Email Trick Test
How you can avoid being a victim of vicious scams.
It's about a little knowledge and simple
steps you can take to avoid these criminals.
Three out of five emails are "SPAM".
It's not surprising that it annoys us because there's so
much of it, and the content ranges from adverts to porn,
begging letters and scams.
With regard to emails spam means "unsolicited bulk email" -
Bulk email means sending the same message to many
thousands of people, a favorite with spammers. Someone
somewhere will click on it.
The email trick test will help you to avoid a very nasty
scam called "Phishing". You might receive an email:
"We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To
ensure that your account is not compromised, please click
the link below and confirm your identity."
"During our regular verification of accounts, we couldn't
verify your information.
Please click here to update and
verify your information"
They're trying to get information from you such as credit
card details, bank account information, Social Security
number, passwords, or other sensitive information.
Once they get your personal details, they go for the short
term gains by raiding your bank account and "maxing out"
your credit cards. They can also take out loans in your
name. You probably won't know about it until the loan
company's start chasing the overdue payments.
Legitimate companies will not ask for personal information
by email. Don't let the style of the email mislead you,
it's very easy to copy bank headers. Don't use any links
from these emails as they can make links look as if
they're going to one place, but they're being redirected
to another.
If you get an email with an attachment and you don't
recognise the sender, don't open it, delete it.
Attachments to emails can transfer a virus; it's often
launched when you open the attachment (usually by double-
clicking the attachment icon).
Malware - software designed to infiltrate or damage
computer systems. Malware commonly includes computer
viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware and adware.
Viruses - a computer virus behaves in a similar way to a
biological virus, which spreads by inserting itself into
living cells. The negative effect of computer viruses
includes uncontrolled self-reproduction, which can
overwhelm your computer. They can erase files and corrupt
the operating system.
They can arrive on a floppy disk,
from a download, or an attachment to an e-mail.
Worms: a self-replicating computer program similar to a
computer virus. A worms self-contained and doesn't need
another program to propagate itself. Worms tend to harm
the network and consume bandwidth, whereas viruses infect
or corrupt files on a targeted computer.
Trojan horses: Trojan horse programs can't operate on their
own like viruses or worms.
A Trojan horse, technically a
normal computer program, does not possess the means to
spread itself. They will probably be part of a free game or
program.
In the background it might modify or delete files, change
the configuration of the computer, or even use the
computer as a base from which to attack other computers.
Spyware ? it's software that gathers information on how you use
your computer, and then transmits the data to another
source. It can also transmit the usernames and passwords
you've typed in online.
Adware - it's software that displays advertising on your
computer. Spyware and adware are often part of the same
program.
But when the software starts silently spying on
you, it stops being harmless.
Hackers / criminals can run software on your computer,
place malicious code on your hard drive, and even copy
exactly what you're typing.
What You Can Do About It - It's Easy and Essential
First a few explanations
A Firewall examines the traffic/data coming into and going
out of a computer, and then either allows or denies this
traffic. If there's no firewall, a personal computer runs
the risk of being hi-jacked within minutes of going on the
internet. It becomes an open door through which anyone or
anything can enter.
Anti-virus - a virus can erase files and corrupt the
operating system.
Latest windows updates - especially those relating to
Security
Stop Spyware - malicious spyware programs that install
themselves without your permission and then sends data
silently to another source without you knowing.
Stop Unwanted email - a program that sorts out the spam,
not essential for everyone, but you will know when sorting
the email takes up too much of your time.
Regular backups are absolutely essential, because
sometime in the future you will meet a problem. With a
backup you can smile, if there's no backup you're in real
trouble.
Resources - that cover security issues mentioned in this
article:
Online Security:
http://www.firewallguide.com/index.html
Windows free updates:
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate
Anti Spam - Anti Phishing:
http://www.cloudmark.com
Free Spam Blocker:
http://www.mailwasher.net
Start with resource number one "Online Security" you will
learn more about the things you need to know, and there's
also quality free software available.
It's not very exciting checking your security, but it's
better than the emotional stress, or financial loss.
Think about it - seriously!
**Ezine editors / Site Owners**
You are welcome to reprint this providing there are no
alterations to the article, links, or authors resource box
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