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Al Gore: The Ken Lay of the Great Climate Fraud – mySouTex.com

March 4th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Political Scams. No Comments.

USA Today Al Gore: The Ken Lay of the Great Climate Fraud mySouTex.com At the same time, Gore was secretly setting himself up in the carbon credit trading business, massively enriching himself in the process. … EDITORIAL: Global warming winners Washington Times Global Warming Murder-Suicide: Why Didn't Al Gore Save Them? The New American Stop Al Gore Before He Lies Again and Again and Again! Family Security Matters all 174 news articles

Global Warming Murder-Suicide: Why Didn’t Al Gore Save Them? – The New American

March 3rd, 2010. Published under Political Scams. No Comments.

FOXNews Global Warming Murder-Suicide: Why Didn't Al Gore Save Them? The New American Cap and trade legislation will hurt millions, if not billions, of people worldwide. A cap and trade regime will increase the cost of energy artificially. … Al Gore Returns FOXNews A Blizzard Of Lies From Al Gore Investor’s Business Daily Al Gore: King of Lie-Lie Land Dakota Voice Family Security Matters all 129 news articles

Exclusive: Yes, Virginia: No, These are Not Solutions – They Are Scams – Family Security Matters

March 1st, 2010. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.

Family Security Matters Exclusive: Yes, Virginia: No, These are Not Solutions – They Are Scams Family Security Matters Congressional shills demanded legislation to roll back the climate by implementing a major tax increase called cap and trade . …

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Exclusive: Yes, Virginia: No, These are Not Solutions – They Are Scams – Family Security Matters

Hackers steal emissions credits – Presseurop (blog)

February 4th, 2010. Published under Political Scams. No Comments.

Help Net Security Hackers steal emissions credits Presseurop (blog) It is not yet known how many companies fell victim to the scam , “but checks in Germany have revealed that three out of four companies investigated were … Hackers make millions through stolen carbon credits Help Net Security all 36 news articles

How Are Online Ads Used To Scam People?

January 21st, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

The human race is an imaginative bunch. If there is a problem that is in front of us, we do our best to solve it. The same goes for when we have an objective to achieve. We will pull out our imaginations and come up with something very cunning. This is what hackers and online scam artists do on a daily basis. They see an objective, which is how to get the money that is in your wallet, and figure out a way to accomplish it. Online Classified Ads Scam The latest scam has been using online classified ads to find their victims. There have always been scams when it came to classified ads, even online ones. Craigslist, Ebay and all of the other types of classified web sites, have all had to increase their security over the years. No one wants to visit these places, if all that happens is, them being scammed and their money taken. So there are safe guards in place to help prevent this from happening. But these safeguards deal with just the normal crooks. These days, the online classified ads scams are being done by organized groups of individuals. Organized Crime The groups that are involved with the scams range from organized crime members in the US to criminals operating out of Nigeria. There is just not one group of individuals who are committing these crimes, it has gone international. People have found it lucrative and are taking advantage of it. The range of scams are also great. The different scams include fake electronics, bait and switch, robbery, and even real estate fraud. Some of these scams might need a little bit of explanation so that you know how to avoid them. The bait and switch is especially popular on EBay . It involves someone advertising an item and showing a picture of it in a package. In little letters at the bottom of the page, they say that they are selling the packaging and not the item itself. So when you get only the packaging and you start to complain, they bring up that it is exactly what was advertised. Robbery happens a lot on Craigslist . People will pretend that they are selling something and they need you to pick it up. When you go there with your money, they physically assault you and take the money out of your pocket. This happens more often than people think. Make sure you meet in a public place if possible, when purchasing items off of craigslist. The real estate scam involves people claiming that they have a house for rent or sale. They will tell you that they live there but are out of the country. They then send you a key, and you send them the money. When you get to the place, you find out that the key doesn’t work. This is a relatively new crime that has been happening a lot. Most traces claim that a lot of the real estate scams are originating from Nigeria. Online classifieds are a great way to get a deal but they have their share of risk as well. If you are careful and make sure that read the listing very throughly, you should be able to avoid the scams. How Are Online Ads Used To Scam People? is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

Twitter Being Used To Get Information About Potential Targets

January 12th, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.

This is a great time in social media technology. Even though MySpace and some of the other leaders in the field have fallen by the way side, they have been replaced by either technically or socially superior offerings. Twitter & Facebook In the case of technical superiority, the winner is definitely Facebook and it’s huge user base. It allows you to stay connected to individuals and still maintain a great deal of privacy. Some of that has been changed in the past couple of months, but overall they keep your privacy better than any other social media site. Twitter is the other winner in this battle. They have grown a great deal in such a short amount of time. Unfortunately their privacy policy is not as good as Facebook’s. Private Twitter Twitter allows you to have two settings. Your tweets can either be open or they can be private. When they are private, only the people that you choose are allowed to follow you. This seems secured on the outside, but it quickly becomes a setting that people get tired of. Part of the fun of Twitter, is that people that you do not know get to follow you, if you seem like an interesting person. Locking your twitter account eliminates that feature. So most people end up turning it off. This is when the problems begin. Public Twitter People use twitter when they are in the office, on the streets, and at home. This causes the average user to become real comfortable with the service and maybe say things that they didn’t mean to. This includes personal items about themselves and information about their job that should not be spoken about in public. There are ways that you can delete the offending tweet, but most times it will still be picked up by third party devices that hook to twitter. Applications such as tweetdeck will cache the tweet and the people who follow you will still see it. If a hacker or any other kind of criminal is casing a particular target, they can find out who works there. Once they find out who works there, it should be easy to find the workers that use Twitter . Once that information is found out, they can then set those people as part of a list and monitor what they say. Someone in that group will say something valuable about their job. All they need is one person to slip up. Corporations and small businesses need to go over with their workers social media protocol. A firm policy is needed, so they know what they can disclose on social media sites. The companies must realize that these sites have become a huge way that people socialize and they need to plan for it. I wouldn’t go as far as monitor their tweets but an official office policy should be good enough. Especially when you are dealing with sensitive information. Twitter Being Used To Get Information About Potential Targets is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

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Twitter Being Used To Get Information About Potential Targets

If Hackers Attack Your Business Then You Can Be Held Legally Responsible

January 4th, 2010. Published under Scams. No Comments.

The next step for mostly anyone that has a brick and mortar store set up out in the real world is to create an online virtual space for their customers to shop in. Of course anyone that is in business has heard of the great advantages that can be gained when you bring your store online. You have access to a lot more customers in a global arena. Plus the use of the latest and greatest software allows your transactions to be made easily without any problems. All you have to do is to take the credit card, process it, and get ready to take the order, right? Wrong, having your business online is a great way to make extra money but there are some considerations that are there that you can not take lightly. One of those are the very serious security issues that can arise from taking someone’s credit card online. If this is handled the wrong way you can be held legally responsible. Right now there is a case going on between the financial institution Capital One and an electronic testing firm from Louisiana. The name of the company is JM test systems and they had more than $97,000 stolen through the use of illegal bank transfers. Capital One is stating that it is not their fault and they are not involved with the transaction beside letting it go through their systems. How this case will pan out is anyone’s guess and will, undoubtedly, be expensive in either case. Therefore, it pays to take sure security seriously. When you are a company that takes a person’s credit card number, you must have the best security that you can possibly afford. You have to be certain that the protection of the numbers is your number one priority and that you take it seriously. If you are a small business the best thing that you can do is to allow a third party entity that is trusted to handle your credit card processing. Look at the companies that get the best reviews and use them. These people are professionals and handle security threats on a daily basis. They will be able to handle the security of your customers personal data better than you can. You have to make sure that when you decide to take orders online that you do not take this responsibility lightly. People are entrusting their credit card numbers in your hands. If you are the one that slips up by not providing enough security then you can be legally liable. If Hackers Attack Your Business Then You Can Be Held Legally Responsible is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

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If Hackers Attack Your Business Then You Can Be Held Legally Responsible

Trend Micro Announces 30% Discount On Internet Security Products

December 24th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.

Everybody wants to feel safe and secure when surfing the internet and the best way to achieve that goal is through having quality products protecting your computer. That means an antivirus program at the very least and quite possibly a full internet security suite. One of the most notable security vendors is Trend Micro who have today announced a 30% price reduction on many of their products. Make it a Merry Christmas for both of us by bagging a great discount whilst earning me a commission To benefit from this great discount just use the coupons below between December 25th and January 10th – For United States customers Save 30% off Trend Micro Internet Security! Coupon Code: shoptrendm Save 30% off Trend Micro Antivirus plus AntiSpyware 2010! Coupon Code: shoptrendm Save 30% on Trend Micro Internet Security Pro! Coupon Code: shoptrendm For my fellow Brits Save 30% on Trend Micro Home & Home Office products! Coupon Code: shoptrendm For everyone else Spar 30% av Trend Micros hele linjen av Home og Home Office-produkter! Coupon Code: shoptrendm Bespaar 30% van de gehele lijn van Trend Micro’s van Thuis en Thuiskantoor producten! Coupon Code: shoptrendm Sconto del 30% della intera linea di Trend Micro Home & Home Office prodotti! Coupon Code: shoptrendm Économisez 30% de toute la ligne de Trend Micro of Home & Home Office produits! Acheter maintenant Sparen Sie 30% der gesamten Linie von Trend Micro Home & Home Office Produkte! Coupon Code: shoptrendm Trend Micro Announces 30% Discount On Internet Security Products is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

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Trend Micro Announces 30% Discount On Internet Security Products

Have Researchers Found A Way To Bypass Microsoft Bitlocker Security Technology?

December 18th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.

In the last several iterations of the Microsoft Windows operating system they have touted the availability of higher security on the system. The newer security features included the forced nag screen that came up when installing a program that could be harmful to your computer. Also, the new command that you must have administrative access to be able to change certain settings that could damage the computer. One security feature that was praised above all was the Bitlocker system. You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video This technology allowed people to encrypt their hard drives in case it was stolen. It now seems that the technology has a flaw that allows it to be bypassed. The security test lab named Fraunhofer SIT discovered a way that they could get around the Bitlocker encryption. The way that they bypass the system is completely software based and requires physical access to the machine. It involves booting the system with Bitlocker on it from a separate device. This device can be a USB drive or another computer. Once it is ready, the attacker can then replace the boot code of the Bitlocker system with a piece of code that records the user provided key. Once that key is recorded ,the person is able to reboot the system back to its unmodified state. This attack even works if a person has the Trusted Platform Module turned on. The Trusted Platform Module is another part of the Microsoft security system that until now was not able to be bypassed. I’ve obviously made this sound simpler than it is as I don’t want to be teaching anyone how to do this but, in reality, it is far from simple. It is very involved and not at all easy to pull off. Overall the Bitlocker security system is still a very safe way to encrypt your files and folders. They did not find a way to break the actual encryption, they merely found a way to bypass it. You will not have to worry about your average attacker knowing how to do anything this complicated. The system is still very secured and should keep you worry free. Have Researchers Found A Way To Bypass Microsoft Bitlocker Security Technology? is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

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Have Researchers Found A Way To Bypass Microsoft Bitlocker Security Technology?

In The World Of Online Crime, The Drive By Method Is Most Effective

December 9th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.

