Your Daily Computer Security Tips

File this under the “It had to happen” category. You have no doubt heard of that devastating earthquake in China on May 12. Or the recent cyclone in Myanmar. You may want to help with the relief efforts (good for you!) But beware of the rising tide of scam emails on this subject.

The hackers and scammers are using such tricks as fake images and logos of online payment services to cheat you out of your cash; in other words, phishing scams. They are even offering prizes, such as “free vacation trips to the largest donors”!

As I mention regularly, this sort of thing happens, regular as clockwork, after every disaster. So never open spam email. By this I mean email from someone you don’t know, or did not ask for, or were not expecting. Above all, never click on links in these emails. You may be directed to a fake (phishing) site. Even worse, your click can trigger a malware attack on your computer.

And of course, you know never to open unexpected attachments, right?

If you do indeed want to make a donation to help the less fortunate, find a well-known charity or relief organization in your phone book. Call them and make your donation, or ask for the address of their Web site. Type it into the address bar of your browser.

While we are on the subject of phishing scams, be careful if you live in the United States. The crooks are still hard at work trying to separate you from that IRS refund check many of you received or will receive. Be on guard, and remember the IRS does not contact individuals about these checks.

Syd Tash is a noted computer security consultant and author of How to Protect Your Computer Online. He has been keeping Internet surfers safe and secure since the last century. Find out how he does it; protect your own computer with five layers of protection right here:
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