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WEBCHAT GUIDELINES: 1. One question per member plus one follow-up. 2. Keep your question brief. 3. Don't moan if your question doesn't get answered. 4. Do be civil/polite. 5. If one topic or question threatens to overwhelm the webchat, MNHQ will usually ask for people to stop repeating the same question or point.

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Mumsnet webchats

Webchat with Graham Cluley, computer security expert, Wednesday 2 September at 1pm

103 replies

BojanaMumsnet · 01/09/2015 10:50

Hello,

After the events on Mumsnet over the last couple of weeks, lots of you have been asking questions and sharing advice on how to stay safe online.

So we’re pleased to announce a webchat with Graham Cluley, an award-winning computer security blogger, researcher and public speaker, to tackle your cyber-security-related questions.

Graham has given talks about computer security for some of the world's largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and regularly appears on TV and radio explaining computer security threats.

He was inducted into the InfoSecurity Europe Hall of Fame in 2011, and was given an honorary mention in the "10 Greatest Britons in IT History" for his contribution as a leading authority in internet security. Visit his website here.

Please do join us tomorrow Wednesday 2 September at 1pm or post a question for Graham here in advance if you can’t. As ever, please do remember our webchat guidelines.

Thanks
MNHQ

Webchat with Graham Cluley, computer security expert, Wednesday 2 September at 1pm
DoctorTwo · 01/09/2015 11:15

Hi Graham, I've followed your advice for a while now, from your days at Sophos to now. I run a Linux Distro (Fedora 20), which means (if I understand correctly) that Redhat will soon be discontinuing support because they're 3 or 4 versions ahead.

My question is in 2 parts: 1/ Do I continue to run Fedora 20 but protect it with a Linux specific av system or do I bite the bullet and wipe my hard drive and install the latest edition of whichever Linux distro is best for me?

My pc was running XP until MS stopped support and it doesn't have sufficient disk space/enough RAM/fast enough processor to run Win7 which is why I went down the Linux route.

TIA.

Ironfistfunkymum · 01/09/2015 11:42

Ahem, is it really the users that need the advice.. Hmm

leedy · 01/09/2015 13:04

Can I tell him about how I wasted hours of my life playing his text-only adventure games?

JeffreysMummyisCross · 01/09/2015 13:33

Gosh, I can see that most people are going to have more technical / sophisticated questions than I do Grin

I wanted to ask about password managers - in the aftermath of hackergate, a few people on here mentioned that they use these. But, how safe are they? Can they not be hacked? Wouldn't you be putting a lot of faith in the company whose software you'd be using?

Another question, more out of idle curiosity than anything: how often do hackers actually get caught and successfully prosecuted?

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 01/09/2015 13:43

How secure is a password manager like LastPass as opposed to eg Chromes built in password manager in terms of being hacked externally as opposed to someone having physical access to your device?

FloppyRagdoll · 01/09/2015 14:14

How long will the webchat last, please?

OnlyHereToday · 01/09/2015 14:43

What is the best way to restrict the gazillions of devices my DC have connected to the internet at home please? I use safe search on Google and YouTube (doesn't work for YouTube on an iPad btw, which is terrible of iOS) and the mobicip browser but blimey there is some unsavoury crap that they stumble across.

OnlyHereToday · 01/09/2015 14:44

Virgin broadband router if that makes a difference, thanks.

MrsRabbitsTwin · 01/09/2015 14:51
leedy · 01/09/2015 15:08

Heh, MrsRabbits, I preferred Humbug.

LibrariesGaveUsP0wer · 01/09/2015 16:05

I have a question.

Do you think we have been taught to fear the wrong things on passwords.

For example , we all know that you must not write them down. But actually, aside from family members risk, a 30 digit really random password hidden in a welly boot and different for each site is surely more secure than the compromise people often make - which is simpler or shared passwords across sites. (Talking about online shopping, forums etc rather than your bank account! )

Girlwhowearsglasses · 01/09/2015 16:24

Don't you think it's time that banks and simon give US security when they ring us. It cuts both ways and I don't like answering security questions from someone who 'says' they're XYZ bank. I tell them I will call the bank back on the number I have for them when they call, and they often sound confused when I say I'm not telling them my address, password characters etc.

