There's only one certain, inexpensive way to block lightning damage: Turn off the computer. Disconnect it from the wall outlet and the telephone or cable Internet.
Suppressors are essential for protecting your computer from garden- variety surges. But don't count on lightning protection.
In order to avoid computer downtime, the best advice is to not download novelty items such as free screensavers and other gimmicks out on the Internet to entice surfers to open up their computer security. As long as you do not have controls on your users to block downloads, attachments, and productivity controls to block access to the "bad side" of the Internet, your company is doomed to have unexplainable things happening to the network and the user's workstations.
Without a plug in that Internet black hole, much of your IT's time and user's time will be spent fixing things that should not have happened in the first place. Bite the bullet and control that feed, the grumbling will finally stop. The workers' will soon learn to use the Internet to conduct productive business when you take away the "play sites."
Just when you thought you were Web savvy, one more privacy, security, and functionality issue crops up — spyware. Installed on your computer without your consent, spyware software monitors or controls your computer use. It may be used to send you pop-up ads, redirect your computer to websites, monitor your Internet surfing, or record your keystrokes, which, in turn, could lead to identity theft.
Many experienced Web users have learned how to recognize spyware, avoid it, and delete it. According to officials at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, all computer users should get wise to the signs that spyware has been installed on their machines, and then take the appropriate steps to delete it.
The clues that spyware is on a computer include:
a barrage of pop-up ads
a hijacked browser — that is, a browser that takes you to sites other than those you type into the address box
a sudden or repeated change in your computer’s Internet home page
new and unexpected toolbars
new and unexpected icons on the system tray at the bottom of your computer screen
keys that don’t work (for example, the “Tab” key that might not work when you try to move to the next field in a Web form)
random error messages
sluggish or downright slow performance when opening programs or saving files
The good news is that consumers can prevent spyware installation. Indeed, experts at the FTC and across the technology industry suggest that you:
Update your operating system and Web browser software. Your operating system (like Windows or Linux) may offer free software “patches” to close holes in the system that spyware could exploit.
Download free software only from sites you know and trust. It can be appealing to download free software like games, peer-to-peer file-sharing programs, customized toolbars, or other programs that may change or customize the functioning of your computer. Be aware, however, that some of these free software applications bundle other software, including spyware.
Don’t install any software without knowing exactly what it is. Take the time to read the end-user license agreement (EULA) before downloading any software. If the EULA is hard to find — or difficult to understand — think twice about installing the software.
Minimize “drive-by” downloads. Make sure your browser security setting is high enough to detect unauthorized downloads, for example, at least the “Medium” setting for Internet Explorer. Keep your browser updated.
Don’t click on any links within pop-up windows. If you do, you may install spyware on your computer. Instead, close pop-up windows by clicking on the “X” icon in the title bar.
Don’t click on links in spam that claim to offer anti-spyware software. Some software offered in spam actually installs spyware.
Install a personal firewall to stop uninvited users from accessing your computer. A firewall blocks unauthorized access to your computer and will alert you if spyware already on your computer is sending information out.
If you think your computer might have spyware on it, experts advise that you take three steps: Get an anti-spyware program from a vendor you know and trust. Set it to scan on a regular basis — at least once a week — and every time you start your computer, if possible. And, delete any software programs the anti-spyware program detects that you don’t want on your computer.
For more information about protecting your computer and your personal information online, visit www.ftc.gov/infosecurity.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, 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.
This is an Email alert that came form F-Secure. F-Secure has been a reliable source of information for many years. "Ahead of the curve," is how I describe F-Secure.
This press release comes from F-Secure. For more information on F-Secure's mailing list policy, see end of message.
For release December 14, 2004
New Christmas Card email worm spreading
F-Secure is warning computer users around the world about a new email worm that passes itself on as a fake Christmas Card. Virus writers are honoring this Christmas with a new virus known as Zafi.D. This email worm spreads in emails that are written in several different languages based on the recipient. The Christmas greeting could be written in English, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Swedish and several other languages.
The message is a simple Christmas wish. Following text is an example of English message: Sender: Pamela M. Subject: Merry Christmas!
