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Useful Links
Hoaxes, Quizzes, and Facebook
Here are some things that will help keep you safe in your online journey:
- Get a real antivirus product. I do recommend Norton Antivirus, just the
antivirus, don't need the extra crap. Amazon, cheap, get it!
- Keep Windows and above antivirus UPDATED!
- Never click on a link in an email... instead, use your
bookmarks/favorites. OK, you can't do it all the time, but if it's from your
bank or credit card, definitely follow these rules.
- Usernames/passwords and things of that sort will never be asked via
email.
- Be very careful of the answers you give on those lovely quizzes that are
emailed.
- Same quizzes, but in Facebook.
- Use better passwords for your stuff, especially your email.
- Having said that, don't use the same password for everything online!
Those stupid quizzes are often ways to get this information from you. You don't
know who is going to see and read that information. Favorite color, pet names,
street you grew up on, hometown, first car, birthplace, grandparent's last name
(another way of saying (mother's maiden name)... all security questions that you
would use to retrieve your password. Just be careful!
If they get your password, they get your email, they take over your life, and it
CAN get worse! Since you used the same lame password for everything, you're no
longer online as you. There goes your credit card information!
"But I don't do anything online but email (and facebook)! I don't do bills,
banking, etc"
Just because YOU don't, doesn't mean that they (having your newly acquired info)
won't start to. Just think about it, it can, and does happen. Just be safe and
follow these few simple things.
Some Farcebook apps are "poisoned" or malware. I've repaired several computers
that have been messed up by Farcebook. I don't know which ones are bad, but I
can point out that "Facebook Gold" fans might have some issues, especially if
you download the file they want you to download and run so you can see your new
FB account! I helped get several of those accounts killed, but 5 more popped up.
Don't download anything from Farcebook, MySpace, YearBook, or any social site,
it might not be from whom you think it's from! If you're expecting a file from
Bob or Jane and are sure it's from them, it's probably okay. The reason I say
"probably" is because you don't know if their computer is infected and if any of
that evilness seeped into your file. Have an antivirus?
If you're using Win 3.1x, Win95, Win98, Win ME, or DOS - Get a new computer
already! Windows 2000 is about out of steam, Microsoft will stop updating it
soon. XP still has updates, but it too will be a thing of the past soon. Vista
isn't too bad once you get Service Pack 2 installed, and you should already have
installed that if you're using Vista! Windows 7 is the new thing, get it if you
can. A new computer can be brought home for $400. It won't be a power house, but
it's better than that old 386 with the Turbo Button on it.
While I will fix your computer for you, I'd rather not have to. It will cost
about $100 to remove your virus (considered cheap) and save your favorite files,
the antivirus is $40 or less per year. Think about it. Also, keep in mind that
an antivirus cannot protect you from yourself. If you intentionally put yourself
in danger, you may still be on your own. Thanks for reading this, good luck to
you and be safe.
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