April 2005 Newsletter
Welcome to April's Newsletter. Where has all the time gone?
Almost five months have passed since those New Years Resolutions to begin training and improve your career prospects were made!
If you're still haven't done anything as yet, read on as our Special Offers are not live on our web site and not available to anyone else who has not received this Newsletter.
Hopefully, there will be something to help you kick start your IT career!
A lot of you who have been visiting our site regularly will notice a great deal of changes to course specifications as we innovate and develop new, in-demand courses covering the most prominent Certifications in the IT world.
We have also introduced more courses and have been listening to Students' requests for introduction training prior to Certification.
We have been steadily adding more introduction material into a great deal of our Fast Track courses to allow Students with no prior experience to pick up the necessary skills and we have now introduced Business Skills into a great deal of the courses too.
Now with ITlearneasy, you can not only learn the IT skills but also gain contracting skills, management skills and project management skills - all of which will assist you in your career.
Students and non-students alike have asked for IT tips and information via our Newsletter. This month we will concentrate on security issues - and this affects everyone. It is estimated that if you are online for only 15 minutes without any kind of protection, you will be found by spam, virus, adware or spyware. That's only 15 minutes to infect your computer - and ruin your day!
Remember, we're here if you need information on not only our courses, but on the IT industry and career prospects as well.
Good luck in your training - wherever and whoever you train with.
From everyone at ITlearneasy!
Career Information
An ITlearneasy's Student Experience:
One of our recent students informed us of his personal experience regarding getting IT qualifications.
He had 6 years IT experience but no qualifications - and didn't think he needed any.
He posted his CV on the internet on various job sites, including Monster, and waited........ and waited, and waited.
He received no replies and was taken aback as you might think. However, he decided to re-post his CV, changing his email and contact details - and added some IT qualifications (which he did not have!)
Strangely enough, the same CV with qualifications brought an immediate response (and lots of them). He quickly withdrew his posting on the job sites and realised that he had to get the qualifications as soon as possible.
He enrolled with ITlearneasy and has passed his CompTIA A+ and MCSE 2000 in record time.
As he says, "It is amazing that having job experience did not do anything for me. Employers wanted to know that I really could do the job and was qualified to the right standard. Having the Certifications made such a difference. I wouldn't have believed it if it hadn't happened to me."
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Companies told hiking rates by 15% might stop business falling short of IT skills:
Employers should be willing to raise contractor pay rates by up to 15 %, or outsource their contractor group to third parties so they can avoid skills shortages, according to top recruiter Parity.
With so many projects for such a small pool of contractors to ‘pick and choose’ from, the public sector agent believes businesses may have to offer top rates to attract the best candidates.
According to the group, the situation for end-clients is even worse because of a shortage of both permanent and contract staff, which means workers are often considering more than one job application.
In recent months, the problem has been compounded, as a lack of forward planning has mixed with the shortage of skilled project and programme managers, thereby threatening serious delays in project implementation.
April 13th 2005
http://www.contractoruk.com/news/002048.html
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Women in IT earn less than men, but are more likely to make it as managers:
Male IT professionals are earning an average of 18 per cent more than female technologists who work in a similar capacity, according to the latest research.
A study by the Help Desk Institute revealed this week that the average salary for a male IT support worker is £32,924 - compared to a woman doing the same for £27,868.
A similar pay gap affects those working in management, where the average annual wage is £40,346 – a hard graft for the 60 per cent claiming they work more than 40 hours per week.
Among men, satisfaction with pay is a lot harder to come by than the women, who according to the research are much more likely to gain promotion.
In the survey, this translated into one in four females reporting promotion over the past year, while only one in seven men said the same.
April 13th 2005
http://www.contractoruk.com/news/002049.html
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50 per cent rise in number of employers struggling to find skilled workers:
15 February 2005 - A comparison of the BCC's biggest economic survey between 1994 and 2004 has shown an increase from 29 per cent in 1994 to 43 per cent last year. The figures are taken from two surveys of over 6,000 businesses, conducted ten years apart.
