http://info5000.com//PC-SECURITY/index.html Today, more and more people are using their computers for everything from communication to online banking and investing to shopping. As we do these things on a more regular basis, we open ourselves up to potential hackers, attackers and crackers. While some may be looking to phish your personal information and identity for resale, others simply just want to use your computer as a platform from which to attack other unknowing targets. Below are a few easy, cost-effective steps you can take to make your computer more secure. en-us Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT New Series of Trusted Computing Video Podcasts Launched, Featuring Wave CEO Steven Sprague Discussing Hardware Security Benefits, Value and Deployments http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/index.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Panda Security today announced that Panda Internet Security 2011 obtained the Number One rank in the most recent Security Suites Performance Test from independent reviewer, AV-Comparatives.org. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/index.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Intel's plans for its future are diverse and impressive--if it all comes good, Intel hardware will be powering everything from your desktop PC to your smartphone to the entertainment center in your car. But that doesn't mean it can ignore the other, softer side of the computer business, so it's just revealed it'll be buying PC security firm McAfee . The deal amounts to 48 per McAfee share ... http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/index.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT But where are they going from here? http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/index.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Today, more and more people are using their computers for everything from communication to online banking and investing to shopping. As we do these things on a more regular basis, we open ourselves up to potential hackers, attackers and crackers. While some may be looking to phish your personal information and identity for resale, others simply just want to use your computer as a platform from which to attack other unknowing targets. Below are a few easy, cost-effective steps you can take to make your computer more secure. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/securing-your-computer-system.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Spyware and Adware are not only an ever increasing nuisance for computer users everywhere, but also a booming industry. According to Webroot Software, Inc., the distribution of online advertisements through spyware and adware has become a 2 billion industry. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/counterspy-1.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT table width336 alignleft http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/about-encryption-and-making-your-system-secure.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Fighting SpamHow prevalent is Spam? According to Scott McAdams, OMA Public Affairs and Communications Department (www.oma.org): http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/fighting-spam.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT A keylogger is a program that runs in your computer's background secretly recording all your keystrokes. Once your keystrokes are logged, they are hidden away for later retrieval by the attacker. The attacker then carefully reviews the information in hopes of finding passwords or other information that would prove useful to them. For example, a keylogger can easily obtain confidential emails and reveal them to any interested outside party willing to pay for the information. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/the-advancement-of-the-keylogger.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Protecting your computer from a virus is getting harder and harder each day. While it may border on the paranoid, it goes without saying that you can't leave your guard down for one second. Even corporate giant Microsoft has found its own systems compromised on more than one occasion. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/fighting-of-viruses-advancements-in-antivirus-sofware-suites.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT I recently hit, by mistake, what I thought was an Explorer upgrade option. It turned out to be a pop-up appearing legitimate but really was not. It uploaded a product called Intelligent Explorer on my machine. What a nightmare! http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/beware-internet-explorer-plug-ins.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Spam. Nobody likes it. Nobody wants it. No, we aren't talking about the canned meat, but those unsolicited, unwanted, irrelevant, or even inappropriate messages that hit our email in mass quantities. While most mailboxes have some type of spam filtering software built into their system, they never seem to do a very good job of catching what you want them to catch, and letting through what you want them to let through. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important to turn to some type of additional spam filtering product. One such filtering system, designed for Outlook and Outlook Express users, is receiving rave reviews for its superior detection and low rate of false positives (i.e,. what you want to get through does). http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/spam-buster.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT There are numerous ways you can lose the information on your computer. Your child decides to play Chopin on your keyboard, a power surge, lightening, a virus, or even simple equipment failure. Therefore, backing up the contents of your hard drive is an absolute MUST. By regularly making backup copies of your files and storing them in a separate location, you can typically get some, if not all, of your information back in the event your computer crashes. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/protection-you-can-afford.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT We have all heard the term Trojan Horse, but what exactly is it? A Trojan Horse is a destructive program that masquerades as a harmless application. Unlike viruses, Trojan Horses do not replicate themselves, but they can be just as destructive. One of the most dangerous examples of a Trojan is a program that promises to rid your computer of viruses but instead introduces viruses into your computer. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/trojan-horses.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT In 2004, online consumer spending was at a record 65.1 billion. More and more people are attracted to the ease of online shopping and are spending higher amounts. Unfortunately, the chances of becoming a victim of Internet fraud are also increasing. The Internet National Fraud Center Watch reported that the average loss to fraud victims for just the first six months of 2005 was 2,579. This is compared to the 895 average for all of 2004. Complaints relating to general merchandise purchases (goods never received or misrepresented) accounted for 30 of Internet fraud complaints, and auction purchases (goods never received or misrepresented) topped the list at 44. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/website-security-rules-of-the-road.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT The top commander of the department of Defense network operations just ordered a crackdown on security. According to a recent article by NetworkWorld on January 16,2006, Lt. General Charles Croom is quoted as saying, http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/department-of-defense-crackdown-on-secuity.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Anyone who works on a computer day-in and day-out, for any extensive period of time, dreams of the day when a product will be developed that will end the tyranny of our endless tapping at the keyboard. Wouldn't it be swell if we could simply speak and the computer recorded and typed what we said? Oh, yeah, it also has to be affordable for the average consumer. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/naturally-speaking.