Everything that you do in this world, if you are to have some kind of success, involves hard work and planning. The average person has the misconception that people who do crime are able to wake up in the morning, do a crime, and then receive a lot of money. This may be true for criminals that make a little bit of money in their endeavors but for the criminals that hope to be able to commit the big score, it takes lots of hard work and careful planning. This is the same reality when it comes to online crime. Viruses And Trojans Virus authors have to be very creative when they create a new infection. They also have to be creative when it comes to delivery. Let’s talk about one of those creative methods. One of the best and most creative methods that are available to malware authors today is to create a Trojan package that is able to upload and install on your computer without the victim having to do anything. Usually when a person gets an infection on their computer they must be part of the process to cause the damage. This is usually done by tricking the person to do some sort of activity. This activity usually involves them installing a program on their computer that is not what it pretends to be. It then starts to take shape and does it’s damage. Most of the time the damage is done behind the scenes and unnoticed by the user. Some advanced virus and Trojan writers have found a way to be able to leave you out of the process and upload the infection on its own. Well to be honest you are not completely out of the process. For this attack to work, they will usually need you to go to a web site that will deliver the attack. Once they trick you into going to the web site then your involvement is no longer needed. There is a method of doing this, that is making the rounds among virus authors now. IFrames It involves having you go to a web site with what is called an IFrame embedded in it. An IFrame is the ability of web page to display another web page on the same screen. This IFrame is then pointed to page where they use a corrupted PDF file to deliver the payload. Once the payload is delivered it is able to execute and infect your computer. This is why it is called the drive by method. It requires you to only pass through to the web site and with no other activity needed. You are then infected. This is not an easy to attack to create so it is not as propagated through the Internet as other attacks would be. As you can see the drive by method of delivering a virus or Trojan can be very effective in its execution. This is why you must be very careful when you go to visit a web site. There are attacks such as these that can be performed and cause you to have a very bad day. In The World Of Online Crime, The Drive By Method Is Most Effective is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

Hackers Looking To Exploit Windows 7 Already

December 8th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.

When it comes to secure operating systems, with the release of Windows 7, Microsoft can finally claim to be one. Windows 7 has proven that Microsoft has taken security seriously and that they have attempted to prove that through their actions. Even though Windows 7 has improved a great deal of security issues that used to be a concern for Microsoft products there are still some legacy issues that continue to be a problem. This is why Windows 7 is becoming a favorite attack vector when it comes to cyber crime. Windows 7 is a trim operating system going by previous Windows OS standards. The reality is that the operating system still has more lines of code than it’s nearest competitors, Mac OS X and Linux. It is because of Windows 7 legacy support that this is still a problem. There are still vendors out there that need a new version of Windows to be able to operate programs that are 20 years old. And Windows 7 still has the ability to do this. To be able to have this feature though, it means that you must leave old code in. The more code that is in a program, the better the chances that a malicious hacker will find an exploit that has not been discovered yet. Security experts have already seen a rise of communication between groups of bad guys discussing vulnerabilities that they have already found. Microsoft has already released security patches for their new operating system and you can expect several more. The large code base and the wide amount of usage means that the Hackers will have fun looking for new and creative ways to attack innocent victims. Some attackers are using old school techniques to exploit the release of Windows 7. They are using emails that either pretend to be a support ticket for the new operating system or the email pretends to have a link that allows you to download an upgrade for the operating system. This is why if you want to do an update of your operating system never go to a third party that pretends to do this. Always visit the official Microsoft web site and follow their instructions on how to update your OS. As you can see, even with all of the security that Microsoft has baked in to Windows 7, the security issue still remains. This is why you must not rely only on software security to keep your computer safe. You must be on the lookout as well and learn to be able to tell when something is wrong. Hackers Looking To Exploit Windows 7 Already is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

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Hackers Looking To Exploit Windows 7 Already

How To Communicate Securely Through A Network With SSH

December 1st, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.

When you take your computer onto a strange network, it pays to be highly suspicious and even paranoid about the situation. There are many tricks that are out there now that allows malicious hackers to gather your information as the packets transmit through the air. Many people need to access their work computer when they are in a remote location and this action requires traveling over strange networks. Some people only need a command line client to be able to access the office server. The SSH protocol allows a command line client to be able to access a work server securely through encrypted data packets. Let’s explain how the program works and why it is one of the best solutions out there. SSH The SSH protocol has been around for a long time. It started in 1995 as a small free project but turned out to be so useful that the project just grew and grew. When the idea of networks first came about, the thoughts of security were secondary to thoughts about the speed of the network. People would use programs such as Telnet to access from remote locations and transmit data back and forth. Then in the late 80’s and throughout the 90’s security proved to be a real big issue and tools were created to address that issue. A replacement for Telnet, which was lacking encryption and other secure features, was needed. This created the desire for a program such as SSH. SSH is just the security protocol and there are plenty of clients that make use of that protocol. The most popular being the putty program. It has gained the respect of the security community and seems to be the favorite by a large margin. Once you have installed a client such as putty you just put in your log in information and pick which type of encryption you would like to use. After that is done you can now use it to log into your server. You can now transmit your data back and forth without the gnawing feeling that somebody can be easily dropping in on your communications. The use of SSH to log into your remote server is one the best ways to make sure that your data stays secure. If you in any way concerned about a network that you are using remotely then make sure that you pick the best way to keep your communication secured. How To Communicate Securely Through A Network With SSH is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

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Protecting Your Computers With A Personal Firewall

November 28th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

A firewall protects your network from unauthorized trespassers. Many routers have firewall functions built in to check traffic leaving or entering the network, but you also should run a personal firewall on each client computer on your WLAN . Personal firewall software usually costs around $40 and it is often bundled with antivirus software. A personal firewall is an application that runs on your computer and protects it against unauthorized access. Like a hardware firewall, it’s configurable to allow or disallow different types of traffic to enter and leave your PC. Personal firewalls monitor ports, which are numbered software addresses that your computer uses for different networking tasks. For example, a Web server communicates through port 80, an e-mail server through port 25. Many of these ports aren’t needed by your PC, and a good personal firewall closes or blocks unused or unneeded ports to prevent an intruder from accessing your computer through one of them. A personal firewall also can monitor activity on your PC and alert you when an application attempts to reach the Internet or your WLAN. This is important because some worms and Trojan horse software attempt to use your computer to infect other computers, or to “phone home” to a cracker so that he can get into your computer. Personal firewalls are an effective way to protect individual computers on your WLAN. Read more on Firewalls .

The Threat Of Cloud Computing To Your Company’s Infrastructure

November 26th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

The ideal of Cloud computing has been around for several decades. Only recently has the technology allowed for it to become a reality for practical use. Everyday more and more companies are bringing their sensitive data onto the cloud. This has proven to be a good strategy for corporations to use because of the flexibility that it provides. The ability to be able to quickly update their web resources while at the same time having automated back up capabilities is just the thing that the doctor ordered. But there is a flaw in this type of web hosting that researchers are just now discovering. Cloud Computing Management The first flaw that occurs is more of a management flaw and less of a technical one. If you are business that has their operation hosted on the cloud your hardware will not be hosted in house or in a facility that you control. It will be in the hands of another company that is in a remote location. This leaves you as the customer still responsible for what happens to your data. You must keep a sharp eye out on your cloud provider to make sure that they are keeping your company’s data safe and secure. If you have customers of your own and their data is compromised, blaming your provider will only go so far in their eyes. Technical Flaws There are also several technical flaws that can happen when you host your data on the cloud. Researchers have recently discovered a serious bug that could prove to be a big problem. The problem is that when you have cloud computers on a multi cored server running virtual machines the lack of privacy through the cache on the system is great. When you have a multi cored system the data is transacted back and forth between the cores. This is how the computer processes the data simultaneously so that it can do multiple task at the same time. This is why it is so hard for programmers to adapt to parallel computing. You have to be able to create software without the program running into what is known as a dead lock. When the computer is running the process the data is stored in temporary memory, also known as a cache. Attackers and researchers have figured out ways that they can use this information to able to poison a virtual machine running on the same physical server. Since all of the cores share data that is coming through the cache, poisoned data can be sent to another virtual machine this way. You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video You can also spy on another company’s virtual machine in this same manner. If this knowledge is made into a workable tool, the possibility for abuse is endless. Even though Cloud computing is becoming more and more popular the technology behind it still has some flaws that it needs to address. When it comes to cloud computing privacy was not the first thing on the mind of the people who implemented it. There are tools that are being released to help alleviate this problem but as of right now the possibility of a serious security breach still exist.

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The Threat Of Cloud Computing To Your Company’s Infrastructure

How To Stay Safe On Facebook

November 25th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

Social networking websites have become must visit sites for a great many Internet users. If you are such a person then you probably find that you check your social networking accounts more than your e-mail accounts! In fact, social networking has become a daily activity for millions of Internet users. People have loved Facebook since the day it was launched and that is the reason why, within a span of few years, millions of people have registered to the Facebook network. It is a cool place for people that allows them to get in touch with their friends, share photographs, share videos and much, much more. Security Risks But because of its huge popularity, Facebook has become a huge target for all the spammers, hackers, identity thieves, cyber criminals and every other bad element that exists on Internet. And then you have other threats, such as Koobface , which is a cyber infection that was specially designed to steal the private information of Facebook users. Facebook Security Measures The first step you should take is to mark the privacy settings of your Facebook account. Make sure that you keep you profile private so that strangers cannot peep into it. To do that, simply log into your Facebook account and click on the link named as Settings which can be located at the right side of the page and then click on the option labeled as Privacy. Then click on the option Only Friends which allows you to keep your profile locked from strangers. Whenever you so accept any friend requests ensure that the person is actually your friend because adding strangers could lead to unneccesary risks. Also avoid publishing confidential details, such as your phone number, account number or social security number on your wall as this information could, potentially, be used for identity theft . Facebook Security For Children As per the rules in the Facebook Safety Policy, all users need to be a minimum of 13 years old. If you are a parent, then you need to be aware of your kids’ Facebook activities. You should educate your children about all the benefits, as well as the risk factors, involved in social networking. It would be wonderful if you teach your children to come to you whenever they find a disturbing subject on the Internet as you could then work together to ensure your kid’s safety. Remember that, since you are not seeing the person behind the keyboard, there is a chance that they may not be who they say they are. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you never agree to meet anyone for real. If you do, make sure you have a black belt in karate! (I do, but still wouldn’t choose to meet random strangers from social networking sites!) Once you sign up with Facebook, it automatically becomes your responsibility to report any kind of inappropriate content to the administrators of the Facebook service. Be cautious and have fun in the wonderful world of Facebook. Happy Social Networking!

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How To Stay Safe On Facebook

How To Stay Safe On Facebook

November 25th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

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How To Stay Safe On Facebook

How Can I Help My Elderly Friends And Relatives Protect Themselves On The Internet?