In a keynote address on skills today, David Frost, Director General of the BCC, will say: "Employers tell us all the time that they are frustrated that young people are not equipped with the right skills for the workplace. The system is simply not providing potential employees with the right skills for business and our figures show it has been failing for many years. The skills of our workforce are already lagging behind many of our global competitors. The Government must implement lasting reform in its proposals next week or our competitive edge could be seriously harmed. Businesses cannot wait any longer."
http://www.trainingfoundation.com/news/default.asp?PageID=2087
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UK plc fears being caught short in IT:
Almost half of UK organisations planning to step up recruitment activity are worried they will struggle to attract highly skilled IT candidates, according to the latest research.
The Recruitment Confidence Index (RCI) survey shows that 45 per cent of companies wanting to hire more expertise are expecting difficulty over the next six months in filling their top IT positions.
April 27th 2005
http://www.contractoruk.com/news/002071.html
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Consultants see pay rise by 35%:
Management consultants’ revenues have risen 35 per cent during the last two years, fuelled by a renewed interest in outsourcing and the increasing use of IT services, according to the latest industry figures.
16 March 2005
http://www.contractoruk.com/news/001999.html
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Boom time' hits for freelance web developers:
As UK business migrates online, freelance web developers earn the biggest increase since the dotcom boom.
Freelance Web Developers are enjoying a massive surge in hourly rates with one IT agency reporting the largest increases since the dotcom boom.
According to the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo), contractors with web development skills now earn an average 30% higher wage than they did in 2004.
This is partly down to the sustained success of websites like Google and eBay that have transformed the web into a more positive environment for business, increasing hourly pay from £20 to £26.
Evidence from ATSCo shows the most in demand web skills are Java, Microsoft's .net, C#, SQL and SQL Server.
10 March 2005
http://www.contractoruk.com/news/001990.html
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Female IT contractors:
UK organisations are embarking on a hiring spree to recruit female IT contractors because they are better at team dynamics and are more client-focused than their male counterparts.
3 March 2005
http://www.contractoruk.com/news/001978.html
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MCSE 2003 Security Reaches 4,000:
Microsoft announced last week that more than 4,000 IT professionals have achieved the MCSE Security certification title. The security certification was released in 2003.
Security continues to be hot-button topic and the growing ranks of those holding Microsoft's security certification offers some real-world proof that the trend will continue.
This new report supports the claim that IT Security will continue to remain a high priority among companies.
24 February 2005
http://www.mcpmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=773
ITlearneasy have recently introduced the MCSE Security title for the same fees as the MCSE - See SPECIAL PROMOTION below.
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Cisco Salaries on the Rise:
TCPmag.com recently released its 2004 Cisco Professional Salary Survey.
According to feedback from Cisco Professionals in Australia, Great Britain, India and Singapore, Cisco salaries are growing every year!
Cisco Certified Professionals in the UK reported average salaries of nearly £39,000. The study found that Cisco certified pros continue to earn more money compared to other workers in the IT industry.
For more information oninternational Cisco salaries visit:
http://tcpmag.com/international
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Five Steps for Success
Advice for the first time IT-er or the IT Pro.....
Step One: Get Certification
No matter at what level you are at in the IT industry, it’s extremely important to train and obtain as many Certifications as you can.
The big step next is to get hands-on experience, and that's why at ITlearneasy we always recommend seeking out jobs in smaller companies. That way, with your new found Certifications, you will be able to get experience in other disciplines too.
Your first job in a small company looking after all aspects of your chosen IT career is much preferable to a job in a big company being one of thousands doing your individual task day after day.
Taking training opens doors - it is always much preferable for an employer to hear that you are studying rather than asking them to pay and train you!
Step Two: Be Prepared
At ITlearneasy, it's not just about training you for the Certification. It's about training you for the job.
Being able to prove that you have the hands-on experience which our training provides and now with further training in business skills, we prepare you for the work enviroment even better.
