Check The Internet Forecast Before You Go Online

Thursday, September 17, 2009

According to a recent survey conducted by the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), more computer users are becoming increasingly insecure about using the Internet. Forty-eight percent of those surveyed avoid making purchases on the Internet because they are afraid their financial information might be stolen. Fewer than one in five of the 1,150 U.S. adults surveyed believed that existing laws can protect them from fraud, identity theft and other crimes on the Internet. More than two-thirds (70 percent) want Congress to pass stronger data- protection legislation.

Consumers have clearly taken notice of Internet threats and scams, but there have been few resources they can use to understand what the immediate risks are and what they can do to more safely participate in their favorite online activities. Consumers want to be informed of the risk levels associated with common online activities and the precautions they can take to protect themselves. One such tool is The Symantec Internet Threat Meter, which helps computer users become aware of the most recent Internet threats and educates them about the steps they can take to safeguard their computers and personal data while online.

While high-profile computer worms and other online attacks are not as visible as they have been in the past, Internet threats have changed shape and present even more risks to consumers. Today's threats spread in many ways-through Web sites, instant messaging and e-mail-but use more silent, targeted methods than before. Many attacks are launched with criminal intent to steal users' personal data or to take over computers in order to launch targeted attacks that result in financial gain for cybercriminals.

The Symantec Internet Threat Meter helps consumers better understand the Internet landscape by taking an activities-based approach. The index rates the four main online activities-e-mail, Web activities, instant messaging and file sharing--on a low-, medium- or high-risk level based on triggers related to malware, spyware, phishing/online fraud, vulnerabilities, online attacks and spam.

Consumers want to feel more confident about their security when they are online, whether they are communicating via e-mail, conducting financial transactions on the Internet, chatting over instant messaging or sharing files. Just as prepared travelers check the weather forecast for their destination city, consumers who are online now have a tool they can use to help them prepare for a safe and productive experience on the Internet.

Buying From a Spy Shop

When you are ready to purchase some surveillance equipment, it is a good idea to go to a spy shop and see what is available. Just like when you buy anything else, it is a good idea to shop around and compare prices. Additionally, you might try a spy shop on the Internet if there is not one in town, or if you can get better prices. But no matter where you go to get your spy gear, it is a good idea to make sure that what you are buying is f good quality.

One of the advantages of going into a physical spy shop is that you can see the items that you wish to purchase, and sometimes even try them out before you buy. Additionally, if you are an amateur who is just starting out in surveillance, it is nice to have someone to speak with about your options and to offer advice and help as you figure out how to properly set up and use your equipment. But the biggest drawback is often prices. Most “real” shops have higher prices coupled with a smaller selection. This is because they have to charge more money to help cover their overhead costs.

An online spy shop, however, usually has the advantage in the price and selection arena. These shops offer a wide selection of equipment, often lower prices. Additionally, many offer Internet-only specials that can help you save even more money. And there is usually a smaller charge for special orders than at stores in the physical world. Unfortunately, you might lose a little something in customer service and support. The good news, though, is that many online spy shops are beginning to offer help either through live chat, fast-response emailing, or even phone support. The key is to by from an online spy shop that offers these services, and that will give you some sort of return policy.

You can get good service from and online spy shop. You just need to carefully choose where to buy. The great thing about shopping for anything online, including spy stuff, is that you can do it anytime of the day or night, and you do not even have to get dressed. So, before you tug on shoes to visit a retailer across town, head to the computer and check out an online spy shop.

5 Mistakes You Might Be Making When Choosing A Password

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Are you making yourself a target for fraud? More and more often I am hearing stories of people who have had their accounts hacked. They have had money stolen, lost sleep, spent hours setting up new accounts, or had their credit ruined. Don't let this happen to you.

Are you making these dangerous mistakes?

Mistake #1: Using the same password for all your accounts.

Please don't do this. Use different passwords for every email account, and definitely use unique passwords for shopping websites where you'd enter your credit card.

