Beware!

My mother always said, “You get what you pay for”. She was a smart lady. She also said, “If it seems to be good to be true, it probably is”.

If you see this message, press Ctrl-Alt-Del and kill your

browser. There’s no other safe way out of this dangerous message.

What you always need to do is take security seriously. Pay attention to any changes in behavior and make sure you have updates to all your software including system updates. Pay special attention to updates from third party software from companies like Apple and Adobe.

You may not care if your computer is infected but here are some examples of why you still need some kind of security on your computer.

1. Sensational Headlines

   1. You were tempted by a salacious headline. What happened when you clicked may vary but everyone in your contact list will receive the same headline and they’ll want to click. If they do, they’ll get the same attack you received and all their contacts will get the message as it spreads to all everyone’s friend. If you’re a Facebook user I’m sure you’ve seen this happen more than once.

2. Key Loggers

• 1. There’s a program running on your computer that tracks each mouse movement and keystroke and sends it to an online server that may be monitored by many of the bad guys. This kind of infection is often called a key logger. In some cases a key logger may be installed by a controlling domestic partner or even your boss. Key logger programs are sold openly disguised as ways to monitor your children. Everyone knows these programs are misused and often used in domestic violence cases.

3. Bots

• 1. There’s a program running on your computer called a “bot”. You may never know it’s running. It just uses your computer as a tool so a police investigation will be directed to your house and not someone on the other side of the world. Someone controlling the bot could do everything from participate in denial of service attacks to hack into someone's bank account. Don’t expect a CSI team to come in and clear you. Not long ago bots were used to shut down nuclear computers in Iran. Chances are in our future they’ll be used against more sensitive sites in the U.S.

4. Credit Card Info

• 1. You sent your credit card to a popular online store that doesn’t have the best security plan. The latest example of this came from online store Zappos. This happens more than you can imagine and on rare occasions companies like Zappos will make the effort to let their customers know and encourage them to change their passwords. While most people fear credit card information will be stolen using the internet, an equal danger exists calling a company on the phone and giving them your credit card number. Monitor your credit card usage regularly and keep track of your purchases.

  2. Scareware

  3. According to security friends rogue software or “scareware” is now the most common security threat. A message appears letting you know your computer is infected and for a fee they’ll remove all the viruses, Trojans horses, and tracking cookies that supposedly exist.