We also include our CareerWise service in our Career Development Courses as well prepared job candidates not only increase their chance of success but also make it much easier for interviewers to assess their suitability.
CareerWise is tailored for letter writing, job applications and interview techniques ONLY for the IT industry.
Step Three: Cross-Train
By training in different technical fields you put yourself into a league above the rest. Cross-training is the core to continious growth and continued success in the IT industry.
The majority of our Career Development Courses cover various aspects in the same field, but allow you to cross train in different database languages for example.
For further cross-training skills look at our IT Success 1 year and 2 year Passports which allow you to study in all areas, giving you a CV which will be the envy of most IT Professionals!
Step Four: Stay on Top!
Stay aware of what is happening within the industry - even when you are training. Sign up for the various online magazines in your study area. Be involved in chat rooms and network with other people in your field.
That way, you may just come across the new thing, or be in the right place at the right time, when a job comes along.
In 1999 with the Y2K "bug" IT programmers with legacy skills and VB skills made themselves indispensable - so it paid them to keep abreast of their skills and see a niche market.
Some contractors held companies almost at ransom to get their systems sorted in time - and rumours still abound about programmers retiring on the money they made in that ONE year!
So keep ahead and keep your Certifications up-to-date!
Step Five: Prepare for a move
It is estimated that in the current decade people will change jobs up to 20 times in their career. So having trained, cross-trained and stayed on top of your skills, there may be times when you still have to move - or want to move.
There are several factors to take on board. Your age is one. Are younger people entering your field or are jobs only available for those with years of experience?
Will you contract or become a manager? Can you use previous skills or qualifications you had before your IT career?
Do you want to work overseas, or work different hours?
If you haven't cross-trained or specialised in a particular field, should you be doing that now?
Sometimes a change of direction even in IT is needed, but one thing is for sure the millenium years are the Information Years - and information is in demand all over the world.
There will always be a demand for IT Professionals with relevant Certifications and experience, it's just a matter of keeping on top,
Several years ago employers (and IT Pro's) failed to recognise that IT was in a period of transition and growth. Employers failed to train their staff (and mostly still do) as they are worth more and demand more when Certified.
Now IT Pro's and educated employers realise that training is essential for the stability and growth of not only the company, but the individual too - and this helps everyone.
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IT Job Watch Web Site:
As always we recommend keeping an eye on this web site as it tells you what is hot and what is not in IT.
You can search job titles by Average Salary, Hourly Rate, most advertised or quarterly changes, etc.etc.
http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk
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Course Information
Train now - Pay later!
Using a government backed Career Development Loan to assist you while you are training helps you get started on your new career quicker!
There is a small deposit to pay at the beginning of your course and nothing more to pay for up to 25 months!
Contact us now to find out how the majority of Students training with ITlearneasy fund their training and get started with little or no money!
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Referenceware:
We have increased our Technical Library to include over 4,000 IT book titles to assist you with your training - and we are adding more each and every month to keep you up-to-date with the developments in your training subject (about 400 per month!).
Access your IT training reference books any time day or night. No need to wait on the library or book shop to open.
Find answers and solutions to your technical questions fast by using our easy, searchable format - you can get the information you need when you need it.
An indispensable tool for newcomers or IT professionals alike!
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CIW V5 Site Designer and CIW V5 E-commerce Designer to be released in May:
The much-anticipated release of version 5 of the CIW Site Designer and CIW E-commerce Designer course is only weeks away!
Each title has considerable additions and differences. Here is a preview of the updates which we will include in our training:
Both titles will include:
Real-world scenarios based on the Habitat for Humanity® site, just as our CIW V5 Associate/Foundations does
Projects, labs and movies that reinforce relevant lessons
Case studies
Some of the many additions you will find in CIW V5 Site Designer:
Labs using XHTML and the latest software updates including Macromedia® Dreamweaver MX 2004 and Flash MX 2004
Ethics and design principles, addressing the use of pop-ups and opt-out mailing lists
Understanding how design and content work together for better usability
Evaluation and use of vendor-specific and open-source tools
Streaming media
CIW V5 E-commerce Designer now features these additions, to name a few:
The latest browsers and software versions, including Windows 2003 and E-commerce Server 2002
Security issues, including phishing, compromised databases, and intrusions
Pros and cons of using native or third-party Web servers
Creating incentives to increase return visitor traffic
The latest taxation issues
For those of you who have already enrolled on a course which includes these Stages you can be sure that when you receive your new material for that Stage it will automatically include the new up-to-date material.
