Intro - Be aware and be safe

I've seen and had friends tell me they were affected by this virus or that, or had their credit card stolen.. etc.. Or sometimes a friend will use some web site or technology in some way that I'd frown upon. I get a bit frustrated sometimes. These folks I know are intelligent people and are using web sites, tools, and other technology in a way that seems okay. However, what seems okay is not always safe.. but sometimes we just didn't know.

A parent teaches a child the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street and not talking to strangers. Airplane passengers are asked to always watch their luggage in an airport. Health officials remind us to cover our mouths and noses when we cough/sneeze. We live in a physical world with different kinds of threats, and we are all taught about things such as the above and why we do them.

We also need to protect ourselves in this age of technology. Every day users are doing more and more on the Internet, on computers, and with technology - making purchases, sending personal messages, paying bills, posting pictures, doing their taxes, etc. One thing that is different about the online world is that you don't see the bad guys. Also, technology is changing so fast, you might not be aware of the implications of using the latest cool tool.

Just like the physical world, the online world has its own threats - sometimes because some technology messed up, but mostly because there are malicious people out there who are using the technology and taking advantage of any potential holes. As we use the Internet and other technology more and more, we need to be aware and to know how to be safe.

I intend to post about various things that I think the average user should know and be aware of, things that I come across. Unfortunately, many people are victims of various online attacks before they even know it.