| There are folks out there who use their powers | | | | frequently, such as once a quarter or every six |
| for evil, not good. Let's not give them the | | | | months.What's the "s" for, Anyway?Ever notice |
| opportunity to sneak into our lives and wreak | | | | certain website changes when you're making |
| havoc. Submitted for your reading pleasure are | | | | online purchases? There's an "s" which appears |
| some of my tips to protect yourself and your | | | | after HTTP, for starters. This let's you know |
| identity.Gone Phishin'When I was a wee lass, my | | | | you're on a secure server. Also, check the status |
| Grandpa George would take me to the pond on a | | | | bar on the window you're using to make the |
| warm Saturday afternoon and we'd fish for hours. | | | | purchase. You should see a yellow padlock -- |
| Unfortunately, this type of Phishing has nothing to | | | | mouse over the lock and you'll see the encryption |
| do with warm fuzzy memories of my | | | | level for the site.If you don't see both of these |
| Grandfather.Phishing (sounds just like fishing) | | | | items, do not make the purchase right now and |
| usually arrives in your inbox in the form of a | | | | notify the vendor. Go back and make the |
| spoofed e-mail message. It sure looks legit, huh? | | | | purchase at a later time.I Didn't Charge Two |
| Well, it's not. Phishers blast e-mail messages in the | | | | DollarsEvery month, without fail, I want to you |
| hopes you'll take the bait and click the links, which | | | | check your statements from your credit union, |
| will redirect you to a fake website. What do they | | | | bank, brokerage, credit card companies -- any |
| want? Your account numbers, PIN numbers, SSNs | | | | institution from which you receive a paper |
| -- anything they can use to gain entry to bank | | | | statement or an online statement. If the bad guys |
| and brokerage accounts and other financial | | | | have access to your account information, they |
| information.Remember, your brokerage, bank, | | | | may try and slip in a small charge before coming |
| credit union and credit card provider will never ask | | | | with the big guns. Take a look at each and every |
| for this information via e-mail. They will never ask | | | | line item and verify you've made the purchase. If |
| you to login to your account to confirm | | | | something is amiss, call that institution |
| information.If you feel you've been phished, do | | | | immediately.The Joy of ShreddingI have a special |
| not access the links included in the e-mail. Also, | | | | "shred" basket near my desk and shred all of the |
| report the phishing to your ISP and the | | | | basket's contents at the end of the work day. My |
| Anti-Phishing Working Group ( Paper Trail - Snatch | | | | personal receipts, which I no longer need and |
| that ReceiptI bet you're the type to leave the | | | | have reconciled against my online statements, get |
| receipt at the gas pump and at the ATM when | | | | shredded. All working documents I've printed or |
| you make that late night deposit. Smack on the | | | | proofed, especially for my attorney clients, are |
| hand and shame on you - stop doing that! Take | | | | blitzed at the end of day, as well. Anything which |
| ALL receipts when you make a purchase or a | | | | may personally identify me or my clients gets the |
| deposit, when you return items, etc. When you | | | | treatment.You have no logical excuse for not |
| go to the clothing store, take the receipt out of | | | | owning a shredder. Price? Not an issue, as |
| the bag and place it in your wallet.Save all receipts | | | | shredders are incredibly affordable. You don't have |
| until you receive your end-of-month statements | | | | a car to get to the office supply store? If you're |
| (see Two Dollars below). Also, don't throw away | | | | reading this article that means you've got internet |
| your receipts; see my notes on shredding.It's ... | | | | access. Start a new browser window NOW and |
| Like ... Magic!Pet Peeve: Folks who use cheesy | | | | access your favorite online office supply vendor. |
| passwords to protect their online accounts - you | | | | You'll have your new shredder in a matter of |
| folks make me crazy! I recently hired a client and | | | | days and you too can become a Shredder Queen |
| I'm managing several e-mail accounts for him. | | | | (or King).We live in a different world from just a |
| Guess what password he used for ALL of them? | | | | generation ago. Be smart, be aware and |
| You guessed it: magic. I immediately changed the | | | | remember that if something seems too good to |
| passwords on all of the accounts and then we | | | | be true, it is.Lori Davis is Director of the Future at |
| had a chat.You should never use a word you can | | | | Davis Virtual Assistants, a New York-based VA |
| find in a dictionary as your password. You should | | | | firm. DavisVA offers a wide variety of |
| never use your birthday, the names of your wife | | | | administrative, creative and technical services to |
| or children or dog as passwords. Use a | | | | small business owners and entrepreneurs. To learn |
| combination of letters and numbers and where | | | | more about Lori and DavisVA, please visit and |
| possible, add special characters such as a bang (!) | | | | You may contact Lori at 917.319. |
| to your password. Also, change your passwords | | | | |