Internet Security Software - Are you Up to Date?
First of all, I must take this opportunity to wish a Happy New Year to all my loyal readers.
My first article of 2006 coincides with my bad experience of a potential individual or group of individuals who were intent on bringing down my website during the Christmas holidays. I had to work during the holidays so on the morning of 28th December, I was surprised to learn that those types determined to create chaos work crazier hours than me.
I found no less than 38 emails in my Junk folder, all with the title Mail undelivered - Returned to Sender mails. The fact that I hadn't sent any emails since the 23rd December made this influx of undelivered emails seem a little impossible.
Then my saviour, in the form of my Internet Security Software kindly told me what had happened in my absence: Basically I had received XX number of emails all infected with the worm mytob.ac. As a result of the latest variation of this particular worm, it had rendered the message undeliverable and removed the attachment.
As I was hiding behind my Internet Security Software, I couldn't resist taking a look at the email addresses they were trying to send this worm to. Basically in a desperate attempt to get in, they were randomly guessing employee names, david@, ken@ Britney@(?!?). It was almost like kids trying to gatecrash a party (Hi, I'm really friendly with David, no what his name? Kevin).
After I started working again, I then got a message every 5 minutes from my security software saying yet another had been sent and another and another, etc. Final count of the same messages on 28th was 68.
Still the show is well and truly over now because this morning all I got was standard spam mail. Nothing malicious whatsoever. So whether it was a deliberate attempt by someone I know intent on bringing down my website as a new year present or someone the other side of the world wanting to make some money to cover their Christmas debts, I do not know. Although looking back, I sure prefer to be slightly inconvenienced by my security software telling me every 5 minutes that its removed yet another email worm, cleaned or removed the offending bug than for the little blighter to get in and cause massive chaos, emptying my bank account and annoying everyone unfortunate enough to be in my online Address book.
Whether you own an e-business, have a small website or use the PC now and then, it is far to say that without adequate internet security software, you are committing cyber-suicide. It is annoying when your viral software creates pop-ups that demand payment or slows down considerably when yet another update is being actioned. But consider this as an investment. There are many reputable softwares out there. McAfee Internet Security Suite and PC Cillin Internet Security 14 to name but a few, but it is also worth checking out your local ISP as they may offer a discount with a particular security package or may even offer their own.
One final note to the people (term used loosely) who opted to attempt to bring down my email system over Christmas: Nice Try, Losers.
My first article of 2006 coincides with my bad experience of a potential individual or group of individuals who were intent on bringing down my website during the Christmas holidays. I had to work during the holidays so on the morning of 28th December, I was surprised to learn that those types determined to create chaos work crazier hours than me.
I found no less than 38 emails in my Junk folder, all with the title Mail undelivered - Returned to Sender mails. The fact that I hadn't sent any emails since the 23rd December made this influx of undelivered emails seem a little impossible.
Then my saviour, in the form of my Internet Security Software kindly told me what had happened in my absence: Basically I had received XX number of emails all infected with the worm mytob.ac. As a result of the latest variation of this particular worm, it had rendered the message undeliverable and removed the attachment.
As I was hiding behind my Internet Security Software, I couldn't resist taking a look at the email addresses they were trying to send this worm to. Basically in a desperate attempt to get in, they were randomly guessing employee names, david@, ken@ Britney@(?!?). It was almost like kids trying to gatecrash a party (Hi, I'm really friendly with David, no what his name? Kevin).
After I started working again, I then got a message every 5 minutes from my security software saying yet another had been sent and another and another, etc. Final count of the same messages on 28th was 68.
Still the show is well and truly over now because this morning all I got was standard spam mail. Nothing malicious whatsoever. So whether it was a deliberate attempt by someone I know intent on bringing down my website as a new year present or someone the other side of the world wanting to make some money to cover their Christmas debts, I do not know. Although looking back, I sure prefer to be slightly inconvenienced by my security software telling me every 5 minutes that its removed yet another email worm, cleaned or removed the offending bug than for the little blighter to get in and cause massive chaos, emptying my bank account and annoying everyone unfortunate enough to be in my online Address book.
Whether you own an e-business, have a small website or use the PC now and then, it is far to say that without adequate internet security software, you are committing cyber-suicide. It is annoying when your viral software creates pop-ups that demand payment or slows down considerably when yet another update is being actioned. But consider this as an investment. There are many reputable softwares out there. McAfee Internet Security Suite and PC Cillin Internet Security 14 to name but a few, but it is also worth checking out your local ISP as they may offer a discount with a particular security package or may even offer their own.
One final note to the people (term used loosely) who opted to attempt to bring down my email system over Christmas: Nice Try, Losers.
Posted: 03 January 2006
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