The ease with which people can steal your personal information is the cost of banking, shopping and communicating online. To use the Internet safely, use the following strategies.

Method 1: Protect your personal information

1. Don't use simple passwords. Using the word “password” or the set of numbers “1234” as a password is like putting a house key in front of the entrance. Fraudsters can easily guess and crack the password. Instead, create a long password that contains both letters and numbers (signs). It is advisable that the password relates to something important to you. For example, if you had a pet goldfish as a child and his name was Mr. Bubble, you might come up with a very good and complex password, such as “mr1pozyr736,” that only you can understand. Write down all your passwords.

2. When subscribing to the mailing list, downloading files, signing agreements, always read the fine print. If you do not want to receive junk mail or be put on telephone agent lists, please note the small box at the bottom of the page that asks if you want to receive information and offers from other companies.

The best sites themselves state that they will not sell your data to other companies (although they themselves may send you a large number of junk mail). Some sites require you to provide all your information in order to receive their product. Fill in only required fields marked *. If the information field does not have an asterisk, then filling it out is optional and you can leave it blank.

3. Do not give out your full name, address or phone number someone online if you do not trust such a person and do not know him personally. This is especially important in chat rooms or when negotiating for work or on sites designed to meet or find people with common interests. Beware of letters that give very vague answers and there is no clear answer to any of the questions you asked, as well as letters that talk about non-cash payment or the conclusion of any business agreement while the representative is “abroad”, or o receiving gifts or inheritance from an unknown source.

4. Be careful and don’t fall for online scams. Beware of scammers emails, allegedly from eBay, PayPal, a bank or a company you trust. These emails request personal or confidential information. This is called phishing. This email may notify you that there is a problem with your account or password. The email may contain a link that you need to click.

Forward any of these letters to the name of the company on behalf of which it claims to have been sent. They will confirm whether there was a message Email, received by you, real or not. Also, keep in mind that some email services such as Yahoo!, MSN, Hotmail. Gmai, Mail.ru never specify your email password. Don't fall for scammers.

Method 2: Protect your data and connections

1. Make sure that you use (and regularly update) anti-virus, anti-Shionware programs and a firewall. You can use it at your discretion as an access control system (firewall) purchased with your operating system

, as well as software purchased from other suppliers. Do not use the two systems together as they may interfere with each other. 2. When you use a public wireless connection, turn off file sharing and network discovery features. Both of these features put your files, messaging, and system at risk of being opened by anyone. wireless communication

, and not just hackers. On Windows, these features can be disabled via Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. On Macintosh, features can be disabled through System Preferences > Sharing.

If there are many wireless sources around you but you do not need to use the Internet, turn off all your wireless devices. On some devices this is just an on/off switch, on some devices you will need to configure this yourself, for example on a Macintosh you need to click on the Wi-Fi icon and turn off AirPort. 3. Always verify information about secure transactions. The best companies have many safety features. You can see a gold padlock at the bottom of the page which indicates the site is secure. When you provide any or other information, make sure the connection is secure (the URL should start with "https://" instead of "http://") and that the site is trustworthy. Not every site that runs HTTPS or accepts payments is trustworthy, even if it has the required secure connection.

4. Set your browser to block inappropriate information, especially if you have children.

1. Upload files or software from sites that have been rated or verified by reliable sources. Use download resources that have high ratings and verified prices, and that carefully review the files they provide for download (for example, download.cnet.com). If you doubt the security of a site, then either simply look for the name of the site in search engines, or search along with the word “fraud” to see if it turns up search system

some results. Do not illegally download copyrighted products without paying for them.

• 2. Never open attachments in email received from unknown recipients, unless you trust them and you have security settings on your computer. Some unwanted emails may contain viruses or spyware that can harm your computer. Such emails may be automatically marked as "spam" or "junk", but virus-infected emails from unsuspecting friends can also slip into your inbox. If you use email programs such as Outlook or Thunderbird, then disable the function preview attachments. Since with this function you cannot decide for yourself whether to open the attached file or not. Look in the settings mail program

and disable options such as “Show Attachment Previews”, “Display Attachments Inline"s” and so on.

• Adviсe It is best to have three electronic mailboxes . One for friends and websites, another only for work issues, the third for personal clients, banking correspondence, job searches and other things that require increased protection. Use a suitable name and a strong password for your last two email addresses. Some companies may keep your work email address

after your dismissal, so make sure you have a backup copy of all the documents you need.

