Internet Security-Using Social Utility Sites

If you don't have a Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter account then you are among the few. Social utility sites are some of the most common websites on the Internet today. Children as young as ten years old can build their own websites and upload music, photographs, and videos on them. They can be a great way to keep in touch with family and friends, promote your business, or even meet new people. However, do they threaten your internet security?

In some cases, they can. They can also threaten your personal security if you don't make wise decisions about how you use them.

Like in “real life” you should use caution in your “virtual life.” You wouldn't give someone on the street a photograph of your child, your phone number, or your address, right? Well, believe it or not millions of people do that on the internet everyday.

On Facebook, it gives you a place to enter your employment information, your address, your telephone number, and your work history. If you choose to make your profile public, that means that anyone who looks at your profile can read all of that.

Facebook also has applications that require you to pay for certain things. (Usually things like “gifts” that you can send to people on your friend's list.) However, if someone hacks into your account they can steal your credit card information. This is particularly easy if you store your password on your computer.

In addition, sometime people hack into social utility sites, use a person's profile, and send out viruses to the people on their friend's list. When this happens, the victim's friends open the email thinking that it is from someone that they know, only to be hit with a virus that could crash their entire system.

To avoid this, make sure that you change your password on a regular basis and that you keep diligent watch of your activity. If you decide not to use your account anymore, have it deleted. Always ask permission before you include a photograph of someone on your site. Many people do not want their picture posted for various reasons. Don't add someone if you do not know them. It I very easy to pretend to be something that you're not when it comes to the internet.

Lastly, make your profile private so that only the people on your friend's list can see it. This will stop unwanted people from lurking on your site.

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Internet Security-What Does Your Large Business Require?

Why is internet security important for a large business? There are several reasons.

One of the most important reasons is due to the fact that a breech of internet security can threaten the very livelihood of the company itself, including vital information such as financial formation. For that reason, one system should be able to keep track of recording and monitoring all internet activity across the board when it comes to the business itself.

There are a couple of different ways that you can go about doing this. To begin with, you can monitor your employees using restricted access and by not allowing access to certain websites. (A lot of companies block facebook and myspace, for example, much to the chagrin of the employees).

It is important to do this because many large businesses are threatened by hackers who get onto the internet and hack into the business's system and threaten secure information. They do this by either gathering the information to use for various reasons, or by sending out viruses that can harm the integrity of the system itself. By restricting access and monitoring your employees, you can help stave off some of these attacks.

A good security protection system within each computer is also recommended. This can be in the form of a firewall or anti-virus program-preferably both. By installing these, you can try to ward off some of the most common attacks. Programs that block adware and spyware is also suggested and should be included as part of a good anti-virus program, too. In addition, it should be noted that updating your web browser from time to time can be advantageous as well. (Windows Vista does it for you automatically.)

Some companies have started having internet training sessions for their employees as well.  In these sessions, employees are taught the dangers of opening attachments from people they don't know, changing their passwords frequently, and staying away from sites that are not secure.

Ensure that the email system that your employees use has a virus system included as well. A good system will read and scan the attachments quickly to ensure that there are no viruses included. Some of them even do this right as the emails come in, making it go a little bit faster.

Lastly, make sure that you always back up your important fields and documents and makecertain that your employees know to do this as well. Invest in flash drives for everyone.

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Internet Security- Storing Your Password on Your Computer

One of the most common things that you do might be threatening your internet security. It's a mistake that nearly everyone is guilty of making. What is it? Storing your password on your computer.

When you create a new account, or sign into your account, your computer generally asks you if you would like to have the password saved. It makes more sense to answer “yes” due to the fact that it makes life a little simpler to not have to re-type your password time and time again. However, doing this can compromise your security and your personal information.

Aside from the fact that if someone comes into your home and gets on your computer, they can easily have access to your accounts, saving your password also allows hackers easier access to your accounts as well.

Think about the accounts that you might have saved your password on. Expedia, for example. Even within Expedia you save your credit card number, billing information, and other pertinent financial information. In fact, you might have more than one credit card number entered in it. Another account that you probably have personal information stored in is Amazon. Again, with this type of account you store your credit card information. Although Amazon itself is a secure site, someone with access to your information can use it against you to make purchases, open new credit cards in your name, and generally ruin your credit.

