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Internet Brings Dangers New and Old
Updated: Fri, Aug 03 2:09 AM EDT
By D. IAN HOPPER, AP Technology Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Considering the dire warnings lately about viruses, worms
and Internet identity theft, Americans may be tempted to unplug their
gadgets just to keep them safe. In reality, common sense and a few basic
tips can keep Internet surfers secure.
The fundamental tip for people with computers, handheld devices, laptops and
cell phones is, don't panic. While the hype surrounding this week's return
of the Code Red worm was designed to get Web computer administrators to
guard against it, the public's fear of viruses may have gotten out of hand.
"There are people who run out and reformat their hard drives, because they
think that's what people are supposed to do when there's a virus," said
David Perry of Trend Micro, an antivirus software maker.
As with diseases of the body, computer viruses are best fought before they
occur. That can start with the computer's software.
Antivirus software is a must, and it should be updated at least once a week
to recognize newly released viruses.
People with broadband Internet connections, such as cable or a DSL modem,
should also have a firewall. These protect the computer from attacks by
hackers and can be in either software or hardware form from companies like
LinkSys, 3Com, NetworkICE or ZoneAlarm.
Then it's time to think about computer habits. Unlike old viruses, which
spread only through shared diskettes, the Internet brings viruses straight
to the e-mailbox. If e-mail with an attachment comes from an unknown sender,
or unexpectedly from a known sender, it should not be opened.
The recent SirCam virus spread through e-mail attachments, and the Anna
Kournikova and Naked Wife viruses duped users with suggestive subject lines.
"People are somehow less suspicious of e-mail than they are of a package
that comes to their home with odd handwriting," said Steve Trilling,
director of the Symantec Antivirus Research Center. "It's amazing how easily
people are duped into opening e-mails."
Trend Micro's Perry takes a Draconian approach. "I delete everything that
has an attachment to it, even if it's from my own boss, unless I'm expecting
it," he said. "If it sounds spurious, it's gone. I don't wait to find out
what it is."
On receipt of an unexpected attachment from a friend, Trilling suggests a
telephone call to make sure of the mail's source before opening.
Don't forward e-mail virus warnings. Almost all are hoaxes, Perry said, and
only create needless worry.
Some Internet dangers are just old scams using new technology. Identity
theft was around long before the Internet, but the information age increased
its reach as people fill out forms with credit card and other personal
information on various Web sites.
The Federal Trade Commission says almost 70,000 Americans were victims of
identity theft between November 1999 and June 2001, usually resulting in
credit card fraud. More than half the victims who contacted the FTC said
they gave information about themselves to the scammer.
Usually, a scam involves the theft and use of someone's credit card
information. In more serious cases, a victim's entire identity is absconded
with, and the criminal gets new credit cards and loans in the victim's name.
Obviously, this can be a nightmare for the unwitting person who must deal
with credit issuers and reporting agencies.
Mike Bush, a senior vice president of Equifax, one of the major credit
reporting firms, said in such cases victims find themselves "in the position
of having to prove they didn't do something."
Bush and others suggest that people get a copy of their credit reports from
each of the three major agencies every year and check it for accuracy. Also,
care is required with personal information. The agency obtaining it should
be asked how it would be used and told definitely that the information must
not be shared.
A person who suspects identity theft should contact financial institutions
and credit reporting agencies immediately. Chances are most of the
fraudulent charges will be removed right away, and a "fraud alert" can be
placed on the victimized credit report. Most of the time, however, people
dare unaware they are victims until damage is done.
To help consumers keep credit reports current, several of the reporting
agencies offer e-mail notification services whenever new items - legitimate
or not - are added to files.
---
On the Net: Trend Micro: http://www.antivirus.com
Symantec AntiVirus Research Center: http://www.sarc.com
Virus Hoaxes: http://www.vmyths.com
Federal Trade Commission ID Theft: http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft
Equifax: http://www.equifax.com
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