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What is internet security? - Definition and meaning

Internet security is a term that describes security for activities and transactions made over the internet. Its a particular component of the larger ideas of cybersecurity and computer security, involving topics including browser security, online behavior and network security. We spend a large proportion of our lives online, and some of the internet security threats we can encounter include:

Individuals and organizations can protect themselves from these kinds of threats by practicing internet security.

To ensure privacy and security on the internet, its important to be aware of different types of internet attacks. Common internet security threats include:

Phishing is a cyber-attack involving disguised emails. Hackers try to trick email recipients into believing that a message is genuine and relevant a request from their bank or a note from a co-worker, for example so that they click on a link or open an attachment. The goal is to deceive people into handing over their personal information or downloading malware.

Phishing is one of the oldest internet security threats, dating back to the 1990s. It has remained popular to this day since it is one of the cheapest and easiest ways for criminals to steal information. In recent years, phishing techniques and messages have become increasingly sophisticated.

Hackers are always looking to exploit a private network or system's vulnerabilities so they can steal confidential information and data. Remote access technology gives them another target to exploit. Remote access software allows users to access and control a computer remotely and since the pandemic, with more people working remotely, its usage has increased.

The protocol which allows users to control a computer connected to the internet remotely is called Remote Desktop Protocol, or RDP. Because businesses of all sizes so widely use RDP, the chances of an improperly secured network are relatively high. Hackers use different techniques to exploit RDP vulnerabilities until they have full access to a network and its devices. They may carry out data theft themselves or else sell the credentials on the dark web.

Malware is a portmanteau of "malicious" and "software". It's a broad term related to viruses, worms, trojans, and other harmful programs that hackers use to cause havoc and steal sensitive information. Any software intended to damage a computer, server, or network can be described as malware.

Malvertising is a portmanteau of malicious and advertising. The term refers to online advertising, which distributes malware. Online advertising is a complex ecosystem involving publisher websites, ad exchanges, ad servers, retargeting networks, and content delivery networks. Malvertisers exploit this complexity to place malicious code in places that publishers and ad networks dont always detect. Internet users who interact with a malicious ad could download malware onto their device or be redirected to malicious websites.

Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents you from using your computer or accessing specific files on your computer unless a ransom is paid. It is often distributed as a trojan that is, malware disguised as legitimate software. Once installed, it locks your systems screen or certain files until you pay.

Because of their perceived anonymity, ransomware operators typically specify payment in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Ransom prices vary depending on the ransomware variant and the price or exchange rate of digital currencies. It isnt always the case that if you pay, the criminals will release the encrypted files.

Ransomware attacks are on the rise, and new ransomware variants continue to emerge. Some of the most talked-about ransomware variants include Maze, Conti, GoldenEye, Bad Rabbit, Jigsaw, Locky, and WannaCry.

The term botnet is a contraction of robot network. A botnet is a network of computers that have been intentionally infected by malware so they can carry out automated tasks on the internet without the permission or knowledge of the computers owners.

Once a botnets owner controls your computer, they can use it to carry out malicious activities. These include:

Computers become part of a botnet in the same ways that they are infected by any other type of malware for example, opening email attachments that download malware or visiting websites infected with malware. They can also spread from one computer to another via a network. The number of bots in a botnet varies and depends on the ability of the botnet owner to infect unprotected devices.

Public Wi-Fi carries risks because the security on these networks in coffee shops, shopping malls, airports, hotels, restaurants, and so on is often lax or non-existent. The lack of security means that cybercriminals and identity thieves can monitor what you are doing online and steal your passwords and personal information. Other public Wi-Fi dangers include:

You don't have to worry so much about someone spying on the Wi-Fi network at home because you own the network hardware. But there are still threats in the US, internet service providers (ISPs) are allowed to sell data about their users. While the data is anonymized, it can still be an unsettling thought for those who value privacy and security on the internet. A VPN at home makes it much harder for outsiders to correlate your online activity to you.

If you are wondering how to ensure internet protection and how to protect your data online, sensible internet security tips you can follow include:

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that asks users to provide two or more verification methods to access an online account. For example, instead of simply asking for a username or password, multifactor authentication goes further by requesting additional information, such as:

Multifactor authentication decreases the likelihood of a successful cyber-attack. To make your online accounts more secure, it is a good idea to implement multifactor authentication where possible. You can also consider using a third-party authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator and Authy, to help with internet security.

