Be Clued Up On The Interent

Internet, Network, Security

2007-11-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

Internet, Network, Security is a broad term for protecting your computer from many threats. One program, or service, may not cover all aspects of vulnerability.

Summary here: http://www.becluedup.com/InternetSecurity.html

Main protection programmes:
Firewall
Virus Protection.
E-Mail Phishing,
Site Phishing.

A firewall monitors and closes unused ports.
A port is the gateway a program uses to communicate through.
Most programs have a port number by default.
A Firewall determines the program risk and asks permission to allow communication. A low risk might be a program belonging to your operating system and high risk might be third party or unknown software.
You can give permission to:
Upload (Send): Download (Receive): Both (Send/Receive).
Allow: Once: Always (Give the program freedom)

With a firewall installed, and configured, your threats are:

Installing a program and giving it permission to, communicate, change settings, and overwrite files, without your knowledge. You think you’re just installing the program you want but you’ve allowed the virus attached to it.

IE: You’ve downloaded a screensaver from the internet and installed it. By doing that you’ve given it permission to change your home page, advert pop ups, diallers, etc. (No matter how good your firewall and anti virus protection is this will still happen if you’ve allowed the program to install).

A firewall grants or disallows communication on your computer, network, this is its only function.

An antivirus program determines if a file, or, program, is likely, or does, contain a virus.

The antivirus program establishes a threat by scanning an object against known virus patterns, so if a virus pattern is unknown it may fail to identify it. This could be because your program isn’t updated with the latest patterns or it’s an unknown virus.

If you’re installing a legitimate program, on your computer, your antivirus program may give you a virus warning because it wants to alter your system settings. Trojan attributes are in many innocent programs that require communication to function.

Strictly speaking a Trojan isn’t a virus because it doesn’t self-replicate, you’ve either been tricked in to allowing this program in, or, it’s been placed without your knowledge. But, a Trojan can be blended into a virus.

Threats:

Open ports:

Send or receive information, files, and programmes, on your computer, network, without your knowledge. Internet Virus, Internet Security, Network Security, Worm, Trojan, Virus, Protection, Email Virus, Phoshing, Risks.

Destroy, manipulate, control, information, files, and programmes, on your computer, or network.
Most common Trojans are commercial; this is the most likely type and will be obvious, eventually, making your computer unusable:
‘Diallers’ for premium rate lines.
‘Perpetual Pop Ups Advertisements’ the culprit gets paid for you clicking.
‘E-mail Contacts Book’ sent to advertisers spam list.
‘Internet Browser Corrupted’ changes your homepage to an advertisement and takes control of your browser.

More Sinister Trojans are employed mostly, if your using a works computer, you’ve been bugged by someone, this type operates secretly in the background.

Keystroke records what you type.
Logger records every function on the computer.
Remote viewing could allow someone to view your entire computer.
Remote access, with privileges, controls your computer.

The line between what’s a Trojan, Virus, or, Worm, can be confusing because one can overlap the other.

Generally:

Trojan (A Spy) compromises the security of a computer to send and receive information, or take control of it, without your knowing.

A Virus (An Assassin) is designed to be destructive and spread. A virus is, normally, attached to executable file and most commonly spread by the exchange of, software, video, mp3, etc. A virus can contain some elements, and operate, like a Trojan.

Commonly Spread:

Infected Media: CD, Floppy, USB Memory Stick, etc.

Infected Music files, especially, Peer to Peer sharing.

Infected E-mail attachment.

Infected Program downloaded.

Your computer could show no sign of infection, allowing you to spread it, and destructive later.

Your computer could contain a virus that’s inactive until you execute the file or program it’s in.

A Worm is designed to replicate and unlike a normal virus doesn’t need to be executed. It’s common for a worm to infect your address book and send the infection to everyone in it and so on. It can have the similar attributes of a Trojan or Virus but with the potential to quickly infest millions of computers. Hence, a challenge to your antivirus program in detecting it’s there.
Internet Virus, Internet Security, Network Security, Worm, Trojan, Virus, Protection, Email Virus, Phishing, Risks.

Be Clued Up On Selling With E-Bay

2007-10-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

Please read ‘Be Clued up on E-Bay’ to understand your responsibilities and liabilities. A shorter summary of 'Be Clued Up Selling On E Bay'

Most customers are very good and fair when you keep to your side of the bargain.

Drop Shipping:

You’re reliant on a third party to deliver your promise. Drop shipping sounds inviting but it can destroy your business if you make a bad choice.

DVDs, Mp3 Players, Computer Parts, Radios, etc, flood E-Bay. This doesn’t make them a bad product to sell but you'd need to consider your market edge.

Successful drop shipping only works with a reliable supplier.

Research the drop shipping company.

