Does the word “phishing” bring to mind a rod and reel? You’re not alone. Only a small percentage of Americans can keep up with the latest buzzwords describing Internet trends, according to a recent survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. But this article, complete with a glossary, will get you caught up — for at least a week.
Posted by Melissa Cooley
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2 Comments
Where and how do they get your email address and/or your mailing address?
Why is this sharing of information not illegal?
Why is spyware and adware ‘virus’ not illegal?
It all seems like it should be illegal to me. How do they get away with it?
J.J.The answer is “money”. It’s just like telemarketers. Do you know anybody that wants to be called by a telemarketer? So why isn’t it against the law? Because Telemarketers line the pockets of politicians. Spyware and Adware are put out by advertisers, and advertisers make “political contributions” (bribes). Spreading a virus is illegal. Sadly, people who write viruses are savy enough to cover their trail.
J.J., when you click the button to go to a website, you just gave them your email address. That sucks! Personally, I run 2 computers. One has no record of my email address. That way, I can’t be back traced. I also run 2 router switches, one static, and one non-static. You can get an IP, but it’ll do you no good.
Suggestion: Change your Internet Browser. Internet Explorer is the default browser on most PCs, but that doesn’t mean you have to use it and IE is absolutely full of security holes. Internet Explorer is so deeply integrated into the Windows operating system that when it’s breached, your whole system is breached. I build custom computers and networks, and as a standard practice, I load all computers with the Mozilla Firefox browser. It stops about 95% of the problems internet users run into (open source). Another answer is to run Linux. Your chances of a security breach with Linux are almost nil, but it’s not as user-friendly as Windows. You have to be fairly computer-savy to run it.I work with a lot of computers, and I see several common mistakes. I know this is a little off subject, but it’s things everybody needs to know and take to heart.
1. Run GOOD surge protection. A $12 surge strip from WalMart doesn’t get it. Spend the $30-$40 required for decient surge surpression. There’s nothing as sad as explaining to someone why pictures of their grandkids are lost forever.I can make a computer that’s been hit by surge run again, but they’re never right. You get hit by surge, you might as well kiss your computer goodby.
2. Back up your data. If it’s important, BACK IT UP! CD and DVD Burners are cheap. Set up a schedule for back up and stick to it.
3. Run a firewall. Windows XP has an excellent firewall and there are several good ones commercially available (BlackIce, Norton, McAfee, etc). A firewall will keep malicous intruders out of your computer if you use it right. A firewall behind a switching router is 99.9% unbreachable unless you screw up. If you go on the internet without firewall protection and you’re on a high-speed connection (broadband, DSL), Your computer will be breached within 20 minutes. You’ll be running a “spam zombie”.
4. Run anti-virus. Don’t download the freebie, get Norton or McAfee. It’s one of the best investments you can make.
5. If you get email from somebody you don’t know, DELETE IT. If you get email from any business, your bank, your internet provider, anybody that wants any kind of personal or account information, delete it. Legitimate businesses don’t ask for that kind of info in an email.
6. We all have an Aunt Thelma or Uncle George that sends absolutely EVERY Forward they get to everybody on their mailing list. Open those at your own risk. I suggest you just burn it. That’s a number one source for Virus, Trojans, Adware, and Spyware. Just delete it.
7. If you get a link in an email, don’t click it unless it’s from someone you trust. To be absolutely safe, float your mouse over the link and coppy the web address that appears in the lower left-hand corner of your screen. Then manually enter the address on your browser if you just have to see what it is. That way, you don’t open a port on your computer and allow an attack.
When you bring your computer to me or someone like me and it’s infected, the only way to insure that the infection is gone is to re-format and reload. Even the major programs can’t garrantee 100% removal.
J.J., you ask:”Where and how do they get your email address and/or your mailing address?”
The answer is, you give it to them.
This is the link to the Mozilla FireFox download. It’s free, it’s easy, it’s very much like IE, and it’ll save you a lot of grief. Try it out.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/