The cyber threat is no longer limited to your office network and work persona. Adversaries realize that targets are typically more vulnerable when operating from their home network since there is less rigor associated with the
protection, monitoring, and maintenance of most home networks. Home users need to maintain a basic level of network defense and hygiene for both themselves and their family members when accessing the Internet.

Host-Based Recommendations

Windows Host OS

1. Migrate to a Modern OS and Hardware Platform
Both Windows 7 and Vista provide substantial security enhancements over earlier Windows workstation operating systems such as XP. Many of these security features are enabled by default and help prevent many common attack
vectors. In addition, implementing the 64-bit mode of the OS on a 64-bit hardware platform substantially increases the effort of an adversary to attain a system or root compromise. For any Windows-based OS, verify that Windows Update is configured to provide updates automatically.

2. Install a Comprehensive Host-Based Security Suite
A comprehensive host-based security suite provides support for anti-virus, anti-phishing, safe browsing, Host-based Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS), and firewall capabilities. These services work collaboratively to provide a layered defense against most common threats. Several security suites today provide access to a cloud-based reputation service for leveraging corporate knowledge and history of malware and domains. Remember to enable any
automated update service within the suite to keep signatures up-to-date.

3. Limit Use of the Administrator Account
The first account that is typically created when configuring a Windows host for the first time is the local administrator account. A nonprivileged “user” account should be created and used for the bulk of activities conducted on the host to include web browsing, email access, and document creation/editing. The privileged administrator account should only be used to install updates or software, and reconfigure the host as needed. Browsing the web or reading email as an administrator provides an effective means for an adversary to gain persistence on your host. Within Vista or Windows 7, administrative credentials can be easily accessed by right clicking on any application, selecting the “Run as Administrator” option, then providing the appropriate administrator password. Furthermore, all passwords associated with accounts on the host should be at least 10 characters long and be complex (include upper case, lower case, numbers, special characters).

4. Use a Web Browser with Sandboxing Capabilities
Several currently available third party web browsers now provide a sandboxing capability that can contain malware during execution thereby insulating the host operating system from exploitation. Most of these web browsers also provide a feature to auto-update or at least notify you when updates are available for download. Also, promising approaches that move the web browser into a virtual machine (VM) are starting to appear on the market but are not yet ready for mass consumer use.
5. Update to a PDF Reader with Sandboxing Capabilities
A sandbox provides protection from malicious code that may be contained in a PDF file. PDF files have become a popular technique for delivering malicious executables. Several commercial and open source PDF readers now provide sandboxing capabilities as well as block execution of embedded URLs (website links) by default.
6. Migrate to Microsoft Office 2007 or Later
If using Microsoft Office products for email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, or database applications, upgrade to Office 2007 or later and its XML format for storing documents. By default, the XML file formats do not execute embedded code when opened within Office 2007 or later products thereby protecting the user from malicious code delivered via Office documents. The Office 2010 suite also provides “Protected View” mode which opens documents in read-only mode thereby potentially minimizing the impact of a malicious file.
7. Keep Application Software Up-to-Date
Most home users do not have the time or patience to verify that all applications installed on their workstation are fully patched and upto- date. Since many applications do not have an automated update feature, attackers frequently
target these applications as a means to exploit a targeted host. Several products exist in the market which will quickly survey the software installed on your workstation and indicate which applications have reached end-of-life,
require a patch, or need updating. For some products, a link is conveniently provided in the report to download the latest update or patch.
8. Implement Full Disk Encryption (FDE) on Laptops
Windows 7 Ultimate as well as Vista Enterprise and Ultimate provide support for Bitlocker Full Disk Encryption (FDE) natively within the OS. For other versions of Windows, third party FDE products are available that will help prevent data disclosure in the event that a laptop is lost or stolen.
Apple Host OS
1. Maintain an Up-to-Date OS
Configure any Mac OS X system to automatically check for updates. When notified of an available update, provide privileged credentials in order to install the update. The Apple iPad should be kept up-to-date as well and requires a physical connection (e.g., USB) to a host running iTunes in order to receive its updates. A good practice is to connect the iPad to an iTunes host at least once a month or just prior to any travel where the iPad will be used.
2. Keep Third Party Application Software Up-to-Date
Periodically check key applications for updates. Several of these third party applications may have options to automatically check for updates. Legacy applications may require some research to determine their status.
3. Limit Use of the Privileged (Administrator Account)
The first account that is typically created when configuring a Mac host for the first time is the local administrator account. A non-privileged “user” account should be created and used for the bulk of activities conducted on the host
to include web browsing, email access, and document creation/editing. The privileged administrator account should only be used to install updates or software, and reconfigure the host as needed. Browsing the web or reading email as an administrator provides an effective means for an adversary to gain persistence on your host.
4. Enable Data Protection on the iPad
The data protection feature on the iPad enhances hardware encryption by protecting the hardware encryption keys with a pass code. The pass code can be enabled by selecting “Settings,” then “General”, and finally “Pass
code.” After the pass code is set, the “Data protection is enabled” icon should be visible at the bottom of the screen. For iPads that have been upgraded from iOS 3, follow the instructions at: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4175.
5. Implement FileVault on Mac OS Laptops
In the event that a Mac laptop is lost or stolen, FileVault (available in Mac OS X, v10.3 and later) can be used to encrypt the contents of a user’s home directory to prevent data loss.
Network Recommendations
1. Home Network Design
The Internet Service Provider (ISP) may provide a cable modem with routing and wireless capabilities as part of the consumer contract. To maximize the home user’s administration control over the routing and wireless device, deploy a separate personally-owned routing device (a) that connects to the ISP provided router/cable modem. Figure 1 depicts a typical home network configuration that provides the home user with the network infrastructure to
support multiple systems as well as wireless networking and IP telephony services (b).

