Safety

The virtual odyssey you are preparing to take in the Internet from the comfort of your armchair would not seem to present any serious dangers. But in fact, your cozy sense privacy in front of the monitor is illusory, because as soon as you connect to the Internet (and even when you check your e-mail), your computer becomes part of a vast network inhabited by both friends and enemies. Guarding against dangers is always easier when you know who and what to guard against.


Your Password

We keep our money and documents in a safe so that no one but the owner can use them. Think of your password as the key to your virtual safe in HOTNET. If someone other than yourself learns your username and password, he or she can open your safe. The Internet has become wildly popular, but because one has to pay for access, there is no small number of crooks eager to surf the net on your tab. Please remember that the virtual safe opens for whoever has the key, whether or not he or she is the owner. The system assumes that anyone using HOTNET services with your username and password is you, no matter who they are in point of fact. Please do not underestimate the importance of your password and remember the analogy to a safe. Many users do not take the concept of a password seriously. “I don’t have anything to hide on my home computer,” they think. The password for them is yet another inconvenience; they already have enough, much more useful information to keep in their heads. If you think this way, you need to change your outlook fast before you end up paying for it.


How to Guard Against Password Theft

Try to remember your password without writing it down. If you do need to write it down, then under no circumstances leave it where others can see it. Do not write your password next to your username. This is as safe as leaving your baggage in a locker with the combination written on the locker door.

f you have only just registered, change your password during the first session. Make it a rule to change your password no less than once a month. It is advised not only not to write the password down on paper but not to use the “remember password” function that is sometimes offered so as not to have to enter the password manually each time you logon somewhere. You need to choose between convenience and safety. A saved password is much more vulnerable than one written down on paper, since a password in the computer is already “in place.” Internet browsers such as Explorer offer this option on homepages that require authorization (the My Account page of HOTNET, for instance), but we strongly recommend you not use this option. This also applies to the possibility of saving your password in a file on your computer when you register with HOTNET – this should only be a temporary measure. If you think that no one but you has access to your computer, you must have forgotten that connecting to the Internet means exchanging information. When you surf the net, you are, unbeknownst to yourself, accepting a Trojan Horse, and any potential hacker will have your computer literally in the palm of his hand.
Please try to save your password where it will not be easily found.
Windows systems can be configured to require the name and password of the user when entering the system before the desktop appears (this is the case when the system is configured for multiple users or for client use in the Microsoft network). Do not confuse this username with the one you use for HOTNET, as they are in no way connected!
Use different usernames and passwords for logging onto Windows and for working in HOTNET. Of course, it’s easier to remember just one password, but this is doing hackers a favor.  If your password is stolen, the most important thing is to realize the theft as soon as possible. In the majority of instances, the hacker’s aim is to use the Internet on your tab, which is why you should regularly check your balance and service statistics on the Personal cabinet page. As soon as you notice anything suspicious, promptly change your password and contact us by e-mail at support@hotnet.az or by telephone at +994 12 596 49 49.


How to Change Your Password

Изменить пароль Вы можете в Личном Кабинете пользователя - специальной странички на сервере услуг. Меняйте свой пароль не реже одного раза в месяц, а если есть подозрение, что пароль украден или взломан, то немедленно свяжитесь с нами по электронной почте support@hotnet.az или по телефону +994 12 596 49 49!


Viruses and "Trojan Horses"

If you’ve ever worked on a computer, then you must know about the existence of computer viruses. Lately, specialized, harmful programs exploiting Internet connections have been very widely distributed. They are called “Trojan Horses” or “Trojans.” This is quite an accurate name considering the history of the Trojan War: after a protracted siege of Troy, the Greeks left a gift at the gates of the city for the courageous Trojans – a huge wooden horse. The naïve Trojans took the horse within the city walls, and that night, the Greek soldiers hidden inside crawled out… The Trojans quickly realized their mistake, but if you receive a Trojan program on your computer, you may not know it for a long time. And all the while, this malicious program will be collecting information saved on your computer and sending it “where it needs to go.” Usually these criminals are most interested in your saved passwords. A Trojan Horse allows the hacker to control your computer from a remote location via the Internet connection: he can upload all the files from it, run programs on it, freeze the keyboard, restart your computer, etc. Not so nice, is it? Be careful with unlicensed compact discs and programs downloaded from random Internet sites or received by e-mail from unknown sources, regardless of how they are presented. If you receive an unexpected message with a program attached, there’s no need to panic, since the virus cannot get into your computer on its own. Simply delete such a letter and the program without running it. If curiosity gets the better of you, then it is a must to check the program with anti-virus software. On any computer that is connected to the net, install an anti-virus program, such as Anti-Virus (when installing such programs, it is advisable to activate the constant monitoring function that tracks and blocks infected programs). Regularly update software and anti-virus databases for these programs. Regularly check your computer for viruses and Trojan Horses using these programs. It is likewise necessary to check new programs you are planning to install or simply run on your computer, especially those received by e-mail.


Network Resources and Your Operating System: ActiveX

Microsoft Internet Explorer supports ActiveX technology, developed by the Microsoft Corporation. ActiveX controls can be built into web pages that, when viewed, download the controls onto your computer and run them. These controls are programs that run on your computer, and it is possible that such ActiveX controls contain viruses that can perform unwanted actions on your computer. Such damaging ActiveX controls are already out there. Each administrative ActiveX control should have a digital signature confirmed by special organizations, such as VeriSign. An ActiveX developer with a confirmed signature assumes responsibility not to include any damaging items in ActiveX controls.
You must decide whether or not to trust any given developer. You can regulate ActiveX usage on Internet Explorer by choosing from the Menu bar: View | Internet Options | Security. Here are our recommendations for settings: Under no circumstances should you use Low Security, since it allows for downloading and running Activex controls without warning regardless of whether or not a digital signature is present.
To completely shut off ActiveX controls, choose High Security. To receive a warning before ActiveX controls are run, choose Medium Security. If you decide to run controls, study them carefully and write down the name and author and the date and time that you downloaded them. Do not save this information on a disk, since its contents can easily be destroyed by the control itself.


Network Resources and Your Operating System: Sharing

Check to see whether your computer has generally accessible resources. If your computer is connected to a local network, consult with your systems administrator. Improperly configured general access to resources can give malefactors full access to the files on your computer.


Firewalls (personal intra-network barriers)

We recommend that you install and configure a firewall on the network interface you use to access the Internet (whether a wireless or local network). This is a program that protects you from unsanctioned access to your computer through the network and repels network and virus attacks. Windows XP has a built-in firewall that you should activate when you connect to any network.


Software Errors and Updates

Programs are created by human beings, and human beings are fallible. Hackers search for “holes” in systems and programs that allow them, for example, to get unsanctioned access to information. Software manufacturers are constantly working to improve their products and releasing new versions and patches for older versions. Windows systems have built-in means for automatic updates that detect, download and install updates when your computer is connected to the Internet. If for some reason receiving updates in this way is not desirable, then update Windows software at these sites:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/


E-Fishing

Don’t get snared by crooks. You can receive the most varied kinds of “offers” and requests by e-mail. They may even seem to come from the HOTNET administrator (with a HOTNET return address). You might be requested, for instance, to change your password to one indicated in the message. We never send out such requests to our users’ e-mail addresses. Download and install new versions and updates only from companies’ official sites! In particular, Microsoft warns that it never sends updates for its products via e-mail. So if someone has sent you a Windows update (for instance, with a promise to increase Internet performance), it is most likely an attempt to sneak in a fresh virus.