Untraceable....Boy, do I got questions?

[Honey]

I saw this movie today. A movie about FBI and internet tracking. And web sites and IP and hijacking someone's computer to make web pages. It was good but it has left me with lots of computer questions. If you download something off the internet can you actually get 'something' that will send all your info to someone else? I can't recall the exact word but something like a tag along something. And what about this site? If I click on a link can I get a virus?

[Honey]

Oh and what about passwords? In this movie someone stole passwords.

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Yes to all of the above Honey
It is long and complicated but yes they are all possible...

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Oh no, I feel a phobia comin on around here!!!

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

When you log in here your password is out in the open. But if you log into your banking institution you are hopefully using what they call a secure connection... SSL or secure socket layer. It uses what is known as encryption to prevent people doing what is known as a man in the middle attack or someone listening in on your communication with other websites...
More to come if you still want more...

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

You do however can use what is known as "Best Practices" for your internet transactions... Fortunately most all banking institutions have a zero liability policy so you can be confident you won't lose all your money...

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Best practices include what is known as clearing your cache or temporary internet files periodically and never save those passwords for your online banking sessions...
Use a spyware cleaner to eradicate all possible spyware.
If you get an email from your bank asking to to click the link to update your profile delete the email. It is a Phishing attack. If you get a call from your credit card or bank and they want to collect a debt or the like hang up with them and then call the 800 number listed on your statement. Even if your caller ID shows it is Chase Manhattan calling Caller ID can be spoofed easily.

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Trust no one on the phone or the internet... They are out to scam you anyway they possibly can... I have received emails from Phishers looking to get me to update my information and choose a new password. I normally delete them but on occassion I go all out and give them what they are looking for... My Email address I give them
CAUTION NSFW and it aint the sewing thread Honey! Don't go in foul language at its worst!suckmyhardon@onceuqueer.com Then the other info they ask for I fill them up with that as well... Life is good sometimes....
But Honey truthfully you do as I stated above and you will be ok... I know more than most about the scammers and such because I wanted to make sure any networks I setup for businesses would be as safe as possible. I did this at St. Michael's School as well... Knowing all the possibilites I still do all my banking online!

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

I have a program here that will show all stored passwords on a computer... I came across it accidently. I was looking for a program that could tell me what type of memory modules were in a machine without popping the case. I downloaded this one and it worked beautifully. I sent it to one lf my online friends on another bulletin board and he said this program shows all the passwords too Dave... I looked it over and sure enough it did! Even deleted email accounts... So if there is a program capable of showing me this I am sure there are those out there that could also do it across the net...

[Honey]

Oh my stars!

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Your email that is sent back and forth unless you are using some type of encryption will be sent out in the wide open and can be eavesdropped on rather easily. Several open source software can be set up easily to lurk at a certain IP address and then all the traffic can be copied and reconstructed easily...