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The other day an acquaintance mentioned to me that he'd like to start a new business in the computer forensics trade, and make it his new life's work. Does that make sense? Well, sure it does, and just because everything is moving into the cloud, or so it is predicted doesn't necessarily mean that folks who are trying to hide something would dare to store stuff there. After all, it would be easily searchable by the authorities, or some NSA searching algorithm will find it.
Thus, those using computers to help them break the law are more likely to keep information close to the vest on encrypted CD ROMS, hard drives, thumb drives, etc - kind of like Osama bin Laden did. And then there is another aspect to the computer forensics business, and that is recovering lost data for businesses. Therefore, I explained to him that I agree that computer forensics, and consulting are a good business to be in - smart idea.
In fact, I have a friend who had a computer consulting business, and did quite well, but had challenges when he took on the wrong partner, and they both had different ideas on how to run the business, so they split it into two, hardware sales/computer repair and consulting/networks. Just be careful if you take on partners, was his advice. I'd say that advice would definitely go for the computer forensics sector as well.
And, speaking of computer forensics, I sure could have used him a few years ago, when my hard drive crashed, and I lost 4 eBooks I was working on, which like a dummy I hadn't backed up. That was terrible. And that same year I had my MS operating system screw up, and when I re-booted I lost a ton more, lots of import ideas, concepts, and half completed articles I was thinking on. People really need computer forensics, and data recovery, and Corporations really need to trace back how the hackers get in to provide safe data security too.
I'd say there is a ton of work to be done + potential contracts with law-enforcement I'd say, as well. Good be quite a lucrative business I'd say? Indeed, maybe my acquaintance is quite wise in his desire to start such a business, maybe that is a smart industry to get into, and with the right connections, it ought to be a very awesome business. Well, that's all for now, something to think on. If you have any more questions or comments on the computer forensics industry please shoot me an email.
Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 23,777 articles by 7 PM on June 27, 2011 is going to be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off now..
Computer Security is something large commercial organisations have long since realised cannot not be ignored. SME's (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) are not always so diligent, this is often down to the lack of resources or the simple fact that no one in particular has sole responsibility for it. Sure, it should be part of any IT function, but with all the other more pressing day-to-day demands it is also something that sits untouched on a 'to do list', if it even makes it on to the list at all.
Then there's the home and personal users who in most cases just don't understand the dangers. Any thoughts regarding security stop at the purchase of some antivirus software or a possible reluctance to use a credit card online in case it is compromised. The thought of having to stop hacker intrusion of their computer may never have crossed their minds.
Computer security should be a concern for everyone with a personal computer or laptop, from the home user to the world's biggest corporations - they all have good cause for concern. The readily available supply of both hardware and software keyloggers is making it easy for the cyber criminals to gain access to sensitive and potentially harmful personal and corporate data.
I'd just like to make one thing clear. Keystroke recorders, or Keyloggers as they are also known, are legitimate surveillance hardware or software methods which are completely legal. How can that be? I hear some of you say. Well, it is important to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent / covert use of these devices.
As a legitimate surveillance tool Keyloggers are often used by employers to ensure employees use work computers for business purposes only. Keyloggers can record instant messages, e-mail, and any information an employee types using their keyboard. A log file of keystroke activities is created by the keylogger which can then be sent to a specified receiver for examination. Some keylogger programs can also record any e-mail addresses the employees' use and Web site URLs they visit. All activities are logged into a file, supported with screen snapshots.
In cases of under performance an employer may use this method to check on an employee's activity - it may expose time wasted on web surfing, instant messaging or time spent on social networking sites, time which should be spent working.
Parents worried about the safety of their children when online can use keyloggers to monitor their activity. I know this may raise huge questions about trust, but parents have to balance this against the potential dangers presented by the unscrupulous and devious in our society who try to groom children for unsavoury purposes. It's a hard fact of life but there is a category of low-life who prey on the young and unsuspecting. If using this technology gives a parent peace of mind and ensures their kids stay safe then I regard it as a legitimate use.
Key logging recorders can be small hardware devices - small and usually unnoticed hardware keylogger devices inserted between the keyboard and the system unit can record every single keyboard input. A microcontroller interprets the data, and stores information in memory and just like a USB key drive will retain information even without being connected to a power source. Some of these devices can store up to 12 months of data entry. Every account reference, every password can be recorded. These hardware devices are quick and easy to install, just plug them in. They can also quickly be removed or moved to another computer.
Keyloggers can also be a software program which resides inside your system - a much harder thing to spot. I've seen some software versions advertised as a means to catching a cheating spouse or partner. To some people the suspicion that they are being cheated on can cause great heartache and anxiety which eventually becomes unbearable. In such cases they may invest in a product which may tell them one way or another if their suspicions are valid or not.
There are clearly legitimate reasons why people use keystroke recording methods as part of a security or surveillance activity. However, this also raises the question of what can happen when the criminal element use these methods on the unsuspecting computer user.
A physical security search of all computer hardware to identify the presence of hardware keylogger devices may seem like a tedious task - it is, but then again compare this with the theft of important data and the potential consequences if this found its way into the hands of the criminal fraternity. Perhaps that search wasn't so tedious after all.
If being used covertly hardware keyloggers have to be deliberately connected by someone who has physical access to the computer in question. Software versions do not! It is the software versions which give rise to the greatest concern.
Users may unwittingly download the software version when visiting a website or when they download other legitimate content from the net. The software version can sit undetected hidden somewhere amongst your system files capturing every keystroke you make and relaying them to someone who could be anywhere in the world. That's every password, credit card number, bank details etc. - everything a criminal would need to start spending your hard earned money.
It's the software version which is the real threat to the general personal computer user. The easy target that is unlikely to spot they have become a victim and who won't know how to stop hacker theft of their information. Who has never even heard of Keylogger Removal software or how to use it. These are the easy prey for the professional computer hacker.