Watch our Web Site for the official release announcement in a few weeks and enrol as soon as possible to be the first Students to have the new V5 Certifications.
Email us and we will inform you when the material is released.
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Advice Forum
Each month we'll be bringing you questions answered by our Personal Course Advisors.
Interested in Networking but have no experience or qualifications?
Q: Why do you advise prospective Students to do the CompTIA A+ prior to doing an advanced course such as MCSA, MCSE or CCNA?
Personal Course Advisor Jamie
A: Our advice is always determined by your previous experience or education. Unfortunately other training providers will tell you that you can be MCSE Certified in four weeks - without any previous experience. It just isn't true!
If it was the case, everyone would be MCSE qualified right now! Unfortunately, those companies who say that train and support you for four weeks to get you through the first MCP exam - then you're on your own to complete the other six!
If you haven't got the basics in place before their course then that's too bad - they've got to get the people with experience through and can't be held back by someone who is just learning!
We always advise that to get into networking, i.e. to be able to operate, maintain and run a network of hundreds of computers, you need to be able to operate, maintain and run just one computer
So do the CompTIA A+ first which gives you the equivelant of 6 months experience and then move onto networking once you have the "apprenticeship." You can study just for the CompTIA A+ on it's own or as part of a Career Development Programme which includes the A+ and then moves you on into MCSA, MCSE or CCNA Certifications - and it doesn't take as long as you think to do proper, structured training!
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Ever wondered how realistic our CIW training is?
Q: I see that there are dormant viruses on my CIW Associate/Foundations CD. Are they meant to be there and will they harm my computer or server?
Personal Course Advisor Philip
A: They are meant to be there and no, they won't harm your computer!
We put the viruses on the CD to allow our Students to practice destroying and containing them in a controlled way. Our training involves "getting your hands dirty" and really doing the job - not just passing the exams. Learning to troubleshoot potential problems is a valuable part of that.
The CIW Associate training programme is designed to give you as much real life experience as possible and this includes working on a real web site.
We combine books, CD's and test practice to ensure that you are not only ready for your exams, but you also have the foundational skills and knowledge needed to work on web sites.
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Exam Information
CompTIA Server+ exam changed on February 14th.
If you are studying for your Server+ exam with us then no need to worry. The new material has already been incorporated into your training programme as always with any course or exam changes!
If you are studying with another training provider - you better check to find out if your material is up-to-date!
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Ready to take your CIW or A+ exams?
We now offer a reduction of 10% on exam fees. Email us when you are ready to sit your exams or to find out more information on how to purchase exam vouchers.
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Special Offers and Promotions
These offers are only available to those receiving this Newsletter and are not "live" on our web site......
PC Tips and Tricks
This month's Newsletter will concentrate on your PC security, and offer news, advice and information in this area.
Real Player and Media Player security issues
Did you know that programs such as Real Player and Windows Media Player, as well as many other multi-media players, contain elements of spyware?
Spyware tracks what you do and where you go on the Internet, sends that information back to advertisers who keep a database of your personal preferences, and then sends you targeted advertising, or SPAM, as it is more appropriately called.
What you maybe didn't realise was that each time you played a CD on your computer using Real Player or Windows Media Player, you are exchanging information while you listen!
Here's how it works.....
You play your newly purchased CD on Windows Media Player. When you pop that CD into your computer, this information is transmitted to Microsoft. If you entered your email address upon program installation and registration, you may be sent more information about this artist in the future.
