New Technology Reviews!.: Tactics

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 1 of 2)

The Internet serves as an incredible tool for educators and students to communicate, research information, and learn. The widespread availability of computers and connections to the Internet provides everyone around-the-clock access to information, credit and financial services, and shopping.   Unfortunately, there exist individuals who exploit the Internet through their criminal activities and other harmful acts. Cybercriminals use creative measures to gain unauthorized access to your computer and then use that access to steal your identity, commit fraud, or even launch cyber attacks against others.   Staying safe online is no longer a given, but a necessary extracurricular activity. Here are nine security measures you can employ immediate to protect yourself, your family, and your business. By following the recommended cyber security measures outlined here, you can limit the harm cyber criminals can do not only to your computer, but to everyone's computer. However, keep in mind that there is no single cyber security measure or technological solution that will prevent their cybercrime. These recommended cyber security measures highlight that using a set of common-sense precautions that include Internet habits as well as technology solutions can make a difference.   The National Cyber Security Alliance recommends eight measures. To that, I have added an additional. They are practical steps, in no particular order, you can take to stay safe online and avoid becoming a victim of fraud, identity theft, or cyber crime.   1. Protect your children online. Implement parental control tools that are provided by some Internet Service Provider (ISPs) and available for purchase as separate software packages. Remember: No program is a substitute for parental supervision. Also check your browser to see if it would allow you to set some parental controls. (Internet Explorer allows you to restrict or allow certain web sites to be viewed on your computer, and you can protect these settings with a password. To find those options, click Tools on your menu bar, select Internet Options, choose the Content tab, and click the Enable button under Content Advisor.)   2. Back up important files regularly. No system is completely secure. If you have important files stored on your computer, copy them onto a removable disc, and store them in a secure place in a different building than your computer. If a different location isn't practical, consider encryption software. Encryption software scrambles a message or a file in a way that can be reversed only with a specific password. Also, make sure you keep your original software start-up disks handy and accessible for use in the event of a system crash.   3. Protect your valuable personal and financial information. Don't open unsolicited or unknown email messages. If you do get an email or pop-up message asking for personal information, don't reply or click on the link in the message. To avoid opening such messages, you can turn off the "Preview Pane" functionality in email programs, and you can set your default options to view opened emails as plain text to avoid active links or pop-ups in the messages. Most importantly, do not respond to solicitations for your personal or financial information.   If you believe there may be a need for such information by a company with whom you have an account or placed an order, contact that company directly in a way you know to be genuine. Never send your personal information via email because email is not a secure transmission method.   4. Use strong passwords or strong authentication technology to help protect your personal information. To further increase the security of your online identity and to help protect you from account hi-jacking, take advantage of stronger authentication tools wherever available. This may take the form of two-factor authentication - the combination of a password or PIN number (something you know) with a token, smart card, or even a biometric device (something you have).   Stronger authentication can also come from a behind-the-scenes identity-verification process, which uses various data to establish whether or not a user is genuine. Ask your bank, your regular online retailers, and your Internet Service Provider (ISP) if they offer stronger authentication tools for more secure transactions.   5. Know who you're dealing with online. Every day, millions of computer users share files online, either as email, documents, or photos. File-sharing can give people access to a wealth of information, including music, games, and software. You download special software that connects your computer to an informal network of other computers running the same software. Millions of users could be connected to each other through this software at one time. Often the software is free and easily accessible, but file-sharing can have a number of risks.   (a) If you don't check the proper settings, you could allow access not just to the files you intend to share, but also to other information on your hard drive, like your tax returns, email messages, medical records, photos, or other personal documents.   (b)In addition, you may unwittingly download pornography labeled as something else. Or you may download material that is protected by the copyright laws, which would mean you could be breaking the law.   Therefore, downloading file-sharing software is not advisable and could place your personal information and computer at risk. If you do decide to use file-sharing software, set it up very carefully. Take the time to read the End User License Agreement to be sure that you're sharing files legally and that you understand the potentially high risk of any free downloads. For example, some license agreements include an agreement to allow spyware to be installed on your machine.   Although the Internet basically provides a positive and productive experience, cyber-attacks against our personal privacy and security are reaching epidemic proportions. These attacks are occurring in our own homes and businesses. Our own computers are being used are being used as zombies to attack other people, businesses, and even our nation itself. As an average Internet user, you may not be aware of these threats nor have any idea about the dramatically increasing risks you face when connected to the Internet.   On a campaign for internet safety awareness and protection, my mission is to bring critical awareness to individuals, families, and small business owners, and to provide access to the necessary tools and ongoing expertise to secure your computer and help you stay protected.   I invite you to join the many thousands of others who have tested their computers, discovered these threats are real, and taken the necessary steps to protect themselves.   Now that you have become aware of these issues, I encourage you to share this vital information with your families, friends and communities. Together, we can reach many millions of people and inform them about the threats to their privacy and security, and help them get the protection they desperately need.   Remember: When you say "No!" to hackers and spyware, everyone wins! When you don't, we all lose!© MMVII, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Internet Safety Advocate and Educator

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 1 of 2)

The Internet serves as an incredible tool for educators and students to communicate, research information, and learn. The widespread avail...

