Internet Security
Adapting To Scams Is Vital To Internet Safety

As the security features on computers have become more robust, high-tech criminals have developed a revolving door of increasingly sophisticated scams, particularly because cybercrime has evolved from a hobby for hackers to a lucrative profession. The direct financial losses from these crimes exceed $1 billion a year, according to research commissioned by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

A form of social engineering, online scams that con people into sharing personal information or downloading programs that steal their information or harm their computer are expected to be the most common Internet threat this year, according to security experts at Microsoft Corp. Experts say there are no quick fixes against these mutating online threats, but people can avoid becoming victims by educating themselves on the latest threats and updating their PCs with the latest protections.

To combat such practices, experts recommend taking these steps:

• Invest 30 minutes up front. That's all the time it takes to set up and monitor an Internet firewall, update your security software, and install and run anti-virus and anti-spyware software.

• Think first, click later. Don't click on e-mail attachments from senders you don't know or recognize, and avoid entering personal information into anything directed to you via e-mail.

• Stay current. Regularly visit sites that provide the latest PC security information, including http://www.microsoft.com/protect and http://www.staysafe.org. Invest in software and services that offer security features, such as Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, which automatically maintains many recommended protection features.

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