While this practice is not overtly malicious, it does cause concern about the right to privacy. Maybe you don't want to receive extra advertising simply because you use the Windows Media Player.
This type of spyware is referred to as Adware. Adware and spyware have very much the same purpose, but do differ in one specific way.
Spyware implies no informed consent is needed for a company to gather your personal information. Adware, on the other hand, is software that contains advertising components and more clearly informs users that information will be shared. Usually this is done in the End User License Agreement.
The information that Real Networks gathers is quite extensive. Every time a computer with an Internet connection runs the RealPlayer, the following information is sent to the company:
· The number of songs stored on the user's hard drive
· The file formats of each song
· Quality level of the recordings
· The user's preferred music genre
· What type of portable media player the user has connected to the system, if any.
While it may seem harmless to allow a company to have this type of information about you, do not forget that they also have demographic data like your post code and billing address as well as other personal data like credit card numbers and purchase history.
Makes you think.....
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Why are hackers so interested in our PCs?
Currently, hackers who target your PC do so for a reason. Their objective is to commandeer an army of slave computers to provide a convincing cover for their illegal and very lucrative activities, all at your expense!
In the past, virus authors and IT hackers were motivated by genuine personal interest. Even if reckless and at times dangerous, their exploits were inspired by an approach that was mostly recreational and technical.
Things have changed considerably since then. Hackers and virus authors have come together as partners in crime to create viruses capable of bringing about the large-scale automation of intrusion techniques that were previously carried out by hackers manually.
And the motivating factor behind such an alliance? Why, money of course.
For more information on how pirates Spam, Blackmail and Steal using your PC click here.
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Deciding what the password is....
Love, Sex, Money, Password.
There's a good chance you've typed one, or all, of these terms recently (and not necessarily because you were doing something you shouldn't). You may just have been accessing your e-mail, doing some online banking, shopping or looking in on your company emails.
These four words are the ones people choose most often as passwords, according to Chris Faulkner, CEO of the Dallas-based CI Host, a Web hosting and data centre with 215,000 customers worldwide. Those obvious choices put you at risk.
"Our memory bank is so overloaded with passwords," said Faulkner.
Password proliferation really took over in the early 1990s with the Internet boom. "We naturally pick things that are easy to remember."
We shouldn't. Hackers have software that can run through 200,000 to 4 million potential passwords per second. If you have a four-character, letter-only password, it can take a hacker four seconds to break into your account.
But an eight-character password with at least one number would take seven years to crack, according to Faulkner.
So protect yourself. Use different passwords, alpha-numeric combinations and never, ever share your password or write it on a note stuck to your computer monitor or tucked under your keyboard.
"Using only one password puts your credit rating and identity at risk if your password is compromised anywhere, on any Web site," said Randall Palm, chief technology and information security officer for CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association. "Easy passwords should never be used for online transactions or personal information."
Jim Feck, an Altamont, N.Y., resident with more than 100 passwords, 75 of them different, uses word and number combinations -- terms that have meaning, along with significant dates or numbers.
"You need to look at the importance of what is being secured with that password," Feck says. "If it's your bank account, you want something that's hard to remember."
Remembering all these passwords was getting tough for Feck and, rather than having his password e-mailed to him each time he forgot -- an unsecured practice -- he bought RoboForm for about $25 back in 2002.
The software is a one-click form-fill and password management application. The product stores multiple user identities, including name, address, phone number and other important information; it also securely stores confidential data such as passwords and bank account and credit card numbers. Prior to this, Feck maintained all his passwords in a spreadsheet called "Passwords."
"I probably should have called it something less obvious, like 'birthdays,' " he jokes.
RoboForm is entirely encrypted and sets up like a toolbar on your Web browser. You can take all the information with you in a traveling USB no bigger than a key chain.
Since about a third of all calls to technology help desks in a corporate environment are regarding passwords, according to Clain Anderson, IBM program director for security and wireless, it makes sense that software and other programs would come about to minimize the memorization.
"The beauty part is you have one strong password and that protects all your others," Feck says. "You don't have to remember a bunch of passwords. You just have to remember one to get in."