Your bank account is one of the most important things that you need to protect. With online banking being very popular these days more and more people are using it instead of traditional banking. However, is your information gets into the wrong hands then someone can transfer money from your bank account or even use your information to open an account in your name.Job search sites can also be a problem. In some cases, you have to enter your social security number or driver's license number in order for them to run a security check on you. These are two things that you do not want people to have access to.

If you have trouble remembering your passwords, write them down on a piece of paper and store them close to your computer, but not in an obvious place. Many people actually create a file on their computer but then they name it something like “computer passwords” which isn't very secure at all.

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Email Scams that Threaten Your Internet Security

Do you trust your e-mails? It's hard to believe, but there are people out there who have nothing better to do then to think of ways of conning other people out of business. It actually is their
business to scam. Don't let your internet security be threatened by these scammers.
The difficult thing is that while some of the scams sound outlandish, many of them also appear
legitimate, too. Intelligent people have been scammed and had their internet security threatened
when the emails appeared real.

To help keep you and your information safe, the following is a list of 4 email scams that
can threaten your internet security.

1. The bank scam. This is one of the more realistic sounding scams. A supposed bank will contact you and tell you that they have had a security breech and that you're information has been violated. They will then direct you to an outside website where you are then supposed to enter your personal and banking information to “protect it.” First of all, you wouldn't receive an email from your bank if this happened. Secondly, never enter your banking information like this. If you feel like it could be true, call your own local bank branch and ask them.

2. The fake job scam. In this scam, a person e-mails you and tells you that they found your resume and are interested in hiring you. They then direct you to a website where you are asked to enter a bunch of information such as your social security number and driver's license number. A legitimate business would ask you to call them to set up an interview.

3. The lottery scam. Here, a person will write you and tell you that you have won the lottery. Again, you will be directed to a site where you will be asked your banking information so that the money can be deposited. Don't fall for it. This is not the way the lottery works.

4. The foreign money scam. This is a great one as well. A person will write you and tell you that they live in a foreign country and came into a lot of money. They will ask you to deposit it for them in your account and as a result they will give you a chunk of it. Just say no. They want your account information to take your money.

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Internet Security- Safety When Using Public Computers

Many times, you might find yourself having to use a public computer. Perhaps the internet is down at your home or you have moved and it hasn't been set up yet. Or, you might be traveling and need to use an internet cafe or a internet site in the airport. These are generally okay to use, but you must use caution when you are accessing sites that ask you to use your password. The following article will give you some information safety measures when using public computers.

First of all, when you are at home and you are accessing Expedia or Amazon or even your bank
account, you might have your password already stored on your computer so that you can enter the site with a click of the mouse. And why not? It's a lot easier to do it that way. You don't have to remember your password and you're at home so you feel safe.

However, while this is a not a good idea even in the first place, it's an even worse idea to do it while you're using a public computer. More often than not, when you enter a site on a public computer and it asks you for your password it will ask you if you want the site to remember it or not. Always answer no.

Some public computers will actually reset everything once you have logged off. Your browsing history and any information you entered while you were using it will be erased. However, this isn't the case with every public computer. So, to protect your internet security you are better off ensuring that nothing personal is left behind.

Have you ever entered your pin number at the store or at an ATM machine and had someone standing right behind you? Were you afraid that they might read your number and use it themselves? You should use the same caution when using public computers. The person sitting down after you, or standing behind you, might easily find out your passwords and use them to their advantage.

This is not to say that you should be paranoid. When you are finished, it helps to erase all of your browsing history, as well as any cookies that you might have used. Check under “internet tools” at the top to see if any passwords were remembered. It is better to be safe than sorry at any rate.

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Internet Security- Protect Your Business

Although you often want to protect your children from harmful things on the web that can threaten their internet security, you might also be concerned about your business. There are several types of software that be purchased in order to help protect your business. So what can these various types of software programs offer in terms of protection?

- You can use a filtering program that in some cases can block dozens of categories at once. You can also customize your filtering in order to choose what types of content you want to be inaccessible to your employees.

