Are They Watching You Online?
When surfing the Internet you probably take your anonymity
for granted, most of us do.
Tapping phones, listening to confidential conversations,
reading others' e-mail messages seems like something that
only happens in spy movies to "other" people.
However, you probably don't realize just how much
information about yourself has the potential to get
transmitted across the Internet every time you go online.
Every computer connected to the Internet has "ports" that
allow it to connect. A "port" doesn't mean you have a
physical hole or opening in your computer's case or
hardware, but it does mean you have openings through which
information passes back and forth between your computer and
the Internet.
Depending on the type of connection (dial up, LAN, cable,
DSL), you may have several openings for potential mischief
by hackers, malicious code or viruses.
Computers with dedicated connections rate the most at risk.
If someone or something gets into one of these ports and
into your computer, they can potentially watch everything
you do and see all the data you enter, including social
security numbers and credit card information.
The easiest way to defeat this problem involves using a
firewall. Firewalls, simple and inexpensive software
available at virtually any office supply or computer store,
block the most common ports hackers use to enter your
computer.
Firewalls also help you detect and block unauthorized
transmission of information from your computer to the
Internet. This adds a significant measure of protection if
you get infected with a Trojan horse virus that tries to
"phone home" to the hacker with your sensitive information.
If you'd like to test your connection for vulnerability to
attack, log on to http://security1.norton.com and run the
various diagnostics. I would strongly advise anyone
connected to the Internet through DSL or cable to get and
use a firewall to protect against unauthorized access.
Infected with "Spyware?"
Previously we talked about unauthorized access to your
computer. But a growing problem online with people watching
you and your activities involves using programs you
willingly place on your computer.
Commonly called "Spyware," this refers to any program that
transmits information about you to someone else without you
knowing exactly what gets sent. The main purpose of Spyware
involves tracking your surfing habits so advertisers know
which targeted ads to send you.
Most Spyware basically comes onto your computer bundled
with other software applications, as a standalone program,
or as modification to the HTML on a web page.
Regardless of how you get it, you need to understand
exactly what information gets transmitted about you so you
can decide whether to keep or uninstall the software. Plain
and simple, these Spyware programs can potentially reveal
extremely sensitive information about you and your online
habits.
For more Free Resources www.100computertips.com
Related Articles:
-
SEO and Social Bookmarking
How to Generate Traffic using Viral Marketing.If you look around the internet at some Blogs, you will see a button saying something like "Digg this" or "Delic.io.us" etc. These are shortcuts to some of the 46 plus "Social Book Marking" sites that have sprung up all over the internet. If you have ever wondered what those are or why they are there read on.What a Social Bookmarking site is about is telling other members what you have seen, liked and why you liked it, on the...
-
Subliminal Messages Created on Your Own Computer
Subliminal messages can be difficult to achieve, unless you know exactly how to achieve them. Subliminal messages occur far more frequently than we believe they do. They are in advertising, but also in artwork, music and films (or movies).Subliminal messages are hidden, hard to spot but incredibly powerful if you know how to do them properly. They contain a stimulus which the brain does not consciously appreciate. This can be be achieved by anyone with proper instruction.A subl...
-
How To Build Quality Backlinks To Your Website - Simple 3 Step Strategy
Quality backlinks is the top criteria that search engines use to judge the importance of your website. The more backlinks you have, the higher you rise in the search engine rankings and the more likely your website will come up to the top of the search result.Here is a simple strategy to help new Internet marketers to build quality backlinks and search engine rankings.Step 1. Choose a keyword phrase and optimize your website with it.Choosing a keyword phrase nee...
-
Go Online or Go Home
I bet the title of this article sounds familiar to you. Yes, it's my version of Wil Schroter's "Go Big or Go Home". Wil, a serial entrepreneur and nationally syndicated startup guru, reveals how the next generation of startup companies think BIGGER, grow FASTER and dominate new markets virtually overnight.Bear with me for a minute and let's have a closer look on his key points:Vision - Think BIG, the way companies like Google, PayPal and Skype doG...
-
How To Insulate Your Online Business And Weather Financial Downturns In The Economy
Thousands of individuals start new online businesses every day. Some of them started out because they believed the hype that you can make thousands of dollars within a week. Of course, if you've been in the business for more than a few days you realize that this isn't true. An Internet business requires work and perseverance.Your business will do best if you develop several sources of revenue. In other words, don't put all of your eggs in one basket. There are thousands of ways to mak...
