2. WHY USE A MANUAL ON INTERNET
SECURITY?
In the eighties when the Internet was in its infancy, its main usage came from university
students and professors in an atmosphere of implicit trust. This means that security was not the
first thing in mind when the basic uses and functions of the Internet were first developed.
Nowadays the Internet is everywhere both in public and in private life. It has become a vital
means for professional and personal - often confidential - communication. This has required
security enhancements to be added to the various communication methods used on the internet
after it became widely used. A lot of these enhancements are not implemented by default or
require additional configuration.
In addition, most people do not have the appropriate knowledge or skills to secure their internet
usage enough or they might simply feel it they don't need it. Also vendors and providers are to
blame for not pushing more secure technology and methods by default. But maybe you worry
about your login codes being accessed when using wireless networks on a trip, or you want to
securely lock your laptop when leaving it in a hotel. Possibly you need to encrypt your e-mails,
because you have contacts in countries with a high level of internet censorship.
This manual tries to fill that gap by providing some basic knowledge, and also more sophisticated
techniques for those who need them, to make sure that your data is not easily accessed by
others. As a matter of fact, internet security is not that difficult.
WHAT IS SECURITY?
Absolute security does not exist, security is always related to who your adversaries might be.
Security is therefore about informing yourself and assessing the possible risks you, and others
you communicate with, are facing. Make sure you reserve some time to choose the right tools,
install everything properly, and test if it works. Compare it with driving a car: it takes a little bit
of practice, and some judgement on others' behaviour, but as soon you are in control it can
safely get you where you want.
To make a choice between the types of tools you need, it helps to make a distinction between
two basic types of 'threats': undirected threats and directed threats.
Most of the threats we are facing are automated undirected threats and luckily these are also
the easiest to defend against. Unfortunately, we are sometimes also subjected to directed
threats, for which we need some extra safety measures. We will shortly go into these issues and
refer to the appropriate chapters so you can start your way.
UNDIRECTED AND DIRECTED THREATS
Undirected threats are threats that are not directed at you personally, but might still affect you.
Examples include phishing emails and computer virus infections. These methods are always
automated and are just looking to get new victims, that can be everyone. Some schemes can
evolve into a directed threat (for example when responding to e-mails telling you you won the
"Spanish online lottery"). Also unprotected websites, or networks, can be dangerous if you fill in
your login codes or credit card information.
These threats can be compared to walking around in an unknown city, ending up in the wrong
neighborhood and getting mugged. This book aims to be your city guide helping to prevent you to
be at the wrong place at the wrong time. To protect yourself from this type of threats we
recommend you to read at least the sections on General Computer Security, Secure E-mailing
and Secure Browsing. Next to that it is key to keep your wits about you, keep your eyes and
ears open and don't loose your common sense.
评论0