Each new day brings its delivery of Email messages. Many people are experiencing an increase of messages that contain content that seems to be
too good to be true;
Rule #1 -- If it seems too good to be true ... it probably IS!
about people or events that are somewhat bizarre;
warnings about things that MIGHT happen to your computer unless you take action to prevent them;
stories about things that "everybody knows to be true", ... unless of course it is NOT true!
Before you take drastic actions with your computer to delete files or alter configurations, AND before you copy an Email message to 37 of your closest friends, it is
often wise to check some of the resources available to try to determine "the facts". [That is to say, don't become part of the PROBLEM by passing on a virus, or
creating mass hysteria, without doing some investigation -- which could take as little as 2 minutes.]
The resources below are just a few of the sites you can check regarding Hoaxes, Viruses and Urban Legends. If you know of others that work for you, we'd like to know so we can
expand the list.
Another growing
problem on the internet is scams -- fraudulent business
practices that masquerade as legitimate businesses but exist
primarily to bilk unwary small businesses who are the most
vulnerable. The most susceptible are the ones with little
experience in dealing with scams, have no full-time legal staff,
and usually are in need of financial backing.
Some of the most
common scams are Funding/"Free Money" scams, Pyramid Schemes,
Stock Manipulation and Internet Auction fraud. For more
detail, check out the Symantec article on
How to Steer Clear of Internet Scams.
Federal Trade Commission is available to take complaints
or report illegal or deceptive online practices.
Internet Fraud Complaint Center features a File a
Complaint page. The FBI and the National White Collar Crime
Center have joined forces to provide this resource.
Remember RULE #1 -- "If it seems too good to be true
... it probably IS!"
The following link goes to a very sobering web page that
explains what you need to do if your computer gets zapped by a
virus, worm or other nasty thing:
If you hate reading lengthy technical stuff, the most
important thing is the next-to-last paragraph, followed by
[!?!?] the paragraph immediately preceding it.
Bottom Line: if you're one
of those folks who are in denial about the need for computer
security, don't update your anti-virus/firewall programs, think
YOUR operating system is immune, and refuse to have anything to
do with security patches (Operating System Updates),
ignore this article at your peril.
Spyware and Adware are programs installed on your computer to
either track your website usage (and report it to someone) or
simply to run ads on certain websites based on what is known
about what kinds of preferences appeal to you.
These things can be installed with some software, with
various music and video downloads, and by many hidden and
invisible processes. At the least they can slow down or
interfere with your online experience. At their worst they
can extract information from your system for questionable uses.
Most anti-virus software producers also have ways to protect
you from these programs, or to purge your system of them.
A good resource for more information is the
Spyware Protection and Removal page, which includes numerous
articles and removal tools.
"Phishing" is an attempt to steal your identity.
Using an Email, a pop-up window, or even a phone call that LOOKS
or SOUNDS legitimate, you are asked to disclose some personal
data (credit card numbers, login names, passwords, account
data, etc.). The whole thing LOOKS legitimate, so it
is important to know how they work.
An Email may seem to come from a popular web site or business
that you trust. They APPEAR official enough that people
believe they are legitimate. They may have all the logos
and links that you expect to see, unless you know how to examine
them closely.
An Email message that requests personal information. Legitimate
businesses will not ask for personal information in an Email.
Alarmist message. The sense of urgency ("your
account may be closed", or "We need to update your account
information") encourages you to respond without thinking.
Misspellings or grammatical errors
A slightly altered web address. This one is
tricky. It could either be a slightly misspelled address (www.micorsoft.com)
or the address you see in the Email may not actually be the page
to which you are directed. If you are suspicious, be
sure to look at the URL of the page you are sent to to see if it
is REALLY on the "official" site!
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Easy money and get-rich-quick offers are red flags.
For additional information on Phishing and Identity Theft
(including detailed hints), go to
Resources for Computer Viruses, Hoaxes, and Urban Legends. Provided by Phonepower Live Telephone
Answering Service,
Virtual Office Services, Order-Taking Service, Voice Mail, Paging, and more.
