Spiked Security

Yep that is right!  Spike, as ruler of the free Internet world, is declaring today Back Up Your Computer Day - the day where everyone backs up the computer files they cannot replace.

Which files is Spike talking about?  All documents, presentation, pictures, spreadsheet, notes, tax forms, checkbooks, etc., that you have created or put on your computer.  Spike is not talking about the files that came from a software publisher like Microsoft, Adobe, Blizzard, or any other product you purchased and still have the install media for.  (You did keep the install media and instructions and license codes, right?)

So back up those files to a USB memory stick or backup drive, or burn them to a CD/DVD.

When your computers hard drive burns to a crisp next week, you will be thanking the old Spikemeister for his sage advice and “Backup Day” declaration!

The Internet is full of snakes; don’t let them eat you (or your files)!
Spike

Hey Spike fans, one of the people behind the Spike page is speaking to the public about Internet safety, security, and privacy at the La Vista Public Library, 630pm Tuesday January 12th.  It should be an interesting talk and it is free!

The Internet is full of snakes, don’t let them eat you.

-Spike

Did you know that Facebook and MySpace require a minimum age of 13 to have an account?  I bet many parents didn’t know that.  My last post was about setting up your new Facebook account safely.  Today I wonder should those youngsters even have an account?  There is a great article by CNN about children and social media sites.

Good read for parents!  Read it here: ” Social networks and kids: How young is too young?”

The Internet is full of snakes, don’t let them eat you!

-Spike

This message is dedicated to my human family’s small ones who just got laptops, Facebook, and World of Warcraft Accounts.  For the Horde!!

Ok, so now you are online whenever you want and maybe even when your parent is NOT watching over your shoulder.  Hmmm.

Some basic safety rules:

1. Make sure your new computer has Anti-Virus running.  If not scold your parents and get them to fix it!
2. Load up Google Chrome.  Get it from Google.  Make it the browser you use for your social networking.
3. Now you are on Facebook!  Ugh!  First off remember half of the friend requests you get are FAKE.  Just ignore them, do not add them.
   1. Friend Rule Numero Uno:  Never add someone you do not know personally. Not even someone your friend says to add.  Seriously?  You know your friends, how good is their advice normally?  Yep, thought so!  They were the one that told you eating that cricket would get you in good with the girls?!?  How did that turn out?
   2. Friend Rule Numero Dos:  Don’t add someone you don’t know.  No I did not repeat myself. I am a guinea pig, and I have a very short attention span.  TOMATOES!!  I love tomatoes!  (Spikey snack break)
4. More on Facebook, go to your profile.  Is there anything there?  Your name, age, where you live, school you go to, phone number, cell number, anything I can use to find you?  If you answered yes do the following two things:
   1. Scold your parents for not checking your profile.
   2. Delete it ALL!  Leave only the barest minimum you can!
5. More on Facebook again.  Do not post stuff that someone could use to find you.  Do not post stuff that someone could use to find other people you know on Facebook…. LIKE YOUR AUNT!  Don’t tag people in pictures without their permission.
6. And now… Da Da Dun!!!   Drum roll please!  Now that you are on the Internet you can ignore your parents advice to you for your whole life up to now and STOP SHARING!!
7. Last, since Spike cares, be careful on the Internet.  There are many sites which are bad for you.  Just avoid them.  And read some of Spike’s older posts about setting up other security stuff on your computer!
8. Have fun.

Yep, you can use Facebook for business.  As talked about in this nice blog from PC World’s David Coursey, you can keep your friends from being bored by your  business posts, as well as prevent your business associates from seeing the embarrassing posts by your sophomoric friends.

Read to keep your life separated!

The Internet is full of snakes; don’t let them eat you!
Spike

Spike loves it when popular services work toward improving your control over your privacy.  So, a big piggy YAY to Facebook for their new privacy options.  Now that Facebook has done this, you should check them out and use them.  One big area to look at is the privacy settings for applications.  Fix these - the default options share way to much!

So check out your privacy settings and adjust them to your personal level of comfort!

