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August 2, 2007
Viruses, Phish, and Spam, oh my......
Had I typed this lead 10 years ago, I probably would have been suggesting the Spam sandwich (yep, I like it!) I ate at Phish concert (Yep, I like them too!) didn't sit well with me. Times have changed....
Some online threats are quite obvious (to most internet users, I hope). For instance, there's the lengthy email asking me for my bank account number and routing number so that I can help some poor soul transfer money from an oversea account. Then there are the countless emails from individulas I do not know. They usually have attachments and subjects lines such as, "Re: photos" or "message from a friend!". Sure, Friend, I'll open that attachment right away....
A threat that requires further action by the threatened is less threatening than it once was; people are more aware now and less likely to bite. However, with increasing frequency, malicious code is being passed on to web users unbeknownst to them. A recent paper entitled The Ghost in the Browser suggests the following:
A new Google report researching 4.5 million web sites found that about one in ten web pages could successfully "drive-by download" a trojan horse virus onto a visitor's computer.
Run anti-virus software. Keep it updated. Be smart.
Posted by AnthonyMcMullen at August 2, 2007 1:19 PM
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Comments
I use Spybot Search & Destroy, a free tool that does an excellent job. I installed it on my work computer, and it caught dozens of problems that the school's virus-detection software hadn't flagged.
Good advice, Tony.
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz 
at August 2, 2007 7:14 PM