Excel Systems

25/08/2013

AVOIDING ONLINE SCAMS

We’ve improved at spotting online scams over the last few years. We know we’ve not won the World Wide Super Lottery.

We’ve come to accept that an exiled princess who begins her email with ‘Beloved!’ probably doesn’t want to transfer $32 million into our bank accounts. We’ve even, mostly, accepted that we haven’t won a super yacht.

But as we get smarter at spotting scams, the scammers get smarter too. And with the scammers as desperate to get hold of our money as we are to protect our savings, it’s an arms race of ingenuity.

Here are some of the tricks and deceptions currently being used to try to steal from you. Forewarned really is forearmed.

The false police detective

If I hadn’t read about this scam, I know I would easily have fallen for it. Someone pretending to be a police officer phones your home and says your bank cards have been compromised.

They ask for your card details so they can freeze them – and get you to type your PIN into the phone, which they can record.

If you become suspicious, they ask you to hang up and call 999 to check they are who they say. However, because they stay on the line, they are still connected when you dial another number. They can pretend to be the 999 operative and verify the call is genuine. That’s the genius of this scam.

So you are connected back through to the fake police officer, ready to hand over your details.

According to some victims, the scammers even send a courier around to collect their bank cards and then kept them on the phone until their accounts were emptied and their credit cards maxed out.

The fake bank official

The fake police officer is a particularly compelling version of this scam, but crooks use this phone trick often. It’s very common for them to pretend to be calling from your bank.

What to do....

If you’re verifying a call is from the police, a service provider or your bank then don’t just hang up and call back immediately. Call a number you already know, like a friend or the talking clock – just to check the line really is clear.

06/08/2013

Life Before The Computer........@ The Parish

28/06/2013

Life Before The Computer..........

28/06/2013

10 ways to avoid viruses and spyware – Part-1

At Excel Systems we encourage client and users to follow several security practices to minimize virus, spyware, and malware exposure.

Over the coming week, we shall be sharing with you a handy reference list of 10 steps end users can adopt to avoid infection (including when using home systems to read and send work e-mail, create, edit, and distribute documents and spreadsheets, access the corporate VPN, and perform other office tasks).

Post this list on your Intranet, distribute it in an e-mail, or print it out and pass it along to end users. Just be sure the word gets out. Otherwise, you're likely to find yourself losing precious time cleaning and repairing infected systems or entire networks.

1 Install quality antivirus

Many computer users believe free antivirus applications, such as those included with an Internet service provider's bundled service offering, are sufficient to protect a computer from virus or spyware infection. However, such free anti-malware programs typically don't provide adequate protection from the ever-growing list of threats.

Instead, all Windows users should install professional, business-grade antivirus software on their PCs. Pro-grade antivirus programs update more frequently throughout the day (thereby providing timely protection against fast- emerging vulnerabilities), protect against a wider range of threats (such as rootkits), and enable additional protective features (such as custom scans).

2 Install real-time anti-spyware protection

Many computer users mistakenly believe that a single antivirus program with integrated spyware protection provides sufficient safeguards from adware and spyware. Others think free anti-spyware applications, combined with an antivirus utility, deliver capable protection from the skyrocketing number of spyware threats.

Unfortunately, that's just not the case. Most free anti-spyware programs do not provide real-time, or active, protection from adware, Trojan, and other spyware infections. While many free programs can detect spyware threats once they've infected a system, typically professional (or fully paid and licensed) anti-spyware programs are required to prevent infections and fully remove those infections already present.

3 Keep anti-malware applications current

Antivirus and anti-spyware programs require regular signature and database updates. Without these critical updates, anti-malware programs are unable to protect PCs from the latest threats.

In early 2009, statistics revealing that a lot of serious computer threats are secretive and fast-moving. Many of these infections are short-lived, but they're estimated to infect as many as 100,000 to 300,000 new Web sites a day.

Computer users must keep their antivirus and anti-spyware applications up to date. All Windows users must take measures to prevent license expiration, thereby ensuring that their anti-malware programs stay current and continue providing protection against the most recent threats. Those threats now spread with alarming speed, thanks to the popularity of such social media sites as Twitter, Facebook, and My Space.

