Frequently Asked Questions:
Internet Safety and Security
The CoreComm FAQ (list of Frequently Asked Questions) answers questions that are frequently asked of
CoreComm's technical support department.
How safe is the Internet, exactly?
The Internet, not being controlled or patrolled, is only as safe as the world in which we live. But not to worry — if you're cautious about what you do with your personal information and what programs you run on your computer, you'll be safe enough to be pretty well stress free. Some of these things are very simple and are becoming as customary as locking your doors at night, getting a regular checkup from your doctor, and closing the blinds at dusk.
What can I do to protect my information?
Be careful about providing your personal information. Don't send your credit card number, social security number, or other sensitive information over an insecure connection on the Web.
Chances are that nobody is watching the data you send out, but unless the information is over a secure (encrypted) connection, you cannot be sure that it is safe.
Sadly, there are some people out there who try and look for credit card numbers and the like, but it is difficult to decrypt a standard encrypted transmission. Simply being sure that you're on a secure connection before you enter personal and/or financial data will protect you from these risks.
- In Internet Explorer, a little lock icon (
) will appear in the status bar at the bottom of the window indicating a secure connection is present and that any data you send is protected from prying eyes. To view more detailed information about the security certificate the secure site has (a means of verifying the secure site is for real and that the company has been reviewed as being legitimate), just double-click on the lock.
- In Netscape Navigator, the open lock that always shows in the lower-left-hand corner (
) will show as being locked (
) when the connection is secure. To view more detailed information about the security certificate the secure site has, just double-click on the lock.
If you find that a security certificate doesn't match the company or appears to be invalid or revoked, you might reconsider sending your data to them.
How do I know who I can trust with my personal information?
Read the privacy policies on the sites that you visit. Most major companies have them, and they are legally bound to the claims they make. Someone who says "we will not release your information to any other organization" can't quite get away with it if they did.
For information on what CoreComm will and will not do with the information you provide to us, please take a few moments to read our Privacy Policy.
What can I do to protect my computer?
If you're using Windows 98, your computer has built-in features that provide basic security for your data, and Windows 98 will warn you about potential hazards if they arise. Windows NT, 2000, and XP also function in a similar manner, with even tighter controls that can be configured. Internet Explorer and Netscape both have security features built-in, and are made better with each subsequent major release of the browsers.
One common way that people can see files on your computer is if your computer is set to share all your files over the Internet. To ensure your data isn't being publicly shared in Windows 95 or 98, simply follow these steps:
- Go into your Control Panel. You can find this on your Start Menu under Settings.
- Double-click on the Network icon.
- Find TCP/IP --> Dial-Up Adapter in the list of installed network components and double-click on it.
*If you only have one TCP/IP listed and it isn't tied to any adapter, then simply double-click on that.
- Go to the Bindings tab in the TCP/IP Properties.
- Make sure that File and Printer Sharing (if it even shows there) isn't checked.
- Click OK on any remaining dialog boxes to save your information and exit. If you're prompted to reboot your computer, do so.
For other operating systems, please consult the documentation that accompanied your software and you may want to browse the web for security-related web sites. Many books have been written on the subject of security, so you may want to visit booksellers such as Amazon.com to find a book that matches your needs.
You may want to consider installing a firewall for your computer as well. Firewalls act as virtual sentries between your computer and the Internet (which is basically a large network of computers around the world), stopping undesired incoming and outgoing traffic from your computer. Hardware firewalls made by companies like Netgear are devices that you can purchase that perform this function, which is especially helpful if you have a computer network. Software firewalls, such as ZoneAlarm, will perform similar duties by running on each computer, as opposed to protecting your entire network.
What can I do to avoid getting computer viruses?
- Don't open program files or scripts that you've downloaded from the Web, or received via E-Mail, without being sure that you can trust the source of the file. Files that might be infected with a virus include ones ending in .exe, .com, .vbs, and .js.
- Have a good virus-protection program running in the background at all times, update the virus "signature list" often, and scan your hard disk regularly.
- Protect your E-Mail inbox with our CoreComm Defender E-Mail virus protection service. CoreComm Defender monitors your incoming E-Mail and automatically destroys viruses before they reach your inbox.
For more in-depth information on computer viruses and ways to prevent your computer from being infected, visit our Virus Information page in the Technical Support Library.
What software is out there that can help me keep my kids from viewing bad sites?
A variety of software packages are available to protect your children from seeing things they shouldn't be seeing.
Since it is largely uncontrolled, the Internet does have "adult entertainment" and content designed for mature audiences. Let's face it - it sells. If you're looking for adult content, it can be easy to find. If you're not looking for it, and know how to use a search engine's features to the fullest, you won't come across hardly any of it.
It's always good advice to educate your children on what materials are good and bad, and teach them to use the Internet for wholesome entertainment and information purposes. Get them excited in their hobbies and talking to other people their age, in moderated chat rooms, and things like that. Show them how to find the good things on the Web.
There are many tools available that allow you to restrict objectionable material and make the Internet more child-friendly. Many people may even opt simply not to store their passwords on the computer and not tell their children what their logon password is; which requires them to obtain the help of a parent to access the Internet.
For many people, that's a good solution. For others, their children have so much need for the quality content out there that they can't always be watching when their kids need to make use of the Internet.
If you want to prevent any questionably inappropriate material from being displayed on your computer, check out our CoreComm Family Filter service. Family Filter is a quick, safe, and easy way to get connected to family-friendly content. You also receive additional E-Mail accounts, extra disk space for personal web pages, and special Start Page content featuring family-friendly information and features.
Alternatively, you can purchase software to secure your computer and protect anyone without permission from just looking at any Web sites they want. When reviewing such software, look for more information about what they block and how they block it - you should have enough control to set what is and isn't blocked based on your standards for your family situation.
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CoreComm is not responsible for content on external sites.
Please review the privacy and security policies of each vendor before making online purchases or providing
personal information.
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| Document History |
| Last Updated: | 04/06/04 |
| Last Reviewed: | 04/05/04 |
