Thread by @Justinhead1982

#NAFO #Fella Security thread 🧵

We’ve all seen the tweets lately where #Fellas were targeted by phishing links and other malicious links so here is some tips on how to bump up your online security using free and subscription software for both your phone and your laptop/pc.

See what a hacker or phisher can do when you click a simple malicious link sent in a DM for example; as happened many #Fellas recently.

First understand the security on your phone or laptop/pc already and configure your web browser's in-built security to best protect you. The below video will help you choose your security settings for Microsoft Edge on Windows.

Similar security features can be found and configured in Google Chrome or Apple Safari browsers. Just search for similar videos on YouTube. Google Chrome security setup is similar to Microsoft Edge. Apple Safari may have taken a different approach.

Your device's operating system (Windows/Android/iOS/macOS) should be configured for tighter security also. The below video shows how to configure the Windows operating system but it’s also an excellent overview of security setup generally.

Recent operating systems such as Windows come with free antivirus software which can be configured and used to run diagnostic tests. The below video shows how to run an anti-virus scan in Windows using the in-built Windows Defender.

Do you need to download enhanced security or antivirus software? Yes, is the short answer. The below video talks about some failings in Windows Defender compared to other dedicated anti-virus software products.

The good news is that the anti-virus software I see most recommended, TotalAV, can be downloaded for free from their website. This will allow you to run antivirus scans on demand and provide other useful features for free.
totalav.com

The free version of TotalAV will have some useful features disabled which come with the paid subscription such as Real-Time Protection which protects against threats and viruses in real-time. This upgrade can be purchased for around $20 for the first year so its worth getting.

Apart from scanning for viruses, subscription anti-virus software may have other benefits. For example, McAfee anti-virus package will display a green tick or a warning beside links to websites generated during a Google search.

The next thing you should consider is using a VPN to disguise your IP address. Every site you visit or link you click can most likely view your IP address. The below site will show all your personal info that can be gathered from a basic link click.
whoer.net

It’s a little bit scary. If you click any of the websites linked on vatnik posts for example, you’ve probably given them the same info as displayed on the website in the previous tweet. They can use your IP address to locate you and determine your internet service provider.

From my experience working in a multinational company that verified identities, IP address can locate you to within about 2km almost immediately. In theory, IP address can’t locate you exactly unless a police authority requested the info from your internet provider.

You can disguise your IP address and location using a VPN. There is free VPN’s available but beware as the majority of free VPNs are not as safe you might expect. The below website reviews free VPNs and offers advice/comparisons.
top10vpn.com/best-vpn/free/

Most anti-virus software providers offer VPNs at additional cost (e.g., TotalAV) or their subscription packages come with VPNs included (e.g., McAfee). How secure those VPNs are can vary. Not all VPNs are the same.

You can also pay for dedicated subscription VPNs such as AtlasVPN or ProtonVPN. The benefit here is that they are dedicated VPN providers which you can generally find comparisons on. Below site also compares subscription VPNs and offers advice.
top10vpn.com/best-vpn/

Note that some VPN providers come with malware protection. The level of this protection varies quiet lot. A good secure VPN like Proton in combination with a separate dedicated antivirus software like TotalAV should give you all the protection you need. Even their free version.

Also assume that you cannot operate anonymously on the internet even with VPN. You should assume that whatever you do, your identity can be traced, at least by national security services. So be good!

For your mobile phone, Android or iOS, I have seen articles suggesting that Google and Apple’s inbuilt security should be sufficient. I am not so sure to be honest. You can download some excellent software to enhance your phone’s malware protection.

Subscription anti-virus such as McAfee or TotalAV may offer mobile phone software for download on at least one of your phones as part of their subscription multi-device package. Check for compatibility before subscribing though. Not all antivirus is available for Android or iOS.

For free malware software for your phone, there is a number of free options available which are rated highly. TotalAV’s free app is not very useful on the phone. The below website recommends Avira Security and the free version works great.
pcworld.com/article/694614…

See the below site for a fuller comparison of subscription antivirus software options for the laptop/pc if you want to look further.
ie.cybernews.com/lp/best-antivi…