FBI Warns of Cyber Crime Affecting over 1 Million Computers

Please read below for understanding a little bit more on the steps required to help ensure you, your family and your staff are following safe computing practices and that any risk of being / becoming a victim are mitigated ASAP.

What is a BOT and how is my PC involved?
BOT is short for robot. BOTS are being used to control a victim’s computer and serve as a launching pad for damaging and illegal activities. BOTs are harmlessly downloaded to your PC. This BOT then grants access to the cyber thieves who use your PC as a vehicle for large scale attacks on companies or steal your personal information from your PC.

What can I do?
FBI officials advise - "Practicing strong computer-security habits, such as updating antivirus software, installing a firewall, using strong passwords, and employing good e-mail and Web-security practices, are as basic as putting locks on your doors and windows," according to James Finch, FBI Cyber Division.

At WEBGIO we host a Tips and Tricks article section where we recommend the following suggestions in alignment with the FBI –

Antivirus Software –

Step 1 - Ensure you have Anti Virus Software

Step 2 - Never Go Without. Never let your subscription run out. Antivirus software is like having a paid employee watch your PC activity 24/7 for viruses. Without it you are opening your PC and company up for costly damages.

Companies offering decent products that we have used are Symantec, McAfee, Norton, Microsoft Live Care or Grisoft AVG (Free).

Step 3 – Validate you have the latest updated Virus Definition File. This is the file from the Antivirus Company that keeps your computer aware and on alert for the latest threats. Usually this is done via an Update Button in the software.

Firewall – Microsoft XP and Vista have this built in. Make sure it is turned on.

Step 1 - Click Start

Step 2 - Click Settings and then Network Connections

Step 3 - Right Click Network Connection of Choice and Select Properties

Step 4 - Click Advanced Tab

Step 5 - Set Firewall Setting

Strong Passwords –

Tip 1 - Try a pass phrase rather than a password. Using a pass phrase buys you that time and safety. My short and sweet recommendation is to think of a sentence "I love Christmas”, capitalize a letter, remove the spaces, add in a number or significant date, even add a symbol and presto you are set "iLovexmas2007". It's that easy to bring your passwords up to a pass phrase for stronger security.

Good Email Habits –

Rule 1 - If you don’t know who it is from and it has an attachment that is unfamiliar. DELETE IT.

Rule 2 – If you get an email from someone you know and it has an EXE attachment. DELETE IT.

Rule 3 – If you get an email from a company and it requesting you to login and validate your username and password. DON’T use the link in the email. Go directly to the company website by opening a new browser and typing in the company url. Most companies will never contact you directly for this. This type of scam is known as phishing.

Rule 4 – Be smart and if in doubt contact CustomerCare@webgio.com

Web Security Practices -

Rule 1 – If it’s not work related then you should be going to the site on a company computer. Work is work and home is home. This keeps you from wandering to places you shouldn’t be.

Rule 2 - If you are at home do not download software to your PC you don’t need. Do a little research via Google about the software and ensure it is safe. Many folks get caught up in scams that a web site has an image that says your PC is infected or your memory is low and to download this software to free up memory or fix your PC. Don’t do it … your only downloading bad software that does exactly the opposite. This opens your PC up for a world of hurt and costly repairs.

Rule 3 – If you are shopping online and using a credit card make sure the website has a yellow lock in the bottom right corner of your browser when you are entering credit card information at check out. The yellow lock means that you have a 128 bit encrypted session between your PC and the Shopping website. Yellow Lock = Good. No Lock = Bad. The information being sent back and forth can’t be seen by anyone else in the world except you and shopping pc. Without the lock it is like you opening your front door to your home and yelling to your neighbors your credit card number. The only real difference is that on a PC you are yelling across the world vs. in your neighborhood.