Goin’ Phishing
One popular way for hackers to steal your money or your identity is to send an email stating that you won a contest or received a job offer. Or maybe someone wants to meet you, or claims that you can make money for shipping goods for them. The catch is that you have to send in personal or banking information, or pay a fee. Of course, your information and money is going straight to hackers.
You might think that you would never fall for one of these schemes, but millions of people do every day. Remember to use common sense before reacting to any email. Scams rely a quick response. If you take your time and really think about what the email says, you will typically see through the manipulative scam. Never forget the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true…”
Moreover, if you receive an email from your bank, credit card company or another type of financial institution, and it seems “phishy,” it probably is. If you are unsure, always call the institution to find out whether the email is legitimate. Remember that a legitimate email from your bank will never ask you to provide any sensitive information via email.
Tricky Trojan
Hackers also may want to install a virus on your computer in order to record everything you type. This enables hackers to have your personal info and also send out spam email or attack other computers. In order to do this, the hackers disguise the virus as something harmless. This is called a Trojan horse, or Trojan.
One of the most popular ways to deliver a Trojan is a variation of the phishing e-mail scams. For example, the -mail might say it’s from a shipping service, bank or other reputable company and that there’s been a problem with a transaction. To learn more, you have to open an email attachment. The attachment might look like a normal file, but it really contains a Trojan. Clicking on the file installs it before you can do anything.
Similar scams also appear on Facebook and Twitter. You think you’re going to watch a funny video your friend posted. Instead, a popup tells you to update your video player. The “update” file it provides is really a Trojan.
Using common sense and keeping your security software up-to-date should protect you from most Trojans. However, if you accidentally open a malicious attachment and are not sure what to do, call an IT expert. They can walk you through removing the Trojan and getting you up-and-running safely.
Dubious Downloads
Security software is not always enough. Programs on your computer might have weaknesses that hackers can use to bypass security software. Hackers can set up websites embedded with viruses. You might get there by clicking a malicious link in a phishing e-mail or on social media. You can even find these sites in a search for popular programs or topics.
Hackers can also sneak malicious code on to legitimate websites. The code scans your computers for security holes. If it finds one, a virus can download and install without you doing anything.
To stay safe, you have to keep your programs up-to-date. Every month, Microsoft releases updates for Windows and Internet Explorer. These updates close critical security holes that hackers exploit.
Other critical programs to patch are Adobe’s Flash and Reader and Oracle’s Java. Using older versions of these programs makes it easier for hackers to take advantage of security holes. You should also be using the latest version of your programs. If you’re using Internet Explorer 6, 7 or 8, upgrade right away!
What’s The Password?
While you might think that hackers spend hours guessing passwords, using sophisticated programs to figure them out. In reality, most hackers go around passwords. They might get your password from a data breach at a company or website you use.
It’s important that you use a different password for every account. That way, if a hacker discovers one, they can’t get in to every account. And of course, keep all your security programs updated.
Encrypted is Essential
Is your Wi-Fi network at home encrypted? If not, then it absolutely should be immediately!
A non-encrypted Wi-Fi network means hackers, and neighbors, can connect to your network from outside. They can see and record everything you do. They can surf to bad websites and download illegal files on your connection. You need to take a few minutes and secure your network. If you have any questions about how to do so, or get stuck during the process, contact an IT professional for help.
REMINDER:
Please beware with "hackers" at your surrounding.
