Flashback
Technology Company Web Sheriff Tips Off Australians On Internet Dangers
It's long been established that the internet aka the online Wild Wild West, has long been an environment of good and evil.
Information on just about any subject can be found on the internet - games, entertainment, politics, health, business - you name it.
Some of the biggest online risks are in the online shopping sector.
As is the case in the real world, one should take suitable precautions to protect themselves from crime and all matter of nasties.
Just a few steps we recommend to help keep your information safe of the internet include:
Do not give other people your passwords
Have virus protection
Be very careful as to what information you put into the public domain and pass onto others
Verify the identify of persons and companies you intend on doing business business
Double check details such as e-mail addresses (professional e-mail addresses are preferable), telephone numbers and bank account details
Seek out testimonials and recommendations on entities you may deal with
Tech firm Web Sheriff helped by internet security back on our radar. We liked some of their online pitch on their own website that reads...
"WEB SHERIFF’S unique and successful combination of anti-piracy services, viral marketing and mass traffic re-direction has been proven to dramatically reduce copyright theft and lost sales, while driving traffic to official sites and promotions in huge numbers.
Not only protecting and policing, but also building your on-line properties, brands and revenues."
Summary
Security on the internet is a minefield. It is virtually impossible for the everyday person or company to know everything there is to know on the matter.
Firms such as Web Sheriff offer some quality products and services which go a long way to help keep you and your computer well clear from a multitude of net nasties.
Our friends at Rolling Stone seemed pretty impressed with 'The Sheriff' also with their "Battle over online piracy gets a sheriff".
We say you should consider Red Sheriff in the mix to help protect yourself and your computers from the dark side of the internet.
Media Blurb we secured...
The Web Sheriff Provides Tips for Safe On-Line Shopping Down Under
SYDNEY, Jan 11, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- With 2011 having closed out with record numbers of online transactions 2012 is set for even more record-breaking as shoppers discover the benefits of the virtual high street from the comfort of their homes. But beware, cyber-crooks are lurking just a keypad stroke away, ready to turn unsuspecting consumers into victims of online crime.
Currently in Australia, John Giacobbi, who polices the Internet for many of the World's most famous recording artists and is better known as the "Web Sheriff," provides some advice for safe shopping down under.
Here are a few tips from the posse at Web Sheriff as to the Do's-and-Don'ts of on-line shopping this summer season.
NEVER give personal info in response to unsolicited e-mails. -- This is the biggest 'No-No' of them all and, if you receive an e-mail asking you to register your contact or credit card details, never (and we mean NEVER) oblige or even respond -- this is the scam known as 'phishing'.
ONLY order from web-sites that publish their addresses. -- This is also vitally important - never order from a web shop that doesn't publish its postal address and the identity of the company or owner. Consumer protection laws make this a legal requirement and you should ideally have a contact telephone number as well. That way, you can also see where your goods are coming from, as it's a long way to Long Beach if your surfboard arrives damaged!
ALWAYS check the e-mail address that shopping offers come from. -- Crooks can lure you in with authentic looking e-mails so, no matter how plausible or official an email looks, remember to double-check the address that it comes from, sadly, you'll all-too-often find that, though similar, the e-mail address is subtly different from the one it should be.
BE SURE to use well-known sites if you want to buy by auction. -- If you fancy yourself as a cyber-bidder, then play-safe and shop via established sites such as eBay or iOffer and, whichever auction site you choose, read the small print and make sure that they have a proper complaint procedures and full contact details.
BE SMART about payment methods. -- Paypal tends to be a much safer way of effecting payments without having to give-out your debit card or credit card details to strangers and, even if dealing with an established retailer, paying by credit card affords you with greater protection than charge or debit cards, as the card companies are legally obliged to reimburse you if you buy a lemon or are a victim of fraud.
DON'T publish your holiday plans on-line. -- On a more general level, social networking sites may be great for spreading holiday cheer, but they're also a gold mine of personal information that crooks piece together for identity theft and house break-ins. So, if you insist upon posting Facebook messages or Tweets about your summer holiday plans, expect more than a kangaroo knocking at your front door!
DO use e-mail scanning software -- If you're buying a new computer in 2012, remember to include mail scanning software to protect you and your family from spam, junk mail, viruses and crooks 'phishing' for your data.
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE -- DON'T GET MUGGED BY A CYBER-CROOK AND HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 2012 IN CYBERSPACE !
For more information www.websheriff.com
SOURCE: Web Sheriff
Information on just about any subject can be found on the internet - games, entertainment, politics, health, business - you name it.
Some of the biggest online risks are in the online shopping sector.
As is the case in the real world, one should take suitable precautions to protect themselves from crime and all matter of nasties.
Just a few steps we recommend to help keep your information safe of the internet include:
Do not give other people your passwords
Have virus protection
Be very careful as to what information you put into the public domain and pass onto others
Verify the identify of persons and companies you intend on doing business business
Double check details such as e-mail addresses (professional e-mail addresses are preferable), telephone numbers and bank account details
Seek out testimonials and recommendations on entities you may deal with
Tech firm Web Sheriff helped by internet security back on our radar. We liked some of their online pitch on their own website that reads...
"WEB SHERIFF’S unique and successful combination of anti-piracy services, viral marketing and mass traffic re-direction has been proven to dramatically reduce copyright theft and lost sales, while driving traffic to official sites and promotions in huge numbers.
Not only protecting and policing, but also building your on-line properties, brands and revenues."
Summary
Security on the internet is a minefield. It is virtually impossible for the everyday person or company to know everything there is to know on the matter.
Firms such as Web Sheriff offer some quality products and services which go a long way to help keep you and your computer well clear from a multitude of net nasties.
Our friends at Rolling Stone seemed pretty impressed with 'The Sheriff' also with their "Battle over online piracy gets a sheriff".
