I second that as well... Thanks Dave very much for posting the questionable source! The web is wonderful if it's used properly.
One rule I've also followed is when I get email from a credit card company or questionable source, I have my PC set up to display the actual link name at the bottom of my screen. If it's different from the text on the screen, I do not click on it.
Just move your mouse over the link WITHOUT clicking on it and look at the lower LH screen name.
And, never, never never give out personal information, your mother's maiden name, answers to your security questions, credit card numbers, social security number(s), unless you know it's a reliable source. I've seen email come back from various payment sources that had text like 'mail to:....' in the lower left half of my screen. They try to start paranoia by indicating there is a suspended account even though I never had an account from the implied source. Basically, once that link is clicked upon, somebody else's inbox gets all that information.
There are utilities like Norton that can completely clean off a hard drive. It is very useful when rebuilding a new system, buying or selling a used PC or hard drive.
All I have to say is 'Spam, spam, spam, spam, spamity spam, wonderful spam, spam, spam, spam, spam...' in honor of Monty Python. They were on to something when they wrote that song.
There is software designed for parents designed to capture user ids and passwords so they can check their kid's keystrokes. This gives a lot of information to spammers if they can read your hard drive or email. Even if that information is logically 'deleted', it is still physically on your hard drive or email server.
Parents can also buy hardware plugged in a port between the keyboard and PC that also captures keystrokes. It's not on a hard drive, but it should be cleaned off occasionally.
I frequently change passwords. It's a hassle, but it keeps my information secure. And, I don't store them on my hard drive.
So far this has worked for me for a least 5 years. I love to shop online and I want to continue to do that with maximum security.
I got ripped off once. I had the physical credit card, but somebody was able to duplicate it (or provide the number), go to ATMs (I didn't do that at all) and get money from them or shop with those toll free phone numbers. The toll free numbers gave away the calling source and I located them with our district attorney. That credit card was disabled asap. And, I wasn't shopping online at that point in time.
For those of you who have wireless networks, make sure you have good encryption built into them. Wireless devices without security allow somebody's house network to be used by somebody on the street.