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Intrusion Detection System (IDS) are a necessary part of any strategy for enterprise security. What are Intrusion Detection systems? CERIAS, The Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security, defines it this way: http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/what-are-intrusion-detection-systems.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Everyone in the United States has heard of the leading antivirus vendors Symantec, Mcafee, Computer Associates, and Trend Micro. These companies have market-leading presence in the United States. Microsoft, as well, has plans become a key player in this market. Microsoft acquired intellectual property and technology from GeCad software in 2003, a company based in Bucharest, Romania. They also acquired Pelican Software, which had a behavior based security as well as Giant Company Software for spyware and Sybari Software, which manages virus, spam, and phishing filtering. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/who-are-the-players-in-the-antivirus-industry.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT I just had, by mistake, a plug-in called Intelligent Explorer attach to my browser. What a nightmare! I have another article on this topic, but this brings home a point. Spyware or adware items are continually infecting computers. Most computers have no protection from them. Most frightening is the frequency of them. From the InfosecWriters web site, http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/how-many-spyware-items-are-infecting-my-computer.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Word processing and spreadsheets were the first of the killer apps for home computers when PCs first started to propagate to the millions of households out there. Then, there were Internet Browsers that took everyone by storm. So what are the hot categories and hot products now? There are more products then ever out there for the home shopper and many of them not that good. We looked over many, many different products and product categories to find the best home products, the hot home product categories, and the best software products period. The list is neither exhaustive nor scientific, but the products listed here are definitely great! If you have a computer at home, take a look at these products! http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/top-10-home-software-programs.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Have you ever thought you had what it takes to direct your own movies? Maybe, you just love taking video of your kids. And what's the thrill of making a movie if you can't share it with the world...or at least your immediate family and friends? http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/lights-camera-action.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT When you surf the web it is possible to learn information about you even when you don't want to advertise who you are. This is true even if your system contains no virus or malware software. Specifically information that is easily available online includes your IP address, your country (and often more location information based on IP address), what computer system you are on, what browser you use, your browser history, and other information. It gets worse. People can get your computer's name and even find out your name if your machine supports programs like finger or identd. Also, cookies can track your habits as you move from machine to machine. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/surfing-the-web-anonymously.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Who hasn't received an email directing them to visit a familiar website where they are being asked to update their personal information? The website needs you to verify or update your passwords, credit card numbers, social security number, or even your bank account number. You recognize the business name as one that you've conducted business with in the past. So, you click on the convenient http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/phishing-for-your-identity.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT The advent of the Internet, in some respects, made the job of parenting a little harder. We want our children to experience the vast wealth of knowledge available on the Internet and communicate with their friends online (frees up the telephone). Unfortunately, it also potential exposes our children to inappropriate material, obscene pop-up ads, and even sexual predators. In fact, research indicates that 1 in 5 children aged 10 to 17 have received a sexual solicitation over the Internet. This is definitely not something any parent wants to hear, but is forced to face. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/parental-peace-of-mind.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT It is estimated that 50 million Americans are researching their roots. They come from various walks of life, economic levels, ages, religions, races, and from many professions. For some people, it is a hobby on which they spend a few hours a month. For others, it's an obsession. Either way, they all share a common bond of seeking information about people who came before them. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/family-tree-legends.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S. The U.S. Secret Service has estimated that consumers nationwide lose 745 million to identity theft each year. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the average victim spends 607 hours and averages 1,000 just to clear their credit records. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/name-rank-and-social-security-number.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT No Description http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/what-the-heck-are-botnets.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Every day new computer viruses are created to annoy us and to wreck havoc on our computer systems. Below are ten viruses currently cited as being the most prevalent in terms of being seen the most or in their ability to potentially cause damage. New viruses are created daily. This is by no means an all inclusive list. The best thing you can do is to remain vigilant, keep your anti-virus software updated, and stay aware of the current computer virus threats. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/computer-viruses-that-come-a-calling.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Malware. An odd sounding word created to lump all malicious software programs, including viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, adware, and other malevolent codes into one cause-your-computer-serious-hurt category. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/zonealarm.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Spyware is one of the fastest-growing internet threats. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, spyware infects more than 90 of all PCs today. These unobtrusive, malicious programs are designed to silently bypass firewalls and anti-virus software without the user's knowledge. Once embedded in a computer, it can wreak havoc on the system's performance while gathering your personal information. Fortunately, unlike viruses and worms, spyware programs do not usually self-replicate. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/why-do-i-feel-like-somebody's-watching-me.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT Before proceeding to read this article, it is important that we state something up front. It is essential for the reader to understand and appreciate that there is no such thing as a secure operating system or web browser. While the use of security suites and other complementing products can significantly reduce your risks, they are not magic wands that you can wave to eliminate 100 of your risk. Any product claiming they can do this should be viewed with great skepticism. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/finding-the-security-suite-that-meets-your-needs.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT There is a lot going on in the information security space. The coming year looks to be an interesting year in these regards. Below are some things to watch for, some of them are good and, unfortunately, some aren't. http://info5000.com/PC-SECURITY/security-watch.html info5000.com@info5000.com (Carson Danfield) Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:45:32 PDT