Computer security: how to protect yourself in the family, at school

Computer security is an aspect that is still too much underestimated in the use of the internet and computer devices that are now constantly connected.

While in the professional field IT security is a need already known in many companies , at school and in the family the use of computers and mobile devices without the necessary precautions often puts personal data and other contents of the devices at risk.

What is computer security

Information security , also called digital security or cyber security , is the set of practices useful for reducing the risks that are run using computers, mobile devices and information systems. These are activities aimed at protecting devices, resources and data of all kinds : personal information, account credentials, work files, photos, payment data, etc.

The risks to which you are exposed by surfing the internet are many, here are the main ones:

• Phishing : the attempt by malicious people to obtain your data through emails and requests disguised as authentic messages.
• Hacking and remote access : Using specific software and security holes, hackers can access devices remotely to steal sensitive data.
• Malware : malicious software that you risk downloading from unsafe links and sites; they include viruses, trojans, worms and all malicious programs used by hackers to steal information or create problems.
• Ransomware : This is the malicious file type that prevents access to your files and allows hackers to ask the victim for a ransom in exchange for recovery.

Against these threats, computer security exploits two main tools: technologically advanced protection software , such as antivirus and VPN , and good behavioral practices that make life more difficult for hackers.

IT Security: the best antivirus and VPN on offer

Achieving a high degree of protection therefore starts with the purchase of effective and safe antivirus , considering that the best ones also integrate Parental Control and additional security functions, VPNs to protect privacy and software to make backups or clones hard disk while minimizing the risk of data loss. However, it is important to remember that the use of cracked or original but outdated software can cause serious security flaws in our devices. Taking for example two of the most popular software such as Office 2019 and Windows 11, on which the efforts of hackers are therefore concentrated, we know that it is possible to download office 2019 for free , but find a key officeoriginal is as important as installing an antivirus for Windows 11 .

A reliable reseller from which to buy software to protect computer devices, saving considerably on list prices, is Mr Key Shop , an online store that is already a partner of many companies in digitization and data protection, with almost 20 years of experience in the sector.

Incurring an online scam or data theft by purchasing security software, as well as damage would be a joke. For Mr Key Shop TrustPilot guarantees, where the store boasts over 2000 positive reviews with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5. International level information sites such as Makeuseof.com also testify to its reliability (for example in an article dedicated to offers on Windows 11 ) and PCGuide.com (on the same subject we find an article on Windows 11 Pro licenses ).

Cyber ​​security for children and teenagers

Computer security is very important in the case of children and young people who use computer devices . By carrying out online activities more and more frequently, but having less experience, they risk running into various network dangers that can even go beyond simple data theft.

Tips for safe surfing for children

Computer devices and the internet are so widespread that children are born already “with a phone in hand”, as they say. Leaving children alone, from an early age, with a smartphone or in front of a tablet or computer is an increasingly common bad habit. There are many risks that children face when surfing the net and using IT devices . Risks that can easily have real-life consequences.

Here is a list of tips to use for safe navigation of children :

• Use of antivirus with parental control : these software allow not only to protect, but also to keep their devices under control, to limit the time they spend online, create lists of forbidden sites, check their position with a gps and much more.
• Explain to children and teenagers the importance of digital security : it is important to teach them not to reveal their identity, address, telephone number and any other personal data online. Warn them, of course, also about the existence of hackers and cybercriminals.
• Don’t let them surf the internet alone : ​​even with parental controls, leaving children in front of a computer alone is a risk, because there are always sites or situations that can get out of control. It is best to let them surf the internet with adult supervision.
• Always check what content they watch and what apps they use : Keeping tabs on a child’s online activity is very important not only in terms of cybersecurity, but also for their emotional state. Internet and computers are often a refuge that threatens to become a danger.
• Make them distrust strangers : it is important to explain to children not to respond to messages from strangers and to make them understand that online there are risks associated with contact with strangers and ill-intentioned people.
• Limiting the time spent on the internet : giving free rein to the indiscriminate use of the internet is also a problem with regard to the growth of the child, who risks alienating himself from reality and spending too much time online. Get organized and put a limit on how much time your child can spend online.

