Online Safety and Security

The Internet is a powerful tool for learning and

communicating with people. However, there are
many dangers that you must watch out for.
Dangers on the Internet
Email Spam

Also known as junk email, it is usually unsolicited

commercial email sent form one source with
identical message sent to multiple recipients.
Although some of them are not harmful, deleting
them one by one will eat up your time and clog your
email.
Dangers on the Internet
Email Spam

Dangerous spams carry virus like Trojan horse and

other malicious software (malware). Spammer is
the term used to refer to a person who creates
electronic spam. Spamming is projected to
continue because it is a cheap means advertising.
In addition, many countries do not have laws to
punish spammers.
Dangers on the Internet
Email Spoofing
This refers to deceitful email practice in which the
sender address is changed, so that it would appear
to have come from a different source usually
someone you know. Usually, the reply address is
the source of the email, and when you unknowingly
reply it to you would be replying to the one who
spoofed you. Email spoofing is usually used by
spammers to hide the origin of the spam.
Dangers on the Internet
Phishing
This is a deceitful practice of trying to get confidential
information such as passwords and usernames, and
credit cards details by making it appear as if it comes
from a trustworthy source. Phishing is usually done by
email or other similar means using a popular entity
such as Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Amazon and financial
institutions to lure you to their website. Internet users
would thin that they are accessing a genuine website
and through this way, a phisher would be able to gather
sensitive information from internet account user.
Dangers on the Internet
Pharming

This is a dangerous hacker attack on a website which directs

all traffic to that web site to another fictitious website. The
main object of pharming is to obtain username and
passwords, as well as credit and financial information, and
use these to steal their money electronically or use the credit
card of the victims. Pharming is a major concern of many
online banking and electronic commerce transactions, which
would compromise many of their client accounts as well as
the business. Antivirus and anti-spyware software cannot
prevent and protect one from pharming.
Dangers on the Internet
Spyware
This is a computer program that is installed covertly on a
personal computer to collect information or even take control
over the computer without the knowledge of the user. A
spyware program would be able to monitor and collect
information about the user and his internet habits and
practices. It is known that spyware programs also affect the
performance and settings of the computer. Major antivirus
companies have incorporated in their products anti spyware
programs, and many internet-based companies have offered
anti- spyware programs for a free and some are free. But you
must be careful which one to use to ensure your protection.
Dangers on the Internet
Computer Worm

This is a dangerous computer program that replicates

itself through a network. Some worms delete files,
others disrupt the network function and still, others
send junk mail from the infected computer. Computer
worm usually spreads by exploiting weaknesses in
operating system and manufacturers of this software
regularly send free updates to clients to prevent the
spread of the worms.
Dangers on the Internet
Trojan Horse

This is a form of malware fronting to perform a

good task, but covertly performs undesirable
function with the intention of entering the
computer without the user’s consent. Once the
malware is installed in the computer, the Trojan
horse can disable the computer’s defense opening
it to unauthorized entry.
Dangers on the Internet
Trojan Horse

It can erase data, can allow access to the victim’s

computer, can corrupt files and can be used in
Phishing for bank accounts.
Dangers on the Internet
Computer Virus
This is a program that duplicates itself and then
infects the computer. It spreads like a real
biological virus, wherein it attaches itself to a host
program and infect other computers if it is
received by a computer through the internet. The
virus can also be transferred by the use of
removable storage devices such as diskette, CD,
flash drives , memory cards and others.
Dangers on the Internet
Hacker

This is a person who is able to enter and control

other people’s computer without authorization. A
hacker is able to enter another’s computer usually
vandalizes the victim’s website, steals personal
information, obtains intellectual property and
perform credit card fraud. Firewalls are able to
prevent entry by hackers.