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Safe Computing |
Created December 12, 2004
Like anything else today, keeping your computer and data safe is helped when you employ a few simple techniques.
This is vital to protect you and anyone on your email address list. For the how-to's and more information see the Virus Protection page on this site.
Spyware is software that in introduced into your computer through your Internet connection without your knowledge. It gathers information about your Internet activity and transmits it back to someone else. It is an independent executable program and can monitor keystrokes, scan hard drive files, snoop other applications such as word processing documents, read cookies, steal passwords, and credit card numbers and send the information to a third party. It can also change the default home page on Web browsers. Spyware uses your system resources and can lead to system crashes or general system instability. A virus protector is NOT spyware, and spyware is NOT a virus protector. Both along with a firewall are needed on your computer. One of the commonest ways to be victimized is to download peer-to-peer file swapping products.
The good news is that there are many programs, including some excellent ones that are free. PC World lists these at http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22262,00.asp
SPAM is unsolicited email. NEVER respond to or buy anything, even if you think you need it, from an unsolicited email. Quite often SPAM offers are fraudulent. If you are interested in the product do a search on the Web and buy from there. To prevent SPAM, be careful of where you put your email address. Only give an organization your email address if you have read their privacy policy and agree with them. For others, open a free account with Yahoo, Hotmail, or any other service offering this. Then use this address whenever you are asked for an email address for any form you fill out on the Web.
Many a tear has been prevented by regular backups of your data. If there is data on your computer that you would not like to lose, create at least one other copy, preferably two, and keep one in a geographic location separate from the original. This applies to papers you write for school, financial data, or anything else important.
If you have problems with a program, before calling for help write down exactly what you were doing that caused the problem. Then write down the exact error message that your receive. If getting phone support be in front of the computer, and ready to do whatever he tells you. Some phone support techs are rated on the number of calls they answer per hour so taking too long could jeopardize your chances of getting help.
Creating perfectly secure programs is almost impossible. When security holes are found, reliable vendors issue fixes sometimes called "patches." Newer versions of windows offer automatic downloads of patches. To set your computer to receive these:
A firewall is a system that protects your computer from unauthorized access. They can be implemented in both hardware and software. A firewall examines all messages entering or leaving your computer and blocks any that do not meet specific criteria. They are especially vital if you have a broadband connection to the Internet, although it is now unheard of for a modem to be disconnected from the owner's ISP and silently reconnected to another overseas creating a monstrous phone bill. When broadband ISP service is set up a hardware firewall is included, but there is also a need for a software firewall. One word of caution, never run more than one software firewall at a time. Excellent information about firewalls, including information about free ones and reviews can be found at http://www.firewallguide.com/
A takeoff on "Fishing." In this scheme, an email is sent to you purportedly from a bank, or other financial agency. You are told to go to an URL that appears to be the real thing, but there you are asked for personal information such as account numbers or passwords. Keep in mind that one should NEVER respond to this type of email. Legitmate groups do not ask for this information via an email. For more information see Chapter Five List
There is no protection like a little paranoia! Under no circumstances should you ever give personal information in response to an email invitation. Banks and credit card companies do not send emails asking you to do this. You should also avoid giving this information in response to a phone call. Ask for a call back number and compare it to the number that you have for that institution. If they are not the same, you may wish to report this to the institution, the Internet Crime Complaint Center or both.
If you have a free email account at any of the various ISPs such as Yahoo or Google, be sure to use it at least once a month or inactivate it. They can be used be used for extortion.
Note that search engines are not necessarily reliable sources of legitimate vendors. Be very careful of extensions ( the three or more letters after the "dot" in the first part of any Web address) in the Web address, . Most legitmate businesses use the letters "com."
It is recommended that if you store financial data on any computer connected to the Internet that you obtain and use an encryption program for the data.
The lastest trick to get your money involves sending you a "check" that you are told to deposit in your bank account. Then you are told to wire money to a given location. Needless to say the check bounces and you are out $$. There will be a great story attached to the check, often involving getting money out of a country - don't believe it. Remember, no one sends you a check and asks you to wire money in return. Another version of this scam involves receiving an email telling you that you can make hundreds of dollars a week just by accepting checks and money orders from a seller that needs an American presence and who is willing to pay you a 20% commision to send the proceeds minus your commission somewhere. The only American presence they want is your money!
"The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). IC3's mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. The IC3 gives the victims of cyber crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations"
Generally they will not investigate crimes of less than $5000. However, they keep a database and when enough of the same scam are found, even if individual amounts are small, the FBI will investigate.
For questions or broken links please email the author .
Copyright 2003/2008 Linda Q. Thede
All rights reserved