Tips to protect kids and teenagers online

Kids nowadays spend most of the day connected to the Internet. Instagram, TikTok, Whatsapp, YouTube… many experiences and relationships that their parents lived in real environments, they live them on online platforms. Although children and adolescents are more attentive and more aware than children, the risks of surfing online are greater and the repercussions on real life can be very serious .

Here are some cybersecurity tips for kids and teenagers :

• Set up a browsing history : Kids have different and varied interests and it’s always best to keep an eye on them. Consequently, the best thing is to set up a history, on computers and mobile devices, in order to keep track of the sites visited, at least for a few days.
• Restrict internet access : even in the case of children, creating a list of forbidden sites or limiting access to social networks is a good idea. External influence, not only from strangers online, but also from friends and acquaintances, could lead them to visit dangerous sites or sites with material not appropriate for their age.
• Check emails and messages : emails and messages must be kept under control, not only to avoid the risk of Phishing, but also to prevent boys and girls from coming into contact with strangers with bad intentions.

These behaviors, which may seem exaggerated, serve to protect children and young people not only from cyber dangers , but also from real risks in real life .

They are much more frequent among boys and teenagers, but these are some of the dangers they can fall into when surfing online:

• Grooming : there are many adults who, online, try to approach and get in touch with minors of all ages, especially through social networks and game app chat systems.
• Cyberbullying : jokes, teasing, up to threats, humiliations and insults from acquaintances or strangers online. A criminal practice that more than once, unfortunately, has resulted in tragedy.
• Sharing of Illegal Material : It often happens that kids are added by friends, or join themselves, to groups where any type of material is shared. The risk is that of disseminating and possessing material that is illegal by law, risking committing a crime and ruining the lives of other people.
• Challenge : challenges are one of the greatest risks in the age of social networks. These are challenges that are presented in digital environments, but must be performed in real life. They range from harmless challenges such as the Ice Bucket Challenge (spilling a bucket of water on your head), to challenges in which you risk serious consequences – up to death – such as the Fire Challange or the Pod Challenge, where boys are challenged, respectively , setting oneself on fire or eating detergent.

Installing an effective antivirus on the devices used by children and teenagers is essential to ensure their safety. The most complete also have functions for parental control ( Parental Control ):

• Set daily limits for device use.
• Internet or app blocking at certain times.
• Block download of certain apps and access to certain sites.
• Select and control the content accessible through apps, searches and websites.
• Device location control and geo-restriction.

These are some of the best antivirus brands available on the market:

• Norton : guarantees complete protection from malware and is considered one of the best antivirus to protect children’s devices. It has an intuitive control panel and allows the control of social profiles (Windows environment).
• Bitdefender : it has one of the best antivirus scanners and it’s cheap (perhaps the best value for money), but it is less intuitive to configure than others. It has all the parental control tools and a call management function.
• Kaspersky : It also offers one of the best anti-malware protections and is excellent as software to protect children. It is more accurate than others in checking web browsing and geo-location, but less effective in checking social network content.
• Avast : is a complete suite of tools for the total protection of devices and online activities, including home banking and online shopping. The Ultimate version includes SecureLine VPN, Cleanup Premium (to improve device cleaning, efficiency and performance), AntiTrack (to prevent tracking of online activities).
• ESET : It is among the most popular, multi-layered protection protects your children’s privacy, online payments, passwords, webcams, smart homes and online activities from phishing, ransomware and other malware. Low resource usage minimizes impact on battery and system performance. It also allows advanced users to configure 100% device scans and protection.
• McAfee : Maintained a 100% detection rate for all types of malware in tests. It is designed to detect and remove all types of malware but also to block its download and opening. It allows you to schedule and customize scans and has tools to optimize system startup and speed up slow computers.

You can buy the best family computer security software while saving up to 70% thanks to reliable and guaranteed online retailers such as Mr Key Shop. On the store you can buy the best antivirus with Parental Control functions, the best VPNs on offer (we will talk about them in the next paragraph) and various software for Backup and Restore data.