figure 1

2. Implement WPA2 on Wireless Network
The wireless network should be protected using Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) instead of
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). Using current technology, WEP encryption can be broken in minutes (if not seconds) by an attacker, which afterwards allows the attacker to view all traffic passed on the wireless network. It is important to note that older client systems and access points may not support WPA2 and will require a software or hardware upgrade. When researching for suitable replacement devices, ensure that the device is WPA2-Personal certified.
3. Limit Administration to Internal Network
Administration of home networking devicesshould be from the internal-facing network. When given the option, external remote administration should be disabled for network devices. Disabling remote administration
prevents an attacker from changing and possibly compromising the home network.
4. Implement an Alternate DNS Provider
The Domain Name Servers (DNS) provided by the ISP typically don’t provide enhanced security services such as the blocking and blacklisting of dangerous and infected web sites. Consider using either open source or commercial DNS providers to enhance web browsing security.
5. Implement Strong Passwords on all Network Devices
In addition to a strong and complex password on the wireless access point, a strong password
needs to be implemented on any network device that can be managed via a web interface. For instance, many network printers on the market today can be managed via a web interface to configure services, determine job status, and enable features such as email alerts and logging.
Operational Security (OPSEC)/Internet Behavior Recommendations
1. Traveling with Personal Mobile Devices
Many establishments (e.g., coffee shops, hotels, airports, etc.) offer wireless hotspots or kiosks for customers to access the Internet. Since the underlying infrastructure is unknown and security is often lax, these hotspots and
kiosks are susceptible to adversarial activity. The following options are recommended for those with a need to access the Internet while traveling:

a. Mobile devices (e.g., laptops, smart phones) should
utilize the cellular network (e.g., mobile Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G
services) to connect to the Internet instead of wireless
hotspots. This option often requires a service plan with a
cellular provider.
b. Regardless of the underlying network, users can setup
tunnels to a trusted VPN service provider. This option can
protect all traffic between the mobile device and the VPN
gateway from most malicious activities such as monitoring.
c. If using a hotspot is the only option for accessing
the Internet, then limit activities to web browsing. Avoid
accessing services that require user credentials or entering
personal information.
Whenever possible, maintain physical control over mobile devices while traveling. All portable devices are subject to physical attack given access and sufficient time. If a laptop must be left behind in a hotel room, the laptop should be powered down and have Full Disk Encryption enabled as discussed above.