• Warnings Hold backup copy
• Use good test questions that only you know the answers to.
• Abandon your email or any accounts that have been hacked after you have copied any data that can be saved. Immediately notify your bank or workplace about such changes. You may have to change all passwords or account numbers and similar information immediately (if it was ever mentioned in your email). Complain about the problem directly to the representative of the organization providing your email services.
• If your computer is hacked via the Internet, then all your information may be at risk. Update your virus protection and remove the virus. If important documents or information have been stolen, notify your bank and place of business. Report the crime to law enforcement.

On June 25, a large fire in one of the two-story houses was extinguished on Kharkovskaya Street in the city of Ulan-Ude. Presumably, a gas cylinder exploded, which contributed to the rapid spread of the flame.

What can cause gas to explode in a house?

This can happen if gas has entered the premises due to a faulty gas pipeline or the carelessness of residents. For this, a small source of fire is enough - from a match or from sparks from a light switch.

Users of gas samples should know and strictly follow the following rules for their use and care:

• The gas cylinder must stand level on a hard surface, at an angle of 90 degrees. The cylinder must be at least 1.5 meters away from the stove, stove or radiator;
• Do not change the gas cylinder if there is a fire nearby or electrical appliances are turned on. Each time with such a replacement, it is also necessary to change the gasket between the cylinder tap and the regulator;
• Remember that you cannot store more than two cylinders in one room. It is also prohibited to store them in a room where the temperature rises above 40-45° and in direct sunlight;
• Keep children away from gas appliances;
• Use only serviceable and properly functioning gas appliances; in no case should you use homemade gas appliances, incompletely equipped ones, or home-made appliances;
• Follow the sequence of turning on gas appliances: first light a match, and then open the gas supply;
• If the gas supply stops, immediately close the shut-off valve at the burner and the spare valve on the gas pipeline;
• Do not use gas stoves to heat your apartment;
• To avoid gas leakage, make sure that when cooking, boiling liquids do not spill over the fire;
• Clean burners regularly;
• Do not tie ropes to gas pipes, stoves, taps, or hang laundry or other things on them;
• Do not store cylinders with flammable gases in individual residential buildings, apartments and living rooms, as well as in kitchens, on escape routes, in basements, basements and attics, on balconies and loggias;
• Refill gas cylinders only at specialized points;
• Do not connect or disconnect gas stoves in apartments yourself;
• When leaving home, do not forget to turn off the gas stove and close the valve on the cylinder.

This is especially important for summer residents who leave their homes for a long time.

How to check for gas leaks?

There is a simple method for detecting leaks - this is a regular soap solution. You will also need a brush - you can use a shaving brush or a thick paint brush. Wet the brush in the soapy solution and coat the gas pipeline. If there is a gas leak, you will notice small soap bubbles where the gas escapes.

Never check a leak using lighters and matches - this is very dangerous! Better yet, call a gas technician.

It smells like gas. What to do?

1. Stop using the gas appliance: turn off the gas on the stove, close the gas pipe.
2. Eliminate the appearance of ignition sources: open flames and sparks (matches, cigarettes, lighters, electrical switches, electrical appliances, electric bells, telephones).
3. Immediately remove all family members from the premises, warn neighbors about the incident and urgently ventilate all premises, including basements.
4. Call the emergency gas service by phone “04” or firefighters and rescuers by phone “01”, with mobile phone"101", "010".
5. Leave the gas-filled room before arrival emergency services and liquidation of the accident.

A domestic gas explosion in a room can cause the collapse of a building or part of it, causing a fire, injury and death.

If you go to the post office, you can see a number of people politely standing in line (not just pensioners), holding rent, electricity or telephone forms in their hands.

Meanwhile, today you can use electronic bank payments. Just remember a few rules.

Follow a few basic safety rules to ensure even more comfort and peace of mind.

First, protect your computer by using electronic banking services.

Install legitimate software, antivirus and firewall on it. Legality is held in high esteem.

Pirated software does not provide you with relevant updates and may also be created by criminals and contain harmful viruses.

If they infect your computer, their software may capture your sensitive information.

Antivirus programs and firewalls should also not be taken from unknown sources.

It is in your best interest to keep them updated. Each a new version better prepared to protect your computer from attacks and malware.

Do not use the same password for all sites. When logging into the site, make sure you have entered the URL or web address correctly.

Be careful, sometimes a small typo can redirect you to a malicious resource.

Make sure your connection is encrypted. A sign of this is when the web address begins with HTTPS:// and a closed padlock icon.

Avoid places with computers that are accessible to more than one person (such as internet cafes) and unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

In order to protect your data, clear your cache - whenever you use electronic banking on your computer, do not forget to log out of your account, because your registration data may be saved in the browser session.