- You can create an entire list of specific websites to block as well. That way, if you don't want your employees on Facebook while they are in the office, they will be blocked from entering the site. This is generally in addition to the filtering program that the software, or hardware, will offer.

- You can create a list of keywords that can't be used in search engines. This will also limit access to content and sites that are inappropriate for the workplace.

- Use the software to block Instant Messaging. This can be a problem in many offices where the employees want to chat with their friends, and sometimes even co-workers, when they are on the job.

- Create logs. Create and review logs of internet activity to see that everyone has been up to. These can show you what websites were accessed and the amount of time spent on the websites. It can also keep track of what people were searching for in the search engines.

- Prevent files from being downloaded, thus making it more difficult to get a virus, or download applications such as music downloading programs. This can protect your internet security from harmful bugs, spyware, adware, and viruses.

So does some of this sound like an invasion of privacy? Perhaps. Just remember that your employees are on the job and that you should be able to protect work computers from viruses and other harmful programs that can access your computers. You might want to make your employees aware that these things programs exist, especially the logs, so that they will not be blindsided. It is also recommended that you have a good computer policy in your employee handbook for the employee to read when they are hired. Make sure that you update it when necessary.

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Internet security-Signs That Your Child's Safety Might Be Compromised

Although you do everything you can to protect your child, sometimes things get past parents and your child's internet security protection is compromised nonetheless. So how will you know if there is something going on with your child? The following is a list of signs to watch for that might indicate your child is suffering from internet related concerns.

1. Your child turns off the computer the minute you walk into the room. They might have been catting with their crush or significant other, or been been chatting with their best friend about
something that they thought should be private. Or, they could have been looking at an inappropriate website. For this reason, you might want to invest in a tracking tool that creates logs of your child's internet activity that you can review.

2. Your child receives standard mail or packages from people you don't know. It is possible that they ordered something online. Ask them and then check your bank account or credit cards. However, sometimes predators do get online and pretend to be something that they are not. In some cases, they send their victims gifts in order to get them to become beholden to them. Open any packages that you weren't expecting. In some cases, it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

3. You find pornography on your child's computer. While it was true that growing up you might have
sneaked a look at Playboy or something similar, Internet pornography can be difficult to get a grasp
on. It is rampant and much of it is fairly different than the almost chaste images seen in Playboy. Some of it is also “deviant” pornography that includes bestiality and even child pornography. Therefore, the content should be monitored and communication should exist.

4. Your child becomes withdrawn. Sex offenders and other people who prey on children do their best to upset family interactions. If your child tells them a problem that they are having at home, the person will often try to make that problem appear larger in order to make the child more upset at the parent or sibling in an attempt to drive a wedge through the family itself. This is to gain more control of the child.

5. Your child spends a lot of time on the computer, especially at night. Invest in a time control device that limits the amount of time they can spend on the internet at once.

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Internet Security- Why Should You Use a Firewall?

What is a firewall and how it will protect your internet security?

A firewall is usually part of the internet router and basically works by passing traffic between secure and insecure areas.

There are to kinds of firewalls: proxy servers and packet filters. Proxies are generally more expensive than packet filters.

Computers are identified by IP numbers a firewall can tell if a source is legitimate by comparing it to a set of rules that it employs. With a packet filter, the firewall won't let in sources that do not pass the rules. It more or less stands guard over your computer and won't let things pass through that do not adhere to its standards.

While firewalls are meant to keep things coming in, in some rare cases it can actually prevent users from getting out as well. This can be frustrating when you are trying to visit a site that you know is secure but for some reason your firewall has a problem with it and won't let you access it.

If this becomes a major hindrance, you can reconfigure your firewall settings. Of course, if you are part of an Intranet, such as at a place of business, there is little that you can do unless you, yourself, have access to the main computer and passwords. If you do have access, however, you can always add the site that you are trying to access as a 'safe site” so that the firewall will let you in in the future.

You can purchase internet security programs that contain firewalls. It is best to do some research on them first to get a good feel of what you are purchasing. Some are created superior to others. If you get a good program, it should also come with some adware and spyware blockers as well, and perhaps an anti-virus program. Of course, most good anti-virus programs also come with firewalls.