Thank you all for your comments, it is very encouraging.

Be on the look out for our next post.........

27/06/2013

INTERNET SAFETY TIPS......Computer Spyware



Safety Tips for Fighting Spyware

The best defense against spyware and other unwanted technologies is to prevent them from getting on your computer in the first place. Awareness is the best approach to protect yourself online, so staying up-to-date on current threats and safe surfing practices is essential. Here are some steps you can take to stay safe while still getting the most from the Internet and software programs.
Keep security on your computer up to date.

Update security patches:

Many malicious spyware developers exploit known security holes in essential software, such as operating systems and browsers. Update essential software frequently. Automate the process if your vendor offers the option.

Security and privacy settings in Internet browsers:

Many Internet browsers have security and privacy settings that you can adjust to determine how much—or how little—information you are willing to accept from a Web site. Check the documentation or help file on your Internet browser to determine how to adjust these settings to appropriate levels. See GetNetWise.org for detailed instructions.

Download programs only from Web sites you trust.

If you are not sure whether to trust a program you are considering downloading, ask a knowledgeable friend or enter the name of the program into your favorite search engine to see if anyone else has reported that it contains spyware or other potentially unwanted technologies.
Look carefully at the address of the site you are visiting to make sure it is not an obvious spoof.
Be particularly suspicious of programs you see advertised on unrelated Web sites. If a maker of a screensaver, “smiley” inserter, or other program heavily promotes its purportedly-free product, the product may include extra software you do not want.

Beware the fine print: Read all security warnings, license agreements, privacy statements, and “opt-in” notices with any software you download.

Whenever you install something on your computer, make sure you carefully read all disclosures, including the license agreement and privacy statement. Sometimes important information such as aggressive installs or the inclusion of unwanted software in a given software installation is documented, but it may be found only in the EULA. The fine print may be the only place consumers can find notice of potentially unwanted technologies. Unfortunately, careful consumers must read all the fine print.
When given the choice of opting into something, make sure you understand fully to what you are agreeing.
If you have doubts about the legitimacy of the software, do not install it, or go to a trusted source to find more information about the software. To be safe, you should never install software if you are uncertain about it.

Don’t be tricked into clicking: You don’t have to click “OK,” “Agree,” or “Cancel” to close a window.

If you want to close a window or dialog box, consider the options provided by your operating system or Web browser, such as closing the window with the ‘x’ mark in the upper corner or typing Alt+F4 in Microsoft Windows.
Pay attention when closing windows; some dialog boxes may have a prominent statement that says, “Click here to close window,” then in less prominent text adds, “and install software.”


Be especially careful with certain types of “free” programs.

Many file sharing applications are bundled with other, potentially unwanted software.
Similarly, screen savers, cursor enhancements, wallpaper bundles, “smiley” inserters and any other software promoted aggressively often include extra software you did not request and aren’t expecting. Be sure you clearly understand all of the software packaged with those programs.

Use available tools to detect and delete spyware.

There are a number of security tools available from a variety of vendors that can help you identify spyware, stop the installation of it on your PC, and/or remove it.
Anti-spyware and Anti-virus software:

There are a number of programs (available both free and for a fee) from reputable vendors that can help detect spyware, prevent spyware from being installed on your PC, and/or remove spyware if it is installed. (Some programs can be removed through “Add/Remove programs” or other standard operating system features.) Note that some software that claims to be an anti-spyware tool is actually adware or other potentially unwanted software in disguise. For this reason, you should read reviews to be sure any anti-spyware software you download is from a reputable publisher.

Personal firewall:

Installing and using a firewall provides a helpful defense against remote installation of spyware by hackers.

We encourage you to learn more about how to protect yourself from spyware by visiting OnGuard OnLine Web site at http://www.onguardonline.gov.

Aah, summer break. School’s almost out, and camp season is just around the corner. Whether your kids are attending a program for sports, arts, or education, there’s plenty of fun to be had this summer…and plenty of forms to be filled out.