Sure, people who study computer science or electronic engineering may know of the layers but very few people can claim that they are an expert on every layer of the computer.

So, it is hard for even professionals to be able to tell when something is going on behind the scenes without our knowledge.

We try to search for clues that will let us know if anything is going on that we should know about.

But our best bet is to run an antivirus scanner on the machine and let it figure it out.

If you are someone who uses the computer a lot but is far from an expert, you might need to keep check of other aspects in your life that a hacker might be interested in.

One of these aspects is your financials and the best way to keep a tab on that is to make sure that your credit report is alright.

One of the biggest scams that happen to people when they are on the internet is that attackers will take their credit card numbers and sell them to a third party.

These people then use the cards to shop for items and then fence it to keep the money.

If it is a credit card that you rarely use, you might not know until the bill shows up.

Also, hackers will take your personal information and take out loans in your name.

This happens more often than people think and it is a good way to keep your credit score in a hole for a long time.

Credit Reports

To make sure that you are up to date and are not being taken advantage of, you must check your credit report at least twice a year.

There might be things on there that shouldn’t be and if you do not check it at least semi-annually then you are letting the perpetrators get away with it.

The longer that you let a charge go undisputed, the less likely the people will believe you when you try to plead your case.

If you wait long enough, you might have to take the battle to court and this is the last thing that you want to deal with, all because someone got hold of your information and used it to be a criminal.

Instead of your credit report becoming less important in the digital age, it has become more important.

It is used by employers before they hire you; it is also used by renters before they let you rent an apartment from them.

If you want to make sure that you will be able to continue to enjoy the benefits that a good credit report brings, then you must check it regularly.

You never know when someone has decided to target you.

How prevalent is Spam? According to Scott McAdams, OMA Public Affairs and Communications Department,
studies show unsolicited or junk e-mail, known as spam, accounts for roughly half of all email messages received. Although once regarded as little more than a nuisance, the prevalence of spam has increased to the point where many users have begun to express a general lack of confidence in the effectiveness of email transmissions, and increased concern over the spread of computer viruses via unsolicited messages.

In 2003, President Bush signed the Can Spam bill, in December of 2003, which is the first national standards around bulk unsolicited commercial email. The bill, approved by the Senate by a vote of 97 to 0, prohibits senders of unsolicited commercial email from using false return addresses to disguise their identity (spoofing) and the use of dictionaries to generate such mailers. In addition, it prohibits the use of misleading subject lines and requires that emails include an opt out mechanism. The legislation also prohibits senders from harvesting addresses off Web sites. Violations constitute a misdemeanor crime subject to up to one year in jail.

One major point that needs to be discussed about this: spam is now coming from other countries in ever greater numbers. These emails are harder to fight, because they come from outside our countrys laws and regulations. Because the Internet opens borders and thinks globally, these laws are fine and good, but do not stop the problem.
So what do you do about this? Her are the top 5 Rules to do to protect yourself from spam.

Number 1: Do what you can to avoid having your email address out on the net.
There are products called spam spiders that search the Internet for email addresses to send email to. If you are interested, do a search on spam spider and you will be amazed at what you get back. Interestingly, there is a site, WebPoison.org, which is an open source project geared to fight Internet spambots and spam spiders, by giving them bogus HTML web pages, which contain bogus email addresses.

A couple of suggestions for you: a) use form emails, which can hide addresses or also b) use addresses like sales@company.com instead of your full address to help battle the problem. c) There are also programs that encode your email, like jsGuard, which encodes your email address on web pages so that spam spiders find it difficult or impossible to read your email address.

Number 2: Get spam blocking software. There are many programs out there for this. (go to www.cloudmark.com or www.mailwasher.net for example). You may also buy a professional version. Whatever you do, get the software. It will save you time. The software is not foolproof, but they really do help. You usually have to do some manual set up to block certain types of email.

Number 3: Use the multiple email address approach.
There are a lot of free email addresses to be had. If you must subscribe to newsletters, then have a back up email address. It would be like giving your cell phone number to your best friends and the business number to everyone else.

Number 4: Attachments from people you dont know are BAD, BAD, BAD.
A common problem with spam is that they have attachments and attachments can have viruses. Corporations often have filters that dont let such things pass to you. Personal email is far more open country for spamers. General rule of thumb: if you do not know who is sending you something, DO NOT OPEN THE ATTACHMENT. Secondly, look for services that offer filtering. Firewall vendors offer this type of service as well.

Number 5: Email services now have bulk mail baskets. If what you use currently does not support this, think about moving to a new vendor. The concept is simple. If you know someone, they can send you emails. If you dont know them, put them in the bulk email pile and then choose to allow them into your circle. Spam Blocking software has this concept as well, but having extra layers seems critical these days, so it is worth looking into.

