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 Computer Security Problems
You Can Fight Computer Viruses, Spam, Spyware and Robots
The hazards of traveling the Internet include the malicious activities of computer viruses, spam, Spyware and robots. Computer security software is available to protect you and your computer as you explore the Internet. Individual software packages detect and expose each of these dangers. A few precautions will keep your computer safe.
The only truly secure system is one that is powered off, cast in a block of concrete and sealed in a lead-lined room with armed guards - and even then I have my doubts.
Eugene H. Spafford, director of the Purdue Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security
 What Is a Computer Crime?
Computer crime, also called cybercrime, is criminal activitywhich targets the computer or the network. Computer crime includes illegal access to a computer, illegal capture of data, altering data, interfering with the functioning of a computer system, forgery, ID theft and electronic fraud.
The techniques for protecting yourself against computer crime are improving, and cybercriminals are regularly caught and prosecuted.
Computer Security and Computer Viruses
A computer virus is a malicious software program that infect computers. A powerful virus may have ten thousand lines of assembly language code. A virus is harmless until it is permitted to execute as software code. So, viruses often travel inside a spreadsheet or a Word document, because these documents allow executable code. PDF files and HTML web pages cannot contain viruses, but they may have clickable links to malicious code. Viruses are unwittingly spread to other computers if they attach a copy of themselves to outgoing email or infect files on a network. Some viruses are harmless invaders that introduce themselves with a nuisance message on the screen. Others damage computer programs, delete files or reformat the hard drive and crash the computer.
Viruses can duplicate themselves time after time on your computer. Sometimes the damage is so complete that people must replace the whole computer. Regular computer backups help protect against file damage due to viruses. When the computer virus is exterminated and your backup files scanned for viruses, you will have a clean backup file to use. For backup you can use a few CDs, an external hard drive or a flash drive.
Anti-Virus Software for Your Computer Security
Anti-virus software programs can detect and eliminate known viruses. They work by examining the content of the computer's memory and the files stored on hard drives and floppy drives, and comparing those files against a database of known virus "signatures." In addition to scanning sent and received emails, some anti-virus programs are able to scan opened files in a similar manner. Sometimes to destroy the virus, it is necessary to back up important files, erase the hard drive and reinstall the operating system. Anti-virus software is available from BitDefender, Zone Labs, Kaspersky Labs, Norton, McAfee and Trend Micro. Alwil provides free, effective anti-virus software. Other products cost from $30 to $50 each year.
Spyware and Adware Are Also Computer Security Problems
Spyware is software that is secretly installed on your computer. It can collect personal information, install additional software, redirect your Web browser to another site, or divert advertising revenue to a third party. Adware is used as an advertising agent to put popup ads on the screen when you least expect them. Spyware and adware are often hidden inside free screensavers or downloaded music. Internet file-sharing sites, where music files are available, can be the source of infected files that, when downloaded, have access to your computer. Law enforcement has successfully brought to trial the marketing firms that use Spyware to deliver unwanted ads to your computer.
One notorious type of Spyware is the key-logger, which records your keystrokes and secretly sends screen images to the spy. Key loggers can monitor every email, Instant Message, chat and Web site visited. Suspicious spouses might buy and install this software to check up on their partner’s activities. Worried parents install key-logger software to oversee their children's surfing activities. Key logger Spyware can be used as a form of malicious stalking. If you suspect that you are the target of a stalker, contact a law enforcement official.
Protect Your Computer From Spyware
If you surf the Web often but have not checked your PC for Spyware, download the free, effective software Spybot to check and remove any Spyware on your computer. Other popular anti-Spyware programs include F-Secure, Webroot Spy Sweeper, PC Tools Spyware Doctor, Trend Micro Anti-Spyware, Lavasoft Ad-Aware, Zone Labs, BitDefender and McAfee. Prices range from $10 to $60 for a year's subscription. Be sure you download any software from the official site.
The Danger of Bots, or Robots
The fastest growing breed of malicious software are the bots, short for “robots.” Bots can control a computer without the owner’s knowledge. Even while you are using the computer, the bots run in the background doing their own dirty tricks. The compromised computer is called a zombie.
How does the bot invade your computer? It is often hidden inside features you download from the internet, like free screensavers and free games. Eventually, the bot owner gains control of thousands of computers, which he calls his “herd.”
The bots play a role in Internet extortion schemes. An extortionist will demand money from large well-known Internet shopping sites. If he isn’t paid off, the extortionist threatens the web site with a Denial of Service attack. He will command the herds of bot-infected computers to flood the shopping site with browser requests for pages. This attack, called a Denial of Service, effectively blocks legitimate customers from the shopping site.
Firewalls Provide Computer Security Against Viruses, Etc.
A firewall is computer software or hardware that blocks unauthorized communications between your computer and the Internet. It’s especially important to use a firewall if you have a DSL or broadband Internet connection, which are the prime targets of hackers. Windows XP and Mac OS X have built-in firewalls. If you need a firewall, ZoneAlarm is inexpensive firewall software for effective computer security.
A firewall will also protect your computer from Bots.
Phishing Threatens Computer Security
Phishing, pronounced “fishing”, is a criminal activity. Using email or instant messaging, phishers attempt to fraudulently acquire your usernames, passwords and credit card information by pretending to be a legtimate business. Most often, the victim will receive an email purporting to be from a site like Paypal, eBay, a well-known bank or even the IRS. The email will ask you to click a link and enter your security data. When you click the link, the site you visit looks authentic, but it’s a fraud. And when the criminals have your data, they can wreak havoc.
How to Protect Your Computer from Phishing
It is actually easy to protect yourself from phishing if you keep your eyes open. Don’t let email trick you into revealing personal information. Fraudulent emails seldom address you by name. The document may contain grammar and spelling errors. And if you are suspicious, don’t click the link that’s provided. Instead, enter the correct web address in your browser when you want to check your account.
If you look at the HTML source code for the fradulent phishing email, you’ll see that the link which appears as eBay or Paypal or Hawaii Credit Union, is actually defined in HTML as an unfamiliar Internet address, often with the IP numbers instead of a name. What I do with fradulent emails is to forward them to the real company, eBay or Paypal or whatever, together with the message headers. Internet companies have the procedures in place to deal with these criminals.
Computer Security and Spam Email
Spam is any unwanted email that you have not requested. By law, emails should contain the sender’s contact information so that you can opt out or unsubscribe. Much span originates outside the United States and is tricky to detect. The spam message is hidden inside a graphic picture file, or inside a PDF file. Maybe you have gotten spam emails for penny stock pump and dump schemes, or for pharmaceutical drugs sales. Spam is annoying and time consuming, but of itself is not dangerous to your computer.
Spam Blockers
Spam blockers for email are provided by most large Internet Service Providers, like AOL, MSN and EarthLink. Spam blockers also come bundled with Microsoft Outlook and Apple Mail.
There are relatively few security hacks targeting Mac OS X and the Unix-based file system. But because Windows allows users to accesss and make changes to the operating system environment, it has been the favorite target of hackers.
Computer security software, safe practices and cautious Web surfing are part of your computer security. Defend yourself against these rogue invaders. Children’s activities online should always be supervised. Young children who surf the Internet are easy targets for Spyware and predators.
I hope life brings you much success. I wish you a very happy day.
-----Surfer Sam
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