November 24th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

For many of us, we have grown up in an age of computers and electronic devices all around us. So when the era of the internet came to pass, there was a leap of knowledge that was needed to adjust but the divide was not that great. For the elderly among us, they can remember a time before the digital age and some of the new technology can seem enticing but yet strange and alien at the same time. Most scams run on the internet today are perpetrated against the elderly. Hopefully I can give you some tips to protect your loved ones. Protecting Your Loved Ones Some people will make a joke and say if you want to protect people from the dangers of the Internet then get a Mac or Linux box and tell them not to use Windows. This is funny but not true especially these days. Macs are becoming more and more popular and everyday new exploits are being found that can be used against them. Exploits are becoming more common and big business on all systems so security is a top priority for all of them. The fact is that most people use a Windows version operating system so you will have to show them how to protect themselves on such machines. Email Security The first thing that you will want to tell them is to be skeptical when it comes to email. People believe that it takes a highly technical genius to scam people on the internet. This is simply not true. Most attacks on people, especially the elderly, are low tech email scams. They will either involve sending a link to a person to get their information through phishing or just a straight out direct scam to get the person to send them money. A lot of the elderly believe everything that they read in their emails and have to be told the many, many different ways that people can be scammed through them. Malicious Programs Another thing that they must be instructed on, is not to open any programs that are sent to them outside of their family or friends. Scammers will send friendly looking e-cards and other digital goodies through an email attachment. Most people would not think that an e-card with hearts and flowers on it would hold a digital ticking time bomb. Looks can be deceiving though. The elderly, just like everyone else, must be taught that attachments, no matter what they look like, can be dangerous. Safe Communications A new attack but one that is growing everyday is the use of the software program Skype to send links to a phishing site. There are a lot of elderly people that use Skype as a cheap and easy way to talk to and see videos of their loved ones. Their relatives might set it up for them so they can be confused as to who is sending a link to them. Skype has a lot of spammers now and the elderly must be warned that it has become just like their emails so they must remain vigilant. Hopefully I have gone over several ways that you can help protect the elderly in your life when they use a computer. It is a new world that they are in so maybe you can help them navigate it.

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How Can I Help My Elderly Friends And Relatives Protect Themselves On The Internet?

How Do I Secure Windows 7?

November 23rd, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

All computer users should aspire to work in a safe environment. Regardless of what your profession is, and the purpose behind using your computer, you should always be aware of the dangers and be on the lookout for the means to keep the data stored in your computer secure from all possible external dangers. Since Microsoft have recently released their latest operating system,Windows 7, you may be wondering how you can make your new operating system more secure and safer. Microsoft was mentioning the robust security related features of Windows 7 long before its launch. So, if you can make the best of the features and options offered by Windows 7, you can make your computer much more secure. Below are some of the ways that would enhance the security levels of your computer powered by Windows 7 – Shield your computer with an updated and robust Antivirus program (most preferably Internet Security Package) protection system. This is the first and foremost thing to do while you are trying to keep your computer safe from all the cyber threats regardless of the operating system you are working on. Since the biggest threat for any computer is viruses, malware, Trojans, and other malicious program, you need to be smart while making a choice. Windows 7 offers an amazing data protection scheme namely BitLocker Drive Encryption. Using the BitLocker scheme offered by Win 7, you can either choose to protect the data on the partition of where the operating system is installed or all the partitions. BitLocker will not allow anybody to access the files until and unless they enter the correct password. It is just like protecting your money in a safe protected by a number lock system. Use User Account Control (UAC) as Microsoft have made huge improvements in the system. Depending on the type of the user (Administrator or Normal user) UAC pre-sets the security features of the operating system. If you have logged in as a normal user, then you will be served with the most secured settings whereas the Administrator has the right to tweak the security settings as per his requirements. Windows 7 offers Internet Explorer 8 as the default web browser. So, if you are using IE 8 make sure that you enable the SmartScreen Filter option. SmartScreen is directly connected to Microsoft and their local database which educates and warns you about malicious web sites which could harm you computer. Like any other natural calamity, computer crashes can be unexpected and also destructive in many aspects. So, the wise thing is to be prepared for the worst. Navigate to “Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore” to back up the data on your computer . Always enable the Automatic Updates from Microsoft. This will not only enhance your operating system’s performance but also updates it against all the latest threats and loopholes. The increasing popularity of the internet has led to a larger number of crimes being committed on the web. Only by being proactive about your own security can you minimise the risks of you becoming the next victim.

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How Do I Secure Windows 7?

Being Proactive About WLAN Security

November 21st, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

Perhaps the most important defense is to be proactive in securing your WLAN . Don’t wait for threats to emerge before taking action. Now that you know the threats to your WLAN and some ways to deal with them, you can take what you know and put it to work. Each vendor maintains patches and updates on its Web site. You could go to every Web site and search for all the vulnerabilities that affect your devices. You may even find most of what you’re looking for after quite a while. The best place to start is the Security Focus Web site. Security Focus maintains an exhaustive list of vulnerabilities for hardware and software from every vendor. If it’s vulnerable, it’s listed on their site. Often vulnerabilities are listed on Security Focus even before the developers of an application or device know about the problem. In those rare cases when a company refuses to acknowledge an issue, this Web site may be the only place where you’ll find it listed. Make it a habit to check the site regularly for new threats. Many vendors will send you an email warning you of vulnerabilities if you took the time to register your product (and lets face it, most of us don’t). For the 90 percent of users that use a Microsoft operating system, the Windows Update feature will help you keep the operating system patched and save you from becoming a casualty when the next worm surfaces. Most cracker tools exploit holes that have not been patched. If you don’t maintain your systems, you are remaining vulnerable when you should be safe. Taking the time to patch software and update the firmware on devices will minimize your risk and reduce your headaches.

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Being Proactive About WLAN Security

Exclusive: Oval Office Watch – Saturday, November 21 – Family Security Matters

November 21st, 2009. Published under Political Scams. No Comments.

Exclusive: Oval Office Watch – Saturday, November 21 Family Security Matters The entire Global Warming movement and all the idiocy that goes with it such as Cap & Trade , has become 100% political. There's literally ZERO scientific …

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Cyber Security: Why Is So Important?

November 19th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

Do we actually need cyber security? I strongly believe that we do. Everybody has their own thoughts on cyber security, some of which are valid facts, and some of which are misconceptions. The Internet is a dynamic technology and you can never predict the changes that are constantly occurring. Furthermore, every change can lead to more dangerous threats that had not been previously imagined. That is why there have been number of incidents in the past where the Internet has been used as the medium for some serious crimes which are named as ‘Cyber Crimes’. If proper means are not used to tackle this problem then the rate of cyber crime will just continue to increase. Below are some of the reasons behind the need for cyber security – 1.) Who are hackers and what do they do? We all are aware of hackers . But do you actually know how they operate? A hacker could be anyone. He might be your business rival, your friend or any other person who is trying to hijack your computer’s resources. They somehow enter into your computer with the help of many malicious programs and scripts, all of which can be found on the internet or easily coded by someone with a little know how. Once he succeeds in hijacking your computer, then he can misuse your confidential information such as e-mail accounts, bank accounts, credit cards and any other useful information he finds stored on your system. 2.) Online fraud and identity theft. Cyber criminals follow a number of techniques in order to acquire e-mail Ids, credit card numbers, bank account numbers and passwords which are then misused by them. These kinds of scams are known as ‘ phishing ‘. These criminals cheat people by pretending to be spokespeople of big organisations or deceased millionaires and sending emails to their victims which will try to trick them into revealing confidential information. 3.) Cyber thefts are increasing daily. Conventional thefts can be compensated by insurance cover but once you lose your confidential data from your computer, no-one can help you. These kinds of incidents are not only restricted to individuals but huge companies and institutions are falling prey to cyber theft too. 4.) Computer viruses can really mess up your system. Viruses can not only slow your system down, they can make it crash too. There are number of ways in which viruses can enter your computer. One of them is through accessing insecure web sites and downloading infected files. Its not only household computers that can be infected as even big business can be affected too. For example, in 1999 the Melissa virus lead to the termination of many services in Microsoft and other huge companies. 5.) Spyware keeps tabs on your activity. Spyware is a form of malware that can enter your computer and install itself automatically. It is not only meant to spy on you but also steal information from your computer. The dangerous part is that people do not even realize its presence on their computers. Some reports suggest that about 92% of computers are infected by spyware and that users are unaware of it! 6.) Adware is annoying. The main purpose of adware is to pop up unwanted ads as you are surfing the Internet. This can quickly become extremely annoying and frustrating. Nowadays adware is often integrated with spyware in order to exploit your computer to great heights. These are just some of the different ways cyber criminals steal your resources and information. They are always a step ahead and the security industry is forever trying to keep up with their new plans and codes. Therefore, it is very necessary to protect your system for all the threats caused by cyber criminals. Wouldn’t you agree?

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Cyber Security: Why Is So Important?

Security – Windows 7 Vs Mac OSX

November 18th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

Comparing the relative levels of security between two vastly different operating systems is, of course, a rather subjective matter. After the much hyped, and sometimes maligned, Windows Vista the spotlight has once again been placed over Microsoft who have recently released Windows 7 . This is hot on the heels of Apple’s latest operating system for the Mac, Snow Leopard. Nowadays security is one of the biggest concerns for any operating system. According to security experts Secunia, Mac OS X is much safer than the Windows operating system as they found only 9 security issues with Mac OS X compared to 29 issues with the Windows product. Does this paint a fair picture though? Everybody knows that the Windows operating system is installed on many more computers than Mac OSX and that makes it a big and lucrative target for malware authors. Therefore isn’t it just a case of scale that makes Windows appear to be less secure on first glance? Windows 7 is, in my opinion, a far better product (in terms of security) than its previous versions. A whole host of features, such as Biometric Framework, fingerprint scanners, BitLocker and others make Windows 7 an amazingly secured operating system. At the same time, the smaller market share of Apple Mac OS X, and the absence of third party programs, makes their operating system harder to hack (or less appealing at the very least). For this reason, systems powered with Mac OS X suffer less attacks than their Windows counterparts, making the Mac appear to be extremely secure. On the other hand, Windows 7 comes with dozens of security tools but its openness makes it’s monster security system look like an ordinary one. Recently Windows Vista post-Service Pack 2 has been named as the safest operating system on the planet. And it is quite obvious that Windows 7 will incorporate all the features of it’s successful predecessor. If you are not satisfied by the security parameters of Windows 7 then you can tweak it further by using third party firewalls, antivirus and other protection programs whereas such a feature is absent in Mac OS X. But, Windows Operating Systems are easily undone by hackers , so the story MIGHT remain the same with Windows 7. So this might compel you to use Mac OS X. Comparing the security levels of Windows 7 and Mac OS X is difficult as both have their benefits and weaknesses. Although operating systems have a major role to play in the security of your computer the ultimate responsibility lies with you, the user. Having a secured Internet connection and good surfing habits are probably a more important consideration than which operating system you use. Which is the most secured Operating System, Windows 7 or Mac OS X? That is a never ending debate and one that can get quite emotional, as evidenced by the comments last time I wrote on the topic of whether an Apple Mac was more secure than a Windows machine . What do you think?

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How Do I Configure Windows 7’s Firewall?

