Protecting yourself--and your computer--from viruses and spyware is getting more difficult all the time. The most recent version of the Mydoom worm http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.mydoom.m@mm.html, for example, sends spoofed messages that appear to be bounced mail, and may claim that your e-mail account is sending lots of junk mail to encourage you to open their attachments. While you?re surfing the internet, you may find that your search engine doesn?t look the same anymore: the toolbar may look different, or you may suddenly be getting strange results from searches. Or maybe you?re getting e-mails asking you to update personal information at your bank or online payment service; many times these senders are using fraudulent means to steal your identity.
Here are some articles that can help you to protect yourself from the potentially harmful messages, attachments, and applications that your computer is exposed to daily.
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Help for Hijacked Browsers and Blocked E-mail
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/webmaster/article.php/3383561
Utilize a program like Ad-aware to scan your computer regularly for tracking components or “spyware.”
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Use caution with e-mail. Use virus software to scan every e-mail message and to do a regular scan of your computer, and update your virus definitions regularly.
Be skeptical when reading and opening e-mail attachments; even if the message appears to be from a legitimate source, it may not be. The sophistication of the most recent “phishing” scams has even experienced users fooled. When in doubt, contact the source directly—using the official web site contact address, not that provided in the questionable e-mail. Better yet, call the company to ask for clarification. Never provide personal information (credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, for example) in an e-mail.
Consumers Still Falling for Phish
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5519990
FTC Consumer Alert: How Not to Get Hooked by a “Phishing” Scam
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/phishingalrt.htm
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Take every precaution to prevent viral infection on your computer, but also prepare by backing up important data on your computer.
Your Data Is Your Business - Protect It
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/3355301
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