Myths about Internet Security

I don't have anything on my computer they would want.

Whether you know it or not, you do have personal information stored on your computer. Your computer saves information for you constantly without your knowledge. If you use your computer at all on the Internet, you have plenty of information about yourself and your financial profile stored on your hard drive. This is how your credit and identity can be stolen so easily.

Even if you don't store anything you consider important on your computer, hackers really only want your computer for it's processing power, and if you have a high speed Internet connection, they want that too. For a hacker, it's not about what is on your computer. They want to use your computer to send spam emails, to distribute pornography, and to attack other people. Your computer, if turned into a zombie PC , becomes a weapon and a money making opportunity for hackers.

Off-the-shelf anti-virus and a firewall is all I need.

The reality is that anti-virus and firewall programs alone are not enough to protect you against many types of hacker tools and other cyber-attacks. Even using both a firewall and anti-virus together, you are still vulnerable to spyware, Trojan horses, remote access tools (RATs), password crackers, keystroke loggers, and much more.

Just as important, anti-virus and firewall programs do not provide you with critical security patches for your computer software. Microsoft issued thousands of security patches to their operating systems and other software last year. How many of those patches did you apply to your own computer? How many software security holes do you still have in your Windows operating system, Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer, etc? Closing these well-known security holes is imperative to keep hackers and the new hybrid worms off your computer.

You need more than just your anti-virus program or a firewall; you need a comprehensive security solution for your PC if you don't want hackers, viruses and worms on your system invading your privacy.

And if you ever have a security problem with your PC, who would you call? You will pay a small fortune to get help from any of the cheap off-the-shelf security programs. Those products are not made to provide a total solution, rather just a piece of a good overall protection strategy.

Without professional grade, complete security like INVISUS - chances are good that you will become a victim of a cyber-attack. You may have already been hacked and you would never know it! Don't make the mistake of thinking popular retail security programs are enough.

How much is all the time and money you've put into your computer worth to you? How important or valuable is the information on your computer? Would you really trust your privacy and security to a $40 security product?

The free security programs I can find online are enough.

The simple answer to that myth is this. You get what you pay for. When businesses and government agencies are spending millions on securing their computers, why would you ever think that a free security program would do an adequate job of protecting your computer? "Free" feels good to the wallet, until your privacy and security have been breached and your identity has been stolen. And free security programs are only limited versions or evaluation copies of the software. If you want real protection, you are going to have to pay for it.

Free security programs downloaded from the Internet do not provide you any support at all. They can't afford to help you. Instead, they will sell you their professional version and then offer you support. Would you be comfortable with "free" medical care from a doctor you've never met? Or "free" work done on your car by an unknown mechanic? Or would you trust free tax preparation services by someone you just met on the street? Of course not. So don't get lured into thinking that the free security programs you can find online are the best and most effective security programs you can find.

My high-speed modem/router has a built-in firewall - I'm safe.

New high-speed cable and DSL modems, as well as other Internet hubs or routers have built-in firewall technology. These modems and routers are typically pretty good at shielding your computer or your small network of computers from random scans by hackers. BUT - those routers and modems must open up specific ports in order to allow computers behind those devices to connect to the Internet. Once a computer is connected to the Internet - through one of these devices - that computer is OUTSIDE the protected network, and can be attacked and infected.

High speed modems do absolutely nothing to protect you against spyware and hacker tool infections, or against viruses and worms. These routers and modems must allow your email program to connect to the Internet, as well as your instant messenger programs, file sharing programs, as well as your web browser itself. Hackers can get to your computer through any of those programs. Your modem or router can't do anything to protect you in that way. About the only thing they are good for is to shield your computer from random scans by hackers from the internet. While most of these devices will make your PC invisible online, they leave you vulnerable to a wide array of cyber-attacks.

I am on a secured office network, so I am protected.

The type of network security afforded by small businesses and small home networks does nothing to prevent attacks via e-mail, web surfing, instant messenger programs, file sharing programs, wireless (WI-FI) access points, and more. Network security helps shield the network itself, but doesn't do much to lock down each PC on the network.

Another huge problem with network security alone is that it does nothing to protect against "Insider hacking". Any one computer on a network can be used easily to hack into another computer on the network because all the systems are already behind the network firewall. In order to protect against insider hacking, each computer must be protected individually with specific security technologies such as a personal firewall.

Network security systems also lack of ability to stop random outgoing connections from any one computer on the network. Many hacker tools work by getting planted on a PC via email and then automatically opening up and connecting back out to the hacker's computer. When this happens, the hacker gets the information they need to get inside the network. In simple terms, this means that if you can't stop random outgoing Internet communications, hackers can get into your network fairly easily. The only way to stop these hacker tools from automatically "phoning home" without your knowledge, is to stop the attack at the desktop level with a desktop firewall and intrusion detection system.

The bottom line is, if any one computer is compromised in any one of these ways, all of the other computers and the servers on the rest of the network are at risk - regardless of what network security measures have been implemented. Every individual computer on a network must be protected separately. By securing each computer on the network individually you gain a critical layer of protection that is fundamental to a solid security strategy.

My Internet Service Provider keeps me safe.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do very little to protect you. Some ISPs try to filter your emails for viruses, but can't catch all of them. But ISPs do not protect you from hackers, spyware, and other cyber-attacks. Don't be fooled by any marketing pitches about security from your ISP. They do not protect you on your own computer, period.

The Government will do something about it.

The U.S. government recently announced the creation of the Cyber-Security Division of the Dept. of Homeland Security. This is evidence that the government sees the massive problems with Internet security. There are also laws being passed in greater numbers requiring businesses to protect their customer's information on their systems.

But federal, state and local governments can do absolutely nothing to help keep you protected. In fact, at this point, governments are simply making recommendations. In the Strategy to Protect Cyberspace released by the Dept. of Homeland Security in 2003, the federal government recommendation is that every Internet user must become a responsible cyber-citizen. It is left up to each person to figure out how to protect themselves.

My PC manufacturer will take care of my security needs.

PC manufacturers are not in the Internet security business. They do not provide comprehensive security on their new computers, and they do not have trained experts waiting to help you when you have a security problem. These companies generally include a trial version of an anti-virus program, but this isn't done with your security needs in mind. Rather, they do it to make a little extra money from the anti-virus companies. Some PC manufacturers now offer very limited help with virus or spyware infections - but customers have to pay a steep price for each incident. And, unfortunately, in today's environment, you will also likely end up speaking with a technician from India when you are looking for help from these big manufacturers. This is not the kind of security service you need to protect your privacy.

Solution=Invisus Direct http://www.myinvisusdirect.com/JSasser

Jennifer Sasser
478-338-2469