603-924-9867Resources
Email Account Hacked? What to Do Immediately
A dangerous email can truly come from someone you know. I recently traced one through Gmail’s authenticated servers and found strong evidence of account misuse. This article explains how I read the headers, why authentication does not guarantee safety, and what victims should do immediately. It also covers passwords, connected applications, forwarding rules, devices, two-step verification, contact warnings, and recovery steps anyone can follow before attackers cause more damage.
CharlesWorks Exposes the Fake Audits and Website SEO Spam Emails and Scams in Your Junk Folder
Website seo spam emails happen every single day. You open your inbox, and there it is: a vague, slightly ominous email claiming someone "checked your website" and found errors, bugs, or "opportunities to improve online visibility." For those of us who have been...
CharlesWorks Supports Fellow Local Businesses Like the Monadnock Shopper News
CharlesWorks proudly supports fellow local businesses, including the Monadnock Shopper News. I have advertised with the Shopper for years, and its readers have brought genuine inquiries to my business. I especially thank Diane Stolar for her steady advice and many years of campaign help. Since 1998, CharlesWorks has helped Monadnock Region businesses with websites, web hosting, domain names, email, WordPress, search engine optimization, security, and technical support. Whether you need a simple website adjustment or a complex online project, Charles and Evan provide practical personal help. Reach out today and let us help your business move forward online with confidence.
‘I Checked Your Website”: Why These Website Audit Scam Emails Usually Lead Nowhere Good
Scammers often send vague emails claiming they inspected your website and found problems. Usually, they provide no domain name, evidence, company details, or specific findings. Instead, they hope curiosity or fear will persuade you to respond, share access, or provide payment information. This article explains the warning signs, common tactics, and serious risks behind fake website audit offers, while showing how legitimate web professionals earn trust through transparency, proof, experience, and honest communication with customers.
Sextortion Phishing Emails: Why They Scare People And What To Do
Sextortion phishing emails use fear, shame, and urgency to trick people into paying scammers. These messages often claim the sender hacked your computer, watched you on adult websites, and recorded you through your camera. In most cases, the scammer has no video and no access. They may only have your email address, or possibly an old password from a past data breach. This article explains how these scams work, why they scare people, and what steps you should take if you receive one.
Virtualmin Fail2Ban WordPress/404/XMLRPC Setup Checklist
🧾 Fail2Ban Virtualmin With WordPress Setup Checklist This is a followup to my SmarterMail Fail2Ban installation (see https://charlesworks.com/hardening-your-smartermail-server-the-bouncer-defense/). I'm not an expert at Fail2Ban, but installing these filters reduced...
Hardening Your SmarterMail Server: The “Bouncer” Defense
Using FirewallD and Fail2Ban on Debian 13 Let's talk about hardening your Smartermail in Linux. When you put a powerful mail server like SmarterMail on a dedicated Debian box, it’s like opening a high-end storefront. Within minutes, "window shoppers" (automated bots)...
Avoid being Scammed this Tax Season
Here is more info about how to avoid being scammed this tax season. I feel like I've written dozens of these. Unfortunately, scamming is a huge industry at this point. There doesn't seem to be any end in sight. So I will keep putting out the messages like this one and...
Quick Response (QR) Codes Made Simple
QR Codes Made Simple I use Quick Response codes because they remove typing errors. Instead, someone scans a square and lands on a page fast. Also, they work great on flyers, business cards, and signs. What a QR Code Really Is A Quick Response code stores data in tiny...
How to Use nslookup at a Windows or Linux Prompt
Ever wonder how the Internet really finds a website or delivers email? In this practical guide, I explain how to use the nslookup command on Windows and Linux to uncover DNS answers, troubleshoot problems, and understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