Although people often bemoan firewalls and the fact that they try to keep people out of sites that
are sometimes legitimate, they can be a great way to protect your computer from harmful attacks. If you own and operate a business and have employees accessing the internet they can be especially helpful, too. It can be difficult to protect your internet security when you are dealing with multiple internet users. It's hard enough being safe yourself!

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Make Sure Your Emails Are Safe: Tips for Internet Security

The last thing you want to do is to have an unwanted e-mail wreck havoc on your computer. However, this happens everyday. At the best, it can make your computer run slower. At the worst, your personal and financial information can be stolen, or your entire computer can crash and everything could get lost due to a virus.

The following article includes some tips for internet security when it comes to your e-mail.

- Don't open attachments from people you don't know. This should go without saying. However, people do it all the time. Usually, the subject lines of these unwanted e-mails either make it look as though they are sending you something that you requested
(“here's the information you asked for”) or they make it appear as if they know you
(“Hey, it's me, John”). However, if you weren't expecting any email with an attachment
and you don't recognize the sender's address don't open it. It could contain a virus.

- Don't give out any information. On the other hand, sometimes your internet security can be
threatened from senders who pretend to know you and try to get you to give them information. For
instance, if you are applying for jobs on various search sites, someone might contact you and say
that they found your resume. They could then send you to another site and ask for your personal
information, like your social security number, by pretending to have you fill out an application. Unless you are applying for a state or government job, or have already been through the interview
process and they need to run a background check on you, you should never give out your social
security number.

- Don't use the same passwords. Never use the same passwords for your email account as you do for your expedia account, online banking account , or any other website that stores financial information. It is fairly easy to figure out email passwords and once a hacker has it, they can get into your other accounts as well and your information can be used.

- Change your passwords. Also, remember to change your passwords from time to time. Try including numbers, as well as letters, in your passwords. It makes it harder to figure them out.

- Don't let other people access your email account. Never give someone else your password when it comes to your email accounts. It's difficult enough for you to keep tabs on your internet security, much less trusting other people to keep it safe.

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Internet Security- Make Sure Your Passwords Protect You

In this day and age, protecting our internet security is very important. We store important information on the internet such as our personal information as well as out financial information. Identities are stolen everyday and getting yours back and clearing up the damage that it can cause is expensive and time-consuming.

One of the most important things you can do is to protect the passwords that you use for your various accounts. Why is this important? Because if someone gets a hold of your password, they can have all sorts of information about you.

Most people use their same password, or a variation of it, for all of their accounts. Needless to say, this is not a good idea. After all, if someone gets that password they can tap into almost any internet account you have and thus breech your internet security.

So what can you do?

First, don't use your same password for everything! And adding “1” after the password in instances when you need a number does not make the password different.

Secondly, don't store your password on your computer. Yes, it can be a pain to type it in
every time, but if someone broke into your house they would be privy to all of your accounts.
Also, don't store your passwords on a notepad right there by your computer, or in a document
on your computer called “internet passwords.” They should be a little harder to locate than that.

You can also use Microsoft's Password Strength Tester. This program lets you enter in a password to see what its strength is. If you give it something that doesn't test very strongly then you need to change it in order to make it more secure.

One thing that you can do is to make your password a combination of letters and numbers. This is more difficult to figure out. Also, don't ever use your social security number, driver license number, or zip code. You shouldn't be storing your social security number on the internet to begin with like that and your zip code is too easy to figure out. In addition, don't use your child's name, your partner's name, or your own name as a password. Again, these are quite simple to figure out.

By following these tips when it comes to your password, you should be able to strengthen your internet security. While it is a hassle to come up with several different passwords and to remember them, it is more of a hassle to straighten out the mess that can result from not doing it.

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Internet Security- Protecting Yourself When You Shop Online

The internet can be a great place to go shopping! You can do it right from your home with little to effort. However, there are horror stories from people who have had their credit card and even entire identities stolen. So what can you do to protect yourself from this happening to you?

- Keep in mind that a lot of credit card companies have provisions for challenging fraudulent charges. If you see something that doesn't look right on your bill, give them a call. Also, print out a copy of every receipt of what you buy.

