ICIWorld News and Security Protection Page A public service to the real estate industry

With simple knowledge you can protect yourself and others against problems of using the Internet.

The ICIWorld News, Security and Protection Page

Everyone on the Internet should be aware of the problems the Internet can present. They are highlighted on this page. Otherwise you are at risk.

There is information from Microsoft, banks, police organizations, investigative TV programs and more.

This is a public service for the real estate industry

"Essential reading for everyone who uses the Internet."

Spotting a fraud: 7 signs of a scam
From Microsoft

For example see this in the Toronto Star If this link expires click here.

Court says no tax break in scam loss Securities dealer unable to claim $340,000 U.S. from advance-fee fraud Details.

Every single Executive Member and our reader public everywhere in the world should be aware of this: See article in the Toronto Star. This year's NFL season arrived with a twist for millions of computer users, who discovered emails in their inboxes advertising free "online game trackers" and links to an official-looking website adorned with the National Football League's logo. Fans who tried to download the program from the compromised website unwittingly infected their computers with a version of the Storm Worm . . .See article in the Toronto Star.

See Tom Brady making some passes. If you can not see and hear this video fairly quickly, your computer and Internet service needs upgrading.

We recommend you circulate a link to this page to everyone you know. http://www.iciworld.net/news.shtml

It will educate people and make the Internet work better for everyone.

This is not a page you will read in a few minutes. It will take perhaps several hours to benefit. May we suggest you make several appointments with yourself to read this page.

If you use computers and the Internet, you should read the following.

Everyone on the Internet and will either be approached at one time or another through email with Nigerian frauds, spam, viruses, etc. People can be approached through regular snail mail with frauds, identity theft schemes, and more. You can protect yourself and others through the knowledge gained through the links on this page.

Everyone will get a virus at one time or another.

See what banks, credit bureaus, credit card companies, National TV Network Programs, FBI, RCMP, and many other consumer and government bodies have to say.

Here is a link to Microsoft and what they say.

If you receive an e-mail offer that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Urban legends and hoaxes have been around for centuries, but their popularity is on the rise because the Internet makes it easy to spread fraud e-mails.

Many e-mail hoaxes will trick you into forwarding messages about fake viruses or other fabricated stories. These e-mails waste time, clog inboxes, and might cause embarrassment when they're proven untrue. But there are other, more insidious types of fraud that might end up costing you a lot of money. . . . more.

Make yourself aware of these problems and you can easily avoid dealing with these people.

The Internet is the most powerful communication medium known to man. However it has what I call "the good, the bad, and the ugly. "

You will see some of the most transactions going on in the marketplace. See testimonials.

If you do not have an up to date paid for software protection plan you will get into problems. I did not say you might get into problems. You probably will get into problems.

Along with the good, however there can be problems with viruses on your computer.

Windows XP Security Software Providers Microsoft recommends that you install security software to help protect your computer from viruses and other security threats, and that you keep your security software up to date.

We suggest virus protection programs such as provided by Norton, McAfee.

Your own Internet Service Provider may provide free protection software and there are others. Ask them and your computer advisors what they recommend.

If you do not have an oil change for your car, will your car operate properly. Virus protection programs help to keep your computer protected.

Along with the good, there can be problems with fraud. We suggest you be aware of this and report these and/or ignore it to avoid problems.

The following is a public service to the real estate industry. Links contain:

what banks do to help you become more knowledgeable;
what credit bureaus say to be careful;
what the RCMP and CIA and FBI say to avoid problems;
ABC television documentaries reporting on this problem world wide;
NBC television articles

This is not confined to the Internet. There is mail fraud, credit card fraud.

Scam Watch: Counterfeit Money/Counterfeit Cops

By simply being aware of these potential problems you can easily avoid problems.

Our members and readers are then informed better than the average person and can help others throughout the world to be aware and protect themselves.

Tips to protect your identity, password dos and don'ts, fraud statistics and more.

Pay Pal recommends choose a secure password to protect account information: Many people use passwords for online stores that could be guessed, like their birthday, Social Security Number or a family member’s name. Instead, a password should contain a combination of upper and lower case letters and numbers and symbols that no one else will know.

