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Your Online Guide » Online Security » Anti Phishing

[W876]Wireless Computer Security Camera
by Hazel Leong, Haz

You can say that the Internet is a short cut for “international networking.” By just logging on, you can connect to people all over the world. They may be people you personally know or people you just know online. Whatever the case, there is always somebody on the other end of your Internet connection.

As accessible and easy daily life is now thanks to the Internet, there are disadvantages from this convenience. Criminal activities such as eliciting sexual activities on the web are an example of online problems society has to deal with.

Another online criminal activity is phishing. Phishing is acquiring personal information like passwords and credit card details by pretending to be a representative of a company. Phishing is done through email or instant messaging.

It is called ‘phishing’ because it is similar to the recreational activity fishing. It ‘fishes’ for users’ personal information such as passwords and financial data.

Phishers create accounts on AOL by using fake algorithmically generated credit card numbers. These accounts are maintained for a number of months. Due to the reports of phishing incidences, AOL has brought in measures preventing this from happening by securing the data of their users and confirming the information of those signing up for AOL accounts. Scan your registry for free at

On AOL, a phisher pretends that he is an AOL employee and sends out instant messages to a random customer that asks for passwords of their account. Luring the victim further, the phisher includes in the message “verify your account” or “confirm billing information.”

Thus, a number of clients get lured in and give off their password. Once the phisher gains access of this sensitive information, he can use the victim’s account for spamming. Check your inbox and take a look at the spam messages you’ve received. Yes, those are real names of people. These people’s accounts have been hacked and are now being used to relay spam messages.


Consider the latest "Die Hard". Some teenagers, few masterminds and trillions of dollars being siphoned off the federal fund that has been deposited against people's social security benefits. Do not think that it is a simple cinematic flick! Today hackers are so sophisticated that they can actually bring a law abiding citizen down on the streets. With the advent of technology making life easier for most of us, getting to shop from the comfort of our homes or transfer money from the safety of our living rooms, the fact remains that the nameless faceless cyber world is dotted with criminal minded people whose sole intention is to rob you off your identity, get access to all your important details and use those for their own benefits. How do you fight that?

Install an anti-virus. An anti-virus protects your computer from malicious viruses that tend to lodge themselves deep into your hard drive and copy all your data and transfer those to servers where you would not want your confidential information to be a hacker's server. If someone sends you a virus intentionally or unintentionally, the anti-virus detects the virus and destroys it. Keep your anti-virus up-to-date. Set your anti-virus such that there is a weekly scan scheduled for all the hard drives in your computer.

Install a firewall: A firewall will always keep a check on the information that is exchanged between your computer and other computers every time that you are logged on to the internet. That way you will be protected from any unwanted code or application getting downloaded on to your PC inadvertently. Any data that do not meet the security requirement set by the program developer will be barred from entering your computer by the firewall. Always keep your firewall updated as well.

Act Smart:

Do not store personal information in your computer. Information like your social security number, credit card number, pins, bank account numbers, telephone numbers, addresses, etc.

Do not click on links that look suspicious. Most spam mails have links that should be avoided. These can lead to downloading of applications that may erase your hard drive.

Always scan all attachments using your antivirus before opening it or running it or installing it on your computer.

Do not exchange personal information in chat rooms, through mails or instant messages. Divulge your credit card details or social security details only to secured sources or through secured websites.

Do not buy pirated products, software or programs. These may send messages over the internet when you are working with the particular software.

Do not download executable files to your PC from unknown sources. Be extremely cautious while exchanging information over the internet.

Keeping the above points in mind will help you in keeping your computer secure. Although every day a number of Trojan viruses or worms are coded and let loose over the internet, we must always do the best that we can in order to ensure security. A computer is an expensive device. A simple insecure download can render the whole machine useless.
Article Source : Anti Phishing

About Author
Both Hazel Leong & Gregg Hall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Hazel Leong has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing, Nutrition and Adsense. To keep your computer in top performance, you must scan and clean your computer every 2 weeks. Get scan here!. Hazel Leong's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.

Gregg Hall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lingerie, Desserts and Mortgage. Gregg Hall is an author living on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Now that you know a little more about computer security be sure that you get quality by g. Gregg Hall's top article generates over 3350000 views. to your Favourites.
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