Tips on Preventing Becoming the Victim of the Latest Online Identity Theft Scam ? Phishing
Millions of people are becoming victims of identity theft. In many cases they are becoming victims all too often by freely providing personal information online. Email 'phishing' scams seek to lure individuals into phony online sites where they can be fooled into sharing the personal information needed for a thief to steal their identities.Scammers send emails imitating a legitimate website and ask for personal or financial information that they use to commit credit-card or bank fraud or other types of identity theft. Generally, a phishing scam works like this ? you receive an urgent email requests from a bank or other financial institution. The scammers may be using your bank's or credit card's name.
The email note will ask you to click on a link provided to go to one of a scammer's official looking websites. At their website you are ask to share or confirm some personal information. Though it looks like you are at your bank's website, you are at a scammer's website where any information that you share could be used to steal your identity,These scams are increasingly common and difficult to detect but you can reduce the likelihood of this type of online identity theft happening to you if you follow some simple rules.~ Be suspicious of urgent requests for personal financial information sent to you by email. As a general rule -- never directly respond to email asking for personal information.~ Don't give out more information than necessary for an online transaction. Legitimate businesses ask for more than they need for there own marketing purposes.
You do not have to provide more information than you feel is necessary to complete the transaction.~ If asked for personal information online at a website or via email, never click on a link that goes to a new unfamiliar website. If needed, search for the financial institution's or company's website via your search engine and then navigate from there.~ Do not click on program files or attachments in your email in-basket unless you are sure of their source. Why was it sent to you and do you know the sender?~ Never send personal financial information by return email. If your financial institution requests this information via email, go to the institution's secure website and enter it there.~ Be sure that you are using a secure website whenever you enter any personal financial data on the web. If you are in doubt, when prompted for a password, give an incorrect one first.
A scammer's phishing site will accept it; a legitimate website will not.~ Keep your computer anti-virus and anti-junk email prevention software up to date.~ Use "anti-spyware" programs if you have a tendency to download a lot of free Internet programs, games, music, screen savers, etc.~ Before doing business online, check into a company's privacy policies the same way you check their return and other policies. They may be attaching you to their website only to sell your email address to scammers.~ Question email messages from any official sounding financial institution. You can always verify their contact, by contacting the institution itself. When in doubt, use your telephone and not your mouse. A quick call can determine if an email request was legitimate.~ Stay alert to your own financial status.
Carefully check your banking, credit card and other statements regularly.~ Closely monitor your credit history to ensure that all transactions in my name and under your credit card number are legitimate.~ Consider signing-up for a personal credit monitoring services.~ Install firewall software on your computer or a firewall in your network router.~ Use a password to protect your wireless networks.~ Avoid storing sensitive data on all laptop computers. Wireless laptop computers are particularly vulnerable and should always have security passwords and firewalls in place. Use encryption products to secure the data on all computers. ~ Pay attention to your children's online usage. Children like to download free games, screensavers, etc.
and may share more information then they should to get it. ~ Protect your paper. Shred anything with personally identifying information on it before tossing it out.~ Choose carefully where and when to opt-in to mailing lists, promotions, or other freebies. If in doubt, post a "throw-away" email address (one you do not use as your main email address) or your email address scripted (i.e. ? yournameatprovider.com).
~ Only opt-in to promotions or deals after checking what will be done with the information that you provide. Websites That You Can Trust To Help?Ad-Aware (www.lavasoftusa.com) ?Spybot (www.security.kolla.de) ?CWshredder (www.spywareinfo.com/merijn/index.html) ?WinTask, Manages Resources and Improves Security (www.onlinesoftwareguide.com/wintask)?download of Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy (www.download.com) ?Spyware information tools, tips, and vendor for Trend Micro software (www.housecall.trendmicro.com) ?McAfee anti-virus and anti-spyware software (www.mcafee.com) ?Windows security patches and spyware protection information (www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses) ?Virus and spyware scans (www.pcpitstop.com) ?Lists software that may spread spyware (www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm) ?Norton spyware information (www.symantec.com/avcenter/) ?Spy Sweeper anti-spyware (www.webroot.com)?Zonelabs firewall (www.zonelabs.com) If you're victimized, place a fraud alert on your credit file at the major credit bureaus: Equifax, [800] 525-6285 Experian, [888] 397-3742 TransUnion, [800] 680-7289You may also request to view your credit reports for fraudulent activity. Lastly, if you are a victim of fraudulent activity, online or off, file a police report so that it is on record and keep a report copy as proof.Copyright .
Steven Presar is a recognized small business technology coach, Internet publisher, author, speaker, and trainer. He provides personal, home, and computer security solutions at www.ProtectionConnect.com. He provides business software reviews at www.OnlineSoftwareGuide.com. In addition, he publishes articles for starting and running a small business at www.Agora-Business-Center.com. Be sure to sign-up for the SOHO newsletter at this site.Astaro Introduces First Unified Threat Management Solution With Dual Virus Scanning
BURLINGTON, Mass., October 11, 2005 Astaro Corporation today released version 6.1 of its award-winning Astaro Security Gateway software that provides the first unified threat management, network security solution with dual virus scanning, utilizing two of the market leading engines - Kaspersky and ClamAV.Dual virus scanning improves security in three ways:"???By increasing the number of virus patterns, to detect more viruses by their signatures, "???By providing a wider range of virus testing methods, to detect more virus variations that cannot be identified by a simple signature, and"???By obtaining updates from two sources, to reduce the exposure to new viruses."Astaro's success has come from identifying best-of-breed security solutions and integrating them in a single product that is complete and easy to use," said Jan Hichert, CEO of Astaro. "Our customers benefit by having access to the best in commercial and open source technologies. Utilizing Kaspersky and ClamAV virus engines...
