| Here is your weekly Summary of important | | | | but the same principles apply to businesses. You |
| computer security news, tips and fixes, to keep you | | | | must have a full suite of security programs and keep |
| safe and sound on the Internet. | | | | them up to date, and follow good computing |
| Stay protected and up to date quickly and easily by | | | | practices. |
| reading this Summary. | | | | Another flaw has been found in the Google Desktop, |
| Your Company May be Phishing for You | | | | that could allow a hacker to launch a program already |
| It has recently been revealed that several large | | | | installed on your computer. It is complex and hard to |
| American companies, and even some state agencies, | | | | do, and probably could not actually install new |
| are phishing their own employees. The workers are | | | | software on your PC. |
| sent to or tricked into going to a fake web site, | | | | However, other malware has been shown to use |
| where they may give out sensitive or proprietary | | | | various Firefox extensions to plant malicious code on |
| information. | | | | your computer. |
| In fact, in one test, 30% of employees did just that, | | | | The basic problem is that these extensions and |
| although they later admitted they should have known | | | | add-ons compromise and reduce your browser |
| better. Some employees might be outraged at this | | | | security. Minimize your use of these add-ons such as |
| tactic, but if you surf the Internet at work, be | | | | toolbars. Do not install them on your computer unless |
| careful. Companies are becoming more aggressive in | | | | you really need them and will use them. |
| protecting their interests, be they legal, commercial or | | | | Malware & Botnets |
| otherwise. | | | | A new type of malware called image spam has |
| More than three-quarters of companies monitor web | | | | appeared lately. It looks like wallpaper for your |
| surfing and connections, and almost as many use | | | | Desktop, but has text embedded in it which fools |
| software to block connections. Half of them keep | | | | traditional filters and blockers. A recent example used |
| and review all email. | | | | stationary backgrounds in an email promoting a |
| As I've pointed out many times, people (or kids!) are | | | | pump-and-dump stock s cam. |
| often the weakest link in computer security. The | | | | This type of junk seemed to be in decline over the |
| best anti-virus or anti-spyware programs will not | | | | past few months, but may now be making a |
| protect you unless you use common sense on the | | | | comeback. As I have said many times, do not open |
| web, and think before you click. | | | | or read spa m emails, and do not download wallpaper |
| At the office, you must assume that your every | | | | or screensavers. Windows has lots; pick one and |
| keystroke and every visited web site is being | | | | enjoy. |
| monitored, or at least recorded. Be careful, and | | | | On a different subject, the FBI together with some |
| familiarize yourself with your company's Computer | | | | private partners including Microsoft, have determined |
| Policies. | | | | that there are more than one million victims of |
| Beware of Headlines and Add-Ons | | | | botnet crime. |
| The latest spam malware circulating on the Internet | | | | A botnet refers to thousands or literally millions of |
| uses real, arresting headlines to grab your attention | | | | computers that have been infected and hijacked. |
| and get you to open the email, which may then | | | | Then they are used to send out a flood of spa m or |
| cause your computer to be infected or attacked. If | | | | to attack other computers, all without their owners' |
| you do not recognize the sender, just delete the | | | | knowledge or, of course, consent. |
| email. | | | | Several top spammmers have been nabbed, and are |
| In spite of the constant threats of viruses, spyware, | | | | before the courts. To protect yourself, keep all your |
| and spam, experts say that 75% of security threats | | | | security programs up to date and always practice |
| to companies come from within the organization. I | | | | good surfing habits. |
| am mostly concerned with protecting the home user, | | | | |