Online Scams

Internet Security- Popular Online Scams

Nobody wants to get hooked into a scam, but some of them are so clever that you can get

caught up in them without even realizing that you are doing something that threatens your

internet security.

So what are some poplar internet scams?

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.Cashier's checks. This is a new scam that is becoming popular, especially on craigslist. Let's

say that you post something for sale. A person writes you, without seeing the item, and says

that they want to purchase it. They offer you a cashier's check that is sometimes even over the

amount that the price is set for. They even tell you to deposit it and to that they will wait until

the money shows up before they pick up the item. The money shows up in your account, they

get the item, and then suddenly, the bank calls. Turns out the check wasn't good to start with.

To avoid this, only deal with local people. Never accept a check that is more than the amount.

If possible, have your bank check out the cashier's check with the bank account that it was

drawn upon.

2.Online auctions. Although the sites might be legitimate, the products might not be. To protect

yourself, always purchase from a seller with positive feedback, make sure that it is a reputable

auction site (like Ebay), understand the payment terms, use a safe payment method, and don't

accept cashier's checks for items.

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.Phishing. In this scam, someone writes you from a legitimate company, like a bank, and tells

you that your information has been compromised. They then direct you to another site where

you are asked to enter your personal information in order to protect everything. Don't fall for it.

If it was for real, you would have received a phone call or something from the mail. To be on

the safe side, call the company by looking up the number in the phone book.

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.Disaster scams. A disaster strikes and the next thing you know, someone is writing you

asking for donations. Look them up on the internet before you write a check.

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.Work scams. These can come in the form of work at home scams or scams in which the

person tells you that they found your resume online and want to offer you a job. Never do

anything that requires you to pay money upfront or provide your social security number of

bank account number.

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Internet Security- Protect Your Wireless Connection

Using a wireless connection when it comes to your internet can be great. It's fast, it's easy, and

you don't have to deal with cords. Plus, you can hook up at a lot of different places-from airports

to McDonalds.

While wireless routers are great, they are not as secure as hooking up your computer to a wall

in your home. Other people can use your routers and hook up to the internet. They can also

access your own personal information and be privy to things such as your financial

information and other things that you don't want other people to have access to.

Hackers are notorious for breaking into unsecured connections. Actually, you don't have to be

very technologically advanced to do it, either. Even someone with limited technological skills

can use your router for their own computer. This is especially true if you do not set a

password or make your connection secure.

Sometimes, people just want to use your router to access the internet themselves. Other

times, they want to steal information or send you viruses. Nobody wants to deal with that. A

virus can crash your computer, sometimes to the point that it is not salvageable.

But how do you make sure that your internet security is good when you use wireless internet?

F

irst, if you are not using your wireless router then you should turn it off. This is one of the best

ways to protect your internet security.

You should also disable the router's DHCP service. What does this do? This basically gives

the computer access to the wireless connection. However, when you disable it and figure it

manually then you can give your network a distinct IP address and make it more secure.

It is also important to setting up a strong password in order to encrypt the server. Make sure that

the password is something that is strong enough that it can't be figured out. It is always

suggested that you do not use the same password over and over for all of your accounts and

that you try to make it a combination of letters and numbers. Don't ever use your name, zip

code, social security number, or even telephone number.

Setting up and then activating a firewall is an additional way to protect your internet security.

This is important whether you are using a wireless router or not. A firewall can protect you

from viruses.

Internet Security- How to Deal with Spyware

So what, exactly, is Spyware? Spyware is software that can collect your personal

information, change your computer's configuration, and install advertising on your computer

without you even knowing it. Spyware generally does this without your consent, which is what

makes it threaten your internet security.

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There are a host of problems associated with spyware, too, and some of these problems include

trying to get rid of it.

Why do people use Spyware?

Spyware is typically used for marketing purposes. When a company makes spyware, they get

contracts from other companies that pay them well. They can direct traffic to other websites

that are similar. For this reason, they can be be good.

However, like most things, spyware can be abused, too. Sometimes, things pop up on your

screen that are unwelcome, such as adult content. Or, sometimes hundreds of things pop up

at once. This is annoying and can make you not want to return to that particular website.

What kinds of spyware is out there?

Most spyware is adware. Adware captures data for advertising that is targeted. Malware, on the

other hand, causes problems with your computer. Malware can be a virus that harms your

computer, for example, or hijack your computer's information. This can then be used for identity

theft purposes. Your personal information can be sold to other people who can then use it to

open accounts and purchase things in your name.

What else can spyware do?

It can cause you to lose control of your computer. It can also cause error messages and make your

computer run slower, which is a big annoyance in and of itself. Your computer can even be used to

send out emails that contain viruses or for illegal purposes if the right hacker gets into it.

H

ow can you get rid of it?

Of course, now you want to know how you can get rid of it. Well, resist the urge to use the

“uninstallation” part of the program. While it might appear to take the spyware off of your

computer, it generally doesn't. In fact, it might even set off a trigger that installs more. Instead,

spend the money and invest in a reputable cleaner or spyware detection program. These

sometimes have to be updated every year which might require a new subscription but it's

worth it to get your computer cleaned. It's better to spend money on that than trying to recover

your identity later. If you don’t have protection download XoftSpySE

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