2. Exchanging Home and Work Content Government maintained hosts are generally configured more securely and also have an enterprise infrastructure in place (email filtering, web content filtering, IDS, etc. ) for preventing
and detecting malicious content. Since many users do not exercise the same level of security on their home systems (e.g., limiting the use of administrative credentials), home systems are generally easier to compromise. The forwarding of content (e.g., emails or documents) from home systems to work systems either via email or removable media may put work systems at an increased risk of compromise. For those interactions that are solicited and expected, have the contact send any work-related correspondence to your work email account.
3. Storage of Personal Information on the Internet
Personal information which has traditionally been stored on a local computing device is steadily moving to the Internet cloud. Examples of information typically stored in the cloud include webmail, financial information, and personal information posted to social networking sites. Information in the cloud is difficult to remove and governed by the privacy policies and security of the hosting site. Individuals who post information to these webbased services should ask themselves “Who will have access to the information I am posting?” and “What controls do I have over how this information is stored and displayed?” before proceeding. Internet users should also be aware of personal information already published online by periodically searching for their personal information using popular Internet
search engines.
4. Use of Social Networking Sites
Social networking sites are an incredibly convenient and efficient means for sharing personal information with family and friends. This convenience also brings some level of risk; therefore, social network users should be cognizant of what personal data is shared and who has access to this data. Users should think twice about posting information such as address, phone number, place of employment, and other personal information that can be used to target or harass you. If available, consider limiting access to posted personal data to “friends only” and attempt to verify any new sharing requests either by phone or in person. When receiving content (such as third-party applications) from friends or new acquaintances, be wary that many recent attacks have leveraged the ease with which content is generally accepted within the social network community. This content appears to provide a new capability, when in fact there is some malicious component that is rarely apparent to the typical user. Also, several social networking
sites now provide a feature to opt-out of exposing your personal information to Internet search engines. A good recommendation is to periodically review the security policies and settings available from your social network
provider to determine if new features are available to protect your personal information.
5. Enable the Use of SSL Encryption
Application encryption (also called SSL or TLS) over the Internet protects the confidentiality of sensitive information while in transit. SSL also prevents people who can see your traffic (for example at a public WiFi hotspot) from being able to impersonate you when logging into web based applications (webmail, social networking sites, etc.). Whenever possible, web-based applications such as browsers should be set to force the use of SSL. Financial institutions rely heavily on the use of SSL to protect financial transactions while in transit. Many popular applications such as Facebook and Gmail have options to force all communication to use SSL by default. Most web browsers provide some indication that SSL is enabled, typically a lock symbol either next to the URL for the web page or within the status bar
along the bottom of the browser.
6. Email Best Practices
Personal email accounts, either web-based or local to your host, are common attack targets. The following recommendations will help reduce your exposure to email-based threats:
a. In order to limit exposure both at work and home,
consider using different usernames for home and work
email addresses. Unique usernames make it more difficult
for someone targeting your work account to also target you
via your personal accounts.
b. Setting out-of-office messages on personal email
accounts is not recommended, as this can confirm to
spammers that your email address is legitimate and also
provide awareness to unknown parties as to your activities.
c. Always use secure email protocols if possible when
accessing email, particularly if using a wireless network.
Secure email protocols include Secure IMAP and Secure
POP3. These protocols, or “always use SSL” for web-based
email, can be configured in the options for most email
clients. Secure email prevents others from reading email
while in transit between your computer and the mail server.
d. Unsolicited emails containing attachments or links
should be considered suspicious. If the identity of the
sender can’t be verified, consider deleting the email without
opening. For those emails with embedded links, open your
browser and navigate to the web site either by its wellknown
web address or search for the site using a common
search engine. Be wary of an email requesting personal
information such as a password or social security number.
Any web service that you currently conduct business with
should already have this information.

7. Password Management
Ensure that passwords and challenge responses are properly protected since they provide access to large amounts of personal and financial information. Passwords should be strong, unique for each account, and difficult to guess. A strong password should be at least 10 characters long and contain multiple character types (lowercase, uppercase, numbers, and special characters). A unique password should be used for each account to prevent an attacker from gaining access to multiple accounts if any one password is compromised. Disable the feature that allows programs to remember passwords and automatically enter them when required. Additionally, many online sites make use of password recovery or challenge questions. The answers to these questions should be something that no one else would know or find from Internet searches or public records. To prevent an attacker from leveraging personal information about yourself to answer challenge questions, consider providing a false answer to a fact-based question, assuming the response is unique and memorable.
8. Photo/GPS Integration
Many phones and some new point-and-shoot cameras embed the GPS coordinates for a particular location within a photo when taken. Care should be taken to limit exposure of these photos on the Internet, ensure these photos can only be seen by a trusted audience, or use a third-party tool to remove the coordinates before uploading to the Internet. These coordinates can be used to profile the habits and places frequented for a particular individual, as well as provide near-real time notifications of an individual’s location when uploaded directly from a smart phone. Some
services such as Facebook automatically strip out the GPS coordinates in order to protect the privacy of their users.

