lock doors and protect your home, but you now must learn and consistently use defensive safety habits in your online world.

How much risk to your home computing devices is there? This depends on the number and types of devices you are using, the online activities and types of websites you use, and the level of protection you put in place. The British Broadcasting Corporation conducted on investigation. It installed Windows XP on a computer without any additional protection to see what would happen when it was connected to the internet. The machine was attacked in seconds and the attacks persisted every 15 minutes. Read the story.

Things to think about

As businesses increase the security of their computer systems, criminals are increasingly turning to home computer users as a softer target and unprotected devices will be compromised. It isn’t a question of whether the Internet connected devices in your home will be targeted but how often and if the attacks will be successful.

According to Tom Powledge of Symantec, roughly 80% of people using connected devices on a home network do NOT use any of the safety features offered. This is a huge mistake and one you can’t afford to make. Here are some things you can do.

How to protect devices connected to the Internet

• Install and turn on a firewall. Don’t use the Internet without one. If you don’t have one, buy one. A firewall is your computer’s first line of defense against viruses and hackers because it restricts the information that can get through to your computer. Depending on the settings you choose, a firewall can reject unsolicited requests from the Internet to your computer or can check with you about whether to block or allow such requests.
• Keep your operating system and other software up-to-date. Microsoft and other software companies are continually updating their software as crooks discover new ways to exploit it. Your best bet is to sign up for these updates (commonly referred to as "patches" or "security patches") automatically to ensure that the protection for your computer is as current as can be. This is free with any operating system and with most software. 
• Take control of your browser (such as Internet Explorer and Firefox). Look for settings (such as the Internet Options in Internet Explorer), where you can specify the level of privacy you want and the sorts of content you want your browser to allow or block. (Note, however, that your browser settings provide only a measure of safety; to filter content more thoroughly, you’ll need filtering software as well.
• Install antivirus software and keep it up-to-date. Check with your service provider to see if it provides one (for example, Comcast does) or purchase one from a reputable company like Symantec, McAfee, or Trend Micro. Like operating system updates, set your antivirus program to automatically download updates and scan your computer for viruses at set times—for example, once a day late at night when it won’t interfere with your use of the computer. Never let your antivirus subscription expire.
• Install antispyware software and keep it up-to-date. Protect your computer from spying or unauthorized downloads of software you’d never want with antispyware tools. There are several good free programs on the market. I recommend using two such programs—purchasing a subscription so you get automatic updates AND using a free service that you run weekly.

To learn more about how to keep your home computing devices safe, read the "Technology Toolkit" section of Look Both Ways: Help protect your family on the Internet.