More On The Epiphany

Well, another day, and still nothing from T-Mobile anywhere about the huge breach of their security. I mean, I know the info was just released two days ago, but you'd think they'd have come out with something by now.

To continue the thought from yesterday's post, this situation is yet another example of two things; first, how the Internet imitates everyday human culture and society, and second, how the only entity you can depend on to protect you on the Internet (just like in everyday life) is YOU. Let me elaborate on each of these point separately.

First, understand that the Internet is changing more and more to resemble what the physical world is like, in many ways. Organized crime and terrorist activity are increasing, but on the positive side, commerce and productivity and services on the Internet are also increasing. The problem is, it's still very new, very raw...a bit like the Old West of 120 years ago or so. While it isn't completely overrun with danger, there are still a lot of dangerous people and things out there.

That leads nicely to the second point, one I'm a big believer in, in both the physical world and the digital world. The only entity, person or organization, that you can depend on to protect you is YOU. You can't depend on the police, or on the government, or family, or friends. All of those people will help you if and when they can. But when it comes down to it, when you're confronted with danger, you can't always depend on others. You have to be able to help yourself. In the digital world, that means educating yourself about the dangers and becoming a savvy Internet user. You don't have to turn yourself into a complete computer geek, or take classes at the local tech school. Just learn the basics of how to protect yourself. A good place to start is with some of the rules you learned as a child:

1. Don't take candy from strangers.

Basically, the simple premise here is that you should be suspicious of anything free, particularly when it comes from a source you don't know, or when the source goes out of their way to tell you how free it is. This is doubly important on the Internet, where spyware and adware are typically bundled with free software from "benevolent" sources. The Internet used to tout itself of a place of freedom and free software. Don't fall in with that line of thinking, because it just isn't true like it once was. Caveat emptor.

2. Don't talk to strangers.

This goes along the same line as the first item. One thing that people like about the Internet is anonymity (or the assumption of anonymity). First, don't believe it...everyone comes from somewhere, and though it's possible to hide, anyone can be found with enough time and effort (again, just like the real world). But what it also means is that the person on the other end of your conversation could be anyone. You can't see them, and they don't usually provide credentials that prove they are who they say they are. If someone you don't know e-mails you or IMs you, delete or ignore it. If you find a company that has a great-looking deal on something you're wanting to buy, but you have never done business with the company before, make sure to do your due diligence before you complete your transaction.

3. Don't walk down dark alleys.

There are dangerous places and sites on the Internet, just like there are dangerous places in the real world. Would you go to a bad part of town and just walk into a bar? Be aware of where you are and what you are doing on the Internet. Be on the lookout for strange activity or things that don't look normal.

4. Don't drive without a license.

What does it take to get a driver's license? Sure, you take a test, but mostly you learn the laws of the road. You learn how to take care of your car. You learn how to drive in bad conditions. You learn lots of things so that you can be a competent and safe driver. The same concepts hold true for being a competent and safe computer user. Learn the basics of using computers and the Internet. Learn about the dangers. Learn about what to do if something bad happens, like you get a virus or accidentally install spyware or your system crashes. If that means, "call your best friend who works on computers every day," so be it. But when they come to help you, look over their shoulder. Be smart, and get smarter.

As I read today, there are those who feel the best course of action is to simply unplug and not use the Internet. That's an option, but more and more, it will be less of a viable one. The best course of action is to learn and educate yourself. Remember, you are your only hope.

Thanks for reading.