| "The Amish Virus | | | | Forget to download and update security patches for |
| You have just received the Amish virus. As the Amish | | | | operating system... |
| don't have any technology or programming experience, | | | | "Borrow" programs from your good buddy and install |
| this virus works on the honor system. | | | | on your PC... |
| Please delete all the files from your hard drive and | | | | Visit high-risk websites catering to game "cheats", |
| manually forward this virus to everyone on your mailing | | | | offshore gambling or the "babe-of-the-day"... |
| list. Thank you for your cooperation." | | | | Use weak passwords or don't change them frequently |
| As a computer technician, the first time I read this joke, | | | | enough... |
| I laughed out loud. Yep, I thought to myself, ain't that the | | | | Change the security and privacy settings on your web |
| truth. I know from both personal and professional | | | | browser, so you don't have to keep approving |
| experience that spyware programmers can cause a | | | | downloads... |
| lot of damage not only to a computer but also to your | | | | Never look at the URL or address of website to make |
| personal life if they have access to your sensitive files. | | | | sure you haven't been redirected to a spoof site... |
| But all jokes aside, the most dangerous person who | | | | Never read the EULA (end user license agreements), |
| can access your machine is not some remote foreign | | | | opt-in terms, privacy statements, and any notices with |
| hacker but you and your family. Often when I visit a | | | | any software you download. |
| client who is having spyware issues, I often find that | | | | I feel, that to a certain extent, lack of proper |
| the bulk of their problems are self inflicted. | | | | knowledge on how to prevent spyware is a problem |
| Malicious programmers can only hide their products | | | | but still a good many clients just don't care enough to |
| inside of innocent looking pop-ups, webpages or | | | | stop their bad browsing habits. They like doing what |
| "freeware" programs hoping to lure some unwary | | | | they want on the Net and they just figure that |
| computer user into downloading them. Like a fisherman | | | | spyware is the "cost" of doing business as usual. |
| on the river bank, they can only cast out appetizing bait | | | | But this "it can't happen here" mindset is exactly what |
| hoping to hook you. | | | | the bad guys are looking for. They have created the |
| But it's you, the computer user who can do whatever | | | | best "lures" they possibly can but you still have to "take |
| you like with your machine: | | | | the nibble" to get caught. |
| Like download files or programs from unknown | | | | Spyware like the "Amish Virus" relies on people to |
| sources... | | | | make their own selves victims. |
| Or turn off your firewall, because you find it annoying... | | | | |