A firewall acts as a barrier between your computer and another network, such as the internet. Firewalls block unwanted traffic and can also help to block malicious software from infecting your computer. Often, your operating system and security system come with a pre-installed firewall. It is a good idea to make sure those features are turned on, with your settings configured to run updates automatically, to maximize internet security.

Our browsers are our primary gateway to the web and therefore play a key role in internet security. A good web browser should be secure and help to protect you from data breaches. The Freedom of the Press Foundation has compiled a detailed guide here, explaining the security pros and cons of the leading web browsers on the market.

A strong password will help you maintain internet security. A strong password is:

These days, its no longer enough to substitute lookalike characters for letters or numbers for example, P@ssw0rd for password since hackers are wise to it. The more complex and involved your password, the harder it is to crack. Using a password manager will help by generating, storing, and managing all your passwords in one secure online account.

Keep your passwords private avoid sharing them with others or writing them down. Try to avoid using the same password for all your accounts and remember to change them regularly.

Internet security antivirus is critical for ensuring privacy and security online. The best internet security software protects you from different types of internet attacks and protects your data online. Its important to keep antivirus software up to date most modern programs update themselves automatically to stay on top of the latest internet security threats.

Internet security for kids is critical protecting children from harmful or inappropriate content and contacts, as well as malicious software or attacks. Teaching your children online safety tips can help to keep them safe.

Children are spending more and more time online, and its important to talk to them about how to stay safe on the internet. Making sure that kids know what information to keep private online is essential, for example explaining why they need to keep their passwords private, and not give out personal information. Keeping the computer in a common area, where you can watch and monitor its use, can also be a useful way of ensuring children use the internet safely.

Many kids enjoy watching YouTube videos. So, to make this a safer experience, you can use YouTube parental controls. You may also want to use YouTubes dedicated app for children, YouTube Kids. This provides a more child-friendly interface, and videos on the app are reviewed by a combination of human moderators and automated filters to help ensure videos are appropriate for younger children.

Email was designed to be as open and accessible as possible, to allow people to communicate with each other. The drawback of this accessibility is that certain aspects of email are not secure, allowing attackers to use emails to cause internet security problems.

Email security refers to the methods used to protect email accounts and correspondence against unauthorized access, loss, or compromise. Given that email is often used to spread malware, spam, and phishing attacks, email security is an important aspect of internet security.

Spam emails also known as junk emails are unsolicited messages sent out in bulk. Most email providers use algorithms to filter out spam messages, but they can still appear in your inbox despite this. Steps to take include:

If you do find yourself overwhelmed with spam, it could be a sign that your email address has been exposed in a data breach. When this happens, it is recommended to change your email address.

Network security refers to any activity designed to protect the usability and integrity of your network and data. It targets a variety of threats and stops them from entering or spreading on your network.

Your Wi-Fi router is an essential aspect of internet security. It checks all incoming and outgoing traffic and controls access to your Wi-Fi network and, through that, your phones, computers, and other devices. Router security has improved in recent years, but there are still steps you can take to enhance internet protection.

Changing the default settings of your router, such as the default router name and login details, is an important first step. This can help to make your Wi-Fi network less of a target for potential hackers, as it indicates that the router is being actively managed.

There are various features and settings you can disable to increase the security of your Wi-Fi router. Features such as remote access, Universal Plug and Play and Wi-Fi Protected Set-Up can all be taken advantage of by malware programs. While they may be convenient, turning them off makes your home network safer.

The best way to protect your data online when using public Wi-Fi is to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between you and a remote server operated by a VPN service. All your internet traffic is routed through this tunnel, which makes your data more secure. If you connect to a public network using VPN, other people on that network should not be able to see what you are doing providing enhanced internet protection.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term used to describe physical devices other than computers, phones, and servers, which connect to the internet and can collect and share data. Examples of IoT devices include wearable fitness trackers, smart refrigerators, smart watches, and voice assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home. It is estimated that by 2026, there will be 64 billion IoT devices installed around the world.

All these devices connected to the internet create new opportunities for information to be compromised. Not only is more data than ever being shared through the IoT, but the nature of that data is often highly sensitive. This underlines the need to be aware of internet security threats and to practice good cybersecurity hygiene.

Mobile security refers to the techniques used to secure data on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets and is another aspect of internet protection.

