Batten down the hatches! Hackers, spammers and thieves (oh my!) are after you! The mere act of turning on an Internet-connected computer can put you, your family, and your personal finances at risk by exposing you to viruses, scam artists, hackers, identity thieves, and spammers. How do you fight back? Absolute Beginner's Guide to Security, Spam, Spyware and Viruses is your first line of defense.   Clear, easy-to-understand definitions of viruses, spyware, and hackers will help you understand what you're up against everytime you go online. Then, you'll learn about other threats, such as identity theft, phishing, and other potential dangers you'll face in your everyday computing. Find out how to search out and destroy spyware, malware and other viscious programs that could potentially harm your computer. Then find out how to lock out hackers, spammers, and theives for good.   We'll tell you how to immediately cut the risk of being attacked in half — in less than 10 minutes! Protect your bank accounts, digital photos, digital music collection, masters thesis, and everything you hold near and dear on your computer with the help of the Absolute Beginner's Guide to Security, Spam, Spyware and Viruses.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. How This Book Is Organized. Special Elements Used in this Book. Reader Competition...of Sorts. I. SECURITY BASICS: SOME VERY REAL THREATS. 1. Viruses: Attack of the Malicious Programs.     What Is a Computer Virus?       What Is It?       Who Triggers a Computer Virus?       How Does It Spread?       What Damage Can It Do?     Viruses: As Many Kinds As Sniffles in Kindergarten       Macro Viruses       Memory-Resident Viruses       File Infector Viruses       Boot Viruses       Multi-Partite Viruses       Worms: Network-Savvy Viruses       Trojan Horses: Hey Helen, the Achaeans Left Us a Present!       Virus Hoaxes: Fake Viruses that Scare the Heck Out of You     Who Creates Computer Viruses?     What Not to Do!     When Viruses Attack!       Disconnect As Soon As Possible       Virus Infection Found! How to Cleanse Your System       My Antivirus Program Won't Update!     Now I Have Your Attention...     Antivirus Checkup: 10-Minute Tactics       Install Windows Security Updates       Update Your Virus Signatures     Fortify Your Computer: Strong Virus Defense in a Few Hours       Install or Upgrade an Antivirus Program       Scan Your Computer for Viruses       Install Service Pack 2 and Enable Virus Protection     No Worm in My Apple?     Is That a Virus in Your Pocket? 2. Spyware: Overrun by Advertisers, Hijackers, and Opportunists.     What Is Spyware?     What Does Spyware Do and Why Is It Bad?     How Does Spyware Sneak onto My Computer?     Types of Spyware: Snoops, Adware, Cookies, and More       Spyware: I Spy with My Little App       Adware: Attack of the Pop-ups       Snoopware: I Wanna Know What You're Up To!       Browser Hijackers: Turn This Browser Around, We're Going to Cuba.com       Key Loggers: Snooping on Your Typing Skills       Dialers: Dial In, Dial Out, Dial Often       Trojan Horses: Pretty Ponies with Deadly Insides       Cookies: Does My Oreo Have a Tape Recorder in It?     Who Is at Risk?     How Do I Know If I Have Spyware?     Defend Yourself Against Spyware       Spyware Countermeasures: 10-Minute Tactics     Ban All Spies: Strong Spyware Defense in an Afternoon       Run a Full System Scan       Install a Second Anti-spyware Program       Inoculate Your System       Use Firefox       Clean Cookies       Spyware Infection Found! How to Scrub Your System       How to Fix a Browser Hijack       Decimate the Little Suckers with CWShredder       Microsoft Mimics HijackThis: System Explorers 3. Hackers: There's a Man in My Machine.     What Is a Hacker?     Who Are the Hackers?     What Damage Can Hackers Do?     Targets of a Hack Attack       Corporate Networks       Web Servers       Personal Computers     Hacker Motivation: I Think Therefore I Hack     Tools of the Trade: Pass Me a Trojan Horse, Would You?     