10 fast Security enchancements

rambo · Post by **rambo** » 08 Jul 2007, 06:24

Hope this is helpful for you all

10 Fast and Free Security Enhancements
PC magazine.

Before you spend a dime on security, there are many precautions you can take that will protect you against the most common threats.

1. Check Windows Update and Office Update regularly (_http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates); have your Office CD ready. Windows Me, 2000, and XP users can configure automatic updates. Click on the Automatic Updates tab in the System control panel and choose the appropriate options.

2. Install a personal firewall. Both SyGate (_www.sygate.com) and ZoneAlarm (_www.zonelabs.com) offer free versions.

3. Install a free spyware blocker. Our Editors' Choice ("Spyware," April 22) was SpyBot Search & Destroy (_http://security.kolla.de). SpyBot is also paranoid and ruthless in hunting out tracking cookies.

4. Block pop-up spam messages in Windows NT, 2000, or XP by disabling the Windows Messenger service (this is unrelated to the instant messaging program). Open Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services and you'll see Messenger. Right-click and go to Properties. Set Start-up Type to Disabled and press the Stop button. Bye-bye, spam pop-ups! Any good firewall will also stop them.

5. Use strong passwords and change them periodically. Passwords should have at least seven characters; use letters and numbers and have at least one symbol. A decent example would be f8izKro@l. This will make it much harder for anyone to gain access to your accounts.

6. If you're using Outlook or Outlook Express, use the current version or one with the Outlook Security Update installed. The update and current versions patch numerous vulnerabilities.

7. Buy antivirus software and keep it up to date. If you're not willing to pay, try Grisoft AVG Free Edition (Grisoft Inc., w*w.grisoft.com). And doublecheck your AV with the free, online-only scanners available at w*w.pandasoftware.com/activescan and _http://housecall.trendmicro.com.

8. If you have a wireless network, turn on the security features: Use MAC filtering, turn off SSID broadcast, and even use WEP with the biggest key you can get. For more, check out our wireless section or see the expanded coverage in Your Unwired World in our next issue.

9. Join a respectable e-mail security list, such as the one found at our own Security Supersite at _http://security.ziffdavis.com, so that you learn about emerging threats quickly and can take proper precautions.

10. Be skeptical of things on the Internet. Don't assume that e-mail "From:" a particular person is actually from that person until you have further reason to believe it's that person. Don't assume that an attachment is what it says it is. Don't give out your password to anyone, even if that person claims to be from "support."

Rambo

rhysh · Post by **rhysh** » 08 Jul 2007, 06:32

.:nice one:.

BluePass · Post by **BluePass** » 08 Jul 2007, 10:21

No one mentioned Internet Exploder?

Really?

I'll add number 11 then. Keep away from Internet Explorer unless you know the site you're going to browse is something official or trusted. It is not that Internet Explorer is the most vulnerable, but typically it is the one that most malicious hackers are looking to exploit due to the amounts of people using it.

rhysh · Post by **rhysh** » 08 Jul 2007, 14:11

i use mainly maxthon
http://www.maxthon.com/

great browser
not really sure about security

Post by **bad_brain** » 08 Jul 2007, 14:58

for everyday use it's still Firefox for me, and for "sensitive" issues it's K-Meleon...it's highly configurable with many security/privacy features:
http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/
the only negative point is the not really userfriendly plugin install procedure.

so yes. #11: never use IE, except for development issues (compatibility tests).

BluePass · Post by **BluePass** » 08 Jul 2007, 19:26

I use Opera on Windows and Firefox (Iceweasel) or Opera on Linux.

RNA · Post by **RNA** » 09 Jul 2007, 01:39

BluePass wrote:I use Opera on Windows and Firefox (Iceweasel) or Opera on Linux.

Opera hell yes!

I thought no one else did =)

Post by **computathug** » 09 Jul 2007, 06:54

always firefox on windows for me and firefox (iceweasel) on linux as well. Although the only time i use explorer for is to configure my router as this doesn't work with firefox.

BluePass · Post by **BluePass** » 09 Jul 2007, 07:45

RNA, yeah Opera is very nice. The only problem is that certain sites don't support it, but if they are known sites you can use IE like I do. I keep Opera for all the browsing I do and if there's something I come across that doesn't support it and I know it's a trusted website, I use IE. But Opera is very smooth. It's got a very nice design, plus I love the personal bar. I tend to put the websites I visit most in there to be able to visit them at the click of the button. I know Firefox has a similar thing with bookmarks, but it doesn't compare to Opera's personal bar.

rambo · Post by **rambo** » 10 Jul 2007, 19:00

BluePass wrote:No one mentioned Internet Exploder?

Really?

I'll add number 11 then. Keep away from Internet Explorer unless you know the site you're going to browse is something official or trusted. It is not that Internet Explorer is the most vulnerable, but typically it is the one that most malicious hackers are looking to exploit due to the amounts of people using it.

FIREFOX!!.. <3

GreatBrowser / Security / Add-ons / Skins.. Could you ask for anything more?..

Lyecdevf · Post by **Lyecdevf** » 11 Jul 2007, 01:52

computathug wrote:always firefox on windows for me and firefox (iceweasel) on linux as well. Although the only time i use explorer for is to configure my router as this doesn't work with firefox.

I used to do it under firefox just fine when I was using windows but now under linux I can not. I have not thought of using other webrowsers thought. Thanks for the idea!

Post by **computathug** » 11 Jul 2007, 06:31

I used to do it under firefox just fine when I was using windows but now under linux I can not. I have not thought of using other webrowsers thought. Thanks for the idea!

my last router worked fine with firefox it was when i bought a new 1 that i entered username / password and the only occurence was a blank page so had to mess about a bit and got it working in internet explorer... weird but true as they say

BluePass · Post by **BluePass** » 20 Jul 2007, 12:06

I'm bringing this topic back because I just read this article today and... well it'll all make sense in a moment.

The article is here: http://www.securityfocus.com/news/11476/

Since we were talking about browsers and which one is better...

Anything else you'd like to add?

I would advise you to use the Opera browser with scripts and plug-ins disabled in order not to be caught by the MPack someday.

Post by **computathug** » 20 Jul 2007, 20:07

well thats certainly given me something to think about