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Internet Security

Am I Safe Surfing the Internet?

by Mike Kaltschnee

WHEN I was asked to write about Internet "cookies," I figured people were getting concerned about Internet security. I teach the Webmaster program at Naugatuck Valley Community Technical College, where we spend quite a bit of class time talking about how to protect your Web server and why no one really explains how to protect yourself while surfing? I did not intend this article to be scary in any way: I surf regularly and don't worry about it, but only after taking just a few quick precautions.

Surfing is safe!

Surfing the Internet is really very safe. The statistics are with you: There are 40 million people on the Internet -- as many as four or five million online at any one time -- and unless you call attention to yourself, no one may even know that you're around.

Be good in the chat room

Chat rooms and newsgroups are another story. If you participate in either, you could make enemies. If you respond in a way someone doesn't like, they could start harassing you in new and unusual ways. They could send you e-mail -- hundreds a second -- that will fill up your mailbox. They could complain about you and get your account canceled (It's hard to prove or disprove things on the Internet, and for fear of being sued, most ISPs will cancel accounts). And if your antagonists are really savvy about how things work, they could cause much more trouble, but the odds of this happening are small. Avoid flaming (causing trouble for the sake of argument only in a chat room or newsgroup), and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble.

Turn off network sharing

Some of my students who live in the greater Hartford area have cable modems, which are cheap, fast, and billed right to your cable bill (I hate paying too many bills). But since they are new, these new modems are causing new security problems.

When you install your Internet software, you are installing network software for TCP/IP (the way computers talk over the Internet). The Internet is really just a big network, and your computer is actually part of it. Most people have never used the "sharing" ability of Windows 95 and don't realize that they have to turn it off. If you don't turn it off, you'll have the same experience as one of my students: He was able to surf not only the Internet but his neighbor's computers as well: He could see everything on their hard disks!

Microsoft acknowledges that this is a bug, and even posts a workaround. You have to turn off "File and Print" sharing by selecting the Start button, Control Panel, and Network. Click on the "File & Print Sharing" button, then turn off the ability to share files. You should do this even if you have a regular modem, but don't if you have a network (e-mail me for instructions if you have questions).

Cookies

Internet cookies have no calories but can be a problem in other ways. Cookies are files that a Web site can store on your local hard disk, and are mostly used to keep track of your password, name, preferences, etc. They can be handy, saving you the effort of having to enter your password to the New York Times every time you log on, and they can tailor advertising to your preferences.

The most common use of a cookie is in an electronic shopping cart, where the cookie is used to keep track of your purchases. Don't worry, a cookie cannot contain a virus, be read by any other Web site, or be used to see where you've been (that can be done without a cookie). Most cookies only contain an encrypted user ID number and are useless except to the Web site that generated them. If you want to turn them off, see the help in your Web browser for detailed instructions. I have gone from turning them off to leaving them on. I think they are safe and that it's not worth the hassle of turning them off, unless you uncomfortable with the concept, however, just turn them off.

Hackers

I think the biggest threat to user security is human ("Wetware") rather than computer. The best hackers have always been masters of "social engineering," or the ability to BS their way past anyone. A famous scam was recently run by someone claiming to be from Yahoo asking for credit card numbers. Another great scam involved someone claiming to be from AOL administration who would ask for your user name and password. It got so bad that AOL now has to warn users constantly that AOL staff would never ask for this information. The best way to protect yourself if you receive a questionable request is to first think carefully about the request; if it sounds fishy, call back by phone (but call the main number, not the one on the e-mail).

I can see yours

The final security issue I'd like to mention is a "I Can See Your Hard Disk" trick that's going around. You'll be surfing innocently and press a button, only to be presented with the contents of your hard disk. Don't worry, no one can't read the contents of your local hard disk. All they are doing is telling the browser to load your local directory into a window. It was a little unnerving the first time I saw it, but I assure you it's perfectly harmless but neat trick.

After all of this, I think I'm going to log off and go out and shovel the new snow. I hope I didn't scare you off of the Internet; it really is safe. Just be careful walking down those "dark alleys" at night, and use your common sense.

Internet Security

Am I Safe Surfing the Internet?

