I’ve been missing in action here on the blog as of late. I’ve been in the midst of a massive amount of travel. A couple of weeks ago my travels found me in the airport in Singapore for a couple of hours. In the restroom I saw a sign on one of the doors to a stall. The sign read:

PLEASE MIND YOUR STEP
SQUATTING PAN

I’m sure I heard a little “Ding” sound as a light flooded down on me and I instantly realized I was looking at the perfect metaphor to describe the fundamentals of computer security.

Many people expect their computers to work just like the ones on Start Trek did. You ask the computer to do something and it does so. Unfortunately this isn’t really the case and to use a computer securely diligence is required – you need to watch your step.

If you go to a public computer, such as at a hotel business center, watch your step. This is not a secure place for passwords or confidential data. If you access a wireless network, watch your step – the data can often be captured by nefarious people. When you surf the web, watch your step. Unlike a physical store that you do business with regularly, a web site can be set up by anybody and made to look very professional. Even legitimate web sites are probably not going to accept returns for products that advertise on their web pages.

There are a myriad of places in the online world that require diligence, so...

Please mind your step - If you don’t you will step in something quite unpleasant.

Randy Abrams is the Director of Technical Education for ESET LLC