Let me finish by saying that I do hope you found this article helpful and informative. There is a lot of information out there on this subject, in your local bookstore, your library, my Blog, details which follow, and indeed the internet, so please spend some time on research, you will be well rewarded for your efforts.

It is totally understandable that Hormel is merely protecting one of its most treasured brand names. They are afraid that the day may come when people will start wondering why they named their product after junk email. Maybe Hormel is just not giving people more credit. Or maybe they know something that experts in the information technology (IT) arena have known for a long time.

The topic of junk email prevention has fallen under the broader category of computer security these days. In fact some will say that email security is one of the IT manager’s worst nightmares. Emails are a common venue of computer virus infection. Virus makers are coming up with newer and more sophisticated means of exploiting email as a way to defraud users. One of the causes of today’s rash of identity thefts comes by way of email, more popularly known as phishing email scams.

Ask any IT manager what their take is as to why so many users become victims of computer viruses or online fraud. Their answer will invariably be along the lines of “user habits and reckless behavior”. To reinforce this, a noted German network security expert said this past week in an IT conference held in Australia that it would take twenty to thirty years to educate people about computer security. It may sound exaggerated but it certainly reflects the frustration of an expert towards why users make it easy for attackers to compromise their computer systems.Actually it need not take so many years for people to learn but their very habits and behavior impede the learning process.

Consider why there is so much junk email floating around, many of which have probably found their way into your inbox. It is because of the user’s habit of forwarding email to everyone in their address book just because a line in the body of the email tells them to do so. Consider why there are so many victims of email scams nowadays. Because when an official looking email arrives, say from their bank, telling them to update their account information and password, the user’s impulsive behavior takes over and they go do as they are instructed. There is also this prevailing “it couldn’t happen to me” mentality and that is precisely the kind of behavior that cyber criminals pounce on. The common denominator here is that the user has this habit of not going the extra mile in doing some sort of checking first.

Securing your personal computer will take only twenty to thirty minutes. There is no dearth of products around that will help in securing your computer. Notwithstanding some IT experts’ criticism that some of today’s security products are inadequate, they are still your best bet in preventing your computer being compromised. Leave the research to them to come up with better products.

So when Hormel Foods wants to dissociate their Spam brand name from junk email prevention software, they probably know that given the average computer user’s lack of regard for computer security, the day may actually come that these same users will think they named their product after junk email. After all, the Spam brand name has been around for almost seventy years and it would not be that successful if Hormel Foods did not know a thing or two about consumer habits and behavior.

It is totally understandable that Hormel is merely protecting one of its most treasured brand names. They are afraid that the day may come when people will start wondering why they named their product after junk email. Maybe Hormel is just not giving people more credit. Or maybe they know something that experts in the information technology (IT) arena have known for a long time.

The topic of junk email prevention has fallen under the broader category of computer security these days. In fact some will say that email security is one of the IT manager’s worst nightmares. Emails are a common venue of computer virus infection. Virus makers are coming up with newer and more sophisticated means of exploiting email as a way to defraud users. One of the causes of today’s rash of identity thefts comes by way of email, more popularly known as phishing email scams.

Ask any IT manager what their take is as to why so many users become victims of computer viruses or online fraud. Their answer will invariably be along the lines of “user habits and reckless behavior”. To reinforce this, a noted German network security expert said this past week in an IT conference held in Australia that it would take twenty to thirty years to educate people about computer security. It may sound exaggerated but it certainly reflects the frustration of an expert towards why users make it easy for attackers to compromise their computer systems. Actually it need not take so many years for people to learn but their very habits and behavior impede the learning process.

Consider why there is so much junk email floating around, many of which have probably found their way into your inbox. It is because of the user’s habit of forwarding email to everyone in their address book just because a line in the body of the email tells them to do so. Consider why there are so many victims of email scams nowadays. Because when an official looking email arrives, say from their bank, telling them to update their account information and password, the user’s impulsive behavior takes over and they go do as they are instructed. There is also this prevailing “it couldn’t happen to me” mentality and that is precisely the kind of behavior that cyber criminals pounce on. The common denominator here is that the user has this habit of not going the extra mile in doing some sort of checking first.

Securing your personal computer will take only twenty to thirty minutes. There is no dearth of products around that will help in securing your computer. Notwithstanding some IT experts’ criticism that some of today’s security products are inadequate, they are still your best bet in preventing your computer being compromised. Leave the research to them to come up with better products.

So when Hormel Foods wants to dissociate their Spam brand name from junk email prevention software, they probably know that given the average computer user’s lack of regard for computer security, the day may actually come that these same users will think they named their product after junk email. After all, the Spam brand name has been around for almost seventy years and it would not be that successful if Hormel Foods did not know a thing or two about consumer habits and behavior.

Who am I talking about? I am referring to those who make spyware and load it on your computer.

