Say No to Hackers and Spyware

Saying no to hackers, spyware, and cybercriminals is a shared community responsibility. That means everyone has the potential to make a difference and educate others. The goal of this site, in attempting to raise awareness, is to encourage you to think about online safety within your home, workplace, and community, no matter what your role is. To accomplish this goal, we shall share articles and resources, especially those to help people reinforce safe online and offline behavior.

Monday, October 1, 2007

What Customers Had to Say

Thanks for your help today! Your technician diagnosed my computers problem first try. Michael knew exactly what was wrong and how to fix it. It was great how I gave him access to my computer and I did not even have to stay on the phone, I felt a little guilty that I was making myself a sandwich when Michael was hard at work. Thank you INVISUS and nice work! - David Skillings

I would like to thank Joel for his superb customer service and expertise in the technical support area. This virus had no chance with the knowledge and thoroughness Joel brought to the situation. I would forward him to any one of my clients. Thanks again!!! Laptop runs great! - Byron Talbert

Today, I received some very excellent tech support service from one of your company technicians. It was wonderful experience to receive such fine tech computer support. She was always courteous and displayed excellent skills and knowledge when assisting to resolve my tech problem. If this is an example of her daily accomplishments, she indeed is deserving of employee recognition. She represents your company outstandingly! Thank you INVISUS for being a fine customer oriented company and for employing people of this high caliber. - David Willis, Owner, Davco Online Sales

I somehow got a virus on my computer so right away I thought, “Who am I going to call?” Of course, INVISUS! I called up and spoke with Mike. I have been a subscriber to INVISUS a long time and have always had great technicians help me out. Mike was really GREAT in all the help he provided for me. He was working on the problem and trying to get my computer back to normal for at least 2 hours if not more. After it was back in working order he told me to run a few scans and he would call back Monday morning to see how everything was working. That he did, just when he said he would call. It is this exact reason why I stay with this service, not only is the software phenomenal but the customer service is the best I have ever had. Thanks! - Mark Pecho

I am very pleased with the great service I always get with INVISUS. Scott has helped me before, and when I have been near a basket case from worry, he has given me the calm assurance that he would fix everything for me, and he did! I am very grateful to have you watching out for my computer and me. It is well worth every penny I spent on it, and more! - Carol Baker

Sarah was awesome. She solved my problems with the anti-virus in record time and cleaned up the excess garbage in my computer at the same time. She is really a "keeper." I think she deserves a raise. Thanks again Sarah!!! - Jim Kniff

We just purchased the Invisus service yesterday and are already pleased! We were having problems and Clint was great! So polite and professional and didn't seem at all annoyed by, what I'm sure he considered to be, 'no-brainer' questions. I didn't feel at all pressured and his explanations were clear and easy to understand. We are feeling much more secure with this security system on our computer. Thank you very much INVISUS! - Cameron & Donna Pope

After a long period of "no problems," I had a bunch of issues this week on 3 of my 4 PC's, and so I had to call in more than once. Wait times were very reasonable. Service was excellent. Sarah and Chelsea were friendly, professional and had great follow-up. All issues were resolved in a prompt and thorough manner. Maybe you should start a 2nd business teaching other tech support outfits how to perform excellent customer service. (Let me know, I'll send you my wish-list of clients). Thanks. - Mindy Baransky

Hi! I appreciate the effort that Andrea gave to help this 64 yr old guy to get his computer protected with your suite of programs. My 5 yr old computer which was protected with this program for over 2 yrs quit, and she helped me install the program on my new computer and resolved the problems I was having. Many thanks for the younger generation growing up with a "Sippy Cup" in one hand and a computer mouse in the other. Once again, thank you and God Bless. - Dennis J. Miechruski “Jack"

Hi, I just wanted to say what an excellent job Bryce did today with getting my computer set up and running with your service. He connected directly to my pc and did all the work for me. Wow! - David Riebe

Through my own goof up I managed to delete INVISUS from my computer.

