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Identity Theft Article – A Phisher
Is Trying To Steal Your Identity!
Sooner or later everyone with an email account will receive
a phishing attempt from some internet scammer. What is phishing?
How can you protect yourself? These are some of the questions
this identity theft article will provide, along with some free
resources and practical advice on how to protect your online
identity.
The Anti-Phishing Working Group estimates that 75 million to
150 million phishing emails are sent every day on
the internet. Phishing (pronounced fishing), is online
identity theft that uses spoof emails, fraudulent
websites and crimeware to trick unsuspecting internet
users into providing financial data, credit card numbers,
social security numbers, account logins and passwords,
etc.
A spoofed email looks like it is from a legitimate company,
usually banks, credit card companies, paypal, ebay, etc. These
fraudulent emails look like they are from the “real” company,
and generally try to get you to log into your account through
the links in the email. The spoof email may state that there
is a problem with your account and if you do not log in and update
your information your account may be suspended, restricted, closed,
etc. Generally these emails try to convey a sense of urgency;
if you don’t correct this problem your account will be
suspended.
Trojans are increasingly being used as a phishing technique according
to Sophos, a security firm. The Brizilian police recently
arrested a phishing gang of 18 people who stole $37M
from online banking accounts. This phishing gang would
send out emails that included Trojans. Once a Trojan
infects your computer, all internet activity can be
monitored and transferred to the phisher. This is
a serious threat as you probably won’t know
that you are infected with a Trojan.
According to David Jevans, Chairman of APWG, “Attacks
can, and are, coming in a variety of other flavors. Instant Messaging,
exploited websites, P2P networks, and search engines are all
being used to download and run key logging malcode and/or be
directed to websites which may contain malcode or be fraudulent.
Attackers are also not just interested in username and password
access to bank accounts. Social security numbers, credit cards
and other identity information are also being stolen.”
Protecting yourself against phishing scams.
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Do not give out personal or financial information through an
email request.
Always log on to your sensitive accounts by opening a new browser and
typing the actual URL directly into the address bar. For example, if
you receive a suspected phishing email from ebay, open a new browser
and type www.ebay.com in the browser bar.
Do not click on any link in a suspected phishing email.
Only use a secure website to submit sensitive data. A secure sites’ address
will begin with “https://” instead of “http://”
Check the activity of your online accounts regularly.
Make sure your browser is up to date and all security patches are installed.
Report phishing and spoof email to: reportphishing@antiphishing.com,
spam@uce.gov, and forward the email to the company that is being spoofed.
Keep your pc protected with updated anti-virus software, anti-spyware
software, and a firewall.
You may also want to install anti-phishing software.
Earthlink ScamBlocker is a free browser toolbar that alerts you to known
phishing sites. It’s free and can be downloaded at www.earthlink.net/earthlinktoolbar.
Webroot has a beta version of PhishNet which you can download at www.webroot.com/products/phishnet/
PC Tools Spyware Doctor offers protection against known phishing sites,
spyware and blocks popups.
With the consequences being identity theft, it is imperative that you
learn to protect your pc and your identity by exercising caution and
installing the proper tools. Hopefully, this identity theft article has
given you the information you need to avoid being the next phishing victim.
Remember, legitimate companies don’t ask for personal or financial
information in an email – so don’t give it to them!
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Just what is Intelligent Explorer? For your
safety, you really need to know
I recently hit, by mistake, what I thought
was an Explorer upgrade option. It turned
out to be a pop-up appearing legitimate
but really was not. It uploaded a product
called Intelligent Explorer on my machine.
What a nightmare!
