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Security
     Security is a widely varied topic which deserves a lot of attention, it is involved in a lot of different aspects of our lives some of which pertain to our person and property. The articles you will find here currently focus on computers and the internet of which there are various issues involving these topics and we should take them very seriously since they can and do affect our everyday lives. Tips on security may be found at US-Cert (United States Computer Emergency Readiness team).

     There are a variety of ways in which we are vulnerable when it comes to surfing the web and using a computer. For this reason it is important that we take some precautions to protect ourselves while using either of these items. In these times information is very important an there are a variety of individuals who would enjoy obtaining our personal information.

     The internet is a very exciting place and contains a wealth of knowledge information and a variety of other things to do. One thing bout the web however is that it will never really be the most secure place there is. There are web sites which run software trying to capture our personal information and monitor where we go while were on the web. There are even sites which contain software which release viruses and other types of malware on computers just for the purpose of spreading misery across networks.

     If a web site requires the entering of information be sure the site you are on is actually where you intend to be. One of the ways to check is make sure that the URL which is the address in the browser is actually spelled correctly. Some web sites which try impersonating original ones do so by misspelling the name so that it looks like the real one hoping the misspelling it is not noticed. Another method which may help is by checking for contact information since they do not want to be contacted it may be nonexistent or wrong.

     Computers have become a large part of all our lives these days and we use them for a variety of reasons. One of which is to store personal information such as addresses. Since we maintain important data on computers we should take some precautions to protect that data which may be done in a variety of ways such as using passwords which will make the data more secure so that it is not easily accessible. Another precaution which may be taken is to make sure there is an antivirus program running on our computer and keep it updated daily.
Hoax
     There are a variety of different types of hoaxes referring to just as many different topics. The type we are talking about on this page relate to computer hoaxes which may refer to scams, malware or various other topics. Hoaxes may be created as a practical joke however they can be a very serious and expensive issue to deal with.

     The reason hoaxes can be so destructive and costly when is comes to computers is that they can bring down an entire network by flooding the system with more emails than it can handle. For this reason the hoax should be confirmed as being real before spreading emails or discussing it as a reality with others.

     Spreading information about a hoax may cause individuals not to use their computers for fear of catching a virus or having other issues happen. This is why its very important that we take the time to confirm or deny it before spreading false information.

     Sometime it can be determined if a hoax is real or not by typing the details of it into a search engine like Yahoo . Quite often if there is a hoax someone will have posted information about it on the web and these details will be found by the major search engines. Another method of finding out if a hoax is real or not is to check web sites such as Hoaxbusters.
Personal Information
     There are individuals who are trying to obtain our personal information through any means they can and the web makes it even easier to do so. Identity theft which is very serious and has caused a lot of peoples lives to changes is becoming common place. There are we can take to make it harder for an individual to obtain our information and we should use them whenever we can. Identity theft is becoming a common occurence today so we should all take steps to avoid it from happening.

     One precaution which may be used without much effort is not to give any personal information over the web which can be avoided. Information sent over the web can be seen by others if proper precautions are not taken to avoid it. When computers are connected to the internet on a network which is not secured the information may be seen by others. If you are using a home wireless network make sure it is secured by either using a password or perhaps limiting the devices which can connect to it which may be another available option.

     Another precaution which may and should be taken is to educate children on the precautions which may be used to protect them. One precaution which should be explained is how any person on the web can be impersonated and may not be who they are suppose to which is why we all need to be careful of what we say on while the web.

     There are some web sites which are created to look exactly like the ones we visit on a daily basis. It may be possible to determine if a web site is legitimate in a variety of ways one of which may be by checking the spelling of the address also called a URL. Sites which misspell their address sometimes do so deliberately so you will not realize it's not the site which is commonly used. There are a variety of other ways. Most illegal sites also will not accept checks if there is a purchase involved. Checking the web for hoaxes and scams sometimes helps since there may be information on the sites.

     You should also be cautious as to what type of information you store on your computer. This is because if hackers obtain access to your computer they will be able to read, copy and change the information on your computer. There are some precautions you can take to avoid this. One of them is not to store sensitive information on your computer. There are also programs which may be run to check for malicious software or intruders affecting your computer. For details about controlling your personal information may be found at EPIC (Electronic privacy Information Center).
Scam
     With the web being so easily accessible and used everyday it encourages individuals to create more and easier ways to take advantage of others. Of course this has been happening well before the internet arrived however the web makes it easier to get away with while also making it harder to catch them. Scams come in a variety of different forms but most may be avoided by using some common sense and taking certain precautions. As with anything else there are also those which can even fool professionals. The only thing any of us can really do is make sure we do not get caught in the scams which could be avoided.

     It seems that most of the scams involve get rich quick schemes, lets face it we all want to make a quick buck. I have spent much time surfing the web looking for legitimate money making opportunities and have yet to find one. It seems to me that those who are running the get rich quick schemes are making money by having people send money for details about the programs.

     Most of them claim that by following their plans exactly you will make a lot of money. The types of offers I usually try to avoid are those that guarantee you will get rich off of their offers. How could anyone make a promise like that without offering a money back guarantee and speaking of them usually there are so many requirements one would wonder if it worth the trouble after spending twenty or 30 dollars on it which may be something they're counting on.

     Another thing to be aware of is the email scams which are commonly used today. The email which I received quite a few times may say you have won a large amount of money. After thinking about if for a while I wondered how it could be possible since there were no contests or sweepstakes I entered in a very long time. Usually these emails will ask for a reply by clicking a link or emailing them back. I just ignore them since they are going to ask for a bank account number or something to that effect. One thing you never want to give to people like this is a bank account number since they will be able to withdraw all of your money before you realize it. If these contests and winnings were legitimate asking for money would not be a requirement to claim your prize.

     It is possible sometimes to determine if an email or other type of offer is a scam by typing a listed phone number or other identifier into Yahooor your favorite search engine. Majority of times if it is a scam someone else may have been affected and reported it.


This site was created to assist users in surfing the web and for informational purposes only. The creators of OnlySites4 only intend to educate its visitors and provide information where appropriate. We do not claim to be experts on the subject and if something does not seem correct we encourage you to let us know. This site was created based on internet explorer.

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