ANewDayANewName · 01/09/2015 16:26

Is in safe to login another site (eg mumsnet) using either your Facebook or Twitter credentials? What's the implications of using FB or twitter to log into another site?

JJBurnelsBass · 01/09/2015 16:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BojanaMumsnet · 01/09/2015 17:31

@FloppyRagdoll

How long will the webchat last, please?


Hi FloppyRagdoll,

The webchat will last for an hour.
OP posts:
FloppyRagdoll · 02/09/2015 08:07

Thank you, Bojana

tharsheblows · 02/09/2015 09:31

Hi! A lot of security advice seems to be centered around nameless bad guys hacking online accounts in bulk. What about people with partners who are more tech savvy than they are and have access to their homes, phones and computers?

I think this encompasses a few things like: how can I make sure a tracker isn't installed on my phone? What if I need a secure way to communicate with my friends but my husband has access to my computer in my house? (For example, I know that Facebook 2fa doesn't check logins, just new browsers, so FB messages might not be reliable if he can get the password.) What if I need for him not to be suspicious that I am thinking of leaving him so have to let him use my phone sometimes?

Thanks!

tharsheblows · 02/09/2015 09:45

I know I'm not supposed to ask more than one but...

best device and advice for someone like my mother who isn't tech savvy but has a basic understanding of online security (really just is a bit skeptical of clicking links in emails etc)?

So these recommendations revised for someone who doesn't quite understand all of them: twitter.com/swiftonsecurity/status/635168838145867776

If it helps, my mom loves her iPad and I've just told her to never use her old PC for anything but printing as I can't keep it properly up to date. (I hope that's not too far off the right thing to do!)

CFSKate · 02/09/2015 10:02

I sense any questions I have will be way below your paygrade.

I know not to click links in dodgy looking e-mails. I know Windows updates itself occasionally (is it patching up IE holes when it does this?). I have some kind of anti-virus software. Beyond that I am lost.

I know burying head in sand is not right, but not burying head just means surrounded by things I don't understand.

CFSKate · 02/09/2015 10:17

tharsheblows - did you see this?

When patches are issued for IE, do they happen automatically when Windows updates? I keep reading about webcams not being secure, so how do you make them secure?
I know not to use the same password for everything.

JeffreysMummyisCross · 02/09/2015 10:27

Sorry, another question.

MN recently took down its app as they weren't 100% sure that it was secure.

What is the relative safety of using an app on my phone, compared to a website on my laptop? For example, my bank keeps trying to get me to download its new mobile banking app, which I am wary of doing. Am I being overcautious? Although I have anti-virus / malware apps on my phone, I assume that these are not as hefty (technical word there) as those on my laptop?

tharsheblows · 02/09/2015 10:47

CFSKate, I did but had completely forgotten about it (scary, it was just posted a week ago...). That seems like a great resource which understands the situation. I got massively frustrated at someone whose answer to it all was to make a new account on your computer so your partner couldn't log into it. If I have access to your house, I can hack your account's password within a few days. Hmm

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ANewDayANewName · 02/09/2015 11:02

Sorry, I'm doing a 2nd question too!

I'm pretty ok on security on a windows laptop but have no idea about security on my iPhone. Could you identify some key steps to protect yourself on an iPhone (anti-virus etc)?

Many thanks for coming onto do a webchat.

Tianc · 02/09/2015 11:38

Can you say a bit about cross-window attacks within the browser (which I understand may be how the preliminary attack on the MN admin was done)? And the need to actually quit the browser to "end the session", to prevent this?

I've had this explained to me, but couldn't accurately explain it to others. But I now quit and restart Safari before doing my banking.

wannaBe · 02/09/2015 11:57

mmm, humbug was the first ever game I played after I got a screenreader on my dad's computer. I never finished the game

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