The Future of Marketing on the Net!
ICM Listings
rmExperts ICMsICM Authors
What are ICMs?
To get started with your custom Internet Content Marketing campaign, please call us at 630-587-4350
Managerial Enterprises, Inc.
http://www.managerialenterprises.com/
4 ICMs Published
Contact the Company
Matt C. Galas
Contact the Author
Availability of this ICM
ICM Category: Information TechnologyThis ICM Resource is available on: rmExperts
Protecting your PC and Your Information
Things you should know
What follows is an overview of security issues related to your PC, the information on it and things you can do to protect your PC ... and more importantly your information.
Personal Security is becoming a major issue in the new "informational world." With so much information at everyone's fingertips, it is important that you do not allow information you deem impoartant and personal to be easily accessible. Identity Theft is becoming one of the most common attacks on the average person. There are simple things you can do to prevent such attacks. There are many topics and issues surrounding securing your PC and your information from outsiders. Many pose real threats and others do not, but are hyped by consultants wanting to sell services or companies wanting to sell more products.
Three examples to help put what follows in perspective:
<li> <b>the Y2K threat</b> - Big deal made of it, millions of dollars spent on it, but never any real threat.
<li> Spyware placed on your computer as you surf the internet... placed on your computer unkown to you and placed by very well known 'trusted' sites.
<li> Common Software that is downloaded by millions that makes you computer vulnerable
Let's start with the hype... the Y2K Threat. This threat was predicted to produce widespread computer problems in the year 2000. This was an issue pushed by consultants and organizations that were either <b>not technically competent</b> or <b>unscrupulous in their attempts to get your money</b>. Some even went to forecast complete catastrophes including losing all your money in the banks! We all know the outcome of this... and hopefully this will serve as an example to make you think before your react.
It has been researched and stated that 9 out of 10 computers connected to the internet are infected by Spyware. Spyware is something that you as a user might not even know exists on your computer... most of the time running in the background and not showing any signs or symptoms like a virus would. Spyware varies between simple programs that watch what interent sites you visit, to complex keylogger programs that track every button and every key hit on your machine. Needless to say, a keylogger could steal your userid and passwords to anything you run.
Common software that is run on your machine also could cause security breaches. The most popular target of this type of attack is <B>Microsoft Internet Explorer</b>. Microsoft release security patches, both for MSIE and all their operating systems (Windows 98, XP, 2000, NT, etc), on what seems like a weekly basis. Often times, it is hard to keep track of them. Another vulnerable program is Flash and Windows Media Player. Yes, it has been documented that ...
Email is actually extremely vulnerable. Most people are using one of the standard email programs (Outlook, Netscape, Eudora, etc). It is much safer to use a form of webmail (GMail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc). This is because you are never, or rarely downloading files to your computer. Another way to make your email safer, is to only receive TEXT emails, and not HTML. You still can receive and see pictures and, but you will be less vulnerable to hidden attacks.
With all these threats, is it even safe to be online and have online accounts? Actually, the answer is a resounding YES. Studies have shown, when identity theft takes place, those victims with online access to their accounts notice problems far sooner than those waiting for paper statements. The sooner you find problems, the smaller then final problem will be... and the better you will be for it!
So, what solutions are available and what can you do to minimize your risk? Solutions to this type of attack vary as widely as the threats. usually their is a solution for each specific threat, but overall there are some soultions that <b>everyone</b> should institute on their computers.
The first being an <b>anti-virus</b> program. And, just having one isn't enough, you need to make sure that it either updates itself or that you update the virus recognition information at least weekly.
Everyone should also institute a firewall for their computer. More info on firewalls coming soon...
If a spyware/adware package is not available in your firewall, you should install that as well. Webroot's Spysweeper... and more info to come.
Stop using Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook. There are many alternatives to that browserand email program. I actually suggest you completely un-install and remove MSIE from your computer. Even if you don't use it, hackers can still use it if it is there. Firefox and Opera are two of the highly recommended browsers.
Beyond my imagination, there are still plenty of sites that sell stuff on the internet that are not SECURE! You must make sure that when submitting ANY personal information that you wouldn't want to publish, that you are doing so on a SECURE site. There are different ways to tell based on what browser you are using, but the URL starts with https:// as opposed to just http:// (the "S" stands for Secure). Usually, you will also see a "Locked Image" either next to the URL or in the bottom frame status area.
