I was recently asked about a computer virus that was found on Facebook. It quickly made me think about the comparison of ‘surfing’ the internet and riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. To be honest, the internet is a dangerous place. Sure you may not get ‘road rash’ if you go to the wrong website but you could lose personal documents, special family photos or even your personal identity.
The recent virus outbreak on Facebook really wasn’t on Facebook but rather the makers of the virus used Facebook to funnel people to a malicious website. It used Facebook members’ friends list to email users about a factious video. The fake video was not on Facebook but rather on a ‘bad’ website. Once the user went to this other website the user would get a message that they needed to update their computer’s software to see the video. Clicking on the update button put the virus on the user’s computer. Facebook quickly shut down the messaging process of the virus and posted instructions on how to remove the virus if a user’s computer was infected.
This is only one example how easy it is to get into trouble on the internet. To help let’s compare using the internet to riding. As we all know, it is wise to put on protective gear, glasses and a DOT helmet before we ride. There are more items that could be on that list, but for this example I will keep the list short. If you jump on your Harley without checking a few things or gearing up properly you are more likely to get into trouble. Without protective gear a little something could become a big something. Without the glasses you would have trouble seeing your way. And without a helmet a ticket from a nice police officer is the least that could happen. The same types of precautions need to be taken when using the internet. A minimum list would include an up-to-date antivirus program, a recent backup of your documents (pictures, settings, and personal documents) in case bad things happen, if you are using Windows make sure it has the latest security patches and use safe internet practices. Just like watching that car next to you and expecting him to move into your lane, always look at where you go and what you receive from others while on the internet. Most viruses are sent through emails or installed by clicking OK while on a bad website.
With the Facebook incident there were a few hints that users can learn from. The message took the user to an unknown website. Always be careful when going to unknown websites. The Facebook example sent a message to friends stating ‘I found this funny video of you’. This might be a neat idea, you on the internet, but think for a minute, what are the chances of a video of you being funny showing up on the internet on some website you have never heard of. I joke, but a little thinking goes a long way while having fun chatting with friends, searching for the latest food recipe or watching something silly on YouTube. There are bad people out there that want nothing more than to ruin your day.
Just like evaluating a turn you should also evaluate where and what you do on the Net. Another hint with the Facebook example was the unknown site required the user to download software to watch the video. This is where the real virus got permission to infect the user’s computer. Clicking the OK button told the user’s computer it was OK to install the virus. When we surf we have to be very careful with what we download. It is always recommended to use the software vendor’s site when downloading or updating software online. Most reputable sites use common software that can be verified easily.
Some might think it is a stretch to compare ‘surfing the internet’ to riding a Harley, but there are some similarities and everyone should take precautions with both. Being prepared and protected is always more reliable than being lucky.