Security matters - Personal security

Personal security can mean different things to different people. To some it is feeling safe while in their own homes or out in the street. To others it is not being imposed upon by public or private organisations. It can be about avoiding fraud or having your identity stolen, nuisance phone calls, or simple invasion of privacy. These concerns can be addressed in different ways. Obvious ones are more police on the streets, aided and abetted by Neighbourhood Watch in your road perhaps, and what about CCTV (maybe you think it is intrusive, or indeed quite the opposite, a boon!)?

Here in our town

In Bovey Tracey and Heathfield, regular Partnership and Communities Together (PACT) meetings are held, at which the neighbourhood policing team, council representatives, youth leaders, businesses, churches, clubs and others with an interest in the security issues of the town can get together and identify what needs addressing, and how best to do it.

You can play a role!

If you have more than a passing interest in this, come along and be a part of the problem resolutions. Meetings are normally held at the Town Hall or in the Heathfield Community Centre, dates of meetings are published, and I can try to ensure these are put in the Mid Devon Advertiser or on the Town website (www.boveytracey.gov.uk). However, copy for this magazine is submitted too far ahead to be able to do so here!

How things have changed

In my previous article, I described how the UK was becoming the surveillance society we all despised in the Soviet bloc in recent history. Successive governments have introduced the likes of the Mail and Telephone Preference Services and the Data Protection Act to prevent intrusion and protect privacy. Do you think they are effective, or indeed democratic? You may well have a strong view on that.

The Freedom of Information Act gives us the right to ask for information from government and other public organisations that would otherwise be unavailable to us. But as I said last time, these types of organisation now have the right to take information from or about us without having to seek our permission. A kind of Freedom of Information Act in reverse. Are you happy about that?

And then there's the on-line world of IT

If you use a computer at home, this has the benefits of being able to email people and search the worldwide web for information. Increasing numbers of us use it for on-line shopping and banking, which can bring benefits in terms of reduced reliance on cars and expenditure on petrol and parking. But the massive growth of computing has become a major focus for criminals seeking to find out all about you. For the uninitiated: they do this by sending emails pretending to be from reputable companies asking for your personal details (this is called "phishing" for information). This is normally sent in "spam" or unsolicited junk emails (like that you receive by post, so don't open, just ignore and delete/throw away). There is an email Preference Service, but this only works with reputable UK organisations, not those out to cause mischief.

Users of computers set up unique user names and passwords to access all the services they use on their computer, to prevent others being able to do so. As with the PIN number you use at the bank hole in the wall machine, these must be kept secret to yourself, and ideally should be different for each service.

Hacking and other concerns

Computers connected by networks are potentially exposed to hackers who seek to cause disruption on that network in various ways. The main route is via the spread of computer viruses, which can destroy information or software (the controlling programs) kept on computer discs by sending malicious programs (or malware) to you. They can install spyware programs, which are able to steal information on how you use the computer, or release dangerous software into the computer without you knowing (through a type of program called Trojan Horse) which can make vital information available to hackers or indeed delete it. Other malicious programs (called Worms) can be released in your computer and replicate themselves, and be sent on to other computers you may communicate with. The implications for you as the user are pretty obvious!

What can I do?

Some of you may be thinking "why bother with computers if they cause all this mayhem?" The truth is they can be a major benefit and convenience, and the major targets of disruption are large organisations. The key is applying a discipline to how you use your own device, with good backup and recovery procedures should you have a computer breakdown or crash, and installing a complete set of security software from a recognised and established supplier.

This should include four main software elements: anti virus (which scans for, blocks and removes viruses), a firewall (stops unauthorised programs getting into your system from the internet), anti spyware (prevents malware and other unwanted programs getting into your computer) and a spam filter (blocks junk emails). And most importantly, this package of security should be allowed to update from the supplier every time you connect to the internet, as tens of thousands of malicious software items are produced world wide every day!

Stating the obvious

I guess we all take our personal security seriously. Others can help, but at the end of the day, we ourselves have the major part to play through common sense and good practice, like making sure the doors and downstairs windows are locked (and the computer is switched off) before going up to bed. That should help us sleep better!

Other columns by Tony Allen