Enhanced ProtectionRecommendations
The following recommendations require a higher level of administrative skills to implement and maintain on home networks than the previous recommendations. These recommendations provide additional layers of security but may impact your web browsing experience or require some iteration to adjust settings to the appropriate thresholds.
1. Enhanced Wireless Router Configuration Settings
Additional protections can be applied to the wireless network to limit access. The following security mechanisms do not protect against the experienced attacker, but are very effective against a less experienced attacker.
a. MAC address or hardware address filtering enables the
wireless access point to only allow authorized systems to
associate with the wireless network. The hardware address
for all authorized hosts must be configured on the wireless
access point.
b. Limiting the transmit power of the wireless access
point will reduce the area of operation (signal strength)
of the wireless network. This capability curtails the home
wireless network from extending beyond the borders of a
home (e.g., parking lot or adjacent building).
c. SSID cloaking is a means to hide the SSID, the
name of a wireless network, from the wireless medium.
This technique is often used to prevent the detection of
wireless networks by war drivers. It is important to note
that enabling this capability prevents client systems from
finding the wireless network. Instead, the wireless settings
must be manually configured on all client systems.
d. Reducing the dynamic IP address pool or configuring
static IP addresses is another mechanism to limit access
to the wireless network. This provides an additional layer
of protection to MAC address filtering and prevents rogue
systems from connecting to the wireless network.
2. Disable Scripting Within the Web Browser
If using third party web browsers such as Firefox or Chrome, use NoScript (Firefox) or NotScript
(Chrome) to prevent the execution of scripts from untrusted domains. Disabling scripting can cause usability issues, but is an effective technique to reduce web bourne attacks.
3. Enable Data Execution Prevention (DEP) for all Programs
By default, DEP is only enabled for essential Windows programs and services. Some third party or legacy applications may not be compatible with DEP, and could possibly crash when run with DEP enabled. Any program that requires DEP to execute can be manually added to the DEP exemption list, but this requires some technical expertise.

See the full article from zdnet here>>

The Internet is vast and filled with many different dangers for people of all ages. There is really no set age where someone can be completely safe from online dangers. There are several ways to protect children, adults, and the elderly from falling victim to dangers online.

How to Keep Kids Safe on the Internet

Children who have access to the Internet must be monitored at all times. There are several different things that children can be exposed to online (sometimes from simply misspelling a domain name).

Children can be exposed to:

Adult Content Websites (pornography)
Racism/Prejudice (hate crime, violence, etc.)
Drugs (paraphernalia, alternatives)
Gambling (other addictive online practices)
Alternative Lifestyle Choice Information (homosexuality, other religions)
Pedophiles (other ill-intentioned individuals as well)
Children who hear new words are likely to use the Internet to look them up. Search engines without the proper filters (and sometimes with the filter on) may display large amounts of risky and adult oriented material. For example, searching a generic female name in Google Images results in a large amount of pornographic material being displayed. Even websites that are designed for children, offer website membership, and allow members to interact with each other may be used by pedophiles and others who intend to hurt children.

Of course there is no set solution for keeping children safe online. It is important that parents teach children what is proper to view online, what is out of bounds, and what behavior is risky/dangerous. Children must be taught to never divulge personal information, especially their real names or contact information to anyone. They should understand that anyone delving into their personal information may be doing so with the intention of hurting them and that they should tell their parents as soon as this occurs.

A free tool that may help keep children safe while they use the Internet is K9 Web Protection, which is available at http://www.k9webprotection.com/. K9 Web Protection is like a watch dog for online practices. It is simple to use and has customizable features that can help children stay safe online. It blocks images and websites that are known to be inappropriate for child audiences. The only thing that the K9 Web Protection service does not do is teach children safe Internet practices, which is the parent/guardian’s responsibility. K9 Web Protection may even prevent adults from falling prey to malicious sites as well.

How to keep personal information safe on the Internet

It is really important to safeguard personal information online. Personal information can be used for a variety of things such as opening accounts with financial institutions and website services, which puts Internet users at risk for identity theft.

Identity theft often happens through means that users ignore because they seem authentic:

Email – Email advertising, offers, and notifications can be sent from anyone online and they may ask for personal information. The general rule of thumb is to never give out personal information over email to any organization no matter how authentic the service looks. If the email was sent from a company that the user has had a past relationship with, the user should contact the company directly via phone to verify authenticity.

Fake Websites – Many emails, websites, or malicious users link innocent people to websites that seem to be legitimate. These websites are designed to collect login or other personal information, which may be used for identity theft or compromising an account.

Scams – Scams are popping up throughout the Internet. These include pyramid schemes for easy money, claiming an inheritance from a relative overseas, and even a foreign lottery that users may or may not have entered. If the offer is too good to be true then it more than likely is and someone else is trying to profit from the Internet users’ gullibility.

It is so easy to give away personal information that many people do not realize that they have, especially on social networking websites such as Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter. The following is a list of personal information that is most commonly used for ill:

Full Real Name
Birthday
Birthplace
Current Address
Social Security
National Identification Number (If Outside the US)
Vehicle Registration or License Plate Number
Driver’s License Number
Handwriting samples
Credit/Debit/Charge Card Numbers
Bank Routing Numbers
Online Account IDs or Passwords
It is very important to only divulge such information when it is necessary so that it is not used to harm the user physically or financially.

