Help yourself and (maybe) learn something new

So you picked up an infection somehow and you don't know what to do.  You've searched and searched for the answer and found all kinds of information but you can't figure it all out. 

In your searches you probably came across a program called HijackThis (HJT).  This is a powerful tool that should only be used by trained helpers, as you can really mess up your machine if you do something wrong. 

HJT is a program which scans your system and allows you to create a log or report at the end of its analysis. The log created by the HJT lists many places on your computer that spyware and malware are known to target. The HJT staff are trained to interpret your HJT log and provide instructions which you can follow to repair your system.

Well, the people at CastleCops have done something to help you help yourself (you might not even need to use HJT) and learn something in the process.  This "something" is a procedure called "Malware Removal and Prevention" (MRP)

If you are here to do a thorough system cleaning or just a checkup, then MRP will guide you through that process. Perhaps your computer is showing symptoms of infection: Popup ads, general sluggishness, or browser redirects, to a name a few. If that is the case, MRP will offer you a good chance at restoring your system to normalcy.

The above help should make it easier for you to get back up and running and hopefully you will have learned something about security and your machine.

Safe Surfing!

Happy Birthday Earth!

Earth Day!  A Cell phone on your belt, a  PDA in your pocket, a GPS antenna on the roof of your car and your laptop on the passenger seat attached to your Navigation System and you are a real "Modern Mobile Man".  Are you "Green"?

In support of mother Earths day today, I thought I would pass on some links I have found interesting in "Green Computing".  Tips, hints and information on what you can do to make this a greener computing world.

So what is Green Computing anyway?  That's hard to explain so I'll let wikipedia do it for me.

"Green computing is the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently. Typically, green computing systems or products take into account the so-called triple bottom line of people, planet, profit. This differs somewhat from traditional or standard business practices that focus mainly on the economic viability of a computing solution. These focuses are similar to those of green chemistry; reduction of the use of hazardous materials such as lead at the manufacturing and recycling stages, maximized energy efficiency during the product's lifetime, and recyclability or biodegradability of both a defunct product and of any factory waste."

Climate Savers Computing has a checklist for you to go through to see what you know about Green Computing and how you can become greener.  They also have info on choosing Green Computer products.

At Greener Computing you can inform yourself what is going on in the world of green computing.  One really interesting thing they have available is a Resource Guide for Environmentally Preferable Products.

If you really want to see how "Green Computers" are certified, you will need to read through EPEAT's (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) criteria, from the public standard, IEEE 1680.

I can't imagine living back in the dark ages without my cell and my laptop and all those other things MMM needs, (how did we survive?), but at least I can try to live green.

Safe Green Surfing!

Certifying a Geek

Hooray!  I have decided to become the Complete Certified Geek.  More books are here, that means the Sybex and Microsoft Press Gods were at my door.

I already am a Certified Geek.  I have finally taken the time to complete the CompTIA A+ IT Technician Certification. 

Now you might think it would be easy after all my years of destroying, excuse me, building, repairing, upgrading and cleaning my own PCs and networks and those of others, to pass these tests.  That's what I thought until I received my Deluxe Edition Complete Study Guide.  You know, DIY, instead of going to school, so I could save time and money.  There are things that geeks do and talk about that are not in any of the books I could find.  The hardest part of the certification was translating Textbook to Geek and Geek to Textbook but I figured it out and passed.

Now I am on to newer and better things. 

On my way to completing my MCSA/E - Security certification I need to test out on (among others), a Microsoft Operating System.  I have been using XP Professional for quite some time so that should be easy to pass.  This morning I started flipping through my new DIY textbook on XP and lo and behold, there are 5, yes you read that is right, Five, versions of  XP! 

Refresh?  No!  Down right learning is on the schedule now.  I have to test on XP, Server 2003 and CompTIA Security+.  Thank god for caffeine and nicotine!

Safe surfing!

TANSTAAFL

There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. You get what you pay for.

