Privacy/Security/Virus Alerts
Updated September 8, 2007
|
Fraudulent Emails:
Never ever give your account or password information to anybody who emails you for it, no matter how dire the claimed account consequences may be!! They can send you to the legitimate site, then pop up a window for the fraudelent site for you to enter your account information. If the email claims to be from your bank or local store, pick up your phone and call them (or walk in) and let them know what you received. Most likely it is somebody who wants to lighten your bank account. Save the email in case the authorities want it, it might contain information to help them track the thief. When they say they don't need it, then delete it. eBay, PayPal, etc. will never email you to "confirm" your information. No legitimate business will contact you by email to get "confirmation" of information. It does not matter if you just signed up for Internet access to your bank account, if an email that claims to be from them arrives, pay them a visit in person at once!! Or call them at the number you know is good - not any numbers that might be in the email. A note on fraudulent merchandise: More precisely, auction-type items: Beware of expensive-name "new" items selling for very low prices. There is a good chance the merchandise is not genuine!! In other words, both you and the legitimate manufacturer are being ripped off. "Compare to..." items are one thing, but something that is counterfeit is something different, indeed!! Microsoft and emailed patches: Microsoft does not email any patches! Use Windows Update to get your patches. Never open any files supposedly emailed from Microsoft, the file will be a virus. In addition, the email is certainly not from Microsoft. Never follow any links in such emails, they most likely will not lead to the site they claim to lead to. For that matter, be very cautious of any files emailed claiming to be patches/upgrades. Make a habit of using the manufacturer's own website , or the Help menu in the program to look for patches and updates. |
Ziff-Davis site has up to date threat information McAfee site for virus information Norton's site for virus information |
| Disclaimer: Inclusion or exclusion of sites does not imply endorsement or lack of thereof of any site. Inclusion or lack of inclusion of any site does not imply any indication of quality or lack thereof of any site or product. Lack of mention of any threat does not imply any reason to minimize its potential impact or danger. |
Purchasing and installing a virus protection program is only the beginning of protection! You must keep the virus definition files up to date!! If your virus scanner has Heuristics, use it!! I have been saved numerous times by Heuristics before the new definition files covered that virus. As a matter of fact, most likely any definition files that come with the program are out of date before the program leaves the warehouse. Unless you make sure the definition files are up to date, you are not protected from the hundreds of newer threats turned loose each month. |