For anyone who wants to read more about Keylogger Removal I invite them to check out my Blog on the subject: [http://www.keyloggerremoval.biz]
All the best,
Nigel Ridge
Almost everybody today has a personal computer connected to the Internet. The internet is a great way to communicate, gather information, and shop. It has made life easier with applications that help a person transact over the internet. However, while the internet has numerous advantages, there are serious disadvantages that should be taken into account as well. The internet has become a breeding ground for criminals and hackers who victimize people by accessing their profiles and fraudulently use their names for transactions which result to huge amounts of bills and tainted credit records of the victimized people. Thus the need for an efficient and effective internet security that could help protect your identity from these attacks. Using a firewall protects your computer and prepares your computer from potential attackers.
Facts about firewall security
1 - A firewall is basically a piece of software or hardware operating in a networked environment to prevent communication between areas with different degrees of trust. The term firewall is derived from the same concept of firewall used in construction whose purpose is to keep fire from spreading if a fire starts.
2 - Personal firewall is the most common type of firewall and this type is found in Windows XP. This type of firewall was not popular among users because of the invention of the viruses-Blaster worm and the Sasser worm. These worms drove Microsoft to start designing a more comprehensive firewall application that can provide users improved and enhanced protection for both their home and office networks.
3 - The next generation of Microsoft firewall protection is effectively designed to help secure and equip both your personal and business computers with the advanced protection against the capabilities viruses. The next generation of firewall protection allows you investigate any activity going on outside of your system. It will let you know who is accessing your information online and who is doing transactions under your name.
Setting firewall
Every personal computer needs a firewall for complete cyber security. Luckily, there is no need to buy it since the operating system of your computer has already included it. Your role is to find out how to properly set up your operating parameters and start configuring your firewall by identifying what to allow and what to ban on your computer.
Although you could easily look for help in setting up your firewall in your computer, it is also important that you ask for assistance of somebody who knows a thing or two about firewalls. Mishandling of firewalls will make them useless and will not protect you from any cyber attack.
Enroll with Sourcefire and get cyber security instantly. Sourcefire provides next generation intrusion detection, NGFW and intrusion prevention system to protect your privacy on the internet.
Online computer security is overlooked or minimized by too many Internet businesses. There are numerous security software packages available. Each company offers a multitude of features to keep your business computer safe and secure. So which features are essential? Which ones can't you do without? Which of these features are already in your business computer? Most vendors sell the basic version of their security software and sell the premium versions (usually with the features that you really need) at a higher price. Is it worth it to pay more for the premium versions of these security programs?
To safeguard your online business computer the following are what you absolutely should have:
1. Anti Virus Software
Having an anti virus system installed in your business computer is a must as it will detect and remove viruses and worms that have gotten into your hard drive. You may accidentally download infected files, receive infected e-mails or have your system compromised after visiting questionable websites. Once installed on your business computer, your anti virus software will need to be updated on a regular basis since new viruses are created every day. Most anti virus software programs automatically update themselves.
2. Personal Firewall
Install a personal firewall on your business computer to keep hackers and malicious programs from infiltrating your computer and accessing your business files. A personal firewall will monitor connections that are coming in to and going out of your computer.
3. Anti Spyware Program
Install anti spyware program in your business computer in order to block or remove spyware and adware programs that have gotten into the computer. Spyware and adware programs are malicious programs with hidden code. They disguise themselves as acceptable files. For instance, rootkit programs are often used by hackers to hide spyware and malware.
4. Wireless Network Monitoring Software
If you use a wireless networking system this piece of software is absolutely essential. It will prevent unauthorized individuals from using up all your bandwidth or invading your wireless network. With wireless network monitoring software you can set up access IDs, passwords and network addresses.
The following are also good for security although it may not be as critical to have the best software available:
1. Anti Phishing/Fraud Defense Software
This security software protects your business computer against phishing and fraud. It stops various online fraud attempts to get your credit card number or bank account number. If you use Internet Explorer or Firefox as your browser, they already have this security feature integrated.
2. Online Identity Protection Software
Online identify protection software protects you from online identity theft. Most of the sites you will use for online purchases already have some type of online identity protection implemented. If you use your credit card or debit card for online purchases, be aware that it comes with online protection in cases of unauthorized purchases.
3. Anti Spam Software
An anti spam software filters e-mails you did not request or e-mails that may contain dangerous files. Web-based e-mail services like Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo already have spam filters in place. If you mistakenly open an e-mail with a suspicious attachment or links to sites designed to steal your information, the anti spam software will scan the attachment first or disable the links so that you do not accidentally click on them.
4. Pop-Up Blocker
A pop-up blocker prevents malicious scripts in pop-up webpages from executing. Again, Internet Explorer and Firefox already have a pop-up blocker installed.
When you purchase any of these security software packages to protect your eBiz computer, make sure you keep your subscription up to date. Keeping your security software current helps keep your online business computer secure.
Most security software offers similar features and protection capabilities. There is, however, security software that is specifically recommended for online businesses. Most of this security software can be downloaded for free during a trial period before you purchase the full version.
Your business computer can never be 100% safe and secure. You can, however, lower the risk of unauthorized access to it by using security programs and keeping them all current. By doing this, you save yourself time and money.
Please also read about another essential safeguard involving password security. Be sure to visit our website and discover ways to build a passive income online.
Are you having problems playing sounds on your computer? There's no need to worry. That can be easily resolved by going through a little troubleshooting. Follow the steps below:
Are your speakers on? If you are using speakers, make sure that the power cord is firmly plugged into a working outlet and that the speakers are turned on.
Are your speakers or headphones properly connected? The sound cable of the speakers or headphones must be securely plugged into the appropriate jack on the computer. Look up your speaker/headphone documentation to be sure that you have connected them correctly.