November 17th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

Since the addition of a Firewall in Windows XP, Microsoft has been working to improve it with each new version of their operating systems. Windows 7 is expected to the best operating system designed by Microsoft so far. Windows 7 comes with a robust firewall included and this can be tweaked by the user according to their needs and computer resources.. Firewall plays a huge role in protecting your computer from external malicious programs. So until and unless you grant permission, external programs will not be able to use the resources of your computer. Like Windows Vista, the fundamental (basic) settings of the Windows 7 firewall can be configured from Control Panel. But unlike Windows Vista, Windows 7 allows you to tweak the advanced settings of it’s firewall directly from your Control Panel, instead of accessing empty MMC. Manually Configure Your Windows 7 Firewall Below is the procedure to manually configure the firewall Settings of Windows 7 – Step 1: Click on the START button and then click on the CONTROL PANEL option. Step 2: Now, in the Control Panel window, locate System and Security and then click on it. Step 3: Once you open the System and Security window from the Control Panel, you can see a direct link to Windows Firewall. Click on it. Step 4: Now, you will be able to access the Windows Firewall window. There, you can see number of options like Turn Windows Firewall on or off, Change notification settings, Restore defaults and Advanced settings on the left side of the panel. And on the right side of the panel you can alter the type of network associated with the firewall settings of your computer which are Home or Work (Private) networks and Public networks. And the Firewall will be ON / ACTIVE for both the networks, which is a default setting. Step 5: Now, you can see the Change Notification settings link on the left side of the panel. Click on it. You can use this option to Turn OFF the firewall settings of your operating system by simply clicking on Turn off Windows Firewall button. Step 6: If you are unhappy with any settings you have selected you can retrieve the default settings by clicking on the option labeled as Use recommended settings which can be located on the right side of the panel or by clicking on the Restore Default link on the left panel. You need to confirm your choice once you click on the Restore Default button. Step 7: You can also alter the Advanced Setting of the Local Computers by clicking on the Advanced Settings button visible on the left panel. Step 8: If you want to tweak the inbound rules, you can click on the link labeled as Inbound Rules on the left side of the panel. If you click on Disable Rule, it will disable the selected rule and if you click on Enable Rule, you can choose the actions you want from the list displayed in Actions Pane. Step 9: You can even keep an eye on the things like Logging settings, General Settings, Firewall State, Active Networks by clicking on the Monitoring option on the left side of the panel. I hope this guide has given you a basic idea of how to set up your firewall in Windows 7.

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Trend Micro Internet Security 2010

November 14th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.

Trend Micro Internet Security is an antivirus and internet security program developed by Trend Micro who are based in Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the fastest growing such products and is a strong product with which to protect your computer. It is one of the most comprehensive security suites available and offers great protection at an affordable price. Trend Micro has recently unveiled two new versions of its Internet Security products, Trend Micro Internet Security and Trend Micro Internet Security Pro. Trend Micro Internet Security 2010 is very user friendly and provides security to your computers without using too much of your computer ’s resources. It covers basic threat detection to a behavior-based prevention system and security for Symbian and Windows Mobile devices. Here are some of the best elements of Trend Micro’s new Internet Security 2010 pro – The download size of this program is 20% smaller and the quick scan feature on Windows XP and Vista is 20% faster. The program’s booting time is 20% faster and uses 40% less RAM. The program is affordable and offers good protection. The installation of the software is very easy and doesn’t take much of your time. After the installation is finished it performs a quick scan and updates the definition files. Low CPU usage means you can protect your personal information with ease and surf the Internet without slowing down your computer. It safeguards multiple computers – you can install this software on up to three PCs per household. Trend Micro Internet Security has a behavioral engine which is an exceptional tool for preventing malware. Safe surfing on the web – Trend Micro automatically detects and removes viruses, spyware, and other malicious threats from your computer, emails, instant messages, and downloaded files. Automatically prevents suspicious software on USB devices from opening and installing on your computer. Finds and blocks untrustworthy links in email and instant messages Quick Scan allows you to quickly find and remove most malware when you are running short on time. Blocks spam that tries to evade filters by delivering images instead of just text. Protects your internet connection from leechers – It features an important function called Home Network Security Management function which allows you to see and remotely manage other computers in your home network through a graphical home network map and block wireless network trespassers. This is a great feature for blocking people who are trying to access the internet through the connection that you are paying for. Protects your Smart Phones – Trend Micro Internet Security Pro also protects smart phones against viruses, spam, data theft, service disruptions and other malware attacks. Protection against web Threats – With this package you are able to protect your personal information, such as credit card numbers, phone numbers, etc, against data theft. There is an option called data theft prevention settings – using this you are able to protect your information. Exciting new look and good user interface – The new Trend Micro Internet Security has a very good look and excellent user interface The Security Activity Dashboard also lets you view a customizable snapshot of all the security activities on your computers through easy-to-understand charts and graphs. Protect your children online – Trend Micro internet security has enhanced parental controls and helps you to protect your children from inappropriate content when they go online. It automatically blocks websites that contain inappropriate content. You can choose the times when your children are allowed to go online. Trend Micro Internet Security protects you and your family against cybercriminals and inappropriate content without slowing down your computer. Finally, with Trend Micro internet security 2010 you can get Enhanced Protection to Keep Your PC Spyware, Spam & Virus Free. Enjoy surfing the internet safely and peacefully with Trend Micro Internet Security 2010. Take 10% Off Trend Micro Internet Security 2010 Now! Coupon Code: trendsecurity Trend Micro Internet Security 2010 is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

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Trend Micro Internet Security 2010

What Should I Do If My Website Has Been Hacked?

November 13th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

If you paid attention to yesterday’s post about website security then you should have already minimised the chances of having your own site hacked . But what if it has already happened? How Would I Know That My Site Has Been Hacked? You may have had your web site hacked if one or more of the following is true – The search engines now says you run an attack site You’ve noticed spam email being sent from your account When you search for your own site (yes, we all do it!) your antivirus program suggests it may be being used for phishing You now have some political statement or graffiti all over your pages Of course there may be other signs but the above are the main ones that I can think of. What now? Change Them There Passwords Do it. Do it now. Assuming you still have any kind of access to your website then you need to change all of your passwords – cPanel, email, admin passwords, etc. Remove Old Scripts Next, go through your hosting space and remove every old script installation that you find. Also, update or remove old plugins too because they are also at risk of being hacked. Check Your Error Logs By checking the Error Logs in cPanel you may be able to discover suspicious requests. Typically, a hacker will give themselves access to your website by adding code or files so look for such within your public_html folder. If you find any code or files then take a note of the details, such as date and time that the file was uploaded, the file name, folder it was in, etc and then inform your web host as they may then be able to offer some assistance. Of course it goes without saying that you should then also delete said codes or files. Minimising Risk Web sites are hacked all the time and all you can do is ensure that you have made it as hard a task as possible and then hope that the hacker moves on to an easier target. By keeping your files up-to-date and secure you will have increased the workload for a potential hacker . You then just need to cross your fingers and hope that encourages them to pass you by.

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What Should I Do If My Website Has Been Hacked?

I’m Worried My Web Site Might Get Hacked – What Can I Do?

November 12th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

If you run your own web site then security is something you really ought to be paying attention to. Hackers are targeting websites on a daily basis and for many different reasons. It used to be the case that hackers would merely look to plaster graffiti on your home page to bring attention to themselves (or some cause) but nowadays they also have far more sinister motives. Criminal hackers are now part of large and well organised cyber gangs who see the internet as a huge source of potential profits and they may see your website as a tool that can help them make money, either by stealing your personal information or that of your visitors. Often this can be through the use of Trojans and other types of malware. Here, then, are some tips on securing your website against such attacks – Always Remove Or Update Old Scripts You need to be aware that that old installations are vulnerable. If you run a blog on WordPress then you will know that the platform is regularly updated and that one of the main reasons for that is to patch security holes as and when they are discovered. So, if you have an old installation then you should either update it now or remove it completely if you aren’t using it. Otherwise, a competent hacker could be into your blog in a matter of seconds. Ensure Strong Password Security You should never use easy to guess passwords , or the same password more than once, anywhere on the internet. Think about it – if a hacker finds a password of yours then they may well try to use it everywhere in order to gain access not only to your web site but also to other sensitive areas such as your online banking account. In terms of website security, how would you feel if someone else had access to your cPanel or email account? Cloak Your Folders Another good tip is to keep a blank index.html file in all of the folders inside your public_html folder. This will make sure that the contents cannot easily be viewed on the internet. CPanel offers such a function – check out ‘Index Manager’. It is always a good idea to keep your files and folders as secret as possible. Password Protect Your Admin Folder You should always password protect the admin folder of any scripts you are using as this provides an extra layer of security. Such action is highly recommended and you can do this in cPanel by clicking the ‘Directory Protection’ link.

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Backing Up Your Computer Data Online

November 7th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

Having your computer data backed up is vital these days. A lot of us store up really important information on our computers and would be at a total loss if that data were to become corrupt or otherwise inaccessible. Some people think that you can only backup your data with CD’s or Floppy discs but they are wrong. Online Backups Not only can you back up your data with CD’s but you can also backup all of your files online without ever using a CD. You will find that there are many websites that you can join that will allow you to log in whenever you want to store and retrieve your data. There are some sites that are free and other sites that you have to pay for. A lot of businesses are backing up their info online just because it’s more convenient. When you decide to back up your computer data online, make sure that you trust the website. Review the policies and see what people say about them. Email the company online before you make your decision as to whether you would like to go with them or not. Another reason why this might work for someone is when they don’t know how to back up the data themselves and need help. A lot of the websites online love helping and will answer any of the questions that you have. Don’t Forget Basic Security Procedures Though Never place data onto a third party website that is really personal or critical though because people do occasionally hack into websites online and could then get all of that information. This doesn’t happen a lot but you should still remember that there is a chance of that happening. The other downfall is if you don’t have another computer in the house, and if you don’t have anyway of getting online, you won’t be able to access your data. If you feel uncomfortable with backing up your data online, you can still back it up yourself with a USB drive or with CDs. With so many options available to the public right now, there isn’t really any excuse for people not to backup their data. No-one wants to think about their computer crashing but the thing is it can happen regardless of how protected your computer is.

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Backing Up Your Computer Data Online

The Greatest Scam on Earth – Family Security Matters

November 6th, 2009. Published under Political Scams. No Comments.

The Greatest Scam on Earth Family Security Matters Cap and Trade is the final solution for American manufacturing and industry, destroying what's left and leaving the rest as government subsidized shells. …

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The Greatest Scam on Earth – Family Security Matters

Assessing The Security Risks To Your WLAN

November 3rd, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

The first step toward safe wireless networking is assessing the situation and determining just how vulnerable you are. I’m not just talking about your Wi-Fi hardware. You have to consider and examine all the elements of your network . That includes client computers, software, network hardware, and even users. Risk analysis is always a good place to start. After all, you can’t defend yourself against something if you don’t even know that it’s threatened. WLAN Risk Analysis A simplified risk analysis for a small network consists of the following steps – 1. Identify hardware and software assets. 2. Determine the value of each asset and cost of replacement. 3. Identify the threats to each asset. 4. Determine the vulnerability to threats. Note : Remember to keep this analysis simple. The goal is simply to get a handle on where you actually stand with regards to WLAN security. For your first task, you need to identify all the assets on the WLAN. Make a list of your hardware, operating systems, and software. The hardware should include computers, access points, routers, wireless NICs, and anything else that connects to your WLAN. Note the manufacturer and model for your entire hardware and firmware version (if known) along with a rough cost estimate for each asset. Next, make a list of software. This might include operating systems, personal firewalls, and antivirus software . For your purposes, you don’t need to check every application on all your computers even though it is good to keep your software patched and up-to-date. You just need to know the operating system and any network software you might be running, along with the approximate cost of each piece. You will learn about the threats that are particular to a WLAN. With this information, you will be able to determine your vulnerability to those threats. Once you have a realistic picture of how vulnerable you are, I’ll show you how to take the information you have compiled about your hardware and software and use it to secure your network.

