If you want to increase the security of your online travels, then read the recommendations below, the implementation of which will help you avoid many problems associated with business or just surfing the Internet.

The main recommendations here are aimed at developing the ability to use passwords. If you are a more or less advanced user of a computer and the Internet (so, at an average level), then you probably have a list of passwords like the following.

List of typical passwords for any user

To your mailboxes(usually to two, three mailboxes);
-- To social media accounts(usually by two, three...);
-- To internet messenger accounts(they are also Internet pagers), such as ICQ (popularly Aska), QIP, Miranda, M-Agent, Skype, Yahoo and others (usually everyone has at least a "login / number" account in two or three of them ;
-- To the forums you're on(usually a person registers in 2-10 forums), and this is also a login and password for each forum;
-- To mailing services(usually two, three, where you are subscribed to mailing lists and where you can change settings - refuse or subscribe to mailing lists)
-- To affiliate program accounts(from one to dozens and even more) in which you participate as a partner (login/password is also used).
-- To your account in the electronic payment system(as well as passwords to the key file, to the wallet program itself, or to the operation of confirming the withdrawal of funds from the account, as well as the “secret key” itself to the settings of your wallets - if you yourself decide to set them up, for example, for premium payments on your site). Usually a user registers in two or more payment systems. And rightly so, because it gives more opportunities!
It turns out, on average, about 10-20 logins, and passwords, as a rule, are a third more! And I haven't listed everything. It is passwords that turn out to be the most vulnerable point in any security system - no one wants to remember 15 complex passwords, so they use their last name, changing the keyboard layout (they write in Russian, but in the English layout or vice versa), use the names of children and relatives as passwords, their mobile phone numbers, pet names, etc. - all these are completely naive and unreliable passwords, especially if they are repeated!

So, here they are very simple and very important recommendations, the value of which for you will increase in proportion to your income:

Attention!
take it as seriously as possible
to the suggestions below!

1. The password exists only for you!

Never, under no circumstances neither I, nor any serious service (or service) will ask you to give any password, for example, a password to access your page affiliate program(to your personal account), to your mailbox, your bank card etc.! Consider any requests or demands of this kind as the actions of intruders or, at best, "jokers". Keep in mind that even if the request came by letter from supposedly my address or the address of your bank - do not believe it! The fact is that now it is quite easy to change the name and address of the sender of the letter.

The same goes for any email service (mail.ru, new mail, yandex.ru, etc.) - never, none of them, under any circumstances, will ask you to transfer the password (including for allegedly solving problems with your mailbox).

Absolutely the same applies to electronic payment systems and any banks.(no matter where they are located): no bank, no payment system will ever send you a letter asking you to send a password, confirm online your plastic card number or its PIN code!!! There is a whole system of phishing (fake) and other methods of Internet fraud, the purpose of which is to gain access to your passwords from your accounts, credit cards, payment system accounts, etc. For example, you may receive a letter from a "supposedly bank" and following the link in this letter you will find yourself on the site of "supposedly this bank" (which will look the same as the real one), where you will be asked to enter your passwords... That's it. .. The only thing that can save you is the knowledge that no bank will ever ask you for this. If you have doubts about something, call the support service of your bank (by the number that you have recorded in advance) and ask - they will tell you everything and prompt you. Don't be shy, they work for people! Now, with the development of Internet banking, this is especially true. In addition, pay attention to the address in the address bar of the browser through which you open sites.

Moreover, more and more often any references to anything are excluded from real letters from payment systems or banks.(which is usually specially emphasized in such letters - for security purposes). If you received a letter from a "supposedly bank" or "supposedly a payment system" and they ask you to follow the link - do not do it (this way you can open the way for a special spyware or virus). Perhaps the only exception is the moment of registration / activation in the payment system, when you really need to follow the link in the letter received in your mailbox in order to activate the registration. But in this case (!) - you know in advance that such a letter will come to you and you know why it came to you (as a rule, it comes instantly at the time of registration). Treat any unexpected mail very carefully! You can't follow links in SPAM! In no case!!! If you are interested in something and you decide to follow the link, then it is better to type this link in the address bar of the browser manually (or copy it first to Notepad, and from it to the clipboard and to the address bar of the browser, but do not click on it with the mouse (this will save you from hidden link substitution).