Are the volume settings correctly set? Adjust the volume control to the proper settings on the speakers or headphones and on the computer itself. Make sure that audio is not muted.
Is the source media playable? You may be trying to play a damaged disk or a corrupt sound file. Try a different disk or sound file.
Are your speakers or headphones working properly? Try different headphones or speakers. The ones you are trying to use may be defective.
Is your sound device working properly? Your sound device should be enabled and properly configured. If you have more than one sound device, the device you are trying to use should be the default sound device. The documentation that came with your sound device will provide information on how to enable and configure it.
If your sound device has been properly enabled and configured and seems to be working properly, yet you still can not hear sounds, or if you can not configure your sound device on your system, it is most likely due to not having the correct device drivers.
Device drivers are programs which add functionality to devices. These are software that make hardware devices work. As with all other programs or software, device drivers need to be compatible with the platform or operating system on which they are to be used. A device driver designed for a MAC will most definitely not run on a PC. And drivers made for Windows 98 will not work on Windows Vista. For drivers to make any device function properly, the correct version for the particular system must be installed.
When you buy a computer, the correct drivers are usually already installed on it and a driver installer disk or a recovery disk usually comes with it. There are circumstances wherein the drivers are lost, most of the time because of a system crash. Reinstalling the drivers from the disk that came with the computer would solve this. But what if the disk has been damaged or lost and the computer is already beyond warranty? Or what if the system was upgraded so that the device drivers that came with it no longer work with the upgraded system?
Again, there's no need to worry. That can be easily resolved by using a driver finder program. A good driver finder program will scan your computer, identify hardware devices installed on it, recommend drivers specifically made for the brand of your computer, and download the most up to date drivers for your devices. It should preferably have a feature that will allow you to copy the downloaded drivers to a CD, network drive or USB flash drive. An option that lets you download the program and scan your computer for free would be an added bonus.
There are many driver finder programs on the market. You can search the internet and choose one which will work best for you.
Fara is a consultant engaged in rating the quality of web search results to improve internet user experience. She also specializes in web development, remote business administration solutions, PC technical support and internet security, and is one of the major solutions providers for Clarafaie Solutions. For the past year, she has been working with Affilorama Group Ltd and Doubledot Media Ltd, helping aspiring internet marketers achieve success in their online business ventures. In her spare time, she writes for a few selected clients.
So you want to know just how secure your computer network is. You can't really tell until you perform a text which assesses your system's weaknesses and how these could be taken advantage of. Companies and personal users do these tests so they can narrow down their locus of problems regarding their systems and come up with possible ways to remedy whatever irregularities are spotted. In a way, these so-called "Penetration Tests" are synonymous to ethical hacking which aims to get into a system to see how it can be further strengthened and guarded against black hats.
Doing a penetration test will, of course, begin with a plan where goals are defined as well as the time limits for the achievement of those goals. Here, the major problems will be discussed, as well as the specific parts of the system that should be tested, when and how long the process will take. Basically, this is where the structure of the test to be performed will be mapped out, beginning with pinpointing the actual potential sources of problems and the approach that will be used to solve them using the penetration technique.
Once everything has been detailed out, the role of the ethical hacker will be defined. The person who will pretend to be a hacker will now put himself in the shoes of a black hat and will try to do things as a black hat would to a system that he plans on attacking. After this, the tester will now go through the system and see from which actual points a hacker might possibly attack. In other words, this is where vulnerabilities of such a system will be exposed.
The last step is for the tester to "hack" the system as though he was a real hacker with real objectives for doing the hacking. For example, the tester would try to dig as much information from the system as he can. By knowing how this is possible, he will be able to come up with counter measures that will make such an intrusion impossible.
After the test, a report will be submitted to the company and will detail whatever vulnerabilities have been discovered with the system as well as how to best remove these weak points by providing solutions. In other words, the main goal of a penetration test is to see where a hacker might be successful in hacking a computer network and provide solutions to make sure these weaknesses are fixed before a real hacker makes a go for them.
Prevention is still, of course, the main thing when it comes to avoiding hackers. Companies must make it a point to ensure that their employees only visit clean sites or, if this is not possible, web surfing other than those directly related to the job, should be prohibited. However, as one can never totally get rid of the threats of hacking, it would be wise to install a software that isolates such risks significantly.
An IP change software, which allows a computer to go online with its real IP address hidden, could be a very good option. When the IP is hidden, any computer can run around freely on the Internet without being targeted for hacking. Or the computer may be targeted but the hacker's efforts will simply be in vain because such computer won't really be accessible to him since it's using a fake IP.
For safe surfing, surf anonymously and preserve your online security.
2011 is turning out to be busy for those involved in information security, so far there have been the following information security related incidents in the headlines during the first 5 months of the year:
February 2011 HB Gary hack attack by the group known as Anonymous.
March 2011 RSA hack stole token data, (attackers were reportedly advanced persistent threats).
April 2011 Sony hack data theft reportedly involving information related to 77 million accounts and 2.2M credit cards.
April 2011 Epsilon victimized by a hack attack, email addresses stolen.
WikiLeaks related attacks perpetrated by the group known as Anonymous.
April 2011 Ritz-Carlton Hotel customers data stolen in a hack attack.
April 2011 Amazon Web Services cloud outage (non-availability).
May 2011 Lockheed Martin (details were not disclosed).
May 2011 Woodside Petroleum (Australia's largest oil company said attacks were coming from everywhere).
May 2011 Public Broadcasting (a phony news story and lists of reporters accounts and passwords were posted to a PBS site.)
May 2011 A New York Congressman reported a lewd photo had been mailed when his Twitter account was hacked.
