Are They Watching You Online?

by: Jim Edwards

When surfing the Internet you probably take your anonymity

for granted, most of us do.

Tapping phones, listening to confidential conversations,

reading others' e-mail messages seems like something that

only happens in spy movies to "other" people.

However, you probably don't realize just how much

information about yourself has the potential to get

transmitted across the Internet every time you go online.

Every computer connected to the Internet has "ports" that

allow it to connect. A "port" doesn't mean you have a

physical hole or opening in your computer's case or

hardware, but it does mean you have openings through which

information passes back and forth between your computer and

the Internet.

Depending on the type of connection (dial up, LAN, cable,

DSL), you may have several openings for potential mischief

by hackers, malicious code or viruses.

Computers with dedicated connections rate the most at risk.

If someone or something gets into one of these ports and

into your computer, they can potentially watch everything

you do and see all the data you enter, including social

security numbers and credit card information.

The easiest way to defeat this problem involves using a

firewall. Firewalls, simple and inexpensive software

available at virtually any office supply or computer store,

block the most common ports hackers use to enter your

computer.

Firewalls also help you detect and block unauthorized

transmission of information from your computer to the

Internet. This adds a significant measure of protection if

you get infected with a Trojan Horse virus that tries to

"phone home" to the hacker with your sensitive information.

If you'd like to test your connection for vulnerability to

attack, log on to http://security1.norton.com and run the

various diagnostics. I would strongly advise anyone

connected to the Internet through DSL or cable to get and

use a firewall to protect against unauthorized access.

Infected with "Spyware?"

Previously we talked about unauthorized access to your

computer. But a growing problem online with people watching

you and your activities involves using programs you

willingly place on your computer.

Commonly called "Spyware," this refers to any program that

transmits information about you to someone else without you

knowing exactly what gets sent. The main purpose of Spyware

involves tracking your surfing habits so advertisers know

which targeted ads to send you.

Most Spyware basically comes onto your computer bundled

with other software applications, as a standalone program,

or as modification to the HTML on a web page.

Regardless of how you get it, you need to understand

exactly what information gets transmitted about you so you

can decide whether to keep or uninstall the software. Plain

and simple, these Spyware programs can potentially reveal

extremely sensitive information about you and your online

habits.

If you have concerns about Spyware and whether or not your

computer currently carries any, log on to www.lavasoft.de

and check out the free PC software that will scan your

system for known Spyware.