The Security Mentor

Here's something I should have thought of.

One online threat that can cost you money out of pocket is sites that trick you into installing software that dials international phone numbers on your modem. The numbers go to some tiny country that is desperate for the money. The scammers get a cut of the long distance charges. Your phone company may not reverse the charge, because they're out real money for the call.

Of course the usual anti-spyware, anti-virus and other precautions will help.

There's a more elegant and complete answer. Put your modem on a second phone line and ask the phone company to block international calls from that line. End of problem.