Tag: malware

Intel Security is now calling for improved cybersecurity education resources in the United Kingdom.

Hundreds of thousands of university students in the United Kingdom use no mobile security whatsoever on their smartphones. As a result, they are living their devices – and everything they contain – at a high risk of unauthorized access.

Intel Security is hoping to reach more students with a message of the importance of adequate mobile protection.

This year’s estimates were that there were more than 420,000 students in the United Kingdom headed to university with the start of this school year. However, a new Intel Security poll has pointed out that only half of them will have packed adequate smartphone protection with them when they go. This means that the other half of the university students in the U.K. have no mobile security software installed to protect their devices and their data.

With no mobile security software, these students are placing their devices at a very real risk.

The reason is that among those who took part in the poll, 90 percent said they log onto public WiFi. Those hotspots are accessed both on campus and off campus. This activity places them at a much higher exposure to mobile security threats. Without any protection software, they are essentially an open book for unauthorized parties to read.

Furthermore, according to the most recent data from the McAfee Labs Quarterly Threat Report, mobile malware is increasing at an explosive rate. Year over year, these mobile cybersecurity threats have risen by 150 percent.

On the other hand, while students may not have protected their devices yet, they are willing to learn. University students in the U.K. have expressed a desire to discover more about why having no mobile security is risky. They are also willing to learn more about related issues. Forty eight percent of the 1000 students who participated in the survey said they would be willing to attend an online security seminar if one were available.

According to Nick Viney, Intel Security VP consumer, this is a positive step, “Yet its concerning that many are still opening themselves up to risks unknowingly. When it comes to students’ online safety, we all have a responsibility.”

In the virtual world of Internet, hacker can attack without any prior notice that means anywhere at any time and anyone can become the victim of the online threats. Being bankrupt by hackers, blacklisted due to malware attacks and such can be the worst nightmares.

There are plenty of things, one should take care of while using internet. Avoiding even the smallest of the mistake may lead to a huge loss. Security begins at home. Yes, it is the new saying. If you want to work safely on the Internet there are some ground rules to be follow in order to ensure the security.

Following are the FOUR mistakes one should definitely avoid:

Not concealing your social activities

Limit the exposure of your private data on the social websites, says Brad Gobble, senior manager of information security at Mozy, which provides online backup service. Avoid entering of full name, age or residence addresses. As far as the sharing of the images are concerned, Gobble warns not to share images displaying your car’s number plate or house’s number or the street address.

Not encrypting the data

According to Gobble, data is as precious as gold and money and that too is easy for the intruders to steal or corrupt it. Along with securing the devices with passwords, one should also prefer securing the sensitive files with encryption. Avoid using similar passwords for multiple devices. Keep your passwords strong enough to crack use Lower-Upper case letters, numbers and special characters. Separate devices should be guard with separate passwords.

Failing to update your software

Normally many of us (including me) never pay attention to the alerts of the version updates of the software or the apps. However, this carelessness may prove damn severe sometimes. Software or the apps become outdated with the release of the latest version. Developers being so expert in their field after all are the human beings, even they can make mistakes, and hence when these mistakes are fixed they release an updated version of the software. So be in touch of such updates and download from time to time in order to avoid the unwanted circumstances.

Avoid online transaction with non-SSL secured websites

Before you buy any product or do any online transaction, check whether the website or application is secured by SSL certificate or not. It is very important that the payment information traverse between local machines to server should be encrypted. This is where the SSL certificate helps, it encrypt data with high security algorithm and will save you from man in middle attack.

Next time, whenever you use any website or web application, check for given points. It may save you from possible cyber threat.

About Author:

Peggy is Head of Sales and marketing division of theSSLshop. Her vast knowledge domain consists of expertise in marketing of security products with the help of Organic Search Marketing, Paid Search Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Blogging and ecommerce Website Marketing. Click here to find her Google+, Twitter and Linkedin profiles.