Spamprimer for fighting spam and phishing

Randy Cassingham (of This Is True, a great e-letter) has Spamprimer to advise on how to handle and maybe even reduce spam and phishing attempts.

Handling an email newsletter and web sites, he’s had some experience in dealing with this stuff.  He has some practical advice on what to do, what not to do, what works, and what may not work.

Test your security, speed and other stuff

Audit My PC is a web site with services for security and a number of other uses.

You can test your firewall or find a free one, check your broadband speed, generate a sitemap for your web site, and find out your own IP.

Another good test site is ShieldsUP! which will run a live test of a number of factors to see if your home network is secure.  Once you set up your network, use this to find any weak spots that you need to fix.

Vista needs a Set Restore Point icon

It’s always a good idea when making changes in your system or installing new software to set a Restore Point, so your computer can revert back to those settings if something creates problems.

XP made it easy, but Vista has the screen to set a restore point buried several levels down.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have an icon to jump right to naming a restore point?

So, try the instructions from the How-To Geek and create one, or just download the necessary files and use them.

Freeware.

How’s your rep? Reputation, that is…

More and more, we’re seeing articles and posts on people whose reputations are attacked, or damaged, or otherwise harmed by what’s on the Web.  Sometimes it’s by the very same things that they themselves put out there for everyone to see.

You can check out what’s on the web about you, using this tutorial from Lifehacker called “Manage your online reputation.”

And think about how others will see you, not just now, but in days to come, and in other situations.

Surfthenetsafely has advice on safe surfing

Surfthenetsafely.com has links to a set of articles on how to protect yourself and others while using the Internet.

Infrared and Bluetooth security holes

Both the infrared port and the Bluetooth service on your laptop are security holes.

Be sure to disable or cover the infrared port until/unless you know you are using it.

Be sure to disable Bluetooth unless you specifically need to use it.  Using a Bluetooth mouse or other wireless device via Bluetooth could also make you vulnerable to attack, on laptops or PDAs.

MyUSBOnly Free locks others out of your USB ports

Want to keep others from downloading your data, or illegal files, or your keystrokes, using your own computer’s USB ports?

MyUSBOnly Free 2007 is freeware (registration only required) that lets you lock others out of your USB ports while allowing only the devices you trust.

From ZDNet’s TechRepublic.

Keyscrambler protects your keystrokes

Keyloggers are a new threat, and can be used even on computers that otherwise seem safe. They record your keystrokes, and therefore could allow thieves to steal your passwords, credit card info, and other data that could be used against you.  Keyloggers can even be put on supposedly secure computers by plugging in a USB Flash drive with the keylogger running, and leaving it to be collected later with the valuable stolen data.

KeyScrambler Personal is freeware and works like this:

• Encrypts your input at keyboard driver level as it enters your computer
• Decrypts it at the destination application
• End to end protection gives keyloggers only indecipherable data to record
• Works even on security compromised computers
• Protects all parts of the browser and everything you type into a webpage on all websites.

This protects you online in the more popular browsers and sites.  For protection for email and other areas, you can upgrade to one of the pay versions if you think you might need it.

Laptop security - it’s on you

While this blog normally prefers to stick to free and low-cost services, there are things worth paying for.

Your laptop wasn’t free, for example, and hanging on to it — or getting it back — is likely to be worth something to you.

While this is not an endorsement, the following links are for services which add a measure of security to your laptop.  HOWEVER - they have limitations, and the best defense is to keep it with you at all times, even in the Library and elsewhere on campus.

Laptop Alarm: “Did you ever hesitate to leave your laptop for a few minutes in a public space like a library? Afraid that someone will take your laptop? Now there is a simple and free solution to this problem! Laptop Alarm will emit a loud alarm whenever someone tries to steal your laptop!”

This is freeware.  However, it depends on certain things happening:

1. A/C Power Removal
2. Mouse Removal
3. Mouse Movement
4. Shutdown / Suspend

So, if some jerk simply takes the laptop without bothering to shut it down, no alarm.  And it also depends on others taking the trouble to either stop or remember and identify the thief.  Still, this is better than nothing.

A free service (which may or may not start charging a fee in the future) is LaptopLock.