Take the Phishing Challenge

If you have a link that you feel can benefit the industry, please let us know and we will place it on this page.

Thank you to all who have contributed to this page. We appreciate your suggestions.

Tutorial Spoof (Fake) EMails

All people in the world conducting business must be aware of the problems that we have compiled on this page in order to avoid becoming a victim of Internet and other fraud schemes.

This is for you and you can pass it on to help protect others.

Be forever vigilant. The Internet presents the best communication since the beginning of mankind. It is however being misused by unscrupulous people. Learn about the problems and you can easily avoid the problems.

It is like driving a car. You have be careful to avoid accidents. The same is true on the Internet. You can avoid fraudulent situations by being aware of them.

Some articles on this page may be dated but are relevant and apply to this day.

Don't expose yourself to problems of using the Internet.

Everyone in the world should read this page to help protect yourself and others against serious problems that can and are happening.

Everyone may link to this page. It is a public service from ICIWorld

Spotting a fraud: 7 signs of a scam
From Microsoft

If you think an e-mail you received is a scam, one place to check is the Urban Legends Reference Pages list of examples. However, these scams can come in thousands of different forms.

Here are seven more telltale signs of a scam:

1.	You don't know the person who has sent you the message.
2.	You are promised untold sums of money for little or no effort on your part.
3.	You are asked to provide money up front for questionable activities, a processing fee, or to pay the cost of expediting the process.
4.	You are asked to provide your bank account number or other personal financial information, even if the sender offers to deposit money into it.
5.	The request contains a sense of urgency.
6.	The sender repeatedly requests confidentiality.
7.	The sender offers to send you photocopies of government certificates, banking information, or other "evidence" that their activity is legitimate (these are fake).

Here is some good news of someone being caught. It also gives you an insight to how these things happen.

Yahoo tips spam protection, anti-virus, phishing prevention.

Protect yourself against fraud

From the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee

E-mail Fraud Update CIBC Customers. |

EasyWeb Important Messages About Current EMail Fraud |

FBI Alerts Public

Interac Learn Security Suggestions

Financial Services Commission of Ontario - Beware of potential consumer scams. This and all alerts on this page are helpful for people everywhere in the world.

Hoaxes Around the world, Internet scammers steal millions of dollars per year from unsuspecting Internet users. These criminal activities are successful largely because many Internet users are not aware of the ways in which scammers operate and may not recognize scam attempts if they are targeted. Hoax-Slayer aims to counteract these criminal activities by publishing information about common types of Internet scams and providing examples of scam messages.

INTERNET FRAUD WILL PEAK DURING HOLIDAYS: KNOW THE ISSUES!

Better Business Bureau Alerts

Another good reason to list your property with a Realtor to protect your best interests.

May 25, 2007 RCMP probe U.S. senior scams If you have a senior Mom or Dad ask them about this. You might find out they trust the fraud artist person who calls and believe the offers in the mail, and won't believe you. Even after giving them proof like this article they may not believe you or want to take a chance on the winnings and do not care about the small amount of money they give these fraud artists. One of the things these fraud artists are after though is access to your bank account number where they will clean it out.

RCMP Fraud - Recognize it. Report it. Stop it. This is a pdf file.

Nine percent of U.S. Internet users have lost money on e-mail scams, according to a survey of 791 users conducted by market research firm The Radicati Group. READ MORE Other news articles about this and other subjects click here.

Justice Department officials estimate that about 2.8 million people have been the victims of these fraud schemes. Gonzales estimated that a wide variety of victims have been bilked of more than $1 billion. While most old-style "boiler room" scams have traditionally targeted the elderly, the Internet has widened the scope of individuals who are targeted by fraudsters.

565 People Arrested in Five Countries See more.

Everyone reading this should see this 20/20 Expose.

Make sure you have high speed access and turn your speakers on and see these videos.

By being aware you will protect yourself and others from falling prey to these people.

20/20 ABC Television Nigerian Scam Expose

Play the videos on the ABC News Television site. Look for the link that says Video Search Results for nigerian scam There is a short commercial and then a great article everyone should be aware of. Then another commercial and another article. It is like television programs with commercials.

