Keeping Your Internet Business Safe From HackersWritten by Said Rouhani
If you owned a restaurant, you'd lock doors after closing, right?If you owned a nightclub you'd hire bouncers to keep rowdy people out, right? You'd be surprised how many Internet business owners fail to keep gates closed tight... many are just begging for hackers and viruses to strike with an attitude of apathy about security. We're talking security in this week's article. I'll share with you some of quick and easy strategies I use to keep hackers and other undesirables away from my precious computer, which after all is where my business is located. Gotta keep it safe, sound and secure. 1. Get an anti-virus software. This is an absolute MUST. With virtually overnight global spread of computer viruses due to ever increasing use of email, viruses are on rampant. Arm yourself with an antivirus package that you can update regularly for new virus definitions, to remain protected against latest threats. There's a free antivirus package called InoculateIt that many people recommend: http://antivirus.cai.com/ 2. Be paranoid of email attachments. Even with a cutting edge antivirus package, a virus might get through. Do not open attachments with suspicious looking extensions (no matter who they're from). Absolutely stay away from .exe and ..vb files, as these can be very malicious. In fact, disable these files via your email software (check out help file if need be). 3. Install a firewall on your computer. A firewall software is a program that basically blocks outside access to your computer. Without a firewall you leave your computer wide open to hacker attacks... who can then gain total control over your computer and all your files. Could get very nasty. Do not spend another moment on Internet without a firewall. It's easy to install and takes no time to get running. Here's a good firewall software: http://www.zonelabs.com/
| | Security: FraudWritten by Richard Lowe
Fraud is rampant on internet. It is everywhere that you look. When you are lurking in newsgroups you will find hundreds of messages inviting you to spend money here, there and everywhere. You'll get email demanding your time, attention, and, of course, money for something. Surfing web will turn up many sites with some incredible offers which, of course, just happen to require your credit card number - but don't worry, they "just need it to validate your age" (or whatever) - DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW IT'S SAFE.The web is a media of communication. It allows everyone to communicate with anyone for price of a computer, phone line and internet service - and even most of that can be gotten for free if you try. This is perhaps most wonderful invention in history of man to date for it's sheer power of getting us all just to talk to each other, but there are dangers. In a way, it's just like any other part of life. However, what internet does is to allow you to communicate (and be communicated with) exceptionally fast. Where else could you surf a hundred sites, receive 200 emails and examine 250 newsgroup messages all in one evening? Some of schemes that you will need to be on lookout for include: Pyramid schemes galore. These are things that say "send a dollar to a bunch of people with your name and address". They are all illegal (in spite of what they claim) and unethical. You will get ripped off and if you partake you are breaking law. http://www.internet-tips.net/Moneymaking/chain.htm Startup companies which offer stock or "points" - these are not frauds, per say, but vast majority of these will never pay anything to anyone. For example, many pay-to-surf programs at their beginning will not pay anything. Instead, you will get points or stock, with promise of money down road if they (a) go public or (b) get lots of people signed up or whatever. Beware - you are taking a risk to never get anything. Credit card fraud - be very careful with your credit card number on web. DO NOT EVER send it in email or post it in a newsgroup. And DO NOT USE YOUR DEBIT CARD FOR ANYTHING ON THE WEB. That comes directly out of your checking account - you may get it back from bank if you can prove fraud, but at least with a normal credit card you are risking banks money and not your own. Multi-Level Marking (MLM) - I'm sure there are good MLM companies out there, but they really only tend to benefit those who get in early. Those on bottom wind up supporting those on top, then whole thing loses steam and falls apart. Of course, those who do get in early make a lot of money.
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