LaptopLock protects the data and aids in the recovery process of a computer if it’s stolen. The LaptopLock can:

• Delete files (secure data wiping now available)
• Encrypt files
• Show a message to the user
• Execute a program
• Play a sound
• Visible or hidden from user

“If the computer is stolen, login into your account, mark the computer status as stolen. As soon as that machine connects to the Internet, the actions you set during setup will execute. The LaptopLock will also try to find out as much as possible about the connection to help in recovery of the machine. THE LAPTOPLOCK DOES NOT MONITOR OR RECORD USER ACTIONS. THE LAPTOPLOCK DOES NOT ALLOW ANYONE ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTER OR DATA. THE LAPTOPLOCK CAN ONLY EXECUTE ACTIONS THE USER HAS PRE-PROGRAMMED IT WITH.”

This is a good bit stronger, provided that you have some kind of notice on your laptop that you have this installed and what it does.  On the other hand, somebody might take it simply to sell it rather than use it, and that means they don’t care if it “phones home” for the previous owner.

Remember that some people just like to cause trouble, and stealing a laptop is one way to do that — whether or not it sounds an alarm, or is harder for somebody else to use.

Protect your property!

RUBotted checks to see if you’re in a botnet

Trend Micro has freeware that checks to see if your computer is being hijacked for use in a botnet.

The freeware is called RUBotted.

“Malicious software called Bots can secretly take control of computers and make them participate in networks called “Botnets.” These networks can harness massive computing power and Internet bandwidth to relay spam, attack web servers, infect more computers, and perform other illicit activities.

Security experts believe that millions of computers have already joined Botnets without the knowledge of their owners. By using remotely-controlled computers, the criminals in charge of the Botnets try to remain anonymous and elude authorities seeking to prosecute them.

RUBotted monitors your computer for suspicious activities and regularly checks with an online service to identify behavior associated with Bots. Upon discovering a potential infection, RUBotted prompts you to scan and clean your computer.”

Far too many people are unwittingly having their computers used part-time to spread spam, viruses, attack people and companies… and all of these could get you in trouble with your Internet Service Provider, and even the Law!

Operating System:

• Windows 2000 Professional (with the latest Service Pack installed)
• Windows XP Professional or Home Edition (with the latest Service Pack installed)
• Windows 2003 Server (with the latest Service Pack installed)
• Windows Vista (32-bit version only, with the latest Service Pack installed)

Hardware:

• Intel Pentium 350MHZ (minimum)
• 250MB of free hard drive space
• IPv4 Internet connection

Infected? Me?

Gizmo’s Tech Support Alert newsletter has an editorial on what to do if you think your computer might be infected with a virus, a trojan, or some other kind of malware that’s making it act up.

Good advice and good links to help.

Rootkits have nothing to do with gardening

Rootkits are one of the newer hazards on the Web, and may include trojans.  They are designed to take control of your computer with or without your knowledge (usually without) and do who-knows-what with it.

They might report back your activities to somebody (to detect any suspected violations of copyright on music, for example) or something more sinister.

Fortunately, there are a number of programs to detect and deal with rootkits, and some of them are even free.

Find a good one at Antirootkit.com .

Vista has parental controls

Windows Vista has parental controls, if you have kids logging on.

1. Go to Control Panel
2. Click on User Accounts and Family Safety
3. Click on Set up parental controls for any user

You can block web sites, limit the time used for games or instant messaging, and create limits on surfing the Web.  You can also print out an activity report for your child.

Remember: be sure YOU are the first one to use the computer — if the child gets on first, s/he may be saavy enough to set up ways to get past anything you do — or even lock you out of the system!

Top anti-virus programs include freeware Avira

In a recent (April 200 test by Virus Bulletin, five products scored perfect 100% detection rates (prices include one year of virus-signature updates): Avira Antivir Personal (free for noncommercial use), ESET NOD32 ($40), Fortinet FortiClient ($28), Frisk FPROT Antivirus ($29 for up to five PCs), and Symantec Norton Antivirus ($40).

Runners up (98 or 99% scores) were:

• McAfee Antivirus Enterprise
• Microsoft’s Forefront Security Client and Windows Live OneCare
• Webroot Spysweeper
• Bitdefender Antivirus 2008
• CA eTrust Antivirus and CA Internet Security
• Check Point ZoneAlarm
• Kaspersky Antivirus
• MWTI eScan Internet Security
• Redstone Redprotect
• Sophos Anti-virus
• Bullguard

So, the FREE! Avira Antivir Personal is top class protection for what it covers.  It does not, however, handle email viruses, spyware, or provide the same level of updates that the paid version does.

