McAfee Reveals Simple Safety Tips for Securing New Internet-Connected Devices This Holiday Season
MARKHAM, Ontario, Dec. 7, 2011 - From the hottest new tablets to sleek
smartphones and laptops, electronic devices are likely at the top of
many consumers’ holiday wish lists this year. Many lucky recipients
will immediately load personal data, contact information, photos and
entertainment files onto their new toys, eager to enjoy them right away.
Not so fast, warns McAfee. When new devices are completely unprotected,
they can be vulnerable to malware infections or social engineering scams
that can steal personal information. Cybercriminals are widening their nets to target a variety of devices
and platforms. McAfee LabsTM is reporting that while Mac and mobile
device malware have not hit the mainstream yet, they are increasing in
number, and PC threats continue to escalate significantly. “The first thing everyone should do when they begin setting up their
new mobile devices is put themselves one step ahead of cybercriminals by
installing complete mobile security software,” said Brenda Moretto,
Manager of Canadian Consumer Sales at McAfee. “It is now easier and
more cost-effective for consumers to deploy a single solution for
safeguarding all of their Internet-connected devices and protecting
their digital lifestyles from one simple, central console.” McAfee encourages consumers to take some simple precautions to keep
their digital lives and devices safe through the holidays and into
2012: 1. Protect your data.
In a recent global survey, home Internet users estimated that their
digital assets, such as photos, contacts, and entertainment, were worth
approximately $37,000. In Canada, consumers valued their assets at a
higher figure standing at more than $48,000. Consider a product that offers data backup and restore features as well
as advanced security that allows you to locate a missing device, lock it
remotely, and wipe your data in case of loss or theft.
● Don’t take a
chance on losing important personal photos, creative
works in progress, or financial information. 2. If you have a new Apple computer or device, including an iPad or
iPhone, transfer your PC best practices to your new Apple product.
● Unfortunately, the popularity of Apple computers and devices has
led to an increase in Mac OS X-targeted threats. According to McAfee
Labs, as of late 2010, there were 5,000 pieces of malware targeting the
Mac platform, and this figure is increasing by 10 per cent per month. As a proactive measure, consider installing security software that’s
been developed for the Mac since more threats are being aimed at this
platform. Check out Apple's new iCloud service, which provides tools
for syncing, backing up and securing data. Use the native security
settings on your new device to require a passcode to access the device. 3. If you have a new PC or Internet-connected device, make sure your
computer has comprehensive security software - anti-virus software alone
is not enough. Be sure to back up regularly.
● 8,900 new malicious websites are found daily. (McAfee Q2 Threats
Report) Your security software should include at a minimum: real-time
anti-virus, a two-way firewall, anti-spyware, anti-phishing and safe
search capabilities. Additional levels of protection include anti-spam,
parental controls, wireless network protection and anti-theft protection
that encrypts sensitive financial documents. 4. Keep in mind that free security software can leave you unprotected.
Free security software typically provides only basic protection, and is
often offered to get you to buy more comprehensive products. They
generally lack important features such as a firewall, website health
checks and automatic updates. To ensure the best protection against emerging threats, look for
security software that provides real-time protection using data
continuously updated in the cloud.
● Don’t forget to check whether the security software installed on
your new PC is only a trial version. If it is, remember to buy a
subscription so that you have continuous protection against newly
discovered threats. 5. Search and shop safely.
To help you weed through malicious sites, be sure to use a website
safety advisor that can tell you which sites are safe and which are
risky. McAfee® SiteAdvisor® software is included in all of the McAfee
consumer security suites.
● When shopping, look for the McAfee SECURE™ trustmark, which
indicates that the site has passed rigorous daily testing for more than
10,000 known vulnerabilities.
● Don’t forget to read the online store's privacy and security
policies before shopping. 6. Be aware of “scareware,” or fake antivirus software.
Scareware tricks users into believing that the computer is infected to
get them to “buy” fake anti-virus software and hand over their
personal and financial details, usually via pop-ups.
● Scareware has grown by more than 600 per cent from 2008 to 2010,
and is estimated to victimize one million Internet users a day. (McAfee
2010 Report)
● In 2011, for the first time ever, fake Mac anti-virus malware has
become a tool for cybercriminals. (McAfee Q2 2011 Report)
● Don’t buy anti-virus software through pop-up ads. Always purchase
your security software from a reputable vendor. 7. Educate your family and pay attention to your children’s online
activities.
