Current
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US-CERT
(
United
States
Computer
Readiness
Team)
Blogs
RSS
VOIP
Phishing
Honeynet
Project
Pharming
Spam
Pop-up ads
US-CERT
A website providing information for the non-technical computer user on
how to prepare and maintain a secure computer,
before and after connecting it to the Internet. They are part of
the Department of Homeland Security and also offer email
alerts.
http://www.us-cert.gov/nav/pre01/ntech/
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Blogs
Try this site to explore this rapidly growing Internet service of
independent expression on a wide variety of topics.
http://www.bloglines.com/about/
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RSS
This great site, howstuffworks.com explains how RSS technology helps
you keep current with online content.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/rss-feeds.htm
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VOIP
Have you heard of this new of this new phone service technology.
Many are using VOIP as a way to save on their phone bills
by making calls over their computers. Once again
howstuffworks.com has written an article covering this new technology
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ip-telephony.htm
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Phishing
The practice of sending fake email messages that attempt to get the
recipient to enter personal information, including social security
numbers, credit card numbers and bank account information. Often
times they will use fake websites that look the same
as the actual legitimate website to collect their information.
http://www.antiphishing.org/index.html
is an excellent site for learning about this type of identity theft,
how to avoid it, and updates on the latest phishing attacks.
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Honeynet
Project
An ongoing study of how those trying to compromise the security
of your computer attack it.
http://project.honeynet.org/misc/project.html
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Pharming
Redirection to a bogus version of the legitimate website to which you
intended to go.
Find out more from this article at wired.com
http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,66853,00.html
Spam
Spammers are able to find your email address numerous
ways. Using your favorite search engine, enter your
email address. If you see any results, based on your search, then
your email address is easily found. Additionally,
in the time since you first starting using the Internet, have you given
out your email address to family and friends,
where it may be stored in their email address book? Have you
signed up for Newsgroups, mailing lists, purchased
anything online, or participated in chat rooms? These are ways
spammers are able to collect your email address.
Even when you are careful with your email address, there are programs
that will randomly create email addresses
and then mail to them, attempting to verify valid addresses for
spammers. While some unsolicited email you receive
may be legitimate marketing, you should not reply to or click on a
"unsubscribe" link, since this just validates your
email address.
While most people tend to use the email program that is bundled with
their browser, i.e. Outlook Express with
Internet Explorer, it may be possible for spammers to exploit this
convenience and more easily locate your email address.
You do have the option of using a separate email program not bundled
with the browser program that you use.
How can you help in the fight against spam? Take a look at the
organization The
Coalition
Against
Unsolicited
Commercial
Email (CAUCE)
http://www.cauce.org/
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Pop-up ads
New versions of some web browsers, such as Netscape Navigator 7,
have built in pop-up ad blockers. For other
web browser programs there are third-party add-on programs you may use
to block un-wanted pop-up ads.
A quick search using your favorite search engine program, will result
with numerous programs that you may use.
Make sure to do some research, before deciding which program to
use. Some programs that claim to block pop-up
ads actually do more harm than good.
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to other websites are intended for informational use only.
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Last updated 3/18/05