Also check out these great articles from the computing press on these new tools, and take special note of how to keep yourself from being tagged in a photo, how to keep your friends information off the search, and how to stay off a Google search.

AllFacebook: 10 New Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know

Network World: New Facebook Settings: 5 Things You Should Know

The Internet is full of snakes; don’t let them eat you!

Spike

While you humans are off looking for the perfect gift for your little humans, many of you are considering “pocket pets.”  While I take only minor offense at being called a pocket pet, as I am not thrilled about a ride in a pocket, the thought is a good one.  We are a wonderful way to bring love and joy into a little human’s life.  My human is wonderful, and she treats me well.

Why is your little security advice pig talking about this?  Well here is my personal story.  Five years ago, a family bought me for their son.  He was not ready for me and I was ignored.  Eventually his parents did the right thing and sent me to the Humane Society.  I was sad, scare and lonely but at least I had hope for a new home.  I lived there in a nice cage next to a few other pocket pets for a while.   Until one day a little girl came in looking for a guinea pig to take home to be hers.  She looked at and held the strange pig in the cage next to me, as he had a “cute” fuzzy hat like blob of hair.  He bit her so she put him back.  I was next.  I did not bite her.  She loved my “spike” of white hair on my head, thus my name.

And so here I am today, giving you advice on Internet and privacy safety from my happy little cage because, instead of going to a pet store, my human told her parents to go to the Humane Society where they had pocket pets that needed homes.

Thanks to my human, I have a happy home with good food and fun toys and a family that loves me.

Happy Holidays – next week we are back to keeping you safe on the Internet!

The Internet is full of snakes, but the world can be full of nice people, don’t let either of them eat you!

Spike

Spike has been following Roger Thompson’s  blog for a while now and it is always interesting, but this post is down right SCARY!

Please read Roger’s blog about his Facebook information and friends!!!

go to:     thompson.blog.avg.com – DON’T click here, go type this into your browser and read.

The Internet is full of snakes, don’t let them eat you!

-Spike

I come home from work every day only to find another batch of credit card offers, blank checks from credit card companies, and every other manner of solicitation with my name, address and phone number already filled out for my convenience.

What a nightmare!!  Everything the good privacy thief needs to take over my financial life is right here in these pre-filled offers.  It’s not like the blank signature field will stop them. Ugh - besides the whole green thing of killing trees and all this stuff can really mess up your identity.  

What to do with all this trash?

Meet Shredder, your new best friend. … What?!?… You don’t have a shredder?  

STOP right here in this blog, go out and get one. They are cheap and they’re an essential part of your basic supply kit for life. Make sure you get a “cross cut” or “confetti” shredder. They even come in pink!

No, go now, I can wait. Continue reading when you are back with the new shredder.

OK! Now that you have shredder, keep it plugged in near where you deal with the mail.

What goes into the shredder?

Everything with your name and address on it - shred away.

Now you have a new toy for the kids. They will love it.

And for even more fun, go back through your old files and shred some more!  Whoo Hoo!  Piggy Heaven!

The Internet (and mail, neighborhood and trash processor) are full of snakes; don’t let them eat you!

Spike

A number of respected security sources are reporting fake swine flu emails that are pretending to be the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and then ask you for information.  Don’t follow these links and read these attached links to see what the emails look like.  This is yet another reminder that hackers like to prey on our fears to fool us into doing things we shouldn’t.  And by the way as a “guinea pig” I am constantly offended at the name “Swine Flu”, its not our fault!

This is the same malware which was infecting people with a fake IRS email.  No the IRS is not suddenly going to give you money if you follow a link in a email out of the blue!

Symantec example of the swine flu email:  http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/zeus-trojan-catches-swine-flu

McAfee example of the swine flu email: http://www.avertlabs.com/research/blog/index.php/2009/12/01/h1n1-vaccination-profile-a-path-to-infection/

and for more information about this infection path you can check out the network world article here: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/120209-fake-swine-flu-emails-lead.html

The internet is full of snakes; don’t let them eat you!

-Spike