We say you should consider Red Sheriff in the mix to help protect yourself and your computers from the dark side of the internet.
Media Blurb we secured...
The Web Sheriff Provides Tips for Safe On-Line Shopping Down Under
SYDNEY, Jan 11, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- With 2011 having closed out with record numbers of online transactions 2012 is set for even more record-breaking as shoppers discover the benefits of the virtual high street from the comfort of their homes. But beware, cyber-crooks are lurking just a keypad stroke away, ready to turn unsuspecting consumers into victims of online crime.
Currently in Australia, John Giacobbi, who polices the Internet for many of the World's most famous recording artists and is better known as the "Web Sheriff," provides some advice for safe shopping down under.
Here are a few tips from the posse at Web Sheriff as to the Do's-and-Don'ts of on-line shopping this summer season.
NEVER give personal info in response to unsolicited e-mails. -- This is the biggest 'No-No' of them all and, if you receive an e-mail asking you to register your contact or credit card details, never (and we mean NEVER) oblige or even respond -- this is the scam known as 'phishing'.
ONLY order from web-sites that publish their addresses. -- This is also vitally important - never order from a web shop that doesn't publish its postal address and the identity of the company or owner. Consumer protection laws make this a legal requirement and you should ideally have a contact telephone number as well. That way, you can also see where your goods are coming from, as it's a long way to Long Beach if your surfboard arrives damaged!
ALWAYS check the e-mail address that shopping offers come from. -- Crooks can lure you in with authentic looking e-mails so, no matter how plausible or official an email looks, remember to double-check the address that it comes from, sadly, you'll all-too-often find that, though similar, the e-mail address is subtly different from the one it should be.
BE SURE to use well-known sites if you want to buy by auction. -- If you fancy yourself as a cyber-bidder, then play-safe and shop via established sites such as eBay or iOffer and, whichever auction site you choose, read the small print and make sure that they have a proper complaint procedures and full contact details.
BE SMART about payment methods. -- Paypal tends to be a much safer way of effecting payments without having to give-out your debit card or credit card details to strangers and, even if dealing with an established retailer, paying by credit card affords you with greater protection than charge or debit cards, as the card companies are legally obliged to reimburse you if you buy a lemon or are a victim of fraud.
DON'T publish your holiday plans on-line. -- On a more general level, social networking sites may be great for spreading holiday cheer, but they're also a gold mine of personal information that crooks piece together for identity theft and house break-ins. So, if you insist upon posting Facebook messages or Tweets about your summer holiday plans, expect more than a kangaroo knocking at your front door!
DO use e-mail scanning software -- If you're buying a new computer in 2012, remember to include mail scanning software to protect you and your family from spam, junk mail, viruses and crooks 'phishing' for your data.
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE -- DON'T GET MUGGED BY A CYBER-CROOK AND HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 2012 IN CYBERSPACE !
For more information www.websheriff.com
SOURCE: Web Sheriff
The Late News - Big News On Tech Censorship and proposed US law changes...
Wikipedia, Google begin piracy law protest...
Wikipedia went dark, Google blotted out its logo and other popular websites planned similar protests to voice concern over laws in the US congress intended to crack down on online piracy.
The online encyclopedia shut down its English version for 24 hours to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate version, the Protect IP Act (PIPA).
Google placed a black redaction block over the logo on its much-visited US home page to draw attention to the bills, while social news site Reddit and the popular Cheezburger humour sites planned blackouts.
The draft legislation has won the backing of Hollywood, the US music industry, America's national association of manufacturers and the chamber of commerce.
But it has come under fire from digital rights and free speech organisations for allegedly paving the way for US authorities to shut down websites accused of online piracy, including foreign sites, without due process and threatening the technical architecture of the internet.
"For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopaedia in human history," Wikipedia said in a message posted on its darkened website.
"Right now, the US congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open internet.
"For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia."
The founders of Google, Twitter, Wikipedia, Yahoo! and other internet giants said in an open letter last month that the legislation would give the US government censorship powers "similar to those used by China, Malaysia and Iran".
"We oppose these bills because there are smart, targeted ways to shut down foreign rogue websites without asking American companies to censor the internet," a Google spokesman said.
"We will be joining many other tech companies to highlight this issue on our US home page."
Reddit says it will shut down for 12 hours to protest the legislation.
"We wouldn't do this if we didn't believe this legislation and the forces behind it were a serious threat to reddit and the internet as we know it," the website said.
"The freedom, innovation, and economic opportunity that the internet enables is in jeopardy."
Ben Huh, founder of Cheezburger network, said on his Twitter feed that his 58 sites - which include icanhascheezburger.com, FAIL Blog and The Daily What - will also observe a blackout.
'Terrorising'
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales announced plans to shut down the site for 24 hours - from 4pm (AEDT) - in a message on his Twitter feed.
"Student warning! Do your homework early. Wikipedia protesting bad law on Wednesday!" he wrote.
The volunteer-staffed encyclopaedia turned 11 this week and boasts more than 20 million articles in 282 languages.
Users can still access Wikipedia unimpeded if JavaScript is disabled in their browser.
Wikipedia's mobile site can still be accessed.
The White House expressed concern about the anti-online piracy bills in a statement over the weekend.
"While we believe that online piracy by foreign websites is a serious problem that requires a serious legislative response, we will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk or undermines the dynamic, innovative global internet," it said.
"Any effort to combat online piracy must guard against the risk of online censorship of lawful activity and must not inhibit innovation by our dynamic businesses large and small."
News Corp chief executive Rupert Murdoch meanwhile accused the "blogosphere" of "terrorising many senators and congressmen who previously committed" to support the US legislation. (References: Google News, News Corp, Fairfax Media, AP, Wires)