I did some research on the web and found
messages like this one from a BullGuard Antivirus
Forum,
"PLEASE HELP!!! I HAVE A SPYWARE, TROJAN
AND HIJACKER ON MY COMPUTER. I HAVE RUN BULLGUARD,
CWSHREDDER AND AD-AWARE. ALL HAVE PICKED
UP THE VIRUSES AND SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
MOVED/REMOVED BUT WHEN I LOG ONTO THE INTERNET
THAT DAMN INTELLIGENT EXPLORER TOOLBAR IS
SHOWING"
Another message from spywareinfo Forum goes
something like this:
"Hey I'm having issues with something
called Internet explorer toolbar - Intelligent
explorer. I can’t find a way to remove
it from my comp and I really don’t
want to reinstall windows. I've used spybot,
ad-ware, and cw shredder but nothing seems
to work."
It appears that Intelligent Explorer allows
other software to be downloaded to your machine
and this is where the problem occurs. What
is even more remarkable is that by downloading
Intelligent Explorer, their license grants
them the right to install software add-ins
on your computer at their will. Take a look
at what the software license for Intelligent
Explore says (go to http://www.ieplugin.com/terms.html
to read it all):
"You grant to us the right, exercisable
by us until you uninstall the Software or
this agreement is otherwise terminated, to
provide to you the Service of downloading
and causing to be displayed advertising material
on your computer, through ‘pop-up’ or
other display while you use your browser.
You acknowledge and agree that installation
of the Software may automatically modify
toolbars and other settings of your browser.
By installing the Software you agree to such
modifications."
The company, IBC incorporated, is incorporated
in Belize. I really can't believe this license!
One end user found highly objectionable pop-up
advertisements generated by this software
bundled with Intelligent Explorer in the
form of extreme pornography.
I have yet to break this.
Intelligent Explorer is a plug-in, which
can create a new home page, as well as
start up and endless loop of pop-ups. You
can remove the view bar, but then starting
up Internet Explorer will cause it to reappear.
I asked some friends to help, and no one
could tell me what to do.
This is what I did:
I bought a copy of a program called XoftSpy
and it removed the software. It took two
scans and a reboot to do it. This is not
an advertisement for this product. They advertised
it was free, which it was to run, but then
I had to buy it to actually fix anything.
It cost me $40 and I am sure that there are
freeware products out there as well, but
that is what ended the nightmare for me.
Other spyware products I have seen out there
include spybot, NoAdware, Spyware Eliminator,
Pal Spyware Remover, and Spyware C.O.P.
Let the buyer beware!
and the winner is spybot
for removal -the one we use ourselves
Avanquest Software
bluesquad
BlueSquad Software
Finding the Security Suite that meets your
needs
Before proceeding to read this article,
it is important that we state something up
front. It is essential for the reader to
understand and appreciate that there is no
such thing as a secure operating system or
web browser. While the use of security suites
and other complementing products can significantly
reduce your risks, they are not magic wands
that you can wave to eliminate 100% of your
risk. Any product claiming they can do this
should be viewed with great skepticism.
With that being said, let’s talk computer
security and security suites. There are numerous
ways in which the security of your computer
can be breached. The most common threats
come from worms, viruses, Trojans, phishing,
hackers and crackers. Potential security
breaches can come in the form of downloading
unfamiliar email attachments, being monitored
by spyware, maliciously attacked by malware,
or probed through port scanning.
Dshield.org (www.dshield.org), a non-profit
company, functions as a “dominating
attach correlation engine with worldwide
coverage”. In short, they work with
people and companies to track, among other
things, port scanning violations. Port scanning
involves a person (referred to as a hacker
or cracker) who attempts to break into you
computer through the open ports in your system.
Once an open port is located, the individual
attempts to collect your personal data or
install a malware program into you computer.
On average, Dshield.org logs over 1.1 billion
reported attempts of port scanning each month.
What is even scarier is that this is just
based on their program participants. You
can imagine how many more incidents are occurring
each month to the general population of computer
users.
Dshield.org also reports on survival time.
