The computing world will be just as it was in 2019, but the focus must still be on security. Too many people are ignoring security online and are becoming the victim of data theft and cybercrimes. If you have a website with important data on it, then do not store the website backups on your website in publically accessible directories, if someone gets ahold of it, the data can be stolen and then used to get into the website and possibly masquerade as the website owner, then stealing more data from unknowing visitors and users. So, those of you who are into Information Technology, it is time to square up and teach your students to take security seriously. This is very important. It is very embarrassing when you search for website backups online and find a huge amount of hits, and some of them actually work. This is not on, but not everyone knows about keeping a website safe from malicious users. Always have the latest versions of WordPress and Drupal on your website, always keep it patched. Always keep your Windows or Linux system up to date with the latest patches. The Ubuntu LTS distribution is a good choice, it will have long-term support when installed.
Another thing to watch out for in 2020 as always, are online scams and dubious E-mails. These are targeted towards computer users and promise various things but are intended to steal your credit card details, as well as other identifying information and allow criminals to pose as you and then gain an advantage. Always stay away from an E-mail that is too good to be true. And stay away from websites that do not have the proper SSL information in the address bar. A website like Amazon.com would have the proper SSL padlock in the address bar, and clicking it would show information that proves you are connected to the actual website, and not a scam site. This is hard to fake. Always check this before handing over your credit card details if you are unsure about using a website. Blogging and posting news from a country that censors such activities can be very hard to do. Using a proxy can be fraught with problems if you have a dynamic IP address. Another way is to use TOR instead, this encrypts the traffic to and from your machine to the Internet and can allow a Cyber dissident to spread the news about what is happening in your country, and be safe from arrest. There is more information in this E-Book: https://www.securitronlinux.com/lc/handbook_bloggers_cyberdissidents-GB.pdf.
A “proxy server” is a server that is situated between a client, such as a web browser, and a server, such as a web server. The proxy server acts as a buffer between the client and the server and can support a variety of data requests including web traffic(HTTP), file transfers (FTP)and encrypted traffic (SSL). Proxy servers are used by individuals, institutions, and states for a variety of purposes including security, anonymity, caching and filtering. To use a proxy server, the end-user must configure the settings of their web browser with the IP address or hostname of the proxy server as well as the port number that the proxy server is running on. While this is fairly simple, it may not be possible to modify browser settings in public Internet access locations such as libraries, Internet cafés, and workplaces.
Amazon has a nice guide on online safety when shopping online: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/32261?language=en-US&ref=mpbc_15362281_cont_32261.
Shop safely online: https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST07-001.