WHAT'S WITH PEOPLE, ANYWAY?
Even though the warnings about unproteced internet use are everywhere, most people don't listen until it's too late!
This past month, the nightly news has been full of items about the dangers lurking on the internet. No matter where you go- ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox, the nightmare stories have been blasted out at us.
Yet for all that, people keep getting hurt. They end up with their ID being stolen, their credit cards being used, even their social security number being used for criminal purposes, and all they can ask is, "How did this ever happen to me?"
Well, how DID it happen? Simple: They didn't listen to the warnings!
"I DON'T LISTEN TO THE BAD NEWS"
In several online groups I keep tabs on, the subject of the London Bombings of July 7, 2005 was raised. The question was, "What is your take on these bombings, and how do you think it will affect your life?".
Nearly 95% of all the responses were, "Oh, I don't listen to any bad news. I would rather turn off the tv than hear about all the bad things going on in the world."
These same people are the ones who are so easily victimized by online criminals. If they aren't listening to the bad news on tv, neither are they listening to the bad news on the internet! It would be stupid if it weren't so tragic!
THE BEST OFFENSE IS A GOOD DEFENSE!
There is no way we, as users of the world wide web, can defend ourselves against the criminal element, unless we are aware of what they are doing! The number one strategy of all successful coaches is , "The best offense is a good defense!". A good defense will win more games than an offense, because it prevents the other team from doing what it wants to do, which is score.
The criminal element on the internet wants to "score", too. But their score doesn't just cost a game- it can ruin your life! It can put you so far behind the eight ball, you'll never get over it.
DOES 40 MILLION IDENTITY THEFTS MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?"
It should! So far this year, more than 40 millions identities have been stolen! The majority of these thefts have come FROM THE INTERNET.
These criminals are successful just because people don't listen! "Success" - even this kind of criminal success - simply breeds more success. The criminals are getting bolder all the time, and having more success, because they know people aren't paying attention to what's going on out there!
Will you be their next victim?
WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ARE IN A WAR!
It may sound trite, but it's true. There is a battle going on online between "us" and "them". So far, "them" seem to be winning, because "us" aren't taking it seriously enough to wage all out war against them. And all out war is the only way we're ever going to win this thing!
Any good military leader will tell you the best way to defeat your enemy is by first getting to know them. Once you know them, you can take action to counter any moves they make.
Takebacktheinternet.com, will help you get to know them. It will give you a lot of good advice on how to win this war. It also offers software solutions. But it's no good if you don't DO anything. We can never win by sitting still and doing nothing.
I think it was General Patton who said, "No war is ever won in a foxhole!" If you just sit in that foxhole, you are simply waiting for the enemy to come looking for you! The only way to win this war is by taking action. Start doing something!
Otherwise, I'll just have to keep asking the question, "Why don't most people listen?", until they DO listen!
David Hallett
http://www.TakeBackTheInternet.com
For several years we have been promoting internet security through articles, ezines, and our web site. Our goal is to keep people informed and give them the tools to use the internet safely and securely.