Find The Right Product For You:

Everybody would like a good source for the latest Ipod at a knock down price. It rarely happens ‘Apple’ make sure of that, and so does any trademark that controls their market.

Normally, if an Ipod is on E-Bay it’s, second hand, unwanted present, broken. A trader selling Ipod on E-Bay could be lucky with a supply but more likely, a copy, stolen, refurbished, or an import not meant for UK market.

You should pick a product you know about and or interests you.

Start with one thing and add lines as you grow.

Research your product by searching E-Bay, and the internet, to find its value and availability.

Once you have the true retail value divide it by 2 and you have a reasonable benchmark to buy at.

Total E-bay and Paypal charges are about 8% of total selling price. You’d net about 12% profit on a 20% gross margin.

Workout the, postage, shipping, and packaging price and add 50p.

Start your auction at 50p and put your minimum reserve in.

Understand the value of a, product, margin, it's the most important tool in the learning curve.

Your listing should include a gallery picture and a full and accurate description.

Your keywords in the title heading are very important. You must include as many product keywords, which define the product, as possible. Example: Johnny Cash Country Western LP Record. Don’t waste the title words with ‘look’ best’ great’ or anything that’s vague.

When taking Paypal you should specify you will only ship to a confirmed address otherwise Paypal won’t payout on a fraud.

In E-bay seller options you can opt to exclude members with bad feed back and no Paypal account.

Be Clued Up On Buying With E-Bay

2007-10-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

E-Bay can be complicated and confusing, this is a summary of some important points for buyers:

A shorter summary is available on our site: http://www.becluedup.com/AuctionSites.html

Find out if he’s a trader because the law and your rights are different:

A trader is anyone who buys and sells, goods, services, according to UK + EU law. His, feedback, sitestore, other items, links, should reveal this.

Your rights are different depending on the Country you purchase from.

UK + EU Obligations:

Listing and product description must conform to ‘Trades Description Act’

A Trader is responsible for the delivery of your purchase in the condition described.

You’re entitled to a full refund:

Cancel order within seven days (even in a ‘buy now listing auction’).
Return the goods within seven days of receiving it.
Item isn’t delivered within thirty days.

A fuller account of buyer rights are published here: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/consumer_affairs/buying_on_internet_auction_sites.htm

However, if you deal with a rogue trader, despite the law, you're likely to be disappointed and they’re best avoided.

E-Bay gives you pointers to determine a good trader.

Never trade with feedback including the words, ‘Counterfeit’ ‘Paid Never Got Item’ ‘Item Didn’t Work’ ‘Item broken’ unless you can determine it’s untrue or there’s a very good explanation.

A trader’s reputation is critical because he has to turnover and move lines, if bad he puts customers second and is likely to let you down.

If he has negative feedback check the reply, this can tell you a lot about his character.

Feedback from an established user carries more weight and credibility.

Don’t make an assumption, just, based on his feedback rating. Check it against the items sold. Be suspicious of a lot of low cost items, especially, if your item is higher value.

Is the negative deserved? You could, reasonably, assume one customer in a hundred might be awkward, but anyone with a rating less might have a problem.

Check the postage costs:

Remember a trader is responsible for insuring delivery whether he charges you for it or not.

He could be selling an item cheaply and putting it on postage costs.

Check a trader doesn't add VAT on the sale price; he has to state this in listing.

Protect Yourself:

Always use a credit card when using Paypal because your credit card company might be quicker at reimbursing you.

If a product is wrongly described, or you didn’t receive the goods, he could be charged with obtaining money by deception, trader or not.

A product description is a legal statement for both parties and must be studied thoroughly. You should avoid vague descriptions like, a few scratches, bit dirty, unless you can get an exact description or picture that fully describes the item. If he makes assurances they should be amended in the listing or in an e-mail.

Avoid desperate traders, these types of people are easily picked from their listing and use terms like:‘I’m the best’ ‘I’m the cheapest’ ‘I’m better then….’ Generally overdose on superlatives. They're the type who leave insulting feedback like, 'he's a waste of time!' 'Idiot!' etc.

Non-trader:

If he has bad feedback check:

If he has an attitude problem he will deter bidders. If know how to handle awkward people you could get a bargain.

If he sounds dishonest don't bid.

Paypal payment listings get more bids so don't ignore auctions without.

Bidding Tips:

Don’t start a bidding war, bid as late as possible, it can fuel impulsive bidding:

The seller could be bidding against you.

Check the feedback of bidders:

Attention to:

Low or no feedback.

Low value buying.

Could it be another account associated the seller?

Using a service, or software, like Snipe, to lay your bid seconds before closing is good because you can decide precisely how much you’re willing to pay.

Copyright Becluedup.com 2007