One heart surgeon in the USA lost over $300,000. Over $1 Billion stolen from people. A congressman, church groups, have been victims.

Be aware of it and you are protected and can protect others by making them aware.

Play the video on the ABC Television Web Site Billion Dollar Internet Scam and Nigerian Letter Scam, Scammers caught in the act. There are many videos.

If you use the Internet, you must absolutely be aware of these problems of the Internet. Make every member of your family, your colleagues, business associates, clients and prospects aware of this. It will protect them if they are aware of it.

Fraud Bulletin Alert Nigerian Scam people approaching members by EMail.

Real Estate News on the Internet
Problems of Internet Fraud, Scams, Identity Theft, etc. Links to web sites fighting Nigerian Scam. Problems and solutions for Spam, Virus's.

Here is what the US Postal Service is doing to help.

20/20 expose NIgerian Fraud and other frauds

Being aware of the the problems on the Internet is important to using the Internet safely and effectively. If you are not aware of the following problems and safety issues you are exposing yourself to problems and can easily get into trouble.

Identify Theft Expose by Dateline TV NBC | Nigerian Scam Articles NBC

Largest U.S. Fine Ever Levied for Spam Violations Internet marketer to pay $900,000. PC WORLD Article

Nigerian E-Mail Scheme Indictments

In more good news for the average e-mail user, four people have been indicted and could face 30 years in prison for a variation on a widespread scam in which e-mail senders claim they're trying to transfer money out of Nigeria, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.

A grand jury in New York City yesterday returned a 10-count indictment against three of the defendants and an 11-count indictment against the fourth. Alleged victims of the four individuals lost more than $1.2 million, the DOJ said.

The defendants allegedly sent spam e-mail messages to thousands of potential victims, and they falsely claimed to have control of millions of dollars located in a foreign country that belongs to an individual with a terminal illness, according to the DOJ.

Three of the defendants were arrested in Amsterdam by Dutch authorities on February 21, based on a U.S. criminal complaint. They are being held by the Dutch authorities pending extradition to the United States, the DOJ said. The fourth defendant, a Nigerian citizen, is a fugitive.

ebay Members of International Fraud Ring Arrested, Auction Fraudster Arrested and more.

phishing PCWorld If you do not know what this is, you can easily get into trouble. Here are more resources detailing how people get hoodwinked.

Don't be Hooked by Phishing Fraud Excellent article by Symantec. ICIWorld recommended reading. Summary Phishers trick people into divulging sensitive financial information. If you spend time online, now is the time to learn to spot a phishing attack.

"The ICIWorld News Page is a public service to the real estate industry. It is a must reading for everyone who uses the Internet!" For instance are you aware of scams on the Internet? Please read this. It is called 419 Scams and this information is quoted from the US Secret Service Web Site.

How to combat this stuff? There is more information along the left column on this page that every single real estate broker and salesperson in the world should know about. This can be part of your value added services that you offer the public to protect them. If they try to sell their property on the Internet and they are now aware of these problems it can cost them a lot of pain. You can protect them against that.

If you would like us to speak at your conference or convention anywhere in North America or the world contact us. The items learned will help protect them, and make them more knowledge so they can help their clients and prospects succeed using the powers of the Internet.

ICIWorld is a world wide service bureau for real estate Have and Want information.

www.iciworld.net

This is a news page as a public service to the real estate industry and the public world wide.

EMail

Are you suspicious of strangers coming to your door or on the street? Then become wiser on how you deal with the public you meet on the Internet. It is the same as receiving calls from ads in a newspaper.

Don't be a target for thieves. The Better Business Bureau's Checklist for Online Shopping

We are all in the middle of an information revolution. Learn how to make it work for you. Be aware of the problems and . . the solutions. It will help you and your clients be successful.

Searching the Internet - even that can be a problem unless you are aware of the problems.

Learn to recognize and Avoid E-card Scams

Education is the key to preventing people from becoming victims of Internet fraud and scams.

