A crash course in online safety on clarkhoward.com

RIP-OFF ALERT: Clark recently spoke about protecting yourself online against cyber-criminals. Now technology columnist Walt Mossberg has compiled a handy list that reinforces the message. Below are some excerpts:

• Never click on a link in an e-mail that appears to be from your bank, credit union or brokerage. Call the company if you are in doubt.
• Don't click on links in an e-mail offering free goods or services.
• Never download free software from unknown websites.
• Don't download video drivers from sites other than Microsoft, Adobe or Apple.

Clark also wants to add that you should be using a browser like Firefox, which is safer than Internet Explorer. Please note that it's OK to download new security patches from Firefox.

People have been asking Clark about that website he recently discussed that blocks suspect sites from loading in your browser. It's HauteSecure.com.

Finally, Mossberg also recommends a free service from McAfee called Site Advisor that alerts you when a web address could be dangerous.

Hear the podcast: |Download

What others are saying

Giant online security hole in DNS
Evil twin websites:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080805/ap_on_hi_te/tec_internet_security_hole

I remember a few months back there was a woman who called in to Clark saying she didn't see the "padlock" in the browser's tray when at her bank's website. Clark viewed the site while on the air and saw the same thing. That probably wasn't a DNS routing error twice (unless possibly they were accessing the Internet from close physical locations), but the above article is a good reminder that only you will take the best care of yourself.
By Clifford @ 08/06/08 06:43:58 AMreport abuse
Fraud
I have a fraud in process, I was sent a chashiers check for $35000 with instructions to send $7000 to the pickup agent in Marietta GA.

The back has advised me that the check is fraud, We can NAB these guys are interested.

Regards Lee New

269-290-4145
Land Line: 269-276-9295
By Lee New @ 07/09/08 11:15:58 AMreport abuse
Other variations on the scam
The latest scam email I received was one that seemed to be an order confirmation for an expensive camera. I hadn't ordered any camera, and at first sight it seemed to be some kind of mistake that I needed to straighten out. The web link in the email seemed to be from an actual vendor I have done business with over the years, but looking at the address very carefully, it wasn't really from them. If you look carefully at a web site, there is a very subtle thing which is meant to confuse you. The actual URL are the last 2 sections (separated by dots .) to the LEFT of the first slash. Anything before that is NOT a URL, but internal routing. So (assuming myvendor.com is a legitimate url of a reputable vendor) if you see:

www.myvendor.com.2234456.334556.ru/more

The actual URL that this link would take you to would be 334556.ru -- NOT myvendor.com. The web site would probably look exactly like myvendor's site (as it is very simple to copy a web site) and by trying to cancel the order, you would be giving them all kinds of information you probably don't want them to have.

www.my
By Gerald @ 06/06/08 12:51:23 PMreport abuse
HauteSecure
I downloaded HauteSUite and after installing it .....I repeatedly got the blue screen of dead from windows....it was all I could do to get it un-installed. and I am not a novice.
By Alan @ 05/30/08 03:39:20 PMreport abuse
Web of Trust, people-driven security
Web of Trust is a free browser security tool that warns users about risky websites that try to scam visitors, deliver malware, or send spam. WOT safety rating icons appear beside results from search engines including Google, Yahoo, and MSN, and other popular sites like Wikipedia, providing rating information on trustworthiness, vendor reliability, privacy and child safety.

SiteAdvisor was mentioned above. The difference between WOT and SiteAdvisor is that WOT uses a combination of user ratings and data from hundreds of trusted sources. Many Internet users who have used WOT have noticed that the user driven approach often gives more accurate ratings than automated ones like SiteAdvisor, especially for reputation regarding "vendor reliability" and "child safety", where human input is crucial.

WOT is recommended by Mozilla for Firefox and also works on IE. There are over 18.5 million sites rated already, with 10,000 added every day. WOT comes in 10 languages and a colorblind accessible version for people with color vision deficiency!

Here's the link to the WOT demo page,
http://www.mywot.com/en/demo

Check out Clark's website scorecard too, http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/clarkhoward.com
By Deborah @ 05/30/08 02:32:45 AMreport abuse
computer safety
I'm a computer professional myself. I own my own company and supply support / technical services for small-medium size businesses as well as individuals.

Too often (especially in the individual - home user department, I go into work on someone's computer(s) to find a high speed connection plugged straight into the computer (or a hub if more than one computer is being used for Internet access).

The number one soulution for all firewalls period is a ROUTER.

If you purchase a fairly good router ($50.00 and below) you accomplish several things...

1) More than one computer can use the Internet / network

2) Access other computers in your network

3) Share printers in your network

4) Block all ports, thus eliminating pop-ups, spam, viruses, etc.

5) Make computers as secure as possible by blocking ports

6) If you get a wireless router, you can utlize that service all around your house

I personally can't believe anyone would hook up their PC to a cable modem without a router, let alone do Internet banking without it. THAT'S ASKING FOR IT!!!

Also, with the right router, parents can control the time their kids can access the Internet, control where they go on the Internet, i.e. block specific sites, and control cetiain key words pertaining to where they DON'T WANT their kids to be.

I wish there was more discussion to routers on the show.

Being in IT, it sure is a relatively cheap way to secure a home PC.

I enjoy your show Clark. I download the podcasts daily and listen to them as the FM plays way too many commercials for my taste.

P.S. I got mine and my wife's credit freezes in place thanks to you.