Only make purchases online through highly trusted websites. Check websites directly through a trusted service such as the Better Business Bureau, which is available in the United States and Canada at www.bbb.org.

How to Spot Scams on the Internet

Scamming Internet users is a way of life for many people online. Scams come in a variety of forms that can cause financial harm to anyone who falls victim to them. Here is a list of common scams that most people are exposed to through email or other forms of online contact:

Online Dating – Many online dating websites are full of fake accounts. The owners of these accounts often contact other users pretending to be interested in them. Online dating sites charge a premium for their service and give many people who are willing to pay false hope.

Phishing – Contact that is designed to collect information for site logins and can come from a variety of sources that may even seem authentic.

Nigerian 419 Letter – Any email in a format that is designed to try and convince the recipient that they can embezzle money for a profit.

Post Forwarding or Reshipping – Emails asking to reship documents to another address. Usually involves cashing checks, taking a small commission from the funds (sometimes in excess of $5000), and creating a money order to resend to another person.

Winning Notifications – Notification of winning electronics, a lottery, or other types of prizes that require a deposit, shipping cost coverage, or anything else. The company will ask for a credit card or bank information before dispensing the prize but will charge large amounts later on.

Travel Vacation – Vacation offers to locations that seem cheap. They will ask for payment through an unconventional method (such as a wire transfer through a service that does not require an ID) and will send fake tickets.

Auction Fraud – Purchasing anything online from new auction websites can be very dangerous. Even popular auction sites like eBay, for example, are not completely immune to fraud. Be cautious when dealing with auction websites, especially if payment involves mailing funds, doing a wire transfer, etc. If something of high quality is being sold very cheaply, it may not be authentic.

source: http://www.tech-faq.com/internet-safety.html

The Internet world continues to get bigger by the day and with that comes people who will try and take advantage of you. Some will try to steal your passwords, banking information, as well as your identity. Identity theft is one of the biggest problems the average person deals with online. This article will outline some tips on how to protect yourself online from these seedy characters.

One of the easiest ways to protect yourself online is by having your computer’s operating system updated. Many times we get lazy and do not have the protection on the computer like we should. Always have your firewall turned on, and anti-virus programs running and updated. This will go a long way in helping protect you when you’re online. Run a full system scam at least once a month.

Change your password often and stay away from family names. Many times we use birthdays or family member names as passwords. Try to stay away from this. Thieves understand this and you become more vulnerable if you do this. Use numbers and letters together preferably at least eight characters. Another tip to remember is do not use the same password for all your accounts.

Do not open attachments from people you do not know. Even if you do know them always scan the attachments before downloading them. This protects you and any chance that your computer could be infected.

Watch for fake emails from banks, and credit card companies. Thieves can create great emails that look like they came from your bank or credit card company. It is called Phising. This is a major problem online and one you will need to watch carefully. Phising uses an email link to take you to a website that is an exact copy of one you do business at. Once you input your log in information the thieves steal it and can access your account. It’s always best to go to your Bank or credit card company website and never through an email link.

source: http://www.web-tech-rus.org/tips-to-help-protect-yourself-online.html

Discovering that there’s a virus in your computer can be a very annoying experience. However, it seems to be unavoidable at times. Computer viruses are threatening and may cause harm to your computer that is why you must not ignore their notorious existence all over the net. Here are several useful tips which can aid you in keeping your computer secure from destructive viruses:

1) Install an Anti-Virus or Anti-Spyware Software in your computer. – Your computer is prone to various viruses once you start browsing the web and downloading files. Consequently, using an anti-virus or anti-spyware can help detect these threats. Your computer will be scanned by these programs for viruses and spyware and these will be removed or disabled. Be sure to pick programs that make automatic scans and updates. Viruses can damage your computer’s programs and applications while spywares can get your personal information which may be used by their creators for detrimental purposes.

2) Use a Firewall software. – In addition to an anti-virus and anti-spyware, you must also have a firewall software in your computer for full protection. Once you browse the net, your computer receives and sends data which makes it vulnerable to virus threats. Several operating systems, such as Windows, have built-in firewall. If you’re using an operating system with no built-in firewall, search for third-party applications.

3) Be careful when browsing the Internet and maneuvering through websites. – Do not view websites which you think may have malware or viruses. Always make passwords which are at least six characters long and try to combine numbers and letters. If possible, create an unique password which cannot be found in dictionaries. When signing up forms online, make positive that the firm or site asking for that information is dependable and secure. Also, avoid giving your personal information such as credit card number and bank account information unless it is really required.