2. Store passwords in a paper notebook or in a special reliable program!

Never (!) in no form (!) store passwords in your electronic mailbox(including as a picture) . All passwords, secret keys, answers to security questions, etc. it is safest to store in a specially designed for this simple paper notebook (exclude access to this notebook for everyone except you). Take a separate spread of your notebook for each account - enter your login and password there, and everything you need to regain control over your account even from scratch. When you change your password to a new one, just cross out one and enter the other.

Do it:

Go to your email inbox and delete all emails containing passwords!First, of course, write down all the necessary passwords in your paper notebook.
-- Search your local machine(at home, at work, ...) and delete all entries about passwords and logins to anything.

Special Tip:Buy yourself a separate notebook that you will use only for these purposes. And this notebook should be easy to unfold and keep an open position! If it is inconvenient, you simply will not use it. A good option- a paper notebook on a wire spiral. Why? Because you often have to look into it and it will be inconvenient to hold it in your hand (especially if you use the ten-finger typing method) - your hands should be free. Notebook with stitched pages looks nice, but does not stay open. On the contrary, a spring-loaded notepad is easy to unfold and you will feel comfortable working with it.

If you use a special program to store passwords, then duplicate the database with passwords on a special flash drive or external drive (which are stored separately from your computer) so that in the event of a breakdown hard drive or the loss of your computer, you have not lost all your passwords, which will then be a very time-consuming task to recover. At the same time, remember that "there is always strength for strength", which means that there is always a certain risk if you store passwords on a computer, and not in a paper notebook. You can store passwords from forums and social networks in the browser, but I do not recommend storing the password from your Email and online banks.

3. Make all passwords complex!

All passwords, passwords, secret keys, etc. to your e-mail boxes, payment systems programs and any other account, always make it COMPLEX, i.e. consisting at least 11 characters, necessarily including numbers and letters of different cases (ideal is a random set of letters, numbers and symbols, for example: e & 2m @ k1E #39DJ8we).

4. Change your passwords regularly!

Don't worry about forgetting your password - you will definitely forget it(unless you decide to specifically train your memory in this way), because the password will not only be unmemorable, the main thing is that you will change your passwords every time there will be a suspicion that passwords could be spied on or stolen, for example, by spyware detected by your computer's antivirus. If there were no such suspicions (for example, the antivirus did not respond to a single threat during all this time), change the main passwords anyway at least every year.
Change passwords only after updating the antivirus installed on your computer and after scanning the entire computer with it(this will reduce the risk of your password being leaked due to active malware activity).
In addition, the number of passwords you use will grow along with the number of forums and other services on which you will register to participate. Therefore, forget about the password being "beautiful", "convenient", "memorable", etc. - beautiful and convenient Your password can only be for an attacker.

Special Tip: If you use manual password entry, you can make your life easier by using a small password fragment, say, 5-7 characters, the same for all passwords in all main (i.e. frequently used, not all in a row) passwords. Such a code fragment is a certain sequence of characters that means something only for you and for no one else. This sequence of characters must be remembered and never (!) written anywhere! Further, when writing any password in a paper notebook, designate this universal sequence of characters with any one icon (for example, an asterisk - " * "). It will be clear for you what "asterisk" means, but not for others. Thus, even if someone gains access to your notebook, he will not be able to use the main passwords). Naturally, if you yourself forget what it means " asterisk", then you will lose access to your accounts (mailbox, your "personal account" in the affiliate program, etc.), therefore, as a secret sequence of characters, choose something that only you know, but that you will never forget Also, where possible, be sure to set the password recovery function to your mobile phone number.

Special Tip:The given sequence of characters (your secret code word) that you designate with the asterisk symbol should not be simple and easy to pick up. The ideal option is something very cleverly coded, but for you it is unambiguously understandable and memorable. Example: "pr01EsK".

5. Use mnemonics to remember your most used passwords!

How to remember a complex password that you often use? (For example, for your mailbox and your messenger)

Special Tip: Most often, you probably use a password for your mailbox and a password for chatting using a messenger (ICQ, M-Agent, etc.). It is because of the frequent access to your mailbox that there is a desire to make the password to it simpler or store the password in a browser or email client.
Under no circumstances should you simplify the password for your mailbox! The fact is that in most services (including affiliate programs, electronic payment systems Webmoney, RBK Money, Z-PAYMENT, etc.), if you forgot your password, the support service sends it to your email . Consequently, an attacker can get hold of almost all of your passwords knowing only one - from your email account. Naturally, if you do not want to lose control over your messenger, then make the password difficult for him too. Passwords to your ICQ and mailbox should not match!!! Passwords should never match.