God Bless and keep up the good fight.
By Jerry @ 05/29/08 07:14:33 PMreport abuse
Thanks
Please let your listeners know to be very careful when applying for anything online, such as a loan or a grant. They will sell your information and you could be charged for services that you have no clue about. This happened to me when I aborted an online application for a payday loan. Although I did not go through with the application, I provided just enough information to be signed up for a variety of strange and unknown programs and ended up in more financial trouble than I was before.
By Danielle C. @ 05/29/08 06:12:36 PMreport abuse

Giant online security hole in DNS

Evil twin websites:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080805/ap_on_hi_te/tec_internet_security_hole

I remember a few months back there was a woman who called in to Clark saying she didn't see the "padlock" in the browser's tray when at her bank's website. Clark viewed the site while on the air and saw the same thing. That probably wasn't a DNS routing error twice (unless possibly they were accessing the Internet from close physical locations), but the above article is a good reminder that only you will take the best care of yourself.

By Clifford @ 08/06/08 06:43:58 AMreport abuse

Fraud

I have a fraud in process, I was sent a chashiers check for $35000 with instructions to send $7000 to the pickup agent in Marietta GA.

The back has advised me that the check is fraud, We can NAB these guys are interested.

Regards Lee New

269-290-4145
Land Line: 269-276-9295

By Lee New @ 07/09/08 11:15:58 AMreport abuse

Other variations on the scam

The latest scam email I received was one that seemed to be an order confirmation for an expensive camera. I hadn't ordered any camera, and at first sight it seemed to be some kind of mistake that I needed to straighten out. The web link in the email seemed to be from an actual vendor I have done business with over the years, but looking at the address very carefully, it wasn't really from them. If you look carefully at a web site, there is a very subtle thing which is meant to confuse you. The actual URL are the last 2 sections (separated by dots .) to the LEFT of the first slash. Anything before that is NOT a URL, but internal routing. So (assuming myvendor.com is a legitimate url of a reputable vendor) if you see:

www.myvendor.com.2234456.334556.ru/more

The actual URL that this link would take you to would be 334556.ru -- NOT myvendor.com. The web site would probably look exactly like myvendor's site (as it is very simple to copy a web site) and by trying to cancel the order, you would be giving them all kinds of information you probably don't want them to have.

www.my

By Gerald @ 06/06/08 12:51:23 PMreport abuse

HauteSecure

I downloaded HauteSUite and after installing it .....I repeatedly got the blue screen of dead from windows....it was all I could do to get it un-installed. and I am not a novice.

By Alan @ 05/30/08 03:39:20 PMreport abuse

Web of Trust, people-driven security

Web of Trust is a free browser security tool that warns users about risky websites that try to scam visitors, deliver malware, or send spam. WOT safety rating icons appear beside results from search engines including Google, Yahoo, and MSN, and other popular sites like Wikipedia, providing rating information on trustworthiness, vendor reliability, privacy and child safety.

SiteAdvisor was mentioned above. The difference between WOT and SiteAdvisor is that WOT uses a combination of user ratings and data from hundreds of trusted sources. Many Internet users who have used WOT have noticed that the user driven approach often gives more accurate ratings than automated ones like SiteAdvisor, especially for reputation regarding "vendor reliability" and "child safety", where human input is crucial.

WOT is recommended by Mozilla for Firefox and also works on IE. There are over 18.5 million sites rated already, with 10,000 added every day. WOT comes in 10 languages and a colorblind accessible version for people with color vision deficiency!

Here's the link to the WOT demo page,
http://www.mywot.com/en/demo

Check out Clark's website scorecard too, http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/clarkhoward.com

By Deborah @ 05/30/08 02:32:45 AMreport abuse

computer safety

I'm a computer professional myself. I own my own company and supply support / technical services for small-medium size businesses as well as individuals.

Too often (especially in the individual - home user department, I go into work on someone's computer(s) to find a high speed connection plugged straight into the computer (or a hub if more than one computer is being used for Internet access).

The number one soulution for all firewalls period is a ROUTER.

If you purchase a fairly good router ($50.00 and below) you accomplish several things...

1) More than one computer can use the Internet / network

2) Access other computers in your network

3) Share printers in your network

4) Block all ports, thus eliminating pop-ups, spam, viruses, etc.

5) Make computers as secure as possible by blocking ports

6) If you get a wireless router, you can utlize that service all around your house

I personally can't believe anyone would hook up their PC to a cable modem without a router, let alone do Internet banking without it. THAT'S ASKING FOR IT!!!

Also, with the right router, parents can control the time their kids can access the Internet, control where they go on the Internet, i.e. block specific sites, and control cetiain key words pertaining to where they DON'T WANT their kids to be.

I wish there was more discussion to routers on the show.

Being in IT, it sure is a relatively cheap way to secure a home PC.

I enjoy your show Clark. I download the podcasts daily and listen to them as the FM plays way too many commercials for my taste.

P.S. I got mine and my wife's credit freezes in place thanks to you.

God Bless and keep up the good fight.

By Jerry @ 05/29/08 07:14:33 PMreport abuse

Thanks

Please let your listeners know to be very careful when applying for anything online, such as a loan or a grant. They will sell your information and you could be charged for services that you have no clue about. This happened to me when I aborted an online application for a payday loan. Although I did not go through with the application, I provided just enough information to be signed up for a variety of strange and unknown programs and ended up in more financial trouble than I was before.

By Danielle C. @ 05/29/08 06:12:36 PMreport abuse

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May 28, 2008 -- A crash course in online safety

What others are saying