My Security Toolbox

I thought I would tell you what I use to keep my computer systems free from problems. 

My security starts with securing my router.  Every one is different and the best set up for you will be what works best for you and your system.  Make sure you read your routers user manual and set your router as secure as all of your computers will accept.  I have an older wireless laptop that will not let me run the best security at all times so it only goes online when it needs to be updated. 

I keep and use these programs in my personal security toolbox.

• ZoneAlarm Free Firewall
• Avira AntiVir - as active antivirus
• Malwarebytes Antimalware - as on demand antivirus/malware
• Crap Cleaner - to clean out the junk
• Spybot Search & Destroy
• SpywareBlaster
• SpywareGuard

You will need to read up on each program to decide if you want to install and use it. These work for me and my systems, hopefully they will help you.

With that info,

Safer Surfing!

How Do I Secure my PC?

An online colleague of mine, Prince_Serendip, started a series of Articles back in ancient times, (2004) about securing your Windows PC.  In his "Windows Security Checklist" you will learn a lot about keeping your PC from becoming part of one of those botnets I talked about yesterday.

Some of the info may be dated but it still applies, for the most part.  Stop over and make sure you read through the articles to help allow you to practice Safer Surfing.

With that info,

Safer Surfing!

Are you doing your part to prevent the Next (Cyber)War?

Computer security and awareness of what is possible out there is very important.  If you do not keep your PC secure and practice Safe Surfing, you could become part of a botnet and then be partly responsible for something like what is reported in a recent CNN News story.

Read more here.

With that info,

Safer Surfing!

Google's Privacy Promise - Not!

Google has promised to lower the amount of time search data is stored in the European Union from 18 months to 9.  That is a 50% cut but why is this data needed for that long?  According to Google this will hinder their "ability to improve its services by delivering more relevant search results and advertisements". 

Like we need more of that.

Let's not forget Google's new browser, "Chrome".  The EULA, (End User License Agreement) originally contained the following:

11. Content licence from you
11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights that you already hold in Content that you submit, post or display on or through the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content, you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free and non-exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content that you submit, post or display on or through the Services. This licence is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.

 

Wait a minute!  This means anything, and I mean anything, you do with this browser can be used by Google.

Here comes the privacy promise question again.  Why do they need to store this data and how long will it be stored?  After a storm of complaints, Google decided to change paragraph 11 to this:

11. Content license from you
11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services.

That's much better but still no answer as to why they need to store this data for 9 months.

All this just goes to show how much we Internet users need to be aware of a EULA's content and what privacy we give up when installing software or using an online service. 

I love to read but those EULA's can get awful long.  To better protect your privacy you might want to use a nice little program I use called EULAlyzer. 

EULAlyzer can analyze license agreements in seconds, and provide a detailed listing of potentially interesting words and phrases. Discover if the software you're about to install displays pop-up ads, transmits personally identifiable information, uses unique identifiers to track you, or much much more.

 

Google has promised to get better. Only time will tell (hopefully less than 9 months).

With that info,

Safer Surfing!

SpywareHammer is Live

After 24 hours of life, SpywareHammer has acquired a "Who's Who" of Staff.  A total of over 100 members have joined and the first logs have been posted.

Some of the best in Malware Removal are awaiting your HJT and Rootkit logs to assist on.  Not only does SpywareHammer do malware removal but the Technical Staff is waiting to assist in any non-malware problems you may have.

Stop in and have a look around.

 

With that info,

Safe Surfing!