I felt vulnerable without it … so I called for help and was transferred to Tech Support. My technician was courteous, helpful, and knowledgeable. He took over my computer and worked quickly to protect my computer from viruses, spyware, and he installed the Invisus Firewall for me. He was fast and thorough. I can't speak highly enough about how he did his job. His work rated an Excellent Plus. - Bill Bradney

I would like to say that Clint was my computer angel. I was so worried that my computer had crashed; I cannot thank him enough for saving my computer. I would also like to say that all of you at INVISUS are so wonderful and so helpful. Thank you! - Kathy Nance

Thank you for your excellent support and service you provide. I am always so thrilled to work with everyone on the INVISUS team! Everyone is so polite, professional, and helpful when I call. It is rare to see excellent customer service in today's world but you provide it every day. You guys rock! - Fran Johnson

You guys did a great job today helping me install my additional subscription to my laptop. I love that I can call up customer service and right away they are willing to help me order an additional subscription and then within minutes be transferred over to technical support for them to set up the service for me. I couldn't have done it without you. In fact, you did it for me! - Nancy Tessier

This is the first time I have worked with Scott C. I found him to be very professional. I most appreciated his quickness is resolving my problem.

I had error messages that I would think he had heard many, many times before. However Scott let me talk completely and tell him the whole story before commenting. His tone of voice was that of a caring person and not that of a “know it all” even though he knew exactly what it was I was talking about.

Thank you Invisus for hiring Super Talented Tech support people who truly care about us. - Tim Clark, LifeStyle Designer, AboveCeoPay.com

I just wanted to compliment your Tech Support service for helping me today. Doug took care of my problem remotely and that is the part that I love about Invisus. I never got that kind of support from the other major Anti Virus/Spyware companies. I am not a tech person and this level of service is priceless to me, it saves me Money and most of all FRUSTRATION when faced with a computer issue I cannot figure out. Doug was courteous and professional. Thanks! - Javier

Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated the help getting set up today. It was all new to me, but I wasn’t treated like I was some kind of idiot which I was afraid would happen. I appreciate the encouragement in the paperwork that says to call you first. After the service I received today I'll be sure to do that. Thanks, again! - Katy Ludwig

Your service technician was professional, respectful, patient, and fixed time consuming problems on both of my networked computers. I apologize for not remembering his name, but either way, if more people were like him, the world would be a better place!

Thank you! - Tony Brown, President, Highlands Professional Motorcycle Training Corp.

My technician did a great job for me today. His willingness to "look around" and investigate various reasons as to why my computer was running slow made me feel that I made the right decision to use INVISUS. He helped set up access to my office server and gave [my firewall] "permission" so I didn’t have to turn my firewall off and risk exposure. Where could you get that kind of support included in a low month fee? Thanks again! - John Gebbie

I'm so-o-o glad I don't have to think about this very often, and just occasionally wonder if it's still working! And suddenly a problem arose, and it is really pleasing to find the help I needed so quickly and readily available. Thanks a million!! - Carolyn Allen

We would like to thank you for the help you gave us, and again we would like to say how happy we are to be with INVISUS. It is nice to know that we have great security for our computer. In closing we would like to say that all of your techs have always been great to deal with. They have been patient and courteous each time we have dealt with them.

Thank you, - Tom and Phyllis Mercier, Founding Member of the Partnership for Critical Infrastructure Security

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Wondering Why Your Computer Acts Weird?

Unwanted advertising software or "adware" has evolved from an annoyance into a serious threat to the future of Internet.

Why? Every day, thousands of Internet users are duped into downloading adware programs they neither want nor need. Once installed, the programs bog down the computers' normal functions, deluging users with pop-up advertisements, creating privacy and security risks, and generally diminishing the quality of the online experience.

Some users simply give up on the Internet altogether after their computers are rendered useless by the installation of dozens of unwanted programs.

Although it may be somewhat disguised, it's happening on MySpace, too!

Read about Adware's 'Dirty Little Secret'. Go to:

www.cdt.org/privacy/20060320adware.pdf

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Survey Shows Users of Social Networking Sites Tend to Reveal Their Personal Info

Social networking users could be putting themselves at risk of identity theft by giving away personal details too easily, research out today suggests. Two in five people who use the social networking site revealed personal information to a stranger, according to a snapshot survey. They gave email addresses, dates of birth, addresses and even phone numbers to an unknown user.

Technology firm, Sophos, set up a profile page on the website with a picture of a green frog called Freddi Staur – an anagram of I.D. fraudster. Sophos then sent 200 “friend requests” to Facebook users from the frog. It got reactions from 87 people, of which 82 gave away some of their personal information.

