Web safety

Web, email, chat, password and kids safety
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Reports show that 74% of all e-mail is spam, and that one in 137.5 e-mails contain a malware of some sort, and that one in 200 e-mails is a phishing attempt.
Viruses are most easily spread by attachments in e-mail or instant messages. Phishing e-mails impersonate Banks, PayPal, eBay and Retailers.
If your e-mail application allows it, disable images in your e-mail. The primary reasons behind image blocking features are to prevent spammers from knowing if users open their messages.
Never open a Chat or e-mail attachment without virus scanning it first!
  • Don’t open any attachment unless you know whom it’s from and you were expecting it.
  • Never unsubscribe from spam e-mail as this just validates your e-mail address to the spammer. Instead just delete it.
  • If you receive a chat or e-mail message with an attachment from someone you don’t know, delete it immediately.
  • Use antivirus software that scans attachments as you open them and keep it updated.
  • Use an e-mail program with spam filtering built-in.
Never respond to request for personal information through an embedded link in e-mail or through chatting.
  • Keep your chat software up to date.
  • Never send personal information through an instant message.
  • When you’re asked to enter or sign up for a chat nickname, choose a name that doesn’t give away your personal information.
  • Don’t open attachments or click on Web links sent by someone you don’t know
  • Phishing scams typically masquerade as e-mails from legitimate companies such as a financial institutions and contain links back to sites that look real. The reality, though, is these sites and e-mails are all fake and are
    simply being used to try and steal your information so that they can attempt an identity theft with your information.
  • Spam mail is basically unwanted and unsolicited e-mail. There are companies whose entire business model is to send out unsolicited e-mail and flood your inbox with trash. People have and still do loose their entire life savings to spammers.
  • Keyloggers can be installed by opening attachments in e-mail or in chat sessions.
  • Chat rooms and social networking websites are virtual magnets for harvesting software.
  • One address posted in a chat room received spam mail nine minutes after it was posted.
  • Spambots constantly scour websites and chat rooms looking for email addresses to
    add to their lists. It’s not that they might lift the address, it’s that they will lift the address.
  • CHATDANGER is a site all about the potential dangers on interactive services online like chat, IM, online games, email and mobiles.

Pop-ups and URL redirection
Never click on pop-ups ads! Many of these actually lead to some form of malware including virus, trojans, adware, spyware and browser hijackers.
  • URL redirection is the first sign that your PC may be infected.
  • Be very suspicious if you click a link and end up somewhere you didn’t intend to be or start seeing pop-ups for porn and security software.
  • You might be left with an adware toolbar installed into your browser as well as some pesky pop-up advertising for rogue security software.
  • Avoid clicking on pop-ups even to close them. Instead, close pop-ups from the system tray with a right mouse click and choose Close.
  • Increase your browser security settings by using the Pop-up blocker.