Mistake #2: Short passwords

The risk of someone guessing your password is increasingly difficult the more characters are in it. So, go for the gusto and make your passwords long.

Mistake #3: BradPitt, Charlie, Sarah, Princess, Barbie, Gandolf -- Did I guess it yet?

Do not use kids' names, pet's name, nicknames, names from characters in books or movies or celebrity names. Even if I didn't guess it in my list, someone who knows you could.

Mistake #4: Easy to remember English words

Easy to remember is also easy to guess. Passwords should not contain English words found in a dictionary. Non-English words or any words in any dictionary are a high risk as well. And, for goodness sakes, if your password is "password" or "test" then it's a wonder you haven't been hacked yet!

Mistake #5: Numbers are no-no's.

Seriously, stay away from birthdays, anniversaries, addresses, social security numbers or telephone numbers. They are all too easy to guess.

Choose random passwords for banking sites like PayPal. Combine letters (both uppercase and lowercase) and numbers.

If all of this sounds too hard to remember, then consider using a Password program. Most of the good password programs will not only store your passwords on your computer, but they'll generate completely random passwords when you need one.

Here are a few to try.

http://www.fgroupsoft.com/Traysafe/

http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/

http://www.treepad.com/treepadsafe/

It's never a good time to find out that someone has stolen money from you -- or locked you out of your own email account. It's a waste of your time and money. Please protect yourself.

‘Spoofing’, ‘Phishing’ and ‘Link Altering’ - Expensive Financial Traps

"Spoofing" or "phishing" frauds attempt to make internet users believe that they are receiving e-mail from a specific, trusted source, or that they are securely connected to a trusted web site, when that’s not the case at all, far from it. Spoofing is generally used as a means to convince individuals to divulge personal or financial information which enables the perpetrators to commit credit card/bank fraud or other forms of identity theft.

In "email spoofing" the header of an e-mail appears to originate from someone or somewhere other than the actual source. Spam distributors often use email spoofing in an attempt to get their recipients to open the message and possibly even respond to their solicitations.

"IP spoofing" is a technique used to gain unauthorized access to computers. In this instance the unscrupulous intruder sends a message to a computer with an IP address indicating that the message is coming from a trusted source.

"Link alteration" involves the altering of a return internet address of a web page that’s emailed to a consumer in order to redirect the recipient to a hacker's site rather than the legitimate site. This is accomplished by adding the hacker's ip address before the actual address in an e-mail which has a request going back to the original site. If an individual unsuspectingly receives a spoofed e-mail and proceeds to "click here to update" account information, for example, and is redirected to a site that looks exactly like a commercial site such as EBay or PayPal, there is a good chance that the individual will follow through in submitting personal and/or credit information. And that’s exactly what the hacker is counting on.

How to Protect Yourself
• If you need to update your information online, use the same procedure you've used before, or open a new browser window and type in the website address of the legitimate company's page.
• If a website’s address is unfamiliar, it's probably not authentic. Only use the address that you’ve used before, or better yet, start at the normal homepage.
• Most companies require you to log in to a secure site. Look for the lock at the bottom of your browser and "https" in front of the website address.
• If you encounter an unsolicited e-mail that requests, either directly or through a web site, for personal financial or identity information, such as Social Security number, passwords, or other identifiers, exercise extreme caution.
• Take note of the header address on the web site. Most legitimate sites will have a relatively short internet address that usually depicts the business name followed by ".com," or possibly ".org." Spoof sites are more likely to have an excessively long strong of characters in the header, with the legitimate business name somewhere in the string, or possibly not at all.
• If you have any doubts about an e-mail or website, contact the legitimate company directly. Make a copy of the questionable web site's URL address, send it to the legitimate business and ask if the request is authentic.
• Always report fraudulent or suspicious e-mail to your ISP.
• Lastly, if you've been victimized, you should file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov.