Web Threats

  1. Fake E-mail
    Fake e-mail messages can appear to be from reputable companies like PayPal and Microsoft. No reputable companies send out unsolicited attachments. Do not be fooled by official looking e-mails.
  2. Checking E-mail in the Classroom
    Teachers, it is not a good idea to check your e-mail with students gathered around your computer screen. You can take every precaution in the world, and you may still get adult-content spam in your inbox. Trying to explain this to students and parents can be difficult to say the least.
  3. Attachments
    Never open attachments unless YOU specifically asked someone to send them to you. Even when you are expecting an e-mail attachment, you should check it with a virus scan before opening. (Sophos checks attachments automatically.)
  4. Unsubscribe Links
    Do not attempt to unsubscribe from unsolicited spam. This only informs spammers that your e-mail account is active, and will usually result in an increase in spam.
  5. Trash that Attachment!
    If you use Eudora, make sure the program is set to delete attachments when emptying e-mail trash.
    In Eudora, go to Tools > Option > Attachments and check the box next to "Delete attachments when emptying trash."
  6. Protect your MPS E-mail Address
    Entering your e-mail address on Web Pages can result in having your MPS e-mail address added to a spam list. To avoid spam, only supply your MPS e-mail address to a web site when it is necessary for the web site to respond to you by e-mail for a password or confirmation message. Many educational and nonprofit sites require an e-mail address solely for the purpose of follow-up solicitation or advertising. In these instances, some type of alternate address should be used. Web sites do not validate the accuracy of the address, just that it is in the right format, i.e. something@something.org. Many sites are funded solely by the collection and sale of e-mail addresses.
  7. If it seems too good to be "free"... That's because it isn't.
    If you download and install a free program, beware. Chances are, it contains some type of advertising/tracking software that will cause pop-up ads and slow down your machine. Programs like Web-Shots, Weather Bug, Gator, Smiley, Bonzi or Kazza will bog down your computer and increase advertising hits.
  8. I didn't know I installed that!
    You may already have inadvertently installed malicious software by accident. To check, go to Start>Control Panel . Double-click Add or Remove Programs . Look through the list . If you see anything like "Cool Web Search" or "Spin 4 Cash" attempt to uninstall them. You may have to do it in safe mode, but if they keep reappearing, you have a tough one. Go to Google and search for removal tools or instructions. Do not pay for an uninstaller because that is one of the tricks; infect your machine and then try to sell you the antidote.
  9. Evil unsigned Active X controllers:
    One way to stop spyware and other evil programs from being installed on your PC computer is to disable or prompt for unsigned Active X controllers. Open Internet Explorer and go to Tools > Internet Options . Select the Security tab and click Custom Level . Set unsigned ActiveX controllers to Prompt before installing. This forces any program to ask first before being installed. Just be careful what you say yes to.
  10. Is it TOO late?
    If your machine is acting weird, you get pop-ups every time you go to a new page or your homepage has been hijacked, you may have already installed spyware. You should download, install and run a free spyware removal tool called Ad-Aware. Go to the spyware removal tools download page. To learn more about spyware go to our Spyware Information Center.
  11. Question Everything
    Think about which e-mail address you are using, what you are downloading and what windows you are saying yes to. There are lots of dangers out on the Web; you must educate yourself. For more information, go to MPS Web Services at http://www.mpsaz.org/web. For information about viruses, go to MPS Virus Scan. For online virus scanning, go to Panda Software's ActiveScan. If you get a message and you don't understand it, put the message in google.com and read about it. If you get really stuck call me, Thom Stricklin, at 472-0157, and I will do my best to get you working again.