Just when you thought it was safe to go back on the web, BAM! You’re hit with spam, malware and great big dirty Trojans. All of a sudden your computer is awash with adverts for Viagra, online gambling or at the very least giraffe porn. And that’s if you’re lucky. If a Trojan manages to get in your back door (ooh err) your computer’s in for a bit of a seeing too. So how do we protect ourselves from hackers, spammers and other internet bottom-feeders? Fortunately we’re here with some security tips and a look into the eye of the beast.
There’s been plenty about internet security in the news with many Android users at the mercy of a Trojan-SMS. Disguised as a media player this sneaky program sends premium rate text messages from your phone, transferring cash to the scammers at the other end. So how do we protect ourselves from these scumbags? Short of hunting them down with a 12-guage you could just try only downloading apps from sites you can definitely trust such as the Android App Store.
Android isn’t the only one getting spammed up the yin-yang either, as a study by Norton found that when using search engines to look for trendy internet topics, a large proportion of results lead to sites containing malware. So by proxy, Google is spamming you! Think about that for a minute. Fortunately, at least Firefox users can do something about it with a new security add-on to protect against this.
Also in our high security line-up this week we looked into how to make and keep your WordPress blog secure. Consider this metaphor for a minute. If your WordPress blog is a WW1 trench and your articles are your soldiers, then hackers are evil time travelling Nazi’s who desperately want to sell your soldiers and everyone else copious amounts of Viagra. I know, an apt and chronologically concise metaphor indeed. Fortunately, our WordPress security post provides you with the highly trained marines to fight off Nazi sex aid peddlers, with Spaceships!
Another group of online scammers are the Black Hat SEO’s. There was a time when many of these were good SEO’s but something inside them changed. Perhaps they became jaded with poor rankings, or were lobotomised by an evil scientist. Perhaps they watched too much Gray’s Anatomy. Either way they donned the black hat and developed some of the most devious SEO techniques known to man. Here we go in disguise behind enemy lines, because only by knowing our enemy can we defeat them. Plus I look great in a black hat.
Elsewhere this week, Google got a bit a bit of a bad rap themselves over net neutrality with some points which weren’t well… neutral. Also as an added bonus we provided a review of Google vs. Bing webmaster tools. Basically it was like pitting a midget against a crazed pirate. Very one sided and a little messy.
- Why Invest In Content Marketing? - March 12, 2013
- Why Creative Copywriting Can Make or Break Your Brand - March 12, 2013
- What is Your Sites Link Profile Saying about You? - February 19, 2013
- Can a Small On-line Business Really Compete with the Big Boys? - February 19, 2013
- Ramsay’s Web Wire – Issue #40: Sleet, Snow and SEO - December 3, 2010
- Ramsay’s Web Wire – Issue #39: Out of the Google Frying Pan… - November 26, 2010
- Ramsay’s Web Wire – Issue #38: The Google, the Bad and the Ugly - November 19, 2010
- Ramsay’s Web Wire – Issue #37: Google Jams A Few Rockets In Your Pocket - November 5, 2010
- Ramsay’s Web Wire – Issue #36: Google Gets All Up in Your Business - October 29, 2010
- Ramsay’s Web Wire – Issue #35: Google’s Groovy Giftset - October 22, 2010
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