Happy Hollydays!
The infected attachment has an extension of .pif, .cmd, .bat, or .com file. When run, the virus displays a decoy error message saying "Error in packed file!". After this the virus spreads further and installs a backdoor that will allow the virus writer to take over the infected computer. The worms sends messages in the respective languages to the following country codes: .hu .sp .ru .dk .ro .se .no .fi .lt .pl .pt .de .nl .cz .fr .it .mx .at ..es
"We have seen viruses that send fake Christmas cards almost every Christmas, says Mikko Hyppönen, Director, Anti-Virus Research at F-Secure Corporation and continues "we recommend people to send traditional pen and paper Christmas cards instead".
F-Secure Anti-Virus can detect and remove the Zafi.D variant. F-Secure Anti-Virus can be downloaded from <http://www.f-secure.com> Based on independent research by AV.Test.org and Messagelabs F-Secure detects new threats faster compared to other major antivirus vendors. F-Secure also updates customers more regularily than other major antivirus vendors. Between January and August 2004, F-Secure sent out an average of 48 updates per month, which is 50% more than Symantec, almost three times as many as Trend and almost five times as many as McAfee. For the 45 major malware epidemics during 2004, F-Secure customers received their updates on average six hours after the first sample was detected, while, on average, Trend customers were updated ten hours, McAfee customers 14 hours and Symantec customers 16 hours after the first sample. (Source AV-Test.org)
To communicate breaking news fast F-Secure initiated a weblog to provide customers and the media with the latest factual information about viruses, worms, security hacks, and the people behind them. Comments and analyses are updated continually by Mikko Hypponen and the rest of F-Secure's security research team, and postings often include screen shots and images of actual viruses and malware code.
F-Secure has issued its traditional year-end wrap-up release, which can be read at: http://www.f-secure.com/2004/ http://www.f-secure.com/
Internet scammers casting about for people’s financial information have a new way to lure unsuspecting victims: They go “phishing.”
The following is an email we received that appeared to be from Paypal; however, Paypal did not send the email.
From: service@paypal.com Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 1:35 PM To:Removed Subject: Please Update Your Account Information
Dear Paypal valued member,
Due to concerns, for the safety and integrity of the paypal account we have issued this warning message.
It has come to our attention that your account information needs to be updated due to inactive members, frauds and spoof reports. If you could please take 5-10 minutes out of your online experience and renew your records you will not run into any future problems with the online service. However, failure to update your records will result in account suspension This notification expires on REMOVED.
Once you have updated your account records your paypal account service will not be interrupted and will continue as normal.
Please follow the link below and login to your account and renew your account information
The link above appears to be link to Paypal; however, when we examine the actual code under the link, we find a web link that has nothing to do with Paypal.
This is the code that we removed from the above link.
Please do not reply to this e-mail. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered. For assistance, log in to your PayPal account and choose the "Help" link in the footer of any page.
To receive email notifications in plain text instead of HTML, update your preferences here.
Microsoft Small Business Consulting and Training serving the Fort Worth and Arlington Texas areas.
Serving the states of Texas Arkansas OK LA FL AL New Mexico Utah South Carolina North Carolina Georgia MS. Actually any of the lower 48 United States.
Serving the local areas of Fort Worth Crowley Weatherford Palo Pinto County Tarrant County Dallas County Collin County Denton County Johnson County Ellis County Hill County Bosque County McLennan County Limestone County Freestone County Dallas Arlington Mansfield Burleson Cleburne Clifton Meridian Mesquite Grand Prairie Bedford Hurst Euless Grapevine Keller Denton Waco Mexia Teague Fairfield Mineral Wells Parker County Garland McKinney Plano Carrollton Duncanville Hillsboro Gatesville Temple McGregor Bell County Killeen Navarro County Travis County Austin San Antonio Houston Harris County Tyler Amarillo Lubbock Odessa Midland TX El Paso Brownsville Corpus Galveston Texas City Alice Victoria Kansas Kansas City Tulsa Oklahoma City Gainesville Wichita Falls Sherman Dennison Texarkana Pasadena Palestine Russ Rusk