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Assessing The Security Risks To Your WLAN

The Security Risks Of Facebook Applications

November 3rd, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

I think we all know by now what the most popular social networking site on the Internet is. Twitter is quickly making it’s way to the top of the heap but for now Facebook is still king of the mountain. One of the more popular features that Facebook has added in the past couple of years is the ability to create an application for the people logged into Facebook to use. There have been many companies that made a lot of money off of this feature. Unfortunately there has also been a lot of nefarious characters that have exploited this feature as well. They too are making lots of money from it. I will go over some of the risks of Facebook applications and how to keep yourself safe – Keep Private Information Private One thing that Facebook pulls out of people is their private information. On any other site people would never give the amount of information that they seem give on the Facebook platform. Through most people’s profiles you can find out their first, last and maiden names. You can also find out where they live, where they went to school, and even worse most people will offer up the information of where they lived in the past. A lot of these answers are the answers to questions that you will fill out any kind of credit check online. This is perfect for anybody looking to exploit your credit history or steal your identity. Facebook applications, if you allow them, have access to this information as well. Once you give them permission they can get all of the information that is about you from your Facebook profile. If a person that has evil intentions makes a Facebook app, they can now target all of the people who have allowed the application in their Facebook ecosystem and target them for identity theft . Make sure that before you give an application access to all of your information that you check on the company who has made the app. It is best to Google them to see if they are legitimate or not. Facebook Hackers Facebook applications, for the most part, run in a sandbox that is provided by Facebook themselves. A sandbox is when you have the ability to use a language but certain features of the language that might cause security problems are stripped away. The sandbox that Facebook gives developers to make applications is pretty secure but there have been holes found. So not only can the hackers use an application that was built for malicious use intentionally, they can also find holes in preexisting applications and exploit them too. If you install an application and it is doing anything weird be very suspicious and uninstall it. In the world of the Internet being paranoid is a good thing! So I have gone over a couple of ways that Facebook applications can be used to exploit the average user. I do not want you to get the wrong idea, Facebook applications for the most part are safe. Just like anything else on the internet they can be exploited so it pays to be careful.

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The Security Risks Of Facebook Applications

Just How Secure Are PDF Files?

November 2nd, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

One of the great things about computers and the Internet is how easy it is to create document files and then share them between machines and users. There are several formats that you can use to create files, the two most popular being word documents and PDF files. Hacker Manipulation Over the past couple of years, however, hackers have found that they can manipulate these types of files. They are now able to hide exploits within these files that can compromise your computer. They also use the knowledge that since these files are so popular, they can disguise a harmful .exe file as a pdf file and people will not question whether it is safe or not. We will hopefully show you that for the most part PDF’s are safe but you still need to be careful with them. These types of files have turned into another attack vector for hackers. In the last 12 months Adobe has released patch after patch trying to protect new vulnerabilities found in pdf files. Buffer Overflow There was the vulnerability that was found that let hackers send an attack to your computer through the use of a buffer overflow created when the PDF file was opened. There was also an attack found a month after that that if you were looking at a PDF file in windows explorer, that was all that was needed for it to attack your computer. You didn’t even have to click on it to activate the attack. This is why you have to be careful with opening all types of files on your computer. Most people, even tech savvy people, have never heard that a PDF can be exploited. So people will download them from strange sites and never ever bother to run an antivirus check on them to see if they are secured. Hackers are using your trustful nature against you in this case. Exploited .exe Files Since people are more trustful with opening a strange PDF file more than .exe file there is an older attack that will exploit the trust factor that I talked about above. This is an old trick of hiding your exploited .exe files as PDF files. They shape the name of the file so that it shows up with an PDF icon on the file. This is an easy attack to spot if you have “show file extensions” turned on in your operating system. Just go into your control panel and then go into the file manager. You will then see the option to turn this feature on. Also you can avoid being trapped by this attack by running a virus scan on the file. Any file that you get over the Internet you should run an antivirus scan on anyway, just to be on the safe side. So I have gone over how a PDF file can be dangerous to your system. Now that you know that there is a risk, hopefully you will not take any file lightly.

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Just How Secure Are PDF Files?

How Do I Backup My New Windows 7 Computer?

November 1st, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.

In this day and age people are relying more and more on their computers to be able to do their jobs but they are still not paying enough attention to backing them up. Yet every computer user’s worst fear is that something will mess their computer up and they will not be able to access their files. That is why cloud computing is perhaps becoming such an attractive offer. It allows you to back up your files on a remote server. This lessens the chances that all your data will be destroyed by a catastrophe as it won’t all be kept in the same one place. For other people local back up storage may be an alternative for them to consider. Backing Up With Windows 7 Windows 7 offers you several different ways to back up your files. I will go over a couple of them now – If you hit start and look to your right you will see the button that will lead to you to the control panel. Click on it and then look at the top where it says ‘System and Security’. Here you will see the option to back up your computer. Click on this and it will take you to the backup area of your computer. Once you are there you will see that two options are being given to you. The first option is to back up your computer, which is what you want. The second option is to set a restore point on your computer. (This is similar to backing up your computer but instead of just certain files this option actually creates an image of how your entire computer looks at that moment in time). If you subsequently had a problem you could then restore your computer back to how it was at the time you last created a restore point – a very useful feature but not what we are looking for right now. So now that we are again looking at the back up option lets go ahead and press ‘Set up backup’. Once you click that button it will ask you where you want to save your back up to. Pick the drive or Network that you want to save your file information to. After that, Windows will ask you if you want to choose exactly what is backed up or whether you would like windows to choose for you. It is up to you which option is best for you but just remember that if you let Windows pick the backup then it will skip formatted Fat files, and files that are in the “program files” folder. After Windows 7 asks you whether would you like to review the files or not, you can then watch as it starts to backup your files. When it finishes the backup the data will be stored in a backup folder and you will be able to access it anytime you need it. You can either restore all of the files that you backed up or you just a single file. Hopefully the short tutorial above will give you a good idea how to backup your computer using Windows 7 . The backup feature is a great way to feel secure about your data, knowing that it is safe. How Do I Backup My New Windows 7 Computer? is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

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How Do I Backup My New Windows 7 Computer?

Dancing Skeletons And Other Things That Go Bump At Halloween

October 28th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

Malware is an ever-present concern to users of the internet. Or at least it should be. On any given day there are thousands of threats lurking all around the web, just waiting to get onto or into your computer. Special occasions and notable dates tend to bring more ghouls and goblins out of their closets though and Halloween is no exception. I don’t yet know what the biggest threats will be this year but here are some from the past that may be recycled again this Halloween – The Dancing Skeleton Do you think that dancing skeletons are cute or funny? They may be, but then again, it depends on where you get them from. An application that runs an image of a dancing skeleton may be appealing at first glance until you realise that it may just give you more than you bargained for. The application goes by many Halloween themed names but all have the same effect – installation of the Storm Trojan – which gives your computer free entrance to a botnet. Halloween Bargains That Can Leave You Feeling Like A Pumpkin Everyone likes a good deal and retailers don’t need much in the way of reasons to offer them right now. Halloween specials are available on more than just pumpkins but beware of deals that come via email. Identity thieves can spoof emails to appear as though they come from major brand leaders and all you have to do is click the link and pay by credit card in order to save huge amounts of $$$s. Of course you don’t need me to tell you that clicking links in emails and then handing out financial details is stupid. Do you? Halloween e-Cards Yeah, I know, whatever next huh? I only give out cards for birthdays and Christmas but some people give them out just because. If you get a Halloween e-card then make sure you know the sender and the e-card website before clicking on the link to view said card. Otherwise, well, you should know by now. Party On Dude Are you sociable? Wanna go to a Halloween party? Cool… just make sure its with friends and not the stranger who invited you via email – he doesn’t really like you, he just wants you to R.S.V.P. via the malicious link he put in that invite. If you survive all of those then you are halfway home, though you will still have to contend with the great Halloween scam ….

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Dancing Skeletons And Other Things That Go Bump At Halloween

How To Avoid Viruses That Come In The Mail

October 27th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

There are dozens of attack vectors that people must look out for when they are surfing the Internet. One of the oldest but still effective vectors of attack that you must look out for is the use of email. People still tend to treat email very casually and are not on their guard when they use it. I will show you how email can be used against you and what you can do to keep from getting infected. Beware Of Email Attachments There are many things that you must look out for when you open your email but the number one thing that can get you in trouble is by opening up your attachments. Email attachments are files that are sent to you when you receive an email. They may be in the form of a music file, a pdf, a word document, or a funny little video. All of these types of files can be classified under the term of “attachments”. These files while overall harmless can also be used to send a virus to your computer. Some of these files such as a pdf or a flash file have known exploits that can be taken advantage of to infect your computer. Other files can be disguised to look like one type of file such as a mp3 music file but in actuality be an executable file. This is known as a Trojan. An executable file is a file that runs an actual program on your computer. This program can be the virus or a Trojan itself and you will never know that it is running. Also an email can be used to send a link to someone to direct them towards going to another web page. This can also be used as an attack vector against an unwitting victim. Most links that you will be sent in an email are harmless, but some are not, so it pays to always be prepared. Once the person clicks the link in the email, they will be sent to a web page which can either load a virus onto their computer or ask them vital personal details in a technique called phishing . This is a very popular attack vector and one of the most easiest to implement. You can avoid getting a virus onto your computer several different ways. Some techniques include common sense, others include outside program that will help keep you safe. The first step is to make sure that you only open attachments and visit links sent by people that you know. This is not a hundred percent effective method of avoiding getting infected but it does help slim down the chances. Strange emails that send attachments and links are always a sure sign that someone is up to no good. Avoid clicking these types of emails whenever possible. If you receive a link from a friend, email them back first to verify that they did indeed send a link and their email is not being spoofed. Once that is verified it should be pretty safe to go to that link. Some email programs such yahoo and gmail come with virus scanners already attached but it helps if you have your own anti virus already going on your computer. This is the most effective way to avoid getting attacked. When someone that you know sends you an attachment in your email, just download it onto your computer, and scan it with your antivirus program before you click on it to run it. Always Keep Your Antivirus Program Updated An updated virus scanner is a great way to beat the scammers at their own game. An updated anti virus program is the number one protection. Hopefully we made you more familiar on how people will try to attack your computer through email and have given you the means on how to defeat such an attack. Remember that an updated anti virus program is your best bet. An updated antivirus and the use of your own common sense is the best way to go.

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Social Security

October 27th, 2009. Published under Tea Party. No Comments.