- Only shop at sites that contain a physical address and a telephone number. If you feel leery about them, either trust your gut or give them a call or email. See how quickly they return your message. If you call them, don't just talk to a machine, talk to a person. Remember who you spoke to. Ordering from a trusted site might be better than one you have never heard of. For example,. Ordering straight from Old Navy is probably more secure than ordering from a random woman online who sells Old Navy.

- Don't ever provide personal or unnecessary information like your social security number or checking account information in order to process credit card transactions. All they need to know is your billing address, telephone number, credit card number and type of credit car, and the security number on the back. Never give out your social security number. It is not necessary.

- Look for sellers who have secure servers. Some companies that are considered safe are Equifax, SecureSite eBusiness, Thwate, and Verisign. The encryption technology is always changing and while it already makes shopping pretty safe, it keeps adding additional features for the security and protection of shoppers like yourself. There should be a little emblem in the bottom right hand corner of protected sites to watch for.

- When you are on a secure page, right click with your mouse on any blank space and you should get the options box. Scroll to the bottom of the box and click on “Properties.” A table that is the security certificate should appear. You can check this out to help put yourself at east.

- If it give you an option to store any information, just say no. If you return, you can enter it
all again.

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Internet Security- How to Deal with Spyware

So what, exactly, is Spyware? Spyware is software that can collect your personal information, change your computer's configuration, and install advertising on your computer without you even knowing it. Spyware generally does this without your consent, which is what makes it threaten your internet security.

There are a host of problems associated with spyware, too, and some of these problems include trying to get rid of it.

Why do people use Spyware?
Spyware is typically used for marketing purposes. When a company makes spyware, they get contracts from other companies that pay them well. They can direct traffic to other websites that are similar. For this reason, they can be be good.

However, like most things, spyware can be abused, too. Sometimes, things pop up on your screen that are unwelcome, such as adult content. Or, sometimes hundreds of things pop up at once. This is annoying and can make you not want to return to that particular website.

What kinds of spyware is out there?
Most spyware is adware. Adware captures data for advertising that is targeted. Malware, on the other hand, causes problems with your computer. Malware can be a virus that harms your computer, for example, or hijack your computer's information. This can then be used for identity theft purposes. Your personal information can be sold to other people who can then use it to open accounts and purchase things in your name.

What else can spyware do?
It can cause you to lose control of your computer. It can also cause error messages and make your computer run slower, which is a big annoyance in and of itself. Your computer can even be used to send out emails that contain viruses or for illegal purposes if the right hacker gets into it.

How can you get rid of it?
Of course, now you want to know how you can get rid of it. Well, resist the urge to use the “uninstallation” part of the program. While it might appear to take the spyware off of your computer, it generally doesn't. In fact, it might even set off a trigger that installs more. Instead, spend the money and invest in a reputable cleaner or spyware detection program. These sometimes have to be updated every year which might require a new subscription but it's worth it to get your computer cleaned. It's better to spend money on that than trying to recover
your identity later. If you don’t have protection download XoftSpySE

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Internet Security- Protect Your Wireless Connection

Using a wireless connection when it comes to your internet can be great. It's fast, it's easy, and you don't have to deal with cords. Plus, you can hook up at a lot of different places-from airports to McDonalds.

While wireless routers are great, they are not as secure as hooking up your computer to a wall  in your home. Other people can use your routers and hook up to the internet. They can also access your own personal information and be privy to things such as your financial information and other things that you don't want other people to have access to.

Hackers are notorious for breaking into unsecured connections. Actually, you don't have to be very technologically advanced to do it, either. Even someone with limited technological skillscan use your router for their own computer. This is especially true if you do not set apassword or make your connection secure.

Sometimes, people just want to use your router to access the internet themselves. Othertimes, they want to steal information or send you viruses. Nobody wants to deal with that. A  virus can crash your computer, sometimes to the point that it is not salvageable.

But how do you make sure that your internet security is good when you use wireless internet?

First, if you are not using your wireless router then you should turn it off. This is one of the best
ways to protect your internet security.