Your smartphone can be vulnerable to tapping, especially if it has been jailbroken or rooted. Phone tapping can allow third parties to listen to your calls or read messages. If youre concerned your phone may have been hacked, you can look out for signs like unusual background noise on calls, your phones battery depleting faster than usual, or behaving in strange ways.

If your phone seems to be turning itself on or off without your input, or if apps appear that you dont remember installing yourself, that could indicate that somebody else has access to your phone. Receiving strange SMS messages, containing a garbled series of letters and numbers, or getting a higher than usual phone bill could also indicate phone tapping.

If you have concerns about your mobile security, you can read more mobile security advice here.

Spoofing generally involves cybercriminals trying to convince you that information is coming from a trusted source. Phone spoofing is when scammers deliberately falsify the information which appears on your caller ID to disguise their identity. They do this so that victims think an incoming call is coming from their local area or a number they recognize.

To stop phone spoofing, check to see if your phone carrier has a service or app that helps identify and prevent spam calls. You can also look into third-party apps such as RoboKiller or Nomorobo to help you screen calls but be aware that these apps require you to share private data with them.

Often, if you receive a call from an unknown number, the best thing to do is not answer it. Answering scam calls is a bad idea because the scammers then perceive you as a potential target.

If youre seeing signs that your smartphone has spyware, look at the apps installed on your device. Remove anything that you are unsure of, or dont remember installing.

Updating your phones operating system can help, as can more extreme measures such as resetting your phone to factory settings. While this might be inconvenient, it can be well worth doing if youre concerned that your phone security has been compromised.

You can use Kaspersky Internet for Android to identify and remove malicious viruses and malware from Android phones. Our detailed article on how to remove a virus from Android explains how you can also do this manually.

So, what are the best internet protection methods? Follow these best practices to protect yourself from internet security threats and different types of internet attacks:

The best internet security software will protect you from a range of internet security threats, including hacking, viruses, and malware. A comprehensive internet security product should be able to locate device vulnerabilities, block cyberthreats before they take hold, and isolate and remove immediate dangers.

Webcam hacking is when hackers access your mobile and computer cameras and record you. This internet security threat is known as camfecting. The number of recorded attacks is relatively low, although most occur without the victim ever realizing they have been compromised, which means they go unaccounted for.

One lo-fi way to block webcam access is by using duct tape but in a world where many people use video conferencing every day for work or keeping in touch, its not feasible to do this. A much better prevention method is to use an antivirus solution that offers webcam protection Kaspersky Internet Security offers this feature. Its also a good idea to turn your desktop or laptop computer off when not in use.

Ad blockers clear web pages of ads and by blocking ads from displaying, you remove the risk of seeing and clicking on an ad that may be harmful. Ad blockers also have other benefits. For example, they may reduce the number of cookies stored on your machine, increase your internet privacy by reducing tracking, save bandwidth, help pages load faster, and prolong battery life on mobile devices.

Some adblockers are free, while others cost money. Bear in mind that not all ad blockers block every online ad, and some websites may not run properly if you have the ad blocker turned on. You can, however, enable adblockers to allow online ads from specific websites.

Parental controls refer to the settings that enable you to control what content your child can see on the internet. Parent controls, used in conjunction with privacy settings, can help increase internet security for kids. Setting up parental controls varies by platform and device Internet Matters has a comprehensive series of step-by-step guides for each platform. You can also consider the use of a parental control app, such as Kaspersky Safe Kids.

A PC cleaner is a tool that removes unnecessary and temporary files and programs from your system. Kaspersky Total Security has a PC cleaner feature that allows you to find and remove applications and browser extensions you rarely use or that were installed without your consent.

Internet protection these days needs to cover all the devices we use to go online laptops, desktops, smartphones, and tablets. The best internet security software will allow you to install the antivirus program on multiple devices, giving you cross-platform protection from internet security threats.

Online shopping security tips to remember include:

Online banking security tips include:

In a world where we spend much of our lives online, internet security is an important issue. Understanding how to overcome internet security threats and different types of internet attacks is the key to staying safe and protecting your data online.

Kaspersky Internet Security received two AV-TEST awards for the best performance & protection for an internet security product in 2021. In all tests Kaspersky Internet Security showed outstanding performance and protection against cyberthreats.

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What is Internet Security? - Kaspersky