Now, for the real privacy people, you can download and set up encyrption software on your computer. PGP, Pretty Good Privacy, is a complex encryption system that really can not be decoded without the proper information or key. [LINK TO PGP ICM]
Above all else, a little common sense goes a long way. If something seems fishy, stay away. Pay attention to your surroundings (even in cyberspace) and think next play!
Stay Safe.
Personal Security is becoming a major issue in the new "informational world." With so much information at everyone's fingertips, it is important that you do not allow information you deem impoartant and personal to be easily accessible. Identity Theft is becoming one of the most common attacks on the average person. There are simple things you can do to prevent such attacks. There are many topics and issues surrounding securing your PC and your information from outsiders. Many pose real threats and others do not, but are hyped by consultants wanting to sell services or companies wanting to sell more products.
Three examples to help put what follows in perspective:
<li> <b>the Y2K threat</b> - Big deal made of it, millions of dollars spent on it, but never any real threat.
<li> Spyware placed on your computer as you surf the internet... placed on your computer unkown to you and placed by very well known 'trusted' sites.
<li> Common Software that is downloaded by millions that makes you computer vulnerable
Let's start with the hype... the Y2K Threat. This threat was predicted to produce widespread computer problems in the year 2000. This was an issue pushed by consultants and organizations that were either <b>not technically competent</b> or <b>unscrupulous in their attempts to get your money</b>. Some even went to forecast complete catastrophes including losing all your money in the banks! We all know the outcome of this... and hopefully this will serve as an example to make you think before your react.
It has been researched and stated that 9 out of 10 computers connected to the internet are infected by Spyware. Spyware is something that you as a user might not even know exists on your computer... most of the time running in the background and not showing any signs or symptoms like a virus would. Spyware varies between simple programs that watch what interent sites you visit, to complex keylogger programs that track every button and every key hit on your machine. Needless to say, a keylogger could steal your userid and passwords to anything you run.
Common software that is run on your machine also could cause security breaches. The most popular target of this type of attack is <B>Microsoft Internet Explorer</b>. Microsoft release security patches, both for MSIE and all their operating systems (Windows 98, XP, 2000, NT, etc), on what seems like a weekly basis. Often times, it is hard to keep track of them. Another vulnerable program is Flash and Windows Media Player. Yes, it has been documented that ...
Email is actually extremely vulnerable. Most people are using one of the standard email programs (Outlook, Netscape, Eudora, etc). It is much safer to use a form of webmail (GMail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc). This is because you are never, or rarely downloading files to your computer. Another way to make your email safer, is to only receive TEXT emails, and not HTML. You still can receive and see pictures and, but you will be less vulnerable to hidden attacks.
With all these threats, is it even safe to be online and have online accounts? Actually, the answer is a resounding YES. Studies have shown, when identity theft takes place, those victims with online access to their accounts notice problems far sooner than those waiting for paper statements. The sooner you find problems, the smaller then final problem will be... and the better you will be for it!
So, what solutions are available and what can you do to minimize your risk? Solutions to this type of attack vary as widely as the threats. usually their is a solution for each specific threat, but overall there are some soultions that <b>everyone</b> should institute on their computers.
The first being an <b>anti-virus</b> program. And, just having one isn't enough, you need to make sure that it either updates itself or that you update the virus recognition information at least weekly.
Everyone should also institute a firewall for their computer. More info on firewalls coming soon...
If a spyware/adware package is not available in your firewall, you should install that as well. Webroot's Spysweeper... and more info to come.
Stop using Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook. There are many alternatives to that browserand email program. I actually suggest you completely un-install and remove MSIE from your computer. Even if you don't use it, hackers can still use it if it is there. Firefox and Opera are two of the highly recommended browsers.
Beyond my imagination, there are still plenty of sites that sell stuff on the internet that are not SECURE! You must make sure that when submitting ANY personal information that you wouldn't want to publish, that you are doing so on a SECURE site. There are different ways to tell based on what browser you are using, but the URL starts with https:// as opposed to just http:// (the "S" stands for Secure). Usually, you will also see a "Locked Image" either next to the URL or in the bottom frame status area.
Now, for the real privacy people, you can download and set up encyrption software on your computer. PGP, Pretty Good Privacy, is a complex encryption system that really can not be decoded without the proper information or key. [LINK TO PGP ICM]
Above all else, a little common sense goes a long way. If something seems fishy, stay away. Pay attention to your surroundings (even in cyberspace) and think next play!
Stay Safe.