by: Doug Woodall

Its late. You've been scouring the web for that perfect present for your Aunt Bess in Idaho. You finally find it at presents4aunties.com. The site looks a little rough on the edges, weird colors and such. But they have that gift you know will make Aunt Bess add you to her will. You purchase the gift, log off and head to bed. Tired but happy.

The next day, coffee in hand, you turn on your computer. That's strange you say, its awfully slow this morning. Finally its booted and ready to go. You open your browser to check the Cow Tipping Blog for the latest posts.

What's this you say, My Homepage is now longer the Log , but a site trying to sell me a DVD of the Surfs vs the Terminator!

Oh well you say, not quite fully awake. You type in the URL for your Log and wait. And wait, and wait. Finally its up! You start to read the mornings postings. You're into the second post about the upcoming Cow Tipping Championship in Vegas when a Popup appears and says you need to go to heartburn for the new revolutionary cure for heartburn. Click here now it says and receive a free gift, the secret cure for Baldness!

Weird you think, you click the X to close it.

You don't realize by clicking the X that a small hidden piece of code has just been downloaded to your computer.

You finish the Log postings and decide to check your Bank Account. You type in the URL and wait, and wait. Finally the Bank Logon appears. You log in, completely unaware of the code, which is actually a Key logger, is recording your every keystroke. The Transaction is there for Aunties gift, you're so happy. You log off and remember you forgot to email that document for your Boss. That's ok you say, I can log in from here and send it! Technology is so great ! You log into your work portal and access your email program, find the document, attach it to the email form and send it. You vaguely remember it had something to do with the updated personal info list for all of the employees at your job. It includes their Addresses, email addresses and Direct Deposit Account numbers, also their Logon Names and Passwords to access the Computers at work.

Darn you say as another Popup appears, what's wrong with this computer?

Well at least you didn't forget the Bosses Document. Wouldn't want to get in trouble with the Boss. You've a great job, working for the Trans Global Bank after all. Offices all over the world don't you know.

Well time to check your Anti-Virus program for updates. Hmm it says no updates kneed ed . You notice the Misspelling but what the heck, those things happen. Gee the computer is really slow! You decide to reboot, hoping that will fix it. Gripes, now it wont even boot! At least there's a little extra money in the ole Bank Account to get it fixed.

The above is fiction. No animals were harmed. But its scary huh to think it could happen.

Granted it's a worse case scenario, but I wonder...

Be smart out there people, learn how to use your Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware programs. Keep em updated, and it they don't work well for your surfing habits, find programs that will. Keep your computer protected, your well being may depend on it.