Survival time refers to how long it will
take before an unpatched PC is attacked or
infected. Below is a snapshot of their current
operating system breakdown:
Current OS Breakdown
Category % Adjusted Survival Time
Windows 27.0000 128 min
Unix 0.5000 3648 min
Application 3.0000 1203 min
P2P 1.5000 1591 min
Backdoor 0.5000 5432 min
Source: Dshield.org – Survival Time
History (11/8/05)
In short, if you have a Windows-based operating
system and an unpatched PC, you will be
attacked or infected in a little over 2
hours. When looked at in these terms, securing
your computer becomes a mission.
Here are a few easy steps you can take to
immediately protect your computer.
1. Don’t run unfamiliar programs on
your computer.
It sounds like common sense, but many of
the most prominent attacks have involved
spyware and email attachment worms such as
Bagle and Netsky. If you don’t recognize
the sender, don’t download its attachments.
2. Don’t allow unrestricted physical
access to your computer.
If you have sensitive or proprietary information
on your computer, allowing other employees
or family members to use your computer can
lead to potential breaches in your computer’s
security.
3. Don’t use weak passwords.
Use passwords which are difficult for someone
to figure out. People frequently use the
names of children, pets, anniversary dates,
or birthdays. Because there seems to be a
password needed for everything, it is not
uncommon to see many people using the same
password for everything. Big mistake! The
use of only one password provides a hacker
with easy access to a smorgasbord of personal
information. If you have to write your passwords
down, it is best not to leave them on a post-it,
attached to the screen of your computer.
You may chuckle at the absurdity, but it
happens more than you think.
4. Don’t forget to regularly patch
your operating system and other applications.
Many industry experts believe that most network
security attacks would be stopped if computer
users would just keep their computers updated
with patches and security fixes. Too often,
we forget to do this on a regular basis.
Remember that every day, new viruses, worms
and Trojans are being created and distributed.
They are looking for the weaknesses in your
computer system. Having outdated software
is basically the same as holding the door
open and inviting them in for a visit.
5. Don’t forget to make regular backups
of important data
Always keep a copy of important files on
removable media such as floppy/ZIP disks
or recordable CD-ROM disks. Store the backups
in a location separate from the computer.
In most cases, Windows desktop and screen-saver
passwords provides adequate protection for
normal security concerns. However, if you
feel more comfortable taking additional security
measures consider obtaining a comprehensive
security suite.
Selecting a Antivirus Software
The next question is how do you pick the
best product for your needs? You start
by asking yourself a series of questions.
Do you need password protection for individual
files, your desktop, a network, or to block
someone’s access to the Internet?
Is your computer used only by you or do
multiple users have access to the computer?
How many users in total do you expect on
your computer? What are your system requirements?
How much do you want to spend?
Once you are able to answer these questions,
you can begin to research which security
suite will best meet your needs. Product
reviews and user statements provide a great
starting point. PCMagaine (www.pcmag.com),
Zdnet.com (www.zdnet.com), and Consumer Reports
(www.consumerreports.org) are just a few
informative sites that offer research on
various computer software products.
There are numerous security suites available
on the market. Take the time to choose the
one that meets your specific needs. As a
starting point, we’ve listed a couple
of the more popular programs:
1. Kaspersky Personal Security Suite
Description: A comprehensive protection program
package designed to guard against worms,
viruses, spyware, adware and other malicious
programs. The program offers five pre-defined
security levels and is convenient for mobile
users. System requirements: Window 98/2000/XP;
Internet Explore 5.0 or higher, Memory:
minimum of 64 MB RAM, 100 MB free on hard
drive.
2. Shield Deluxe 2005
Description: This program provides protection from
viruses, adware, spyware, and privacy threats while
using very low system resources. Additionally, the
maker, PC Security Shield offers ongoing free technical
support. System requirements: Windows 98 or higher,
WinNT, WinXP, WinME; Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher,
Memory: 32MB ram or higher, 65
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Red Light/Speed
Camera Location Alert
Warns the driver of upcoming red light and/or speed
camera locations, utilizing the state-of-the-art GPS
(Global Positioning System) engine.
