Phishing – It’s Signs and Your Options

Phishing can be a serious problem and can be a major threat to your computer-- some you can catch right away, others a little deceptive. If you are working on the Internet, it is important that you protect yourself and your computer. Here is an article that I wrote, that identifies, explains and gives you options on ways to protect yourself.

Phishing – It’s Signs and Your Options
By Vickie J. Scanlon

Phishing is the act of some individual sending an email to a user in an attempt to scam the user to release personal information. Is it easy to determine if it’s a scam? Sometimes – but not always. I hope to give you enough examples and information to help you to safeguard yourself from these unsavory individuals.

In addition, sometimes the email is sent to malicious software so as to render your computer helpless. Thus, it is important that you do not click on the link they provide, because that is the trigger that will load the software to your system.

EXAMPLES OF PHISHING

You receive hundreds of emails in your mailbox, but one email catches your eye – it directs you to a website, requesting that you need to update your personal information. It requests such personal information as:

passwords
credit card numbers
social security number
bank account numbers

“It appears to be legitimate”, you say to yourself. And you also notice that the emails are from companies that you have been doing business with for a while. Warning: The website could be bogus.

Here are several examples of phishing in action.

E-mails stating they are from E-bay and they feel that your account may have been compromised and would like you to verify your information with they so conveniently supply. DO NOT click on it.

• E-mails from Paypal or your bank asking that you verify your information because they feel that your account has been compromised, or heaven forbid, suspended. Same scenario, different company. DO NOT click on the link.
• E-mail that states that an unauthorized transaction has occurred on your account. Please click the link below and confirm your identity. DO NOT.
• Here’s a work at home scam – We have seen your resume on Monster and feel you would fit our position. If you are interested, please go to our website, look over the experience required and submit your resume if you have this background. Website is professional looking, offer looks good – but it could be a scam.
  
  
  WHAT ARE THEY AFTER
  
  In the above examples they are after information about you, be it passwords, credit cards, social security numbers, anything that can identify you – and that which they can use to profit from you.
  
  The job email is used to verify that the email address is a true blue, active email address. What do they do with this info – they sell these accounts to spammers for good money. They need to verify your email address—because if the spammers come up empty – this person’s business is dead.
  
  
  HOW TO VERIFY SAFELY
  
  1) If they want you to verify your account, do not cut and paste, or use the link they provide in the email. Close your Internet session, open a new session and enter the site that you have on record to verify.
  2) Emails requesting resumes – Verify their account before you send your resume. When verifying – these red flags should be considered:
  
  1) If they are hesitant to provide a phone number – might be a scam. 2) If their business address is not verifiable –might be a scam. 3) If the website is new – might be a scam. 4) If they use a large company’s name—and that company never heard of them – might be a scam. 5) Again, verify this information before you send your resume.
  
  
  WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF
  
  Here are some quick tips to protect you and your computer system.
  
  * Use anti-virus software and a firewall – keep them up to date.
  * If you have a broadband connection make sure you have a firewall in place.
  * Don’t email personal or financial information.
  * Before providing personal information – search to see if the site is secure – look for a lock icon. However, remember not all phishers are stupid – in fact, they could be computer savvy enough to forge security icons. Thus, look for a site whose link looks like this: https://www.somename.com -- this shows that it is a secure site.
  * Coupons from respected companies – Verify that it is a true-blue coupon from the company – I had one coupon sent to my email address from what I thought was Staples. Verified it with Staples – not a coupon honored by Staples. When on the Internet – if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it still may not be a duck!
  * When making transactions on the Internet – be it online banking, Paypal, Internet Gold, etc. – complete your transaction, log out of the website, and close out of your Internet Explorer—and then continue with a new session of Internet Explorer.
  
  WHERE TO FORWARD SPAM THAT IS PHISHNG
  
  If you encounter spam that is phishing, or are a victim of a phishing scam, you can forward the information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank or organization that the email may have stated they are from. In many cases, the other organizations have information on their website where you can report the attempted scam.
  
  In addition, if you have been scammed, and you wish to file a complaint – go to ftc.gov.
  
  To conclude, no one is immune to spam or a scam. But try to be ever vigilant and do your due diligence with anything you do on the Internet. But being human is a scammer’s hope – they know that most will ignore the bait, but some will be tempted. So, if you so humanly slip, and succumb to a phishing scam, you can report them to ftc.gov.
  
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  Vickie J Scanlon -Visit her site at: http://www.myaffiliateplace.biz for free tools, articles, ebooks, affiliate "how to" information, where to report your scam, Affiliate programs to join, computers for business, software and more
  

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DENTAL CARE – Who’s Afraid To Go?