Hacking is a type of directed attack typically executed by an external human using tradecraft methods to exploit accessible vulnerabilities and inflict damage. Protection methods are usually applied to limit the damage inflicted during an attack, limit the duration of an attack or deter an attacker. The effectiveness of any protection measures in use is clearly at issue when a successful attack occurs. Forensic tools and methods are used to analyze attacks allowing lessons learned to be captured and documented. Data theft is often motivated by financial gain, focused on credit card data for sale to fraudsters or email addresses for sale to spammers.
Non-availability incidents occur for any number of reasons, often not involving malicious activity. Such incidents can grow as related resources cascade into failure, a phenomena with potentially wide spread impact.
The Internet is often used to deliver the attack. The nature of giant public networks facilitate anonymity while being reliable and predictable.
The list does not include a huge number of incidents based on malicious code that have become common events or the large number of incidents involving sensitive, typically government, sites that never make it into the press.
The rapidly evolving sophistication of hacking attacks is a cause for concern. State sponsored activity involving "Advanced Persistent Threats" is emerging from behind the curtains as a valid concern for enterprises worldwide. The press in not likely to suffer from a shortage of material for their headlines for the remainder of 2011.
The incidents mentioned are from press articles that can usually be found in the publisher's archives. A search using the name of the victim and "hack" can often find a no cost article.
Each time US Internet security software companies work with overseas companies, they end up risking the potential eventuality of giving away information which could be used against citizens in other nations, or used by country-sponsored cyber attacks on US computer systems. The risk is so great in fact that it is amazing that there isn't more oversight than there already is. Let's take a look at a recent case study involving Symantec and Huawei Technologies in China for a moment.
There was an interesting article in the New York Times recently on March 26, 2011 titled; "Symantec Dissolves a Chinese Alliance," by Nicole Perlroth and John Markoff, which stated;
"Less than four years after Huawei Technologies and Symantec teamed up to develop computer network security products, the joint venture is being dismantled because Symantec feared the alliance with the Chinese company would prevent it from obtaining United States government classified information about cyberthreats."
Anytime a very well market penetrated company such as Symantec gives clues, consults, or works with a foreign company, that foreign corporation now has more insight as to how the software that Symantec deploys protects their customer's computer systems. Therefore, we now have a big problem. You see, the software engineers and computer scientists working for Huawei Technologies, which has been set up much similarly to AT&T, are not stupid people. Many have been trained in the top US Universities in fact.
You see, they already know most all of the tricks of the trade to Internet and computer security, as well as all the neat strategies for encryption, thus, giving them more information, actually has the potential eventuality of rendering all US computer security obsolete. Not to mention the reality that in the end the Chinese will have copied all the intellectual property and the company doing business there will not have gained much anyway, expect for giving away their yesterday's and most likely a good portion of their current technology without any huge financial gain for their troubles.
US companies should be quite alarmed at what is happening, and be prepared to hyperspace any current technology before sharing any of it with China who really doesn't culturally respect what we in the US refer to as proprietary information or intellectual property. Okay so, why did Symantec kill their Chinese alliance so abruptly? Well, why do you think? Further, I ask; are a good number of the attacks on US Computer systems due to perhaps, should I go so far as to say; Unholy Alliance? Time will tell and the truth always comes up, no matter how well encrypted. Please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Serious Internet Issues. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net
There are many types of malware, malicious software that pose threat to your computer security. These malicious objects have been designed with the intent to disrupt the normal use of your PC. Cyber criminals, known as hackers use these tools and employ various techniques to invade your privacy and cause you significant personal and/or financial harm. Malware get installed onto your computer via various sources like web browsing, instant messaging and peer-to-peer file sharing. These malicious objects pose great danger to your online computer security.
Viruses are the small piece of software program that can install itself and infect a PC. Viruses have potential to infect and corrupt files. Even sometimes, hard drive can also be crashed by viruses. These can spread via any medium while exchanging of digital data in a computer network. These include DVDs, CD-ROMs, USB keys, etc.
Spyware is another common malicious object that poses great threat to cyber security. These are installed with some other type of desired program without the knowledge of the PC user. Once these malevolent objects are secretly installed they can change computer settings, collect your passwords, your internet browsing history and private information. Then this information is sent to the author of the spyware. How will you understand your computer is infected by spyware? Well, there are various symptoms. If you experience sudden slowdown of your computer, it might be due to spyware.
Adware is another very annoying type of spyware. If your computer is infected by adware you will experience tremendous amount of advertising in the form of pop-up advertisements or banners scrolling across your screen. This is truly disturbing and distracting but they don't pose that much threat like that of other types of spyware.
In the list of computer threats a worm is a notable name. This self-contained program not only can replicate itself but also use a network to infect other systems on the network. There are also worms that can secretly send documents though email to its author and even delete necessary files. Worm cause harm to other computers on the network as well as it consumes bandwidth. This means it slows down the computer and slows down web browsing.
To deal with cyber threats and enhance computer security you need to consult a tech support service provider. These service providers are highly experienced to cope with cyber threats. They will provide you with robust security so that you can stay away from all types of security threats.
Remote computer support providers offer PC security support at a very convenient price. Their services are available round the clock and you get state of the art services from certified experts.
Computer forensics is a new and growing specialty that serves both the public and private sectors. IT forensics specialists are not only competent in software related matters, but in those relating to computer hardware issues as well. Computer forensics comes into play in both ethical and criminal issues, including intellectual property law, theft, and fraud. There was a time when those people committing computer crimes weren't at risk from the law - now they are.
These forensics follows traditional principles for scientific investigation. Work in computer forensics is systematic, well recorded and documented, and acceptable within a court of law. The methodology of computer forensics follows several steps. The first is to identify sources of digital evidence. The second is to preserve that evidence from loss, change or corruption. The third step in the process is to analyze the evidence, and the fourth is to present the evidence within the context it is required.
