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Some recent tricks used by hackers and how to avoid them

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Meryl:
Hope you never have to encounter those hackers, Rob!  :)

Meryl:
Here's another bulletin from our IT department:

How to Recognize an E-mail Scam

"I just got an email that says...":

   1. I was just awarded a million dollars by Google.
   2. That my email account needs to be verified and for that I need to provide certain information.
   3. That the IRS needs me to fill out a form with personal information and fax it back to a fax number in Canada.
   4. That UPS could not deliver my package because it doesn't have my address, and needs the following data by return e-mail so if you could please fill out the attached form...

On and on (laughable as they are, the above are actual scam e-mails making their way around the world). So, what do scam e-mails have in common? How can they be recognized?

   1. They ask you for sensitive data, such as a password, social security number, bank account or credit card details, and so forth. And usually they offer a reward if provided or threaten a penalty if not provided.

   2. They often are written with bad grammar or have glaring typos in them (like an email from Hotmail calling it "hot mail")

   3. They come from an e-mail address that is not related to where it's supposed to be coming from.

In some cases they throw a curve because they ask for sensitive data and provide a file attached to the email, which one is supposed to use to provide the data. However the purpose of the e-mail is not to get your data, but to get you to open the attachment that is not what it appears and will infect your computer if opened, like the UPS example above. Pretty slimy.

So if you ever get an e-mail with any of the above points (especially the first point), know that it's a scam, and don't fall for it. Delete it, report it if you know how to and feel like it. But whatever you do, don't provide the information requested. Don't even reply. -- Carlos Duran

belongcyl:
Thanks a lot~ O0

Meryl:

Here's the latest advice from our IT department, some tips for safe shopping on the internet during the holiday season:


1.   Keep Your PC Secure: The bad guys are trying to get in to your computer. They are releasing 70,000 (that's thousand) malware variants daily. Keep your Antivirus and Firewall up-to-date. We cannot overstate this enough, having seen so many computers get infected just because their security software was out of date.

2.   Don't Be Stupid: Really I hate to put it so bluntly, but truly if you knew how many PC's got infected just because the user did something dumb, you just might scream. You have to stay aware. Avoid going to controversial sites, aka porn, file sharing sites, etc.

3.   Think Before You Click: Is that photo of Angelina Jolie or Justin Bieber really that important that you are willing to risk the security of your computer?

4.   Look Where You Are Going: Be certain you are doing business with a legitimate merchant. Don't just click on a link as it may be a scam. Phishing tips: lousy grammar, poor spelling and of course incorrect URL's.

5.   Secure Site: And before you whip out your credit card make sure you're on a "secure "site. The URL should have instead of http, an https at the beginning (s for "security") and there should be a small gold lock in the lower right corner of the browser. This isn't an iron-clad guarantee, but still worth looking for.

6.   Check Your Accounts: When you are shopping online, you want to make sure there haven't been any "accidents" of a financial nature. It is a good idea to regularly scrutinize your accounts to make sure they are not being abused.

7.   Avoid Public 'Puters: Don't do your banking or any other financial transactions on public computers or terminals, which could have keystroke loggers or other malware on them, and while we are at it, also do not use a laptop and Wi-Fi doing financial things in public places.

8.   Reviews: A good way to check on merchants and products is to read user reviews and ratings. But even these can be spoofed. So read with a critical eye, and use your judgment.

Sason:
Thanks, Meryl!

These are useful tips.

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