This page contains links to the Better Business Bureau, FBI, Banks, RCMP, RECO, and more to make you aware of the problems of others so that you do not suffer the same consequences.

It is important for everyone in the world.

If you do not read it you are at risk from a simple lack of knowledge.

Education is the key to preventing virus's from damaging your use of computers and the Internet.

This page is dedicated to that education.

If you have links or would like to contribute here things that can benefit everyone in the industry, or anything you can suggest it will be most appreciated. EMail

Executive Members are also reminded to visit the Resource Center for a wealth of information and resources.

This news page is a public service from ICIWorld

It will help you understand and deal with Internet related problems.

Without an oil change and tune ups your car will grind to a halt. So does your computer need anti virus software and daily virus definition updates and optimization to stay healthy.

Internet Growth News

There are now over 1 Billion people on the Internet

Details.

How to stay safe.

Internet Fraud, Scams, Hoaxes

EasyWeb Important Messages About Current EMail Fraud

FBI Alerts Public

Internet Fraud Complaint Center FBI

Reporting Economic Crime On-Line

Internet Crime Complaint Center

Nigerian Scam Defined

FTC on ID theft: www.ftc.gov/idtheft

Watch a 10-minute Video About Identity Theft

Personal Information and Scams Protection - A Canadian Practical Guide

Canadian Strategy to Promote Safe, Wise and Responsible Internet Use

Essential security tips from Yahoo.

News and articles on mortgage fraud from RECO

Title Fraud

GetNetWise is a user empowerment campaign and Web site designed to give Internet users a user-friendly, easy-to-find, online resource that can be found on the most popular entry points to the Internet, as well as on many of the most popular Web sites. GetNetWise 2.0 offers tips, tutorials and other interactive tools to show users that creating a safe, secure and positive online environment is as easy as "one click" of a mouse.

GetNetWise is a public service brought to you by a wide range of Internet industry corporations and public interest organizations and now ICIWorld supports this.

EMail Hoaxes

Internet Fraud. An opportunity too good to be true - probably is.

Secret Service Fraud Alerts and Help

"Microsoft wants to send you $800". "Federal Bill 602P 5-cents per E-mail sent --" You've seen a few of these -- or the many virus hoaxes.

Here's an authoritative site you can trust whenever you're not quite sure

Avoiding Fraud
Why do people fall for the same scams every year? As P.T. Barnum once said, "There's a sucker born every minute." We Americans are stupid, no common sense, our brains are on auto pilot, we believe every site we see without verifying "facts". Why bother naming our babies? Let's name them first name "Stu", last name "Pid." If the 1/100 of 1% of us who click on spam and email frauds would delete those fraud emails instead, we'd get no spam. Spammers know they would never make money. The best fraud prevention is auto fraud education. eBay and the other online marketplaces are safe sites to use, but scammers are skilled at leading you away from that safety. A little common sense will save you from financial losses. Avoiding Fraud

Securing your personal computer plays a crucial role in protecting our nation's Internet infrastructure.

Federal Trade Commission For The Consumer

I.D Theft

Six things you should know about avoiding identity theft.

Scams on the Internet

How to recognize and report scams on the Internet.

The Phonebusters National Call Centre (PNCC) is a joint partnership involving the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The PNCC is very interested in receiving copies of any 'new' versions of Nigerian letter.

If you have further questions regarding this matter please feel free to contact(888) 495-8501 or wafl@phonebusters.com, or toll free fax (888) 654-9426.

Thank-you

http://www.phonebusters.com/
OPP 1-888-495-8501 phone busters.
Ontario Provincial Police

Established in January of 1993, PhoneBusters is the national deceptive telemarketing call centre, operated by the Ontario Provincial Police. We play a key role in educating the public about specific fraudulent telemarketing pitches. We also play a vital role in the collection and dissemination of victim evidence, documentation, statistics and tape recordings to outside investigations.

RCMP

Beware of Fraudulent Activities

The RCMP home page also has information on how to deal with unsolicited email.

We Fight the Nigerian Scam.

One great reason to employ a Licensed Real Estate Broker or Salesperson Executive Member of ICIWorld to work for you is to protect you and your family's best interests and save you time. Let them handle the calls from strangers. They qualify the tire kickers. curiosity seekers, time wasters and others from legitimate and motivated buyers.

