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Phishing

October 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

phishing-smallYou know it can’t be good when Microsoft reveals that more than 10,000 Hotmail users may have had their private information compromised through recent Phishing scams.

Phishing is the act of illegally attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames and passwords by posing as an otherwise trustworthy entity through email or other electronic communication. I can’t verify for certain where the term came from, but there seems to be a consensus that it is derived from “Password Fishing”. Seems appropriate.

A Phishing attempt usually begins with an email that mentions some dire emergency that you must take care of. Recent examples are:

  • Your PayPal account may be closed if you don’t visit the hyperlink that is provided…
  • Your bank account may have been compromised and you need to enter some personal information for verification…

Chase Bank has some good examples of what some of these emails can look like. Click here to check them out.

There are many more, but in most cases there is a hyperlink that will take you to an official looking website that is really a fake site designed to resemble the site you think you are on. The Phishing scheme is to get you to enter information that they want into an online form.

You need to use the same caution online as you do in the physical world. Be aware of your surroundings, don’t talk to (or trust) strangers, and keep a low profile.

Be suspicious of any online communication that tells you that something big (good or bad) will happen if you don’t click on the supplied link and take care of it. If you’re not sure, instead of using the link that is provided, go to the site using its official address and attempt to ascertain if there is really a problem. Many times, the institution will have information about the scam on their home page.

/doc

Filed Under: Digital Lifestyle Tagged With: ,

Microsoft Security Essentials

September 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

msseEnhance your war on Spyware and Viruses.

Now available for download, Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is a comprehensive Antivirus and Antispyware solution to keeping your PC safe from attacks.

This free application replaces Windows Defender and is a strong competitor for current antivirus applications. It has been in Beta release since June and has received mostly positive reviews.

If you are looking for a free solution to combat both Spyware and Viruses, consider this Microsoft offering. It is highly recommended.

/doc

Filed Under: Digital Lifestyle, Online Safety Tagged With: , , ,

Safe Surfing

August 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

My PC would be of little value to me if I couldn’t explore the internet.  But the internet is filled with nasty places that want to do harm to both you and your PC.  With a little knowledge and preparation, you can have a PC that can provide maximum enjoyment with minimal risk.  Here are the 3 most important thing you must have for safe surfing:

- Updated Antivirus Program
- Updated Windows Defender
- Updated Common Sense

1.  Anti Virus Program
Links are provided on the main page to two great, free antivirus programs.  The main reasons I like these so much is that they don’t consume a lot of system resources and they are continuously updated.  It’s basically a set and forget situation for ether one.

A quality antivirus program makes sure that your PC can detect and remove *most* threats that come your way.

UPDATE:  Read about Microsoft Security Essentials here

2.  Windows Defender
Windows Defender protects your PC against spyware, malware and adware which can cause your PC to run erratically or even crash by detecting and removing known spyware from your PC.  It also features real-time protection which works while you are online.  Windows Defender updates itself very frequently through the Microsoft Update process.

Windows Defender is included with Vista and WIN7.  It is available for XP here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D&displaylang=en&mg_id=10134

UPDATE:  Read about Microsoft Security Essentials here

3.  Common Sense
You have to keep your eyes wide open to all possible sources of attacks on your PC.  Threats can come from almost anywhere, but are mostly concentrated around certain types of sites.  Sites to be cautious of are:

Online Gaming sites
File-Sharing sites
Social Networking sites
Adult content sites
etc.

Be careful when any window pops up asking you to click something. One of the most pervasive techniques that hackers use is to pop up a window that says that your PC has a virus and that you must “click here” to remove it.  And when you click it, you open youself up to whatever is lurking.  Sometimes, there will even be a button that looks like a common ‘close’ button, but in reality is another gotcha.  To be safe, use the keyboard shortcut Alt-F4 to close the window safely.

Sometimes, even popular programs contain an option to also install a companion or affiliate program that can slow down your PC by monitoring your browsing habits in order to suggest similar sites that might interest you.

If you practice safe browsing habits and have good anti-virus/anti-spyware protection, the chances of your being attacked are greatly reduced.

/doc

Filed Under: Online Safety Tagged With: , , ,
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