Common Sense in the digital world | Squat the Planet

Common Sense in the digital world

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GOD HAND 45

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Hacking is becoming a big problem in today's society. Even our email boxes can lead to stolen information. I am not talking about about that NSA shit (that's a given). But common everyday stuff that can royally screw us over

Here are some hard lessons I learned from my experiences

1#: Lock your devices.

security_cable_locks..jpg


Forget the cyber world for a a moment. Your device can be stolen at any moment int the physical world. In the hands of another, they can wipe your data, sell your phone, or look up your private info if your device has no lock. I suggest you make a complex password, pattern, or have a self destruct program to wipe your device clean.
You don't want your info falling into the wrong hands.

#2: Assume you are being watched on public wifi's.
Secure-FINAL.jpg

That Starbucks coffee wifi may look secure with their require log on. However, everyone is using it even if they are not in the coffee shop. Assume there is someone watching you at all times when using public wifi.
I lost $80 for buying a comic book on a Barnes and Nobel public wifi. The fucker who stole my money came from California.
Be smart and use TRUSTED private wifi or use your data. I bought stuff, checked my bank account, and bought a room using my phone's data plan. If you don't have a data plan use a prepaid one.
I am not saying you should not use public wifi. Just don't input passwords, check your bank account, or any other sensitive information on them.

#3: Hackers will use e-mails to steal your info.
phising.jpg

A Nigerian prince asking for money is an obvious scam. Yet your friend may not know that.
Hackers will use your friends email account to ask you to login to scam sites. Not only that, but hackers have been using pay pal and apple emails saying your account has been logged in by someone else. Thou their emails are poorly done and they don't give too much information about. Check your account on your own app or their official website.
90% of hacking is tricking people into giving up personal information. You can pose a friend, a company, a hooker, or even the president to give you vital information. All it takes is a little creative to get a whole lot for nothing.

#4: Go low tech.
Safe-Haven-Bathhouse-TYIN-Tegnestue-1.jpg

The best way to protect yourself from hackers, corporations, and government, is to go low tech. Throw away the smartphone, tablet, and laptop and use a map, compass, and a physical book. It may not be convenient (I love my kindle too much to carry a library on my back) but your information should be safe. Just got to a ATM to withdraw money, a map to navigate, and a dumb cellphone (like those old Nokia phones) to make a call.

Conclusion:
The digital world is here to stay. A lot of people depend on it to help them promote books, navigate, check on friends, etc. Whether you like it or not, it's best to know what to do when your information is at stake.

Forewarned is Forearmed.

Sources:

https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/consumer/10-tips-stay-safe-surfing-web/

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2015/10/10-ways-to-protect-against-hackers/amp/

https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2013/may/12/20-ways-keep-internet-identity-safe
 
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Matt Derrick

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first, we generally ask that you include a link to the original article if possible.

second, while most of this article is true, it is vastly over-simplified. also, there is no guarantee that using your cell phone's data plan is any more secure than using public wifi (it is not). if you're really worried about using public wifi (and you should be) you need to either make absolutely sure any website involving money, passwords, or other sensitive data has a green lock icon in the browser at a minimum, and invest in a VPN like tunnelbear if you're really paranoid (i am).

there's 500mb of free data a month if you want to try it out, and it's only 50/year if you want that kind of peice of mind, especially if you want to run bittorrent on an isp that watches for that kind of activity.
 
G

GOD HAND 45

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first, we generally ask that you include a link to the original article if possible.

second, while most of this article is true, it is vastly over-simplified. also, there is no guarantee that using your cell phone's data plan is any more secure than using public wifi (it is not). if you're really worried about using public wifi (and you should be) you need to either make absolutely sure any website involving money, passwords, or other sensitive data has a green lock icon in the browser at a minimum, and invest in a VPN like tunnelbear if you're really paranoid (i am).

there's 500mb of free data a month if you want to try it out, and it's only 50/year if you want that kind of peice of mind, especially if you want to run bittorrent on an isp that watches for that kind of activity.
I am not talking about hardcore hacking. I am talking about everyday stuff that can screw us in the end.
This is not for the guy who know how to use Tor, Linux, or even BitTorrent. This article is for the average Joe who wants to surf the net. Not out run the NSA

Links are here:
https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/consumer/10-tips-stay-safe-surfing-web/
https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2015/10/10-ways-to-protect-against-hackers/amp/
https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2013/may/12/20-ways-keep-internet-identity-safe
 
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Matt Derrick

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I am not talking about hardcore hacking. I am talking about everyday stuff that can screw us in the end.
This is not for the guy who know how to use Tor, Linux, or even BitTorrent. This article is for the average Joe who wants to surf the net. Not out run the NSA

Links are here:
https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/consumer/10-tips-stay-safe-surfing-web/
https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2015/10/10-ways-to-protect-against-hackers/amp/
https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2013/may/12/20-ways-keep-internet-identity-safe

that's not what i was saying. my point was that the article doesn't really give you enough information to protect yourself adequately and makes a few false statements. bad information is worse than no information.

also, none of those links are to the original article. please include a link to the ORIGINAL article you copied this from.
 
G

GOD HAND 45

Guest
Again, this article is for the average guy who surfs the net. Not trying to sneak around the censorship, evade the NSA, nor hacking into other people's computers. Just commonsense things that I experienced and have sources to support.
If you want me to change the title or the words I will. But again, this article is for the average job.
Here are the Links I got from my Google chrome browser.
https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/consumer/10-tips-stay-safe-surfing-web/

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2015/10/10-ways-to-protect-against-hackers/amp/

https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2013/may/12/20-ways-keep-internet-identity-safe
 

Matt Derrick

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Can people get to the info I used to write the thread?

okay, it was unclear that this was your own writing and not copied from somewhere else on the net. sorry for the assumption.
 

salxtina

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Everyday person can definitely use Tor, tho. Like I'm not really tech-savvy at all, but I use Tor and it's super easy.

Also HTTPS Everywhere is a great easy browser add-on for those issues w/ public wifi.
 
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Matt Derrick

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on a side note, VPNs have other great uses like letting you hide your bittorrent traffic on connections that don't allow it, and the ability to seem like you're in another country for various web streaming services, or checking the cost of flights from other countries (sometimes it's cheaper for the same flight if you buy if from a poorer country).
 
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