Security and Privacy Issues for Internet Users

The Internet environment has become increasingly hostile during the past several years. This session covers all the "best practices" and specific precautions an Internet user should follow while online to help ensure their privacy, and protect their computer from attacks.  Note: this session is intended for Internet users - It is NOT a system administrator course.

The Internet is a hostile environment. This session covers all the "best practices" and specific precautions Internet users should follow to help ensure their privacy, and protect their computer from attacks.   This course is extremely valuable from a counter-intelligence perspective. If your online employees become victims of identity theft, their ruined financial lives can make them vulnerable.   Note: this session is intended for Internet users - It is NOT a system administrator course.

1) Introduction to security and privacy - Current issues, recent statistics, information about identity theft.

2) Internet Access - Types of Internet access at work (attributable, non-attributable, etc) and the usage policies associated with each.  Types of Internet access at home (cable, fiber, wireless) and the security risks associated with each.   Persona issues will be discussed in detail for each type of access (work or home).  Methods are discussed to help minimize the chances of a non-attributable account from becoming "recognized".   

3) Firewalls - hardware and software firewalls for the home environment.  Methods for testing your computer’s security (i.e. port scanners.)  How to interpret the firewall's alerts and logs.

4)  Viruses - Methods of transport and how to protect against them.  See the importance of keeping your anti-virus software up to date.

5) Web Surfing Issues: Java, Active X risks; cookies, third party cookies, flash cookies, web bugs; web site log analyzers, browser settings, Privacy policies, P3P, encrypted pages, online registrations, forbidden sites.

6) Email Issues and other Online Applications: Spear Phishing, Imbedded gifs, Spam, scams, hoaxes, viruses, attachments.  See the risks associated with running other applications such as Chat, IM, File Sharing, online gaming, media streaming and peer-peer applications.  This section also includes a discussion about Trojan and spyware programs.

7) Authored Content:  Risks associated with authoring online content such as email, mailings lists, social media, personal web pages.

8) User actions: Important steps to increase your systems' security and privacy: installing operating system updates, use of passwords, local file encryption, parental control options, offline storage.

9) Future Issues: biometric identification, legislative trends, security of other online devices (smart phones, home appliances),  data mining.

Note: This course is only  taught as 1-day course in a lecture/demo venue.  An analog phone line connection will be required for the instructor's own laptop

Russ Haynal
I can be reached at 703-729-1757  or Russ 'at' navigators.com.  If you contact me via email, put "internet training" in the email's subject.

Contact me at 703-729-1757 or  Russ 'at' navigators.com  
If you use email, put "internet training" in the subject of the email.
Copyright ©  Information Navigators