security

Internet Security - How Safe are You?

October 7, 2007 on 2:01 am | In Spyware, Antispyware, Internet, Internet Security, Virus, Security, Anti Spyware, Antivirus, Cybercrime, Anti Virus, Hackers, Cyber Crime, Spy Ware | No Comments

Is Your Internet Security Software

Keeping Up With The Cyber Crime Pandemic?

· Have you heard U.S. businesses lost over $67 billion to cyber crime in 2006 according to the FBI?

· Did you know that 87% of businesses suffered from some sort of cyber crime last year according to the same report?

· Approximately 15 million U.S. citizens will lose their identity this year according to the FTC

I could add that cyber crime out grew the illegal drugs business in 2006 according to the U.S. Department of Treasury, too. Needless to say we are looking at a huge problem. Many are calling the Internet security issue a pandemic.

Over the last couple of years hackers have shifted their focus from large targets to small business and individuals.

I’ll tell you why…

Small business and individuals don’t have the large sums of money needed to pay for the kind of Internet security protection used by large corporations. This makes both easier targets.

What are these two groups using to protect themselves? Generally, you find small business and individuals using over-the-counter and freeware (shareware) to protect their computers.

Over the last year, antivirus companies have attempted to counter the spyware problem, however, the fact is their code and signature files were not built to effectively remove spyware. How does this impact how well your home or business is protected? The rule for viruses is to keep them out. When it comes to spyware much more sophisticated code and scanning mechanisms are required.

Several September 2005 product reviews state that many antivirus applications have obvious deficiencies in antispyware cleaning and blocking routines. This makes it difficult to recommend these software products to individuals and businesses protecting themselves against the spyware problem. At this time, antivirus companies haven’t arrived at a solid solution.

So what are these anitvirus companies doing? Some are including some type of antispyware functionality into their products. Some vendors are selling patching and spyware combined into one. Others have mixed their spyware solution with their antivirus Bundled together, these solutions aren’t cost effective and probably deliver a lower level antispyware.

Several independent tests have shown that stand-alone antispyware products have been proven to be the most effective.

Today’s over-the-counter anti-virus Internet security products protect against specific code or signature files. Each virus has it’s own code. When the anti-virus software identifies the code it kicks it out or alerts the owner of the computer. Many anti-virus companies try to keep up with this, however consider this:

Professional hackers have developed spy ware that, once it enters a computer and steals your email addresses and other information, changes its code or signature file. The spy ware continues to invade new computers stealing information and changing its signature file automatically from computer to computer virtually making traditional over-the-counter anti-virus Internet security protection useless.

To be safe, small business and individuals need to find a proven Internet security solution that can fight against this type of cyber crime. This solution not only needs to aggressively keep up with the changing cyber crime landscape, but also anticipate what might be coming in the future. This is what the major corporations are using and it’s what you should have on your computer(s), too.

You may find it surprising that many vendors have downgraded or “delisted” known spyware and adware. This can jeopardize the security of your personal or business information.

Unfortunately, most Internet security software available to small business and individuals don’t have the ability to keep up with the growing cyber crime pandemic creating Internet insecurity.

.About the Author:

Warren Franklin is engaged in the cause of educating and protecting people who use the Internet about the threats they face and the inadequacy of the solutions they trust, and over a three-year period has become an expert on PC Security and a passionate advocate of Internet safety. Find out more his campaign for personal and Internet security go to his web site at http://www.completeinternetprotection.com or email warrenfranklin@completeinternetprotection.com

Its Halloween! Spooks, Specters and

September 28, 2007 on 5:40 pm | In Adware, Spyware, Malware, Antispyware, Virus, Computer Security, Security, Antivirus, Safe, Online Safety | No Comments

It was late, I had put

off going to the

Software Convention till the last

minute. I just had to watch my favorite

show on TV, “S-Files”. Its that

episode where the Computer Salespeople

all turn into Pod People and ,,,,well

never mind. Its really scary!

So I’m driving down the lonely one lane

road from my house to the Convention.

Its dark and the shadows are creepy,

I’ll never watch S-Files again, I

swear! I pull into the parking lot, the

convention is being held in the old

YMCA. Geez, its dark, only 1 parking lot

light and its flickering on and off. As

I walk up to the entrance, I remember

the old story about how, back in the

Dot.Com days, when they tanked, the

building was used as a makeshift morgue,

to hold all the bodies of the CEO’s

who committed suicide.

I get this really creepy feeling on the

back of my neck as I go in,,,,oh, its

just a Linux software salesman at the

first booth. Is it my imagination or are

his eyes glowing?

I head to the registration desk to get a

program. I see the place is kind of

empty, guess cause its so late. Well,

I’m here to see who is offering the

latest demos and what kind of freebies I

can score.

The front booths are usually the big

sellers and they never give away

freebies or demos. So I head to the

back, hmmm, the lights back here are

terrible!