However, with regard to the passwords you frequently use: you can use mnemonics and easily, thus, you will remember the most difficult password for your mailbox or messenger (but still write your password in a notebook to completely eliminate its loss). How to remember?

For example, your password might look like this:
*my1GODvRAYU
* - this is your secret, code word or a sequence of characters known only to you and nowhere recorded (you cannot forget it), and then you can read it like this: "my first year in paradise" (naturally, you must also remember where which case for letters are used). From experience I will say that the register is easy to remember, you can not even doubt it.

Another example:
ost125KGdoKMS*
We read: there are 125 kilograms left before the candidate for master of sports and then a secret sequence of characters instead of an asterisk. This example is good for athletes. Let's say in the sum of three competitive movements (bench press, deadlift and squat) you need to perform 505 kg for a weight category of 75 kg, and as soon as the athlete has moved on, he changes the password to his box. Agree, in this situation, it is not only easy to remember a complex password, but it is also pleasant to change it! ;-)

But such a password is not only easy to remember, but also impossible to guess! Consequently, the use of mnemonics allows you to make a password not only complex and, at the same time, memorable, but also unpredictable, which is very important for controlling your mailbox. For everyone else (programs, forums, etc.) - feel free to type random characters. If you decide for each program, forum, etc. come up with passwords using mnemonics, you will soon start avoiding the password change procedure itself, because you will spend too much time on it. Therefore, do not fool yourself - use mnemonics to remember only the most frequently used passwords, and simply write the rest randomly in a notebook - "as the hand wrote itself", or using a program with the "password generator" function, of which there are many.

6. Enter the password from your notebook!

When changing the password, first write it down in your notebook and only then (i.e. from your notebook!) enter it in the input field.This rule eliminates a possible error when entering a password in a notebook. The easiest way is to come up with a strong password by accidentally hitting the keys in any text editor, then supplement what happens with letters of different registers and numbers. You can immediately write a random set of characters into a notepad- this becomes a very convenient way, but only after you can give up the desire to make all passwords meaningful. However, first of all, write down the invented password in your paper notebook, and only then(already looking at the notepad, and in no case copying from the screen) type it in the required input field. This way you will avoid possible errors with entering a password, and even more so insure yourself against immediately forgetting the entered password (which, oddly enough, happens to people very often).

7. When working from someone else's or public computer - delete history!

And if you were forced to log into your account from someone else's computer, then before entering your login and password, disable the function of saving personal information in the browser you use (otherwise, anyone from this computer will be able to log into your account - for example, to your email box). After working on someone else's computer, delete the history for the period of time that you used it. However, it should be remembered that "foreign computer" (especially in Internet cafes) is always a high risk. You may not be aware of spyware, keyboard monitors (which are often installed for network administration purposes), etc. installed on other people's computers. If you still had to use a "foreign computer" to enter one of your main passwords (from e-mail, from an online bank, etc.), then at the first opportunity (!) Change the passwords that you used on someone else's computer!

If you are entering a password from someone else's computer, then put a "tick" in the "Alien computer" field, and if there is none, then before entering your password, go to the browser settings and turn off the "saving passwords" function. This is done in a few seconds if you know where it is. And if you don’t know, then find out in advance, find and remember. Remember: knowledge is power!

8. Use an updated antivirus + firewall!

Use a comprehensive, constantly updated software protection from malware(viruses, trojans and spyware, etc.). If you are NOT using protection, then all the above recommendations are almost meaningless. Go to the settings of your security programs and set the parameters that provide high security(usually everything is clearly written there, and if you don’t understand something, look for visual videos on YouTube or write to the user support service and they will explain everything to you). It is complex protection, at least "antivirus + firewall" or antivirus with a firewall function, that can keep data relatively safe.