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 2 of 2)

6. Learn what to do if something goes wrong.(a) If a scammer takes advantage of you through an Internet auction, when you're shopping online, or in any other way, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.(b) If you get deceptive spam, including email pishing for your information, forward it to "spam at uce.gov" (replace "at" with the @ sign).Be sure to include the full Internet header of the email. In many email programs, the full "Internet header" is not automatically included in forwarded email messages, so you may need to take additional measures to include the full information needed to detect deceptive pam.(c) If you believe you have mistakenly given your information to a fraudster, file a complaint at the FTC's website and then visit their Identity Theft website to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from a potential theft of your identity.7. Use anti-virus software, a firewall, and anti-spyware software to help keep your computer safe and secure. Don't be put off by the word "firewall." It's not necessary to fully understand how it works; it's enough to know what it does and why you need it. Firewalls help keep hackers from using your computer to send out your personal information without your permission. While anti-virus software scans incoming email and files, a firewall is like a guard, watching for outside attempts to access your system and blocking communications from and to sources you don't permit. Some spammers search the Internet for unprotected computers they can control and use anonymously to send unwanted spam emails. They refer to these as "zombie computers".If you don't have up-to-date anti-virus protection and a firewall, spammers may try to install software that lets them route email through your computer, often to thousands of recipients, so that it appears to have come from your account. If this happens, you may receive an overwhelming number of complaints from recipients, and your email account could be shut down by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).Some operating systems and hardware devices come with a built-in firewall that may be shipped in the "off" mode. Make sure you turn it on. For your firewall to be effective, it needs to be set up properly and updated regularly. Check your online "Help" feature for specific instructions.8. Be sure to set up your operating system and Web browser software properly, and update them regularly. Hackers also take advantage of unsecured Web browsers (like Internet Explorer or Netscape) and operating system software (like Windows or Linux). Lessen your risk by changing the settings in your browser or operating system and increasing your online security. Check the "Tools" or "Options" menus for built-in security features. If you need help understanding your choices, use your "Help" function.Your operating system also may offer free software patches that close holes in the system that hackers could exploit. In fact, some common operating systems can be set to automatically retrieve and install patches for you. If your system does not do this, bookmark the website for your system's manufacturer so you can regularly visit and update your system with defenses against the latest attacks. Updating can be as simple as one click. Your email software may help you avoid viruses by giving you the ability to filter certain types of spam. It's up to you to activate the filter. In addition, consider using operating systems that allow automatic updates.9. Subscribe to a managed security services. As the best form of protection available today, you get much more than just software. You get professional grade technology coupled with having a team of security experts available to help with any security problem. This level of protection has never been available for homes and small businesses until now, and, because of the increase in online security threats, risks, and attacks, it is becoming the future of Internet security.Although the Internet basically provides a positive and productive experience, cyber-attacks against our personal privacy and security are reaching epidemic proportions. These attacks are occurring in our own homes and businesses. Our own computers are being used are being used as zombies to attack other people, businesses, and even our nation itself. As an average Internet user, you may not be aware of these threats nor have any idea about the dramatically increasing risks you face when connected to the Internet.On a campaign for internet safety awareness and protection, my mission is to bring critical awareness to individuals, families, and small business owners, and to provide access to the necessary tools and ongoing expertise to secure your computer and help you stay protected.I invite you to join the many thousands of others who have tested their computers, discovered these threats are real, and taken the necessary steps to protect themselves.Now that you have become aware of these issues, I encourage you to share this vital information with your families, friends and communities. Together, we can reach many millions of people and inform them about the threats to their privacy and security, and help them get the protection they desperately need.Remember: When you say "No!" to hackers and spyware, everyone wins! When you don't, we all lose! © MMVII, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Internet Safety Advocate and Educator

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 2 of 2)

6. Learn what to do if something goes wrong. (a) If a scammer takes advantage of you through an Internet auction, when you're shoppin...

