| When geeks gave us the Internet and the means | | | | anti-virus software that recognizes current viruses |
| to use it, they also gave us a new segment of | | | | as well as older ones; that can effectively reverse |
| vocabulary ...I've often thought it a shame that a | | | | the damage; and that updates automatically."A |
| few of them didn't make their way to a campus | | | | firewall helps make you invisible on the Internet |
| literature or marketing department and see if a | | | | and blocks all communications from unauthorized |
| student of poetry or sizzle could assist them in | | | | sources. It's especially important to run a firewall if |
| assigning names to their innovations. For example, | | | | you have a broadband connection. Operating |
| did the manual cursor operator have to be called | | | | systems (like Windows or Linux) or browsers (like |
| a 'mouse?'Geeks have overtaken sports-speakers | | | | Internet Explorer or Netscape) also may offer |
| when it comes to coining bad phrases. I've never | | | | free software 'patches' to close holes in the |
| understood why basketball types say a player | | | | system that hackers or phishers could |
| 'kicks out' a ball to a teammate on the perimeter | | | | exploit."Don't email personal or financial information. |
| when his feet never touch it. Worse yet, I've | | | | Email is not a secure method of transmitting |
| always wondered if a gridiron football player would | | | | personal information. If you initiate a transaction |
| really want to dive on the ball if the carrier truly | | | | and want to provide your personal or financial |
| 'coughed it up!' That bit of literal imagery is more | | | | information through an organization's website, look |
| revulsive than handling a mouse. Do these guys | | | | for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock |
| really think about what they're saying?There is | | | | icon on the browser's status bar or a URL for a |
| one instance, though, where the geeks thought it | | | | website that begins 'https:' (the 's' stands for |
| through and got it right. 'Phishing' is a perfect | | | | 'secure'). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; |
| connotation for cyber-cons who troll for prey.The | | | | some phishers have forged security icons."Review |
| word's spelling distinguishes this nefarious activity | | | | credit card and bank account statements as soon |
| from a sporting endeavor, but it's still a game. | | | | as you receive them to check for unauthorized |
| The definition that's been developed for it is "a | | | | charges. If your statement is late by more than a |
| technique used to gain personal information for | | | | couple of days, call your credit card company or |
| purposes of identity theft, using fraudulent e-mail | | | | bank to confirm your billing address and account |
| messages that appear to come from legitimate | | | | balances."Be cautious about opening any |
| businesses. These authentic-looking messages are | | | | attachment or downloading any files from emails |
| designed to fool recipients into divulging personal | | | | you receive, regardless of who sent them. These |
| data such as account numbers and passwords, | | | | files can contain viruses or other software that |
| credit card numbers and Social Security | | | | can weaken your computer's security."Forward |
| numbers."Another term that alludes to the | | | | spam that is phishing for information to and to |
| emotive consequences of cyberobbery is the | | | | the company, bank, or organization impersonated |
| perjorative sense of 'hacker.' That bit of | | | | in the phishing email. Most organizations have |
| etymology seems to be a work in progress. The | | | | information on their websites about where to |
| accepted definition refers to "individuals who gain | | | | report problems."If you believe you've been |
| unauthorized access to computer systems for | | | | scammed, file your complaint at ftc.gov, and then |
| the purpose of stealing and corrupting data." | | | | visit the FTC's Identity Theft website at Victims |
| However, the added qualifier is, "Hackers, | | | | of phishing can become victims of identity theft. |
| themselves, maintain that the proper term for | | | | While you can't entirely control whether you will |
| such individuals is cracker."Being hacked or being | | | | become a victim of identity theft, you can take |
| cracked makes little difference to those on the | | | | some steps to minimize your risk. If an identity |
| receiving end. They just know they've been had. | | | | thief is opening credit accounts in your name, |
| Understandably, their first impulses are to get | | | | these new accounts are likely to show up on your |
| mad and want to vent. My contention is that, | | | | credit report. You may catch an incident early if |
| most of the time, they're lashing out in the wrong | | | | you order a free copy of your credit report |
| direction. After all, crooks are crooks; that's their | | | | periodically from any of the three major credit |
| job and they're out there in numbers. That's not | | | | bureaus."If you use e-currency or e-payment |
| going to change anytime soon.These victims need | | | | services, be aware that they are usually not liable |
| to take a hard look at themselves.The economics | | | | for any of your losses if you've been hacked or |
| of law enforcement --- in cyberspace or | | | | cracked due to identity-theft issues. All reputable |
| elsewhere --- limits what can be investigated and | | | | services have support divisions that investigate |
| prosecuted. Thus, smart spoofers often keep | | | | any complaints of spoofing --- for example, Paypal |
| their 'take' per scam campaign at levels | | | | asks you to mail them at if you receive a |
| sufficiently low that the cost of prosecuting them | | | | suspicious message using their name --- and if |
| is not viable. Then, they change their coordinates, | | | | anyone is going to pursue, or at least keep on file, |
| plus their identities, and do it again.So, obviously, | | | | complaints of any amount, it will be them.Virtually |
| the most important factor in cyber-diligence is | | | | all e-currency services offer options of 'virtual' |
| self-precaution. Most steps are basic, as evidenced | | | | keyboards for logging in to accounts. They may |
| by the checklist on the USA government's Federal | | | | be a bother, but they are very effective at |
| Trade Commission website:"If you get an email or | | | | adding a formidable obstacle for cyber-invasion. |
| pop-up message that asks for personal or financial | | | | Then, whether or not you took this step to |
| information, do not reply. And don't click on the | | | | access your account, make sure you take the |
| link in the message, either. Legitimate companies | | | | time to actually log out of your account, as |
| don't ask for this information via email. If you are | | | | opposed to merely clicking away to your next |
| concerned about your account, contact the | | | | site.I note that the Longer Life site has two very |
| organization mentioned in the email using a | | | | good preventive products as sponsors, Kaspersky |
| telephone number you know to be genuine, or | | | | Labs and Identity Guard. They are first-class |
| open a new Internet browser session and type in | | | | products and well worth your while to |
| the company's correct Web address yourself. In | | | | consider.This stuff doesn't take long to research |
| any case, don't cut and paste the link from the | | | | or to implement and you don't have to be a geek |
| message into your Internet browser - phishers | | | | to do it. You don't even have to know their their |
| can make links look like they go to one place, but | | | | terminology. Instead, when you're done, you can |
| that actually send you to a different site."Use | | | | confidently refer to a familiar term in both sports |
| anti-virus software and a firewall, and keep them | | | | and banking:Safe.J Square Humboldt is the |
| up to date. Some phishing emails contain software | | | | featured columnist at the Longer Life website, |
| that can harm your computer or track your | | | | which is dedicated to providing information, |
| activities on the Internet without your | | | | strategies, analysis and commentary designed to |
| knowledge."Anti-virus software and a firewall can | | | | improve the quality of living. His page can be |
| protect you from inadvertently accepting such | | | | found at and his observations are published three |
| unwanted files. Anti-virus software scans incoming | | | | times per week. |
| communications for troublesome files. Look for | | | | |