Hacking – Part 2

In a very simple way to describe a hacker, this is someone who brakes into your PC via the Internet. You can find more information on Hacking by clicking the link at the bottom of this article. With the amount of PC / Internet security available for FREE, there is no reason why someone can’t have their PC protected against a wide range of security issues. One site that I frequently use which is Download.com where you can find a wide range of software to assist you with PC / Internet Security. I have a wide range of services running on my PC every day. Everything from the system’s Firewall, Anti Virus software through Spyware software. All this software was FREE.

Hacker as defined by Wikipedia

Hacking – Part 1

I’m currently researching information on Hacking to share to readers of this blog. I purchased some magazines and am searching the NET. I have to be careful on two fronts with this subject, one that I understand the issue that I read and two that I can put it in words that anyone who reads the post can understand. I just started to read an article and I didn’t even understand what the heading meant. Well, I had a very small inkling, but, that is all. I’ve done articles on Spam, Spyware, Backups, Phishing, Security, and found that Hacking is a good subject to add to this range of topics. Anyone from a System Administrator down to a regular everyday home PC user needs to have a concern with this subject. If you have an Internet connection, you could be vulnerable.

Why am I reading computer related magazines? Yes, to get information, but, to see what is going on out there in Computer-Land. You just never know what lies around the corner. I heard of a device that even if your PC is turned off, someone can turn it on from another location. Now, this was a long time ago. I don’t even remember what it was called. The catch was that the PC had to be plugged in. I saw this take place and was instantly amazed.

Take a quiz to see how you are on Security. Click the link below for the article on being a Security Wizard:

Security Quiz – Are you a Security Wizard?

I know, this is a post in the blog, but, I thought it just fits in with this post.

More to come in Part 2.

What not to spare – Revisited

Regarding information on system maintenance and backups, refer to this link:

What not to spare – Revisited – on the New PC User’s blog

SPAM – It’s effects and what to do – Part 3

Now that you have learned about some of the effects of spam, it’s time to see what can be done to deal with spam. Some of the links provided prior to this post cover some useful information in this area.

The following are steps you can take to deal with spam:

1. Make sure that your ISP’s Spam detector or Spam blocker is ON. Also, make sure that
if there are any necessary settings that go along with this, are set to your desired statuses.

2. Make sure that any “spam” or “Junk” settings are ON and set to your desired statuses when using any email browser such as Thunderbird or Netscape Inbox. Also consider reviewing any of these type of settings if you are using any web based email systems such as Yahoo.

3. Since spam can contain Trojans, you need to make sure that your firewall and anti-virus software are ON or running. Just in case any spam gets through and you don’t catch it in time and you accidentally activate something without realizing it.

4. If you receive an email and you don’t know who it is, don’t open it, delete it!

5. (if you are a business) You need to determine your policy on spam. Consider that some spam that is blocked may not be actual spam, but, what the blocker thinks is spam.

I have a spam policy for my blogs, and I admit that I have been lenient on the policy and checking it and either approving or deleting the spam that comes in. There have been a very small amount of spam that was actually worth while comments that had to be approved. This is why I haven’t enforced my spam policy to the letter. How ever, I may modify my policy a bit as time goes on.