Is working on line safe?

Answer 1

Not really. The Internet can be a wild and dangerous place.

That said, what matters is what you mean by 'working on line'. Are you just sending a few emails as part of work or are you involved in on-line collaboration across networks? Or are you using on-line applications like those newly available from Google.

Safe is a relative term. How safe do you want or need to be? Safe as in, I don't get malware every time I go on line? Or safe as in an under-a-mountain concrete-and-steel bunker with armed guards and no connection to the outside at all, not even power lines. If you have confidential files, they should be kept on a computer that has no Internet access at all and your daily backup disks should at least be stored in a fireproof box inside a bank safety deposit box.

With decent security software, regularly updated and run on your computer, and provided you make regular backups of all data and keep them off-site, it should be relatively safe. Oh, yeah, and don't use wireless. Wi-Fi security is getting better, but it still doesn't approach hard wiring.

If you are passing sensitive data across the Internet, you need to use encryption.

Despite the fadish rush to deploy Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) you won't catch me using on-line apps any time soon. God only knows who has access to the information I enter in an on line word processor or spreadsheet. And backing up files on line is just giving your permission for data theft.

Answer 2

Of course it is. Provided you are smart and use good firewall and antivirus and antimalware software.

Answer 3

Nope, but you can make it safer with programs like, firewalls, antivirus, anti-spyware

Answer 4

safe from what?

Answer 5

Why wouldn't it be?