For more info on Phishing Security Attacks, check out http://blog.glasgorman.com/2009/11/security-alert-gone-phishing/

Check out the following article from Computer World, Mike Elgan: How Buzz, Facebook and Twitter create ‘social insecurity’

from: A I B Internet Banking <confirm@alliedirish.ie>

subject: IMPORTANT: Your are required to confirm your email address

DO NOT REPLY, IT IS A SCAM (PHISHING ATTACK) TRYING TO ET HOLD OF YOUR INTERNET BANKING LOGIN DETAILS. BANKS NEVER SEND UNSOLICITED EMAILS.

Now I know a lot of you are saying “Yeah, we know we shouldn’t  use the same password for everything, but it’s a nightmare to remember them all and it’s very unlikely that I would be targeted by hackers.” Well it has happened to thousands of  Twitter users. Twitter reset the passwords of thousands of users when their security people noticed unusual activity on the accounts. When they investigated further they discovered that the relevant people also used Torrent file sharing sites, where their usernames and passwords were harvested and used on the major Social Networking sites.

Leading security firms have also recorded a 70% increase in attacks on Social Networks  like  Facebook and Twitter and the rate of these type of attacks is likely to grow significantly over the coming year. You Have Been Warned!

There is an easy solution. I use a simple piece of Password Management Software which is installed on my PC and also synchronises with the same software on my Nokia phone. This means that I can always have my unique passwords stored securely and available to me at all times.

When it comes to Online Security, a little bit of Common Sense and small bit of effort could save you a lot of hassle later.

Twitter has identified a scheme that uses compromised file-sharing sites to steal the log on information of users.

For more info on Phishing and Security attacks check out http://blog.glasgorman.com/2009/11/security-alert-gone-phishing/?preview=true&preview_id=21&preview_nonce=0f82c23354

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Hello dear advertiser,

You have a new text message from AdWords Alerts Team

Please use the link below to login:

http://www.aldowrbsz.com/Selects/Login/static/index.html?ref=63465939787

Grow your business with us

Yours truly , ©2009 Google AdWords

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Well you can very easily get remote access to your computer systems and indeed communicate with your work colleagues.

The only thing you require is a Broadband Internet Connection. To access your computer systems you can either;

• Access your existing computer systems using a secure remote connection such as GoToMyPC. This is a hosted implementation of Citrix, which is a well established system used by many larger businesses to access their systems remotely and can cost as little as €12 per month.
• The second option is to consider using Software As A Service (SAAS)  for your main systems. SAAS means that your Integrated Accounts System / CRM systems are not installed on a computer in your office but are installed on a secure server in a Data Centre, which you access remotely using a secure connection. Examples in Ireland are Mamut and Eircom SAAS.

To keep in contact with your work colleagues all you require is Skype and you can talk, and if you have a webcam, have video calls for free.

So if you want to make sure that the next period of  bad weather doesn’t bring you business to a halt why not contact me in Glasgorman Computer Services HERE.

P.S. There is also a very strong argument that a small business can dramatically reduce it’s recurring infrastructure costs, regardless of weather etc. , by using technology to implement Remote Working for employees.

So as they say Prevention is Better than Cure. If your new PC comes with Anti Virus software, then make sure to enable it. If the computer has no Anti Virus software then the VERY FIRST THING you should do when you connect to the Internet is to install Anti Virus software.

Here is a site reviewing the most popular Anti Virus Programs. I personally use Nod32 from ESET but any of the top 10 reviewed would be fine.

Have a great and safe computing time over the holidays.