9. SPAM is dangerous!

DO NOT open attachments to letters from recipients you do not know, and also DO NOT click on links and pictures in the received spam.Although, there are viruses that act on behalf of recipients recorded as known to you, so in any case, configure your antivirus to scan all files downloaded from the Internet. Opening files received by e-mail (Word - .doc, Excel - .xls, etc.) don't allow macros(after all, your friends may not be aware that they are sending you a virus along with a letter). Ask those who write to you to indicate intelligible subject lines- this measure prevents accidental deletion of a normal email along with spam. In addition, avoid "hot spots" - for example, all kinds of "erotic-crack-sites" - this is a favorite habitat for viruses of all stripes.

10. Set your browser to safe mode!

First, use the "update browser version" function(developers are constantly improving the functionality and security of their product, do not neglect this).
And secondly, set your browser to the most secure mode of surfing the Internet. Read online articles on how to improve the security of your favorite browser. It does not take much time, but on the contrary, it can help save a lot of time and nerves.

With tight security settings, problems can sometimes arise when downloading files from the sites you visit or when displaying all sorts of "bells and whistles" in them. In such cases, either add the site you need to the trusted list (for the browser Internet Explorer this is adding the site to the "trusted sites" zone - menu Settings / Internet Options / Security), or use manual switching settings for this page, or (but only as a last resort!) temporarily lower the general security level in the "Internet Options" of the browser. I remind you that you must have configured different security settings for the "trusted sites" zone and for the "Internet" zone in general. If you are engaged in e-commerce, then I recommend setting the most stringent security settings for the common zone "Internet" (disable all sorts of things in "Internet Options" / "Security Options" Java Script, ActiveX, etc.).

In general, I recommend using a browser Mozilla Firefox . It's free, it's easy to download and install, and it's even more pleasant to work with than a regular one. Internet Explorer`om. If necessary, install the necessary extensions (plugins), for example, a plug-in for removing ads or a site reputation plug-in, for this, use the offer to follow the extensions (plug-ins) using the link that the browser will offer you when updating.

If you cannot open the page you need from a reliable site you know, then it may be that your firewall or antivirus is weird (and the browser has nothing to do with it) - then for these security programs, indicate that this site can be trusted. Rummage in the settings of these programs and you will see everything.

Always follow the security recommendations offered by the resource you use(e.g. site, postal system, payment service or mailing server) or program(for example, Keeper Classic, required to work with Webmoney). Take some time and do everything as recommended. If you can use the additional security settings that the web resource offers, then use them! For example, go to your mailbox settings and enable restriction of access by IP address. Next, create a complex response to Security Question, which is used to recover the password to your mailbox (and be sure to write down this unique answer in your paper notebook). For example, you can choose the question "what is your dog's name" (although you may not have any dog) and write "JimmK007*" as the name (this answer can be read like this: Jim Carrey agent 007, and "asterisk" - this is your code word). And so on, use all possible security settings.

Mnemonics helps not only to remember, but also to easily enter the password from a notepad into the required input field. At the same time, be sure to keep in your paper notebook an indication of the type of question used (for example, "what is the name of your dog") and the answer to the security question itself! And it may happen that you wrote down the answer, but forgot which question ... Remember that your mailbox is the key to many of your passwords! Following the security recommendations of a particular web resource will not be difficult even for the most inexperienced user (now everything is done for people), and if there are difficulties, the support service of the corresponding resource will always answer you and help you.
Remember the truth: knowledge is power!

Type in the search bar a request to search for security holes in the mail services you use, payment systems and other accounts that are important to you!For example, a request may sound like this: "holes in the security of mail.ru" or "how to protect a mailbox on mail.ru", etc.
You will find a mass useful tips use them though ignore any methods that require you to enter your personal data(or send your passwords straight to the hacker, who, under the guise of help, does exactly the opposite). Spend your time on this, otherwise you will lose much more in the future. In a good scenario, for example, if you noticed a leak of funds in time and blocked your accounts by contacting the support service, then you might save money, but if not? Then who will return to you the time spent on earning them? No one will return the time of your life to you! Therefore, find out in advance how to quickly block (by phone or via the Internet) the accounts you use.

Special Tip:Try to create your email accounts only on those email services that support secure ( SSL) connection.

