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May 2003 Newsletter:
Your Computer IS Important

When we buy a computer, we are buying an entertainment center, a communications center, a learning center, and a business center all rolled into one group of household products. Of course to what extent we use these convenient tools is influenced by our budget, the technology available in our neighborhood, and limited only by our personal capabilities to use the tools – the computer and the internet.

Each computer used by persons around the world is a link in the chain of cyberspace. The World Wide Web (commonly referred to as the ‘Internet’) is just one of the networks that is made of many computer systems each made of many smaller computer systems that have many even smaller computer systems that have many, many ‘end users’. These end users are you and me, each family member, consumer, and employee who use a computer connected to the internet.

The internet can be compared to a chain. If one computer or computer system is weak, the whole chain is not as strong. If one link has an infection, that infection can be available to other parts of the chain. This is not different than two persons in a crowd who have been exposed to the flu virus. One gets sick, the other doesn’t. One person took preventative measures by building resistance in their body to the unexpected germ pleading for entry and was able to resist the infection. The other person did not take preventative measures and their body had no resistance to the attack from the germ.

A lot of home computer users do not understand that their computer is one vital link in the ever expandable internet chain. The first thought that may come to mind is each internet connection represents a customer or two. This is true but it is not the important reason for purposes of this explanation. Your lone computer connected to the internet that you received as a gift or bought to keep in touch with the kids or family can be a valuable source of storage/information or even a conduit for the criminal or not-so-well intentioned person. Remember that the tools of the computer and internet are only limited by the user’s abilities and imagination.

Some bad intentioned persons and criminals roam around cyberspace looking for unprotected computers. Consider the possibility they are not interested in you or your computer as an individual or even your personal information. Consider they intend using your computer to store information (legal or illegal) temporarily. Or perhaps they want to install an infector that will surface at a particular time in the future. If yours was the only computer that was victimized in this fashion, there really would be no problem. You would eventually recognize there was a problem because your computer would be acting ‘out of character’ and you would eventually figure out how to get your computer working properly again. Every person gets a cold or flu at some time or other. And, so do computers.

But, imagine if this was accomplished with many home computers and small business computers across the nation. Actually, the Melissa and Love Letter infectors are good examples. The widespread temporary devastating effects to computer systems, businesses, and governments did not need to happen. The responsibility ultimately lies with the end user (each computer user) and each person responsible for the maintenance and security of their large or small computer system. Your one lone computer connected to the internet can touch thousands of other individual computers in one day. And each computer that your computer touches can touch thousands of other computers.

This is the reason that firewalls and anti-virus software are really necessary for each home computer and office workstation. The end user can depend on software vendors, internet service and access providers up to a point just as vehicle owners depend on car manufacturers for hazard preventatives. But, ultimately it is the responsibility of the car owner and driver to perform routine maintenance and not to drive into a concrete wall, another vehicle, or object.

Some bad intentioned persons and criminals are not focused on your computer. These persons are more interested in using the computer and internet to reach you or your personal information. These are the same crimes as in the everyday world – fraud, child abuse, identity theft, scams, hate crimes, etc. No person or family is immune to strangers entering their safe home through the internet. Your email, instant messaging programs, webcams, chatrooms and online discussion groups are all tools strangers can use to get your attention, sometimes for not so good purposes. Each internet user needs to use their everyday common sense while online and checking their email. Parents need to supervise their children’s internet activity but more about this another time.

Remember that your home or small business computer’s security and maintenance is just as important to the safety of your family and workplace as your home or office. Criminals no longer need to physically enter your home or office to steal your company records or personal information. Criminals now can reach exponentially larger number of potential victims in much less time. Use your everyday common sense.

If the offer or advertisement sounds unbelievably wonderful, there probably is a catch. Be cautious when: an ‘official’ requests help transferring money and will give you an exorbitant amount for the use of your bank account; a seller suddenly needs an immediate money or wire transfer for your winning bid at an auction or purchase; an email or website offers software or merchandise for much less than everywhere else; you can buy identification or a drivers license without the proper credentials or for much less money or without proper paperwork; you can buy a diploma without completing the required schooling; an at-home job without being added to the company payroll; an offer to make fast money where no product or service is sold but rather everyone is promised to make money from the new persons who join.

Keeping yourself, your family and your business safe online and in the everyday world, helps keep your community, state, and country safer.

Refer to the Safety Guide for a quick review about internet safety. Keeping yourself, your family and your business safe online and in the everyday world, helps keep your neighborhood, state and country safer.