Computer Safety

First item: We have a new poll on the front page of the site. Come share your input regarding our weekly chats.

Our newsletter this month will not focus on sewing. Instead, I want to give everyone some tips on keeping their computer safe. There are a lot of viruses, and virus hoaxes, circulating on the Internet, and it can be confusing. I’ll try and give you some hints and tips to make things easier. At the end of the article, I’ll list some other resources you can check out.

First of all, what is a computer virus? Here is a definition from: www.pcwebopaedia.com/:

"a ogram or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. Viruses can also replicate themselves. All computer viruses are manmade... Even a simple virus is dangerous because it will quickly use all available memory and bring the system to a halt. An even more dangerous type of virus is one capable of transmitting itself across networks and bypassing security systems...A worm is a special type of virus that can replicate itself and use memory, but cannot attach itself to other programs."

Some viruses may damage the information on your computer. A boot sector virus infects a particular section of the hard disk, which the computer reads every time it starts up, and may be very difficult to remove. This may even lead to the computer not working at all.

Note that viruses can't do any physical damage to hardware: they won't melt down your CPU, burn out your hard drive, cause your monitor to explode, etc. Warnings about viruses that will physically destroy your computer are usually hoaxes, not legitimate virus warnings.

Good virus protection software can alert a user to a virus within an attachment or the email itself, and can clean and disinfect the document or email. In order to recognize new viruses (which are created on a daily basis), ant-virus software must be updated on a frequent basis.

But one of the best defenses against a computer virus is common sense. Here are some tips that may help:

• Make back-up copies of your files, and keep them separate from the computer. Do this on a regular basis.
• Keep your anti-virus software updated.
• DO NOT OPEN an e-mail attachment unless you know who sent it. Even then, it's not totally safe, as a sneaky virus that has infected a friend's computer can access the e-mail address book, send a message to everyone, and attach itself. To be completely safe, scan the attachment with your anti-virus software BEFORE you open it.
• If you receive a suspicious message, delete it immediately from your Inbox. When you delete a message, however, it's still on your system. Go into the Deleted Mail folder and delete the message again to permanently remove it.

But let’s say you receive a message warning you about “a new, dangerous, computer virus”. How do you know if the threat is real or just a hoax? Here are some ways to tell:

• It may have the request to "send this to everyone you know" or some variant of that statement. This is a red flag that it is likely a hoax.
• Technical sounding language. This refers to terms that sound real, but upon investigation, have no meaning.
• Credibility by association. This mean the hoax message LOOKS like it comes from someone “who should know”, but that person may not actually exist.

It is easy to understand why a hoax would spread. You care about other people, and don’t want anyone you know to have computer problems. But please do check on the validity of the warning before you pass it on. “If In Doubt, Don’t Send It Out.”

OK. Now you’ve checked the warning, and you decide it is a valid warning about a real threat. You want to send it out to all your friends, neighbors, on-line buddies, etc. How?

You go to your e-mail program and type up a note to your friends. You type all their addresses in the little box that says “To:” and hit “Send”. Right?

Maybe not. There is another option for sending out multiple e-mails, without everyone on your list knowing everyone else’s address. That is by using the “BCC” (Blind Carbon (also called Courtesy) Copy) function. By placing the recipient’s email address in the ‘BCC’ box, only the person receiving it and the person sending it know it’s there. This lets you send out your e-mail, but does not spread around a person’s e-mail address without their permission.

Here’s one more item on hoax e-mails. There has been an increase lately in what are called “spoof” e-mails. These are e-mails received, apparently from a known sender, such as eBay or PayPal, for example. Another variant claims to be from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Rather than addressing you by name, these copycats will start with something like “Dear User”. The problem is, these fake messages ask you to do something like “update your account information” by clicking on a link provided in the email. If you go to that link, you are asked for personal information such as your password, bank account numbers, driver’s license number, or other sensitive details. You are threatened with loss of account privileges or other actions if you do not respond.

If you receive such e-mail, forward it to the abuse department at the company it supposedly came from. Providing the information requested in the fake e-mail can result in someone else gaining access to your account, your credit card into, or your complete identity. If you do need to update account information on a site you do business with, go to the known home page of the site and proceed to the update area from there.. Most sites which take personal information from you will have an address which starts with “https://”. The “s” on the end indicates a secure site, which is less vulnerable to unauthorized access by outsiders.

I know this has been a long newsletter, but I feel this information is important to share. Like automobiles or our sewing machines, computers are a technology which has vast potential. Let’s learn to use them safely!

Information on Internet Hoaxes:
VMyths
Hoaxbusters
Snopes Urban Legends
Information from McAfee software on hoaxes
Information from Symantec software on hoaxes
Scambusters

To Report Spoof E-mails:
spoof@ebay.com
spoof@paypal.com
To find the address for other companies, check their site for information. The address may be listed under “Terms of Service”, “Fraud”, or “Abuse”.

Lois Fitzpatrick
Webmaster, Online Community Director
http://www.sewingweb.com
http://wwww.sewingpatterns.com