Of the 41% of respondents who leaked personal details, 87% gave their education or workplace, 84% listed their dates of birth and 72% gave one or more email address. Nearly a quarter (23%) even listed their phone numbers, Sophos found.

Facebook users can either accept or reject incoming “friend requests”. Users can also choose whether to let the sender see all their details or a limited part of their profile.

In most cases “Freddi” had access to the respondents’ photos of family and friends, likes and dislikes, hobbies, and other personal information.

Sophos senior technology consultant, Graham Cluley, warned: “What’s worrying is how easy it was for Freddi to go about his business. He now has enough information to create phishing emails or malware specifically targeted at individual users or businesses, to guess users’ passwords, impersonate them or even stalk them.”

Some of the respondents who did not accept Freddi’s friend request replied with messages such as “Who are you?” and “Do I know you?”. Even these brief replies gave Freddi access to the respondents’ Facebook profiles in most cases.

Sophos praised Facebook’s privacy settings, saying they were better than many of those offered by other social networking sites. The firm urged users to make full use of Facebook’s privacy features and to be wary of unsolicited messages received via the website.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Cybercrime, Computer Hacking, and Spyware Attacks: Trend, Tragedy, or Opportunity?

The more I study and learn about the dark, criminal side of the Internet, the more convinced I become about the opportunity it presents to offer a base of services for my loved ones, friends, and acquaintances via direct security services and online education. That's why, as an Internet Safety Advocate and Educator, I devote the bulk of my time educating them and the public about the dark side and the protective steps they can take.

On a campaign for Internet safety awareness and protection, my mission is to bring critical awareness to individuals, families, and small business owners, and provide access to the necessary tools and ongoing expertise to secure their computer and help them stay protected. I have taken on this mission so that they can help take back the Internet, making it safe for themselves, their children, and their children's children.

Internet threats to our families, our businesses and our country have already reached epidemic proportions. And according to the federal government and leaders in the Internet and computer industries, it's only going to get worse. There's been a 543% increase in reported cyber-attacks in the United States since the year 2000.

And more than 27 million adults in the United States are now victims of credit and identity theft. This is a extremely significant problem for every Internet user. With almost 3 million new Internet users coming online every month in the United States alone, personal Internet security is the hottest new upcoming trend in the technology industry. There is an enormous need for the Internet security solution!

Ever wish you could have owned Microsoft or iPod stock from their early days? Do you have any idea how rich you would be today? Success in business has a lot to do with timing. You just need to be in the right place at the right time. Internet users are just now starting to realize the need to do something about protecting their online privacy and security. Everyone you know who uses the Internet is just now beginning to think about the whole security problem.

Soon, the demand for Internet security products and services will reach a frantic pace, and Internet security will become a fundamental part of using a computer. In the future, security-in-a-box will go away, and Internet security services will become a giant industry, much like phone, cable, power, and other utilities. Everyone will have their own personal Internet security service.

I encourage you to use this opportunity right now to get involved in the next great technology wave Internet protection services. Take advantage of this opportunity to get in on the ground floor of an entire new industry. You can only begin to imagine what the upside potential is by getting involved with an industry pioneer!

Four Strong Reasons to Become Involved:

Become involved as you pioneer the future of Internet security with the first and only comprehensive Internet protection service for families and small businesses a truly revolutionary solution to an epidemic problem.
Become involved with a pioneering company that is in the direct sales industry as well and is becoming the first and only Internet security company to leverage the power of network marketing.
Become involved with a pioneering company that is becoming the most powerful name in Internet safety and protection, and will be recognized as the first company to successfully help the masses become aware of the threats and get the protection they need.
For your family, your business, your community, and your country, become involved with a company that has launched the industry's first and only Campaign for Internet Safety Awareness and Protection. Together with your input, help protect 10 million families and small businesses from the terrible onslaught of global cyber-attacks against our personal privacy and security.

Although the Internet basically provides a positive and productive experience, cyber-attacks against our personal privacy and security are reaching epidemic proportions. These attacks are occurring in our own homes and businesses. Our own computers are being used are being used as zombies to attack other people, businesses, and even our nation itself. As an average Internet user, you may not be aware of these threats nor have any idea about the dramatically increasing risks you face when connected to the Internet.

I invite you to join the many thousands of others who have tested their computers, discovered these threats are real, and taken the necessary steps to protect themselves.

