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Learn how to identify different types of Internet abuse

What is Internet abuse?

• Spam - Email that you receive that you did not sign up, ask, or give permission to receive to your email address.
• Usenet - Breaking a rule a group's charter. This includes but is not limited to posting off-topic, binaries to a non binary group, spam, copyright protected content, threatening or harassing postings and child pornography.
• Port scanning - When a computer scans another computer attempting to gain information such as open ports or vulnerabilities. If open ports or vulnerabilities are found, this information can be used to the abuser's advantage to place a virus, worm, or Trojan horse on the computer or to take control of the computer.
• Copyright infringement - Distributing any file, program, video, picture, music, or product when you do not own the rights or have permission to do so. Peer-to-peer programs such as KaZaA, iMesh and Bearshare are often used to illegally obtain and distribute copyrighted material.
• Identity theft - Stealing the information of another person and using it for personal gain or criminal activity.
• Threats and harassment - Emailing, posting, or advertising harmful comments that negatively affect another person.
• Hacking - Attempting to gain access to a computer that does not belong to you to steal information or take control over another computer. DOS (Denial of Service Attack) - This is an attack on another computer or computers that stops the ability for the computer to access the Internet or execute programs. In many cases the computer will crash, or a network will be unable to operate because all resources are consumed by the DOS.
• Phishing - replicating a company's information to gain access to personal information on customers. This attack includes but is not limited to passwords, credit cards, address, phone number, social security number and driver's license. Phishing may come in the form of an email or website. EBay is one of many companies that are victimized to get personal information about its customers by replicating emails sent to customers. The email usually provides a Web link that takes you to a fake website. The fake website is usually hosted on a compromised computer, and the information is retrieve by a remote hacker.
• Cyber stalking - This is a person that fakes his identity preying on adults or children, attempting to get information about them, talking about things in a sexual manner, attempting to meet with them to have sexual intercourse, kidnapping or anything that will presents a threatening situation towards the people being stalked.