The Oprah Winfrey Show demonstrating the problems of young boy becoming an Internet Porn Star. Don't let any children have a web cam!

So what is scambaiting? Well, put simply, you enter into a dialogue with scammers, simply to waste their precious time and resources. Whilst you are doing this, you will be helping to keep the scammers away from real potential victims and screwing around with the minds of gutless thieves. The world of scambaiting.

Hotels.com credit-card numbers stolen Posted in Foo by walkman
"The names and credit-card numbers of 243,000 Hotels.com customers were on a laptop computer stolen from an employee of accounting firm Ernst & Young, according to sources familiar with the matter. Hotels.com, which is owned by Expedia (Research) and Ernst & Young, its auditor, began notifying customers that their information was stolen last week."

NOTE: ICIWorld uses Internet Secure to process credit cards. We do not see credit cards and do not store credit card numbers when you process on line. If we do a phone order we shred the paper afterward.

On line the key is know who you are dealing with.

Buying and selling on the Internet

What are things that potentially fraudulent buyers do?

Ask you to wire money into their account.
Buyer offers high-value (but fake) cashier's check in exchange for your for sale item. The value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item and the buyer asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service. Banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR . Scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money). We would strongly discourage you from wiring money.
Will not provide you a verifiable US telephone number.
Place large orders to be sent to a foreign location.
Say they will pay you half of what's due before they receive the item, and half payment afterwards.
Pay with an international credit card or cashier's check.
Recommend an unfamiliar escrow or payment service.

You must know who you are dealing with.

The following are links and items about security issues about your computer and how people can gain access to it and misuse the information for their own purposes.

One item I find frightening is the ability of some of these programs to log your keystrokes. Does this mean if you do banking they can log your key strokes? www.EWeek.com (SEARCH THE WORD BOTS AT WWW.EWEEK.COM) is a news service that provides articles about "bots " and other security related problems that people around the world are having.

I provide information here so that computer users world wide become knowledgeable about these problems and prevent them from succeeding with simply understanding what is going on and not responding to it, or getting security programs to prevent things from happening. Paid programs such as Spyware Doctor, Norton Anti-Virus, McAffee and others are part of the solution that is necessary to help you have a great Internet experience without problems. Additionally have a security firewall. But mostly do not respond to email offers that you sense could be a scam or hoax. By being knowledgeable about the problems you can protect yourself and others. 60 minutes and 20/20 on TV talk about the billions of dollars being lost by people.

Always pay particular attention in newspapers and computer trade magazines about security issues and solutions.

It one respect it is like walking down a street at 3am in the morning and being approached by strangers. Don't put yourself in those situations. The Internet has the good, the bad and the ugly. It is even like driving a car, if you are not careful you can easily end up in an accident and it can happen in an instant.

Here is an article eye opener about "Return of the Web Mob: Cyber-Crime Alive and Scheming "

ARTICLE: Two years after "Operation Firewall" cracked into the world of
organized Internet crime, the mobsters are back with a public
brazenness never seen before.
http://ct.enews.eweek.com/rd/cts?d=186-3502-1-94-173189-412593-0-0-0-1

Also visit www.eweek.com for security issues and advice. Click on security.

Canadian consumers can now sign up for a free service to reduce the amount of unsolicited commercial e-mail they receive.

Protect your computer
Protect your family
Protect yourself
... all from Microsoft
Make sure you have the paid version of Microsoft programs.

Real Estate News

Economist: No letup in '06 for commercial real estate

No more cold-calling for U.S. REALTORS

New York Times Commercial Real Estate
Do Big Firms Have A Sales Gap?
Apartment Markets Out of Kilter

Thousands of newspapers on the Net Links to more than 5000 newspapers on the Internet.

Gateway to Your Local Newspaper

Since New Year's Day 2000, Americans' stock portfolios have lost nearly $4 trillion, but their home equity has grown by $1.2 trillion.

Real estate . . . still the best investment!