Now that you have become aware of these issues, I encourage you to share this vital information with your families, friends and communities. Together, we can reach many millions of people and inform them about the threats to their privacy and security, and help them get the protection they desperately need.

Remember: When you help others to say "No!" to hackers and spyware, everyone wins! When you don't, we all lose!

© MMVII, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Your Internet Safety Advocate and Educator

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Warning: Criminals Flock to the Internet and to Your Home and Business Computers

Organized crime seems too be extremely active in the scam known as "phishing" in which they send emails under the guise of being a financial institution or other legitimate organization. In the email they ask unsuspecting victims to verify personal information such as account numbers and passwords. They will target home users who have become the weakest link and they target their victims much more closely than before, by tracking down full names and personal interests. They also skim social networking sites and personal websites where most people have left a digital footprint that can be mined.

Cybercriminals are increasingly trying to trick citizens into giving them their bank account details, according to a published survey which showed such "phishing" attempts almost doubled in the first six months. Over 157,000 unique phishing messages were sent out around the world in the first half of 2006, an increase of 81 percent compared with the six-month period to end-December 2005. Each message can go to thousands or hundreds of thousands of consumers, according to the bi-annual Internet Security Threat Report from security software vendor Symantec.

Another trend in the first half of the year is that phishers have become more sophisticated, dodging spam filters and other defense mechanisms designed by service providers and software companies to keep out the criminals.

How much financial damage phishers have caused is unclear and usually at an individual level, which is why phishing does not get the same media attention as "denial of service attacks" aimed to take out a specific web site, or email worms which can shut down millions of computers in a digital equivalent of a carpet bombing. The Internet is still under fire from such attacks, taking about 6,110 different denial of service hits every a day, but unlike a few years ago they cause less damage.

A successful 'denial of server' attack or worm can have ramifications far beyond phishing. Worms have taken down electricity grids. That's why critical infrastructure is now much more resilient. Information technology managers are better prepared and networks are more robust," Whitehouse said.

Increased focus on security, and a willingness from software companies to own up to their mistakes has dramatically cut down the time that computers are at risk, Symantec found. For example, Internet Explorer, the world's most popular browser from Microsoft, has cut the number of days in which hackers can exploit a security flaw to nine days from 25 days six months earlier. Security holes in browsers from Opera and Mozilla Firefox are patched within two days and one day respectively.

Because cybercriminals are becoming smarter and more sophisticated in their operations, they are real threats to your personal security and privacy. Your money, your computer, your family, and your business are all at risk.

They leave you with three choices:

Do nothing and hope their attacks, risks, and threats don't occur on your computer.
Do research and get training to protect yourself, your family, and your business.
Get professional help to lockdown your system from all their attacks, risks, and threats.

Although the Internet basically provides a positive and productive experience, cyber-attacks against our personal privacy and security are reaching epidemic proportions. These attacks are occurring in our own homes and businesses. Our own computers are being used are being used as zombies to attack other people, businesses, and even our nation itself. As an average Internet user, you may not be aware of these threats nor have any idea about the dramatically increasing risks you face when connected to the Internet.

On a campaign for internet safety awareness and protection, my mission is to bring critical awareness to individuals, families, and small business owners, and to provide access to the necessary tools and ongoing expertise to secure your computer and help you stay protected.

I invite you to join the many thousands of others who have tested their computers, discovered these threats are real, and taken the necessary steps to protect themselves.

Now that you have become aware of these issues, I encourage you to share this vital information with your families, friends and communities. Together, we can reach many millions of people and inform them about the threats to their privacy and security, and help them get the protection they desperately need.

Remember: When you say "No!" to hackers and spyware, everyone wins! When you don't, we all lose!

About the Author:
As an Internet Security Advocate and Educator, Etienne A. Gibbs consults with individuals, small business owners, and home-business entrepreneurs regarding online protection against spyware, viruses, malware, hackers, and other pc-disabling cybercrimes.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Canada Is Open to Build Your Team of Advocates!

Canada was officially OPEN June 15, 2007! New Internet Safety Advocates are signing up right now.

Whether or not you are Canadian or know anyone in Canada, the opening of Canada can mean more MONEY for you. This business opportunity has expanded into Canada and now you have an international business with INVISUS Direct.

