6. February 2010 by admin.

Synopsis: Electronic dissemination of indecent material. Provides that a child commits a delinquent act if the child creates, transmits, or possesses a photograph, video, or other material that shows a minor engaging in sexual conduct. Creates a defense to child exploitation, possession of child pornography, and dissemination of material harmful to minors if the defendant is a child, the offense constitutes a delinquent act, and: (1) the photograph, video, or other material does not show a child less than thirteen (13) years of age; or (2) the defendant did not knowingly or intentionally transmit or display the photograph, video, or other material to ten or more persons. Requires a child’s parent to participate in outpatient treatment or an educational program if a juvenile court orders the child to receive outpatient treatment or to attend an educational program.
Effective: July 1, 2010.

Source: Indiana General Assembly Senate Bill 0224

Posted in Internet Safety, Kids, Internet Crime, General | No Comments »

29. December 2009 by admin.

December 28, 2009

2009 is turning out be a banner year for the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).  Experts predict the Center will end the year with close to 350,000 complaints.  That’s a heck of a lot more than last year in which a record 275,284 complaints were received.  2010 will probably set another record.

While there is no doubt IC3 has become one of the most recognized vehicles for reporting online fraud today, the numbers have to date, only scratched the surface.  Many experts believe the number of people who fall prey to credit card fraud, online auction fraud, phishing scams and the like,  is actually far greater than the complaint numbers would indicate and cyber thieves aren’t letting up.  If anything, they’re increasing their efforts to separate you and I from our money.

Consumers need to educate themselves to prepare for the coming decade and the wave of sophisticated scams that are sure to follow.  There are a host of Web sites available that can help including:

www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com

www.scamvictimsunited.com

www.scambusters.org

If you do fall victim to online fraud, contact your local police right away and file a complaint with IC3 at www.ic3.gov.  It only takes a couple of minutes and the information can help law enforcement bring the perpetrators to justice.

Source: The Informant (NW3C: visit www.ic3.gov) December 28, 2009

Posted in Internet Safety, Internet Crime, General | 1 Comment »

7. August 2009 by admin.

This is something that every computer user needs to be aware of in regards to malware and so-called anti-virus or anti-spyware software. Don’t fall victim to this scam!

http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/vulnerabilities/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=218800178

Posted in Internet Safety, General | No Comments »

30. March 2009 by admin.

 Who is at risk?

Users whose computers are not configured to receive patches and updates from Microsoft and who are not running an up to date antivirus product are most at risk. Users who do not have a genuine version of Windows from Microsoft are most at risk since pirated system usually cannot get Microsoft updates and patches.

How does this worm interact with a machine? Nobody really knows at this point. Visit Symantec for more information.

As always ensure your anti-virus software is up to date and you have the most recent patches and updates from Microsoft.

Posted in Internet Safety, General | No Comments »

26. February 2009 by admin.

 This video goes along with our previous blog post on Monday, which you can view by clicking here.

A buyer & seller beware as it relates to protecting your child and your identity if you sell your computer online.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29405819#29389379

Posted in Internet Safety, Kids, Internet Crime | No Comments »

23. February 2009 by admin.

“A New York computer forensics firm said that 40 of 100 hard disk drives it recently purchased in bulk orders on eBay contained personal information, including corporate financial data, DNS server information, and personal e-mail and photos.”

Source: PCWorld

Posted in Computer Forensics, Internet Safety | 1 Comment »

8. February 2009 by admin.

Sheriff Allen Harmon reminds citizens to use extreme caution when releasing personal information over the telephone or internet.
The Gibson County Sheriff’s Department has received several reports of persons receiving phone calls and e-mails requesting social security numbers and credit card information. Do not release this information to anyone that you did not initiate contact with. If you are interested in doing business with a company that calls you, get a return phone number for them and check into the legitimacy of the company and the phone number before you make your decision.

