Plugging the Holes: Online Security

Posted by Pamela S. on Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

We write about tech news and social media on a regular basis, but it is such an integral part of everyone’s personal and professional life that it is difficult to ignore. What does this have to do with private investigation? Everything. We also spend

much of our lives online, just as you do, and we want to help keep you safe.

The Internet is a mad, mad world. You can tiptoe through the digital tulips and send lovely photos of cute puppies to your friends, but at the same time someone else is doing something nasty to your computer. Online security is just as important as locking the door to your house when you leave.

If you are using Internet Explorer, you may want to think twice about that. IT security experts are warning users of IE to change to another browser, at least temporarily. A newly identified bug had made IE vulnerable to hackers. The website for IT security firm Rapid7 is alerting people to the bug. Other security experts are telling us the same thing.

The vulnerability in IE can allow hackers to install malicious code on legitimate websites, and your computer could become infected. Computers running Windows XP, Vista and 7 are at risk.

Microsoft recommends customers switch to Internet Explorer 10, which is not affected by this hole in the security, at least until Microsoft fixes this problem.

I was using

IE on one of my computers which is running Vista, and I had to change computers because something bad has been downloaded in the past few day. Maybe it is this bug. Whatever it is, it wasn’t removed by Malwarebytes or other software. I am now using Google Chrome.

At least my smart phone doesn’t have a virus. According to security experts, our smartphones will soon be under major attack by hackers. An article on CNN Money says that one reason that hackers haven’t targeted smartphones is because they are still making so much money attacking Windows PCs. Most people still shop and do their online banking on their computer, making them a perfect target for cyberscams. Sooner or later, as more people use their smartphones for these services, hackers are going to start working that avenue. Most smartphones have no antivirus protection. Antivirus programs that work on your computer, won’t work on a smartphone. Read Techrepublic’s “How effective is antivirus software on smartphones?”

Viruses, malware and other threats are becoming more difficult to avoid. We all know not to open attachments or spam mail, in the same way that we now realize that not shredding or destroying paper documents is folly.You have to treat spam like a mini bomb that could go off inside your computer and wreak havoc. Even with those precautions, you can still download nasty things onto your computer. That is why I am letting you know. If you are reading this on IE, check out that cute fox next door or Google Chrome.

Former FBI Assistant Director Tom Sheer has recruited the best from the FBI, DEA, IRS and Secret Service to build a formidable team at Sheer Investigations. Our private investigators have the sensitivity and experience to handle the most delicate investigations.