Anyone who uses the internet for any use, even one as basic as email, shopping, or conducting a business, needs to utilize an effective and up to date anti virus and spyware monitoring system to protect their personal, business and financial data. Although credit card theft is the number one form of identity theft, computer theft crimes rank in the top five dangers of identity theft.
There are three main ways that identity theft can occur from your internet usage:
-Phishing. You receive an email from one of the more well known online services or your bank, warning you with the message that your bank or other account may have been compromised, then asking you to clink a link and “log-in” If you follow those instructions, you end up providing a third party with your account information and access. I have most often received this type of message from a group alleging to be “PayPal,” however I have also received it from an entity pretending to be a local credit union.
- Spyware: You may not even know that this is on your computer without a spyware detection system. This software is used to record keystrokes to obtain either personal and financial information whenever you shop or bank online. It can also be used to access confidential information on your hard drive.
- Spoofing: A legitimate internet site will be “hi-jacked”, redirecting people to a fake internet site where they are asked to provide confidential information.
It is important when shopping for your anti virus software to make sure that it contains protection against these dangers and includes regular updates. One of the many antivirus systems currently available is PC Security Shield 2008. This system, like many others, offers: anti virus, spyware and adware protection, personal firewall, automatic daily updates, your choices of real time, and/or scheduled scanning, as well as parental controls. You may complete your purchase of the software online or via telephone and then download the anti virus software to your personal computer.
However, what is unique about this service is:
1. You may purchase your service either monthly or yearly; with most services you must purchase one full year.
2. If a virus does occur, Security Shield provides a “patch” within 2-3 hours and a complete repair of the virus within 5 hours. According to PC Professionals Security Shield, using F-Secure technology responds 3-4 times faster in repairing viruses as well as updates customer’s service with the latest antivirus protection “twice” as often as other anti virus software systems. (PC Professionals, Issue Aug. 2006)
3. The software uses a Bayesian filter as well as a “blacklist” of sites that send unsolicited email for use in phishing schemes and stores these emails in a separate folder for your safety.
4. With the PC Security Shield 2008 Parental Control features, parents can not only block web sites that contain specific content, such as pornography, weapons or drugs, but they can also set specific times of day when the internet may not be used. This is especially important for those late nights or directly after school when parents may not be present.
5. No additional or hidden charges for the technical support services assistance, in contrast to other businesses whose anti virus programs charge an additional amount to correct virus or spyware damage either per minute or per event.
Technical support for this system includes an online product guide, instant chat, email and telephone support as well as a Frequently Asked Questions site. However, the telephone support does not have a toll free number. The chat online support responds quickly, however you should have your product codes available. My hold time via telephone support was a little more than 5 minutes, which is longer than I would like to hold, but I have held longer for utilities and cable. Be sure to check the website for system requirements; however, they seem to be the standard for any anti virus software system that you may be considering for purchase.
The cost for this service is currently $39.99/year after a $20.00 mail in rebate. The rebate is offered after 90 days of service and after ending your pre-existing anti virus software support with any one of those listed by PC Security Shield. You may also purchase a monthly service program for $5.99 a month for one computer or $9.99 a month for up to three computers.
My favorite feature with this service is not only than just the ability to control web content, but also the times that my children are permitted to be on the web and that I can change these times according to my schedule. The other favorite feature is that it protects emails from spy ware, phishing, and keylogging types of emails through two different services, the one being up to date research and the other by compiling a log of “bad” sites that may attempt to hi jack your personal information.
To purchase this service, you simply register online, choose either monthly or a yearly subscription, confirm your purchase via email, obtain your key code and download your anti virus software system. Setting your preferences is intuitive; however, the online chat is quite helpful in providing direction.
This may be an anti virus software program most likely of interest to parents, especially with the offers of multiple computer coverage, no additional charges for technical support and the excellent extended parental controls. It protects your PC and personal data from theft, making it worth considering.
Lisa Carey is a contributing author for Identity Theft Secrets: prevention and protection. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity Theft Secrets blog
Staying Safe While Using Social Networking Site Software
The great news is that social networking has grown to enormous levels over the last few years and while this may seem like a bad thing in terms of security, it really is not. The number of people who are looking to ensure that they as well as all of their information stays safe has increased as well and over all the result is astonishing with security features always being updated to keep people safe. After all, with the sudden rise in people being victimized it seems only natural that safety and security would be a top priority as well.
For those who use the internet a great deal the number of security features that are included in social networking site software should seem like no big surprise. After all, there is encryption, spam filters, CAPCHA codes, and even passwords that are all used to help ensure that you can stay safe. All of these features are typically standard on any website, regardless of whether it is social networking or not. However, taking security a bit further social networking site software also typically allows users the ability to block or restrict access from users that they do not know.
To give real life examples let us look at Facebook, this is one of the largest social networking sites that is designed primarily for high school and college students. The site generally restricts all access to someone’s profile page until you are added as a friend. However once you have been added as a friend of the user you can view their page, leave them comments and even send them a message. You are also able to see their other friends as well, but again unless they are your friend as well you cannot see their page. This type of security is essential to help keep personal information private.
In a world where scams abound on the internet, there are plenty of people who are not always wise in their decisions about what information to share. For example, leaving your e-mail address, home address, phone number or full name on a page that is wide open to the public is about as wise as actually posting your bank account information or even your social security number. Limiting the ability for strangers to see your information is essential to stay safe and all good social networking site software will give you this ability.
MySpace handles the security issues a bit differently; they allow you to set for yourself who is allowed to see your page. You can restrict it to friends only, as well as everyone. In addition, you are able to limit whom you would like to allow to request friendship from you. This can help you to avoid spammers, as well as reduce the chances of having a person who is inappropriate gain access to your profile page. When you look at these features combined together with the standard safety measures that most websites have in addition to common sense you are left with a very comprehensive social networking site software package that keeps you safe.
However, taking the software for granted is never wise. There are always ways that people can hack into accounts and still gain access to information. Giving too much personal information on your profile page is never wise regardless of which site you are using. Too many mistakes can occur that can be quite devastating if you are not able to take control over your own personal information. It is essential that you never rely solely on the security measures that are in place within social networking site software; instead consider these to be additional tools that you use in conjunction with your own common sense to ensure your safety.
You should also take full advantage of all security features and restrictions for any account that you are creating for a child. Letting a very young child use social networking can be a great way to allow them to learn how to stay in touch with family, but keeping your family protected is also a very large step towards ensuring that they stay safe. The tools that are available within the sites can be a huge step towards that process and with a bit of education on the proper safety procedures on the internet can have even young children safety engaged in the social networking site software like a professional with no complications and no safety risk.
Ron McNeil promotes social networking site software to start your own community software site powered by social networking software software located at http://www.webscribble.com/products/webnetwork/