ITList Information Technology Blog » Malicious Software http://itlist.com Current IT field related information Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:40:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 You Can Earn $250 Per Day Online! http://itlist.com/you-can-earn-250-per-day-online/ http://itlist.com/you-can-earn-250-per-day-online/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:09:12 +0000 passionflower34 http://itlist.com/?p=909 Well, we’ve all heard the stories and gotten those emails, haven’t we? In case you’ve never clicked on that website, let me warn you now: DON’T!!! What happens is you are re-directed to a website where they try to sell you an Ebook or some type of LIST with the names of companies who hire “at-home” workers.

The only people making any money off this scam are the ones selling you their LIST. The other thing that happens when you get to their web site is that they collect your information and pretty soon you’ll get millions of advertisement emails from people wanting to:

  • Give you a credit card (Read the fine print! There are usually exorbitant fees associated with these credit card offers!)
  • Sell you insurance
  • Sign you up for FREE stuff
  • Get you to enter their contest

Again, what happens when you click on any of these so-called “Offers” is that somebody somewhere will try to collect your name, email address and phone # and any other information they can come by.

The other thing that happens though, and this is worse, is that they can covertly install spyware, Adware and other types of malicious software on your computer. Now you’ve got a whole new set of problems. You’ve got to purchase one of those anti-spyware programs to get all that junk off your computer.

But there are legitimate ways to earn a living online. More and more people and companies are realizing how easy it is to hire a “virtual assistant” or data entry person who can accomplish their tasks from anywhere in the world simply using their computer and the internet.

This may well be the future of mankind’s workforce. Who knows? It’s certainly catching on. But you must do your own research into these companies. And you must be wary of all the fakes that are out there. There will always be scammers and people looking to earn a quick, easy buck.

As with all of life, you get what you put into any project. Even online work is going to require hours and effort on your part in order to get that paycheck.

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Threats to Security in the Internet http://itlist.com/threats-to-security-in-the-internet-2/ http://itlist.com/threats-to-security-in-the-internet-2/#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:42:13 +0000 IT List http://itlist.com/?p=290 The internet is a vast network that connects millions of computers together. It has revolutionized how we share information together. It has taken great strides from its humble beginnings in the library to the information super highway it is today.

Its amazing growth does come at a small price. As we incorporate the World Wide Web more into our lives we become more dependent to it. We use the internet more in the work we play. We rely on the internet for instant information we need. We even use it to convey our thoughts in popular blogs and forums.

This dependence leaves you susceptible to attacks from people without the purest of intentions. These internet threats can come in different forms. One of the most popular forms of internet threat can be seen in malicious software or otherwise called “Malware”. Malware can come in many forms including Trojans, worms and viruses.

Trojans are programs that act as a useful program but allow other people to access information in your computer or deliver a damaging payload to your computer. Worms are programs that copy itself over and over without the need of a host program. This is in contrast to a virus which does the same thing but needs to attach itself to a host program to achieve this.

Another threat to your internet security is Phishing and Phishing sites. Phishing is the unauthorized gathering of information by a fraudster. This can be done through the use of Phishing sites that use automated means to pull sensitive information from your computer.

Another growing threat in the internet comes from scammers and hackers. Scammers are nothing more than fraudsters trying to separate you from your money. They can pose as charity groups or organizations in need of aid asking for a donation from your credit card. They then use the information you supplied through your credit card to steal your identity and cost you thousands of dollars.

Hackers are different from the normal scammer because they not only deal with the personal side of fooling someone but they can also go the technological route. Hackers are usually computer programmers that break through your security measures through the use of their skill in computers.

These are just some the threat you need to worry about when you are looking to the internet to expand your business. The people at Gossimer understand these risks and approach them holistically to provide the best security for your business website, business email and your domain name.

The key initiatives of their security strategy revolve around five key objectives: The privacy of your vital information; the integrity of your data; the protection of your data from being deleted or destroyed; the proper of identification and authentication of users; and the protection of your network service from hacking and internet attacks.

Internet security is a serious issue that needs to be addressed for the proper implementation of the web in your business. Contact Gossimer today and they will discuss how their solutions can specifically address your concerns about the internet and its security.

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Antivirus and Firewall software http://itlist.com/antivirus-and-firewall-software/ http://itlist.com/antivirus-and-firewall-software/#comments Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:39:25 +0000 Tony http://itlist.com/?p=67 As more and more computers connect to the Internet, it becomes more lucrative for virus makers to keep on making programs that expose a victim’s data. The proliferation of viruses on the Windows platform have become cannon fodder for Windows detractors to further rub in the fact that Windows alone is not secure. So what can a common Windows user do to protect themselves from such attacks? The answer is to install an antivirus and firewall on your computer.

Installing a firewall and antivirus on your computer is essential for anyone whose computer is connected to the internet. Surely, even those who frequently transfer data from one computer to another should also consider getting at least an antivirus to make sure that their data are safe from attack. So what should one look for in an antivirus and firewall?

