Guide to Internet Security

In the earlier days of the internet, user security wasn't as tight. There were fewer threats to users and those that existed tended to target businesses instead of individuals. Now, however, threats seem to be looming around each and every corner. As computer and internet use has proliferated in the past decade, so has the variety of viruses, malware, spyware, and other security threats. Understanding your computer's security risk, and actively working to protect it, has become a key element in responsible computing.

The Threats

Malware typically presents itself in several forms.

- Viruses - These are small programs that attach to other code and infect it. Viruses can change certain computer settings, corrupt files, or even crash your computer entirely.

- Spyware - This type of software is typically installed on your computer without your knowledge. Its intent is to gather personal information about you. Sometimes spyware may include a key-logger, which transcribes every key you type and compromises passwords, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and anything else you might type out on your computer.

- Phishing scams - Scams are typically e-mails or websites, made to look legit, that ask you for your personal information or credit card information. The goal of these scams is obvious--to gain access to your personal information.

- Spam - Another threat that comes via e-mail, spam can contain spyware hidden in messages that will install itself on your computer.

How to Protect Yourself

Your first line of defense against malware is a firewall. Firewalls monitor all in and out computer traffic and prevent unauthorized communications. While computers typically come with firewalls installed, they are sometimes not as effective as commercial firewalls.

Another crucial defense is to install anti-virus software on your computer. While some anti-virus software is free, this is one area that you don't want to skimp on. If you install a free anti-virus program and your computer is attacked by something that slipped through the cracks, you will end up paying to fix or replace your computer anyway. It is always better to avoid the headache and ensure that your computer is receiving the best security from the get-go. Anti-key-logging and anti-spyware software are also excellent tools to use in conjunction with an anti-virus.

Spam blockers are useful for preventing spam, malicious or not, from entering your inbox. The only down side to spam blockers is that they can sometimes mistake normal e-mails for spam and filter them accordingly. If you are using a spam blocker, it is helpful to check in the box on occasion to be sure that everything is sorted correctly.

Also, on shared computers, always make sure your data is password protected. People often underestimate the security threat posed by others that have direct access to your computer. If you have information that you would not want to make readily available to other users, be sure to password-protect it with a strong password.

Useful Tips

• Ensure that every computer you own that accesses the internet has a virus protection program installed and running.
• Don't open attachments from unknown sources.
• Make your passwords complicated and difficult for others to figure out. Strong passwords make use of numbers, letters, and symbols.
• Avoid sending too much personal information, particularly credit card numbers and bank account numbers, over the internet. If you use a credit card to pay for something online, be sure that the payment system is trustworthy and secure.

Imaging Network Technology is a computer support service that specializes in computer security, 24/7 tech support, and network infrastructure. Visit Imaging Network Technology.

Website Security - Should You Really Protect Your Website With Expensive Software?

You hear it all the time "it will not happen to me" or "they can not get past my software". People online are becoming more and more lazy and with laziness comes a price. Imagine your sole income was your dating website for example, what would happen if it got hacked and your site was nothing?

That is right you would lose your income and if you have not got some other source of income...probably your house. I think having the right security is a must for any serious website, do you think websites like Facebook and Google spend $10 on the black market for security...I do not think so.

They invest in thousands of dollars worth of security programs and this is for a good reason. Not only do people trust a website that has top notch stability, they will be more comfortable visiting it over and over again. It is a win win situation really, your website is safe and so are your potential customers. Trust is always a key element in this type of business.

Having a safe site always shows your customers that you care about your business and in turn this means you care about your clients. This is great for your reputation and a lot better than all these sites that are just out to scam people. Like in the fashion world, the online world is all about first impressions and image. If you can get this right, people will pay attention and so will their wallet. Have a great day.

Cloak a Link - Stop Losing Your Hard Earned Money!

Cloak a link -- Are you familiar with this term? Have you been taught how to cloak a link? If not, there is a very good chance that some devious marketers may be stealing your hard earned revenue. This article will explain to you how to protect your affiliate identification and why it is important. It is significant to note that the cloak a link I am referring to is different from the black hat search engine optimization technique that some webmasters use called "cloaking". The black hat method is a technique used to deceive the search engines while increasing the page rank. If caught this technique will result in the de-listing of your page and a possible charge by google to register your site again. I strongly recommend against using any kind of black hat techniques.

The primary reason to cloak a link is to protect your earnings. Each person selling a product or service is given website address. At the end of the URL there is a unique identification code which lets the company know which affiliate has made a sale. There are some extremely unethical marketers that will steal your commissions by replacing your affiliate identification.

Another reason to cloak a link is for presentation. These URLS are often very long and are not aesthetically pleasing. When you advertise it is important to project a professional image. Some linker tools provide shorter, cleaner looking links. You can also cloak a link and track sales. This is one area of marketing that separates the players from the novices. By tracking where sales are coming from more effort can be channeled into the successful parts of the campaign saving time and increasing profits.

