关于网络安全的四个真相

皮尤研究中心的一份报告显示，人们往往对网络安全“掉以轻心”。来看看大家关于网络安全最常见的四个误解。

Use strong passwords and don't go to sketchy websites, and you'll protect yourself online, right?

使用强大的密码，不上乱七八糟的网站，你在网上就安全了，对吗？

Well... That's a good start. But it's not quite that simple.

好吧，这是个好的开始，但事实并没有那么简单。

A new report from Pew Research details some of American's biggest misconceptions about cybersecurity.

皮尤研究中心的一份新报告列出了美国人关于网络安全最常见的一些误解。

Myth 1. Emails are always secure

误解1：电子邮件总是安全的。

Fewer than half -- 46% -- of people said they know email is not always encrypted. Encryption ensures only the sender and recipient are able to access the emails.

不到半数 Although many email providers, such as Google and Yahoo, encrypt emails, it's not universal. Some companies alert users if communications are unencrypted -- for instance Gmail displays warning icons when you send or receive an email from an insecure source.

尽管许多电邮提供商，包括谷歌和雅虎，都会对电子邮件进行加密，但不是所有电邮提供商都这么做。如果通信没有被加密，一些公司会提醒用户，比如Gmail邮箱在你向不安全地址发送电子邮件或从不安全地址接收电子邮件时会出现警告标志。

If you're concerned, switch to Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or another provider that encrypts by default.

如果你担心的话，就改用Gmail、雅虎邮箱，或其他默认加密的电邮提供商。

Myth 2. "Private browsing" is always private

误解2：“隐私浏览”模式总是保护隐私的。

Surfing the web in private (or incognito) mode prevents the browser -- like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari -- from collecting data about your activities. But it doesn't prevent an internet service provider, like Comcast, from monitoring your activity.

用隐私浏览模式上网时，会阻止谷歌、火狐或Safari等浏览器收集你的活动数据。但这种模式并不能阻止康卡斯特等互联网服务提供商监视你的活动。

Just 39% of those surveyed knew broadband companies could see your online activity even when you're in private browsing mode.

只有39%的受访者知道，即使你使用隐私浏览模式，宽带公司仍然可以看到你的网上活动。

Myth 3. Turning off GPS means no one can track me

误解3：关掉全球定位系统意味着没有人可以跟踪我。

Almost half of people surveyed either didn't know or were unsure whether disabling GPS prevents all tracking. Your phone's built-in location service is just one way data can be collected.

近半数的受访者不知道或不确定关掉全球定位系统是否能杜绝一切跟踪。你的手机内置的定位服务其实只是数据被收集的一种方式。

As Pew Research notes, your phone also connects to cell towers and Wi-Fi networks, and connection to these technologies allows tracking too.

皮尤研究中心指出，你的手机还会与手机信号塔和无线网络相连，从而导致数据被跟踪。

Myth 4. My password is enough to protect me

误解4：我的密码足以保护我。

Strong passwords are good, but security experts also recommend using two-factor authentication for account security. This means you must have a second login, like a security code sent to your phone, to sign into accounts. It prevents hackers from getting into your account, even if they know the password.

强大的密码很好，但安全专家也建议采用双重认证来保护账户安全。这意味着你必须二次登录，比如把验证码发送到你的手机，然后用验证码登录。这会阻止黑客盗走你的账户，就算他们知道密码也无计可施。

Just 10% of adults can identify one example of two-factor authentication.

只有10%的成年人能识别出一个双重认证的例子。

There is some good news from Pew, however: A vast majority of people can correctly identify a strong password, which includes one with random letters, numbers, and symbols. And 73% know using public Wi-Fi is bad for secure activities, such as paying bills online.

不过，皮尤研究中心也有一些好消息：绝大多数人都能正确识别出强大的密码，即随机的字母+数字+符号组合。73%的人知道使用公共无线网络时不宜做网上支付等活动。