Swagbucks Bot a.k.a. “Swagger”
Swagbucks Bot a.k.a. "Swagger"
Functions:
- Automatically applies swag codes.
- Automatically checks the hourly 1000 SB winner and claims it for you.
- Automatically uses swag bucks toolbar.
- Automatically searches the web.
- Automatically watches videos.
Coming soon functions:
- Automatically votes on daily polls.
Making a Case for Computer Internet Security
So what is the big deal about having computer Internet security? Most people simply fail to comprehend how much of their life revolves around computers and in recent years, the Internet. Chances are that if you own a computer, which more and more people do, then you also spend some time visiting the Internet, either for recreation, shopping, education or for communication purposes. We should not be surprised to learn that along with the many benefits to be derived, there also is the sinister side of computer and Internet use. This is represented by the criminal elements, who see the Internet as a huge opportunity to make personal gain through illegal activities designed to steal and cheat innocent users. Some of these more common methods include:
1. Computer Hacking or breaking into your computer content illegally. These people known as "hackers" spend most of their working hours trying to find ways of defeating your computer internet security to be able to access the contents of your computer, without you knowing about it. Using a wide range of sneaky techniques they can find unsecured areas in software programs, add malicious codes to computer programs, send out infected e-mails and more. With the end goal of being able to gain access to private and personal information stored on your computer. Most valued is bank account information, credit card numbers and private passwords that the hacker can then use to steal your money and more.
2. Scams and fraud schemes online are becoming more and more common. In recent years a scam called "phishing" has become very popular. This consists of cyber-criminals pretending to be employees from genuine financial institutions, such as major banks and credit card companies, who send out very authentic looking e-mails asking for individuals to confirm their passwords and bank account information. Most people are by their very nature quite trusting of established institutions such as banks, and are very willing to comply with such e-mailed requests. Even the online gaming community has been hit hard by this kind of scam or fraud. This helps to explain the sharp rise in phishing schemes in the past several years.
3. Identity theft is also on the rise. Once the hacker has access to all of your confidential information it is very easy for someone else to assume your identity, especially in online transactions, where there is no face to face contact required.
4. Virus infections may not seem as dangerous as some of the computer Internet security threats already mentioned, however these can range from being simply annoying by slowing down your computer's operating speed to being a major disaster when it wipes all the information stored on your computer's hard drive storage system. Imagine the damage it could do to a major company if all their stored information within their corporate computer system suddenly was lost!
5. Spyware, as the name suggests, are programs used to spy on you and obtain confidential information illegally. Unless you have adequate protection to prevent this, you will not even know that a spyware program has infected your computer. Once there its main job is to gather information, especially sensitive data such as credit card account numbers, bank account information, passwords, etc. and secretly transmit this information back to its creator, who then uses it to steal money and anything else of value with this private information. So secretive is this type of a program, that some reports proclaim that 92% of people who have spyware on their computer did not realize it until it was too late.
6. Adware infections on their own are simply very annoying as they allow unwanted ads to appear on your computer. Often shareware programs, which are free to download, are major sources of adware infections. The bad news is that adware programs will often also contain spyware as well, which as we seen is much more dangerous to have on your computer.
So back to our original question. Why do you need computer Internet security? Well given our discussion thus far it should be abundantly clear the consequences you face if you do not invest in any type of good computer Internet security. So the next step is to find some good computer internet security software that will offer you the protection you need, at a price you can afford.
This is a task that the Internet is perfectly suited for since you can visit review and product websites to find out what is available, at what price, and easily see the best and the worst computer internet security products based on rankings and user reviews.
How Computer Hackers and Identity Theft Are Related
People who commit identity theft come in all shapes and sizes. If you are one of the unfortunate victims of identity theft, it is most likely that the person who gained access to your personal information is a hacker.
The electronic age has paved the way for most organized crimes operating on identity theft crimes to include hackers in their league since millions of personal information are being exchanged in various networks all over the world. Crime syndicates either hire professional hackers to include in their team, use their own hackers, or buy personal data from online hackers.
What do they do with stolen credit cards and social security numbers?
Millions of data are stolen by computer hackers everyday. Most of them breach networks of well-known establishments whose client database can be accessed online. These data often include credit card numbers, social security numbers, bank account numbers and other pertinent information. More often than not, these data are then sent to a network of illegal trading sites where computer hackers and criminals all over the world converge to buy and sell these personal data for very huge profits.
These networks of stolen data flourished out in the open and they were estimated to have made more than $5 million in less than two years of its operation. Within the span of these months, they traded 1.5 million stolen credit cards.
How does a credit card hacking transaction proceed?
Here is what takes place with a stolen credit card number:
In stolen data networks, stolen credit card numbers and other personal data are posted for sale by the person who was able to access that particular information. This credit card number can be purchased for exclusive use or it can be used in a "joint venture." In the latter transaction, CCs will be used by other network members to make purchases that will be delivered to various drop sites. Other networks will then have these goods picked up and sold. The proceeds of this transaction will then be shared among the participants of this specific activity.
As for newbies (new members of stolen data networks), they are often obligated to participate in a number of dummy test runs to ensure that the seller and the credit card numbers that they are selling are genuine and functional. This step is necessary to build credibility and integrity in the stolen data network.
There are even credit card hacking sites that feature a rating system where all members can rate or post feedbacks on the "quality" of the stolen card. The quality is often dependent on the credit limit, and whether the credit card number can actually make purchases. Some of this site also features requests for specific types of stolen information. For instance, if you know of an illegal alien who needs a social security number to be legally employed then you can request that particular information from the site. They can also find email phishing templates that newbies can use to engage in identity theft activities without having enough technical knowledge.
