Malicious Instant Messages—Three Ways Instant Messaging Compromises Internet Security

Instant messaging has grown in popularity in this fast paced world. If you are corresponding with someone via emails, there are certain steps you need to take. You will click on the e-mail, read it, reply to it, and send it back. Then you wait for the e-mail you just sent to be opened and you have no way of knowing if the person you are emailing is still on line or at their computer. Instant messaging cuts out many steps and provides instant communication with any of your contacts that are on-line.

Instant messaging programs allow you to have a list of key people that you want to interact with. Called a buddy or contact list, you will know when your buddy is on-line and can type messages back and forth as in real time. There is also the added benefit now of being connected to your buddy by web cam. This is a wonderful invention when it comes to children and grandchildren far from home. I love to see my granddaughters who live on the West Coast. It allows them to see my face and keep me fresh in their memory.

Instant messaging offers many advantages including chatting between friends on line, and creating your own chat room with family and friends. You can share web links to your favorite sites, play sounds to your friends and share files and photos. Many IM users use the computer instead of long-distance phone calls to talk to family and friends. One advantage to Instant Messaging that I like is that I can chat with more than one friend or family member at a time. The trick is to make sure you don’t post a message in the wrong window!

Instant messaging, with many other innovations on the Internet can sometimes carry a security risk. Without security measures, some users could potentially expose sensitive data and information to outsiders. Virus protection programs don’t scan these instant messaging files and that causes a real threat.

There are three basic ways that Instant Messaging can compromise your Internet security. One concern is that because you are unable to verify whom you are talking to, you could be giving out information to a competitor or someone intent on harming your or your computer. The second is, worms and viruses can be sent through Instant Messages, and Stealth programs can gain access to your computer and all your information. Third, it is easy to eavesdrop on IM conversations. If you have the computer knowledge, and many do, they can listen in on your chat conversations and learn important information that you would prefer to be kept private.

There are security choices when it comes to protecting your instant messages from being pirated. Some large and small companies are banning all Instant Messaging from company computers. They can install closed IM programs that will allow instant messaging as a useful tool within the company but keep out the threats from outside. Some companies are storing all instant messages sent and are able to pull them up and view them. If an employee is using an open IM to chat with their wife then the company is at risk for viruses and hacking. Software developers have created special software programs to make IM possible between company computers but no outside messages can be sent or received.

Monitoring of all company instant messages is widely used to combat the use of Instant Messaging for personal use and wasting company time. This allows small companies as well as the large ones to monitor what their employees are doing with their time. Companies are using archived instant messages to discourage sexual harassment and other workplace behavior, which is unacceptable.

Instant messaging is a wonderful tool but can expose your computer to viruses or worms. If you receive an instant message from someone you aren’t familiar with, it’s a good idea to not click on any links that are provided. The message may look like it comes from a friend but could harbor a virus or worm by downloading an applet that can install Trojan programs and install Spyware and adware. One popular link allows you to play a game, which pretends to catch Bin Laden. Computer operators who clicked on the game downloaded a program that snatched all of their IM contacts and sent them the same e-mail.

Protect your chats by being aware of the dangers. Don’t’ click on hyperlinks that you don’t recognize. Check your antiviral news page for current threats to instant messaging programs. As with all computer programs and innovations, common sense will help to protect your computer’s security.

Toolbar Traps - What You Should Know BEFORE Downloading that “Helpful” Toolbar

It seems like everyone on the internet is trying to push some helpful toolbar or another on you. They tell you need this one and that this other one is better than the one you already have. Those narrow rows of buttons that are used to access commands and give you all the options you need to navigate online can be quite pesky, especially when merchants are trying to convince you that you need more than one. Although most toolbars can be turned on and off, is it really necessary to have more than one?

Some toolbars can be very convenient when you need to gain access to a commonly used routine. Most toolbars contain graphics on the buttons while others offers drop down lists. They can be useful, if and when they are needed. If a toolbar design is consistent and made carefully, then it should speed up the users’ task by directly accessing important functions that are normally hidden on the menu. Too many toolbars can reduce their effectiveness by making the toolbars hard to find. Also, too many rows of toolbars will reduce your screen space.

Toolbars effectiveness is only increased by maintaining a certain level of consistency between other applications. Normally the main toolbar will always have a New, Open and Save button appearing in the first three buttons. However, in a browser application the first three buttons should be Back, Forward, Stop and Reload, exactly in that order.

Your toolbar should only have the most commonly used functions and not a bunch of buttons for every other menu item. You should have your toolbars appear below the main menu, as a default. Additional toolbars should be set up to be able to turn on and off as you wish. You don’t want a screen full of toolbars that you are not using. You should make sure that all of your functions remain accessible through the main menu bar, either directly or indirectly, you should be able to have access to them. Be sure to save the toolbars application position and contents as a part of the application configuration so you can easily restore it when the application resumes.