You should also disable the router's DHCP service. What does this do? This basically gives the computer access to the wireless connection. However, when you disable it and figure it manually then you can give your network a distinct IP address and make it more secure.

It is also important to setting up a strong password in order to encrypt the server. Make sure that the password is something that is strong enough that it can't be figured out. It is always suggested that you do not use the same password over and over for all of your accounts and that you try to make it a combination of letters and numbers. Don't ever use your name, zip code, social security number, or even telephone number.

Setting up and then activating a firewall is an additional way to protect your internet security. This is important whether you are using a wireless router or not. A firewall can protect you from viruses.

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Internet Security- Popular Online Scams

Nobody wants to get hooked into a scam, but some of them are so clever that you can get caught up in them without even realizing that you are doing something that threatens your internet security.

So what are some poplar internet scams?

1. Cashier's checks. This is a new scam that is becoming popular, especially on craigslist. Let's say that you post something for sale. A person writes you, without seeing the item, and says that they want to purchase it. They offer you a cashier's check that is sometimes even over the amount that the price is set for. They even tell you to deposit it and to that they will wait until the money shows up before they pick up the item. The money shows up in your account, they get the item, and then suddenly, the bank calls. Turns out the check wasn't good to start with. To avoid this, only deal with local people. Never accept a check that is more than the amount. If possible, have your bank check out the cashier's check with the bank account that it was drawn upon.

2. Online auctions. Although the sites might be legitimate, the products might not be. To protect yourself, always purchase from a seller with positive feedback, make sure that it is a reputable auction site (like Ebay), understand the payment terms, use a safe payment method, and don't accept cashier's checks for items.

3. Phishing. In this scam, someone writes you from a legitimate company, like a bank, and tells you that your information has been compromised. They then direct you to another site where you are asked to enter your personal information in order to protect everything. Don't fall for it. If it was for real, you would have received a phone call or something from the mail. To be on the safe side, call the company by looking up the number in the phone book.

4. Disaster scams. A disaster strikes and the next thing you know, someone is writing you asking for donations. Look them up on the internet before you write a check.

5. Work scams. These can come in the form of work at home scams or scams in which the person tells you that they found your resume online and want to offer you a job. Never do anything that requires you to pay money upfront or provide your social security number of bank account number.

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Internet Security- Downloading Music off the Internet

Today, most people have downloaded music off of the Internet. Not only is it convenient, but it
is also fun and very inexpensive. In the past, if you liked a song you either had to wait until it came on the radio to record it or you had to go out and buy the entire album. Not only was this
expensive, but it could be a hassle, too, if it was the only song off of the album that you wanted. Downloading music, however, costs less than $1 per song in most cases. It also downloads quickly and you can burn it on a CD for your home or vehicle. However, downloading music off the internet comes with internet security risks as well.

When a peer to peer (P2P) site is used, each person's computer acts as a host for a song or download. After installing software, a person can decide if they want to only download from other people or let other people also get into their computer and download from them. Obviously things like this can cause problems where internet security is concerned. By letting other people into your computer to download music, other things on your computer are also at risk from being taken as well. This is especially true if a good hacker gets in control of your computer. Files might be stolen, or deleted, or a virus can get into your computer and infect it, causing you to lose everything. Not really worth it for a couple of free songs.

There is another problem with downloading music in this way as well. Music is copyrighted. When you download it without the artist's consent, you are basically stealing. It is punishable by law. You have probably heard of pirated music or pirated movies before.

A common argument is that artists are already rich and downloading a couple of songs shouldn't matter. However, it does matter. Artists, by the way, don't really make that much money off of their CDs. For a $13 CD, some of the profit goes to the songwriter, some to the record company, some
to the musicians that played on the album, some to the distribution, and some to the record store that sold it. Unless the artist was also the songwriter, they are getting a very low profit, usually only a dollar or so.

If you are downloading music, have a good anti-virus software program available, as well as a strong firewall. This will protect your computer, but not your rights if you get sued.

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Internet Security- Popular Online Scams

Nobody wants to get hooked into a scam, but some of them are so clever that you can get caught up in them without even realizing that you are doing something that threatens your internet security.

So what are some poplar internet scams?

