Protect your system from virus and spyware attacks
Virus or Worm Spyware Tips to prevent viruses / spyware Phishing What you can do
Basic Tips to prevent viruses / spyware
If you receive an email with an attachment from someone you do not recognise, do not open the attachment. The attachment could contain a virus which if you open could copy itself to your PC and use your PC to send itself on to others, change your files, collect information on passwords and personal information and send it back to the sender. all without your knowledge.
Instead either delete the file immediately or move it to a separate folder (without opening the attachment) and review the email at a later date if someone contacts you again about the email.
Regularly scan your system using Adaware, or Search and destroy or similar which checks your system for suspicious items include cookies and spyware which can track your habits and send back information. Although most of these can be fairly harmless and are normally used for advertising purposes they should be removed.
You may not have heard of that term but it is also known as spoofing, you have properly received an email from a spammer which looks very familiar to the real sites of eBay and banks, often they even link directly to the images from the sites to make it look more real. They claim to offer a limited offer or need you to login to verify your details. of course these are lies and they just want to record the details from you to take over your account possibly for fraud or other crimes to try and rip off someone or obtain money from a person or company.
Often the links to these 'real' sites show as http://123.123.123.123/ebaylogin or similar, remember the banks and all internet sites never ask for your details or to verify bank details via email. If you have received an email which does looks genuine then I suggest you visit the site directly, not via the link. Most sites will alert you once you have logged in if you need to confirm your details, otherwise contact the relevant support section for advice.
Virus or Worm Spyware Tips to prevent viruses / spyware Phishing What you can do