Never use vertical toolbars. The human eye scan’s horizontally, not vertically, and drop down lists can not be used vertically. The only time you should consider using a vertical toolbar is if the application window you are using requires more than three toolbars to appear below the main menu bar by default. Although, it would be better just to close the unused toolbars by default. Another reason would be if the configuration of the application window would contain a great deal of wasted space if a horizontal toolbar is used instead. If for some reason you feel you simply must use a vertical toolbar, then you can at least ensure another user the option to make the toolbar appear horizontally if they choose.

For every toolbar you choose, you should be able to select whether or not you want that toolbar to show at that time, and if you want to see graphics, text only or both. The user should also be allowed to override the control center toolbar defaults for that application in the Preferences dialog.

Most toolbars have controls that appear in a text label, preferably a single word, which would appear beside or below the control. For every control that appears on the toolbar, when you place your cursor over the selection, you should see a short and concise description of the control, but provide more information than the one word text label.

Be certain that whatever toolbar you choose to download will have some benefit to it and that you’re not just downloading it because it’s offered. You want to be careful with anything you download over the internet, because some downloads can carry certain risks. A simple toolbar can carry a devastating virus along with it or can download other items that you don’t want on your computer. Remember that everything you download takes up space on your hard drive. It’s up to the user to decide how much space they can afford to use and if adding the extra toolbars are really all that necessary.

Three Ways to Identify a Virus Hoax

One way to check on a virus to see if it might be a hoax is to check the following list. Popular virus hoaxes include: Iraq war hoax, internet flower hoax, intel special offer hoax, ICE virus mobile phone hoax, happy new year hoax, guts to say Jesus hoax, great gas out hoax, got you hoax, good times hoax, girls of Playboy Hoax, girl thing hoax, ghost exe hoax, fun prog hoax, good times hoax, ghost exe hoax, Zlatko, your friend D@fit, Y2Kgame, WTC survivor hoax, wobbler hoax, work hoax, win a holiday hoax, Windows 98 warning hoax, welcome to the matrix hoax, valentine greeting hoax, W32 torch hoax, WASUP hoax, unable to deliver hoax, tax return hoax, Phantom Menace hoax, pool party hoax, unable to deliver hoax, Irina hoax, join the crew hoax, joke flipped hoax, and many others

There are many viruses out there on the Internet, but many of them are not viruses, but are simply hoaxes. However, there have been cases in the past of a hoax starting out harmless, and then having a Trojan horse added to it, making many people susceptible because what they thought was harmless is suddenly quite harmful indeed. Never ever open an email attachment unless you are sure of it and know who it came from. If an attachment is suspicious, don’t open it.

There are many computer virus hoaxes out there, some spread by well meaning people. For instance, an automotive writer responded to a letter about a supposed but non existent virus in the onboard computer of Lexus automobiles with how frightening the thought of one was to him, which spread across the Internet and may have damaged sales of Lexus cars without good reason. Another well known virus hoax that occurred recently and was started by well meaning people was the sheep.exe hoax. Well meaning people were warning others about the commercial program, creating undue fear and a virus alert. Another false story circulated that Blue Mountain greeting cards contained a virus, and many people ceased to do business with this company based on a hoax.

If worried about being deceived by a computer virus hoax, here are a few tips to help you spot the hoaxes in the future. First, did a real computer expert send you the alert; was it your mother in law or your Brother Fred’s best friend? If it looks like a hoax chain letter it probably is one. Next, does it urge you to forward the chain letter to everyone you know? If it does then chances are it is a hoax. Legitimate virus alerts will not ask you to participate in mass chaos. Finally does the email offer a details page link? If it is a real warning it will summarize the information and link to a well respected site for more details. Remember though that some hoaxsters will include links to real websites trying to make you think they are real. Check out the website by typing it into your browser and if it seems to be a hoax, it probably is.

Many people get duped by computer hoaxes, telling all of their friends about these modern urban legends with great, but false and misguided authority. Most duped users don’t want to admit they were fooled. Remember, it takes a strong ego to admit a mistake, so encourage your friends who were fooled to own up to it. Their intentions were good. Give them a chance to fess up and you’ll be amazed at how quickly many people will try to make amends. So that you too don’t get caught in the trap, don’t automatically assume that any email you receive is accurate. Most people on the Internet receive chain letter emails, and oddly enough many people send them on for fear of harming a relationship with the person who sent it. Stopping the chain and stopping the insanity is necessary. Hoaxes and myths will continue if people continue to play the game and send the chain letters along. Don’t be a link in the chain.

Finally, knowledge is the key to stopping hoaxes and myths. Stay information. Don’t believe everything you read or hear until you check it out with another source. Be a shepherd, not a sheep.