Some believe even that may not be entirely secure.
"As a standard security practice, we do not advocate documenting or writing down passwords at any time," said Palm. "Program-software [like RoboForm] has the potential to fall into that category."
Companies such as IBM installed technology into their notebooks that allows for fingerprint recognition -- the ultimate in computer security. This may not protect your online banking, 401(k) or bestbuy.com account from hackers, but it will stop anyone from logging on to your computer if it's lost, stolen or just left on your desk at work while you step out for lunch.
Whether its fingerprint technology, a password manager or the good, old-fashioned method of memorization, change your password every 90 days.
"In many cases your password is the key to your life," Faulkner says. "If someone gets a hold of the right one, they can take over your identity."
2nd Feb 2005
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Online Shopping Tips
1. Make sure you have a secure Internet connection before providing any information about yourself. This is easily identified by the URL in your address bar. A secure connection will have a URL that starts with "https" rather than "http". You can also look for a small padlock in the bottom corner of your screen.
2. See our information above regarding passwords. Create passwords that are unique combinations of letters, numbers or symbols. Be careful not to use passwords that personally identifiable, such as your birth date, phone number, etc.
3. Install firewall to block hacker attacks. You may go through your entire life without being targeted by a hacker, just as if you may never experience a home burglary. But you lock your house every day, don't you?
4. Beware of phishing scams which impersonate legitimate organisations in order to obtain your credit card information, social security number and more.
5. Clear your memory cache after you surf the Internet. Anyone with access to your computer can see all of the sites that you visit. Keep the sites that you visit (and your Santa list) secret!
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Results of a Recent Survey by Symantec
The result of a recent experiment carried out by Symantec is alarming indeed.
One hour surfing on the Net proved sufficient for its test computer to be invaded by spyware and other suspicious cookies.
After visiting a number of so called harmless websites such as those offering online shopping or information, 850 suspect items were found on the test computer.
Most alarming of all was the discovery that the majority of the threats originated from sites designed for children and from video game sites.
The study shows the extent of the spyware problem, the severity of which may in time rival that of viruses, according to some experts.
Users should therefore remain as vigilant as ever, even when they are surfing seemingly harmless websites.
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Is your PC harbouring undesirable stowaways?
Take a closer look at your computer. If you are a frequent user of the Internet and have never paid much attention to security online, it is very likely that your PC is home to a whole gamut of undesirable files and programs. Here's a guest list of the riffraff on your PC.
During your browsing sessions on the Internet, your computer is bombarded with a slew of data. There is the data you are actively seeking of course, but there is also some that arrives unannounced.
After a few weeks of surfing, your PC has probably already become a veritable guesthouse. It will have taken in and given accommodation to thousands of visitors (bytes!) without your knowledge. Some data is inoffensive in nature and will simply occupy space on your hard disk, whereas other data can be more harmful. Here is the list then, in ascending order of harmfulness.
· A copy of web pages you have visited
Your browser keeps not only a list of the web addresses that you have visited, but also a copy of the pages themselves.
Depending on your browser settings, these files will be kept for anywhere between a few days and a few weeks. There is no risk involved in storing them, unless you want to prevent other users of the computer (in a family environment, for example) from following your tracks on the net.
Getting rid of them: All you have to do is go to the "History" menu in your browser options (common to all browsers). Here you can erase the history of the pages you have accessed. Then go to the "Cache" menu on your browser to erase the web page files that are still stored on your hard disk.
· Cookies
Cookies are nothing more than text-based files that pose little threat in themselves. On the other hand, just like the history and cached web pages, they can provide others with information about your travels on the web.
Furthermore, they allow certain commercial sites to glean information about your surfing habits or areas of interest. Here again, there is little risk, but perhaps you would rather not be exposed in this way?
Finally, there are some poorly programmed sites that use cookies to store your sign-in information (when you have set up a profile on a site, for example). This is generally not a good idea as the password is then easier to access if a weakness in your browser is targeted.