Firewall: Shut Out the Hackers     Software Firewalls: Programs That Stop Hackers       Windows Firewall: Built-in Defense       Third-Party Software Firewalls       Recommended Firewall Freebies       Hardware Firewalls       Easy Defense with a NAT Firewall       Stateful Inspection: The Meticulous Traffic Cop     How to Detect a Hacker Attack     How to Fix a Hacker Attack       Steps You Can Take Immediately After Being Hacked     Batten down the Hatches-10-Minute Tactics       Turn on Windows Firewall       Activate the Firewall on a Mac OS X System     Wall off the World-Install a Better Firewall in an Afternoon       Install a Two-way Software Firewall       Install a Hardware Firewall 4. Identity Thieves and Phishers: Protect Your Good Name and Bank Account.     What Is Identity Theft?       Techniques Thieves Use to Steal Your Identity       How They Become You: Identity Theft Techniques       Preventative Measures: How to Not Become a Victim       Signs You're a Victim       What to Do If You're an Identity Theft Victim     What Is Phishing?     How Does Phishing Work?       Email Address Spoofing       Link Spoofing       Web Address Spoofing     What Is Pharming?     What Damage Can Be Done By Phishing?     Who Is at Risk? Everyone!     Don't Get Phished: 10-Minute Tactics to Stay Off the Hook       They Won't Ask, You Don't Tell       Use Caution and Cut and Paste       Communicate Securely       Install an Anti-spam Filter       Block Phishing Sites with NetCraft       Carry a Big Spoofstick       Keep Your Antivirus and Anti-Spyware Programs Up-to-Date       Keep Your Computer Software Up-to-Date     Ensure You Are You: Take an Afternoon to Protect Your Identity       Check Your Credit Reports       Shred It Before You Chuck It       Read Your Statements 5. Spam: Unwanted Email from Hell.     What Is Spam?     Why Does Spam Keep Coming?     Why Doesn't Someone Stop the Spammers?     How Do Spammers Get My Email Address?       Website Harvesting       Dictionary Spamming       Commercial Email Lists       Newsgroups, Discussion Forums, and Interactive Websites       Contests and Other Free Offerings       Email Forwarding     The Damage Spam Can Do     Reduce the Flow-10-Minute Tactics to Reduce Spam       Don't Respond       Don't Post Your Email Address on the Web       Webmasters Shouldn't Use mailto       Turn Off Image Display in Email Programs       Turn On Junk Mail Filtering     Kill More Spam-In an Afternoon       Install an Anti-spam Program       Fight Back! 6. Wireless Network Snoops: Lock Down Your Wi-Fi Network.     What Is a Wireless Home Network?     What Damage Can a Wireless Network Snoop Dish Out?     Who Are the Snoopers?       Wardrivers       Bandwidth Bandits       Wireless Hackers     Your Wi-Fi Network Is Full of Holes!       How to Access Your Router Set-up     First Line of Defense: Secure Your Wi-Fi Network       Turn On WEP       Turn On WPA       MAC Address Filtering: Keep Out the Scottish     Detecting a Visit from a Wireless Snoop     I'm Under Attack! What to Do If You Discover a Wireless Network Snoop       Turn Off Wireless Access       Activate Security Measures       Assess the Damage     Wireless Security Workup: Quick Tactics and Some That Take a Little More Time       10-Minute Tactic: Change the Router's User ID and Password       10-Minute Tactic: Change Your Default SSID       10-Minute Tactic: Turn On the Windows Firewall       10-Minute Tactic: Turn Off UpnP       10-Minute Tactic: Turn Off Your Router When Not in Use       Time Intensive Tactic: Be Careful with File Sharing 7. Privacy Snoops: Cover Your Tracks and Your Reputation.     Why Your Privacy Is Important     What You Leave Behind on Your Computer       Web Browser       Documents       Movies and Audio Players       Email       Chat Programs     Who Are the Privacy Snoops?     The Consequences of Being Caught     Emergency Tactics-I Am Being Snooped On!       Administrator       Limited Users       Guest Accounts       How to Create PC Privacy     Obscure Your Trail-In About 10 Minutes       Microsoft Internet Explorer       Mozilla Firefox     Cover Your Tracks-In an Afternoon     Clean Multimedia Players       Windows Media Player 10       Real Player 10       Protect Your Email       Turn Off Saved Sent Items       Empty Deleted Items Folder       Don't Leave Email on the Server       Wash Windows       Scrub Microsoft Office       Deleted Files Are Not Gone       Turn Off Chat Logs       Clean Restore Points II. STRATEGIES FOR SAFE AND SECURE COMPUTING. 