Tashah
DP Veteran
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 18,379
- Reaction score
- 9,233
- Gender
- Female
- Political Leaning
- Centrist
If your computer uses an Apple operating system, please check with Apple Products for online updates at:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads
Users of Microsoft operating systems 95 - XP check for Microsoft Critical Updates online at:
http://windowsupdates.microsoft.com/
If you use a Microsoft XP product, make sure that you have downloaded Security Service Pack 2. If you are unsure go to: Microsoft Updates and click on "View Installation History" in left page frame.
I highly recommnd using Mozilla Firefox as your default web browser. This is a free product and is available at: http://www.mozilla.org
Tips and Advice for Microsoft/Internet Explorer Users
• Scan Disc and Defragment your hard drive weekly
• If you have a DSL (24/7) Internet connection, use a router as an interface between your computer and the Internet. I highly recomend using a Linksys product.
• Always use the latest edition of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Microsoft is about to unveil IE 7.0 and availability can be determined here:
http://www.windowsdownloads.com
• Install a firewall program on your computer. At a minimum download the free Zone Labs firewall. I highly recommend purchasing Zone Alarm Pro. All Zone Alarm products can be found here: http://www.zonelabs.com
• Install an anti-virus program on your computer. I highly recommend Panda Antivirus Platinum available online at: http://www.pandasoftware.com/
• Install a Registry checking program on your computer. I highly recommend using Registry Mechanic available online at: http://www.pctools.com/
• It is critical that you scan your computer often using anti-spyware software. I have found that using one program is not enough, as hackers are sophisticated and move quickly to exploit vulnerabilities. Therefore I recommend a multi-layered approach. To ensure maximum protection it is necessary to use four anti-spyware programs:
1) Microsoft Antispyware for Windows XP available at: http://www.windowsdownloads.com/
2) AdAware Security Edition Plus available at: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
3) Spybot Search and Destroy available at: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
4) Hijack This available at: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html
Other Tips and Advice
• Make sure you receive a warning prompt before any ActiveX components, embedded objects, mime objects, scripts, and JavaScript's are downloaded to your computer. Do not put any website into your "Trusted Site" zone unless you are certain of their good-reputation.
• If you are considering using a "wireless" technology such as Bluetooth, be aware of security concerns and address these issues beforehand.
• If you use connect clients such as mIRC, Vincula-Neo etc., understand and appreciate the security issues involved.
• For greater online stealth, obtain a proxy address and alias if you know how to do this.
• Be aware of the possible dangers inherent in certain web-servers that allow peer-to-peer (p2p) connections.
• Always make sure that a webpage with forms and fields which require input of any personal information such as name, address, phone-number, credit card number, passwords, etc., are bona-fide, secure, and encrypted.
• A free online Anti-virus scan is available here -
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
• You can check to see if you have any unexplained open ports with a free online scan available here -
http://www.dslreports.com/scan
• You can check on your Internet stealth with a free online scan available here -
http://stealthtests.lockdowncorp.com/
• You can download ping software here -
Free - http://www.advtoolware.com/t4e/fp/fp_default.htm
Recommended - http://www.ipswitch.com/products/WS_Ping/index.html?overture
• You can do a "whois" search of an IP address here -
http://www.arin.net/
• You can do a "whois" search for a domain name owner here -
http://www.inww.com/
• This site contains a database of known high-risk websites (blacklisted) -
http://www.spywareguide.com/spywarelist.html
• You can freely post questions about Microsoft/Internet Explorer security concerns and receive replies from Microsoft and industry security specialists here -
http://support.microsoft.com/newsgr...LCID=US&ICP=GSS3&sd=GN&id=fh;en-us;newsgroups
• Techie Note: While the Symantec (Norton's) corporation offers many excellent computer security tools and enjoys world-wide recognition, their software has a propensity to act as a system-administrator and claim unbridled control over the operating system. Just be aware and be a bit wary of this attribute.
Safe Surfing!
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads
Users of Microsoft operating systems 95 - XP check for Microsoft Critical Updates online at:
http://windowsupdates.microsoft.com/
If you use a Microsoft XP product, make sure that you have downloaded Security Service Pack 2. If you are unsure go to: Microsoft Updates and click on "View Installation History" in left page frame.
I highly recommnd using Mozilla Firefox as your default web browser. This is a free product and is available at: http://www.mozilla.org
Tips and Advice for Microsoft/Internet Explorer Users
• Scan Disc and Defragment your hard drive weekly
• If you have a DSL (24/7) Internet connection, use a router as an interface between your computer and the Internet. I highly recomend using a Linksys product.
• Always use the latest edition of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Microsoft is about to unveil IE 7.0 and availability can be determined here:
http://www.windowsdownloads.com
• Install a firewall program on your computer. At a minimum download the free Zone Labs firewall. I highly recommend purchasing Zone Alarm Pro. All Zone Alarm products can be found here: http://www.zonelabs.com
• Install an anti-virus program on your computer. I highly recommend Panda Antivirus Platinum available online at: http://www.pandasoftware.com/
• Install a Registry checking program on your computer. I highly recommend using Registry Mechanic available online at: http://www.pctools.com/
• It is critical that you scan your computer often using anti-spyware software. I have found that using one program is not enough, as hackers are sophisticated and move quickly to exploit vulnerabilities. Therefore I recommend a multi-layered approach. To ensure maximum protection it is necessary to use four anti-spyware programs:
1) Microsoft Antispyware for Windows XP available at: http://www.windowsdownloads.com/
2) AdAware Security Edition Plus available at: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
3) Spybot Search and Destroy available at: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
4) Hijack This available at: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html
Other Tips and Advice
• Make sure you receive a warning prompt before any ActiveX components, embedded objects, mime objects, scripts, and JavaScript's are downloaded to your computer. Do not put any website into your "Trusted Site" zone unless you are certain of their good-reputation.
• If you are considering using a "wireless" technology such as Bluetooth, be aware of security concerns and address these issues beforehand.
• If you use connect clients such as mIRC, Vincula-Neo etc., understand and appreciate the security issues involved.
• For greater online stealth, obtain a proxy address and alias if you know how to do this.
• Be aware of the possible dangers inherent in certain web-servers that allow peer-to-peer (p2p) connections.
• Always make sure that a webpage with forms and fields which require input of any personal information such as name, address, phone-number, credit card number, passwords, etc., are bona-fide, secure, and encrypted.
• A free online Anti-virus scan is available here -
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
• You can check to see if you have any unexplained open ports with a free online scan available here -
http://www.dslreports.com/scan
• You can check on your Internet stealth with a free online scan available here -
http://stealthtests.lockdowncorp.com/
• You can download ping software here -
Free - http://www.advtoolware.com/t4e/fp/fp_default.htm
Recommended - http://www.ipswitch.com/products/WS_Ping/index.html?overture
• You can do a "whois" search of an IP address here -
http://www.arin.net/
• You can do a "whois" search for a domain name owner here -
http://www.inww.com/
• This site contains a database of known high-risk websites (blacklisted) -
http://www.spywareguide.com/spywarelist.html
• You can freely post questions about Microsoft/Internet Explorer security concerns and receive replies from Microsoft and industry security specialists here -
http://support.microsoft.com/newsgr...LCID=US&ICP=GSS3&sd=GN&id=fh;en-us;newsgroups
• Techie Note: While the Symantec (Norton's) corporation offers many excellent computer security tools and enjoys world-wide recognition, their software has a propensity to act as a system-administrator and claim unbridled control over the operating system. Just be aware and be a bit wary of this attribute.
Safe Surfing!