Here’s a booth, Anti-Spyware 4 U. The

salesman shuffles up to me and says

“Please take a demo of our new

product”. I look at it, it says this is

the latest greatest software to combat

Spyware. I take the CD out of the plain

paper cover and look at the Logo. Its

just a plain shiny cd? Wow I can see

myself in it I remark.

“We spared no expense” a voice says

behind me, making me jump. I didn’t

even know he was behind me. Wait, I

should have seen him behind me in the

reflection off the CD. I I’ve got to be

imagining things I say to myself.

I ask the salesman for a brochure about

their other products and as he hands it

to me, our fingers brush each others.

Jeez! His fingers are as cold as ice!

Well, he is a salesman after all.

I thank him and head off to the other

booths, seeing that I’ve gotten here

too late after all, everybody is

leaving. I decide to swing by the

refreshments table to see if I can at

least get a drink and some cookies.

It sure is dark in here I think again as

I come up to the table. As I scan the

table, a little old lady comes up and

asks me if Id like any milk and cookies.

Yes Mam I reply. She hands me a little

plate with cookies and paper cup of

something white. I assume its milk, but

its so dark in here! And there seems to

be a fog or steam on the surface of the

milk. Well beggars cant be choosers I

think to myself as I thank her. She

gives me a freaky cackling laugh as I

turn away, stunned I turn back around

and to my Horror, there is no-one there!

Where in blazes did she go ?

I’m out of here my mind screams to me

as I head for the door at a ever faster

walk. In a minute I’m in my car with

the doors locked and the engine warming

up.

Whew, That was the strangest Convention

I’ve ever seen. All the way home I’ve

got a death grip on the wheel, just

waiting for something to jump out of the

shadows. Like a IBM salesman, now that

would be scary!

If only I had known the other horrors

that awaited me! I breathe a sigh of

relief as I close and lock the living

room door behind me. Still shaking my

head I head over to my computer to try

out this latest and greatest

Anti-Spyware Software. As it boots, I

get a message to disable my own

Anti-Spyware program. I thing this odd,

but I remember reading somewhere online

that some programs can conflict with

others so I comply.

After a few seconds I get a message that

the new Program is installed and it

needs to connect to get possible

updates. So I get online and let it do

its thing. A reboot is needed it says,

OK so I reboot. The computer comes up

and I get online to check out the latest

results of the Mullet contest. what’s

this ? This isn’t my Homepage, it’s a

site where you can ,,,Holy Hand

Grenades! Its Porn!

I close the Browser and man alive, I’m

beset by about a dozen pop ups offering

me things that, well, no decent person

would want. I’m figuring now that I’ve

been had by this Anti-Spyware CD.

I do a Restore and get back to my Online

Mullet competition site. Then I remember

that I need to transfer some money in my

savings to my checking account. So I

head to the Bank site and take care of

it. I must be tired, the computer seems

slow to me. I check my mail and the wait

to login is frustrating.

I decide to call it a night. I’ll take

care of it tomorrow. After a tossing and

turning night and dreams of my computer

melting, the new day dawns. With a cup

of coffee I head to the computer to see

who won the Mullet Contest. The boot

takes forever and the login freezes the

first time so I have to power off and

back on again.

I’m really mad by now. I’ve been had

by some sleazy software company! I

finally get online but the Mullet

competition site wont load. I cant tell

if it’s the computer or maybe the

online connection.

As it dawns on me that I’m going to

have to take it in for service, I hope

I’ve got some extra in my savings to

cover it. I head to the Bank site but it

wont load either. Then I notice the Hard

Disk light blinking away. I’m not doing

anything at the time so it shouldn’t be

accessing anything. Cursing, I turn the

computer off and pick up the phone to

call the bank.

I get a live person after waiting only 5

minutes so I figure the day may be

improving. I give her my account info

and she comes back saying “I show that

account being closed last night after

all money was withdrawn”! .

There must be a mistake I say, she

checks it again and says its true. The

money in the account was transferred to

a Bank she has never heard of in

,,,,Transylvania of all places. As I

hang up in shock, I could have sworn I

heard her laughing just like the old

lady at the convention did last night.

I figure I better head to the Police

Station to get some help. In a Panic I

head for town. As I make the last turn

into town, I glance towards the location

of the YMCA, where all this started,

only to see its not there! Its burned to

the ground! Stunned, I stop in the

street and get out. Nothing but ashes.

The Man in the car behind me gets out

and asks me if I’m ok. I mumble I’m

lucky to be alive, I could have died in

there last night. Puzzled the man says,

but the YMCA burned down 2 nights ago!

As I get back into the car, I glance at

the spot on the seat where I put the CD

and the Pamphlet. Gone. Just a little

pile of dust. At the Police station, a

sergeant takes down my story and informs

me I’ve been the victim of online

Identity theft. As I’m leaving, A

couple of kids run by, in costumes,

yelling “Happy Halloween”

Are you scared ? You should be!

.About the Author:

About the Author: Doug Woodall writes to

educate about computer security. He also

hopes you visit his website at

http://www.spywarebiz.com the next time

you need a computer securty product.