Fast, good, cheap — pick one or all three

NanoScan bills itself as the “fastest online virus scan” in this MakeUseOf article.

“It takes only about 1-2 minutes to scan your whole PC for over a million of potential threats. Please note that NanoScan only checks for problems; it doesn’t fix them. However, if it finds some virus or any other kind of undesirable crapware you can click through provided scan reports and access TotalScan. To use TotalScan you’ll need to register, but the good news it’s 100% free. TotalScan will find those threats and remove them.”

Nano Scan - Features:

• Detects more than 2.7 million of viruses, spyware, trojans, etc.
• Access NanoScan virus check right from your personal startpage, i.e. NetVibes, iGoogle or PageFlakes.
• TotalScan: In case NanoScan detects something use Totalscan to remove it.
• The first time you use NanoScan you will need to download an ActiveX control or a plug-in, depending on what browser you have.
• Multi-lingual: Available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian.
• API (for developers): Integrate Nanoscan service into your website for free.

Virtually disposable system with Returnil

Returnil offers a free personal version of their virtual system software.

Basically, this sets up a virtual (or sort of simulated) copy of your operating system within your computer.  If you get a virus, trojan horse, locked up software, whatever — it’s only on the simulation of your system and should be much less likely to affect the rest of your computer.

For Windows XP/ Windows Server 2003/ Windows Vista 32-bit.

“ Returnil virtualization technology clones a computer’s System Partition and boots the PC into this system rather than native Windows, allowing you run your applications in a completely isolated environment. Hence the session and all activity, malicious or otherwise, will happen in the virtual environment, not in the real PC environment. If the PC is attacked or gets infected, all you need to do is to simply reboot the PC to erase all changes. After reboot, the system will be restored to its original state, as if nothing ever happened. All of this without sacrificing computer performance or usability while helping to reduce technical support intervention and the need for routine maintenance.”

Secure computer advice and a little reassurance

Tips on how to keep your computer safe and your information secure:

PC Computing magazine has an article with 72 tips for safer computing.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has information for families and child-safe internet use.

And David Pogue has an article that wonders how safe — or unsafe — the Internet really is for children.  He found that most of the “dangers” are media hype.  So, bring the kids up from the basement and let them at the keyboard again…

Free anti-virus and other help

Computer Cleanup has a page of free anti-virus, system scanners, firewalls, and other security tools to make your system more secure without a lot of money changing hands.

Comodo fireware in a freeware version

Comodo provides firewall software, in a pay and a freeware version.

“Comodo is delivering this highly rated firewall free as a cornerstone of our initiative to empower consumers to create a safe and trusted online experience whenever you go online. This new initiative will also make available other free desktop security tools to avoid leading threats such as phishing attacks. The free tools include: the ability to authenticate web identities in real time (www.vengine.com), free email certificates for secure email encryption, secure backup for backing up files on your pc and iVault for password management and launching secured internet sessions. Together, all these solution could cost upwards of $500 per year to achieve a comparable level of internet security and safety. And all these products are offered free for the lifetime of the PC - without any annual subscription fees or licenses.”

This is considered one of several good possible firewalls which are freeware.

Hotspot Shield for using wireless on the go

Hotspot Shield is for those who use the wireless hot spots in cafes, coffee shops, airports, etc. — which can also be very dangerous places to expose your passwords, etc.!

“But while you’re enjoying your latte and a bagel, some hacker might be accessing your passwords, credit card numbers, sensitive company data and much more. And standard antivirus software won’t protect you. That’s why AnchorFree is pleased to offer Hotspot Shield. This free security software keeps your Internet connection secure at public hotspots, home or work.”

“Hotspot Shield creates a virtual private network (VPN) between your laptop and the wireless router. This impenetrable tunnel prevents snoopers and hackers from viewing your email, instant messages, credit card information or anything else you send over a wireless network. Which means you remain anonymous and protect your privacy.  Hotspot Shield security software is free to download, employs the latest VPN technology, and is easy to install and use.”

Runs on XP, Vista, 2000, Macs… see the list at the site.