The holiday season brings with it a uptick in email phishing scams and malware campaigns.

Watch out for:
    -electronic greeting cards that may be laced with malware
    -bogus requests for charitable contributions from illegitimate sources claiming to be charities
    -rigged screensavers and holiday videos that may contain malware
    -phony credit card applications
    -fake online shopping advertisements

Advice:
-Make sure your software is up-to-date: including antivirus, spyware, OS and application patches.
-Refer to the Federal Trade Commission's "Charity Checklist" before you respond to charitable donation requests. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel01.shtm
-To verify that charity requests are on the level, get trustworthy contact information from the Better Business Bureau's "Charity Report Index." http://www.bbb.org/charity-reviews/national/
-Do not click on links in unsolicited email messages, respond to email chain letters, or open email attachments you were not expecting to receive. http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/emailscams_0905.pdf
-Read about "Shopping Safely Online" at http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST07-001.html