[NSRCA-discussion] Online security

[Scott McHarg]

I thought I'd take a moment to point just a few things out about online
security.

1.  If you send anything via the internet on a website that constitutes
personal information, always make sure that the website is secure.  You
will not see http at the beginning but https:.  Some email services,
including Gmail send email securely but that does not mean that the
recipient's email is secure.  SSL (Secure Socket Layers) has been replaced
with TLS (Transport Layer Security).  These are what comprise, essentially,
"https".  They are protocols that provide data encryption and what makes
your information secure.

2.  Depending on your browser, when you're at a site that is encrypted, you
should always look for a notification or a color coding on the letters
"https".  Green is the most secure.  I would not send SS #'s or CC #'s
without this.  If you see red on an https site, their certificate has
expired.  It does not mean the data is not secure, it means they have not
renewed their certificate.  For safety, I would not send personal
information on this.

3. Your cell phone.  If you do not have your cell phone "locked" with a PIN
or pattern or some way of preventing people from accessing your phone, the
data that you send over the internet from your phone is not secure when
utilizing cellular data.  If you have a PIN or pattern or whatever in
place, the phone, regardless if it is iOS or Android, uses that
PIN/Pattern/Fingerprint to encrypt your data being delivered.  If your
phone is simply accessible by picking it up without unlocking your phone,
you will be sending data unencrypted and not secure.  This refers to when
your phone is using cellular data.  If you're connected to a Wi-Fi network,
you are encrypted by that Wi-Fi router.  Point to all this.....lock your
phone.

Hope this helps,
Scott


*Scott A. McHarg*
VSCL / CANVASS U.A.S. Research Pilot
Texas A&M University
PPL - ASEL
Remote Pilot Certified Under FAA Part 107
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