Banking on-line? Beware of heffalumps and woozles.
Heffalumps and woozles. Things that hide in the dark and are very scary. Okay. Heffalumps and woozles are not computer terms. They are fictional characters from Winnie-the-Pooh who were thought to steal honey and who were nearly impossible to find, let alone catch. In computer terms, rootkits are like heffalumps and woozles, and you should be very afraid if they are hiding in the dark recesses of your computer, stealing your sensitive data.
Rootkits can infect your computer when you do not follow basic computer security advice. They hide on your computer and simply sit and wait. They wait for you to enter your banking user name and password. They wait for you to enter your credit card. They wait for opportunities to steal your identity. And you never know they are there.
If you have heard terms like bots, botnets, Zeus, and zombies, you have heard about this type of malware (these are real computer terms). Profit-seeking attackers create large networks of infected computers that they use to steal large volumes of sensitive information.
So how can you bank on-line without fear of heffalumps and woozles?
1. Use a Live CD
Live CDs are complete operating systems that fit on a single CD, DVD, or USB memory stick. They are secure because you cannot make changes to the files – and neither can attackers. When you power down your PC, anything that may have become infected disappears. A Live CD can be slow, but it offers exceptional protection for on-line financial transactions. Check out the Live CD List for recommendations.
2. Scan Windows with MRT
The second Tuesday of each month, Microsoft releases software patches – new software that fixes bugs. When you receive these patches, you also receive updates to the Malicious Software Removal Tool. This tool automatically scans your computer to look for common rootkits, but you should also run a full scan each month to make certain there are no rootkits in the deep, dark recesses of your computer. Simply press the Windows logo key and the “R” key, type “mrt”, and press the enter key. Follow the instructions on the screen and select the full scan.
3. Use Antivirus Software
Use a quality antivirus software program or security suite that scans for rootkits and alerts you when funny things are going on with your computer. Although you do not know that the rootkits are installed, your antivirus software may be able to find it. Don’t rely on this alone, since a sophisticated rootkit will disable your antivirus software.
Keep the heffalumps, woozles, Zues bots, and zombies out of your computer. This handful of precautions will provide hassle-free on-line financial transactions.
Give these a try and let me know what you think.