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3. Don't 'click on' or 'open' un-requested e-mail if
you don't recognize the sender. If you just can't resist
opening an e-mail that sounds like it is important, don't
click on any of the links inside the e-mail that begin with
'Dear Valued Member', or 'Dear Sir/Madam'. Many identity thieves
will make an e-mail look like a valid warning or request with
pictures and logo's that look like the real company, even
with the real company name, Nine times out of ten these thieves
won't have your name, and they're just phishing for gullible
people to bite the bait.
If you
get any such e-mail that seems to be important, personally
contact the institution that
looks like they sent the report. Look the company's phone
number up yourself, (don't use the phone number provided within
the e-mail, it's false too). Never assume that anything written
in an e-mail is valid.
4.
Don't offer your e-mail to unknown requesters. Your e-mail
address could be sold, traded or offered to hundreds of unknown
parties, and you will start receiving e-mail's with so many
offers you won't be able to keep up with them, and your mailbox
can quickly become so full that you may not be even able to
send or receive e-mail's from valid sources.
Create
temporary e-mail accounts, or what has been called 'throw
away' accounts. If these accounts are attacked with junk or
spam mail from unknown sources, you can easily delete those
accounts without losing any valuable e-mail from trusted sources.
Don't give out these "throw away addresses" to friends,
only untested requesters. Once a requester is trusted, you
can give them any e-mail address that you wish. Many online
sources offer 'free' e-mail accounts, that can be used as
"throw away accounts. Such online sources as Yahoo, Google,
Hotmail are readily available..., there are many online sources
that you can choose for this function.
You can
also create 'tracking' names of your e-mail accounts to see
who is selling your e-mail address to others. For instance,
if you were to give only 'Company A' your temporary e-mail
address of 'mary001@freeonlineemail.com' (just a made up name
for example), if you subsequently receiving e-mail, at that
e-mail address, from other sources, you'll know that 'Company
A' is selling or giving away your e-mail address to other
companies... and your trust with them has been violated.
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5.
"Brief" definition and differences between viruses,
spyware, adware, phishing, malware...
Spyware
Software (a computer program) that can collect personal data
from your activity on the Internet, or change the configuration
of your computer, with or without your permission. These types
of software can be very harmful and can track account numbers
or other information as it is being entered online.
Adware
Software (a computer program) that automatically displays,
or downloads advertising displays that can pop-up on a screen
in an effort to sell,promote or simply advertise a product,
service, or business. These pop-ups are more annoying than
anything else and are not normally dangerous.
Malware
Software (a computer program) that can without notice execute
unwanted programs that it brings to your computer. Malware
can corrupt your computer in many ways, up to and including
rebooting your computer and preventing it from starting properly,
thus preventing any easy method to remove it from the computer.
Computer
Virus
Software (also known as Malware), that can reproduce itself
to attack a computer operating system, registry, or even an
Internet browser, usually without permission or knowledge.
A virus program (host) cannot spread without the use of a
transferring device such as a floppy, CD, DVD, network connection,
USB device or the like...
Worm
This software can transfer itself without the need of a host
(virus program). Worms spread by exploiting vulnerabilities
in operating systems. Many worms have been created which are
only designed to spread, and don't attempt to alter the systems
they pass through. However, as the Morris worm and Mydoom
showed, the network traffic and other unintended effects can
often cause major disruption.
Trojan
Horse
This software is like the ancient story recounted in the Iliad,
and involves accepting gifts (software) gladly without knowledge
of a hidden threat inside. As part of another program, this
"hidden" software is harmless until executed. Execution
of the software can be by a date trigger (Friday 13th), a
time trigger or an event trigger.
Phishing
A deceptive action that attempts to steal personal information
such as passwords, credit card info, and bank account numbers.
The main venue used for phishing has been through utilizing
unsolicited e-mail messages, which appear to come from trusted
web sites, like your bank, financial system, security agency,
and the like. The goal of phishing is to request and obtain,
your personal information.
6.
Shut off your computer when not in use. If the computer
must stay on, unplug the Internet cable or connection, or
disconnect the wireless connection to prevent hackers from
accessing your computer.
7.
Use public computers with caution. Use of computers at
such places like libraries, wifi-hotspots, wireless meeting
places, coffee shops, hotels and the like are risky for some
tasks. Never enter confidential information such as banking
PIN's, passwords, or any personal information at such public
places.
8.
Understand that clicking on links at unfamiliar sites is allowing
access by outside sources to your computer.
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9.
Downloading files. Make
sure your virus checker is on and up to date. When downloading
files always "Save to computer" rather than the
"Run" option. This method allows you to double check
any download with your virus checker before its opened or
executed.
10.
Use refillable credit / debit cards for online purchases.
These
cards, found at many grocery stores now, are limited to the
amount consigned to the card, or the amount designated back
onto the card. If your account number is compromised online,
the loss is limited to the amount you decided to assign to
the card. Using this method keeps your personal banking accounts
and credit cards safer. New refillable cards can be purchased
at regular intervals so that the same credit card number won't
be accessible for long periods of time, thereby reducing the
chance for online theft.
11.
Look for the "locked" symbol somewhere on your browser
before entering private data. Make sure when entering
personal account information, such as PIN's, credit card numbers
and the like that a "lock" symbol, (something like
a padlock), is somewhere on your browser's status bar, or
near the address bar. Additionally , if the URL in the window
is "https:" rather than just "http:" (the
"s" stands for "secure") and is a reference
that information can be entered on that page, and then transmitted
securely to another source that makes use of that data for
financial transactions.
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The
following are more tips that you will find helpful:
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