Assignments Section Five

Security Tips

1. Understand how email viruses can be sent
   Virii(or virusses) can be sent through email. But they cannot be in plain text. Here are the known ways to send virii through email:
   1. With an attached executable. This can only hurt you if you if you execute it. Names will be disguised like Windows96up.exe or Freestuff.exe.
   2. As an HTML mail-message, linking to a gif/jpeg file, which has a virus in it. Text-only mail-readers will not be hurt by this.
   3. Mail with an attached Word/Excel file. This can only hurt you, if you open it in the corresponding program. It will have a macro in it, that actually has a virus.
2. Choose a Secure Password
   Try to choose a unique, secure password for everything that you do. Follow these guidelines:
   1. Choose a long password of at least 6-8 characters.
   2. Use at least one letter, one number and one punctuation symbol.
   3. Use mixed case characters (i.e., PaSsWORd).
   4. Never use any word found in any dictionary.
   5. Don't use any information which someone could readily obtain about you (i.e., your name, company, phone number, birthday, etc.).
   6. Don't use the same password for your e-mail or Internet account.
   7. If you write your password down keep in it a safe place. (You'd be amazed how many people keep their passwords on post-it notes by their computer).
3. Use an Anti-Virus Program
   • Symantec Norton Anti-Virus
   • McAfee
   • Data Fellows: F-Secure Anti Virus
4. Consider Downloading and Using a Firewall
   • EMD Armor
5. Always Keep Current with Security Issues
   Sites:
   
   • International Computer Security
   • Internet Explorer Security
   • Netscape Security Solutions
   • Virus Bulletin
   • FedCIRC
     Articles:
     
   • Microsoft and Netscape scramble to fix Security Holes : 7.28.98
     • The Security Patches:
       • Microsoft Outlook 98
       • Outlook Express
       • Netscape
   • Securities firms try mock test on weathering Y2K : 7.14.98
   • Security checklist for Microsoft FrontPage server extensions : 7.02.98
     For Web Designers:
     
   • Protecting Private Information
   • Don't trust Java Script Arithmatic

Copyrights and Citings

• Copyrights
  • Go to the US Copyright Home Page Choose your own path of exploration here and tell the instructor what you learned -or- answer one of the the questions below:
    • What is the Freedom of Information Act?
    • How do you register for a copyright?
  
  If you are interested in pursuing more about copyrights, try these sites:
  • The Copyright Law Site sponsored by: Duquesne University
  • General Information About Copyrights * Of interest to software developers
  • Copyright Guide * Of interest to educators
  
  
• Citings More and more people are using web documents in their reports. This brings up the question of how to cite a web document as a reference. Unfortunately there is no standard accepted yet for the APA or MLA Styles of Citation because the technology is still so new. However some standards are being proposed. Check with your instructor if they have a preferred method of citation for web documents. Read these documents which suggest formats for citations:
  • MLA Style of Citation:
    
    http://www.uvm.edu/~xli/reference/mla.html
    
    • http://www.classroom.com/resource/citingnetresources.asp
  • APA Style of Citation:
    
    http://www.uvm.edu/~xli/reference/apa.html
    

Ethics

• Go to the Net-Acceptable document. Choose one Ethics link to follow. Explore/read the link you choose.
  • What is the definition of Net-Acceptable?
  • Give a brief summary and critical assessment of the ethics link you choose to follow.

• The IBB: Acceptable and Unacceptable Uses of the Internet
• Ethics, Netiquette and Legislation
• Ethics and the Internet from Duke University
• Barry's Ethics Bookmarks

Final Assignment

email your answers to: The Facilitator
ecpatt@ptialaska.net