8. Let's Smash-Proof Windows: Tweak Windows XP Nice and Tight.     If Windows XP Is a Dike, You're a Little Dutch Boy       Step 1: Trash Unnecessary Programs       Step 2: Install Firefox       Step 3: Install Antivirus Software and Scan for Viruses       Step 4: Install Anti-Spyware Software and Scan for Spyware       Step 5: Block Out the Bad Guys and Install a Firewall       Step 6: Install and Configure Microsoft Updates and Service Pack 2       Step 7: Install Netcraft's Anti-Phishing Toolbar       Step 8: Protect Yourself from Spam       Step 9: Managing Your File Sharing Security 9. Starting from the Beginning: Wiping a Hard Drive and Rebuilding from the Ground Up.     Light the Fuse and Stand Back     Let's Get Started       XP Installation CD or System Recovery Disk       Windows SP2: The Mother of All Service Packs       Collect Your Drivers       Installation CDs for Your Programs       Internet Service Software and Settings       Security Programs     Step 1: Download Drivers and Software You Need for the Re-install       Got a Recovery CD? That's Good News!       Retail Copy of Windows XP? There's Some Work to Do     Step 2: Back Up!       Outlook       Outlook Express       My Documents       IE Favorites and Cookies       Firefox Favorites       Saved Games       Pictures, Music, and Videos       Microsoft Office 2003 Settings       Windows Media Player       Other Odds and Ends     Step 3: Pull the Plug on the Network     Step 4: Wipe Away Windows       Using a System Recovery CD       Using a Windows XP Install CD     Step 5: Re-install Windows     Step 6: Re-install Your Drivers     Step 7: Install Protection Against Malware       Install an Antivirus Program       Install an Anti-spyware Program       Install a Firewall     Step 8a: Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (from CD)     Step 8b: Install SP2 from the Internet     Step 9: Configure Your Security Settings     Step 10: Install Firefox     Step 11: Configure Your Networking       Home Network       Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)       Cable Internet       Dial-up     Step 12: Update Windows with All Recent Security Patches     Step 13: Update All of Your Security Programs and Security Signatures     Step 14: Activate Windows     Step 15: Re-install Your Programs     Step 16: Other Things You Can Do 10. Ongoing Maintenance: Fend Off Future Threats!     Note to Self: Keep Computer Secure     Daily Routines: Walk the Dog, Feed the Kids, and Secure the Computer       Update Your Antivirus and Anti-Spyware Signatures       Update AVG Signatures       Update Microsoft AntiSpyware       Update Spybot Search & Destroy     Weekly Routines: How to Never Be Bored on Saturday Morning       Scan for Viruses and Spyware       Check for Firefox Updates     Monthly Routines: Clean the Garage, Trim the Hedge, and Update Windows       Windows Updates       Inspect Other Computers       Router Firmware Updates       Patch Microsoft Office       Software Updates     Bathe Once a Year Whether You Need It and Reformat and Re-install, Too       Wipe Your Hard Drive and Re-install Windows III. TOOLS FOR MAINTENANCE AND PROTECTION. 11. Selecting Software: Steals, Deals, and Software Duds.     Security Software: Nothing in Life Is Free, Except Software       Payware: Software You Pay Hard-Earned Cash For       Freeware: Don't Pay a Cent Software     Weirdware: When It's Not Payware or Freeware       Gimpware: Free Software, but Not All the Bits Work       Trialware: It's Free, Until It's Not       Shareware: I Trust You to Pay Me     What Should I Pay for My Security Toolbox?     Choosing the Right Security Software       Antivirus       Anti-Spyware       Firewall       Anti-Spam 12. Tools of the Trade: Security Products You Should Own.     Which Security Software Is Right for You?     Antivirus Programs       Freeware       Payware     Anti-Spyware       Freeware       Payware     Firewalls     Anti-Spam IV. APPENDIXES. A. Glossary. Index.