4) Attachments in Emails and IM links – Do not open attachments which are suspicious. Lots of viruses and malware disguise their existence so that you cannot detect and identify them. Moreover, do not click links sent to you by Instant Messaging.

The aforementioned tips may help you avoid threats such as computer viruses and malware.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-4-Computer-Protection-Guidelines&id=5772907

When you have a computer, you start to accumulate important things. Photos, documents, files, and programs are all important components. You maybe have a music collection, a lot of important information and things that if lost, would cause a lot of heartache and misery. Sometimes people keep their entire school portfolio of work online or conduct businesses and work documents are protected on peoples’ personal computers. That is why a virus can be a really devastating thing when it takes over the system of a computer. It can cause serious damage and cause you to lose all of your work.

Sometimes when a virus gets really out of hand and causes all of your applications to quit functioning, you might have to do a system recovery, which will cause you to roll back all your settings to factory settings and you will lose everything you have downloaded, saved, done, and added to your computer. Often when a virus gets that bad, it is impossible to even use your computer normally to save your work or send it to yourself or anything because the virus has taken hold and made ordinary operations almost impossible.

That is why, throughout your computer use, even when it is in perfect health, it is important to make sure that you take precautions as though a virus attack could occur at any moment. If you have very important data, you need to make sure that you back up your files and keep them safe. Back up your photos, documents, programs, and information on a hard drive or some other kind of disk so that they will stay safe and out of harm’s way. You can even make a back up for your back if the material is extremely important. But regardless, keep your back up updated so that if anything ever does happen to your system, you will not lose anything.

Also, when you draft a document, make it a habit to email it to yourself so you will always have a record of it accessible somewhere. Using something like Google Documents is a great way to keep your documents stored somewhere safe so that no matter what happens to your personal system, you will be able to access your important work from any computer. Upload your photos to photo sites like Flickr or Photobucket and keep them there in addition to where they are stored on your system. That way, even if your system crashes, you will still have your photos and important materials somewhere where you can access them. Basically, make sure that everything on your system is somewhere else, too, and can be accessed. You never want to have to cringe when a virus attacks your system and you have to lose all of your important data and work.

Keeping your computer safe with routine virus scans can be a great way to keep this kind of thing from happening and also updating your virus protection software and making sure that it is top of the line can also greatly assist in this adventure, as well.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Tips-To-Keep-Your-Computer-Safe-From-Attack&id=5753943

Computers have become such an important part of our lives – for accessing information, keeping in touch with friends and family, shopping, working, and other activities – that it’s easy to overlook the risks of using them. We rely on computers so much that many of us neglect the importance of PC security to keep our passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal information safe from identity thieves.

To help keep your computer and information safe, we’ve compiled a list of seven computer security tips to follow that can reduce your chances of being an identity theft victim by enhancing your PC’s security:

1. Never open unsolicited e-mail.

Always delete unsolicited e-mail, and never, ever, click on a link in an e-mail from someone you don’t know. Doing so could infect your computer with a virus.

2. Use strong passwords that are impossible for a thief to guess.

Use a different password for each login, and make sure that each password is a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. People who use the same passwords for everything make it easy for thieves to steal their identities.

3. Install antivirus software and keep it updated.

There are many good antivirus programs online that people can download free or for a donation. Download at least three, run them at least once a week, and keep them updated.

4. Protect your computer with a firewall.

A computer firewall creates a virtual wall between your computer and thieves who want to access your personal information. Hardware and software firewalls help keep your computer safe when you’re online.

5. Don’t share your personal information online.

Social networks are fun and great for connecting with friends, but thieves use them to trick people into providing their personal information. You wouldn’t share your private information with a stranger on the street, so don’t share it with a stranger online, either, no matter how long you’ve “known” them.

6. Keep your operating system updated.

When your computer operating system tells you an update is available, update it as soon as possible, and get in the habit of keeping it updated at all times to thwart identity thieves.

7. Be wary of fake antivirus notifications and other scareware.

Antivirus viruses, also known as scareware, trick users into thinking that they have a computer virus in order to frighten them into providing their credit card information to download an “antivirus program” that will remove it. If you have scareware installed on your machine, disconnect your computer from the Internet, call a computer tech to remove it, and remember to never provide any personal information in the pop-ups that appear on your screen.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Tips-to-Secure-Your-Home-Computer&id=5471419

Common sense and vigilance are all it takes to have a safe internet experience. We all have heard about the thousands viruses affecting computers. This is no new news for everyone. Viruses have existed since the start of the computer era. Here are some effective tips that may be of help when it comes to avoiding computer viruses.