Getting rid of them: Again, all you have to do is check your browser options, under a menu usually called something like "Privacy". Here you will find the options that allow you to remove cookies that have been stored on your computer.
Note however, that you may have to re-enter your password on certain sites the next time you visit them.
· Adware
We are now entering the realm of harmful files. Adware is advertising software. This kind of program is used to display ads while you are browsing the Internet. Some are harmless and clearly identifiable: they are used to finance software that you can download for free. Others are more underhanded and install themselves without your knowledge by exploiting certain weaknesses of your browser while you are online.
This last type is the most harmful of all. They frequently render the computer unstable and a real nuisance to use: when you open your browser, you are automatically directed to an ad site and then find yourself drowning under a wave of pop-up ad windows.
Don't underestimate adware: a recent study showed that 80% of internet users' PCs are home to at least one parasite of this kind, operating of course without their owner's knowledge.
Getting rid of them: You will need special software, such as the kind included in comprehensive Internet security software suites (antivirus software on its own is insufficient).
There are also free tools available designed to remove only adware and spyware (see below). It is also necessary to keep your browser security correctives up to date in order to avoid again becoming the victim of an unauthorised installation of this kind.
- Spyware
Of a higher order of threat and probably now on a par with viruses, spyware can be broken down into two broad categories: the type which spies on the activity that takes place on your PC in order to collect confidential information (access to online bank accounts, payment or auction sites, etc.) and the kind that attempts to hijack control of your computer so that hackers can use it to send admail (spam) or to launch attacks against web services (denial of service).
Spyware is introduced into your PC via a security weakness in your browser (just like adware) or, as is most often the case, by a virus.
Getting rid of them: same treatment as for adware.
· Viruses and worms
Well-known to internet users, viruses and worms are no longer designed simply to replicate and occasionally destroy data. Many have simply become a vehicle for transporting spyware, which they dump onto your computer in order to hand control of the PC over to the virus creator. But unless you have absolutely no antivirus or personnel firewall (a bad idea indeed!), you are much less likely to come across a virus on your computer these days, thanks to the effectiveness of antivirus software on the market today and because of the simplistic nature of current viral parasites.
On the other hand, if you have been using Windows XP for a long time, you may be harbouring a "dormant" virus in the Windows restore function. No need to panic, however - a virus that has installed itself here cannot activate itself. It is thus in "hibernation" and will only come back to life if you execute the system restore function. At this stage, though, you will probably have already taken the time to activate your antivirus software.....hopefully!
Getting rid of them: antivirus software is king. There are no undetectable viruses nowadays. You should also consider using a personal firewall, the only effective weapon against worms that arrive over the web.
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Instant Message threats rise dramatically
New research has found that IM-borne security threats have increased dramatically in volume since the start of 2005.
According to a report issued Tuesday by the IMlogic Threat Center - an industry consortium led by security software maker IMlogic - the quantity of instant messaging threats increased 250 percent in the first quarter of 2005, compared with the same period last year.
The research, which tracks viruses, worms, spam and phishing attacks sent over public IM networks, also contends that reported incidents of newly discovered IM threats have grown by a whopping 271 percent this year.
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Europe: a land of browsers under surveillance?
A number of countries recently voted legislation to increase the security governing the Net; they did not, however, always take into account how seriously these measures may affect users of certain services. Are we sacrificing our freedom in the name of security?
For an overview of how the law is being adopted in the major European countries click here.
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Is your Browser Secure?
To tell if your Internet Explorer browser is viewing a secure web site, look in the lower right window frame. There you will see an area that describes which Zone you are in.
Typically, you will see a globe icon and the word “Internet”, denoting that you are in the Internet Zone.
To the left of the globe icon are grayed out boxes. If you see a yellow padlock icon there, then the web site you are viewing is a "secure web site”.
If the box is empty, then the web site does not have a secure connection with your browser.
To ensure you are not on a “spoofed” site or to simply check the security information for a secured site, you can double-click the padlock icon to view the security information about that website.
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