Not every email address is worth replying to. This may be a phishing attempt, so ignore these messages and beware of clicking on the active hyperlink it contains.

Online shopping is usually cheaper, faster and more convenient way purchases. However, to be on the safe side, use reputable online stores.

By different estimates, Internet banking is currently used by about 1/3 of Internet users.

Considering that approximately half of the population has access to the web, it can be assumed that 15-20% of people use transactional services. This is surprisingly little.

However, it is popular to pay bills at the post office, supermarkets or shops.

Payments are made in this case alone, but apparently many are worried about security.

Young people are better educated and they use online banking more.

One of the exceptions is entrepreneurs who are looking for ways to reduce costs in droves, regardless of age, and are switching to electronic banking.

Most of all, people are afraid of leakage of login, password and fake bank web pages.

IN Lately The media also gave electronic payers a big scare.

Some banks don't set transaction limits, making it easy to clean out your account after your credit card is stolen.

This problem also has an Internet connection aspect. On banking websites, contactless payments are often not recorded at all until they are finally settled.

Therefore, it is difficult for users to quickly respond to suspicious transactions. Good luck.

Five tips for virtual travel without fear.

Don't connect without knowing the risks.
This is a local bar, a city-owned network, or an access point from your mobile operator— public Wi-Fi networks continue to spread rapidly. Especially in business districts, where you will instantly find a high-speed network to connect to.
However, network access is usually provided with the requirement of some personal information. Once connected, you find yourself sharing the network with many other people - and some of them may be willing to spy on your activities.
Below are five tips for safe use public Wi-Fi and at the same time protecting your information.

1. Consider the risks

Don't stay online longer than you have to.
Public Wi-Fi is inherently less secure than yours home network, because you're sharing a network with dozens, sometimes thousands of strangers, rather than a small group of people you trust. So if you want absolute, 100% privacy and security from public Wi-Fi, just don't use it. And if you absolutely need to make this contact, then keep in mind that you are taking on the risk that a complete stranger can spy on your Internet session.
How will this knowledge help you? With this in mind, using common sense and caution, you will ensure that the session does not become dangerous. If possible, avoid making bank transactions or viewing business emails. Choose neutral activities—watching sports or news sites or something similar—where it doesn't matter whether your actions are being observed.
In addition to being careful in your actions, try to follow these rules: stay online as little as possible, disconnect immediately after you finish, and make sure that antivirus software laptop and phone remained relevant.

2. Read the fine print

Don't ignore security policy pop-ups.
We all believe that we need to read the fine print, but we don't actually follow that advice. Doing this is especially important when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network. What exactly do you provide instead of wireless Internet? How is your email, phone number, or anything else going to be used?
You are essentially putting your trust in the company or individual not to spy on you. Take a popular chain of coffee shops: the brand is unlikely to covertly monitor customers' online activity, but rather collect insignificant information for marketing purposes. Therefore, weigh the options and make a choice.
For completeness, you can read the Wi-Fi access rules set by the brand in advance. Before going out into the city, if you know your future route, you can identify establishments where it seems safer to connect.

3. Opt for an HTTPS connection

The green “HTTPS” beginning in the link text indicates increased connection security.
When your browser navigates to a site whose URL begins with “https://,” a green padlock icon appears in the address bar. This means you're on a site that uses Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure, or HTTPS, jargon for using an encrypted connection to that site.
In fact, HTTPS mechanisms encrypt all of your activity on a given site. This makes it difficult for someone sitting behind you in a cafe, or the owner of a hotel router, to track the data you share. If possible, only visit sites that use this protocol.
As we said above, it is better to visit sites with general information, when using public Wi-Fi, rather than browsing pages on social networks or email.
However, if you need to visit a site with more sensitive information, pay attention to the green padlock and “HTTPS” to ensure security. Luckily, most popular sites that require authentication, from Google to Facebook (and Orbios among them), now use HTTPS.

4. Install a VPN

Choose a VPN, but choose wisely.
Installation VPN apps(Virtual Private Network) is perhaps the most effective way to safely use public Wi-Fi, accessible to everyone. But even this does not provide a complete guarantee of safety. While providing the ability to spoof your location or watch foreign TV, a VPN also encrypts all data sent and received through your computer or phone. Like working with HTTPS, the program will make it much more difficult for other people on the same network to spy on what you're doing.
You'll have to spend some time choosing a quality VPN because, essentially, you'll be entrusting all your Internet traffic to its developers. As a rule, reliable and fast work implies payment. If you intend to use a reliable and proven service, pay attention to this regularly updated rating of VPN applications. We wrote in more detail about VPN.