First of all, remember that a firewall is only necessary if you will be connecting to a network or to the internet. The main function of a firewall is to monitor or control the incoming and outgoing data on your computer. Essentially, it helps in blocking harmful connections from other computers to your computer. Take note that some malicious software or even hackers would be able to easily take control of your computer if it is not sufficiently protected from attack. This are usually done by injecting data or getting data from your computer through one of your computer’s ports. Ports can be compared to openings on your computer where a user with enough knowledge can send and retrieve data to and from your computer.A firewall is able to prevent attacks by blocking or closing down ports on your computer and also monitor those that are required for your computer to continue functioning correctly. Not all ports should be closed or blocked and your choice of firewall should be one which has the ability to determine which of these ports are dangerous and which can be safely used.

Antivirus programs on the other hand are programs that prevent your computer from getting viruses, or in the event that your computer does get infected by a virus, be able to remove the virus and either quarantine it or get rid of it permanently. Unlike firewall software though, an antivirus program is essential on any computer that transfers data through other means like through floppy disks, USB flash drives or even direct network connections to another computer. Viruses are designed not only to expose your data but are sometimes designed to modify or destroy the data completely. This could be very costly for people with valuable data stored on their computers indeed.

Windows XP and Windows Vista comes with their own built-in firewall but these firewall programs pale in comparison to third-party firewall programs that one can purchase or get for free from the internet. Some of the more popular firewall programs even have antivirus features included in their more advanced products.

ZoneAlarm is one of the most popular firewall programs which can be downloaded for free or for a fee for more advanced versions. The free version of ZoneAlarm only includes firewall protection without the antivirus features included in its paid versions.

On the flipside, most antivirus programs also feature firewall protection in their more advanced paid versions. When it comes to free antivirus, some of the leading programs include AVG, Avast, BitDefender and Avira AntiVir. As for paid antivirus programs, the popular ones include Norton, McAfee, and TrendMicro. Take note that for the paid versions of all these great antivirus products, firewall features are usually included already, thus there is no need to install a separate firewall anymore.

The biggest question for those who have decided to get an antivirus and firewall on their computer is which product should I get? All the antivirus and firewall programs mentioned earlier have their merits and corresponding weaknesses. Depending on your needs, you may not need an overly complex program to scan or protect your computer. It all boils down to usage and preference. Being a careful and responsible computer user can save you more often than having the best antivirus and firewall money can buy. If you stick to legitimate websites and careful with the files and programs you keep on your computer, even the most basic of firewall and antivirus software on your computer will suffice. Remember, when it comes to virus and hacker attacks, the best defense is good common sense.

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Threats to Security in the Internet http://itlist.com/threats-to-security-in-the-internet/ http://itlist.com/threats-to-security-in-the-internet/#comments Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:06:16 +0000 IT List http://itlist.com/?p=4 The internet is a vast network that connects millions of computers together. It has revolutionized how we share information together. It has taken greater stride from its humble beginnings in the library to the information super highway it is today.

Its amazing growth does come at a small price. As we incorporate the World Wide Web more into our lives we become more dependent to it. We use the Internet more in the work we play. We rely on the Internet for instant information we need. We even use it to convey our thought in the popular blogs and forums.

This dependence leaves you susceptible to attacks from people without the purest of intentions. These Internet threats can come in different forms. One of the most popular forms of Internet threat can be seen in malicious software or otherwise called “Malware”. Malware can come in many forms including Trojans, worms and viruses.

Trojans are programs that act as a useful program but allow other people to access information in your computer or deliver a damaging payload to your computer. Worms are programs that copy itself over and over without the need of a host program. This is in contrast to a virus which does the same thing but needs to attach itself to a host program to achieve this.

Another threat to your Internet security is Phishing and Phishing sites. Phishing is the unauthorized gathering of information by a fraudster. This can be done through the use of Phishing sites that use automated means to pull sensitive information from your computer.

Another growing threat in the Internet comes from scammers and hackers. Scammers are nothing more than fraudsters trying to separate you from your money. They can pose as charity groups or organizations in need of aid asking for a donation from your credit card. They then use the information you supplied through your credit card to steal your identity and cost you thousands of dollars.

Hackers are different from the normal scammer because they not only deal with the personal side of fooling someone but they can also go the technological route. Hackers are usually computer programmers that break through your security measures through the use of their skill in computers.

These are just some the threat you need to worry about when you are looking to the Internet to expand your business. The people at www.gossimer.com understand these risks and we approach them holistically to provide the best security for your web domain.

The key initiatives of their security strategy revolve around five key objectives: The privacy of your vital information; the integrity of your data; the protection of your data from being deleted or destroyed; the proper of identification and authentication of users; and the protection of your network service from hacking and Internet attacks. A great feature that Gossimer offers is free whois privacy protection which allow customers to conceal their personal information from unscrupulous whois data scrapers.

Internet security is a serious issue that needs to be addressed for the proper implementation of the web in your business. Contact us today and we will happily discuss how our solutions can specifically address your concerns about the Internet and its security.

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