Cyber ​​security for schools and universities

Schools and universities are places where computer security is of paramount importance because the sensitive data of a multitude of boys and girls must be protected . Every year there are numerous cyber attacks in schools of all levels, facilitated by the fact that the cyber security of these places is an underestimated aspect.

On the other hand, Italy is in fourth place (behind the United States, Germany and France) for the risk of cyber attacks, especially on institutional systems, IT infrastructures of national and regional interest and large companies. The school is no exception, above all following the growing use of the internet and computer devices also for teaching, both on site and remotely.

Nowadays all Italian schools, or nearly so, are equipped with IT regulations. Excellent from the point of view of the educational use of the laboratories, but often deficient in terms of information security .

This aspect is still little taken into consideration, and to resolve the issue it would probably be necessary to have a figure in each school who deals with the IT security of the internal network and devices, with the tasks of:

• Keep your software and hardware always up-to-date and protected.
• Identify sources of risk and dangerous events.
• Plan the necessary countermeasures in the event of a cyber attack.
• Constantly monitor risks.
• Protect and preserve sensitive data.

Protecting the privacy of students is an imperative duty of school staff, as it is for families to protect that of children and young people. For this reason, in addition to an antivirus, a reliable and high-performance VPN should also be installed on every device made available to them.

Here are which are considered the best:

• HMA VPN – Can protect up to 5 devices simultaneously and ensures worldwide coverage. By assigning a new IP to your device every 10 minutes, HMA VPN ensures a high level of anonymity. The “Smart Kill Switch” feature prevents personal data from being disclosed even when the connection to the VPN drops.
• Avast VPN : is based on two of the most reliable protocols for protecting privacy on the Internet (OpenVPN and OpenSSL) and supports up to 10 devices. Avast SecureLine VPN also has the “Kill Switch” function and guarantees protection of the IP address from DNS attacks. It is sold together with the antivirus in a decidedly convenient package.

IT security for SMEs and companies

If there are good and simple practices to follow to increase the IT security of your devices , there are also fundamental activities that large companies and small and medium-sized enterprises must follow to ensure the security of the data they possess.

As with schools, every company should have an IT security expert , or an entire department, depending on the size of the company, the size of the network and the volume of data managed.

Here are the fundamental activities to ensure IT security in a business environment :

• Buy and use a great antivirus and a great VPN . In this way the devices and the data contained within them will also be protected while browsing online from viruses, trojans and malware.
• Use a perimeter defense system (firewall) : it is an excellent solution to protect yourself from external attacks. It is an essential system that monitors traffic to and from a device and allows you to block unauthorized attempts to access devices remotely.
• Perform regular security audits of computer systems . You need to periodically check the security of the software and hardware you use as well as the functioning and effectiveness of antivirus and VPN.
• Systematically manage vulnerability problems of IT systems. The advice, in the corporate environment, is to have one or more staff members dedicated only to this aspect.
• Restrict access and privileges . It is essential to have various levels of privileges to access computer systems, so as to limit and control access to data and devices and the risks associated with them.
• Make regular backups and keep them safe .

In addition to Antivirus, VPN and Backup and Restore software, an online store like Mr Key Shop offers professionals and companies very interesting offers on Windows Server products, with which to create secure corporate networks, and on essential software too in the professional field such as Windows operating systems (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7) and Microsoft Office packages (Office 2021, Office 2019, Office 2016, Office 2013, Office 2010 and Office for Mac).

The advantages of Mr Key Shop are not limited to the prices: the payment methods are safe and traced (Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, cards, etc.) and a regular invoice is issued . Delivery of the software is immediate , via an email that contains everything needed for quick and easy installation and activation . In case of need, a free assistance service is available in Italian and the “satisfied or refunded” guarantee is valid for all products in the event of a wrong purchase.

The three pillars of cyber security

The three pillars of information security are often summarized with the acronym “CIA”, and are:

• Confidentiality : maintain your privacy and ensure that only people with legal permissions can access your files, data, accounts and information.
• Integrity : ensure that the information corresponds to what is expected, that no outsider enters false information, or modifies or deletes information without authorization.
• Access : being able to access the information present in certain computer systems whenever necessary, if licensed, without the risk of being subjected to computer attacks that block access or cause corruption.

