PC Protection!

eBay Scam Alert - Picture Only Scam

2007-04-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

Here at PC Protection we will alert you of scams doing the rounds on the Internet, there are many out there, today were going to take a look at the picture only scam which is common on auction sites such as eBay.

How it Works
It's a really simple scam, but catches out thousands of people and makes a group of dishonest people a lot of dishonest cash. Here is the scam in easy steps
a) The scammer will take his digital camera and take a picture of an expensive item, such as a games console or a plasma, he/she may even just copy and paste the image from the Internet.
b) The scammer will list the expensive item he supposedly has as if it was an existing item in his possession, he now has a nice shiny photo to put to his nice shiny description and list it on eBay or another auction site.
c) The scammer will slip a sly comment usually at the bottom of the listing in a very small font saying something on the lines of "you are only bidding for the picture, not the actual item"
d) The item is listed, people bid on the item to a high value thinking its a legit item
e) The scammer receives his cheque through the post or in his paypal and pockets it
f) The scammer emails or posts the picture of the item to the winning bidder

Conclusion - Complete and utter stitch up

How to prevent being scammed
Always read the descriptions carefully and read any small print, if this happens to you, contact eBay and paypal immediately

More to come soon

The Importance of Using a Firewall

2007-04-21T04:43:00.000-07:00

In this day and age, it's essential we use all the tools necessary and available to us in order to protect ourselves online from hackers and viruses. The problem with the Internet is that it's a public network i.e. all computers are connected together, so this leads to a big problem, everyone can access any one's computer through the public network. This is where a firewall comes in.

What is a Firewall?
A firewall is a security device which is configured to allow or stop any incoming data connections, therefore it studies the flow of data traffic into your computer and can distinguish most from good and bad when configured properly by a home user or an administrator

Why do we need a Firewall?
A firewall can help protect against numerous different threats, such as hackers will have a great deal more difficulty breaking into your computer if you have a firewall installed. Also a firewall can protect against most viruses, worms and other annoying little leeches from infecting and spreading into your computer. It can also help with unwanted outgoing data

The Problems with a Firewall
Unfortunately a firewall alone isn't sufficient enough protection for a computer and does not guarantee complete security. There are a whole host of stuff that can get past your firewall, it could be as simple as the hacker knowing your password, or creating a back door through the firewall. The annoying this is that a large amount of viruses can get through, spam can get through and spyware can get through and installed on your PC without the firewall batting an eyelid. Also hackers can disguise themselves a legitimate data to fool the firewall which could cause huge problems
Where to get firewall software
You get a firewall as standard with windows, but there are many commercial firewall software out there in the shops.

Conclusion
Now that we have discussed the importance of using a firewall, it's vital to remember that although a firewall isn't complete peace of mind and has a lot of vulnerabilities, it is however the first line of defence and should be used in conjunction with other security software, but remember only to use one type of firewall.

Welcome

2007-04-21T04:25:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to this brand new blog. What we intend to do here is to keep you people in the loop regarding the latest goings on in the computer and Internet security world. Whether it be online scams, the latest anti-virus or just great advice on how to protect yourself online, you can rest assured we here will help you with not getting caught out by scam artists, hackers or viruses. Stay tuned, the first article will arrive very shortly!