1. Cashier's checks. This is a new scam that is becoming popular, especially on craigslist. Let's say that you post something for sale. A person writes you, without seeing the item, and says that they want to purchase it. They offer you a cashier's check that is sometimes even over the amount that the price is set for. They even tell you to deposit it and to that they will wait until the money shows up before they pick up the item. The money shows up in your account, they get the item, and then suddenly, the bank calls. Turns out the check wasn't good to start with. To avoid this, only deal with local people. Never accept a check that is more than the amount. If possible, have your bank check out the cashier's check with the bank account that it was
drawn upon.

2. Online auctions. Although the sites might be legitimate, the products might not be. To protect  yourself, always purchase from a seller with positive feedback, make sure that it is a reputableauction site (like Ebay), understand the payment terms, use a safe payment method, and don't  accept cashier's checks for items.

3. Phishing. In this scam, someone writes you from a legitimate company, like a bank, and tellsyou that your information has been compromised. They then direct you to another site whereyou are asked to enter your personal information in order to protect everything. Don't fall for it.If it was for real, you would have received a phone call or something from the mail. To be onthe safe side, call the company by looking up the number in the phone book.

4. Disaster scams. A disaster strikes and the next thing you know, someone is writing you asking for donations. Look them up on the internet before you write a check.

5. Work scams. These can come in the form of work at home scams or scams in which the person tells you that they found your resume online and want to offer you a job. Never do anything that requires you to pay money upfront or provide your social security number of bank account number.

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Internet Security- Downloading Music off the Internet

Today, most people have downloaded music off of the Internet. Not only is it convenient, but it is also fun and very inexpensive. In the past, if you liked a song you either had to wait until it came on the radio to record it or you had to go out and buy the entire album. Not only was this  expensive, but it could be a hassle, too, if it was the only song off of the album that you wanted.

Downloading music, however, costs less than $1 per song in most cases. It also downloads quickly and you can burn it on a CD for your home or vehicle. However, downloading music off the internet comes with internet security risks as well.

When a peer to peer (P2P) site is used, each person's computer acts as a host for a song or download. After installing software, a person can decide if they want to only download from other people or let other people also get into their computer and download from them.

Obviously things like this can cause problems where internet security is concerned. By letting other people into your computer to download music, other things on your computer are also at risk from being taken as well. This is especially true if a good hacker gets in control of your computer. Files might be stolen, or deleted, or a virus can get into your computer and infect it, causing you to lose everything. Not really worth it for a couple of free songs. There is another problem with downloading music in this way as well. Music is copyrighted. When you download it without the artist's consent, you are basically stealing. It is punishable bylaw. You have probably heard of pirated music or pirated movies before.

A common argument is that artists are already rich and downloading a couple of songs shouldn't matter. However, it does matter. Artists, by the way, don't really make that much money off of theirCDs. For a $13 CD, some of the profit goes to the songwriter, some to the record company, some
to the musicians that played on the album, some to the distribution, and some to the record store that sold it. Unless the artist was also the songwriter, they are getting
a very low profit, usually only a dollar or so.

If you are downloading music, have a good anti-virus software program available, as well asa strong firewall. This will protect your computer, but not your rights if you get sued.

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5 Tips to Ensure Internet Security

Do you want to keep your computer and personal information safe? Of course you do. Here are 5 tips to help ensure your internet security.

1. Be careful of em-mail attachments
One of the most common ways to threaten your internet security is to open an e-mail attachment that contains a virus. Sometimes, just clicking on the attachment itself will unleash the virus. If you receive an email from someone that you don't know and it contains an attachment, don't open it just to be on the safe side. You can always send a message to that person to verify that the email is legitimate. It's best to invest in an anti virus software program that can scan the attachment before you open it. Some e-mail systems will scan emails for you. However, if you go through a free program (like hotmail) don't count on the system being as complete as an email account that you pay for.

2. Anti-virus software
You must invest in anti-virus software. It is one of the most important things for your computer. In addition to keeping you safe from viruses, it can also scan your hard drive and clear out unnecessary information, thus making your computer run more efficiently as well. Anti-virus software programs are everywhere but it helps to do some research before investing in one. With some of them, you have to update them and pay again every year.

