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Raw Bytes Computer News KPBX FM 91.1 Radio National Public Radio Network Frank Delaney Producer Broadcast on Thursday Morning 7:35 AM During Morning Edition Support Public Radio ! The Theater Of the Mind |
In computer news this week –
June 9, 2005 |
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Internet Threats definition time – Here’s
a list of the major threats and what you can do to protect yourself. Computer Viruses –started in the pc world
back in the 1980’s and spread slowly by direct user-to-user contact.
But with the introduction of the internet, computer viruses can now spread
like wildfire, and infect millions of users in a few hours. You need to be using an antivirus
program which can update itself regularly. It’s estimated that the
majority of people who access the internet don’t use any anti-virus
software, which explains why there are so many. Adware – an internet phenomenom which started after the WWW became popular in
the mid 1990’s. As people
began to explore the Web, owners of websites realized that every person who
surfed to their website was a potential customer, and created software which
would show a popup ad, or even a series of popup ads. You
need to be using a popup ad blocker that now comes standard with some web
browsers, like Foxfire. Google and other companies offer a free toolbar which
blocks popup ads and has other useful features you can use with Internet
Explorer. Spyware - Spyware is software that is downloaded to
your computer without your permission, and then it secretly controls your
computer. Internet Explorer is particularly vulnerable to spyware, and some
security experts have advised using alternate browsers. At first it was
thought that spyware just recorded your internet surfing habits, but spyware
has shown itself to be a major threat in fraud and identity theft. You
need to be using some program that detects, eliminates, and blocks spyware
from your computer. Phishing – spelled with a PH –
is a form of internet fraud where hackers send you an email that looks
exactly like and email from your bank or some trusted company, and asks you
to verify your account information. If you respond to a phishing
email, you will be directed to a website that looks exactly like the
company’s website, and if you enter your personal information, your
bank accounts may be looted and your identity stolen. This has become such a problem that you should never respond to these
emails. Pharming –
also spelled with a PH – is the most recent internet fraud. At its
highest level it requires a team of skilled hackers attacking internet
servers, but at its most common level it just downloads a spyware program to
your computer. Then when you type in a valid website address in your browser,
the pharming program intercepts your website request
and directs you to a bogus website. You
need to be using some program that blocks spyware from your computer. In the
past year the companies that have offered traditional anti-virus programs
– companies like Symantec/Norton, McAfee, Panda, and others, have
introduced a new software suite known as an internet security program, which
protects your computer against these known threats and others. You should be
using some kind of one of these internet security programs. In
addition, it’s always nice to get a 2nd opinion, and there
are several free programs like adaware,
Spybot, and Microsoft antispyware you can download and use. For Raw Bytes This is Frank Delaney (C) 2005 MTA Micro
Technology Associates http://www.mtamicro.com/kpbx.html (509)624-7230 |
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