Programmable
Location Alert
Add up to 100 location-based alerts of your choice.
Programmable
Speed Alert
Provides alert when exceeding driver-preset speed
limit.
Digital Speedometer Provides accurate, current vehicle speed
using Global Positioning System.
Latitude/Longitude
Information
Provides accurate latitude/longitude information using
Global Positioning System.
8-Point Compass Provides accurate, 8-point directional reading
using Global Positioning System.
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RADAR/LASER
DETECTOR FEATURES
Easy-to-Install,
Discrete, Main Radar/Laser Detector Unit
Place the Main Radar/Laser Detector Unit behind your
rearview mirror or dash. Comes with 2 types of power
cord and adhesive-backed cord clamps for easy and
discrete installation.
POP Mode Radar
Gun Detection
Detects the latest POP Mode Radar Gun (Super-fast
Instant-On Mode)
Ku Band Detection
Detects Ku Band Radar Gun currently being used in
Europe. Be prepared for future introduction in the
U.S.
IntelliLink™
2.4GHz Digital Wireless Remote System
Comes with Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery Pack, the compact
Remote Display Unit/Controller brings all the controls
for your Main Radar/Laser Detector Unit as well as
GPS-based Locatorfunctions to your fingertip, using
IntelliLink™ 2.4GHz Digital Wireless Remote
System (see GPS-based Locator Features below for details).
The Remote Display Unit/Controller also comes with
holster type bracket with interchangeable AC Vent
Mounting Clip and Sunvisor Mounting Clip.
Retractable
USB Power Cord with modular 12V Cigarette Lighter
Plug Recharge Li-Ion Battery for the 2.4GHz Digital
Wireless Remote Display Unit/Controller in the vehicle
or through USB port on the computer.
S-XRS™Maximum
Performance Technology
New and improved Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne
(S-XRS™) detection technology, with its super-fast
radar lock-on detection circuitry, provides maximum
detection range and best possible advance warning
to even the fastest of POP mode radar guns.
LaserEye®
Provides 360-degree detection of laser signals.
Voice Alert™
Warns driver with specific voice annunciation of the
signal being detected.
VG-2 Alert®/Undetectable
Provides complete immunity and alerts the driver when
under surveillance of VG-2 Radar-Detector-Detectors.
Spectre Alert™/Undetectable
Provides complete immunity and alerts the driver when
under surveillance of Spectre 1 Radar-Detector-Detectors.
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StrobeAlert®
A Cobra exclusive, works with tens of thousands of
emergency vehicles currently equipped with traffic
light controlling strobe emitters. Provides advance
warning of the presence and/or approach of emergency
vehicles.
Safety Alert®
Warns driver of the presence and/or approaching emergency
vehicles, railroad crossing, and road hazard locations
equipped with Cobra’s exclusive Safety Alert
® transmitters.
Auto Mute
Automatically mutes the alert tone for enhanced driver
convenience.
IntelliMute®
Relative-speed-sensing Auto Mute system that virtually
eliminates false alerts.
IntelliShield®
False Signal Rejection
3-level City Mode offers the best false signal rejection
in both urban and rural areas.
Full Color
Extreme Bright DataGrafix™ Display Full color, graphical display provides easy-to-use
set up menus and easy-to-read alert screens.
Customizable Display Colors
Choose from 5 different Color Schemes : Full Color,
Blue, Orange, Green, and Red.
Digital Signal
Strength Meter
Provides the driver with relative proximity to the
target using 5-level digital signalstrength meter.
SmartPower™
Automatically shuts off power to the unit when ignition
is turned off.
Car Battery
Voltage Display Provides graphical display of the car battery
voltage and also warns the driver when it is low.
City/Highway
Modes
Instantly switch between one of the preset City Mode
vs Highway Mode.
Red Light/Speed Camera GPS Locator
