Translations by fetag

ubuntu-doc@lists.ubuntu.com (Ubuntu Documentation Project)

2006-09-07

Credits and License

Ubuntu Documentation Project

Canonical Ltd. and members of the <placeholder-1/>

This section describes how to keep your computer safe from security threats.

To check for updates yourself, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>System</guimenu><guimenuitem>Administration</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Update Manager</guimenuitem></menuchoice> and press <guibutton>Check</guibutton>.

Lock your screen while away

Locking your screen prevents other people from accessing your computer while you are away from it. All of your applications and work remain open while the screen is locked, and the screensaver is displayed.

You can lock your screen in one of the following ways:

Set up a firewall

You can optionally install a firewall to protect your computer against unauthorized access by people on the Internet or your network. Firewalls block connections to your computer from unknown sources, which helps to prevent security breaches.

To start <application>Firestarter</application>, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>System</guimenu><guimenuitem>Administration</guimenuitem><guimenuitem>Firestarter</guimenuitem></menuchoice>, and enter your administrator password when prompted.

The <application>Firewall Wizard</application> should run. If it does not, press <menuchoice><guimenu>Firewall</guimenu><guimenuitem>Run Wizard</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

Follow the steps in the <application>Firewall Wizard</application>. After completing all of the steps, the firewall should be configured and running.

To check that your firewall is working correctly, make use of an online firewall testing service such as <ulink url="http://www.grc.com/">ShieldsUP</ulink>.

From time to time, you may be sent an email which carries a virus or links to a fraudulent website. This type of email is very common, and it is important to learn how to deal with it, in order to prevent your computer or your personal details from being compromised or misused.

Such messages are often received from total strangers. However, sometimes an email may appear to be from someone you know, when really it is not. This is because it is possible to include a fake sender email address in emails.

Spam (junk) email, where people offer unwanted services and products

Phishing email, where the message appears to be from a bank or other online service, asking you to enter your personal and financial details, or passwords.

Below are some tips for keeping safe online:

You should never reply to unsolicited mail, or even click on the links in the mail. Doing so usually results in more junk mail being sent to you.

Only download and run software from sources that you trust. By default, you can only download software directly from Ubuntu.

Make backup copies of your files

It is wise to store back-up copies of files separately from your computer; that is, you should make use of some form of file storage which is not permanently attached to your computer. Options include:

External hard disks and flash memory devices

Another computer on the network

A simple way of backing-up your files is to manually copy them to a safe location (see above) by using the <application>File Browser</application>.

Alternatively, you can use a dedicated back-up application, such as <application>HUBackup</application>:

To make a backup, press <menuchoice><guimenu>System</guimenu><guisubmenu>Administration</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>Home User Backup</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.

Select the files which you would like to make a backup copy of and choose the location which you would like to save the backup to. If you have a CD or DVD writer, it should be present in this list.

Press <guibutton>Backup</guibutton> and follow the instructions given on-screen.

To restore a backup made with <application>HUBackup</application>, press <menuchoice><guimenu>System</guimenu><guisubmenu>Administration</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>Home User Restore</guimenuitem></menuchoice> and follow the instructions on-screen.

Some general advice on how to keep good back-ups is given below:

Back-up on a regular basis

Always test your back-ups after you make them, to ensure that they have been made correctly

Label your back-ups clearly, and keep them in a safe place