EA Forums Online Security Newsletter - September
Welcome to the September edition of our newsletter dedicated to online security. 😎
Our newsletter is always published at the end of each month to discuss the previous month's security news. However, we’re excited to highlight that October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. During October, you have the opportunity to earn a badge* (on AHQ) on the forum not only by participating in this newsletter but also by engaging in discussions and quizzes related to cybersecurity. At the start of each week, we’ll publish an article dedicated to online security on the forum!
In the previous issue, we touched on the topic of securing our home network and how to protect ourselves from danger. Many valuable comments and tips appeared in the discussion. If you haven't had the opportunity to read the previous issue, be sure to check it outhere
This month, the topic of our "Security Focus" will be bots.
You will learn what bots are and whether bots are always good or bad. The topic of bots is very interesting, you can find out more in "Security Focus."
As always, by joining the discussion or solving the quiz, you will receive a participation token - a unique badge on the forum!
We would love to hear your feedback. Visit the Feedback Hub to share your thoughts about the newsletter, ask questions, or share your inspiring stories. If you're interested in hosting next month's challenge, you can also submit your application through the Feedback Hub. Your input helps us improve and keeps our community engaged!
Without further delay, let's get started!
Bots
Bots definition
A bot is basically an app that can do tasks on its own without needing someone to start it every time. They handle repetitive tasks way faster than humans. Not all bots are bad, but some are designed to cause trouble or benefit their creators at the expense of others. When multiple bots team up, they form a botnet, which can be used to launch attacks.
How do they work?
Bots run on algorithms that help them do their specific jobs, like chatting with people to seem human or gathering info from websites. There are many types of bots, each made to handle different kinds of tasks.
Examples of good bots
- Search Engine Crawlers: Bots like Googlebot that index web content to make it searchable.
- Chatbots: Bots that provide customer service or support by interacting with users in real-time.
- Monitoring Bots: Bots that track website performance, uptime, and security.
Examples of bad bots
- Spambots: Bots that distribute spam content or advertisements.
- Scraping Bots: Bots that harvest data from websites without permission.
- DDoS Bots: Bots that participate in Distributed Denial of Service attacks to overwhelm and shut down websites.
How to protect yourself from bad bots?
- Ensure your passwords are strong and unique to protect against brute force attacks, and enable Two-Factor Authentication (TFA) to add an extra layer of security that bots find difficult to bypass.
- Guard your privacy by keeping personal information confidential, as sharing details recklessly can make you an easy target for bots that harvest data for malicious purposes.
- Download files only from trusted sources to avoid malicious software that can turn your device into a bot, unknowingly participating in attacks.
- Regularly update your operating system and antivirus software to patch vulnerabilities that bots exploit to gain unauthorized access.
- Keep your home network secure by updating your router's firmware, as outdated routers can be hijacked by bots to form part of a botnet.
- Stay alert to phishing attacks, as bots often use these to trick you into revealing sensitive information, leading to compromised accounts and systems.
Answers HQ Online Security Newsletter Feedback form (including Community Spotlight, and Q&A submissi...
Answers HQ Online Security Newsletter - Challenge Creation Interest form
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