CCIM Magazine			Globe St.
Economics for Decision Makers The Conference Board
How Many Online?			Who is Using the Internet?
Canada's Online Commercial Real Estate News
Real Estate Council of Ontario Place Your Haves/Wants Free USA Market Place Your Haves/Wants Free Canadian Market		Alta Vista Commercial Real Estate News Commercial Real Estate Direct Real Estate Marketing Magazine Article (ICIWorld) Canada News Wire Canada Best country to do business next five years. Tops in broadband use.
Realty Times	Broker Agent News		Sports
Coldwell Banker Commercial	Royal Lepage Press Releases		Colliers International Global Research Database
	CB Richard Ellis Research
Royal LePage News Releases	TREB Commercial		Lycos News
The Technology 'To-Do' List for Real Estate Pros - 2004 ICIWorld recommends Spam Arrest to stop spam in its tracks. Home pages within 60 minutes of joining ICIWorld. Ask to see sample home pages. Add 18,000 listings to your home page. It will generate leads for a lifetime.
Real Estate Journal The Wall Street Journal Guide to Property
Globe & Mail	News Canada		News Europe
News Toronto	News Montreal		News Vancouver
Florida	Chicago		California
Real Estate Predictions
Fortune 500 News
Single Best Source of Facts on the Internet
Should Banks Sell Real Estate - article
Real Estate Articles

News for your area? Click on any link that starts with News above. When you get to Yahoo news, in the search news box, type in your state or province or city and the words real estate news and search.

For example type in Denver real estate news or Atlanta real estate news.

To show the continued growth and expected use of the internet here are some interesting figures to demonstrate. The Internet and related services continue to grow!

Total online retail revenue in Asia-Pacific for 1999 was $2.8 billion, compared to $3.5 billion in Europe and $36.6 billion in the United States. But the region is projected to grow to more than $7 billion this year. The major countries are Japan, Korea and Australia.

Europe's consumer Internet industry is growing faster than ever before. The 25 million Western European households with Internet access will grow to 64 million by 2004. By the end of 2000, 18% of Spanish households and 40% of Swedish households will have PC-based Internet access.

More than 86% of the 1 billion Web pages are in English.

Teens do not access the Internet as much as adults: 38% of teenage Internet users access the Web more than once a day, compared with 52% of adult Internet users.

Canada must do a much better job of explaining itself to a U.S. audience that extends beyond politicians and diplomats. An insistent reminder is required that Canadians fought and died in Afghanistan, that Canadian ships are protecting U.S. ships attacking Iraq, that trade is two-way and worth nearly $2 billion a day.

www.iciworld.net

Commercial real estate Haves and Wants for the World.

If your company or organization has a news page, we may be happy to place a link here. Contact us.

"The technology revolution has barely begun," according to Microsoft Canada president Frank Clegg. "Many pundits have confused the end of the first stage of the technology revolution with the end of the revolution itself." "I firmly believe we're in the early stages of a technological revolution just as significant as that of electricity." (source: Toronto Star Jan 29/2002)

Point/Counterpoint (Broker/Agent News)

Internet Traffic Report

Harris Poll Library

ICIWorld News

Jan/2003. New records are set regularly by members on ICIWorld. There are now over $1 Trillion of Buyers, over $6 Billion of property sale and lease opportunities. There are over 8,000 pages on the Internet that link to Haves and Wants on ICIWorld.

There are now over 10,000 EMails delivering Haves and Wants daily to the industry world wide.

Sept./2002 ICIWorld has now developed and operates its own ICIWorld EMail List Servers. Yahoo reported there were too many listings (messages) within a twenty minute period and arbritrarily cut off the 3 largest ICIWorld services and left 38 of ICIWorlds smaller servers operating.

ICIWorld now does the EMailing itself. ICIWorld distributes over 10,000 EMails per day to selected EMail services around the world of listings added to the service. It does this instantly and automatically for member Haves and Wants. It is free for the public to subscribe.

Members report liking it better because there are no pop up ads. You can subscribe free to receive Haves and Wants for your location. You make contact and do deals right from the EMails. ICIWorld EMail List Servers.

