INTERVIEW WITH ALAN COHEN,
COMPUTER PROINTERVIEWED BY ANNA DALEA,
ERT WEBSITE SOLUTIONSKEEPING YOUR BUSINESS SECURE-- TIPS FOR THE INTERNET USERS1. YOU ARE A COMPUTER REPAIR TECHNICIAN, BUT WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY?
I work with small businesses and home based users. I trouble shoot system issues; set up small networks both wired and wireless. I am an Apple Business Agent so I work with both PC and Mac issues. I sell both PC and Mac solutions. I also help my customers with security issues.
2. YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH INTERNET SECURITY AND FORENSICS. WHAT IS A MAJOR CONCERN, RIGHT NOW, REGARDING IDENTITY THEFT AND THE INTERNET?
People need to realize that this is the number one crime right now. They need to take active steps to insure both their data and their personal information is secure. It is very easy to transmit this information without a person even knowing it. One easy and very important step is to exit then re-start your browser after completing a secure transaction.
3. WHAT IS SPAMMING AND PHISHING, AND HOW CAN WEBSITE OWNERS AVOID BECOMING VICTIMS OF THESE SPAMMERS/PHISHERS?
Spam is a form of advertising. If you have an email address you get spam. It is a very inexpensive way for business to send out their advertisements. Phishers are criminals, they are attempting to fool the reader into believing their phony web site is legit. For example you may receive a letter from your bank stating your account has been suspended and you need to follow the link enclosed in the email in order to reactivate it. You are directed to your banks website; but it is really not your banks site. You then enter your personal information which is sent immediately. Your information is then sold or sometimes even given away to establish the authenticity of the thief's collection of information.
4. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR THE READERS ON HOW TO KEEP THEIR EMAIL FROM GETTING SPAM?
You can set up a separate email address that you can give out easily while your main address is protected. One service such as "
pobox.com" allows a user to have different email addresses while forwarding them to your main address; this way you can terminate each account as it begins to receive to many spams. You can also use a free service such as
http://www.spamgourmet.com/ that will allow you to create disposable email addresses that will only work for the amount of times you specify.
5. WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH IDENTITY THEFT AND INTERNET SECURITY?
Secure your wireless connections. Subscribe to some form of credit monitoring service. Consult with your IT Professional to make sure your system is free from viruses and spy ware. If you give your employees access to your network; if you terminate them make sure you lock them out of the network either before you give them their walking papers or the second after.
6. WHAT HAS BEEN THE SCARIEST THING YOU HAVE FOUND DURING YOUR INVESTIGATIONS?
Ex-employees tend to get very angry when they are asked to leave. The more access they have to a business persons computer the more damage they can do. I have seen computers hijacked, porn sites set up on servers and that is the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
7. IS THERE ANY WAY TO SETUP OUTLOOK TO FILTER THE SPAM (EVEN THE SPAM THAT SEEMS TO GET THROUGH THE SPAM FILTER THAT'S AUTOMATICALLY IMPLEMENTED)?
Filters can be set up but spammers have ways to spell things so they will get through the filters. You can try to list all possible spelling combinations and add rules as new types of spam gets though.
8. YOU OFFER IDENTITY THEFT SOLUTIONS TO ANYONE WHO WANTS PROTECTION. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE PROGRAM AND GIVE A LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM?
The service I offer is called Identity Theft Shield; it is a product offered by Pre-Paid Legal. This service not only monitors your Social Security number but helps you if your should have a problem. Those interested can go to
www.alan007.com for additional information.
9. IF YOU BECOME A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE?
File a police report. Get in touch with your credit card companies and let them know what is going on. Put a Fraud alert on you Social Security number and get ready to spend hours dealing with problems that surface.
10. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE MY READERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMPANY OR YOUR SERVICES THAT I HAVEN'T ALREADY ASKED YOU?
They can feel free to contact me should they have any questions by sending me an email at
acohen@pobox.com or by calling me directly at 805-445-7558
