| The average Internet user believes his computer is | | | | cleaning the mess they leave. |
| secure if his packaged virus software says it is. | | | | Clicking Your Life Away |
| Unfortunately, today's "Internet bad guys" are smart | | | | Picture someone recording every keystroke you |
| enough to overcome conventional security measures. | | | | make on your keyboard, whether you're writing an |
| Online computer security specialists report they're | | | | email to a friend or making a purchase with your credit |
| being flooded with requests to clean up computers | | | | card. That's exactly what keylogger software can do. |
| assumed to be protected. Consider these ways your | | | | This particularly ugly form of intrusion can download |
| computer may be compromised, even if your virus | | | | itself to your computer while, for example, you |
| software says it isn't. | | | | download a funny video you think was sent by a |
| Spies in Sheep's Clothing | | | | friend. Once on your hard drive, it allows a remote |
| One of the most clever spyware ploys is cloaking bad | | | | website to collect your keystrokes and store them to |
| intentions in fake spyware protection. Imagine | | | | commit identity theft. Unless your security plan includes |
| downloading what you think will make your computer | | | | some form of identity theft protection, you could be |
| safer, only to learn it's harvesting information from your | | | | clicking your privacy away without ever realizing it. |
| computer. What a nasty surprise! | | | | Spam, It's More Than an Annoyance |
| Spyware is one form of malicious software often | | | | Sooner or later, you're going to open the wrong email |
| hidden in helpful disguises. If you've ever had a pop-up | | | | message if your computer doesn't block intrusive email. |
| appear offering to scan your hard drive, beware! | | | | Trojans, spyware and viruses abound in those |
| Someone's trying to help themselves to information on | | | | obnoxious messages offering everything from credit |
| your computer while pretending to make it safer. | | | | repair to Viagra. |
| More and more often, this subterfuge is slipping under | | | | Stringent spam filtering is a must if you hope to keep |
| the radar and requiring conventional security software | | | | your computer safe. Also, pledge to never open email |
| to play catch-up after thousands of computers are | | | | from people you don't know. Unfortunately, spoofing |
| already infected. In addition, computer maintenance and | | | | has made even this rule imperfect; you may receive a |
| repair services report a primary reason for computer | | | | malicious email from someone you know whose email |
| performance issues is spyware infection. | | | | account has been compromised. As spammers |
| Here's one thing you can do to protect yourself: ignore | | | | become more sophisticated, ignorance about the |
| offers of help that arrive on your computer unsolicited; | | | | dangers of spam isn't an option. |
| you could find yourself spending time and money | | | | |