5. Select a network

Not all Wi-Fi networks are configured the same.
Work principles different networks Wifi is not the same. Since you can usually choose from several networks to connect to, you should do best choice. Any network that has a complicated connection to it, such as buying a coffee, asking the staff, or paying a small fee, will be significantly more secure than completely open network, which everyone can use.
For security reasons, you should also choose a network created by a well-known company or brand, and avoid networks that appear out of nowhere. Finally, we recommend that you still connect to the same networks at the same establishments. The more access points you use, the more companies give your personal data to be torn to pieces.
Orbios uses all technologies that increase the security of your session, but you should not neglect the described rules when working with any sites.

With the advent of bank plastic cards, everyday life has become much easier. With the help of modern banking technologies, you can easily pay for utilities, book a plane or train ticket, or purchase something in online stores.

People no longer have to stand in endless queues when paying for utilities, for theater or train tickets. Everything has become much faster and more convenient. But has it become safer?

What are the dangers of online payments?

Every plastic card holder should be aware that every time you make any purchase using bank card all information goes to the bank. There it is checked for accuracy. If the verification is successful, the bank will transfer the funds to the seller's account and the purchase will be completed.

Attackers always try to collect as much data as possible about the card (its number, expiration date) and its owner. Then they pay for their purchases online at the expense of the unsuspecting cardholder or transfer the funds to their personal account.

What is a phishing site?

This term “phishing” comes from two combined English words “fishing” - fishing or fishing, fishing and “password” - password. This word is the name of the most popular and widespread method with bank plastic cards on the Internet. Its goal is to fraudulently obtain as much of the cardholder's identification information as possible. Fraudsters try to “catch” the card and account number, username and password of the owner from the Internet.

Fraudsters create a fake website (called a phishing site), which appearance and the content resembles the official page of a bank or other financial organization that also conducts financial transactions, for example, WebMoney. In order for cardholders to give out their , attackers launch a spam attack and send threatening letters if cardholders do not confirm their data.

Fraudsters today have a variety of cunning and sophisticated ways to extract information. They come up with serious reasons why bank customers should provide all the information they need about their funds and cards.

The most common reason is that it is necessary to carry out an urgent data check due to the fact that a system failure has occurred; a system of protection against hacker attacks or data was lost. Letters with such content, as a rule, are accompanied by a link to a “fake” site where data of gullible citizens is collected and which will be used in the illegal actions of attackers. An example of such a letter.

How to protect yourself from scammers?

To protect yourself and your money from attacks by scammers, you need to take a number of necessary measures:

1) Do not keep all your money or a very large amount on one plastic bank card. You can calculate a certain limit for yourself, and put the rest of the money in a completely different account that will not be associated with the card.

2) An SMS notification service is useful, which can be activated at the bank or independently through Internet banking, if you have one connected. By installing the SMS notification function, you will promptly receive all information about transactions performed using your card (for example, transfer or withdrawal of funds, payment for purchases).

If you receive a notification about a transaction unknown to you, it means your card was used illegally. You should immediately contact the bank and report the problem, freeze all transactions carried out with the card, and simply block it.

3) Submit a request for a regular account statement. It is too effective method discover if you are a victim of fraud or banking failures payment system.

4) If you are planning to use the services of an online store, choose only proven and reliable sites and companies. If you have doubts about the honesty and reliability of the company, it is better to use payment WebMoney systems or Yandex.Money. You can top up your online wallet only the amount necessary for the purchase, and then, using it, pay for your purchase.

5) Never use your bank card with shared computer in public places, for example, in Internet shops or cafes.

6) Now many banks are issuing new service– specifically designed for online payment. By using this service, the client receives the necessary details, as well as an account linked to a virtual card, where you can deposit or transfer funds necessary to make a purchase online and use its details. This way, scammers will not be able to get to your money, and even if this happens, they will only receive a small part that was transferred to the virtual card. Also, these cards have different expiration dates, which also allows for adequate protection of all payments made.

7) And remember, to protect yourself from fraudulent activities, never give your security PIN code to anyone. bank card.

Also, do not forget that bank employees will not ask their clients to provide or remind them again of their personal data (PIN code, CVV2 or CVC2). This information is known only to you.

8) You should not follow links or pop-up windows, or use attachments from unknown resources. Be careful before submitting your details, as often the domain or site URL provided by scammers is incorrect. Be vigilant and take care of your money!

P.S. It's also useful to take a look.