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.
If you have concerns about Spyware
and whether or not your computer currently carries any, log on to
www.lavasoft.de and check out the free PC software that will scan your system
for known Spyware.
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