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10 Tips to Stay Safe and Secure Online
The Internet can be a dangerous place. While you're enjoying the convenience of online shopping, Internet banking and subscription websites, nasty people lurk around every corner. Hackers, fraudsters, identity thieves and many others would...
3 Simple Ways To Save A Bunch Of Money When Buying A New Computer!
Looking to buy a new computer?
Overwhelmed by all of the options available to you?
Stressed by the high cost of computers today?
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Be Informed When You Purchase A Computer
When you go online or look at ads for electronics stores, you
will probably be able to find a computer that will be just right
for you. There are many types and styles available on the
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Computer Geeks and Garden Gnomes
First and foremost before I begin my ranting it is worth mentioning that there are many very helpful and considerate people out there in the cyber wilderness who devote much of their time to providing open source and free scripts of all variations...
Computer Support Gone Awry
In today's modern world of computer support, something has gone
terribly wrong. It's a sea of confusion that even the most
talented navigator would get lost in. Computer support is
something that should be inexpensive, calming and...
Computer War Games: How To Estimate Decisions Made By C and C Trainees
Now that the Russian military is cash-strapped and can afford only a limited number of field preparation exercises, computer warfare games (CWG) ar of special importance for in operation(p) grooming of C & C agencies and elements...
Crack The Code - That's A Direct Challenge
You may reprint or publish this article free of charge as long as the bylines are included. Original URL (The Web version of the article) ------------ de-ThatsADirectChallenge.htm" target=_blank> Crack The Code - That's A Direct Challenge ...
Keeping your Computer Safe On The Internet
In these days of an increasingly web connected world, the computer user can take several steps ensure that their computer is protected from hackers, spyware and viruses. Here are the top four things you need to do to keep your computer spyware...
Refurbished Computers on the Internet
What is a Refurbished Computer? Refurbished Computers. Remanufactured Computers. Reconditioned Computers. Essentially, all of these terms refer to the same thing. But what does refurbished really mean? A refurbished computer is one that is...
What To Do When Windows Won't Boot
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Internet Scams 104 -- Particularly Vicious Scams
Some scams use the name of organizations we trust, and they are the most vicious.
Awhile back scammers sent an e-mail supposedly from the FBI. The address seemed to be fbi.gov, and the message told you that you had accessed illegal websites and that your Internet use had been monitored by the FBI’s “Internet Fraud Complaint Center.” You were then told to open an attachment and answer some questions. The FBI says that this e-mail is a scam. If you open that attachment your computer will be infected with a virus, tracking cookie, or trojan horse.
• Anti-scam rule 1: Even trusted government agencies can have their addresses stolen. A trusted government agency will not ask you to open an attachment.
Another extremely vicious e-mail identifies itself as Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-039, and offers a link to what it claims is a patch against the Sober Zafi and Mytob worms. In fact, there is no such thing as Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-039, and real Microsoft security bulletins offer links to a Microsoft download site, rather than to the patches themselves. If you click on this supposed patch, you will be infected with malicious software that gives attackers complete access to your computer.
• Anti-scam rule 2: If you want to download something from Microsoft or another legitimate organization, do not click on an e-mail. Go to their official site and download it there. That’s the safe way to proceed.
THE “eBAY ATTACK”
The scam e-mails seeking my eBay account information started out low key. “Dear eBay customer, During our regularly scheduled account maintenance and verification procedures, we have detected a slight error in your billing information.”
That one didn’t have an eBay logo, but it apparently brought in enough innocent victims to warrant an upgrade. Subsequent mailings grew more alarming and the official eBay
logo began to appear in vivid color: “Dear eBay customer, Due to recent activity, including possible unauthorized listings placed on your account, we will require a second confirmation of your identity with us in order to allow us to investigate this matter further. Your account is not suspended, but if in 48 hours after you receive this message your account is not confirmed we reserve the right to suspend your eBay registration.”
The scammers really, really wanted my eBay account number, but I was deleting their e-mails without clicking on their link. So they upped the ante. Because I didn’t reply, the supposed “eBay Fraud Mediation” people stepped in and got more and more testy as I didn’t supply them with my eBay account number.
I felt perfectly relaxed through all of this, not only because I got each notice in triplicate (one from each sucker list I’m on) but because I DON’T HAVE AN EBAY ACCOUNT! If I had one, I might have worried, and then done the sensible thing: GONE TO THE OFFICIAL EBAY WEBSITE AND ASKED THEM IF THEY SENT IT. My husband did that once and got a form indicating (1) they get a zillion of these things, and (2) they don’t send e-mails like that. It was a scam, all right.
• Anti-scam rule 3: eBay and other legitimate organizations are NOT going to ask you to confirm your account information in an e-mail.
• Anti-scam rule 4: If you are not sure whether an e-mail is from a legitimate organization or is a scam, go to the legitimate organization’s website (rather than clicking on a possibly infected e-mail link) and ask them if they sent it.
Coming next: the most vicious scam of all.
Find the best recipe, food gift, and healthy dieting sites in Janette Blackwell’s Delightful Food Directory, http://delightfulfood.com/main.html -- or enjoy her country cooking at Food and Fiction, http://foodandfiction.com/Entrance.html
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