What activities are critical to cybersecurity?

Computer security is often entrusted to special software, in the case of private individuals, or to qualified personnel, in the case of companies. However, there are a number of key practices that can help preserve personal data and privacy. Here are some examples:

• Keep your operating system, browsers, and other software up to date . This way you will always have the latest updates for protection against the latest viruses, malware and bugs.
• Use high-performance antivirus , preferably paid so you receive constant updates, to ensure high-level protection against viruses, malware, ransomware and any other type of threat.
• Use VPN when browsing on Wi-Fi and public networks.
• Check the URLs of the sites you link to.
• Always pay attention to emails with suspicious content or containing grammatical errors, whether they are sent from known or unknown senders, nor click on the links contained in them.
• Always treat attachments as potentially dangerous files , even those from known senders – for all intents and purposes, they are.
• Do not use external devices , such as USB sticks, unless you are sure where they come from .
• Use secure passwords : use complex and different passwords for each account, changing them periodically to make credentials and access more secure.
• Never save login credentials and credit card information on any device .
• Use multi-factor authentication . Add additional levels of protection in addition to the username and password, for example: the request to enter a temporary code to be sent to your telephone number or email; security questions; biometric data such as a face scan or fingerprint.
• If a device is used by multiple users, diversify access data and privileges .
• Use an account with administrator privileges only when strictly necessary , not usually: in the event of a hacker attack this will allow you to contain the damage.
• Always disconnect personal profiles from a device once you have finished using it by logging out.
• Use cryptography to scramble your data so it can’t be used if it’s stolen.
• Save your login data using digital or physical backup systems.

What are the risks of phishing?

Phishing is a type of online scam in which cybercriminals try to steal a user’s personal, financial or access data to services by deception .

Usually this type of scam is implemented by sending emails, posing as a reliable institution (universities, banks, energy companies, police or carabinieri, post offices) or by simulating communications from widely used online sites and services (Amazon, Facebook etc).

These emails often contain explicit requests for data, or links that could lead to fake web pages that simulate the original pages (for example the homepage of a bank) where data is requested or from where we are invited to unknowingly download malware or ransomware on the device to steal the data contained within it.

The risks of phishing are not only data theft , or money theft , but also abuse, blackmail and stalking in real life, endangering the security and, in the most extreme cases, even the lives of the people whose data is stolen. data.

What’s the best defense against phishing?

Defending yourself from phishing is difficult if you don’t realize you’re being attempted, but there are several steps you can take to avoid falling into the trap:

• Check links and senders of emails : before opening an email, always check who is sending it and do not click on any links. To understand which link it is, you can copy and paste the destination address into a text file to be able to read it without loading the site.
• Check that the link and the destination site match : sometimes links to dangerous sites in emails are associated with texts that report in full Internet addresses apparently reliable. In these cases (but the argument is valid in general) it is necessary to check the correspondence between the address reported in the text and the site to which the link actually directs. To do this, simply hover the mouse over the link or copy the associated link and paste it momentarily into a text sheet.
• Use secure connections : preferably do not use public wi-fi or unknown wi-fi without a password to connect to the internet, especially to navigate sensitive sites (bank, post office, government portals, etc.). For greater security, you can use a VPN, which can encrypt the connection and make it secure.
• Check the domain of a page and the HTTPS protocol : especially when you connect to sites that use sensitive information, make sure that the domain shown in the browser is the right one and that it starts with the wording “https”, an abbreviation of the HTTPS protocol. security that guarantees the confidentiality of the data exchanged between your device and the site you are browsing.
• Do not share your sensitive data with third parties : do not respond to requests to share your data, especially by email. No large company, public or private, requests this type of data via email.

Computer security: conclusions

As far as computer security is concerned, in summary, the protective measures are divided into two broad options: security precautions and practices and good management of computer security . If good IT security management must be entrusted to qualified personnel, IT security practices and measures can be implemented by everyone so as to make their online activities safer. To increase the level of protection of your devices and online browsing, it is useful to have an updated operating system, such as Windows 11, but it is essential to install a valid antivirus and a VPN.