I’m sure you have all heard these statements before. Well, in most cases it is true but there are exceptions. I have been around Computers since the late 70’s (yes, I am an OG - Old Geek) and have spent a lot of money for computer security. After years of buying and trying I finally decided to try the free stuff. What the heck, it isn’t costing anything and if it doesn’t work then I haven’t lost any money. So over the years I have come up with different security setups that work and best of all, it’s all free.

I use Avira AntiVir as my antivirus. It used to be a pain as they did not have a nice definition update system but now – wow! It is said that the free version does not scan emails. That’s true but it does scan those “files” when you are writing them to your harddrive, so that works for me. If you want to try it here’s where to get it:

http://www.free-av.com/en/download/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html

Something that I have recently added is MBAM – Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware. It is a nice, easy to use, well let’s say, anti-malware. It’s a little of everything all rolled into one. One of its best features is how fast it scans. MBAM has replaced two other applications that will remain nameless. I like multi-tasking, I like free, I like fast. Download it from:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Firewall, hmmm, good question. I have tried most all of them and depending on which computer I was using I used different firewalls. At this point in time it seems like Zone Alarm Free is doing the best for me. It has been easy to set up and doesn’t bug me all the time wanting to block or allow access to my PC or to the Internet.

http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp

Some other tools I use to keep my computers running smoothly are, as you would think – free!

Keeping all of the junk cleaned out, CrapCleaner from http://www.ccleaner.com. Just incase something gets deleted that should not have, I have started using Recuva, a nice little recovery tool located at http://www.recuva.com. Keeping track of all the software updates and patches is not easy and it also takes a lot of time so I picked up a nice little tool called, Secunia PSI. Find it at https://psi.secunia.com.

As they say in Germany, “Geiz ist Geil”(google it), and I believe it. This set-up works for me, it may not work for you. You might even want to try out different set-ups. If you do, you can go here, “A guide to assembling your own computer security suite ... free of charge!!” http://wiki.castlecops.com/Roll_your_own_Free_Security_Suite

Safe Surfing!

Small Town Wireless (non)Security

The small town I live in was a friendly town when I left 25 years ago and it is even friendlier now that I am back. You have to be gone for quite some time to appreciate the qualities of small towns. It is the simple things like the wave I get when driving down the street or someone pulling over and asking me if I need a ride when I'm out for a walk.

One thing I greatly appreciate is that I can go almost anywhere in my town with my laptop and get wireless Internet access – free and unsecured. It also upsets me. That's like leaving your keys in your car that’s running and then going on vacation – you're just asking someone to jump in and take off. By leaving your wireless unsecured and/or unencrypted you're just looking for trouble. Things can happen like identity theft, access to your bank accounts or records, access to your personal correspondence and of course just plain and simple access to your bandwidth. Your system is also open to all kinds of Internet infections.

You have seen the commercials about what can happen with identity theft so I don't need to say anything about that. Access to your online banking accounts gives me a chance to line my pockets with your money. Reading your emails – do you want me to? Using your bandwidth allows me to download all the movies and music I want and I don't have to worry about getting in trouble because it's not my IP address being used, it's yours and you are responsible for what goes over your IP, so thanks for letting me get those new movies.

How can you stop me from doing any of this stuff?

First thing you need to do is make sure you have secured your wireless router and how to do that is explained in most all manuals that come with them. The standard router user IDs and passwords (www.routerpasswords.com – just to let you know in case you can't find yours) are known to all of the hackers out there. If your manual doesn't tell you how, take a look at this info so you can get it done right.

Secondly, you need to make sure you have a minimum of security software installed on your PC including a two-way software firewall, one active antivirus, one on demand antivirus, and one antispyware. Which ones you use are up to you, there are many out there that you have to pay for and there are many (just as good) free ones.

And lastly (for now), practice safe surfing! Keep your software up to date. Keep that finger off of the mouse button when you see an interesting link on some website that says, "You have won an XBox360!" Don't open those attachments in emails that you have no idea who they are from. Keep in mind the acronym PEBKAC (Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair) and you will realize the solution to Internet security starts with you and even a little bit goes a long way!

So my lovely little small town, quit being so nice to me and make me pay for my own Internet and don't let me use yours.