Recommended Reading

• The Happy Trails Computer Club, cybercoyote.org/security/intro.shtml
"This is part of the Happy Trails RV Resort in Surprise, Ariz. Run by retired computer geeks, the club's site has a remarkable amount of usable information about computers and has helpful computer security protection tips."
 
• PC Flank, www.pcflank.com/about.htm
"Many Web sites offer free online computer vulnerability testing, but unfortunately some are run by the bad guys. I don't usually subscribe to the value of Web-based self-testing, because there's no way to tell if the test was valid or is just another way to get you to buy something. One site that's easy to use, non-product centric, and offers varying levels of tests -- from quick to advanced -- is PCFlank."
 
• "User's Guide to Safer Computing at Columbia," www.columbia.edu/acis/security
"To contribute to a safer network at Columbia University, its Information Technology group's 'User's Guide to Safer Computing at Columbia' is a multi-part series of instructional guidelines on computer protection. Although it's intended for the users of Columbia's network, the tips are applicable to any computer user, and includes links to protection software."
 
• OnGuardOnline, onguardonline.gov/index.html
"OnGuardOnline provides valuable tips from the federal government about Internet fraud, computer security and securing your personal information. It has especially useful info about wireless security and ID theft."
 
• The Anti-Spyware Software Review 2007, anti-spyware-review.toptenreviews.com
"The review has reports that compare various features and usefulness of the major spyware- and adware-software vendors. And while there are numerous spyware- and adware-removal programs circulating the Web, some of them are written by hackers pretending to offer help. In addition to the two tools I use, Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition and Spybot Search & Destroy, a good site for a list of removal programs is www.free-spyware-adware-removal.net/spyware.html.
 
• National Fraud Information Center, www.fraud.org
"The National Consumers League runs the National Fraud Information Center and the Internet Fraud Watch. Its site, phishinginfo.org, has great information about how phishing works." Another great site for information about worldwide phishing exploits is run by the granddaddy of phishing organization, the Anti-Phishing Working Group www.antiphishing.org, which has useful charts and graphics of phishing exploits. Think you know all about phishing and how to prevent it? Take the SonicWALL Phishing IQ Test: www.sonicwall.com/phishing/"
 
• Better Business Bureau, www.bbbsilicon.org/topic054.html
"The old, original Better Business Bureau has a very informative site with real, practical steps you can take to prevent identity theft, and points you to relief if you think you've become a victim."
 
• Federal Trade Commission, www.consumer.gov/idtheft
"Another excellent ID theft resource site is run by the Federal Trade Commission whose mission statement 'Deter, Detect, and Defend against identity theft' is accompanied by four steps to take if you've become a victim of identity theft."
 
• The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, cybercrime.gov
"Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice lists various ongoing and resolved computer-based criminal cases. It has some useful resources to report Internet-related crime, as well."