A good forensic specialist can manage the computer system and the data it contains while protecting sensitive evidence. Computer forensics explores both the individual computer, and any relevant networks or server connections. Forensics allows for the discovery of obvious and hidden data, as well as allowing access to password protected, encrypted and otherwise secured data on a computer system. Forensics may also allow for the recovery of deleted files.
As a matter of fact a lot of modern IT forensics work involves recovering files that have been deliberately deleted from computers and cellphones. The drugs trade relies on cellphones to communicate but now they're realizing that a good forensics team can retrieve information on every text message and phone call they've ever made.
You can think of these specialist forensic teams as like the ultimate data recovery specialists. No matter what lengths the guilty have gone to trying to hide the evidence of their crimes these guys can find it and use it against them in court. An example is the guy who set his laptop on fire but realized it was going to take forever to burn. So he threw the laptop into a river and figure that was enough.
It wasn't. Police were able to recover the laptop and almost all the data from his hard drive. He was prosecuted for the crime in question and is now serving his sentence. The only safe way to protect your data against a computer forensics team is to set the computer on fire, smash it to bits with a sledgehammer, put it in a container and have it shot into the heart of our sun on a rocket. And even then you can't be sure....
Industrial applications, the insurance industry, legal professionals, the courts and more rely on computer forensics for many functions, ranging from preventing the spread of illegal materials to avoiding corporate fraud. Computer forensics is a growing field, and one that will continue to provide evidence and insight to prevent growing criminal computer related activity.
Are you worried that your computer might be at risk? Your computer security is something you should take very seriously - it only takes one mistake to cause you major problems. If you want more info and help with your computer security problems then click here.
Computer security is a broad spectrum, and citing the emerging Internet threats it has become a must to do review work. As more and more digital information is getting online through e-mail client, instant messenger, social network, photo sharing websites, etc., your system is more vulnerable and can be an easy target of fraudsters and scammers. Along the installation of Windows, Microsoft Office, browser, e-mail clients, and more, the most essential job is to give your PC the protection of compatible antivirus or Internet security software. Sometimes, despite all protection the system acquires the infection. And, you may be perplexed with symptoms like slow performance, Windows Lockup, system crash, hard-drive failure, disk or drive inaccessibility, and more. At times, there can be silent errors, and before you awake it can be too late.
Avast is renowned brand while you are discussing the computer security aspect. There are home and business products both, and are powered with advanced antivirus and anti-spyware engines to check viruses, spyware, and other malicious agents. Real-time anti-rootkit protection will make sure that stealth factors, which can be a threat to your precious database stay away from your machine and specifically the Windows operating system files are safe. The brand has integrated some hi-tech features such as Boot-time scanner, avast! SafeZone and AutoSandbox. CommunityIQ network takes care of your system files against emerging Internet threats, as this is the portal empowered by the vast user-base. Avast products have received several acclamation from reputed software testing organizations, VB100, ICSA Labs, and West Coast Labs, are a few to name. Going through the avast reviews offered by these agencies can be a great advantage. These reports are based on practical performance of security software in terms of ease-to-use, intuitive features, effectiveness, update, upgrade and support. Thus, you can choose the best antivirus or Internet security protection for your system.
However, problems related to the installation, activation, update, and upgrade are not denied. There can be different reasons related to compatibility and conflict. So, before you install avast on your system affirm all requirement. Trace out and remove if there is any outdated security software already running on it. Do it either through Windows Control Panel or using an uninstaller tool as per your convenience. Uninstaller tool should be used with acute precision as it might delete important files or registry settings if taken for granted. Post installation problems related to e-mail send/receive, Internet access, sharing of files and peripherals, etc., can also be there, especially due to wrong settings and lack of update. Most of the times, you can fix the problem on your own, by updating or configuring the software application. Windows Firewall and Windows Update are other main supplementary aspects contributing in the PC performance, and must be reviewed regularly. You can uninstall avast and restore it back as well, if you are not satisfied with its performance.
No matter, you have done all to secure your data, but bad situations are enviable, and can slip anytime. So, you must follow safety measures. Regularly backup your data, and use encrypted system to encrypt sensitive files and folders. Download internet files from trusted sources only and stay away from rogue security software. Use password encryption to protect Office files.
The author is a technician at Techvedic technologies, a firm that delivers end to end Trend Support to clients. Online computer repair, Install Avast, Hp support, Remove Bitdefender are few services offered at this one platform along with many others.
The computer network security encompasses the policies and procedures adopted by the network administrators to monitor and prevent any kind of unauthorized access, modification, or misuse of accessible resources. It includes the access authorization of data in network, controlled by network administrator.
The administrator provides ID and password to the users to access the programs and information. It includes various modes like the private and public networks. It can be private i.e. within the organization or it might be opened for public access.
The computer network security must cover all the aspects of network, ranging from desktop to other peripherals. The multilayered and multifaceted approach to a network security for business or organizations renders excellent protection against external threats and internal threats as well.
For small network or for single computer system, a router along with integrated firewall is sufficient. On the other hand, for large network the most appropriate option is the dedicated firewall within the network perimeter. There are many good dedicated firewall applications that can allow for secure VPN connectivity. The important functions of dedicated firewalls are inspection, blocking, and reporting of malicious network.
One of the best complements for dedicated firewall is the content filtering device. Such devices are usually helpful for monitoring filtering, regulating, and reporting of all the web related traffic. The content filters are installed between the internal switch and firewall or router. The outbound and inbound traffic of internet have to pass through such filters. They are usually referred as bridged mode.
Effective monitoring is of utmost importance for computer network security. It helps in competent management of networks, in which the activity log of routers and varied servers can be closely watched and reported.
Moreover, the servers and desktops must have anti spyware and antivirus protection. Today, myriad of threat protection software for enterprise levels are available in the marketplace. The most suitable and ideal threat protection application must be cost effective, and it should provide daily updates of virus definition. Additionally, it should have centralized reporting and management system and active protection for runtime security.
