Number of active phishing sites reported in March, 2005: 2870 Number of brands hijacked by phishing campaigns: 78 Contains some form of target name in URL: 31% Country hosting most number of phishing sites: United States of America Source: http://www.antiphishing.org

Phishing attacks can be really sophisticated. Some time ago a flaw in Internet Explorer allowed hackers to display a false address while redirecting user to an entirely different site making it almost impossible to distinguish a phishing attack from a legitimate email.

Possible solutions:

New technologies can provide a better means of countering phishers. One option being explored by a lot of banks is use of a secure token, a small electronic gadget that generates a unique password to be entered each time a user logs onto web site. This would make a phishing attack useless because without physical possession of a token it is impossible to access account. This approach is somewhat similar to what is used at Automated Teller Machines around world where you need to have both card and Pin number in order to use machine.

One option is to use a technology popularly knows as PassMarks that effectively acts as a second password. After entering user name a unique image pre selected by user is displayed before s/he is asked for password. If proper image is not displayed user will come to know that s/he is not on authentic site. Another option that a lot of organizations are exploring is using text messages instead of email messages. Text messages cost money to send, so Spammers are less likely to partake in process making it easier to distinguish between legitimate messages and fakes.

I work as an Internet writer so I've been checking out some of charities on-line. Giving is so easy these days, just a push of some buttons on your computer and you could make a positive change to world, no matter how small change, all actions in life have their reactions and repercussions. Check out Oxfam International, Plan International, World Wildlife Foundation, Red Cross, Unicef, Care International, World Vision, and Greenpeace just to name a few. You can also look up smaller organizations that work in your local area. A lot of web sites are very well constructed and you can read all about their campaigns, policies, how to donate, and even how to get involved yourself if you really want to be proactive as a volunteer.

The Oxfam International site is really interesting especially if you are one of skeptics who don't believe that money actually goes where it is meant to after being filtered by administration etc. They give annual reports, strategic plans, mission and vision statements etc. so we can know exactly what they are doing. I can't say same for all charities that exist, so do your research.

The World Wildlife Foundation also has a very professional website with a multitude of information in form of News articles and interesting facts. There are many cool photos of Nature and unfortunately of misuse of it by humanity. Like Oxfam site you can subscribe for a free monthly newsletter to see what new causes and case studies are on agenda. Reading these can make you a little sad but there is usually at least an equal amount of positive stories about progress from hard work done. I like reading these newsletters more than current affairs articles that usually have only a couple 'happy' stories that are often just silly and irrelevant (though I do think having a laugh after all death and chaos is better than nothing).

So check out some of these sites, they may help to redeem your faith in humanity as well as remind you of bigger picture that you are part of. In seeing wider perspective you may just realize that you can make a difference.