Financial Forum Article Gary Nusca, CCIM
ICIWorld speaks at major financial events attracting investors to network Have and Want real estate information with members.

Dealer helps find locations

Restaurant News Feb. 2004. A restaurant dealer is not only selling equipment, but also telling operators where they can find a place to use it.

Arctic Refrigeration and Equipment has entered what it says is "an exclusive strategic alliance" with ICIWorld Commercial Real Estate Network.

"This gives Arctic the capability to offer its new and existing restaurant operators immediate access to hundreds of commercial real estate professionals nationwide," says the release.

Arctic customers can use the network to find sites for new openings or relocations says Arctic manager Cameron Stewart.

For ICIWorld this provides leads for member brokers and salespeople to find and lease and sell space.

A recent article in Fortune Magazine stated "97 out of every 100 self made millionaires made it all through real estate investments!"

Inspirational

The Decline of Adware

...the reduction of adware. I guess there's still lots of it, but it doesn't seem to figure as prominently in the malicious web site equation. It used to be that the first thing a malicious web site did when it nailed you was to install 20mb of adware (usually the variety that paid commissions per install), followed by keylogger/ rootkit, and a pitch for a fake anti-spy to remove it all (for just $49.95). Now we just see the keylogger/rootkit, and sometimes the pitch for the fake anti-spy. Article

Another problem in fighting botnets is that less savvy computers users can be oblivious to the need to update their anti-virus programs, Nazario said. "We see people with AV who don't update it or don't know it needs to be updated… We see protection that's way out of date," he said.

Stop Spam, Virus's, Worms

Problems Solutions

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

SPAM TO MAKE UP 60% OF TRAFFIC BY 2004:

Spam will account for 60 per cent of all e-mail traffic by the middle of next year, rising from half this year and threatening efforts of legitimate marketers to reach potential customers, according to market researcher GARTNER INC. Inc. Accordingly, Gartner notes that marketers must act immediately to distinguish their e-mail pitches from junk e-mail or risk being blocked by content managers, spam-blocking software and Internet service providers. Such barriers will undermine 80% of all e-mail marketing campaigns by 2005.

To learn how to stop spam instantly, click here.

Don't Want Your Email Address Harvested?

Stop Spam Spam is crippling our real estate business. People are having problems coping with an overwhelming supply of junk information. People are suffering information overload. This one program is a solution that will stop junk EMail instantly. I use it and I include the reasons why. Gary Nusca, CCIM. If anyone has anything better please let me know.

ICIWorld Recommended Solution Stop Junk Email instantly. Spam Arrest. Unlike other anti-spam solutions, Spam Arrest quickly and easily blocks spam before it ever gets to your inbox ? No matter how the spam is disguised or where it comes from.

Spam Solutions

How can I help make a difference?

Solutions to Internet Spam

Large Majority of Those Online Wants Spamming Banned Mortgage spam generates almost as much contempt as pornographic spam and unsolicited real estate email isn't far behind on the Spam-I-Hate-Most meter.

Virus Internet News

Top Virus Threats | Expanded Threat List

W32.SQLExp.Worm causing denial of service. It goes into memory and clogs things. Sometimes by shutting off your computer and turning it on things could work again. There is a download patch from Microsoft that you may need.

Antivirus Software
Virus Alert: Sircam

VIRUS NEWS AND HELP

Viruses explained

Sophos has produced a range of documents as part of its commitment to raising awareness of general virus and anti-virus issues.

Protect Yourself From Viruses

Here are five steps you can take if you currently have no virus protection

1) Purchase a reliable virus package. After you install it, download the latest data files and upgrades. You must keep your virus software up-to-date on at least a weekly if not daily basis.

2) Scan your system completely.

3) Go to Microsoft's Web page and download the latest and greatest of ALL critical upgrades identified for your system.

4) Do NOT open any attachment before running an email virus checker. Even then, if the attachment is from someone you don't know, delete it!

Make sure you have something that checks for viruses and updates itself.

Symantec announced the discovery of the W32.Novarg.A@mm which is a mass-mailing worm that arrives as an attachment with the file extension .bat, .cmd, .exe, .pif, .scr, or .zip. The virus is also known as W32/Mydoom@mm is a High Outbreak Risk worm.
Click here for complete information at the Symantec site.

