The latest industry research published this week shows a growing segment of parents who are not only concerned with the nature of potentially inappropriate content their children are exposed to online and via mobile devices, but also with how unwise clicks can open Pandora’s box of security nightmares.
Although a lost or stolen mobile device consistently ranks as a top mobile security issue with the public, what youngsters access – particularly on the family’s home computer – is still one of the biggest online security dangers facing the masses today.
According to Norton Internet Security, antivirus protection in the home is especially important in 2013 because of the wealth of personal and financial information routinely provided to websites that connect consumers to their banks, eCommerce sites, and a variety of other vendors requiring payment.
Fortunately, according to Norton, following even the most basic of tips (see the following) and maintaining up-to-date security software on all devices, can be immensely effective at reducing the gravest dangers to mobile and PC users.
- When entering personal information into a website, make sure that the URL starts with https://. The “s” stands for secure and means that any information entered into the website is encrypted so that no one else can access it.
- Create unique passwords for each site and make sure that each one contains at least eight characters.
- Use caution when connecting to unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks. These networks are sometimes referred to as “zombie” networks and can be the gateway to malware or viruses.
To read MMW’s March 2013 article on the Top Mobile Security Challenges and Opportunities for 2013, click here.