A free virus scanner

August 12, 2007 on 7:27 pm | In Free, Virus, Scanner, Clamwin | No Comments

Viruses are roller coaster of a hot topic. It seems every time a major virus breaks out, everyone suddenly becomes concerned about how well their computer

is protected. Well there’s a way to never have to worry about it and it’s all free.

Virus scanners are an integral part of computer and network security, so all I’ll say is that you need a router to protect your computer from your public IP, and to be careful when accepting unfamiliar emails or pop-up questions. I will cover security in more depth in a later article, but assuming you already use these techneaks, on to a virus scanner.

The two major virus scanners that people are familiar with are McAfee and Norton. Of the two, in my experience McAfee seems to wreak the least amount of havoc on your system resources. There are other products out there such as Trend Micro and Sophos that seem to do just as good, if not better.

But the point is free. There are some highly respected free scanners out there, one in particular, that gets the job done. Now Trend Micro offers a free online virus scan that works well but I would suggest having a broadband connection. This is a one-time scan that will not protect you in real-time. Grisoft’s AVG is a downloadable, free, real-time protection scanner that has earned a dedicated following. However, this product is only free for personal use, and I’ve seen complications arise that result in you paying to have your computer serviced, which can cost more than any virus scanner.

The product that I recommend, and use, is ClamWin. ClamWin is an open source product, published under the GPL. The program offers real-time protection, scheduled scans, and automatically updates it’s virus definitions. It is a virus scanner, not a “security suite”, and produces a negligible impact on system resources. And since it’s an open source product, security is fixed immediately.

So put your workstation behind a router, get ClamWin, and be cautious (not paranoid) about what you are doing in the Internet and your email. The router will allow you to share your internet connection securely throughout your home network saving you time and money. If you feel like you absolutely must buy a virus scanner, go to Amazon.com and lookup the customer reviews. This is the best way to get the scoop about which product will best fit your needs.

.About the Author:
Creator of techneak.net. A web site dedicated to help people use technology to make your life easier.

Computer Attackers

July 28, 2007 on 6:39 am | In Virus, Security, Awareness, Worm, Information Security | No Comments

Computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. The original may modify

the copies or the copies may modify themselves, as occurs in a metamorphic virus. It can spread from one computer to another by help of network connection or carrying it on a removable medium such as floppy disk, CD, DVD, USB drive or by the Internet. But viruses are not equal to computer worms and Trojan horses. A worm can spread itself to other computers without being transferred as a part of a host, and a Trojan horse is a file that appears harmless until executed.

Many PCs are now connected to the Internet and/or to local area networks. Today’s viruses may also take advantage of network services (World Wide Web, e-mail, file sharing systems). Some viruses are programmed to damage the computer by damaging programs, deleting files, or reformatting the hard disk. Others are harmless, but simply replicate themselves and make their presence known by presenting text, video, or audio messages. Although these viruses are not dangerous, they can create problems for the computer user. As a result they often cause erratic behavior and can result in system crashes. In addition, many viruses are bug-ridden, and these bugs may lead to system crashes and data loss.

.About the Author:

Anti-virus Software for Back to School

July 5, 2007 on 6:07 am | In Software, Virus, Anti-virus, Computer Virus, Anti-virus Software, Best Anti-virus Software, Anti-virus Software Reviews | No Comments

As parents, college students and kids alike prepare for the back-to-school season, there are plenty of things on everyone’s minds. While university

enrollees prepare to throw down hundreds on college textbooks, younger students are getting their school supplies lists from new teachers. However, there is one item that should be on every new school year list: anti-virus software.

These days, most every student uses a computer for homework, research and we cannot forget about games and music downloads. Using a PC is nearly mandatory in anyone’s daily life in the 21st century, especially a student’s. For many college students, heading back to campus means connecting their wireless routers to the university network, which may pose a greater threat than the Web connection from the comfort of your home.

The Information Age has opened doors to countless benefits, but also pitfalls. More students are expected to email professors or teachers with file after attached file of book reports and research papers. What about online classes? Many college campuses require students to participate in Web portal classroom discussions and work critiques, which utilizes file sharing.

Anti-virus software is a key component of any student’s desktop or notebook PC, mainly because of the high volume of downloads, emails and files that are sure to make their way into each and every computer. According to a consumer survey, about 78% of respondents intend to spend the most on school supplies, coming in over apparel and book bags. While school supplies used to mean folders, pens and post-it’s, items like anti-virus software are becoming the norm and the necessary. After all, the more you use a computer, the better your security and virus protection must be.

.About the Author:

Kelly Liyakasa is staff writer for 6StarReviews.com. Kelly Staller is site manager at 6StarReviews.com, a site dedicated to giving YOU, the consumer, the best product and service reviews around. If you like saving time and money by having someone else review leading sites and products, then Visit our site at 6StarReviews.com. Also, if you have the time, check out the 6StarReviews Blog for product updates, new site reviews and to give us suggestions or feedback! Visit 6StarReviews.com Blog!