Internet Security - 8 Proven Tactics to Eliminate Threats From Spam, Viruses, and Hackers

As an online business owner, you face treacherous Internet security risks every single time you're online. Viruses, hackers, and spam await you at every turn. The reality is that these threats are always going to be a component of being online and doing business online. Unfortunately, they seem to be here to stay.Given that, there are a number of precautions you can take to make yourself, your business and the visitors to your site as safe as possible. Here are 8 tactics proven to enhance your Internet security:1. Virus Protection. Make sure you have the latest virus updates installed on your computer and let the software thoroughly scan your entire computer daily to ensure that no viruses successfully planted themselves on your hard drive. Set your virus checker to scan your email when it downloads, as well.I use AVG Free to scan both my computer and my email. They also have a fee-based version that provides complete Internet protection. McAfee and Norton also offer similar products.For spyware and malware protection, I use CounterSpy. The company that makes this software also has a new product to protect against viruses and spyware called VIPRE.2. Spam Blocker. I have a spam blocker that I use with Outlook called Cloudmark Desktop that does a great job of helping me train my email program to recognize spam. What I like about this program is that the program users tell Cloudmark what spam arrives in their inboxes, and the programmers update Cloudmark accordingly to recognize those kinds of emails. Other spam blocker programs include IHateSpam and MailWasher.3. Web hosting Spam Blocker. To block spam before it even hits my Outlook inbox, one of my hosting accounts offers Postini spam blocking on my server. I pay a few dollars extra each month to add this service, but it is well worth it, as it routinely blocks at least 100 emails per day that are spam. I always have the option to log into that account if I am missing an email that may have ended up there accidentally, and I can "whitelist" the sender so that it goes though without a problem the next time. Every night this service sends me a list of emails that are questionable (i.e. the service isn't sure if it's spam), and I quickly scan them to approve any that have been misidentified.4. Email Address Spam. One of the easiest ways your email address gets added to massive lists of spammed email addresses is by including a clear link to your email address on your website. Spambots routinely patrol the Internet looking for readily available email addresses to harvest online. Even if you have the link "cloaked" by saying "click here to email", which will bring up your email address in the visitor's email program, the spambot is able to read the HTML sourcecode and harvest the email address.Instead, remove your email address off of all of your websites. Use a contact form for people to email you that incorporates CAPTCHA technology (where the form filler has to read a graphic representation of a word or set or numbers to prove that s/he isn't a spambot). I use the free version of Freedback for this task.5. Discussion List Spam. If your email address must appear on any discussion lists, blog posts, or forum postings, use a free email address like the ones available at Gmail or Yahoo. In this way, you protect your "real" email address from being picked up by spambots.6. Catch-All Email Address. If your web host company permits, create a catch-all email address that receives all email not specifically marked for a set POP email address or email forward you may have set up. When you sign up for someone's free giveaway, for example, that will add you to their marketing list you can then enter an email address that reminds you of the site or giveaway where you used it.For example, if I'm signing up for Jane Smith's free dog training tips report, I might use <a href="mailto:dogtraining@mydomain.com">dogtraining@mydomain.com</a>, which will then end up in my catch-all domain email address. In this way, you don't have to give away your "real" email address, and you can determine if the list holder sells or rents your email address to another. So, then, if you suddenly begin to get emails to your <a href="mailto:dogtraining@mydomain.com">dogtraining@mydomain.com</a> address from a dog food company you've never heard of, you'll know that Jane sold or rented your email address to them.7. Firewalls and Hackers. Make sure that you are using Windows firewall protection, at a minimum, to protect your computer from being hacked while you're online. Or, use a free firewall like ZoneAlarm. You can also upgrade for a fee to get enhanced protection.If you use a wireless router, be sure to set a password to secure it so that anyone passing by your home or office cannot hijack your signal and potentially hack your computer. I was resetting the wireless connection on my laptop just last week and discovered that there were 3 unsecured wireless connections in my neighborhood. I live in a residential section with no businesses, so I know that these were unsecure wireless routers in my neighbors' homes.8. Secure Server. If you're selling something online, either your website hosting account or your shopping cart provider needs to have a security certificate so that any monetary transactions can be made over a secure server. You can check to see if your checkout process is secure by looking for https:// in the address window of your browser when browser when you are on the payment page of your site/shopping cart. Some browsers will also show a gold locked padlock icon when you are on a secure server.I had to purchase a security certificate from my hosting company for my membership site, as the secure server wasn't built into the shopping cart that is integrated into the membership site software. If you use Paypal or some version of 1ShoppingCart.com, you are safe, as your customers' transactions are being carried over a secure server.When you make sure that your computer and email are protected from spam, viruses, malware and the like, your customers are then safe when you email them or upload something to your site for them to access. Responsible online business owners need to take every precaution available to them to enhance Internet security for all involved.

