Technology As Innovator

Setup the environment

Install and Turn on an many Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware software

Some free software may include:

• ZoneAlarm free version http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp
• Avast http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
• Comodo Firewall http://www.comodo.com/products/free_products.html

This is a screenshot of ZoneAlarm with Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware turned on. Your software may look different but dig for similar options.

Set security in your browsers

Click here to see the illustration

Develop Defensive Habits

• Scan for virus from external storage: flash drives, hard disks
• Scan for virus/spyware at least weekly
• If some program prompts you to install, don’t if you are suspicious. However, some ActiveX from trusted websites such as microsoft.com can be safe
• Don’t open attachments from someone you don’t know. Scammers and virus spreaders can even fake their email address to something familiar to you, so just don’t.
• Don’t visit sites that look suspicious
  • Check your browser’s status bar left corner (the bar at the bottom of the window) for the URL while hovering your mouse over the link
  • If the domain name is from a source you know well, it is safe. Example of domain name: taitran.com is this site’s domain name
  • If the URL is hidden then it is suspicious
  • If the URL contains commercial words such as “refer”, “bill”, “cash” in its domain name then it is suspicious
  • If a message sent to you via Instant Messages contains links and a message that looks like mass-sending and is ambiguous (come here and check), it may be auto-generated by a virus. It also applies for IM statuses
  • The recent virus spreading in Vietnam is Vietnamese without accent. We can assume that messages with accent might be safer, but this is not guaranteed.
• Confirm with the sender if they sent suspicious-looking messages. If they don’t know, the message contains virus.
• Resist temptation (!) to click on tempting links

How to send messages that contain safe links to people who have already been cautious

• Sign your message with your name
• Address the receiver by name or group name (dear RMIT alumni)
• Write in Vietnamese with accent