Chapter 13: The Internet Zone

Overview

The Web site http://www.digicrime.com hijacks your Web browser, alters the appearance of your computer desktop, warns you that your identity has been compromised, and triggers an alert from your antivirus program that you have an infection. The people behind DigiCrime claim their Web site is harmless and they're simply out to prove a point ”how vulnerable the average computer system and Web browser actually are. These guys might be white hat hackers, but I don't find their "tough love" approach funny , even though they claim it's a joke. Even if this prank doesn't cause any long- term damage, it could crash your system and lose any unsaved work, not to mention give you a panic attack. I surf the Web for a living, and I must admit that certain Web sites make me feel like taking a shower after I visit them!

The Internet has some very bad neighborhoods, and if you don't know how to defend yourself, you could be hacked, cracked, and attacked ! Fraud, spam, crime, and terrorism flourish on the Web because the Internet is the ultimate democracy. Even after 9/11, laws are impossible to enforce because ones like The USA Patriot Act are designed to protect the homeland, not the consumer. Laws like The USA Patriot Act could even have inadvertent consequences, like enabling the government to spy on consumers. The jury is still out on that question because Congress has yet to enact effective laws to protect consumers on the Internet like the national "do not call" list protects them against telemarketers . Until such legislation is passed, it's up to each and every one of us to protect ourselves !

Figure 13.1: The DigiCrime.com Web site

Note  

Remember: Enable your firewall and antivirus before surfing the Web!