The next question becomes how to cloak a link? You can do this with several kinds of programs. First, do a search for cloak a link or a similar phrase. There will be a wide range of information to choose from. Be careful with the free programs as there is usually a catch somewhere or the performance is not up to the same standards as the paid service. This has been my experience in general over the last couple years. The paid programs should be better but be careful to do your due diligence. How long have they been around? What kind of reputation do they have? Are the services commiserate with the price being charged?

There are also a few services where you can cloak a link and they will teach you how to market your business using various techniques. These programs have a monthly fee but are usually well worth it because of the value provided.

Whatever method you choose, it will be well worth your time and effort to learn how to properly cloak a link so that you will get 100% credit for all the sales you make. I wish you all the best for success with your business.

Devan Persaud is an affiliate marketer who learned the fundamentals of marketing online at Wealthy Affiliate University. He feels extremely fortunate to have found this supportive community of affiliate marketers so early in his career, many of which are web success stories.

Click cloak a link to check out the cloaking tool Devan loves to use. Just navigate to the tools tab, click and scroll down to the bottom where it says My Linker.

It is his wish to introduce this learning facility to as many people as possible so that they can start learning what they really need to know to be successful on-line. It certainly is not a secret but then again new marketers are rarely ever taught it. Learn more at http://www.DevanPersaud.com

Online Shopping Blog - Security Tips to Keep in Mind

The best part about shopping through an online shopping blog is that today almost anything can be bought on the net. From groceries to vacation packages, everything is available on the net at the moment.

However, as with everything there are risks associated with purchasing goods on the net. A smart shopper always takes precautions while buying goods at a regular retail store. Similarly a shopper should always keep certain things in mind while purchasing goods on an e-commerce website.

Shop On Secured Site

When purchasing goods on an e-commerce site, you must first ensure that the site is secure or not. A secured site ensures that any information that you enter on the site will not be seen by a third party.

A secured online shopping blog will show https:// in its website address. Moreover, its transaction page will show a closed padlock symbol at the bottom of the page. The closed padlock symbol is a sign of a secured site. Some secured sites carry an unbroken key symbol to indicate their secured status. Shoppers must check for these symbols before doing any transaction.

When it comes to purchasing goods through an e-commerce website, one must not shop at the first site that you come across. It is always best to buy goods from sites that are reliable or well known.

Shop On Reliable Sites

To find out whether an online shopping blog is reliable or not, the shopper should first check the physical address provided on the site. A legitimate business will always provide an address that is reachable. Plus the company will also provide a contact number for its customers.

Shoppers can check with the Better Business Bureau to further ensure that they are doing business with a legitimate site.

Use Credit Cards

When purchasing goods on an e-commerce site, it is best to use a credit card. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, a shopper has a right to dispute a charge that he/she thinks has been fraudulently put on the account. Moreover, the shopper can put a stop to payments till the investigation is completed.

It is never advisable to use a debit card or check when buying goods on an online shopping blog. The information on the debit card and checks can always be used by thieves to rob shoppers of their money.

Do Not Disclose Social Security Number

When purchasing goods on an e-commerce website, one must never give out their social security number. First of all, social security number is never required for purchasing goods on the net. If the site is asking for one, you must skip it.

With these tips in mind, you can have a safe and hassle free experience on e-commerce websites. These are very simple tips to follow and one that will benefit the shoppers.

You can buy anything and everything from an online shopping blog using credit cards and visiting reliable sites.

Worms - The Most Dominant Security Problem

According to Microsoft's latest version of the semi-annual Security Intelligence Report (SIR), Conficker worm is still one of the most dominant threats of PCs using Windows. Five million computers were found to be infected with Conficker. It can be spread either by exploiting a vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows Server service, through infected removable media or brute-forcing weak passwords on other PCs. Microsoft was alarmed with Conficker's continuous circulation mainly in enterprises. Conficker has a password-cracking ability that can spread fast if one PC in the company is already infected.

Another worm named is Taterf. It took the second spot when it comes to the most infections, specifically 4.9 million. Taterf is known for stealing authentication and account information for popular online games like World of Warcraft, Lineage, Maple Story and more. It can be spread through infected drives such as a USB stick or an infected network drive.

Next in the line is the Zlob. It is a Trojan horse spreading while making people believe that it is a media codec than a virus. A media codec is software used to encode and decode audio or video. Zlob can be removed using Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT).

Microsoft mentioned the growing numbers of security problems including the fake antivirus programs. These programs seems to be a legitimate software but do not actually work. They just annoy people with pop-up menus displaying that their computer is infected and will only stop after purchasing the software for as much as $60. Microsoft has added new antivirus software such as Windows Defender and the MSRT to detect more worms and viruses.

Different countries encounter different threats. Trojan horse programs, known for downloading other malicious software, are the biggest threat in countries like United States, United Kingdom, France and Italy. In Brazil, malicious software intended for online banking is the problem. Worms are still dominant in South Korea and Spain.

