| Internet Security continues to be challenging for everyone and this week is no different, as the latest computer worm has made new headlines in the media. Internet worms, Malware, and Phishing attacks are on the rise making it important everyone stay vigilant in fighting Internet attacks and scams. Avvanta recommends to all our customers to keep your anti-virus and operating software up to date. In addition, make sure your system is set to do security scans on a regular basis. Security experts are warning that a recent computer virus (named Conficker) that has been spreading very quickly throughout the world may be set to activate itself on April 1st, 2009, and it's no joke.
The Conficker worm is a computer worm that can infect your computer and spread itself to other computers across a network automatically, without human interaction. If you have not recently updated your anti-virus software and run a scan of your computer systems please do so at this evening or tomorrow. The following link will take you Microsoft's web page for more information about the virus:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/conficker.mspx Phishing Attacks have also become more prevalent of late causing a steady increase in compromised user information and identity theft. What is Phishing? Phishing attacks use 'spoofed' emails and fraudulent websites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, social security numbers, etc. By hijacking the trusted brands of well-known banks, online retailers and credit card companies, phishers are able to convince up to 5% of recipients to respond to them. You can make sure this doesn't happen to you by following these steps:
- Always be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal financial information, and if you suspect the message might not be authentic, don't use the links in the email to get to any web page.
- Always be suspicious of any job offer which requests banking information in your application.
- Regularly check your bank, credit and debit card statements to ensure that all transactions are legitimate, and regularly log on to your online accounts.
- Finally, always, ensure that you're using a secure website when submitting your credit card or other sensitive information via your Web browser.
Avvanta will never ask you to email us your account information. We may ask for it over the phone during the normal course of troubleshooting issues, but never via email. Please make sure not to respond to these types of e-mail scams. If you are in doubt as to the validity of any email that claims to be from us, or sent on our behalf, please feel free to contact technical support at 425-818-6500, or by e-mail at support@avvanta.com. It is never an imposition upon us to make certain that the email you have received is valid. We appreciate your continued support.
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