Spyware is a dangerous type of program that is loaded on your PC usually without your knowledge. If you think you are not a victim, you are probably wrong, since spyware is estimated to be on 91 percent of computers. It is usually transmitted through some type of download, typically from a freeware site. The irony is, spyware is sometimes loaded onto your computer when you are actually trying to get rid of it. That is because the makers of spyware advertise a free spyware cleaner, but it is not FREE of spyware! That is how they make their money! They give up the profit on the software product, but gain it by essentially selling your information to a hacker.

Fortunately, there are a number of legitimate spyware removers out there that will safely get rid of these harmful intruders for a nominal fee. They offer a free scan at first, and then to remove the spyware, you will need to get the paid version. But like I said, it does not cost much, and it gives you piece of mind knowing someone is not hacking into your accounts.

Click here for a FREE spyware scan, plus a review of all the top spyware removers, including the best, XoftSpySE

Internet fraud is rampant nowadays and many have become victims already. The most common kind is the identity theft. It basically steals personal information to gain access to private accounts. It is then used to rip victims of their hard earned moneys. In worse situations, when a residence address is tracked down, the house may be robbed, and sometimes families get hurt.

It pays to be informed how these internet thieves operate. They will after all use all kinds of deceptions possible to rob victims of personal information, and will in turn open up to many personal accounts.

Shopping online has become popular because it makes purchasing very easy and less of a hassle especially to busy people. But be careful, because it has also paved the way for scammers to thrive on unknowing victims.

Online shopping is at its peak in holiday seasons like Christmas. Don’t be too trusting. Before you input your credit card information, be sure that the website is secure and safe. There are many fake websites posing as online internet stores. After your payment, you will never receive the commodities you bought.

If possible, it is better to go to more renowned brands with an online store. You can also get referrals of reputable online shopping websites.

You can also use micro shredders to help you with your shopping. There are credit monitoring services you can use although they are expensive. The best solution available now by three bureaus (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) is the security freeze. This is a padlock system for your credit report.

You can issue a credit freeze, telling the three bureaus that you do not want them to sell your personal information. This credit freeze makes all your credit reports unavailable to everyone who would want to know your credits. Lenders can not issue a credit for your name to someone you do not know. They have to see your credit report first before issuing one.

Here are other primers on security freeze to keep your identities safe:

Security freeze do have fees. Fees vary by state. The normal rate is $10. Others offer it for free to those who have been previous victims of identity fraud already.

This is advisable if you do not intend to use your credit card for at least a year. Otherwise, you will be charged for transactions made with your card.

Another good reason for credit freeze is it gives you enough time to think if you really need the loan or not. It takes a few days for your credit report to be lifted. This can give you more time to think.

You should also know how to arm your computer. Use an updated anti-spyware or anti-virus program.

Remember that you can never stop identity theft so you must pay attention very well. If you have receive bills from companies you do not know, this only means that someone is impersonating you.

Consumers are asking, what is a credit freeze and how does it protect my credit against identity theft? Is it really efficient? How is a credit freeze done and why should I be interested about it? In this article, we’ll be answering these questions and provide more tips on fighting ID theft.

When a credit freeze is done, it blocks all new creditors, insurers, employers and the credit report owner himself from viewing or accessing his credit report. When a credit report is “on freeze”, no credit inquiry is possible or allowed. How does this protect you from stolen identity? Identity thieves use stolen personal information in opening new accounts. For instance, a thief may try to open a new credit card account in your name and use that credit card in making incredibly large purchases for you to pay.

Identity thieves can easily open a credit card account. When the credit card company looks in to your credit report and found that you are a good candidate for credit, the new credit card will be issued right away. However, when your credit report is frozen, the credit card company will not be able to check into your credit report and thus can’t proceed in opening the new account.

But what if you really want to apply for a new loan or obtain a new credit card. You would first need to “unfreeze” your credit report before even submitting your application. This way, when your prospective creditor makes an inquiry about your credit history, your creditor will not be denied. To “unfreeze” your credit report, you have to get the PIN code provided by the bureau who has your credit report.

Freezing Your Credit

How do you avail of a credit freeze? Credit freeze is being offered by all the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). One can ask for a freeze by sending in his letter of request, enclosed with 2 proofs of residency. You may use a copy of your driver’s license or a billing statement addressed to your name. Once a credit is put on a freeze, it will be permanent until the credit report owner requests for the freeze to be lifted. If you want to “freeze” and “unfreeze” your credit, you will have to pay each bureau a certain amount ($10 to $12).

Safeguard Your Identity

Although a credit freeze can protect your report from unwanted inquiries or attempts to open fraudulent accounts, it cannot protect you from all types of schemes resulting from stolen identity. Thus, we should all be vigilant in protecting our personal information. Here are some tips:

* Shred all documents that contains any type of personal information before discarding them. (Ex. ATM receipts, banking statements, expired credit cards, old IDs, etc.)

