Online Securities

DANGERS ON THE INTERNET Email Spam

-       AKA Junk mail

-       Usually unsolicited commercial email sent from an unknown source with identical message sent to multiple recipients.

-       Usually not dangerous but can be time and space consuming.

-       Dangerous ones can carry viruses and other malicious software (Malware)

Avoid Receiving Spam Emails

1. Train your filter

When you find spam in your inbox, don’t just delete it. Select it, and tell your mail client that this particular message is spam. How you do this depends on your client. For instance, if you’re using Gmail’s website, click the Report spam button in the toolbar (the icon looks like an exclamation point inside a stop sign).

You also need to train the client about your false positives. Once a day, go through your spam folder looking for messages that don’t belong there. When you find one, select it and tell the client that it made a mistake. In Gmail, you click the Not spam button.

If your mail client is halfway decent, it will learn from these mistakes…but only if you train it.

2. Never respond to spam

If you recognize something as spam before you open it, don’t open it. If you open it and then realize its spam, close it. Do not click a link or a button, or download a file, from a message that you even remotely suspect is spam.

If you opened a spam because it appeared to be coming from a friend or co-worker, contact them immediately and let them know that their account has been compromised.

3. Hide your email address

The more people who have your email address, the more spam you’re going to get. So keep your address close to your chest.

Don’t publish it on the web unless you absolutely have to. (I have to, and it’s not fun.) And if you have to, use a different address for that purpose.

Use disposable email addresses when you’re not comfortable sharing your real one.

4. Use a third-party anti-spam filter

Most of the major security suites come with an anti-spam filter that can augment the one on your client—but only if that client is local. In other words, they can work with Office’s Outlook program, but not with Outlook.com.

Back in April, AV-Comparatives published an Anti-Spam Test report to see how well these tools worked. ESET Smart Security 9 got the highest score for catching spam and integrating with Outlook.

5. Change your email address

This is a very drastic option, but if you’ve responded to spam in the past or haven’t hidden your address, and are therefore overloaded with spam, it may be your best option.

Of course you’ll have to inform your legitimate contacts about the change, and you’ll probably have to keep both addresses for a few months. But once you can get rid of the old address, your spam count should plummet. You may want to read my article on changing your address.

DANGERS ON THE INTERNET Phishing

-       It is a deceitful practice of trying to get confidential information such as passwords and usernames, and credit card details by making it appear as if it comes from a trustworthy source.

-       It is usually done through emails or using popular entity such as Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Amazon, and financial institutions.

10 Tips to Prevent Phishing Attacks

1. Learn to Identify Suspected Phishing Emails

There are some qualities that identify an attack through an email:

They duplicate the image of a real company.

Copy the name of a company or an actual employee of the company.

Include sites that are visually similar to a real business.

Promote gifts, or the loss of an existing account.

2. Check the Source of Information from Incoming Mail

Your bank will never ask you to send your passwords or personal information by mail. Never respond to these questions, and if you have the slightest doubt, call your bank directly for clarification.

3. Never Go to Your Bank’s Website by Clicking on Links Included in Emails

Do not click on hyperlinks or links attached in the email, as it might direct you to a fraudulent website.

Type in the URL directly into your browser or use bookmarks / favorites if you want to go faster.

4. Enhance the Security of Your Computer

Common sense and good judgment is as vital as keeping your computer protected with a good antivirus to block this type of attack.

In addition, you should always have the most recent update on your operating system and web browsers.

5. Enter Your Sensitive Data in Secure Websites Only

In order for a site to be ‘safe’, it must begin with ‘https://’ and your browser should show an icon of a closed lock.

6. Periodically Check Your Accounts

It never hurts to check your bank accounts periodically to be aware of any irregularities in your online transactions.

7. Phishing Doesn’t Only Pertain to Online Banking

Most phishing attacks are against banks, but can also use any popular website to steal personal data such as eBay, Facebook, PayPal, etc.

8. Phishing Knows All Languages

Phishing knows no boundaries, and can reach you in any language. In general, they’re poorly written or translated, so this may be another indicator that something is wrong.

If you never you go to the Spanish website of your bank, why should your statements now be in this language?

9. Have the Slightest Doubt, Do Not Risk It

The best way to prevent phishing is to consistently reject any email or news that asks you to provide confidential data.

Delete these emails and call your bank to clarify any doubts.

10. Check Back Frequently to Read About the Evolution of Malware

If you want to keep up to date with the latest malware attacks, recommendations or advice to avoid any danger on the net, etc …

DANGERS ON THE INTERNET Pharming

-       This is a dangerous hacker attack on a website which directs all traffic to that website to another fictitious website.

-       The main objective is to obtain username and passwords, as well as credit cards and financial information, and use these to steal their money electronically or use the credit cards of the victims.

-       It is a major concern of many online banking and electronic commerce transactions.

DANGERS ON THE INTERNET Spyware

-       A computer program that is installed covertly on a personal computer to collect information or even take control over the computer without the knowledge of the user.

-       It can monitor and collect information about the user’s internet habits and practices.

-       It can also affect the performance and setting of the computer.

DANGERS ON THE INTERNET Computer Worm

-       It is a dangerous computer program that replicates itself through a network.

-       Some worms delete files, others disrupt the network function.

-       It is usually spread through email and running of attachments from suspicious sources.

-       It spreads by exploiting weaknesses in operating systems (but BLESS OS updates!)

DANGERS ON THE INTERNET Trojan Horse

-       A malware fronting to perform a good task, but covertly performs undesirable function with the intention of entering the computer without the user’s consent.

-       It can disable the computer’s defenses, opening it to unauthorized entry. It can erase data, can corrupt files, allow access to computer, and

DANGERS ON THE INTERNET Computer Virus

-       It is a program that duplicates itself and then infects the computer. It spreads like a biological virus.

-       It can be transferred by the use of removable storage media devices.

-       Damages may be mild to severe.

DANGERS ON THE INTERNET Hacker

-       This is a person who is able to enter and control other people’s computer without authorization.

-       Usually vandalizes the victims’ website, steals personal information, obtains intellectual property, and performs credit card fraud.

-       Firewalls are able to prevent entry by hackers.