Another aspect of computer network security is assigning permissions to various users in the network. For example, top management might want to assess the systems of their subordinates or teams. They will be granted with limited admin rights to handle their group. They might not necessarily be given the admin rights for the entire networks. You could also block the users from installing software from their workstations. Similarly, you could also prevent them from accessing their systems through portable storage devices. Basically, the entire network infrastructure has to be mapped clearly.
Lastly, the physical security measures are also very important for the overall security aspects of computer network. In order to achieve this, the servers must be kept in secured server rooms with regulated access. It is also better to check the security of the backup media, be it off-site or on-site. Remember that the critical information about your company cannot get into wrong hands, and therefore it is very important to secure your networks, in order to sail towards your business goals.
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Computer security policies are the basic guidelines and rules for accessing a network. These lay out some basic concepts to secure your computers. Computer network security is a complicated area, and is taken up by experts with many years of on-the-job experience.
As more people turn to computers for simplifying their day-to-day activities and jobs, the need for general users to understand the concepts of network security has become important. One should know the risks involved in using the computer without the security systems, and learn how to deal with them successfully both at home and at work.
There are two popular types of network security systems: transit security and traffic regulation systems. When both of these join forces you can be assured of the delivery of important information to the right person without any network pilferage problems. The receiver should also ensure that the information received should be carefully processed using a computer which is loaded and protected with latest protection software.
The simplest form of ensuring security on the net is to keep a close watch on the type of data packets moving between the networks. If an infected packet does not reach the recipient, the host may have nothing to worry about. Traffic regulation systems serve as a protective screen between the receiver and remote sites. These tools generally guards three basic regions of the network: the routers, firewalls and hosts.
The three 'guards' deliver similar service at various points in the network, and it is difficult to draw a differentiating line between them. The truth is that there are no foolproof systems which offer a guaranteed secure system for data transferred in the public network. With the increasing use of the Internet, network security is fast becoming crucial for the safe use of the systems, and therefore computer network security is all set to be an important part of our regular computer usage.
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1. Why Password?
Your computer and the websites you frequently visit contain a great deal of personal information about you. It is important, therefore to ensure that you do not allow your personal details to get into the wrong hands.
We do so much online these days: banking, shopping and social networking have become everyday activities. There are nasty people out there who want to steal from you. Not just your money, but your very identity. It is therefore very necessary to protect yourself by restricting access to your personal data. This is where passwords come in. They make sure that your personal details are only available to you.
2. Why a Strong Password?
We all like to keep things simple. Passwords can be a pain. So let us make it easy to remember and not complicate matters. Why not use the same password for all our safe sites. It is too much hassle remembering all those different passwords, after all.
Passwords can be seen as the weakest link between your data and those who could most benefit from access to your personal details. Once the password is cracked they are in. If you use the same password for different applications, your system is vulnerable, along with your online banking and credit card accounts.
Examples of weak passwords include your name, username, date of birth, names of your children, even your car registration number. Paul123 would not be a safeguard against my online bank account, for example. Hackers can use programs that try to guess your password by browsing through your files to search for personal information.
Criminals use a number of methods to identify passwords. Dictionary search trawls through online dictionaries to come up with a match to your password. Brute force attacks try every possible combination of keystrokes that can be used in connection with a user name. Phishing, official looking emails purportedly from banks, for example, seek to obtain passwords or PIN numbers from unsuspecting victims.
3. What is a Strong Password?
Many websites demand passwords that exceed seven or eight digits, including letters and numbers. Security experts advise even longer passwords, 14 characters are considered sensible. Experts also suggest that you mix upper and lower case letters and utilise characters in lieu of some letters. The key is to use a password that is simple enough for you to remember but no one else, even your close family and friends would be able to identify.
4. Further assistance
Microsoft has a very good application that rates the strength or weakness of your chosen password.
Password checker can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/checker.mspx
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Computer monitoring tools are used to keep tabs on what's being done on any specific computer or network of connected computers. Business people often use these to monitor employee activities to see whether they are actually earning their pay by working, or spending hours on internet casinos and instant messaging friends for hours on end... or worse, embezzling funds and stealing client accounts. Parents use these too, so that they can protect their children from sexual predators and keep an eye on their children's activities online to see that they don't get into anything pornographic. But how intrusive are these programs?
They're not very intrusive at all, if you ask me. You see, these can be run invisibly and silently, automatically running and recording activities right from the startup of the computer. There doesn't even need to be any evidence that the software exists on the PC. All activities, keystrokes, pages visited, clicks of the mouse, instant messages and such are all recorded onto secret log files which are then stealthily e-mailed to you in secret for your leisurely perusal.
This is also a boon to those who suspect their spouses or relationship partners of cheating, but lack the power of solid, concrete proof. Using computer monitoring tools for these purposes, you can be sure that everything can be done with absolute secrecy, you can protect yourself and your children, and even protect your business and your clients' delicate private and financial information. It's all about safety, security, and just good common sense. Don't you agree?
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Viruses, Spyware, Malware. What do all these have in common? They all wreck havoc on a computer or worse your network. The most important thing is protection from these infections.
I am going to go over 3 software products M86Security, Malwarebytes, and Spywareblaster. I use all three in the field and all three work very well in preventing and securing your PC from infections.
M86Security
M86Security is great product that works with Internet Explorer, Firefox (Firefox 3.x and 4.0), and Google Chrome (Version 10). There is not much to configure on this product. In fact there are only 3 options after you install this product.
Show unsafe/red URLs only
Allow access to unchecked URLs
Add check icons to Email
By default the last two are checked in the box above but I normally check the top option "Show unsafe/red URLs only" This will just flag the bad links so it doesn't fill your web page full of green check marks. Check out the screen shots the website.