*by Mike Kaltschnee*
WHEN I was asked to write about Internet "cookies," I figured people were getting concerned about Internet security. I teach the Webmaster program at Naugatuck Valley Community Technical College, where we spend quite a bit of class time talking about how to protect your Web server and why no one really explains how to protect yourself while surfing? I did not intend this article to be scary in any way: I surf regularly and don't worry about it, but only after taking just a few quick precautions. Surfing is safe! Surfing the Internet is really very safe. The statistics are with you: There are 40 million people on the Internet -- as many as four or five million online at any one time -- and unless you call attention to yourself, no one may even know that you're around. Be good in the chat room Chat rooms and newsgroups are another story. If you participate in either, you could make enemies. If you respond in a way someone doesn't like, they could start harassing you in new and unusual ways. They could send you e-mail -- hundreds a second -- that will fill up your mailbox. They could complain about you and get your account canceled (It's hard to prove or disprove things on the Internet, and for fear of being sued, most ISPs will cancel accounts). And if your antagonists are really savvy about how things work, they could cause much more trouble, but the odds of this happening are small. Avoid flaming (causing trouble for the sake of argument only in a chat room or newsgroup), and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble. Turn off network sharing Some of my students who live in the greater Hartford area have cable modems, which are cheap, fast, and billed right to your cable bill (I hate paying too many bills). But since they are new, these new modems are causing new security problems. When you install your Internet software, you are installing network software for TCP/IP (the way computers talk over the Internet). The Internet is really just a big network, and your computer is actually part of it. Most people have never used the "sharing" ability of Windows 95 and don't realize that they have to turn it off. If you don't turn it off, you'll have the same experience as one of my students: He was able to surf not only the Internet but his neighbor's computers as well: He could see everything on their hard disks! Microsoft acknowledges that this is a bug, and even posts a workaround. You have to turn off "File and Print" sharing by selecting the Start button, Control Panel, and Network. Click on the "File & Print Sharing" button, then turn off the ability to share files. You should do this even if you have a regular modem, but don't if you have a network (e-mail me for instructions if you have questions). Cookies Internet cookies have no calories but can be a problem in other ways. Cookies are files that a Web site can store on your local hard disk, and are mostly used to keep track of your password, name, preferences, etc. They can be handy, saving you the effort of having to enter your password to the New York Times every time you log on, and they can tailor advertising to your preferences. The most common use of a cookie is in an electronic shopping cart, where the cookie is used to keep track of your purchases. Don't worry, a cookie cannot contain a virus, be read by any other Web site, or be used to see where you've been (that can be done without a cookie). Most cookies only contain an encrypted user ID number and are useless except to the Web site that generated them. If you want to turn them off, see the help in your Web browser for detailed instructions. I have gone from turning them off to leaving them on. I think they are safe and that it's not worth the hassle of turning them off, unless you uncomfortable with the concept, however, just turn them off. Hackers I think the biggest threat to user security is human ("Wetware") rather than computer. The best hackers have always been masters of "social engineering," or the ability to BS their way past anyone. A famous scam was recently run by someone claiming to be from Yahoo asking for credit card numbers. Another great scam involved someone claiming to be from AOL administration who would ask for your user name and password. It got so bad that AOL now has to warn users constantly that AOL staff would never ask for this information. The best way to protect yourself if you receive a questionable request is to first think carefully about the request; if it sounds fishy, call back by phone (but call the main number, not the one on the e-mail). I can see yours The final security issue I'd like to mention is a "I Can See Your Hard Disk" trick that's going around. You'll be surfing innocently and press a button, only to be presented with the contents of your hard disk. Don't worry, no one can't read the contents of your local hard disk. All they are doing is telling the browser to load your local directory into a window. It was a little unnerving the first time I saw it, but I assure you it's perfectly harmless but neat trick. After all of this, I think I'm going to log off and go out and shovel the new snow. I hope I didn't scare you off of the Internet; it really is safe. Just be careful walking down those "dark alleys" at night, and use your common sense.

Mike Kaltschnee is a co-owner of DeMorgan Industries Corp., the leading developer of Web graphics and also teaches Webmaster and Internet marketing classes at the Internet School in Naugatuck Valley Community Technology College.