I recieved this from an e-mail I recieved off of Pogo. I feel it’s worth typing into this tea party website. Social Security Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Sena

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Social Security

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009

October 23rd, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

If you use a computer and have ever searched for an internet security program or antivirus then you will almost certainly have come across the name Kaspersky. The Russian Security specialist has earned a respectable name in a very short period of time. As you hopefully know by now, a computer without an antivirus program is much like a bank vault without a door. Enter Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 – one of the best all-in-one security packages for all types of users. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 integrates all the significant programs that can protect your computer from a wide range of external threats. This is achieved through the inclusion of – a robust anti-virus scanner a strong firewall an anti-spyware scanner and parental controls. The quality of these components has led to Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 winning several awards. From the moment you install this internet security program on your computer, you will surely find life easier, as well as being protected from virtually all current threats. Features Below are some of Kaspersky Internet Security 2009’s features which make is a hot favorite in this competitive market – User-friendly graphical interface This is a feature on which the designers have obviously worked really hard. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 has got a very clean and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate. All it’s features and options are well laid out and this can only help you take care of your computer better. Antivirus Program, Spam and Anti-Phishing Program I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, you must have an antivirus program installed if you are a Windows user. Kaspersky’s antivirus component is supported with a huge database (which can also be updated), which makes sure that your computer is safe from all the latest viral infections. KIS 2009 goes beyond some of the alternative antivirus programs as it is provided with e mail scanner which detects and deletes spam and phishing emails too. KIS 2009 also introduces Secunia vulnerability scanning, which is one of it’s best features. KIS 2009 scans all the applications that are installed on your computer to let you know about the vulnerable programs and by removing those applications you can enhance the security parameters of your computer. This makes KIS 2009 far more advanced than some other basic antivirus programs that you could get elsewhere. Robust Firewall Having an alternative firewall to the default Windows one is always beneficial. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 offers its users robust Firewall protection against many different types of rogue applications and programs. KIS 2009 also allows its users to customize the settings of the Firewall as per their own individual requirements. Proactive defense tool and Parental Control If standard antivirus programs are meant to protect your system from standard viruses then KIS 2009 features its Proactive defense tool which detects any king of suspicious activity on your computer and terminates such applications. Parental Control features enable you to customize the settings of your computer to ensure a safe browsing environment for your kids. The Kaspersky brand is highly popular because they ensure a high level of trust in the minds of their users when it comes to protecting their computers for any viral threats such as rootkits, spam, malware and adware. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is extremely worthy of your money and is undoubtedly one the best options available on the market today. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

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Windows 7 Has Improved Security Features Built In

October 22nd, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

Microsoft has brought a new entrant into the operating system wars and it’s name is Windows 7 . After Windows Vista has pretty much turned out to be a dud, even though the security in the system proved to be much improved over previous version of Windows, Microsoft seems to have found a winner in Windows 7 and especially in their expanded security front. The tools are now easier to use and the capabilities of the security that are built in has been expanded as well. I will go over with you, the built in tools that you should be utilizing to keep Windows 7 a fun experience. User Account Control (UAC) The first thing that the people over at Microsoft have done to make the dealing with security of Windows a better experience is to make the UAC (User Account Control) a more pleasurable item to work with. The UAC now allows less software events to make it create a pop up. This will cause more users to not want to turn it off so they will have a sane computing experience! The main problem in Windows Vista was the fact that this pop up would go off an insane amount of times, causing many of the complaints that Vista received. The new UAC also has four levels of security warnings, ranging from “always notify” to “never notify”. “Never notify” is a better option than to turn it off completely. Even though you do not see the pop up warnings, UAC is still working in the background, allowing you to still be protected. BitLocker Encryption An innovation that Microsoft introduced in Vista was the BitLocker feature. This allowed you to encrypt and protect your hard drive. This feature was limited in Vista to protecting your main partition and other drives surrounding it. Now you are able to encrypt and protect portable media as well. This is a big improvement and will allow you to feel safe if you ever lose your thumb drive while walking around your city or neighborhood. Also Microsoft has allowed BitLocker to be used without the TPM chip being built onto the computer motherboard. This allows everyone to have the option of having their drives protected. It is not the default choice and you will have to activate the ability to use Bitlocker without the chip. Additional Security Features Microsoft has many more new and improved security features that have been built into Windows 7. This list includes the new Direct Access, which allows workers to seamlessly connect to their work network automatically and securely, as well as Applocker, which prevents unauthorized scripts and programs from running on the machine. These are mostly security features that will interest IT administrators so I will not go into detail about them here. Overall Microsoft has done well in improving their security features in Windows 7. Being built upon a decent security scheme, such as Vista, and making it more user friendly as well has created a better overall experience. It has really brought them into the world of having a grade A security system.

Avoiding Spyware With Windows 7

October 22nd, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

You should, by now, be aware that Microsoft is introducing a brand new operating system into its Windows line of OS. The new operating system is called Windows 7 and from running it, it seems to be a more stable and more secured operating system. This is very good news for people that may have had security issues with Microsoft products in the past. Unfortunately some security issues still remain that will not be helped by simply upgrading your operating system. Spyware still remains a constant annoyance when you are using a computer. I will try to walk you down the way of avoiding spyware on your system by using common sense and new upgraded technology from Windows and other third party software vendors. Microsoft has spent years trying to help their third party software creators come up with a solution to the spyware problem. Windows Defender Finally a couple of years ago they threw their hat into the ring and introduced a new product called Windows Defender. This product was shipped with Windows Vista and was available as a free download to Windows XP users. Now it is again being shipped with Windows 7 and has been much improved. This system was put down by professional security people in the past but this new updated edition has been getting good reviews for the most part. Microsoft have taken what they have learned and improved this product a great deal. Third Party Anti-Spyware Vendors You will also have third party software vendors that are coming to the party, trying to protect your computer from devious spyware offenders. Most of the major spyware software manufacturers have been upgraded to include protection for Windows 7 systems. A lot of these software companies have had to use beta Windows 7 software to test their product so they might be a step behind the companies that Microsoft has closely worked with. With the release of the new operating system though this will not be an issue much longer. Once they get their hands on the final OS version, they will be able to keep up with anyone. The software products Ad-Aware or Malwarebytes still seem to be the best of the breed when it comes to software solutions. It doesn’t matter if you have the best software on your computer if you do not keep it updated on a regular basis though. Internet Security Begins And Ends With YOU! All of the increase technology that comes with installing a new operating system version will not mean anything if you are not using common sense while surfing the Internet. New technology works a lot better if the person operating the new technology does not work against it. I do not mean to be harsh but a lot of the problems that people get involved in can usually be avoided with a little common sense. Most of the time people realize this themselves when they sit and think about it, after they have made the blunder. So the first thing is that you do not want to go to any strange web sites while surfing the Internet. If you are not sure about a web site, Google it first to see if anybody has complained about it. Most web sites that will compromise your system have already been ran across and someone has complained about them. Also do not download any software or files from people you do not know that you may receive through email or Instant Messenger systems. This is rarely legitimate and I would even suggest that files that you receive from friends you double check. Email them first and ask if they sent their files and where did they get the file from. We have given you both software and common sense solutions that may help you avoid getting spyware or something worse into your system. It is up to you to maintain vigilance and keep your system safe.

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Avoiding Spyware With Windows 7

Securing Your Brand New Windows 7 System

October 21st, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

The age of Windows 7 is upon us as the new operating system from Microsoft will be released in the next few hours. As usual there will be the normal people who update as soon as the new system is available on shelves or is ready to legitimately be downloaded. There are also others who will update when they get a new computer over time. Windows 7 Security Whatever type of person you are, it will pay to know how to secure your new operating system from all of the dangers that the Internet can contain. With the releases of this new operating system a lot of the old exploits will be made null and void. But, as with any expansive piece of new software being released, new exploits will be found and taken advantage of. It will pay for you to be prepared in the long run. Securing Windows 7 is not too much different than securing Windows Vista or Windows XP. Again it will take a combination of the latest software and the (much needed) common sense on your part to keep your operating system secured. Antivirus The first thing that you will want to do is to make sure that you have the latest version of antivirus that you use on your computer. Microsoft has been working with all of the biggest vendors that provide antivirus solutions , so that they could keep their software updated for the new OS. Now might be a good time to think about switching to one of these vendors for a short time while the other companies race to catch up. You do not want to use an outdated and incomplete antivirus system on your new operating system. Firewall Microsoft has also upgraded the choices that you now have with their integrated firewall that comes built into the system. It is now easier than ever to allow certain pieces of software to talk to an outside network with your permission. The outbound and inbound network traffic analyzer has been much improved. The whole program has been made more flexible, which was a major complaint in the past. As I said with the antivirus if you use a third party firewall , then you might want to go with one of the major companies until the smaller companies have had a chance to catch up. Until they catch up the built-in Firewall that Windows 7 provides is a decent solution. Spyware Spyware will still end up being a problem with your new system, even though they have taken steps to try to eliminate the problem. Their solution to the problem, Windows Defender, has been upgraded and has been receiving major kudos this time around from the security community. For a short amount of time they will have the inside track as being one of the better spyware solutions until the others have caught up. One of the best in the business, Ad-Aware, I did not see on the list of companies that Microsoft has been working with. This will give them a temporary disadvantage but not much of one since beta copies of Windows 7 have been released all through the development cycle. So I hope this article gives you a good understanding on what’s available and how to secure your brand new Windows 7 system. Not too much has changed but the security has been raised to a new level.

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How To Lock Your Network’s Front Door

October 20th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

Securing your network The following security measures are relatively easy to implement, provided you read the manuals that came with your wireless devices. “The manual?” you ask. Yes, the manual. You know, it’s the thing propping up the short leg on your computer desk. Take it out for now; you’ll only have to deal with the wobble until we’re done. None of the measures described here are particularly dramatic, and there are ways to get around them. But, doing so requires some skill and understanding of networking. In this case, they serve as a sort of “intellectual firewall ” that prevents script kiddies from cracking your network. These steps include the following: 1. Change the default SSID. 2. Disable SSID broadcast. 3. Change the default IP subnet. 4. Consider disabling DHCP. 5. Enable MAC address filtering. 6. Change default administrative passwords. 7. Change default user names. 8. Enable WEP or WPA encryption. 9. Adjust broadcast power. 10. Set minimum connection speeds. 11. Set access times. Change the default SSID The first step toward making a WLAN reasonably secure is changing the default SSID. This is important because anyone using a wireless sniffer can determine what sort of access point you use by looking at the default SSID. Knowing your access point model allows the cracker to guess the rest of the default settings and attack your WLAN that much easier. Don’t change the name to something obvious like your street address (I have actually seen this done) or your name. Consider using random numbers or even changing it to something tike “NOTPUBLIC” or “NOTRESSPASSING” just to make a point. Disable SSID broadcast Wireless access points are set to broadcast the SSID by default. Turn this feature off to make it harder for casual wardrivers to discover your network’s name. It won’t stop a determined cracker from discovering it, though, because wireless NICs always broadcast the SSB3 when communicating with the access point. The procedure for disabling SSID broadcast is different for each manufacturer, so consult your access point’s manual. Once you turn off SSID broadcast, you have to configure each NIC manually and input the new SSID. Change the default IP subnet The next thing you should consider doing is changing the default subnet IP addresses. Each manufacturer has a default IP subnet, and this can make it easy for an attacker to discover the IP address of your access point. Consider also disabling DHCP and assigning static IP addresses. Consider disabling DHCP Most access points support built-in DHCP service. This allows the access point to assign IP addresses dynamically to new computers as they connect to the network and to computers that are reconnecting after a shutdown or reboot. This also allows an intruder to connect to the WLAN and have the access point assign him an IP address, which makes the intruder’s computer a legitimate member of the WLAN. By disabling DHCP, you make this far more difficult. You have to assign permanent (static) IP addresses to each computer on your WLAN and manually configure them. Once again, this is an extra step, but it is well worth the effort. Insider insight : Without DHCP enabled, an intruder has to monitor and analyze network traffic in an attempt to determine the IP subnet and addresses in use He can then assign himself an IP address and attempt to establish a connection. This makes it difficult for casual sniffers and neophyte intruders to access your WLAN. Enable MAC address filtering Another step that you can, and should, take is to enable MAC address filtering. Remember that each network device has a unique MAC address assigned by the manufacturer. Many access points have an option that allows you to restrict access to specific MAC addresses. This should block any MAC addresses that are not on the “allow” list from connecting to the network. This is effective, but it is not perfect. An intruder can monitor network traffic and discover the MAC addresses of legitimate computers on the WLAN. He can then change the MAC address of his NIC, which allows him to masquerade as a member of the network and connect even when filtering is turned on. Change default administrative passwords Change the default administrative passwords on all access points. Once again, these are public knowledge, and, if a cracker knows what type of access point you use, he’ll know the default password. This will aid him in attacking your access point. Caution : Write down the new settings and passwords, and store the list in a secure place. This will be helpful if you forget this information and need it at a later date. Change default user names Likewise, the tips above apply to your username too as these are also common knowledge. Enable WEP or WPA encryption As I mentioned earlier, even though WEP encryption is flawed and vulnerable, you should use it. Enable 128-bit WEP on your WLAN, and use it. With the relatively low traffic on a WLAN in a home, it could take a cracker several hours to collect enough packets to crack your WEP key. Again, each step you perform just adds another piece to the intellectual firewall you’re building. As a whole, these measures with discourage most script kiddies and casual wardrivers. Adjust broadcast power On some access points, you can adjust the broadcast power of the unit. I recommend that you experiment and turn this down as low as you can while still maintaining decent connection speeds between computers on your WLAN. The idea is to keep the signal within the confines of your house rather than having it reach across the street. This makes the signal more difficult to receive for outsiders. Wardrivers can use directional antennas to pick up weak signals at a greater distance, but doing this will at least make it harder for them. Set minimum connection speeds On many access points, you can set a minimum access connection speed. The further away from an access point an intruder is, the weaker the signal will be (both ways). Therefore, if you set the minimum connection speed higher, computers will have to be closer to the access point to connect and stay connected. Once again, this makes it harder for an intruder to access your WLAN because he will have to be closer to connect. Anyone standing on your lawn with a wireless laptop is probably up to no good unless he’s the water meter reader. Set access times Lastly, some access points allow you to configure the times of day to allow access. If it supports this, consider using it. If no-one is home during the day, consider configuring it to block all access between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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What Are The 4 Ways In Which My Computer Can Be Infected?