Posted in Email Scam, Internet Safety, General | No Comments »

18. January 2009 by admin.

“His troubles began in July 2007. He said he got an e-mail from someone claiming to be a lawyer with a client named David Rempel who died in a 2005 bomb attack in London, England, and left behind $12.8 million.”

Click Here to read this article

Source: The Windsor Star

Posted in Email Scam, Internet Safety, Internet Crime | 1 Comment »

17. January 2009 by admin.

Computer forensics helped solve robberies involving Craigslist in Durham, NC.
Police were able to track an e-mal address used in a Craigslist listing to the suspect’s computer.

Click here to continue reading story.

Craigslist safety tips

Source: WRAL.com

Posted in Computer Forensics, Internet Safety | No Comments »

20. November 2008 by admin.

1.) Know Who You’re Dealing With - The first thing you need to be aware of is the merchant you are buying from. There are a lot of companies out there today that run completely off of their Web site, which means you probably won’t be as familiar with them as a store you could visit at the mall. In that case, you should take some time to learn about them and the reputation they hold. You can do that by searching them out on the Internet. Use a search engine to see if you can find any reviews about them from other consumers and try to find an information page on them. If previous shoppers really like or dislike a company, chances are, you’ll be able to find some comments about them somewhere on the Web. If you take the time to do this before you order from a new business, you’ll be much better off in the end.

2.) Protect Your Privacy - When you’re shopping online, you have to think about yourself first and that means doing whatever it takes to protect your privacy. Before you do any ordering, you should be aware of what information the merchant is asking of you, how it will be used and if they have any intention of sharing it with others. The best way to do all of that is to check out the company’s Web site. If they’re a legit site, they should have a Privacy Policy posted there. You should take the time to read through that and make sure you’re comfortable with everything they say. It’s a good idea to look for seals from privacy enforcement organizations, such as TRUSTe and BBBOnLine, as well. If you’re asked to enter in such things as your social security number or bank account information, do not do it! Those things are red flags and they are not needed to make an online purchase. If you pay close attention to what you’re doing, you will be just fine.

3.) Know All the Details - When you’re shopping online, you should always check out the complete details of your purchase. For example, make sure you know all about delivery dates, shipping and handling costs, warranties, return policies, etc. It’s also a good idea to get a company’s contact information before you finalize your order. They should have a telephone number or e-mail address on their Web site that you can keep on hand in case you have any questions or problems once you receive your items.

4.) Use a Credit Card - I know that may not sound like the safest thing to do, but it really is a good way to keep yourself safe. If you do business with a liable credit card company, they will protect you if anything happens while you’re making online purchases. Most credit card companies provide liability agreements, so if your card information is stolen, they will be able to put a hold on your card and issue you a brand new number. That way, whoever has your number is stopped from being able to use it. So, if you suspect any suspicious activity after you make an online purchase, call your credit card company right away and they’ll be able to handle everything for you. Also, when credit card companies see unusual activity on your card, they will inform you about it.

When you’re using your credit card online, make sure you look for the yellow padlock at the bottom of your Web browser or for the “https” in the URL. Those are two signs that a site is secure and that your credit card information will transmit safely. (You can read here for more on that). You should also always use strong passwords when you’re logging in to certain Web sites and make sure you don’t share them with anyone.

5.) Keep It On Record - The last thing you should always do is keep good records of your purchases. Make sure you either print out the receipt for your transactions or save it somewhere on your computer. Most companies send confirmation e-mails, so it’s a good idea to save that and print it out as well. In doing that, you will be able to keep better track of your total price, shipping and handling fees and shipping dates.

There you have it! Now, I know I mostly talked about online companies in this article, but these five tips go for every store you shop with online. It goes for all the “big box” stores, the department stores, grocery stores and so on. No matter where you’re doing your shopping, you need to be aware of your surroundings and make sure your number one priority is keeping yourself safe. Online shopping is even better when you’re smart about it. I now release you to start your Christmas shopping and I hope you find some great deals this weekend! : )

~ Erin

Author: Erin with WorldStart.com

Posted in Internet Safety | No Comments »