Instant Messaging – Expressway for Identity Theft, Trojan Horses, Viruses, and Worms

Written by By Dee Scrip ©All rights reserved


Never before with Instant Messaging (IM) has a more vital warning been needed for current and potential IM buddies who chat on line.

John Sakoda of IMlogic CTO and Vice President of Products stated that,

"IM viruses and worms are growing exponentially….Virus writers are now shiftingrepparttar focus of their attack to instant messaging, which is seen as a largely unprotected channel intorepparttar 107913 enterprise."

Because Instant Messaging operates on peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, it spawns an irresistible temptation for malicious computer hackers. P2P networks share files and operate on industry standard codec (encyrption codes) and industry standard protocols, which are publicly open and interpretable. Anti virus software does not incorporate protection for Instant Messaging services.

Like sharks in a feeding frenzy, these hacker mercenaries view Instant Messaging clients as their personal “Cash Cow” because ofrepparttar 107914 ease by which they can access your computer viarepparttar 107915 publicly open and interpretable standards, unleash a Trojan horse, virus, or worm, as well as gather your personal and confidential information, and sell it to other depraved reprobates.

Please, don’t be naďve enough to think it won’t or couldn’t happen to you!

Want to see how easy it is for hackers to access your Instant Messaging chat and what can happen to you as a result?

Did you know that some hacker-friendly providers offer processor chips that can be bought onrepparttar 107916 Internet? (I guess it would be pretty hard to walk into a store and askrepparttar 107917 clerk to help them find a processor chip that could be used to illegally hack into a victim’s computer forrepparttar 107918 sole purpose of spreading malicious code or stealing someone’s identity!)

Did you know that hacker-friendly providers actually offer hacker software that enables these criminals to deliberately disable security on computers, access your personal and confidential information, as well as inject their Trojan horses, viruses, and worms?

Hacker manuals are also conveniently accessible viarepparttar 107919 Internet. One of these manuals shows how to DoS other sites. DoSing (Disruption of Service) involves gaining unauthorized access torepparttar 107920 “command prompt” on your computer and using it to tie up your vital Internet services. When a hacker invades your system, they can then delete or create files and emails, modify security features, and plant viruses or time bombs onto your computer.

“Sniff” is a tool (originally intended to help telecommunication professionals detect and solve problems) that reprobate hackers use to tamper withrepparttar 107921 protocol and “sniff out” data. When hackers sniff out your IM data packet from Internet traffic, they reconstruct it to intercept conversations. This enables them to eavesdrop on conversations, gather information, and sell it to other depraved criminal entities.

Don’t set yourself up to berepparttar 107922 next Identity Theft Victim because you like to chat using Instant Messaging.

Identity theft is one ofrepparttar 107923 most sinister of vulnerabilities you can inadvertently be subjected to. Identity theft is defined byrepparttar 107924 Department of Justice as

“…the wrongful obtaining and using of someone else’s personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.” Identity theft isrepparttar 107925 by-product of hacker mercenaries obtaining your social security number (including those of your spouse and children), your bank account, your credit card information, etc., fromrepparttar 107926 Internet. You become a virtual “Cash Cow” for hackers as your information is then sold to other felons for financial gain. Using your information, these criminals then:

·access your bank account funds ·create new bank accounts with your information ·create driver’s licenses ·create passports

Attorney General Ashcroft stated that,

"Identity theft carries a heavy price, both inrepparttar 107927 damage to individuals whose identities are stolen andrepparttar 107928 enormous cost to America's businesses.”

A group hosting a website known as shadowcrew.com was indicted on conspiracy charges for stealing credit card numbers and identity documents, then selling them online. While this group allegedly trafficked $1.7 million in stolen credit card numbers, they also caused losses in excess of $4 million.

According to a Press Release issued byrepparttar 107929 Department of Justice on February 28, 2005, a hacker was convicted of several counts of fraud, one in which

“…he fraudulently possessed more than 15 computer usernames and passwords belonging to other persons forrepparttar 107930 purpose of accessing their bank and financial services accounts, opening online bank accounts inrepparttar 107931 names of those persons, and transferring funds to unauthorized accounts.”

Trojan Horses, Viruses, and Worms – The Toxic Trio

According to Dictionary.com, a Trojan horse is “…a subversive group that supportsrepparttar 107932 enemy and engages in espionage or sabotage---an enemy in your midst.” The toxic cargo of Trojan horses can include viruses or worms.

How to Negotiate Effectively

Written by Gary E. Cain


How to Negotiate Effectively

By Gary E. Cain, M. Ed. Author

You may be thinking, "Gary, I am a mom, housewife, or stay-at-home dad, so why do I need to know how to negotiate effectively?"

I'm glad you asked.

The truth is everyone needs to negotiate. Surprisingly, almost everything we dorepparttar moment we get up inrepparttar 107912 morning until we go to bed involves some type of "negotiating".

I know, you are saying that I have lost my mind, but no, seriously, we do negotiate –continuously.

Let's say, you are 18 years old, live with your parents, yet work. So, you wake up at 6 am and begin a negotiation with your younger brother who is already inrepparttar 107913 very bathroom that you need in order to take a shower and get ready for work.

To avoid arriving late to work, you quickly offer to pay $5.00 to him to leaverepparttar 107914 bathroom immediately so that you can take a shower.

Next, you head intorepparttar 107915 kitchen to negotiate with your mother over your preference for orange juice and toast for breakfast, while she is counter-negotiating a complete meal of oatmeal, eggs, milk, and sausage.

Who wins this negotiation is anyone's guess.

The point is that all of us constantly negotiate. For example, we negotiate – or should -- with our car mechanic to lessenrepparttar 107916 cost of maintenance and repairs.

Soooo …. to help you succeed in your negotiations, I have prepared this special article that will outlinerepparttar 107917 tools and knowledge you need to succeed.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use