Protecting Yourself Online and Antivirus Programs (Grade 11 NSC Matric Computer Application Technology): Revision Notes
Protecting Yourself Online and Antivirus Programmes
In today's digital world, staying safe online is more important than ever. This guide will help you understand the various threats you might face on the internet and how to protect yourself from them. We'll explore online harassment, malware, and the tools available to keep your devices and personal information secure.
With cybercrime increasing globally, understanding these digital threats and protection methods has become an essential life skill for everyone who uses the internet, smartphones, or computers.
Online harassment, stalking and bullying
What is online harassment?
Online harassment includes a wide variety of harmful behaviours that happen on the internet. These can include sending hateful messages, launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, spreading false information about someone (defamation), and many other damaging activities. The main goal of people who harass others online is usually to drive their target away from the internet or to punish them by sharing personal information, sending threats, or trying to cause harm.
Research shows that young adults are particularly vulnerable to online harassment, with people of colour and women experiencing more serious forms of harassment online.
How to avoid online harassment
Protecting yourself from online harassment starts with being careful about what personal information you share online. Here are some key strategies:
Essential Privacy Protection Steps:
Limit your personal data sharing:
- Be cautious about what you post on social media accounts
- Regularly review and update your security and privacy settings
- Never post your physical address, mobile phone number, or email address where they can be seen publicly
- Avoid making personal contact information part of your public profile
Create strong passwords:
- Choose passwords that are unique and complex
- Make sure each of your accounts has a different password
- Change your passwords regularly to maintain security
- Ensure that the answers to your security questions are difficult for others to guess
What to do if you are harassed
If you become a victim of online harassment, it's important to act quickly and document everything:
Step-by-Step Response to Online Harassment:
Step 1: Document the harassment
- Take screenshots of all harassment messages or posts
- Print out copies of the evidence
- Keep detailed records of which websites the harassment occurred on
- Note down dates and times when incidents happened
Step 2: Report and seek help
- Report the harassment to the website or platform where it occurred
- Ask the website administrators to remove the harassing content
- If the harassment is serious, consider taking your evidence to the police to open a case
- In South Africa, you can contact Childline South Africa on 0800 055 555 for support
Research conducted in 28 countries, including South Africa, found that South Africa has one of the highest rates of cyberbullying worldwide. The study showed a 24% increase in cyberbullying incidents from 2011 to 2018, which researchers linked to the growing use of social media platforms in South Africa.
Malware (malicious ware)
Understanding malware
Malware is any type of software that has been specifically created to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to computer systems. These malicious programmes can cause serious problems for your devices and personal information.
Types of malware
There are seven main categories of malware that you should be aware of:
The Seven Main Types of Malware:
- Viruses - Programmes that attach themselves to other files and spread when those files are shared
- Worms - Self-replicating programmes that spread across networks without human intervention
- Trojans - Programmes that appear harmless but contain hidden malicious code
- Spyware - Software that secretly monitors and collects information about your activities
- Ransomware - Malware that encrypts your files and demands payment for their release
- Scareware - Fake security software that tricks you into thinking your computer is infected
- Adware - Programmes that display unwanted advertisements on your device
Preventing malware infections
Computer security experts recommend following these essential practices to protect your devices from malware:
Critical Malware Prevention Measures:
- Avoid suspicious emails - Never open emails from unknown senders or those that seem suspicious
- Don't download suspicious content - Avoid downloading programmes, files, or attachments from untrusted sources
- Keep your antivirus updated - Make sure your antivirus software is always running the latest version
- Update all software regularly - Install security updates for your operating system and other programmes, as hackers often exploit weaknesses in outdated software
Multi-step verification
Multi-step verification, also known as two-factor authentication, adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts. Instead of just using your username and password, this system requires a second form of identification before allowing access to your account.
How Multi-Step Verification Works:
Typically, this second factor involves using a physical device that you own, such as your mobile phone. When you try to log in, you might receive a text message with a special code, or you might need to use an authentication app to generate a temporary code. This means that even if someone discovers your password, they still can't access your account without also having access to your phone or other authentication device.
This security measure significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised access to your personal accounts and sensitive information.
How antivirus programmes work
Antivirus software functionality
Antivirus software serves as your computer's primary defence against malicious programmes. These applications are designed to scan your computer's files, identify harmful software, isolate threats, and remove them before they can cause damage to your system.
Modern antivirus and anti-malware programmes work by continuously monitoring all the files stored on your computer. They examine any changes to files and check your computer's memory for specific patterns that indicate the presence of malicious software. This constant surveillance helps catch threats quickly, often before they can cause significant harm.
You can also perform manual scans whenever you suspect that your device might have been infected with a virus or other malware. This gives you control over when comprehensive security checks are performed.
Application permissions
When you install applications on your smartphone or tablet, you'll notice that many apps request permission to access various functions on your device. For example, when you install a navigation app like Google Maps, the app will ask for permission to access your device's GPS location services so it can provide directions.
Understanding App Permissions:
Understanding and managing these permissions gives you control over what information and capabilities each app can access on your device. This is an important part of maintaining your privacy and security, as it allows you to prevent apps from accessing functions or data that they don't actually need to work properly.
By carefully reviewing permission requests and only granting access to necessary functions, you can reduce the risk of apps collecting unnecessary personal information or potentially misusing your device's capabilities.
Key Points to Remember:
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Online harassment is a serious problem that includes hateful messages, DDoS attacks, and defamation - protect yourself by limiting personal data sharing and using strong, unique passwords
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If you're harassed online, document everything with screenshots, report it to the platform, and seek help from authorities or support services like Childline South Africa (0800 055 555)
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Malware comes in seven main types (viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, ransomware, scareware, and adware) - prevent infections by avoiding suspicious emails and downloads while keeping your software updated
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Multi-step verification adds crucial security by requiring a second authentication factor beyond just your password
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Antivirus software protects your computer by continuously scanning files and memory for malicious patterns, while application permissions help you control what functions apps can access on your mobile devices