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes by far is much better than Spybot will ever be. Some people swear by Spybot but I have came to the conclusion that Malwarebytes does a far better and more thorough job. Malwarebytes seems to find things that Spybot can't. Screen shots of Malwarebytes are on the website.
The free version does not have the ability to auto update and schedule a scan. Nor does it have the ability to run in memory. But the cost to enable this functionality and upgrade to the PRO version is worth every penny at 25 bucks with no subscription requirement.
Spywareblaster
Javacool Software's Spywareblaster is one of the most clever and simple products ever designed. It not only works on all the major web browsers but it will prevent you from going to those sites that are infected with spyware. The free version does not have the ability to update automatically but works just fine if you remember to update it at least once per week. But should you desire to purchase the autoupdate feature you can get a yearly subscription for 10 bucks a year. There is a network version of this product as well for a reasonable cost if you use it fore a business. This software product will prevent you from getting most spyware, adware and browser highjacks.
The importance of PC security should never be overlooked and taken for granted. Taking shortcuts will get you in to trouble really quick, especially in this day and age where information is vital and those that have the most information wins.
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Nessus
Nessus is a remote security scanner for Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, and Mac OS X. It is plugin-based and performs over 10,000 remote security checks. It allows for reports to be generated in HTML, and suggests a solution for each finding.
Ethereal
Ethereal is used by network professionals around the world for troubleshooting, analysis, software and protocol development, and education. It has all of the standard features you would expect in a protocol analyzer, and several features not seen in any other product. Its open source license allows talented experts in the networking community to add enhancements. It runs on all popular computing platforms, including Unix, Linux, and Windows.
SuperScan
SuperScan is a powerful TCP port scanner, that includes a variety of additional networking tools like ping, traceroute, HTTP HEAD, WHOIS and more. It uses multi-threaded and asynchronous techniques resulting in extremely fast and versatile scanning. You can perform ping scans and port scans using any IP range or specify a text file to extract addresses from. Other features include TCP SYN scanning, UDP scanning, HTML reports, built-in port description database, Windows host enumeration, banner grabbing and more.
The version 4 adds several new features:
Superior scanning speed Support for unlimited IP ranges Improved host detection using multiple ICMP methods TCP SYN scanning UDP scanning (two methods) IP address import supporting ranges and CIDR formats Simple HTML report generation Source port scanning Fast hostname resolving Extensive banner grabbing Massive built-in port list description database IP and port scan order randomization A selection of useful tools (ping, traceroute, Whois etc) Extensive Windows host enumeration capability
SuperScan 4 is intended for Windows 2000 and XP only. Administrator privileges are required to run the program. It will not run on Windows 95/98/ME.
Nmap
Nmap is a free security scanner written by Fyodor. It is used to evaluate the security of computers, and to discover services or servers on a computer network.
Nmap features include:
Host Discovery - Identifying computers on a network, for example listing the computers which respond to pings, or which have a particular port open Port Scanning - Enumerating the open ports on one or more target computers Version Detection - Interogating listening network services listening on remote computers to determine the application name and version number. OS Detection - Remotely determining the operating system and some hardware characteristics of network devices
DifileThief
DiFile Thief is a Windows application that sniffs the raw data and pulls out valuable information. It has one drop down box with which you select the network interface adapter to watch.
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You're sick. You've got a fever, the chills, and a headache so horrible that you can't think straight. No matter who claims to desperately need your help, you are not going to get out of bed. Your computer can suffer the very same thing--a virus. And, in the worst-case scenario, it might cause your computer to refuse to start up.
The term "virus" in the computer world comes from exactly where you might think--the term used for illnesses like the common cold. Like a biological virus, a computer virus spreads by making and sending copies of itself to other computers.
A computer virus causes a lot of trouble in a computer and the infection occurs without the consent of the user. The copies it makes of itself could be exactly like the original virus, or they might vary a bit. They typically spread over a network or via the Internet.
Many people lump all malicious programming under the label "virus." However, a virus is something completely different from a worm or a Trojan horse. Unlike a virus, a worm can't spread on its own; it requires some action from the user, such as opening or running an infected file. A Trojan horse is a file that tricks the user into running it by appearing to be harmless.
Viruses cause problems for computer users by harming programs, reformatting the hard disk, or deleting files. Although the vast majority of viruses are created for the purpose of doing harm, there are a few that are meant to be harmless pranks that merely display video, audio, or text messages. Regardless, these viruses still use up memory without permission.
The fist virus was dubbed "Elk Cloner" and it was made to run on the Apple DOS 3.3 operating system. It was created by a high school student named by Richard Skrenta in 1982. It was a joke virus that was transmitted using a floppy disk containing a game.
The disk could successfully open the game 49 times; on the 50th the virus was activated. It caused the screen to go blank and then display a poem reading: "It will get on all your disks. It will infiltrate your chips. Yes it's Cloner! It will stick to you like glue. It will modify RAM, too. Send in the Cloner!"
Brain was the first virus for the PC. It was designed in 1986 by brothers Basit and Amjad Farooq Alvi. Their purpose for creating the virus was to protect legitimate software they'd written from being copied illegally.
In the early days of viruses, the usual means of infection was through some form of media that could be moved from computer to computer, like a floppy disk. However, today, it's easier for viruses to be spread over the Internet or through computer networks, so most are designed to do just that.
Because of the popularity of the Windows platform, the majority of viruses are designed to exploit weaknesses in the Windows operating system. However, that's not to say that there are no viruses affecting other operating systems. The truth is, no matter what operating system you're running, unless you take steps to prevent virus infections, your computer is vulnerable.
There is an entire industry of virus protection software. The most common ways these anti-virus programs work are: 1) Detecting viruses using signature definitions, and 2) Detecting viruses using a heuristic algorithm that recognizes typical virus behaviors.
A program that uses signature definitions relies on the user to keep the list of definitions up to date using updates and patches put out by the maker of the software. These are usually available at no cost with purchase of the software or through a paid subscription to the software.
