Protecting You and Your Computer

I am sure you all know by now to use antivirus software such as “Mc Afee” to keep people from causing harm to your computer. This harm may come in the form of hijacking your computer by using a “Trojan Horse” Program. That program allows someone at another computer to see what you are typing like your bank passwords and ID. While you are down loading free music, you may also down load “Trojan Horse”, Spy Ware, Ad ware, and other programs that misdirect your links to other websites. Some viruses even go into your computer and change the setting so that your PC programs become unusable. All this may cost you hundreds of dollars to fix unless you are a certified Personal Computer software expert. So in this blog, we are not going to talk about such simple to avoid problems.

Instead we are going to talk about how you may help computer criminals defeat your antivirus software that will cause harm to you and your computer. I want to rob your bank account knowing that you get paid every other Wednesday. I know that because I sent you an email telling you that you are in the top ten finalists to win $100,000 if only you fill out a questionnaire with your name, address, phone number. Over the past 6 months I had you fill out other questionnaires. I send you a link with these questions on it. What you don’t know is that this link contains a Trojan Horse. Now I can get your bank account information, your personal information, and other important information about you. I can be you to any financial institution. From this, I can have your bank transfer your paycheck to my Nigerian Bank. By the time you find out about it, the money is gone. Your checks are bouncing all over the country.

Never open links, reply to contests, or other mail that you are not expecting from one of your stores or businesses that you deal with. Never give out personal information unless you know the people that you are giving it to and what it will be used for. Don’t allow your friends and family to give out information on you to people holding contest as well. Emails are used to hide downloads of “Trojan Horse”, Spy Ware, Ad ware programs into your computer and Blackberry (cell phones).

Never open mail that has no subject in the subject line unless you are expecting such an email. Nine out of ten times, it is not from who you think it is. It is from someone who hijacked your friends email ID and is sending you a virus.

Your 22 year old nephew is here from Nevada and wants to use your computer tonight while you go to bed. You see no problem with this since he is your sister’s child and you helped raise him since he was born. But you never know what is hidden in someone’s life. Your nephew goes on sex sights and without his knowledge “Trojan Horse”, Spy Ware, Ad ware programs are loaded into your computer. Without your knowledge or consent he contacts some 14 year old “Bomb Shell” on one of the social sites and starts talking about the things he wants to do to her. What he does not know is that he is talking to a “Child Predator” Police Officer. The Officer makes a date with your nephew the next day. He walks right into a police trap. You may say that it is not your problem. Yes it is, he used your computer and the police will come to your house and pick it up for evidence. They may go through your computer looking for evidence. The investigation may extend to your involvement into your nephew’s activities. The police don’t care who is charged and convicted for a crime. They are involved to gather evidence for the district attorney. Even if you are not charged as part of the crime, you will not have access to your computer. It may take six months or more before you see your computer again.

Here is the reason why I never let anyone use my computer, Blackberry (Cell Phone).