We all know that dental care is important, however, there are many that will avoid the dentist at all costs. This is why it is so important to introduce your children to a dentist when they have no problems. In fact, one individual had a tooth ache, but instead of going to a dentist, he went to a psychologist instead -- to try and understand the why. However, he lost all interest in the psychologist and the why and went to the dentist when the pain got so bad, that he didn't care what they did! Thus, my story, my experience.

When is a good time to introduce your child to a dentist? I would strongly suggest that you introduce your children to a dentist before they had any problems with their teeth. You want them to start out with a positive experience – thus, lessening the possibility of any dentist phobias. Go ahead and laugh – I’m one of those people who developed an early fear of dentists.


My First Experience

I was very young, and one of my baby teeth became abscessed – not a pleasant feeling. Anyway, it was my father’s duty to take me to the dentist. In the dentist office, I was told to swish some strong, green liquid in my mouth and spit it out. I was to do that until all the liquid in the glass was gone – then go back to the dentist chair and sit down.

I, being the obedient child, did as I was told. I swished and spit, and once done, climbed into the dentist chair. I did not have a clue of what was going to happen next, until of course, the dentist told me to open my mouth and began to pull my tooth out. Low and behold, the green liquid I had swished in my mouth was the antiseptic! Well, surprise, surprise – it didn’t work!

With my father holding me down in the chair, I felt every pain, heard every grinding sound – and the experience remained alive and strong in my memory—a memory that followed me throughout my childhood and into adulthood.

After that experience, my love for the dentist and the very sound of a drill would put me into a panic. No matter how I rationalized it, no matter how much I told myself how stupid I was for feeling the fear – it would not go away.


My Experience As An Adult

It took me a long time to overcome my fear of dentists. I finally found a dentist who I could talk too, and say, “Hey, this is the experience I had – this is the fear I have – can I trust you not to hurt me.” Well, my dentist understood my fears – and I’m happy to say that I felt that if he could calm my fears I could trust him with my young boys.


When To Take Your Children To The Dentist?

When do you take your children to the dentist? Before they have any cavities or any other ugly problems. Take your children to the dentist to have their teeth cleaned and looked at – let the comfort level build between your child and your dentist. So when there are any problems with their teeth – they know the dentist won’t hurt them.

That is what I did for my children. I set them up with my dentist before they had any problems. I did not want them to have the same fears that I had. And it seemed to have worked.


If you have dental insurance, and you have children, give them a positive experience to remember – it will make the next visit to the dentist an everyday occurrence, instead of a stressful visit to hell.

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Vickie J Scanlon has a BBA degree in Administrative Management and Marketing. Visit her site at: http://www.myaffiliateplace.biz for free tools, articles, affiliate opportunities, products and services.
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INTERNET ETIQUETTE – Net Etiquette?

Internet Etiquette, as is personal etiquette, must be learned. Some people feel that since they are on the Internet, they are safe and they can conduct themselves in any manner as they see fit. However, I want to emphasize to you that the Internet is the information highway, and it is made up of people who share information. The community is vast, the information travels fast -- thus, be aware of your conduct.

INTERNET ETIQUETTE – Net Etiquette?

Many people know how -- and do conduct themselves in the real world properly. However, many people are unaware that this same conduct needs to be applied online as well. Net etiquette is basically the rules you should follow while in Cyberspace. These seven rules are what I learned on my Cyber journey and what I try to follow while on the Internet – let’s see if you agree.

First and foremost, you must remember that even though you are sitting alone at your computer – and no one is replying, say to your blog, does not mean they are not lurking (reading and learning but not commenting). Translated, there are real people reading what you are writing – and if you make derogatory comments or accusations – they will be felt by that person. If you do make derogatory comments or accusations – please verify, verify, verify, verify – this is libel.

Second, be ethical – being ethical should not go out the door when you get into Cyberspace – what applies to offline business and personal conduct, applies to online business and personal conduct.

Third, if you go into a forum it is advisable to take the time to do some lurking before posting. Learn the ways of the forum before posting. Some forums will not tolerate any advertising – they are there to discuss their topic and to learn, and to share information.

Fourth, the Internet allows you anonymity, which means, you are not judged by the way you look or the clothing you wear. But you are judged on what you write – that is the only way in which people can make judgments on you and your character.

Fifth, when writing on the Internet, be sure to check your facts. Research and verify before getting on your soapbox – it can save you a lot of grief – loss creditability. Remember, your writing is their first impressions of you.

Sixth, be kind and do not use offense language.

Seventh, share your knowledge and be open to learning from others.

I would like to conclude by saying that the Internet is a vast international community of people, sharing ideas, experiences and knowledge. It is a great community, yes, there are some bad eggs, but the community is ever vigilant and will alert all to the bad eggs. While on the Internet, be aware of your conduct, for that is how the Internet knows who you are.

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Vickie J Scanlon - Visit her site at: My Affiliate Place for free tools, articles, ebooks, affiliate how to info, affiliate programs to join, and dell products, tutorials on adsense and adwords.
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