Jdbgmgr.exe file hoax Symantec Security Response encourages you to ignore any messages regarding this hoax. It is harmless and is intended only to cause unwarranted concern.

Virus News & Help

"I'm worried about people sending me viruses and want to know what I can do to protect myself from dangerous computer viruses sent through e-mail." DETAILS

Symantec Threat Meter

CNet threat articles

Yahoo Full Coverage

HouseCall.Antivirus.Com (Free Virus Check)

The Sircam virus started spreading rapidly on the Internet on Monday (July 23, 2001 with some users reporting they received as many 3,000 emails containing the virus. A CNET story stated "Like many other worms, SirCam spreads by e-mailing copies of itself to everyone in the infected computer's Microsoft Outlook address book. An added twist with SirCam is that the worm sends a random file from the infected computer's hard drive, potentially sending confidential business data or embarrassing personal information along with the virus."

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As we get more dependent on computers as a tool for handling information, think of this, if my computer crashed today or got stolen, will I be in trouble? What will be the pressure on time to reproduce things? What is it worth to prevent an absolute catastrophe of computer loss?

Will you get a virus on your computer? Does your car get dirty?

You have to clean your system! You have to protect your system! Do you do regular maintenance on your car? You need to do regular maintenance on your computer.

RECOMMENDATION: The Latest Norton System Works or compatible. It runs automatically in the background checking email. It can run daily checking your system and weekly gathering up dates. If you don't have it "you are cruise in for a bruise in." I think it is one of the best. If you have a better or other suggestion please let me know. I would appreciate it.

What is the difference between viruses, worms, and Trojans?

You may be actually sending email with a virus in it and you do not even know it!

Storm Worm Hits Computers Around the World
By Reuters January 19, 2007

HELSINKI (Reuters)—Computer virus writers started to use raging European storms on Friday to attack thousands of computers in an unusual real-time assault, head of research at Finnish data security firm F-Secure told Reuters. The virus, which the company named "Storm Worm," is sent to hundreds of thousands of e-mail addresses globally, with the e-mail's subject line saying "230 dead as storm batters Europe."

The attached file contains the so-called malware that can infiltrate computer systems.

"What makes this exceptional is the timely nature of the attack," Mikko Hypponen, head of research at F-Secure said.

Hypponen said thousands of computers around the world, most in private use, had been affected.

He said most users would not notice the malware, or trojan, which creates a back door to the computer that can be exploited later to steal data or to use the computer to post spam.

FBI Issues Tsunami Disaster Relief Fraud Alert

In a press release dated Jan. 5, 2005, the FBI urged the public to be alert to a variety of Internet scams involving the solicitation of additional relief funds for the victims of the disaster.

The FBI, through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), has received reports of websites being established purportedly to assist with collection and relief efforts. Complaints submitted to the IC3 have identified several schemes that involve both unsolicited incoming emails (SPAM), as well as reports of responses to posted email addresses, to assist for a fee, in locating loved ones who may have been victims of the disaster. A fraudulent relief donation Web site has also been detected containing an imbedded Trojan exploit which can infect the user’s computer with a virus if accessed.

The IC3 is cautions against participating in this type of online correspondence. Consistent with previous guidance phishing/spoofing and identity theft, IC3 recommended the following precautions:

· Be skeptical of individuals claiming to be surviving victims or foreign government officials asking for help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.

· To ensure that contributions to U.S. based non-profit organizations are used for intended purposes, go directly to recognized charities and aid organizations websites, as opposed to following a link to another site.

· Attempt to verify the legitimacy of non-profit organizations by utilizing various Internet based resources which may assist in confirming the existence of the organization as well as its non-profit status.

· Be leery of emails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.

Several variations of this scam are currently in circulation. Anyone who has received an email referencing the above information or anyone who may have been a victim of this or a similar incident should notify the IC3 via their Web site .

Spotting a fraud: 7 signs of a scam From Microsoft

Spotting a fraud: 7 signs of a scam
From Microsoft