Microsoft has proven that worms are the most dominant security problem for PCs. With the blink of an eye, a Conficker, Taterf or Zlob can easily infect your computer. The right thing to do is protect your PC right away with an antivirus software. If you need help with antivirus software or virus removal, Techie Now is here to give the fast and safe services that you need. With Techie Now, we will keep your PC clean and protected.

If you want your PC to be protected, Techie Now is ready to provide you flexible, quick and safe services when it comes to virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, software installation and configuration, and other general repair. Feel free to visit us, http://www.techienow.com

Anonymous Surfing Can Protect Your Privacy

Anytime you surf the Internet or chat with your friends, or even when you try to do your shopping and banking online, your actions will be logged on your browser and personal surfing history. That means that as your browse around, website owners will be able to monitor and track your surfing habits, which can lead to spam and other, more serious, problems.

The fact is that as you browse the Internet, your activities will be tracked in different ways. Others, like marketers or government entities will be able to see your actions and act on them accordingly. Is this something you feel comfortable about? Are you totally sure that this information will only be used in positive ways?

One solution that many people are turning to these days is anonymous surfing programs. These applications will protect you from sites that collect this information, which make them a great way to protect your privacy.

There two basic types of anonymous surfing programs, one is web-based and the other is downloaded right onto your computer. The better option is probably the software that you install on your own machine because web-based solutions don't provide any SSL or SSH encryption to protect your personal information that may be required on a site. An application on your own computer, however, will be able to do this.

A web-based anonymity is a good option for more casual Internet users. It is free and will cover you if you only use it a couple hours a day, but if you need something a little more serious, the online option isn't going to work for you.

For the more serious users, a program that you install is going to be a better choice. This will allow you to do your anonymous surfing with full privacy and security. The simplest way to do this is to buy a program and install it on your computer yourself, and then you won't have to rely on web-based solutions.

There are a lot of valid concerns when it comes to doing business on the Internet. If you're looking for a way to protect yourself and your personal information safe, anonymous surfing is the way to go. If you get a good program installed on the system, you'll be able to protect yourself from unethical marketers and the threat of identity theft.

Anonymous surfing solutions that you install on your computer will be more useful, in the long run, than the free website services. There are a lot of threats on the Internet, and you probably already have protection against viruses and spyware, so why not go the extra step and protect yourself even more from people who would use your information to get gain?

A VPN (or Virtual Private Network) can be a great way to get a private connection. Mitch Stenson is an experienced copywriter who can help you minimize risk by using anonymous surfing with a VPN. Looking for more? Find more articles for this and other related topics by Mr. Stenson on the internet.

Issues of Revealing Personal Information in Social Network Websites

Social network is an advanced form of communication binding people having specific values, ideas, friendship, visions, and so on. This network revolves around categories such as friendship, professional links and love relations.

The relations of social network are built based on the user`s everyday life, and gets expanded with every new contact. Entering a social network involves building a personal profile by giving email address, personal interests, work experiences, hobbies, and so on. This is the point which the contact network widens and helps in building thematic virtual communities. Some of the online social networks are Friendster, LinkedIn, Orkut, Kibop, MySpace and Facebook.

Speaking about the security of social networks, there is a threat of divulging the personal information and the theft of identity is a matter of growing concern. Personal information stored in the social network sites includes intimate details such as religion, relationship, personal hobbies, views on politics and many others. The security issue is that the combination of details makes it compelling and interesting, besides being potentially dangerous. It is easy to locate theoretically the place you live and the hour you are available, and this may lead to some personal problems.

Excessive blabbing can lead to unwanted gossip and in this process there are chances of revealing more than essential information. Hence, be safe by paying attention to the revealed information, and being discreet by taking time to understand the privacy policy published in these sites is a must. It should be a rule of thumb not trust anybody immediately and also not to share personal information. Even, if various social networks come together because of security issues, considering them individually is a must for specific security weaknesses.

Privacy is the main concern and hence adhering to some simple advice such as thinking twice before sharing your password, and after typing the email address and password to login, and ensuring that the `Remember me box` is turned off, is a must. Similarly, log out after using the social network sites are simple recommendations assisting to keep the data safe. Above all, avoid putting sensitive information on social networks by restricting the kind of information to be shared. If you are referring to hobbies, do not enhance it with work information, as privacy settings should be customized and even then if something undesired crops up, block the access and report violations.

Hiding specific areas of the profile such as contact information from certain people is also one of the best ways of maintaining security. However, to employ this technique, make sure that only few preferred contacts will have access to the concealed information. This can be done by choosing the privacy settings that allows you to decide viewing and also in blocking applications, if undesired. Preventing network users of knowing about your presence on the site can also be done, so that you are not interrupted every time you log in.

Facebook and MySpace are two of largest the social networking sites and are hence a main target for hackers, spammers and online predators. As a result, it is always recommended to be conservative and controlled in exposing your personal information.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil