Webcams bring up privacy and security issues

Here are a few tips to help keep your information private and secure online.

11:01 24 June 2013

It appears that some certain webcams may have been hacked to take advantage of unsuspecting users. Reportedly, the webcams in question can be switched on remotely and can be used to photograph or monitor computer users.

Recent news is that people should perhaps keep webcams covered up when they are not in use.

 

We often wonder just how secure and private our information is online. In reality your credit card data and other sensitive data is only as good as your digital protection.

• Antivirus—keep any of your computers and internet accessible devices up to date with the latest version of an antivirus programme. You only need one antivirus programme since having more than one can cause conflicts and loopholes for viruses and hackers to attack your system or compromise your credit card.

Malware software is different than antivirus, though it’s best to find an antivirus programme that has malware protection built in. That way you know it will avoid conflicts.

• Internet browsers—regardless of which internet browser you prefer to use, apply all the security updates, and close out of browsers whenever you use your credit card online or conduct banking online.

Also, if you receive a message asking if you would like the system to remember your login information it’s safer to click “no”. The challenge is that you’ll have to try and remember all your various logins and passwords.

• Password—you should set up a password to get into your computer. This helps prevent unauthorized access to the system either by people with physical access to it, or as an additional layer of protection in the event that hackers attack your system.

In many cases you also have the ability to put passwords on documents, like ones with credit card data, so they cannot be accessed without knowing the proper password. This should be a different password than the one to access your computer system.