Internet Security - 8 Proven Tactics to Eliminate Threats From Spam, Viruses, and Hackers

As an online business owner, you face treacherous Internet security risks every single time you're online. Viruses, hackers, and spam...

Tactics of Online Fraud Prevention

With the increased police and FBI forces and tightened law enactment, the chances of making fraudulent activities have been decreased to a considerable extent in the present days. This being satisfactory and peace of mind at one side, the incidents of online fraudulent cases are consistently raising too. Advancement of technology leads to both positive and negative ends, however the impact of the negative consequences seems to be higher.Certain common online fraudulent activities include Phishing scams, auction fraudulent cases, credit card fraudulent cases and online shopping frauds. Phishing scams are email threats and email messages that bear attractive offer coupons which ask for the personal account details and address details. These emails can also contain certain links that needs to be clicked which will help the fraud activity performers to track the entire information of your computer system and thereby hacking accounts, sending viruses and to its highest extent possible, activating the system itself from where they are. They may hack your id and password and make your account disable. Most notions behind these phishing scams are curios towards doing something crazy. Though, the frauds do not gain anything out of this action, they tend to have a happy attitude on making people sick.Everyone must take responsibility in making steps towards online fraud prevention, as it is in the hands of the individuals only. It is always compulsory to delete the spam messages from the email box and should never respond to the same. In most cases, try avoiding opening your spam messages at all. Just selecting and deleting all will help to a certain extent. Whenever there is a pop up window asking you to click on the given link, read through the entire details and click only if you feel it's necessary, because most of these are scams. Do not close your mail box and blog without signing it off. Any account that you create online must be made with combination passwords that are unique and unidentifiable.For online fraud prevention tactics, Ensure that your web browser includes EVSSL (Extended Value SSL) certificate as it provides additional safety to your system by itself. Install the Microsoft security updates and keep them updated always. If you are using a computer that is connected to a network, say your official PC, do not entertain paying of bills and transaction of accounts either by yourself or by your friends, as it is completely not safe.Online fraud prevention is absolutely in our hands. In case, you happen to find such fraudulent activities being attacking you, make sure that you do not respond to the same. Furthermore, you can file complaints on various available websites such as Hotmail and Microsoft. Before involving in any kind of business dealing through online support, check for the physical location and the personal and official contact number of a person. Do not just rely on the website details that he/she provides you. This case is more likely to happen in online job offers. Most communication happens through online and at the end of the day when you mail the person for your payment, you will receive no reply. It is in our hands to ensure online fraud prevention methods when being online.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Use our <a href="http://www.safeid.org/lead_verification.php" rel="nofollow" target="_new">ID verification</a> system and online fraud prevention system at <a href="http://www.safeid.org" rel="nofollow" target="_new">http://www.safeid.org</a>

Tactics of Online Fraud Prevention

With the increased police and FBI forces and tightened law enactment, the chances of making fraudulent activities have been decreased to ...

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 2 of 2)

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 2 of 2)

6. Learn what to do if something goes wrong. (a) If a scammer takes advantage of you through an Internet auction, when you're shoppin...

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 1 of 2)