October 17th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.

Computer security has come a long way in the short amount of time that the Internet has been in wide usage. Computer security was less of an importance back in the dawn of the computer age since most attacks had to take place while the person was at the terminal. In the age of the Internet though, most of the attacks now are done through the network, and with these attacks people have found several different ways to deliver them. We will list them for you and tell you the best way to avoid them – The Computer Virus The first and most common vector of attack is the widely known computer virus . A computer virus is a highly reproducible executable that will cause damage to your computer by infecting your files and other items on your computer. Viruses have gotten pretty sophisticated over the years with the ability to hide their signature as well as hiding themselves by capturing signals that are sent by the OS that would identify them. People mistakenly call all different types of infections a virus but even without that it is still the number one way to have your computer become infected. The Trojan Horse The second vector of attack is a Trojan attack . A Trojan program is a program that looks like a normal innocent file, such as an mp3 or pdf file, but in actuality is a file that was sent to run an undesirable code on your computer. This code will sit in the background of your computer and you will never know. At the same time that it is sitting back there it will run either a bot net on your computer or pick up information from your computer and send it to a server. Trojans are less destructive on your computer and more destructive to your real life information. The Computer Worm A third vector of attack is a computer worm . A worm will find a way to get through different types of network security that you may have and then spread itself to the computers on your network. Worms can be destructive and destroy your network but most likely it will sit in your network and try to discover valuable information. Spyware The fourth and final vector of attack that a program can use to cause damage on your computer is known as spyware . Spyware will monitor you as your surf the Internet and pick up trends and information about you. The information is then used to send you advertising on your computer through the use of pop ups. Spyware is more annoying than it is destructive. Some legitimate companies will also track your Internet movements but they will not send unwanted advertisement to you. Countermeasures Each of these attacks that we have discussed are well known and there are good counter measures that are out there. For viruses and Trojans on your system a good antivirus / internet security suite will do the job of getting rid of them. For Worms attacking your network, there are several programs that will provide you a reliable firewall on your system and will do a good job of protecting both your network and your computer. Windows comes with a default Firewall built in but it is better to go out and get a reputable third party firewall. And for the spyware on your system there are several programs out there that will help you get rid of that. One of the more popular is a program that is called AdAware. This will scan your system and get rid of spyware that is residing within it. Hopefully this run down of the different infections that can cause damage to your computer will help you out. If you know what you are fighting then it is easier for you to be able to avoid it.

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What Are The 4 Ways In Which My Computer Can Be Infected?

My Top 10 Internet Security Programs Of 2009

October 17th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

As 2009 draws to a close most security vendors have already released their 2010-branded products. Therefore I thought this was a good opportunity to look back over what I believe to be some of the best offerings of 2009. Sure, there may be newer versions of some of these available now (and I will be writing about those over the next few weeks) but guess what? These 2009 versions are typically just as effective, and can often be found for a fraction of the price, as retailers look to clear out old stocks Introduction to the best of internet security, 2009 Every person who uses a Windows computer on the internet needs to ensure that their system is well protected. The very first thing I do after installing the operating system onto a new computer or drive is install my security software and I would recommend that you do the same thing too. There is no point in having the latest and greatest laptop or desktop computer if you arn’t going to take care of it and that includes preventing malware from entering it, as well as blocking other threats too. How does an antivirus program work? After installing an antivirus program it will scan your computer, detect and eliminates potential virus threats in two ways – Firstly, the antivirus program scans your system files and looks for virus definitions that match it’s in-built and updated virus dictionary and if a virus match is found then it automatically alerts the user about the virus. The second method is to recognize other suspicious behavior, such as spyware or data capturing. When such behavior is detected the program will again alert the user and offer the means to put an end to them. There are many such antivirus and internet security programs available today and picking the right one can be quite a tricky prospect. In order to help you decide I’ve listed my own favourite antivirus/security programs from this year – 1. Bit defender Total Security 2009: Bit defender antivirus 2009 was one of the best antivirus programs of the year. It has also earned “Top Ten REVIEWS Gold Award” for being the best protection suite. Bit defender not only provides security to PC’s but also provides internet security as well. This version of Bit defender has new features, improved protection and performance. The main key elements are: • Easy to use. • Easy to install. • Automatic updates • Parental controls • IM encryption • Active Virus Control • Adjustable user interface 2. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009: Most of my friends, who are more casual users of the internet, have not heard of Kapersky who come from Russia. That is, perhaps, because Kaspersky are one of the younger companies featured here but they have already carved out a great name for themselves nonetheless. Kaspersky Internet Security isn’t my favourite on this list but it is a suite I’ve chosen for kids’ computers due to it’s simple and clean interface. It does offer strong protection and has also won many awards. The main features of KIS 2009 are – • Renowned antivirus scanning engine • Virus scanner • Effective anti-spyware tools • Popup blocker • Simple interface • A strong well protected firewall The ability to protect your computer registry and more. That’s why it received the “Top Ten REVIEWS Bronze Award.” Receive a discount on Kaspersky Lab products 3. Webroot Antivirus 2009: Webroot spy sweeper is a product of Webroot software INC, one of the leading providers for anti-spyware software. Webroot spy sweeper is a reliable and award-winning anti-spyware program that effectively detects and gets rid of the spyware and adware from personal computers and laptops. The main advantage of this spy sweeper is that it protects your computer from various consequences such as a slower Internet connection, pop-up advertisement problems, reduced computer performance or, in the worst case, the loss of private information and identity theft. The main features are: • Advanced Detection Techniques • Accurate Risk Assessment • Continuous Security Updates • Enhanced Blocking with Smart Shield Protection • Protection Made Easy 4. ESET NOD32 Antivirus 2009: ESET NOD32 Antivirus 2009 is one of the leading top 10 antivirus programs with some great features like – • Virus definition updates are very small in size compared to others antivirus applications. • Provides best protection against zero day threat and attacks • Multi layered protection including real time email scanning • Blocking all attempts to collect and forward your personal and confidential data 5. F-Secure Internet Security 2009: F-secure Internet Security 2009 is the one of the top 10 internet security softwares. I reviewed it very recently so check out my F-Secure Internet Security 2009 review for more detailed information. F-Secure Internet security 2009 has come up with many exciting features like antispyware, spam, antivirus, and a phishing filter. It also has a new feature called DeepGuard 2.0 cloud computing technology which provides automatic updates and protects your computer from severe threats which include terrors like root kits and malware. The main features are – • Protection from virus and spyware • DeepGuard 2.0 Enabled • Healthy and trustworthy Firewall • F-Secure Black Light which detects and eliminates the presence of root kits. • Spam Filter and Anti-phishing toolbar • Parental Control 6. AVG antivirus 2009: If I were to conduct a poll asking people which antivirus vendors they know of then AVG antivirus would probably come out at the top result. This would almost certainly be due to the fact that their free antivirus program is really rather good. It is very easy to scan your computer with AVG and for that reason it is what I am running right now whilst I choose another complete internet security package. Also, the user interface is easy to understand and installation is a breeze. Later versions of AVG come with a feature called core scanning engine which offers better performance with multi-core processors. 7. McAfee Antivirus 2009: McAfee is a well-known brand and the company always offers good quality products. Their 2009 Antivirus program offers some great features including a Script Stopper to prevent viruses from spreading from one computer to another via email, and WormStopper. It can automatically update its virus database regularly. And finally it has no support for p2p File Sharing and Registry Startup Protection. 8. Panda Antivirus Pro 2009: The new Panda Antivirus made it’s comeback with some new and excellent features. The best of those new features is the ultrafast scan engine that scan almost 30% faster compared to other antivirus applications. This is another easy to use program that my kids have had on their systems recently and it did a great job of keeping them safe. Other features of Panda Antivirus Pro are – • Inbuilt Personal Firewall • Panda Antivirus has an advanced heuristic scan which maximum possible identity theft • Identity protection through Anti-Phishing Filter and Anti-Banking Trojans Engine 9. Norton Antivirus/ Internet Security Norton Antivirus/ Internet Security is one of the most reputed antivirus application on the market today. This version of Norton has the ability to identify your wireless home network and protect it. Recently Norton has brought in a special version for gaming PCs known as Norton 2009 Gaming Edition. Here are some of Norton’s main features – • Very easy to use. • Updates take only 5 to 10 minutes. • Easy to install. • Uses less system resources. 10. Trend Micro Internet security 2009: Trend Micro Internet Security is an antivirus and internet security program developed by Trend Micro who are based in Tokyo, Japan. Trend Micro are growing fast and are quickly becoming a strong contender in the internet security arena. Here are some of the best features of Trend Micro Internet Security 2009 pro – • The programs boot times are 20 percent faster and use 40 percent less RAM. • The installation of the software is very easy and doesn’t take much of your time. After the installation is finished it performs a quick scan and updates the definition files. • So you can protect your personal information with ease and Surf the Internet without slowing down your computer. • Trend Micro Internet Security has a behavioral engine which is an exceptional tool for preventing malware. • Exciting new look and good user interface • Protect your children online: • Protection against web Threats (Take 10% Off Trend Micro Internet Security 2010 Now! Coupon Code: trendsecurity ) Which of the above is best for you is something I cannot really say – I use different products for different computers, according to their usage, and have chosen those with simpler interfaces for my kids regardless of the the rest of their features. The one certainty, however, is that all of the above are highly effective and will do a grand job of keeping your computer secure. Safe surfing! My Top 10 Internet Security Programs Of 2009 is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009

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Are Cell Phones Safe From Viruses And Other Malware?