Special Tip:Do not keep large amounts in your electronic accounts. As soon as the amount has become significant for you, withdraw funds from your electronic account by transfer to a bank account or into your own hands. By and large, this is the only measure that reliably allows you to secure your money.

13. Do it backup the files you need to removable media!

This applies to everyone. I experienced twice what it is " death hard I wouldn’t wish this on my enemy. The first time it happened was when I was writing my Ph.D. and in general, it has been noticed that the more technologically advanced and perfect the technology, the more sensitive it is to the human condition - after all, everything that exists ultimately consists of energy ... I am sure that with the mass transition of mankind to computers designed and operated using nanotechnologies and ultra-low energies, the real problem of the interaction of the computer with the mental state of the user will arise.This will create considerable difficulties and endless new possibilities...

But back to the realities of the present day. If you do not copy important files (for example, a copy of your site, customized scripts, etc.) to a removable hard drive or large flash drive, then you are at very, very much risk. Once you have made enough changes to the files that are important to you, copy them to a removable hard drive, USB flash drive, floppy disks, etc.

Special Tip:get yourself a separate portable hard drive - for the Archive (for important files, for example, key files, licenses, important documents). Keep it only at home and nowhere else. Never carry it anywhere. Never plug it into someone else's computer! It does not matter how much you trust the owner of this computer - he may not know what is happening on his machine! Are there many among your acquaintances who know everything about their computer? That's it... Copy all significant files to this removable drive. And on this disk, store the key file from your electronic wallet management program (for example, the Keeper Classic program). Separately, once again, I emphasize: store the key file only on removable media(This file will be useful to you only when reinstalling Keeper or the operating system). If you still don’t have one, then archive the key file (after changing its name and extension (Keeper allows this) into a password-protected archive. Make the password as complex as the system allows, and simply delete the original (unarchived) key file (and write down the password itself in your paper notebook, part of the password should be a secret sequence of characters that you remember, and write down only with the "asterisk" symbol.

14. Free software - can be dangerous!

Be careful not to unnecessarily download or install free software from sites you don't trust.Together with such a program (or under its guise) you can install a virus or spyware. If you are an avid experimenter, then it is better to get yourself a separate computer (or a separate virtual operating system, or at least a separate account) for experimentation and install whatever your heart desires. Naturally, then it should not store confidential data, installed programs for working with electronic payment systems, and the like.

15. Turn off the "keyboard monitor"!

I also recommend DO NOT use a program to record all the keys pressed("keyboard scanners" or "keyboard monitors" - your passwords will also get into their memory, since these programs record all actions with the keyboard - every key pressed). All your passwords should be stored only in your address book (and possibly additionally in special program for storing passwords), and preferably with a "code fragment" (remember the "asterisk"? - see point 3 above - Special tip).

16. Don't be a fool!

Do not get involved in the games of "magic wallets", "reading letters is a highly paid telecommuting job on the Internet", "send us 100 bucks and get 1000", etc. Don't get fooled by this!
If some alleged "employer" asks you to deposit a certain amount of money in advance (no matter under what pretext and why - to open an account for you, a preliminary deposit, register you in something there, etc.), i.e. in fact asks you for money BEFORE you receive your earnings, then they are scammers , this is a guaranteed fraud in its pure form or in the form of a financial pyramid (in the second case, you yourself can become an unwitting deceiver). Never buy into this. Well, if you buy it, it's your own fault, as they say. Then learn from your mistakes. There is a good principle: if you lose money on something, think of it as a paid lesson. Make all the necessary conclusions so that the lesson goes to your future.

Remember these two most simple and true principles to help you see deceit and fraud:

1. Know firmly: If you have not earned anything yet, and some "employer" is already asking you for money, then this is definitely a scam!

2. Know firmly: If you are offered to "earn" decent money, but there is no real product or service (which would be really needed by people and would be sold), then this is a scam.

The difference between normal civilized network marketing (or MLM) and pyramid schemesit is in this - in network marketing (in MLM companies, for example, in Oriflame) there is a product or service that is sold, that people need, but there is no product in the financial pyramid, or there is only its appearance, but in fact money is simply transferred from the pockets of some people to the pockets of others. So don't "throw the baby out" ;-) ! Those. do not confuse real network marketing with financial pyramids and other scams.

I wish you an interesting and useful surfing on the Internet!

Sincerely, Vadim Levkin