Pharming

Author: Josh George

Article:
Even if everyone knew exactly what they wanted and where to get
it on the Internet, they would not be safe from this. While anti
virus solutions and computer protection software are evolving to
identify these scams, many are still evading Internet security
solutions. These scams can affect everyone and can be summed up
in one word: Pharming.

While you have probably heard about pharming as well as the
dangers that come from surfing to sites containing pornography,
warez (illegal downloads) and other underground-related sites,
pharming can virtually affect any topic of any industry. As long
as sensitive information can be extracted from you, pharming
scams will be developed. After all, people can act like lemmings
on the Internet; one by one, they will stumble into the pharming
scam and do exactly what the scam artists want them to do. So
you're probably wondering what pharming is and how it can
compromise your computer protection and Internet security.
Simply put, it is like an evolved form of phishing. Instead of
the scam artists trying to convince you to visit a fraudulent
site, they just build tons of fraudulent sites and let you visit
them through redirection tactics. While the details of these
redirection tactics are beyond the scope of this article, it is
important to know that financially-related websites are the
primary targets of pharming scams.

As you can understand, it is extremely difficult to identify
pharming scams because you have no idea when you visit one. But
is this really the case? For many, the warnings literally pop up
in front of their eyes, but they have simply trained themselves
to ignore the computer protection and Internet security signs.
The question is, are you one of these people? Answer this: have
you ever browsed to a place where you are greeted with an
Internet security warning stating you just entered a site with
an unsigned certificate? If you have, did you simply agree to
view the site and not even bother to wonder why there was an
unsigned certificate Internet security warning? Well, that
warning box could mean the loss of your identity if you are not
careful enough. For scammers to set up these pharming websites,
they try to duplicate every aspect of the real site as possible,
including the certificates. If you ignore these unsigned
certificate warnings and enter your personal information, you
literally send it all to the scammers. To help identify these
scams, click File > Properties in your browser and make sure the
website is an actual domain name instead of an IP address.
Simply looking at the address bar of a pharming site is not
enough, for scammers have ways to cloak it. Also, make sure that
yellow lock is in the bottom right-hand corner of your browser
window. That lock signifies SSL, which means your information is
being transferred over a securely encrypted channel.

When it comes to additional computer protection and Internet
security, grab a free legitimate anti-phishing tool bar. Also
make sure to install the most current updates for your anti
virus software. In the end, remember Internet security and
computer protection means using common sense and judgment when
surfing the web. For any sites that require you to enter
personal information, make sure you analyze the website like
discussed above. In spending the additional time it takes to do
this, you will dramatically increase your computer protection
and online security, all without spending a penny.

Article provided by: http://www.particlearticles.com

About the author:
Josh George has been an active member in the computer security
and Internet security community since 1998. He has made many
presentations to groups that involved members from the FBI, DoD,
and NSA and hopes to now help personal and small business users.