* Keep all your important documents in a safe storage.

* Ask your credit card issuer for an online credit card number that you can use when shopping from the web.

* Check the status of bank account regularly.

* Avail of fraud protection service provided by your credit card.

* To get in touch with a human customer service from any of the three credit bureaus, visit gethuman.com for a list of contact numbers.

In fact, there are laws, both state and federal. But they don’t prohibit debt collection companies from calling you at dinnertime. A debt collector can’t threaten or harass you, contact you at “inconvenient times or places,” or tell others about your debt. Here’s how you can fight unfair debt collection tactics, and stop your dinner from going cold.

Stop answering the phone. This is not as easy to do as it sounds. Our brains are wired to pick up the phone when it rings, but with a little determination you can overcome that feeling.

If you must talk to the collection agency on the phone, record your conversations. (Be sure and check your state laws on phone call recording.) They may say something that violates a law. For example, they cannot use profane language, claim to be a lawyer when they’re not, or imply that you have committed a crime and may be arrested.

You can stop a debt collector from contacting you, but you have to do it in writing. Send them a debt dispute letter, in which you tell them to stop contacting you, and that you also dispute the validity of the debt. Send the letter certified mail so you receive confirmation of receipt by the collector, and keep that for your records. Of course, this doesn’t make the debt go away; you can still be sued by the collection agency or your original creditor. But at least you can finish dinner in peace.

Within a week after you are first contacted, the collector must send you a written notice stating how much you owe and to whom. The notice should also tell you what action you can take if you believe that you don’t owe the money. If you respond to the notice, do so in writing, and keep all copies of the correspondence. If you create a file with your written correspondence and a log of your telephone calls, you may be able to claim harassment under a federal or state law.

Why are you being contacted by some company you’ve never heard of before? It may mean that one of your creditors has not received payment from you for several months. That bad debt was then turned over to the collection company. The collection companies operate in a variety of ways; some “buy” your debt for less than you owe, some work for a percentage of the money they collect, while others may be an in-house division of your original creditor. If the bad debt is truly yours, it might be time to negotiate a payment schedule with the collection company, and enjoy your family dinners again.

A much worse explanation for the calls from the collection company may be that you are the victim of identity theft. An impostor may have used your financial information to hijack your credit, open new accounts, and run up huge bills. If you believe that ID theft is the reason, it is imperative that you respond, in writing, to the debt collection company and get them to investigate immediately.

Microsoft is very much aware of the seriousness of the spyware problem. The presence of spywares not only means annoying pop-ups & unwanted advertisement, it is also indicative of a huge neglect of a people’s right to privacy. The proliferation of the sort of software endangers every decent human being & prevents him from doing business without fear or worry about his banking transactions being monitored or his credit card balance being listed. The danger of identity theft & of irresponsible handling of such massive information gathered on a daily basis is a threat Microsoft Spyware has decided to deal with heads on.

Using Microsoft Spyware diminishes the insidious effects of spywares & adwares which includes clogging of Internet connection to the point of slowing it down, pop-up ads that seem to appear out of nowhere, homepage hi-jacking & snooping & illegal use of your personal information, numbers & passwords.

It has long been accepted that spywares are responsible and capable of wreaking havoc. They stealthily invade & nest in your hard drives spying & collecting as much data as they can which they then transmit to a second party for purposes of advertising & who knows what else. Finding spywares inside computer systems is very hard for the average John or Jane to find and this is where Microsoft Spyware comes in.

Upon finding spyware presence in your computer, Microsoft Spyware displays an exhaustive information sheet on the spyware which includes a description of the type of spyware found, where it is situated in the computer, a calculation of the risk factor & gives you a recommendation of what defensive action to take. After Microsoft Spyware gives you these information in hand, you are given the chance to make an informed decision of whether to entirely remove and obliterate the detected spyware from your system or to just temporarily disable it by placing it in the quarantine section.

Microsoft Spyware is also equipped with Real-Time Protection. Real-Time Protection is a monitoring method  that watches more than 50 “checkpoints” in Windows. These “checkpoints” are activated when programs make changes to the configurations previously set in your Windows system. For example, when you install a new software on your computer changes may occur in the settings thus triggering the checkpoints & alerting you of the problem. In the case of spywares & adwares, since they are essentially computer softwares that merely attach to your system, they also set off the same alarms therefore giving you a heads up before they can entirely enter your hard drives and unleash their destructive forces.

An innovative step such as Real-Time Protection is Microsoft’s answer to the challenge of allowing their consumers into forming empowered decisions regarding the software they use. Microsoft takes a step nearer this goal as it continues to develop software that are easier to use, software that give the user an insight into its goings on and finally introducing a software that protects the Microsoft Windows user from the menace of spywares & the like.

Microsoft Spyware runs on Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) supports Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server™ 2003.