Personal Cyber Security

This e-learning course covers the fundamental pillars of internet safety for non-technical users. It details how to:

• Protect children from online predators and inappropriate content.
• Identify secure payment sites and conduct online banking safely.
• Recognize and avoid common internet scams, such as phishing, pharming, and “con games.”
• Maintain a computer to prevent viruses and improve performance.
• Manage personal privacy to avoid cyberstalking and bullying.

Skills You Will Gain
By following the advice in this guide, you will develop several protective skills:

• Threat Detection: You will learn to identify red flags for scams like the “Nigerian Bank” scam or fraudulent links in emails.
• Security Implementation: You will gain the ability to set up parental controls, use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for payments, and manage firewalls.
• Password Management: You will learn how to create unique passwords for different accounts and store them in a secure, private place.
• Technical Maintenance: The guide teaches you how to perform “self-maintenance,” such as deleting cookies and history to protect your digital footprint.
• Safe Socializing: You will learn the importance of using aliases and limiting the personal information you share on blogs or social media to prevent stalking.

Best for…
This e-learning course is specifically tailored for:

• The “Average Person”: Individuals who want to be safe online but do not want to deal with overly technical language.
• Parents: Those who need a roadmap for supervising their children’s internet usage and teaching them “stranger danger” in a digital context.
• Online Shoppers and Bankers: People looking for the convenience of digital finance but who are worried about identity theft or compromised accounts.

Course Requirements
This e-learning course suggests several requirements for effective internet security:

• Specific Software: You should have virus protection software (like Norton) installed and kept updated.
• Secure Browsers: You are encouraged to use browsers that support 128-bit encryption, such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Netscape.
• Secure Connections: For financial transactions, the guide requires using a secure home connection or a wireless security card rather than public Wi-Fi.
• Proactive Discipline: Success requires a commitment to regular maintenance, like scanning for corrupted files and updating passwords.