| Computer security has never been more important | | | | if you correctly identify it at a fraud, DO NOT close it. |
| than now. Scammers have perfected their art (if you | | | | You need to go into your task manager (by hitting |
| can call it that) to shocking degrees of efficiency. As a | | | | Control-Alt-Delete) and then closing it from there. If you |
| home business owner, you are in a particularly | | | | hit the red X in the upper right corner, you will |
| vulnerable position. If your computer is crippled by a | | | | unwittingly install it in your computer. |
| virus or other malicious software, you probably do not | | | | When I saw a similar fake-scanner a few months |
| have an IT worker who can zip on over and fix it. You | | | | later, I immediately recognized it for what it was. But |
| may very well only have one computer with which to | | | | because I am impetuous, I immediately clicked the red |
| conduct your business, so it is absolutely imperative | | | | X when I saw this dreaded box on my screen. Then I |
| that you do everything you can to protect it from | | | | sat back and congratulated myself on identifying the |
| invasive elements. Time is money, and you don't want | | | | scam and nipping it in the bud. No such luck! Because I |
| to lose a day (and potentially much longer) due to | | | | didn't use the task manager to close it out, I had |
| security issues. A scammer could do MAJOR financial | | | | allowed it to infect my computer and opened the door |
| damage to you, all through information gleaned through | | | | to all kinds of problems. |
| your home computer. Protecting your computer and | | | | I later learned that these attacks were most likely a |
| your private financial information is one of the most | | | | keylogging scam, where a record would be kept of |
| important things you can do as a home business | | | | anything that I typed on my computer. This may sound |
| owner. | | | | innocuous, until you realize that this would allow a |
| If you are like me, you have probably seen an | | | | scammer to obtain your passwords and other private |
| incredible influx in emails from unknown parties lately. | | | | information you might type into your online bank |
| They usually go something like this: "Hi, my name is Dr. | | | | account. Suddenly, I was no longer dealing with merely |
| Roberte F. Manningwhelmer and I have a checque for | | | | the inconvenience of a slow computer, but I was |
| you that is valued at 520,000 pounds. Please send me | | | | running the risk of surrendering my private information |
| your banking information and I'll wire this Czech to you | | | | to some invasive crook. |
| immediately." Likewise, I'm sure that most of us have | | | | As a home business owner, you need to protect your |
| received an email from a Nigerian prince or Spanish | | | | equipment and your data. Most entrepreneurs have |
| Prisoner at one time or another. Various shysters | | | | large amounts of financial information and personal |
| around the world are adapting to the times and | | | | data on their computers, meaning that a keylogging |
| sending out email scams at an unparalleled rate. Now, | | | | scam (or similar tactic) could put them in serious |
| if they would only stop using ridiculous names like "Ms. | | | | jeopardy. And as I mentioned earlier, your resources |
| Berthinia Chancellor Kingship," they might actually fool | | | | are probably efficiently minimal. If your equipment is |
| me. | | | | crippled by a virus or Trojan, you will lose time and |
| On a more serious note, malware and viruses are also | | | | money. |
| evolving and spreading at an alarming rate. I may think | | | | For this reason, you need to educate yourself on the |
| that I am super savvy because I avoid falling for the | | | | dangers and solutions that are out there. You must |
| "Nigerian Prince" scam, but I have had my computer | | | | invest in high quality protection for your computer. |
| invaded and crippled by malware twice in the last eight | | | | Because the technology is constantly progressing, I |
| months. The first time it was completely and utterly my | | | | would recommend that you contact a computer |
| fault...I had that fake virus scanner pop up, warning me | | | | technician or particularly savvy friend and get their |
| that my computer had been infected by no less than | | | | advice on the best and latest protection for your |
| 25 viruses! | | | | computer. Doing this will help you protect your devices |
| I immediately clicked on the "Remove All" button, | | | | and prevent slowdowns and delays. More importantly, |
| unwittingly allowing the imbedded Trojan (named after | | | | it will help you safeguard your private information and |
| the legendary horse, because it sneaks into your | | | | passwords. You've worked hard to get where you |
| computer and takes over) to invade my computer and | | | | are, so don't let some dirtbag scammer ruin your day |
| take me out of commission for the rest of the day. | | | | and your business. |
| These may look legitimate, but don't be deceived! Even | | | | |