Fighting the Hackers

Can one win the Global war against Hackers and various assorted Cyber-Snoopers and Ne’er do Wells?

In response to a blog recently posted concerning celebrities' pictures being leaked online, and the accounts of recent personal experiences of some of our fellow Wealthy Affiliates, I would say yes, there are measures one can take to largely thwart hackers, cyber-snoopers and their ilk.

A useful start is to realise that the advancement of technology is actually a two edged sword. It can be used as a weapon to defend our privacy but also by cunning Cyber criminals seeking to invade it! A bit like the arms race, which reached dizzying heights during the “Cold War” circa 1947–1991

It is also important to realise that, though you may win a particular battle or skirmish, you are actually engaged in a never ending campaign and need to keep constant vigil.

Where do I Start?

One of the best weapons in our arsenal is “Common Sense” and involves at least a rudimentary understanding of the history and developing technology that has created the web. So become "street smart" and inform yourself! Its time to do a bit of research!

http://goo.gl/ZsREr3

The most fundamental thing to grasp and realise here, is that the internet belongs to the Public Domain and as a consequence all our activities on it, including personal, sensitive transactions are open to anyone possessing even rudimentary skills. Someone is always listening! If you are a concerned activist or whistle-blower you may wish to protect your personal anonymity online Via a VPN or just use TOR :

Tor Project: Anonymity Online

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Know your Enemy

Now, enter your specialists: the hackers and assorted henchmen including cyber snoopers, con artists and scamsters and a variety of malware merchants all trying to gain access to your computer by planting Trojan Horses, including key loggers and other diabolical software.

Identity theft, email hoaxes, phishing and Nigerian scams etc. are all the order of the day! I cant even begin to tell you how many emails I have received with warnings that I need to update my bank account details or face imminent suspension! (Mostly for accounts I don't even hold!) If they were genuine I calculate I would be a billionaire by now! Dream on brave warrior!

Some other nasty types you don't want to encounter:

Other Nasty People on the Internet

Tip: Enhance your personal research the easy way:

(An example: Select the "Term" you are unfamiliar with, Right Click Selection, Click "Search Google for "con artists" and voila, you are presented with a wealth of information!)

One strength that all these unsavoury characters hold in common is that they depend on human ignorance to further their own agendas often scoring successes against the unwary and uninformed.

Surveillance by Government and Non-government Organisations

I know that what I’m about to voice will appear to be counter-intuitive to most Wealthy Affiliates who are seeking Internet marketing opportunities.

Whether we like it or not, we do need to be aware that, although “Big Brother” appears to be socially benign at first glance, he is not necessarily your friend!

He and some of his brethren are more likely to be motivated by “profit rather than people”

I’m not advocating that you become paranoid, but it is as well to be aware that some of these mega “cyber bullies” who often appear to be acting in the interests of “everyman”, are all the while mining your data and selling it to the highest bidder.

Proceed with caution, you are literally stepping onto a minefield every time you venture onto the internet!

Lest you think I am personally being overly paranoid, I would say there is an abundance of evidence featured in current global media to justify being careful!

So how do I fight back?

You can make a good start by expanding your armentarium to include trusted Anti-Virus software, malware detectors, popup blockers etc.

Some useful weaponry available here:

10 easy ways to boost your online security

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In closing , a caveat……or disclaimer!

None of these suggested services can provide you with absolute security …..but hey... they are definitely better than nothing, and are likely to be your best option at the moment…..short of using carrier pigeons……..Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!

I hope this will go some way to answering just some of the crucial issues in maintaining your online security. And yes, there will always be risks……..but let’s get real….. this phenomenon called “living” is itself fraught with risk!

Trust no one....oops, definitely becoming paranoid! Time to exit, ciao for now!

'Forewarned is to be Forearmed", lets be careful out there!