Report Smelly Phishing

By KIM KOMANDO

Question: Lately, I’ve received a number of phishing e-mail messages. Where can I report them?

Answer: Send them to the company being spoofed. Most companies have a specific e-mail address to report abuse, if not phishing specifically. Forward the e-mail to that address. You can also forward the e-mail to the government at: phishing- report@us-cert.gov. Time is of the essence when reporting phishing attacks. You want to help take the phishing sites down quickly. This will prevent more people from becoming victims.

Q: I am beginning a career as a photographer. I’m worried about my work being stolen on the Internet. Can I use the metadata in photos to protect them?

A: Metadata is written by digital cameras and stored in pictures. Many photo-editing programs can read metadata. Unfortunately, I know of no way to protect your work with metadata. You could insert your name in the metadata. That would help you prove the photos are yours. But a knowledgeable thief could remove that. I suggest you use watermarks. These allow photos to be seen, but clearly show they are yours. Many photo- editing programs can insert watermarks.

Q: I am a volunteer police chaplain. I need to be able to communicate when cell service fails. Is there a cost-effective high-tech way to do this?

A: I’d actually go more low-tech and communicate via ham radio. These are much like walkie-talkies. An average hand-held ham radio puts out 5 watts of power. That would give you a range of about 15 miles. The FCC licenses Ham radio operators. You must pass a 35-question exam. The American Radio Relay League has more information at www.tulsaworld.com/arrl .

Q: I have a cabin in the mountains. Cable and DSL are not available. Do I have any options for broadband Internet service?

A: You almost certainly can use satellite. The only problem might be finding a local installer. Satellite is more expensive and slower than cable and DSL. I would also look into cellular service. Most cellular providers offer broadband service. Cellular broadband speeds are generally comparable to or better than satellite service. But cellular service may not be available in your mountainous area. Assuming you have service, ask to test a laptop card. I wouldn’t commit to a contract without testing the service.

Q: I was going to buy a laptop, but it took ExpressCards. I’ve always used PC Cards. The sales representative couldn’t explain the difference. Can you?

A: ExpressCards are modern replacements for PC Cards. They can move data at 2.5 gigabytes per second. PC Cards offer 132 megabytes per second. So, ExpressCards are much faster. They also use less power than PC Cards. That is important for laptop users who depend on their batteries. The two types of cards cannot be used in one another’s slots. So, an ExpressCard- equipped laptop would make your PC Cards obsolete. Personally, I wouldn’t worry about that. The jump in speed is certainly worthwhile.

E-mail questions to Komando at gnstech@gns.gannett.com.

Originally published by KIM KOMANDO Gannett News Service.

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