Spoofing or phishing is an attempt to convince users that the email they receive is securely connected to a website which they believe to be genuine. The technique causes the originator of the email to gain unauthorized access to your computer, the ultimate aim being to obtain credit card or bank details. Link alteration involves a return internet address  being changed so that it goes straight back to the hacker’s site. This of course may even mean being directed  back to a site which looks exactly like Paypal or Ebay. IP Spoofing is another method where the computer user receives a message indicating it is from a genuine source. Get free antiivirus download trial version and pc tools free antivirus.

How can you protect yourself from these costly traps?

• 1. When you need to update information online, always use the same procedure. Otherwise open a new browser window and type in the website address of the authentic company’s page.
• 2. Only use the address you used previously, or start at the normal homepage. If a website’s address seems unfamiliar, chances are it’s not legitimate. Use free antivirus download trial version or pc tools free antivirus.
• 3. When you log into a secure site look for the lock at the bottom of your browser and “https” in front of the website address.
• 4. Use extreme caution when you are faced with an email which requests passwords, personal or financial or identity information or even social security or tax file numbers.
• 5. Spoof sites are more likely to have a long string of characters in the header with the business name somewhere in there, or not. Legitimate sites on the other hand , usually have a short address which identifies the business and possibly “.com” or “.org”.
• 6. If you are in doubt about a particular email or website, get in touch with the genuine company immediately, and make a copy of the suspicious website’s URL address, and ask the genuine company if the request was legitimate.
• 7. Report fraudulent emails to your ISP.
• 8. File a complaint with your Internet Crime Complaint Centre at http://www.ic3.gov. Vigilance and Security http://vigilanceandsecurity.com

It spread with lightning speed via attached files in emails. It was set to attack on the 3rd day of each month thirty minutes after your infected computer is booted up. This virus could cause widespread damage.

Once the unsuspecting user opens the contaminated attached file, it can get into the system and begin releasing itself to every available email address which exists. As soon as it is activated, among other things, all your files such as XLS, DOC, MDB, PPS, PPT, ZIP, RAR, PSD and DMP are overwritten and their content replaced with the message string: DATA Error [47 OF 94 93 F4 K5].

What a mess this creates, as everything incorporated will suffer. This includes, flash cards, network drives, external drives and any drive identified by an alphabetic. This virus is also known by many other names. It may even have the capability to nullify out-of-date antivirus software.

How then can you protect your computer from all this and any other malware? What is your best anti virus protection and how is antivirus software rated?

• Upgrade your antivirus software. Sites for two of the best anti virus protection and antivirus software rated programs which are free are “http://www.free-av.co/” and “http://www.avast.com”

• Scan your computer regularly for existing malware. There is a free tool which not only scans your computer remotely for viruses but which eliminates them as well. Have a look at PcTools

• Install a firewall. You can download it free. An excellent one can also be found at PcTools

• Get patches for your particular version of windows and regular updates.

• Use free email filters which enable you to delete unwanted spam or suspicious mail which could contain viruses . You can download from “http://ePrompter.com”.

You CAN take steps to protect your computer and minimize the risks of any viruses.