Keep your computer in a common area and discuss which information is
appropriate to share online and which is not, such as addresses, phone
numbers, and other private information. Be aware that if your children
are surfing the web, they may not be as prudent when clicking on unknown
links and sites, potentially increasing the risk of threats.
● If you have young kids or tweens, limit their online access and the
content they can view. Use a web-filtering tool that protects kids from
accessing inappropriate content such as pornography, nudity, online hate
groups, school-cheating sites, a
nd profanity.
● Assume your child knows how to turn off parental controls, so
always keep a close eye on their activities.
● For more information on keeping your kids safe, visit McAfee’s
Family Internet Safety Center at www.mcafee.com/family and check out the
10-Step Internet Safety Plan For Your Family. 8. If you or your child has a new gaming or entertainment device
(Nintendo Wii or 3DS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360), remember that these
devices are now Internet-connected and are therefore vulnerable to many
of the same threats as PCs.
Make reliable back-up copies of games to protect your investment. Take
advantage of built-in parental controls that can help shield kids from
violent games or limit when the device can be used. ● Some multiplayer games allow kids to play with strangers over the
Internet, so if you are a parent, consider activity-monitoring tools.
● Only connect your device to a secure Wi-Fi network.
● Don’t store personal information on your device. 9. If you have a removable storage device, such as a flash drive or
portable hard drive, use technologies that will help protect your
information.
Consider using a secure, encrypted USB stick, to encrypt your
information so it is unreadable if your device is lost or stolen.
● Buy security software to protect your portable hard drive, and set
a password.
● Don’t leave your removable storage device unattended since they
are small and easily stolen. 10. If you have a new smartphone or tablet, know that threats aimed at
mobile devices are growing.
● Mobile malware is on the rise, and Android is now the most targeted
platform. According to McAfee, attacks aimed at the Android platform
grew 37 per cent from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2011. Malicious applications are a growing threat area, so be careful of
third-party applications and only download from a reputable app store.
Read other users’ reviews and make sure the app’s access permissions
make sense. Make sure you also protect against data loss by backing up your mobile
devices regularly. Consider mobile malware threat protection, not only to protect against
viruses and for safe mobile surfing, but to also safeguard privacy in
the event of loss or theft. In addition, for the many consumers who own
multiple devices, McAfee® All Access is a simple and cost-effective
solution for protecting a wide range of Internet-connected devices on
different platforms. McAfee is the first company to provide protection for all of a
consumer’s digital devices-from smartphones and tablets to laptops and
PCs - for one price. McAfee All Access costs CDN $99.99 for individuals
and $149.99 for the household version. This represents a substantial
cost-savings-as much as $200-when compared to the cost of individual
security and data protection for multiple devices. Free lifetime support
available 24 hours a day is also included. Check out
www.mcafee.com/allaccess to learn more. Additional Resources:
● For the complete list of consumer tips for securing new devices, go
to https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/securing-new-devices
● Web surfers should visit the McAfee Security Advice Center and
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcafee for information on the latest
threats, and tips on surfing safely.
● VIDEO: History of Malware:
● VIDEO: A New World of Threats:
About McAfee
McAfee, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC),
is the world's largest dedicated security technology company. McAfee
delivers proactive and proven solutions and services that help secure
systems, networks, and mobile devices around the world, allowing users
to safely connect to the Internet, browse and shop the Web more
securely. Backed by its unrivaled Global Threat Intelligence, McAfee
creates innovative products that empower home users, businesses, the
public sector and service providers by enabling them
to prove compliance
with regulations, protect data, prevent disruptions, identify
vulnerabilities, and continuously monitor and improve their security.
McAfee is relentlessly focused on constantly finding new ways to keep
our customers safe. http://www.mcafee.com. McAfee Canada is headquartered in Markham, Ontario, with regional
office across Canada. The company’s Consumer Software Research and
Development facility is based in Waterloo, Ontario. Note: McAfee, SiteAdvisor, and McAfee SECURE are trademarks or
registered trademarks of McAfee, or its subsidiaries in the United
States and other countries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the
property of others. © 2011 McAfee All rights reserved. The product
plans, specifications and descriptions herein are provided for
information only, subject to change without notice, and without warranty
of any kind, express or implied.