The algorithm method is able to find viruses for which no signature exists.
Other ways of protecting your computer against viruses include making backups of your data and operating system on media not stored on the computer's hard drive. This way, if your computer should be infected causing a loss of data or the inability to start up the computer, you can restore the computer.
If your computer becomes infected, it's unwise to continue using it until the virus has been removed by completely reinstalling the operating system. This is a time-consuming process and often results in lost data. So, as with a virus in the human body, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." An anti-virus protection program is absolutely essential to the health of your computer.
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The web can be full of hazards these days as hackers and malware developers strive to get important information such as credit card information, user IDs and passwords to paid subscription websites, social networking sites, e-mail accounts, and other personal data. Other people simply want to wreck havoc on a multitude of computers connected to the Internet for entertainment purposes. Fortunately, there are a number of computer security programs that you should install immediately so that you can prepare for the threats.
Microsoft Security Essentials
Microsoft Security Essentials is Microsoft's first attempt to combat viruses floating around the net. It is presented to be extremely easy for people to setup and runs in the background without eating up too many resources, making it an ideal solution even for older computers that do not have much RAM. The best thing about this software is that it is free for all licensed Windows XP users and above. Virus definitions update every few days so it should keep your system secure enough especially when combined with the Windows Firewall for blocking attacks and the Windows Defender for combating spyware.
Secunia PSI
Unlike other security applications, Secunia PSI doesn't tackle or detect any threats that are within the system or on the net. In fact, it doesn't attempt to make any modifications of the computer itself. Instead, Secunia PSI scans all of the applications that are installed in the system and checks for any vulnerabilities. Some programs where hackers take advantage of vulnerabilities include many of the Adobe software particularly Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash. Other third-party browsers are checked for vulnerabilities as well. If any vulnerabilities are detected, the information regarding the vulnerability is shown. In addition, a link to the latest version of the application that patches this vulnerability is supplied if provided by the developer, making it easy for people to keep their most important programs up to date.
CCleaner
At first glance, CCleaner is more of a system maintenance tool rather than a security tool since it specializes in cleaning out all of the junk files in the computer such as the Internet cache of the different browsers and other temporary files. The security aspect of the program can be seen once you start using it to clean up any private tracks that are left behind so that other users won't be able to see. This includes recently open files, cookies, Internet browsing histories, and other links. It can also be used by more experienced users to check what programs will run on startup. If any suspicious programs are listed, you can securely remove those entries to disable the malware's functionality. It also has a registry scanner that can solve problems and improve performance as well.
All of the three programs mentioned above are freeware and should be installed immediately because they do not cause much of an impact in system performance and do not come bundled with any spyware. However, you can improve your security even more by substituting your free antivirus scanner with a commercial product that can do a better job in removing and cleaning malware as well as blocking firewall attacks. Good programs include ESET NOD32 and Smart Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, and other popular commercial tools.
James Thompson writes for WebDefenders, and specializes in best spyware removal practices.
Computer networking was invented to make the computers communicate with each other. Communication between computers is faster and easier than any other mode of communication. In addition to providing faster communication, computer networking empowered the computer users to to access remote programs and databases. Apart from these plus points, there are several other benefits of computer networks. Computer networking reduces the business process expenditure by making hardware and software resources remotely accessible and by downsizing to microcomputer-based networks instead of using mainframes. Accumulating data from multiple resources has become effortless process, which also ensures the reliability of the information.
Definition Of Computer Network
A computer network is defined as an interconnected system in which computers are interlinked to each other for communication purpose so that resources and information could be accessed by all connected nodes.
Menace to Computer Networks
Computer hacking poses a very grave danger to computer networks. This threat is defined by infringement on the secure private information or illegal modification of files, web pages or software stored on computer. Computers are hacked because important and critical data are stored on these machines. One common perception is that all computer hackers are outsiders, who must be prevented from accessing the protected computer networks illegally. But that is not completely true. An evil insider with sinister intention could as dangerous as an outsider is! The most common form of computer hacking are:-
1. Illegal entry into any protected computer system.
2. Unlawful modification, deletion and access denial to data stored on a computer system.
3. Illegitimate searching and browsing.
4. Unauthorized attempts to breach computer security system.
The objective of illegal entry is access some secret and important data. There could be different forms of such attacks, such as unlawful execution of commands, breaching confidentiality, data deletion and data diddling.
Generally unknown and untrustworthy persons are not allowed to execute commands on a protected machine. When such an act takes place, network security is breached. Such problem could happen either through normal user access or administrator access. A normal user is allowed to perform certain operations on a computer like reading and writing files, sending e mails, etc. A hacker requires that access to perform all those operations. Certain operations could be performed only by system administrators, such as changing configuration settings. Without gaining administrator privilege, a hacker cannot perform this system operation.
There are two types of destructive attacks,namely data diddling and data deletion. Data is manipulated in the data diddling process without the knowledge of the user. The effects of data diddling becomes visible to the user after a log period. I the data deletion process, the critical data is destroyed for ever.
How To Stop Hacking
There are a number of ways to deter hacking.
1. Acceptable user policies should be clearly established and disseminated to the concerned users.
2. Sufficient backups should be taken periodically. Data backup services are rendered by PC Support providers.
3. The use of filters should be considered to deny access to unauthorized elements. Effective firewalls could be installed with the help of network support providers.
4. The operating system installed on the computer must be updated as and when required. Many PC support providers render support for various operating systems.
5. The security system with single point of failure should be avoided. Any security system that could be easily breached by breaking through any one component is not a good one.
6. It is advisable to take the help of PC Support provider when security is breached. New methods of hacking always keep coming up. It is difficult for a common user to keep abreast of latest means of hacking. Since Network Support providers always keep themselves updated on all the latest developments on hacking, it is prudent to use their services.
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