How to Prevent Someone Hacking Into Your Website
You would be amazed, (or perhaps not), at how many people want to learn how to hack into your website. There are unscrupulous hackers everywhere and it's important that you learn how you can prevent hackers from getting into your website.
First, it is unlikely that you would be targeted specifically, but you don't want to take chances. Quite simply the effects could include shutting down your website, getting bad publicity, and getting blacklisted from domain hosting companies. Then of course there is the cost to you in time, money and reputation. These are by no means small issues that can cost you big time.
What Can the Ordinary Person Do to Prevent Hacking into Your Site?
The simplest thing you can do is get a very good antivirus and antispyware program installed and keep it running all the time. Be sure you have the best firewall you can get in place as well. Check the list of programs that are currently 'exceptions' and remove them from the exceptions list if you aren't using them or don't use them often.
This antivirus software should be of good quality and one that updates to your pc regularly and doesn't depend on you hunting for updates.
Operating systems, such as Microsoft, are more susceptible to hackers. This is because so many people purchase personal computers that have the Microsoft Windows operating system already installed. Be sure you have the Windows Update set up to continually check for security updates.
All operating systems can get viruses, including MAC and Linux, and can be attacked by hackers so don't get complacent. Operating systems update security as the need is discovered, so be certain yours continually updates for you automatically.
Remove Executable Programs and Change Passwords Frequently
Change your passwords often. This is pretty much self explanatory. A good rule of thumb according to Symantec is to change your passwords every 3-4 months.
Remove any software programs that are executable (.exe) that you aren't using. You can download them to your home computer but if you have any located on your cPanel that hosts your website, if not being used, get rid of them. Once you have a copy on your laptop or pc, you can access them later if needed.
Any folders you have in your cPanel of your website should be password protected.
The bottom line is that most computer hacking can be prevented by having a very good antivirus and antispyware program installed and running. Don't be fooled into getting free antivirus programs. You get what you pay for and once you get hacked, you'll be really sorry.
Take the necessary precautions with routinely changing passwords and protect your cPanel folders. If you have any concerns or suspect your website has been hacked, contact your hosting server support team immediately. Report any suspicious activities both with them and with your antivirus program hosts.
Lack Of Mobile Security Expertise Sees The Rise In Smartphone Attacks Globally
Millions of mobile phone users are at risk of having their mobile phones hacked.
Vodafone, a telecommunications company with the world's second-largest subscribers, is reviewing its security systems after the burglary at one of its exchange facilities left thousands of UK users without phone or text-messaging services.
In the early hours of morning, between 1 am to 2 am, thieves stole specialist network equipment and IT hardware after breaking down a door at the Vodafone exchange facility in Basingstoke, Hampshire. Vodafone say its network control centre and the police were immediately alerted.
The damage caused thousands of Vodafone users in the M4 corridor area to be unable to make calls or send text messages since the early morning hours.
Vodafone is analyzing its security systems. According to a Vodafone employee, all of Vodafone sites are protected by high level security systems.
In another security information attack incident, a complaint against the Metropolitan Police was filed by Jowell, a Labour party member of Parliament, in London yesterday, seeking information obtained during police investigations that indicates journalists hacked into her mobile phone.
Jowell, the former Olympics minister, said that while she suspected her phone had been hacked, she was unsure if it was done by journalists, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported at the time. The police in January also said they were re-opening a criminal investigation into phone hacking allegations after receiving new evidence from News of the World.
News of the World newspaper is being sued by actress Sienna Miller, and more than half a dozen of celebrities, over claims that journalists or investigators accessed their voicemail messages for stories.
The phones of British royalties are also not spared from hackers, and the UK's former prime minister demands a police investigation of possible snooping on his mobile messages. The current prime minister's director of communications resigns, Rupert Murdoch flies in to London for a crisis meeting, and that is just the start.
Deep into the age of computer hacking, one or more journalists at Murdoch owned British newspaper the News of the World have been accused of carrying out a remarkably old-fashioned hack, that of accessing or 'phreaking' voicemail systems used by celebrities and politicians.
Phreaking has become closely linked with computer hacking because it is a term to describe the activity of people who study, experiment with, or explore telecommunication systems, such as equipment and systems connected to public telephone networks.
Dozens or even hundreds of public figures could in theory be affected and it hasn't taken long for it to dawn on people that the practice is likely to be more widespread than a single newspaper in a single country, and could also affect a greater range of people.
Today's mobile attacks may seem is simple but the possibilities to obtain evidence from the attacks get more complex and is less likely getting easier. An IT professionals' ability to solve attacks will depend on his IT skills and knowledge.
IT professionals can improve their information security skills by embarking on a highly technical and intensive course that focuses attacking and defending highly secured environments. EC-Council, the world's leading information security certification body offers a highly advanced security training called the Advanced Penetration Testing training (APT). This highly technical and advanced course is extremely hands on and lab intensive that simulate attacking scenarios those found in government agencies and large corporations. In APT, you will be learning how to attack new operating systems such as Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and the latest Linux servers, all patched, and hardened. Both Network and Host-based Intrusion Detection/Preventions systems (IDS/IPS) will be in place as well.
Another information security training that will truly benefit IT professionals is the Digital Mobile Forensics Deep Dive. This is a highly technical security training course that will greatly benefit those who are responsible for designing, securing, implementing and supporting new age smart mobile devices.