The INVISUS Direct business opportunity has officially expanded internationally with the opening of the Canadian market today. This is a very exciting milestone for the company and for many Internet Safety Advocates (ISAs) who have been working hard to expand their team into this new market.We’ve been in Pre-Launch for the past 2 weeks to build for this day. Now it’s time to pick up the pace and get busy building Internet Safety Advocate organizations in Canada. It’s time to build out a nationwide network of Canadian Internet Safety Advocates.

Canada Launch Plan (Business Briefings
and Internet Safety Advocate Training)

The company has planned a complete Canada Launch Plan full of nationwide business briefings and live Internet Safety Advocate training events conducted by top Internet Safety Advocate leaders who you can tap into through mid-July. New Internet Safety Advocate are invited to be on every Internet Safety Advocate training call and invite their guests at every Business Briefing call.

Quickstart Internet Safety Advocate Training
and Business Briefing Calls:

Saturday, June 16, New ISA Orientation Training,
(8:30 a.m. Mountain Time or 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time)
Saturday, June 16, Business Briefing,
(9:30 a.m. Mountain Time or 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time)

Tuesday, June 19, INVISUS Service Training,
(7:00 a.m. Mountain Time or 9:00 am Eastern Time)
Thursday, June 21, Business Briefing
(7:00 p.m. Mountain Time or 9:00 pm Eastern Time)
Saturday, June 23, ISA Training
(9:30 a.m. Mountain Time or 11:30 am Eastern Time)
Tuesday, June 26, INVISUS Service Training
(7:00 p.m. Mountain Time or 9:00 pm Eastern Time)
Thursday, June 28, Business Briefing
(7:00 p.m. Mountain Time or 9:00 pm Eastern Time)
Saturday, June 30, ISA Training
(9:30 a.m. Mountain Time or 11:30 am Eastern Time)

Tuesday, July 3, ISA Training
(7:00 p.m. Mountain Time or 9:00 pm Eastern Time)
Thursday, July 5, Founder’s Call
(7:00 p.m. Mountain Time or 9:00 pm Eastern Time)
Saturday, July 7, ISA Training
(9:30 a.m. Mountain Time or 11:30 am Eastern Time)
Tuesday, July 10, ISA Training
(7:00 p.m. Mountain Time or 9:00 pm Eastern Time)
Thursday, July 12, Business Briefing
(7:00 p.m. Mountain Time or 9:00 pm Eastern Time)
Saturday, July 14, New ISA Orientation and Training
(9:30 a.m. Mountain Time or 11:30 am Eastern Time)

For all Calls, Dial: (435) 871-6000 and enter 2000#

Remember:

The question is, in this brand new market, how large do you want your organization to be? How much do you want to make? Remember, these moments don’t happen very often. You’d be wise to take the time right now to get your business growing in Canada.

NOW IS THE TIME to contact everyone you know in Canada, invite them to evaluate this business, listen in on the conference calls, and be get started.
NOW IS THE TIME to contact everyone in your organization and find out who they know in Canada – and help them get their prospects on the upcoming calls.

NOW IS THE TIME to get referrals from everyone you know for people they might know in Canada.

Signing up Internet Safety Advocates in Canada:

Just contact me and I will help you get signed up as an Internet Safety Advocate in Canada right now. Complete details of doing business in Canada – how Canadian Internet Safety Advocates are paid, how the INVISUS PC Security Service works for Canadian subscribers, etc. are all included in the Canada Launch Flyer. Be sure you read all the information there.

See you on the Business Briefing and ISA Training Calls!

Saturday, May 26, 2007

BlogCatalog Bloggers for Good Fundraising Challenge

The week of May 28, 2007 BlogCatalog members and other bloggers will be posting on their blogs to raise awareness about

Bloggers and their viewers will be raising and donating money for students and schools in New Orleans and other parts of the country. Won't you help meet the Challenge by choosing to fund a Specific Challenge?

ia a non-profit Web site that brings teachers and donors together to fund specific student projects that range from "Magical Math Centers" ($200) to "Big Book Bonanza" ($320), to "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100). Any individual can search such proposals by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project(s) they find most compelling. In completing a project, donors receive a feedback package of student photos and thank-you notes, a teacher impact letter, and an expenditure report showing that their tax-deductible gift was spent as directed.

is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom they call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.

To meet the challenge for this underserved non-profit organization that does so much good for our children and our schools, click the logo to pick the project you wish to support.