3. Update security patches for your browser On Windows, you can go to “Windows Update” under the “Start” menu it will update security patches for you. This is necessary because holes are formed on the Internet frequently and while you might be protected this week, that doesn't guarantee that you will be next week.

4. Protect your passwords
While it is easier to use your same password, or a variation of it, for all of your accounts, it is safer not to do so. When forming your password, it is better to use a combination of letters and numbers. Also, never give your password out to anyone and resist the urge to store them on your computer. From time to time, change your password on your important accounts that contain personal information or financial information for added internet security.

5. Install a firewall.
A firewall blocks unwanted access to your computer. Some systems, like Windows Vista, have firewalls built into them. You can also download others.

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Cyber Bullying- Another Aspect of Breaking Internet Security

When you think of Internet security, you are probably thinking of protecting your personal and financial information. However, there are other types of internet security breeches. One type is
cyber bullying.

A phrase that is becoming more and more prevalent in the world wide web, cyber bullying can be very invasive and emotionally upsetting to children, teens, and even adults. It's difficult to control because in many cases the perpetrator is known but can not be proven. How? Because they will give just enough information to let their victim know who they are, but not enough information to actually be convicted of anything. They can do this by using pretend user names, fake pictures, and revealing very little information about themselves.

So what types of things happen with cyber bullying?

Threats- a lot of times, a cyber bully will make threats. These can be thinly veiled or outright vicious.

Harassment on victim's out website- another type of cyber bullying occurs when the bully posts negative material in abundance on the victim's own website. This can come in the form of negative comments, threats, and other types of general harassment.

Slander- if the bully has their own site (like a blog or a facebook or myspace page) theymight make slanderous comments about the victim. These can be falsities, such as claiming that the victim is cheating on their spouse/significant other, or they can be harmful truths that the general population doesn't need to need.

Accusations- a rare form of cyber bullying, but equally dangerous, is when the bully actually accuses the victim of doing the same thing that the bully is doing. An example would be this: the bully sends negative e-mails to the victim. Then, the bully gets on their own blog or website and writes about ow upset they are due tot he fact that the victim is sending THEM negative emails. In such cases, the bully might even receive sympathy and the victim is then harassed even more by people who feel sorry for the victim.

So why do things like this happen?

It is very difficult to know why. Anger, resentment, lack of self-esteem, or sometimes plain boredom can lead to cyber bullying. In addition, the anonymity of the internet makes it easier than every to bully someone. Still, cyber bullying can be emotionally devastating and can threaten your own emotional security. If it is happening to you, don't sit back and let it continue.

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Internet Security- Online Safety for Your Children

Every parent wants to keep their child safe. Protecting your children when they are on the Internet
is no exception to this. While you don't want to think about people harassing your child or trying to bring harm to them, there are still those out there who might try. The following is an article that contains tips on how you can provide online safety for your children.

You can purchase online tools for added internet security. These contain features that allow you to control your child's access to adult material. Some ISPs also contain parent-control options that block some types of material. In addition, you can purchase programs that block access to sites that is based on a list that your ISP makes.

You can also purchase filtering programs that restrict personal information from being sent online. This is particularly helpful in protecting your financial and personal information.

Install a program that lets you set a time limit on how long your child can stay online. This way, you can ensure that they are not spending a large amount of time on the internet. However, they will still be able to use office programs for school.

If your child has a Myspace of Facebook account, get one as well and befriend them in order to monitor their use. Only intervene if there is a safety concern in order to give them more privacy.

Don't let your child participate in chat rooms. Some ISPs offer programs that block chat rooms. Sometimes people enter chat rooms designed for children and teens and pretend to be one themselves.

If you're aware of any child pornography contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. If your child receives pornography, contact your local law enforcement office.

Talk to your child about their screen name creation. A screen name should be neutral and should not reveal any of the child's personal information such as their name or age.

Talk to your child about posting personal information like their address, age, and full name on social utility sites. When they create an account, have them make it private to ensure that only people they know can access it.

Continuously monitor your credit cards and banking account in order to be aware of any unusual activity. Talk to your child if you become aware of something different on the account. Then, talk to your credit card company or bank.

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