Astaro Introduces First Unified Threat Management Solution With Dual Virus Scanning
Spyware > Astaro Introduces First Unified Threat Management Solution With Dual Virus Scanning
Abundance Flourishes in an Atmosphere of INTEGRITY
The following story is an excerpt from Rebecca's upcoming book:Law of Attraction For Business by ? 2003-2005 All rights reserved. Please ask permission to reproduce: rebecca@youcanhaveitall.comThere's no way to fake INTEGRITY. You are either are IN INTEGRITY offering a PURE positive vibration which the Law of Attraction responds to. Or you're OUT of INTEGRITY which creates a negative or mixed vibration, which the Law of Attraction cannot ignore.Here's a real-life story which demonstrates what happens to our vibration when we are out of INTEGRITY.I was feeling pretty upbeat after our coaching session yesterday and really excited about winning a prize pack from the radio station. After picking up my prize, I noticed Spyware, an electronics store, and decided to go in and compare prices with an item I had just bought from Radio Shack yesterday.
Spyware had the exact same item on sale for $10.00 less so I bought it with the intention of returning the first item to Radio Shack. When...
Abundance Flourishes in an Atmosphere of INTEGRITY
Spyware > Abundance Flourishes in an Atmosphere of INTEGRITY
Astaro Introduces First Unified Threat Management Solution With Dual Virus Scanning
BURLINGTON, Mass., October 11, 2005 Astaro Corporation today released version 6.1 of its award-winning Astaro Security Gateway software that provides the first unified threat management, network security solution with dual virus scanning, utilizing two of the market leading engines - Kaspersky and ClamAV.Dual virus scanning improves security in three ways:"???By increasing the number of virus patterns, to detect more viruses by their signatures, "???By providing a wider range of virus testing methods, to detect more virus variations that cannot be identified by a simple signature, and"???By obtaining updates from two sources, to reduce the exposure to new viruses."Astaro's success has come from identifying best-of-breed security solutions and integrating them in a single product that is complete and easy to use," said Jan Hichert, CEO of Astaro. "Our customers benefit by having access to the best in commercial and open source technologies. Utilizing Kaspersky and ClamAV virus engines...
Astaro Introduces First Unified Threat Management Solution With Dual Virus Scanning
Spyware > Astaro Introduces First Unified Threat Management Solution With Dual Virus Scanning
The computer virus that could take advantage of you
Do you know there's a brand new computer virus that can get into your computer without you knowing even if you have AntiVirus and AntiSpyware installed? And when you try to get rid of it, it totally wrecks your system?I didn't know until a few days ago. On Thursday, the 25th of November (Thanksgiving), my computer was infected by a virus that literally took control of my web browser and wrecked my machine when I tried to get rid of it.Let me tell you what happened...After we were all done with our Thanksgiving dinner, I went online to do some quick research for my next article. But instead, I stayed up all night battling a virus from hell!Shortly after I got online, my Norton Antivirus and my adware/spyware removal software Spyware Doctor, started going wild with notifications of a virus presence in my computer.I immediately stopped doing what I was doing and got Spyware Doctor to scan my hard drive. Before long, it gave me a report about 196 infected files with Trojan and some other...
The computer virus that could take advantage of you
Spyware > The computer virus that could take advantage of you
Astaro Introduces First Unified Threat Management Solution With Dual Virus Scanning
BURLINGTON, Mass., October 11, 2005 Astaro Corporation today released version 6.1 of its award-winning Astaro Security Gateway software that provides the first unified threat management, network security solution with dual virus scanning, utilizing two of the market leading engines - Kaspersky and ClamAV.Dual virus scanning improves security in three ways:"???By increasing the number of virus patterns, to detect more viruses by their signatures, "???By providing a wider range of virus testing methods, to detect more virus variations that cannot be identified by a simple signature, and"???By obtaining updates from two sources, to reduce the exposure to new viruses."Astaro's success has come from identifying best-of-breed security solutions and integrating them in a single product that is complete and easy to use," said Jan Hichert, CEO of Astaro. "Our customers benefit by having access to the best in commercial and open source technologies. Utilizing Kaspersky and ClamAV virus engines...
Astaro Introduces First Unified Threat Management Solution With Dual Virus Scanning
Spyware > Astaro Introduces First Unified Threat Management Solution With Dual Virus Scanning
How To Reduce Computer Problems?
How can I prevent Computer problems? This is a question that people have asked me many times. The entire process of reducing Computer problems can be bundled under the banner of Computer Preventive Maintenance. Use this article as a computer maintenance tutorial.So what you should do as part of preventive maintenance?
- Use a good anti virus program. This is the most important piece of work in preventive maintenance. Installing the anti virus program is not good enough.
You should do following as well.
- Set-up the program to download and install updates automatically.
- Schedule periodic full system scans.
- Check the virus definitions date regularly and see whether it is up to date.
- Set-up your PC to Download and install "Windows Updates" automatically. Windows updates include Operating System patches for bugs and PC security related issues. These patches can reduce many unknown computer problems.
- Install anti Spyware program to detect...
Spyware > How To Reduce Computer Problems?
Your Computer May Be Infected. Here's How To Check.. (NOT about virus)
NOTE: Please take time to read on - it may be vital for your PC's security. If you are not in the mood, just save it or print it out for later reference.A recent research revealed that 80% of the computers today is infected with these dangerous spyware and most of the users not aware of it. (Your computer could fall into this lot too.) The most dangerous fact is, even though the anti-virus software is running, these software can even inactivate them and take over your PC. Have you experienced any of the following?
- Awsome popups comes out of nowhere, when browsing the web
- Home page reset to some other site
Spyware > Your Computer May Be Infected. Here's How To Check.. (NOT about virus)
Spyware
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