October 16th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

Hah! Thats a bit like asking whether Apple Macs can get infected by malware . The only reason cell phones haven’t been hit by as many viruses as desktop PCs is because not many virus writers have started targeting them yet. In 2001, a mobile phone virus surfaced on Japan’s NTT DoCoMo I-mode service, took over basic functions of handsets, and caused them to dial 110, Japan’s equivalent of 911. Like many PC viruses, this virus spread via email. Hackers also are beginning to target cell phones and PDAs connected to networks with malicious code in an attempt to gain access to those networks. With the increase in cell phone usage, along with the growing popularity of wireless internet on such devices, this trend is only likely to increase. In early 2003, some cell phone users in the U.S. and Europe received malicious code embedded in what appeared to be a spam message. The message deleted the address books on the phones and disabled SMS. While malicious code and viruses are still extremely rare, they will become more common now that phones are becoming ubiquitous and feature-rich . Virus writers tend to target systems where they can do the most damage and get the most bangs for their buck. This is why more viruses attack Microsoft PCs than Apple’s Macintosh. Because Microsoft controls more than 90 percent of the market, it is a better target. Now that phones can download executable code, and a few brands are controlling a major portion of the market, we will begin to see more viruses targeting mobile phones.

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Are Cell Phones Safe From Viruses And Other Malware?

What Are Trojan Horses And Worms?

October 16th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.

What Is Meant By ‘Trojan’ And ‘Worm’? Trojans and Worms are small unwanted programs which hamper the performance of your computer to a great extent. But what do Trojans and worms actually do? These are designed to retrieve your confidential information from your computer which includes your passwords, bank account numbers, credit card information etc. Trojans do no spread whereas worms replicate vigorously and capture all the information available on your system. People who are new to the Internet, and sometimes even experienced users, download some strange and dangerous files which then turn out to be Trojans and Worms. The Klez, I LOVE YOU and SirCam viruses are few such examples. Trojans can also be carriers for different viruses so they can be termed as WRAPPERS too. On the other hand, Worms are small programs designed by programmers to capture the email IDs of those they ensnare which they then usually sell to advertisers for the purpose of marketing their products, so they replicate very quickly. Once you think you have found any Trojan or Worm on your computer, I strongly advise you to use a good antivirus program to scan you computer in order to terminate their activities. You must also make sure that the antivirus program used by you is updated on a regular basis. Prevention Measures To Keep Your Computer Clean From Trojans And Worms Trojan.IrcBounce, IRC/FinalBot, WinHelp.a, VBS.Stages, love-letter-for you.txt.vbs, MyPicture.bmp.vbs are some of the most dangerous Trojans and Worms. But by staying alert and by following preventive measures you can keep your computer system safe from harm. Below are some tips that will allow you to avoid Trojans and worms: Most importantly, always use a good antivirus program which would let you know whenever a Trojan or Worm enters into your computer and then ensure it’s removal. Always scan any email attachments you receive before downloading or opening them, even if they are sent by your friend. This is the reason that all email services provide in-built antivirus scanners . Only use reliable and trustworthy sources for downloading files. You need to be careful while you are downloading the files such as .EXE, .COM, .VBS, .BAT, .HLP and .DLL. Always use a strong and healthy Firewall. Many Operating Systems do provide their own Firewalls but using an external Firewall typically ensures better security and safety. It enables you to keep a check on the applications using your computer resources. Completely avoid using insecure Peer to Peer networks. Always delete your Temporary Internet Files, Cache and Cookies whenever you finish browsing. Play Safe To Stay Safe!

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What Are Trojan Horses And Worms?

Commentary By Jackie Jeter – WAMU

October 14th, 2009. Published under Political Scams. No Comments.

WAMU Commentary By Jackie Jeter WAMU The letters urged opposition to the American Clean Energy and Security Act, the so-called cap and trade bill. It wound up passing in the House by a slim … and more

Congressional panel to investigate phony letters – Charlottesville Daily Progress

October 13th, 2009. Published under Political Scams. No Comments.

Congressional panel to investigate phony letters Charlottesville Daily Progress The phony letters urged the congressmen to oppose the American Clean Energy and Security Act, commonly known as the cap-and-trade bill. … and more

House Select Committee schedules hearing on fraudulent letter campaign – Charlottesville Daily Progress

October 13th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Political Scams. No Comments.

Charlottesville Daily Progress House Select Committee schedules hearing on fraudulent letter campaign Charlottesville Daily Progress The phony letters urged the congressmen to oppose the American Clean Energy and Security Act, commonly known as the cap-and-trade bill. … and more

Exclusive: Oval Office Watch – Saturday, October 10 – Family Security Matters

October 10th, 2009. Published under Political Scams. No Comments.

Family Security Matters Exclusive: Oval Office Watch – Saturday, October 10 Family Security Matters The Waxman-Markey bill is a cap and trade bill similar to what most European Nations imposed in 2005. The bill imposes a declining ceiling, or cap , … and more

What Makes A Hacker Hack And A Cracker Crack?

October 8th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.

There are as many reasons for hacking as there are hackers . Personality traits of a hacker It’s hard to pin down just a few personality traits that define a hacker. A typical hacker profile is a male, age 14 to 40, with above-average intelligence, obsessively inquisitive with regards to technology, non-conformist, introverted, and with broad intellectual interests. A hacker is driven to learn everything he can about any subject that interests him. In fact, most hackers that excel with technology also have proficiency in no technological hobbies or interests. Hackers tend to devour information, hoarding it away for some future time when a random bit of technical trivia may help them solve an intriguing problem. Hackers seem especially fond of complex intellectual challenges and will move on to a new project once the challenge and novelty wears off. Personality traits of a cracker Contrast this with the following cracker/script kiddy profile and you start to get an idea of why hackers resent being lumped in with crackers. The average cracker or script kiddy (in the United States) is a 14- to 28-year old white male, usually intelligent but academically underachieving, who lives in his parents’ basement and collects comic books (OK, I added those last two). Cultural and behavioral distinctions between groups can help identify a cracker because they often leave clues when they deface a Web site or break into a computer. Crackers and script kiddies differ from ethical hackers. They often lack social skills, are loners (most hackers I know love company), and show poor judgment and impulse control. Where a hacker may work for days or weeks to solve a particularly difficult problem, a script kiddy lacks the discipline to even begin to become a competent programmer and so depends on code written by real hackers. Financial gain motivates some crackers. Credit card and bank fraud present opportunities to use cracking to increase personal wealth. Cracker/script kiddy culture sees stealing from large corporations as a kind of Robin Hood game. While major financial crimes involving crackers are not commonplace, there have been instances of theft on a grand scale by the more talented among them. In 1994, a Russian computer programmer stole millions of dollars from Citibank accounts. The cracker, Vladimir Levin, was part of a group that created a complicated scheme of wire transfers and pickup all over the world.

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What Makes A Hacker Hack And A Cracker Crack?

In What Ways Can A WLAN Be Attacked?

October 8th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.

Just as there are many ways to attack a wired network, there are numerous ways to attack a WLAN . If a WLAN isn’t secured properly, an attacker may be simply able to connect to the network without having to make any sort of elaborate effort and without using any specific exploit. When the situation warrants, crackers have a number of techniques for cracking a WLAN. A basic understanding of these attacks will give you a better idea of the threats you face and how you should deal with them. Crackers are continually locating new avenues for intrusion and updating their tools to take advantage of them. Many types of exploits are very technical and require significant knowledge of networking to understand. Man-in-the-Middle Attack A man-in-the-middle-attack involves an attacker intercepting and monitoring network traffic or client authorization information and using it to authenticate with a server. In the first attack, an attacker intercepts authentication data from a legitimate user’s computer by configuring his computer to pose as an access point and then uses that data to authenticate his own computer with the network server. The attacker can then gain access to additional network resources. The attacker listens for a reply to the ARP request and then either “spoofs” the MAC address by posing as a legitimate computer or sends an unsolicited ARP reply by transmitting his own MAC address to the WLAN. Computers on the network receive the unsolicited ARP reply and update their list (cache) of MAC addresses with the attacker’s MAC address. Legitimate computers may then associate the attacker’s MAC address with that of a legitimate one by routing traffic to the attacker’s machine. In the second method, an attacker listens for and intercepts an address resolution protocol (ARP) request sent from one legitimate user’s computer to another. ARP is a network protocol used to determine a computer’s physical network address, which is also known as the media access control layer address (MAC address). Every NIC and access point has a unique MAC address assigned at the factory where it is manufactured. MAC Address Spoofing Attack An attacker monitoring traffic on a WLAN can listen for replies to ARP requests and intercept MAC addresses of legitimate computers on a network. The attacker then configures his computer to transmit and receive data on the network using a stolen MAC address to gain access to network resources and information. Internet Protocol Address Spoofing Attack To gain access to a WLAN, an attacker can acquire an Internet protocol address. Using a sniffer, the attacker monitors the WLAN to see what IP addresses the WLAN uses (this range of addresses is called the subnet). After the attacker determines the IP subnet, he assigns himself an unused address and connects to the WLAN. If a network uses the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), it’s even simpler. DHCP software automatically assigns IP addresses to computers logging onto the network. If an attacker knows the service set identifier (SSID) for the network (which can also be sniffed), he can connect, and the access point or router with DHCP software will assign him an IP address. Manufacturers have included DHCP service in most routers and access points. Denial of Service Attack An attacker doesn’t use a denial of service (DoS) attack to gain access to a WLAN. Instead, DoS attacks are used to deny legitimate users access to the network and its services. WLANs are vulnerable to DoS attacks in a number of ways. First, using a brute-force attack, an attacker can “flood” an access point with network traffic, which effectively shuts it down for other users. Users attempting to use that AP are unable to connect, which is much like receiving a busy signal when calling someone on the telephone. An attacker can also use a high-power radio source on the same frequency to interfere with the WLAN and drown out its signal. The resulting radio noise prevents devices on the network from talking to and hearing one another, which brings network operation to a halt. This sort of attack is risky for an attacker. Getting close enough to the WLAN with a high-powered transmitter can make him easy to locate using sniffers and scanners. A denial of service resulting from a high-powered signal may not always be an intentional attack. RF interference from other devices that share the same spectrum could result in essentially the same network conditions as a DoS attack. However, this sort of accidental “attack” is rare if you take care in designing your network. DoS attacks are nothing new. They’ve been a problem on wired networks and the Internet for years. Certain applications and devices are susceptible to different forms of DoS attacks. Crackers may exploit design flaws that can trigger shutdown or crashing of devices. The best way to become aware of these DoS threats is to be knowledgeable about vulnerabilities that affect your equipment and deal with them as they arise.

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In What Ways Can A WLAN Be Attacked?

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