Guest Post by by Gary Davis
From the hottest new tablet to sleek smartphones and laptops, electronic devices are likely at the top of many consumers’ holiday wish lists this year. Many lucky recipients will immediately load personal data, contact information, photos, and entertainment files onto their new toys, eager to enjoy them right away.
Not so fast! When new devices are completely unprotected, they can be very vulnerable to malware infections or social engineering scams that can steal personal information.
Cybercriminals are widening their nets to target a variety of devices and platforms. McAfee LabsTM is reporting that while Mac and mobile device malware have not hit the mainstream yet, they are increasing, and PC threats continue to escalate significantly.
McAfee encourages consumers to take some simple precautions to keep their digital lives and devices safe through the holidays and into 2012:
1. Protect your data.
In a recent global survey, home Internet users estimated that their digital assets, such as photos, contacts, and entertainment, were worth approximately $37,000. In North America, people valued their assets at a higher figure than anywhere else, at nearly $55,000.
Consider a product that offers data backup and restore features as well as advanced security that allows you to locate a missing device and remotely lock your device and wipe your data in case of loss or theft.
A Good Housekeeping survey from August 2011 found that 30 percent of people don’t back up their files, and worse, that every three seconds, a hard drive fails.
Don’t take a chance on losing important personal photos, creative works in progress, or financial information.
2. If you have a new Apple computer or device, including an iPad or iPhone, tansfer your PC best practices to your new Apple product.
Unfortunately, the popularity of Apple computers and devices has led to an increase in Mac OS X-targeted threats. According to McAfee Labs, as of late 2010, there were 5,000 pieces of malware targeting the Mac platform and is increasing by 10 percent per month.
As a proactive measure, consider installing security software that’s been developed for the Mac since more threats are being aimed at this platform. Check out Apple’s new iCloud service, which provides tools for syncing, backing up and securing data. Use the native security settings on your new device to require a passcode to access the device.
3. If you have a new PC or netbook, make sure your computer has comprehensive security software – anti-virus software alone is not enough. Be sure to back up regularly.
8,900 new malicious websites are found daily. (McAfee Q2 Threats Report)
Malware cost U.S. consumers $2.3 billion last year. (Source: Consumer Reports)
Your security software should include at a minimum: real-time anti-virus, a two-way firewall, anti-spyware, anti-phishing and safe search capabilities. Additional levels of protection include anti-spam, parental controls, wireless network protection, and anti-theft protection that encrypts sensitive financial documents.
4. Keep in mind that free security software can leave you unprotected.
Free security software typically provides only basic protection, and is often offered to get you to buy more comprehensive products. A September 2010 USA TODAY survey of 16 anti-virus companies shows that no-cost anti-virus programs generally lack important features such as a firewall, website health checks, and automatic updates.
To ensure the best protection against emerging threats, look for security software that provides real-time protection using data continuously updated in the cloud.
Don’t forget to check whether the security software installed on your new PC is only a trial version. If it is, remember to buy a subscription so that you have continuous protection against newly discovered threats.
5. Search and shop safely.
To help you weed through malicious sites, be sure to use a website safety advisor that can tell you which sites are safe and which are risky. McAfee® SiteAdvisor® software is included in all of the McAfee consumer security suites.
When shopping, look for the McAfee SECURE trustmark, which indicates that the site has passed rigorous daily testing for more than 10,000 known vulnerabilities.
Don’t forget to read the online store’s privacy and security policies before shopping.
6. Be aware of “scareware,? or fake antivirus software.
Scareware tricks users into believing that the computer is infected to get them to “buy? fake anti-virus software and hand over their personal and financial details, usually via pop-ups.
Scareware has grown by more than 600 percent from 2008 to 2010, and is estimated to victimize one million Internet users a day. (McAfee 2010 Report)
In 2011, for the first time ever, fake Mac anti-virus malware has become a tool for cybercriminals. (McAfee Q2 2011 Report)
Don’t buy anti-virus software through pop-up ads. Always purchase your security software from a reputable vendor.
7. Educate your family and pay attention to your children’s online activities.
Keep your computer in a common area and discuss which information is appropriate to share online and which is not, such as addresses, phone numbers, and other private information. Be aware that if your children are surfing the web, they may not be as prudent when clicking on unknown links and sites, potentially increasing the risk of threats.
If you have young kids or tweens, limit their online access and the content they can view. Use a web-filtering tool that protects kids from accessing inappropriate content such as pornography, nudity, online hate groups, school cheating sites, and profanity.
Assume your child knows how to turn off parental controls, so always keep a close eye on their activities.
For more information on keeping your kids safe, visit McAfee’s Family Internet Safety Center at www.mcafee.com/family and check out the 10-Step Internet Safety Plan For Your Family
8. If you or your child has a new gaming or entertainment device (Nintendo Wii or 3DS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360), remember that these devices are now Internet-connected and vulnerable to many of the same threats as PCs.
Make reliable back-up copies of games to protect your investment. Take advantage of built-in parental controls that can help shield kids from violent games or limit when the device can be used.
Some multiplayer games allow kids to play with strangers over the Internet, so if you are a parent, consider activity-monitoring tools.
Only connect your device to a secure Wi-Fi network.
Don’t store personal information on your device.
9. If you have a removable storage device, such as a flash drive or portable hard drive, use technologies that will help protect your information.
Consider using a secure, encrypted USB stick, to encrypt your information so it is unreadable if your device is lost or stolen.
Buy security software to protect your portable hard drive, and set a password.
Don’t leave your removable storage device unattended since they are small and easily stolen.
10. If you have a new smartphone or tablet, know that threats aimed at mobile devices are growing.
Mobile malware is on the rise, and Android is now the most targeted platform. According to McAfee, attacks aimed at the Android platform grew 37 percent from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2011.
Malicious applications are a growing threat area, so be careful of third-party applications and only download from a reputable app store. Read other users’ reviews and make sure the app’s access permissions make sense. Make sure you also protect against data loss, by backing up your mobile devices regularly.
To keep personal information, identities, and money protected throughout the New Year, it’s important for consumers to secure their new devices the moment they begin to set them up. The good news is that it’s easier and more cost-effective for families to do so.
Consumers can buy one product to protect all of their devices, and easily manage them from a single dashboard. This should give users the incentive they need to get protection for their new devices from the start—and enjoy worry-free digital lives.
McAfee is the first company to provide protection for all of a consumer’s digital devices—from smartphones and tablets to laptops and PCs — for one price. McAfee All Access costs $99.99 for individuals and $149.99 for the household version. This represents a substantial cost-savings—as much as $200—when compared to the cost of individual security and data protection for multiple devices. Free lifetime support available 24 hours a day is also included. Check out www.mcafee.com/allaccess to learn more.
Additional Resources:
For the complete list of consumer tips for securing new devices, go to https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/securing-new-devices
Web surfers should visit the McAfee Security Advice Center and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcafee for information on the latest threats, and tips on surfing safely. A New World of Threats and tips on surfing safely.
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