Stop right there! Were you aware that not everything is what it seems online?

Before You Begin - It Can Happen To You

The Internet has millions of users.... and a big enough group of them are folks who try to break your security. It's possible to configure a computer to remotely probe thousands of other computers (like yours!) to scan for vulnerabilities... and you might not even be aware it's happening. It's not a question of one person manually testing each computer he or she finds online... instead it's a program itself that rapidly boom boom boom zooms and tests thousands of other PCs. Like yours. But not only that - people will also try to fool you online as well.

Step 1 - Seeing is Believing

Seeing is believing, you know. Consider the following link.

http://www.cnn.com

That link does indeed go to CNN.com. Now, compare it to:

http://www.cnn.com

Even though the above says Cnn.com, it really goes to my Owlbert store. Click on it and see!

Interesting, eh? But forgeries don't stop there online....other ways information might be falsely represented are via emails that look like they're from eBay, PayPal, your bank etc., stating that your account is frozen. To unfreeze it, you should click on a link and enter your personal information.

STOP! Remember that false link I demonstrated above? It's the same thing...but in the email forgery, if you're unlucky enough to click on it and fill out the information, your precious personal details will be freely distributed to scamsters across the Internet.

But not to fear. Your weapon to combat this is freely available here - it's called plain and simple security clarity!

Step 2 - Where You're Vulnerable

The most common ways people get compromised on the Internet are:

• Clicking on fraud links - You receive an email offering a free expensive item or stating that something you value is in peril. You click on the link and it takes you to a camouflaged fraud site. If you enter your personal information, you're basically up the proverbial paddle without a creek. Recommended Reaction - Always remember that legit sites will NEVER ask you for your personal information via email. Never ever.

• Opening fraud attachments - Computer viruses (bad evil software that will destroy your computer) are often camouflaged as eCards, screen savers, important word files, etc. If you open such an attachment, you will probably install a virus on your computer. Recommended Reaction - As viruses today can appear to come from your friends or family, never open attachments unless you have positively verified they're from the person in question.

• Believing things that are too good to be true - Sooner or later, you'll receive an email from a rich foreigner who asks for your help in return for several million dollars. This is called the Nigerian scam and is most prevalent; it's a great way of losing your life's savings. Or you might see a 6 thousand dollar electronics setup for sale at only $29, and be swayed to offer your credit card number. Or you might be offered a way to generate a million neopoints or SWG credits or other gaming commerce items, if only you give access to your personal account. Recommended Reaction - Ask yourself, would Yoda or Einstein or Owlbert believe this offer? If the answer is no, you shouldn't either.

Step 3 - For More Information

I'll go into more detail about this on my Protecting Yourself page. But in the meanwhile, here are some great resources to help yourself test out your computer's security and the like.

• About.com's Internet Security - lots of useful resources

• eMail Security Testing - resource that will send you compromised but harmless messages to test out your email security.

• StaySafeOnline.org - A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is the go-to resource for cyber security awareness and education for home user, small business, and education audiences.

For more resources, consider:

CA Internet Security Suite 2007 - 3 User
Feature: ... Exclusive $6500 Total Internet Protection Offer protecting you against Identity Theft and Virus and Spyware damage; Includes Anti-Virus Anti-Spyware Firewall Anti-Spam and Parental Controls; PC Magazine awarded CA Internet Security Suite 4 out of 5 stars in their December 2005 review; Protects up to 3 PCs for one low price; CA provides software to 98% of Fortune 500® companies ¿ and millions of home users worldwide ...more
Customer Reviews — [1] Rating: 4 Date: 2007-12-27 Summary: CA Internet Security Suite 2007 - 3 User ... Very good protection and does not bog down the computer as much as some virus software does and does not have that invasive annoying popup window that some virus software has ...more
[2] Rating: 4 Date: 2007-12-12 Summary: hens4 ... I read reviews on this product.I purchased it with any way and thought I would see if that many problems where there.I have had no problem with this and it installed perfect.I had CA anti-virus with my DSL for about 2 years with no problems. ...more
Editorial Reviews — ... Product Description | CA Internet Security Suite provides comprehensive protection against viruses, hackers, identity thieves, spyware, spam and other online threats that can jeopardize your privacy, your data, and your PC’s performance. It combines easy-to-use, award-winning, business-strength technology with preconfigured settings and automatic updates that take the guesswork out of PC security....more

Norton Internet Security 2001 2.5
Editorial Reviews — [1] ... Review | If you're looking for a suite of Net tools for your broadband-connected PC, Symantec's Norton Internet Security 2001 offers an excellent antivirus scanner, a solid firewall, and privacy controls for blocking online ads and protecting personal information. Those users without antivirus software (or those with software in need of an upgrade) will appreciate the power of Norton AntiVirus 2001, which scans e-mail attachments, zipped files, and any downloads for malicious viruses. A welcome feature is the...more
[2] ... Review | As well as offering personal firewall protection (a must-have if you spend any amount of time surfing the Internet), the newest version of Norton Internet Security 2001 comes complete with Norton AntiVirus 2001, a very capable antivirus program. Other security features thrown in for good measure include privacy controls, which prevent personal information, such as credit card numbers, from being sent over the Internet or to a Web site without your permission, plus an ad-blocker facility, which goes...more
[3] ... Product Description | Norton Internet Security is a complete integrated set of tools that keeps your home PC safe and guarded against viruses, hackers, and other intrusions while it's connected to the Internet. The package includes Norton Personal Firewall, Norton AntiVirus, and Norton Privacy Control. Personal Firewall defends your PC against hackers. Select preconfigured low, medium, or high security settings for instant protection, or create your own custom firewall rules. New Norton AntiVirus 2001 gives...more

Norton Internet Security 2001 3.0 Family Edition
Customer Reviews — [1] Rating: 5 Date: 2001-10-10 Summary: Strong protection for your family and your computer. ... As other reviewers have noted, this software is easy to install and use. It also is helpful in the way that it guides you through setting the levels of security that are appropriate for you and your family. The update process is also very straightforward. I've been using it for a couple months now and have been very pleased. Yesterday, however, I was pleased in a new way. For some reason others on the internet made repeated, concentrated efforts to hack my computer. In the period of one half hour, there were close ...more
[2] Rating: 5 Date: 2001-07-28 Summary: Internet security ... I couldn't imagine not having this program when you have children surfing on the web. If you are not sure, then pull up some questionable websites before you have this program. This program will give you the peace of mind that a parent needs by blocking all the sites you don't want. Remember when the book stores always had Playboy behind a counter for adults only to buy? This program puts these sites 'behind the counter' because our children are not adults. ...more
Editorial Reviews — ... Product Description | Norton Internet Security 2001 Family Edition 3.0 is an all-in-one security and privacy suite that provides essential online protection for you and your children. Use Norton Parental Control to set up different Internet access privileges for each person in your household, and ensure that your children have a safe, enjoyable Internet experience. Norton AntiVirus prevents viruses and other dangerous code from harming your data. Norton Personal Firewall defends your PC against hackers by blocking...more

[ Return to top ]

Copyright 2005-2008 and Beyond
Owlbert is a trademark
of Barbara Ling
All Rights Reserved