AIM, AOL, KIDS, & VIRUSES #$^&**%^$

[HurriCat]

Two quick ones:

I just saw a report with a law-enforcer who poses as a kid to catch online creepers. He showed that within a few visits to chat-rooms, he would start getting really inappropriate attention. Those "people" really know how to talk to kids and to prey upon their emotions!

My brother said that he just watched a report where some "expert" did a demonstration of taking a computer online without virus/spyware protection. After two or three "clicks" he had picked up both some spyware and a virus! The biggest threats are freeware sites and unsolicited e-mails. Remember that very little that is "free" is worth having, and no one you do not know is ever going to e-mail you anything of value, either (at least not worth the risk of damaging your PC or losing your confidential information). From my own early surfing days, I can tell you that I replied often to e-mails, clicking on the "remove me" links. BIG MISTAKE! These replies only get you listed for more and more junk e-mail!