Computer Crime and Cyber Security

A phishing email is one which:

• requests a payment for goods you have not received

• offers you products in which you may have no interest

• encourages you to click on a link to a fraudulent website

• contains abusive and threatening language

If you receive an email from a well-known company, but its name is misspelt in the sender’s address, you should:

• click on the link in the email to check if it’s genuine

• reply, pointing out the error

• report it as a possible phishing scam

• forward the email to a friend to check

You can tell whether a link in email will take you to a genuine website, for example belonging to a bank, without risk, by:

• pointing to the link or hovering over it without clicking

• deleting the email

• replying to the email

• clicking on the link

Hacking is illegal under:

• The Data Protection Act

• The Computer Misuse Act

• Copyright Law

• Health and Safety Law

Gaining unauthorised access to someone else’s computer files is known as:

• copyright infringement

• hacking

• virus attack

• data theft

You can protect your files from unauthorised access by:

• only allowing your friends and family to know your passwords

• making frequent backups

• choosing a strong password and changing it regularly

• never using computers in a public place such as a library

A computer virus is a small program which:

• will destroy your computer hardware

• you may unintentionally transmit to other computers and infect them

• can only be transmitted via email

• cannot be removed from your computer

“Malware” is:

• a type of virus

• unwanted software installed without consent that might monitor key presses

• security software to detect viruses

• a software bug

Which of these is a sign of malware on your computer?

• You receive a fraudulent email

• Your browser alerts you it has blocked a pop-up window

• Your homepage has changed unexpectedly

• Your browser alerts you to update to a newer version

When choosing a password you should:

• use something easy to remember like your pet’s name

• use a combination of special characters, letters and numbers that mean something to you but no one else

• save all your passwords in a file on your computer in case you forget one

• use a foreign word that will not be in an English dictionary