The Internet serves as an incredible tool for educators and students to communicate, research information, and learn. The widespread availability of computers and connections to the Internet provides everyone around-the-clock access to information, credit and financial services, and shopping.Unfortunately, there exist individuals who exploit the Internet through their criminal activities and other harmful acts. Cybercriminals use creative measures to gain unauthorized access to your computer and then use that access to steal your identity, commit fraud, or even launch cyber attacks against others.Staying safe online is no longer a given, but a necessary extracurricular activity. Here are nine security measures you can employ immediate to protect yourself, your family, and your business. By following the recommended cyber security measures outlined here, you can limit the harm cyber criminals can do not only to your computer, but to everyone's computer. However, keep in mind that there is no single cyber security measure or technological solution that will prevent their cybercrime. These recommended cyber security measures highlight that using a set of common-sense precautions that include Internet habits as well as technology solutions can make a difference.The National Cyber Security Alliance recommends eight measures. To that, I have added an additional. They are practical steps, in no particular order, you can take to stay safe online and avoid becoming a victim of fraud, identity theft, or cyber crime.1. Protect your children online. Implement parental control tools that are provided by some Internet Service Provider (ISPs) and available for purchase as separate software packages. Remember: No program is a substitute for parental supervision. Also check your browser to see if it would allow you to set some parental controls. (Internet Explorer allows you to restrict or allow certain web sites to be viewed on your computer, and you can protect these settings with a password. To find those options, click Tools on your menu bar, select Internet Options, choose the Content tab, and click the Enable button under Content Advisor.)2. Back up important files regularly. No system is completely secure. If you have important files stored on your computer, copy them onto a removable disc, and store them in a secure place in a different building than your computer. If a different location isn't practical, consider encryption software. Encryption software scrambles a message or a file in a way that can be reversed only with a specific password. Also, make sure you keep your original software start-up disks handy and accessible for use in the event of a system crash.3. Protect your valuable personal and financial information. Don't open unsolicited or unknown email messages. If you do get an email or pop-up message asking for personal information, don't reply or click on the link in the message. To avoid opening such messages, you can turn off the "Preview Pane" functionality in email programs, and you can set your default options to view opened emails as plain text to avoid active links or pop-ups in the messages. Most importantly, do not respond to solicitations for your personal or financial information.If you believe there may be a need for such information by a company with whom you have an account or placed an order, contact that company directly in a way you know to be genuine. Never send your personal information via email because email is not a secure transmission method.4. Use strong passwords or strong authentication technology to help protect your personal information. To further increase the security of your online identity and to help protect you from account hi-jacking, take advantage of stronger authentication tools wherever available. This may take the form of two-factor authentication - the combination of a password or PIN number (something you know) with a token, smart card, or even a biometric device (something you have).Stronger authentication can also come from a behind-the-scenes identity-verification process, which uses various data to establish whether or not a user is genuine. Ask your bank, your regular online retailers, and your Internet Service Provider (ISP) if they offer stronger authentication tools for more secure transactions.5. Know who you're dealing with online. Every day, millions of computer users share files online, either as email, documents, or photos. File-sharing can give people access to a wealth of information, including music, games, and software. You download special software that connects your computer to an informal network of other computers running the same software. Millions of users could be connected to each other through this software at one time. Often the software is free and easily accessible, but file-sharing can have a number of risks.(a) If you don't check the proper settings, you could allow access not just to the files you intend to share, but also to other information on your hard drive, like your tax returns, email messages, medical records, photos, or other personal documents.(b)In addition, you may unwittingly download pornography labeled as something else. Or you may download material that is protected by the copyright laws, which would mean you could be breaking the law.Therefore, downloading file-sharing software is not advisable and could place your personal information and computer at risk. If you do decide to use file-sharing software, set it up very carefully. Take the time to read the End User License Agreement to be sure that you're sharing files legally and that you understand the potentially high risk of any free downloads. For example, some license agreements include an agreement to allow spyware to be installed on your machine.Although the Internet basically provides a positive and productive experience, cyber-attacks against our personal privacy and security are reaching epidemic proportions. These attacks are occurring in our own homes and businesses. Our own computers are being used are being used as zombies to attack other people, businesses, and even our nation itself. As an average Internet user, you may not be aware of these threats nor have any idea about the dramatically increasing risks you face when connected to the Internet.On a campaign for internet safety awareness and protection, my mission is to bring critical awareness to individuals, families, and small business owners, and to provide access to the necessary tools and ongoing expertise to secure your computer and help you stay protected.I invite you to join the many thousands of others who have tested their computers, discovered these threats are real, and taken the necessary steps to protect themselves.Now that you have become aware of these issues, I encourage you to share this vital information with your families, friends and communities. Together, we can reach many millions of people and inform them about the threats to their privacy and security, and help them get the protection they desperately need.Remember: When you say "No!" to hackers and spyware, everyone wins! When you don't, we all lose!© MMVII, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Internet Safety Advocate and Educator	 	 		 			 				 					 						Etienne A. Gibbs, Internet Security Advocate and Educator, consults with individuals, small business owners, and home-business entrepreneurs about online protection (including free lifetime technical support and $25,000 identity theft insurance and recovery) against spyware, viruses, hackers, and other pc-disabling cybercrimes. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.SayNotoHackersandSpyware.com" target="_new">http://www.SayNotoHackersandSpyware.com/</a>.

Proven Security Tips, Tools, and Tactics To Stay Safe Online (Part 1 of 2)

The Internet serves as an incredible tool for educators and students to communicate, research information, and learn. The widespread avai...

Internet Security - 8 Proven Tactics to Eliminate Threats From Spam, Viruses, and Hackers

Internet Security - 8 Proven Tactics to Eliminate Threats From Spam, Viruses, and Hackers

As an online business owner, you face treacherous Internet security risks every single time you're online. Viruses, hackers, and spam...