First, make use of a good and reliable spyware, malware or adware aside from your resident shield. Aside from you antivirus software, having additional programs like anti-adware, anti-spam, anti-spyware and the like can significantly boost the security of your computer. Be sure to run these programs every time you start your computer, or better yet put them on automatic mode where they will be the ones who will block all the pop ups, ads, spam, etc that would come out when you surf the net. Do not forget to update your security software. One common mistake of people is forgetting to regularly update their anti-virus. Having security software that is no updated is as useless as having no antivirus at all.

Also remember to turn your computer’s firewall on. If you do not know how to turn it on, search the internet or go to the help section of your antivirus’ software. Firewalls are very important. They give you protection against hackers and people who might try to get access of your computer for their own purposes. When you receive or try to plug in an external hardware like a DVD, CD, floppy disk or flash drive, always scan them properly first. Viruses can also jump from one computer to another. Do not offer your flash drives into any computer because you cannot be sure about the safety precautions that other computers have. They might have a virus in their computer and it can attach to your flash drive.

When you suspect your computer to have been infected by a virus, do not panic. If you are in a middle of doing some project, save the project first and exit the program. Close all programs that you currently are running and try opening your antivirus software. Let it scan your whole computer to check if there is really a virus that has infected the computer. Some viruses can be healed by antivirus software and they will be stored in a virus vault. They can disinfect your whole system and may request you to turn it off after you do so. Just follow the instructions and you will have a successful removal of viruses.

If you have tried running your antivirus and no virus shows but your computer is still running slow. Have an expert check your computer. There are also different factors that might have caused the lag in your PC. If a virus was detected but cannot be removed, visit your computer programmer. They might reformat your computer so be ready to give them you back up. In case you have not made a back up of all your files, talk to the programmer and inform him your dilemma. They might be able to help you out.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Avoiding-Computer-Viruses&id=5704272

There is a growing trend on the internet for rogue anti-spyware. What is this? It is a program that masquerades as a computer privacy protection program. Also called scareware. These programs uses false scan results and misleading advertising to scare you into buying it to get rid of malware that is not there and you need to remove this malware fast.

Rather than being a solution to privacy threats or viruses, many of these fake programs have viruses or spyware embedded in them. They will often take over some of your computers functions and can be very difficult to remove. These programs are becoming more common and are starting to pose a serious risk to computer users. It is a good idea to be aware of these programs and to take some measures to protect your computer from them.

One very common method that these programs use is a pop-up ad that claims to have found privacy risks to your computer. If you click the pop up you will be directed to a web-page that will display an anti-malware scanner. When the scan finishes, it will show exaggerated or false results, the purpose of which is to scare you into installing the program. These exaggerated results will show thousands of threats many of which are marked serious. The truth is there are no infections and you need to get rid of this malware fast.

Once the rogue program is installed, it will start to scan whenever you start your computer. The scan results will always display many privacy risks. The program will then ask you to make a purchase of its privacy protection program. These scan results are false and are just a ploy to try to sell the software.

Rather than protect your computer, programs like this may actually pose a risk to it. Many of these programs actually contain viruses, malware or even worse, trojan horses. If you end up with a rogue program installed on your computer, the best solution is just to remove the program. Removing a program like this is not like removing other programs. Programs like this will also try to prevent their removal and can’t be uninstalled with the usual methods.

Follow these simple instructions to remove a rogue privacy program.

#1 Start your PC or laptop in safe mode. This will ensure you can stop the rogue software from running. to do this press the F8 button on the keyword before the windows start up screen appears. You may need to try this several times.

#2 Once you have done this a menu screen will appear. From this menu select safe mode with networking. Do not select any other option and then press the enter key.

#3 Once your computer is in safe mode open your web browser and download a system and registry scanner.

#4 Run a full system and registry scan. This will do several things. Firstly it will scan for any running malware and stop it. Then it will scan windows for errors and corrupt files and hep fix them. Next it will scan the registry for errors caused by malware and fix them and remove rogue registry entries. Finally it will optimize your computer to run fast again.

If your computer is infected with malware and rogue software follow these steps and find out how to remove malware fast.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Help-My-Computer-Is-Infected-With-Spyware-and-Rogue-Software—How-To-Remove-Malware-Fast&id=5590437

Unless you are a computer security researcher, you probably do not have any ideal how many threats are released on the internet per day. Ever since the bad guys have found out that there is a lot of money to be made on the internet through exploits, they have come up with new and unique ways to get people to give over their money. Both by lies or through technical trickery. It is hard to be able to avoid all of these threats manually, so you should pick software that will help you deal with the threats that you face on a daily basis. We will give you an overview on what you might need to be able to avoid your computer becoming a weapon against you. Your common sense combined with this list of software will help you have a sane computing experience while you surf the internet.

We will not promote any particular company, but we will tell you the type of software that you will need to help you fight this problem. Most of the software that you will need can be found on several different download web sites. The most popular being CNET’s own download.com. Once you have installed the software on your computer, you have to make sure that you keep everything updated. The threats that you face online will modify themselves on a regular basis. Only updated software will be able to fight back.

The first type of security software that you are going to need, is an anti virus scanner. These scanners will take a look at any software that you download onto your computer and give you information whether it is alright to use or not. This is great if you download a lot of applications from email or just the internet at large. There are many different kinds of anti viruses that you can pick through. You can get one for free or you can pay for a premium product. Either way, you should have a good amount of protection on your computer after you download it. Remember, we can not stress this enough, especially with anti virus, you must make sure that you keep it updated. If not, then the software will be pretty much useless. any threat made after the day you downloaded the anti virus software will be able to get through.

After you have the anti virus installed, you will want to go looking for a software firewall. You might have a firewall already installed with your router, but you still will need a software version. Again, you can find one for free or you can pay a company for one. Either way, this will help you keep intruders off of your computer. After you download and installed the firewall, you will now need a spyware defense. Spyware is different than a virus. While one tries to harm your computer, the other will try to feed you advertisements or track your online movements. Again there are a lot of good alternatives, so all you have to do is pick one.

Once you have one of each type of software on this list, you should be on your way to have a good, safe computing experience. Remember to always keep them updated and you should be fine.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Securing-Your-Computer-From-Online-Threats&id=5419590

I often get asked what is a computer virus, how does it differ from a worm or Trojan and how do they get into my computer? Please find below my article, giving you a brief explanation of these terms and how easily they can infect your system.

What is a Computer Virus?

Computer viruses are annoying at best and can be extremely destructive at worst. A computer virus is a piece of code which can attach itself to one of your files or programs, enabling it to spread to other computers infecting as it goes. This causes damage to files, software and hardware.

Computer viruses can range in severity in the same way as an organic virus. With an organic virus, unless kept in complete isolation, it usually spreads through human interaction. The difference is, (other than the obvious) a computer virus needs human interaction to enable it to spread, such as sending an email or sharing a file.

What is a Worm?

Similar to a virus, a worm is designed to copy itself across computers, but the horror is that it does this automatically.

It does this by taking control of features on a computer that transport files and information. Once on your system they have the ability to replicate in great numbers, very quickly. One of the things that they are famous for, is sending out copies to everyone in your address book and if the recipient is unaware, it will do the same to theirs.

They have the potential to cause heavy traffic, clogging networks and in extreme cases slowing down the entire internet.

So if you are waiting twice as long for pages to load, this could well be a possible cause.

What is a Trojan?

As in the Trojan horse of Greek mythology, which appeared to be a gift, but actually contained soldiers, Trojans appear to be useful software. Unfortunately, they often arrive as an email attachment, usually appearing to be from a legitimate source, but when opened lead to a trail of destruction. They can also be present in free software that you may download, so beware!

What is Malware?

Malware is a term that is used to describe “malicious software” programs. The things that are included in this are spyware, adware, and cookies.

What is Spyware and Adware?

It has been estimated that 90% of all computers on the internet are infected with some type of spyware.

Spyware refers to programs that can use your internet connection to send information, normally without your permission or knowledge, to another computer. The information that it then gathers could be a record of your browsing habits. This can include things that you have downloaded and even personal information such as your name and address.

There are different types of spyware which perform different functions. Some may change your home page, producing pop up personal ads, even if you are not online, and may even high-jack your browser, taking you to an unexpected site. Spyware that serves you personalized ads is also known as adware.

Some free software or programs have spyware included. Some of the more legitimate programs mention in their terms and conditions, that they may gather information, although most people do not tend to read this. However, spyware does not have to come bundled in a program. It is most commonly installed surreptitiously, often in the form of a pop up, or asking you to install a plug in, to enable you to display the site correctly. Spyware can use the local resources of your computer, such as processor and memory power, as well as some of your internet bandwidth.

So if your computer:

* slows to a crawl
* if you click on a link to a site and you end up at another site, due to your browser having been hijacked,
* you enter a search and received an unexpected result
* you get pop up ads that address you by name from a site that you haven’t visited
* you click on your home page and it takes you to a new site and when you try and switch back the same site appears again,

Then you probably have been infected with some form of Malware.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Computer-Viruses-and-Malware—What-Are-They?&id=5237579