Cyber security Tips

A computer virus is a dreaded term in the world of computers, often leaving PC users struck with morbid fear of not only losing their data but also witnessing an untimely demise of their computer. But then again many PC users are oblivious to the devastating effects of a computer virus due to lack of technical knowledge and their failure to take their PC security seriously.

Evolution of every PC's ultimate nemesis:

It has been more than 20 years since the first PC virus appeared on the horizon. Ever since then, the nature of threats to quite an extent has undergone a significant change. For threats in the present era are more complex than ever before. The malicious code comes inclusive of a wide array of Trojans, exploits, root kits, phishing scams, spam and spyware as well as classic viruses and worms, purpose-designed to hijack any unsuspecting PC user's and exploit any chinks in the computer's security.

Computer security becomes highly vulnerable:

The need to stay and remain online means internet can be used as a medium via which attacks can be launched on a PC users' machine very quickly. Suggestive of the fact security solutions have to undergo further evolution for countering the new and successive generation of threats. This has placed a greater emphasis more than ever before on computer security experts to not only deliver timely protection from new threats, but also delivering solutions for blocking new unknown threats in the near future.

In addition to this, changing business practices and disappearance of traditional network perimeters means computer security experts also have to become capable of protecting and enterprise and its staff from any looming threats wherever and however. Bringing in the need for one to go well beyond early anti-virus one-dimensional solutions and take a good look at the holistic solutions being delivered by some of the recognized and leading computer security software providers.

Computer security goes well beyond the conventional realms:

Any computer novice is also aware computer threats is breached via insecure networks, infected sites, and vulnerable software. But sadly that is not the end of the story; since in real time apart from aforementioned technical stuff, it is coming to light more and more of 'netizens' are in fact giving out far too much information on the Face Book and Twitter, the so called giants of social networking. Thus, all in all making computer security an aspect which can't be dismissed all that easily.

Author is dedicated technical writer at PCCare247. The extensive service spectrum of PC Care includes Online Computer Security, Belkin router configuration, virus and spyware removal, operating system & software support, Netgear router support, email & browser support as well as assistance in installation of all the peripheral accessories for your PC. Our endeavor is to keep you at ease and your PC working uninterruptedly and which take care of complete health of your personal computer.

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.

Alexandro have a diploma and a master in Software Engineering and Information Security. At his site you can get information about Home automation protocols and Home Automation Technologies and more at his site.

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.

While surfing the internet I found "XoftSpySE" which did an excellent job cleaning up and optimizing my PC. This program saved me a lot of time and frustration by getting rid of some high risk items that found their way into my computer. Get a free scan at [http://www.easywayincome.com]

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.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for Security Information and Event management projects today is integrating application level data and events to provide detailed user-centric auditing, detect internal fraud and comply with new regulations. The ability to detect user behavior and application level events is not available with most if not all SIEM products and reduces the overall value they produced in comparison to their potential. In basic terms, Security Information and Event Management applications are looking at doorways and windows but not at the treasure room, your business applications.

Since basic application logs have insufficient data and are I/O heavy, a non-intrusive approach is required to detect, transform and route all relevant events to the SIEM applications in their required format. Providing non-intrusive event detection while offloading detection, formatting and routing from the business application server is crucial. Enabling behavioral pattern analysis using pre-defined patterns, existing SIEM logic and external data correlation for real-time detection and reaction will be the next big step to minimize internal fraud.

The SIEM market has been evolving rapidly proving its value in a complex organizational world built on a plethora of IT components of various types. The need to manage large amounts of data created by these components, document the data, archive it and detect problems and issues arising from the actual events has made SIEM applications necessary. However, for various reasons such as vendor line of business and integration issues, the focus of information gathering and correlation of events has remained on the technical components of the IT network: Routers, Switches, Firewalls, Servers, etc. There has been little if any emphasis on the actual business applications where relevant actions, business processes and potential damage and fraudulent activity can actually be performed.

The current situation with most SIEM deployemtns is indeed very problematic; all the peripherals are audited and guarded while the real honey pot, the "vault" with all the money in it, isn't taken care of. It is in the business applications that the actual actions are being performed, good or bad, and that is where the emphasis should be. Since organizations cannot dive into their application code and change it to log and route relevant events, and do it again and again when regulation or business requirements change, a non-intrusive approach is a must as long as it can provide in-depth, user-session level visibility to user-application behavior. This means application code needs no changes, log management is unnecessary, and application servers are not over-loaded by logging I/O operations which result in performance downgrade.

Additional challenges would be transforming the data before it is fed to the SIEM application to solve mapping issues and parameter definitions which must be determined to help the SIEM application understand the data it is receiving. Another main issue is the ability to deal with large throughputs for monitoring events from several applications per node, off-loading computation and I/O from them and routing and feeding events to relevant targets such as a SIEM application.

Only then will SIEM deployments be able to detect every event or specific behaviors based on predefined patterns and only then will SIEM applications fulfill their true potential. SIEM application can then gather critical, application level data and events, comply with tougher regulations and detect internal frauds by correlating this data with it existing data.

Mike Telem is an experienced Business Development Manager, working in the IT industry and specializing in business process management and web technologies for over 10 years. Mike is the co-founder and Business Development Manager of ActiveInsight, a software vendor providing real-time, value-based detection and reaction to online behavior.

Author Links:
Blog: http://thereactiveweb.blogspot.com/

Business Links:
http://www.ActiveInsight.net

In IT circles, bad security advice abounds. Just ask the administrators at Pennsylvania's Lower Merion School District who somehow became convinced that it would be a good idea to use Webcams to keep tabs on students. The district says it uses the software only to track potentially stolen devices. A student is suing the district, alleging that school officials used it to spy on pupils such as himself.

Whatever the administrators' motives, everyone in my neighborhood is up in arms about violations of our children's privacy. (Me, I'm more worried that my two high school-aged kids spend too much time on taxpayer-funded Apple Macbooks, updating Facebook profiles and watching video on YouTube, rather than doing homework.)

However you slice it, the school district got bad security advice.

We small business owners get our share of bad security advice, too. Some of us have been told to get software to spy on our employees. IT consultants have told us we should track employees' online activities. Other "experts" tell us tales of terror about managers who do not encrypt their data or restrict employee access and fell prey to theft and business interruption. Much of this advice and scaremongering can be taken with a grain of salt.

Don't hold most sensitive information

Consider the Webcam software that secretly videos the user, which the school district installed on students' Macbooks. Or software that tracks a stolen laptop's location. This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode in which Jerry's car gets stolen and he calls his car phone, only to have the thief pick it up and ask when he last got a tune-up. What sense does this stuff make?

What about sensitive information? Most shouldn't be stored on a computer's hard drive in the first place. Case in point: customer credit-card information. If someone gets hold of that data, you could be subject to lawsuits. Good security advisors recommend online services such as eBay's PayPal or AcceptPay from American Express. They not only process payments, but store the credit-card data out of your employees' reach.

If you're still concerned about sensitive information falling into the wrong hands, consider tools that remotely eliminate the contents of a hard drive after it's stolen. Better yet, encourage employees to save and access important data through a password protected Virtual Private Network and store it on a corporate server. Worried about losing hardware? Equip remote employees with less-expensive laptops or netbooks. Some companies even ask employees who are issued laptops to place a deposit to be returned when the device is handed back.

Some experts tell us to install software that would track what an employee is doing online and block undesirable Web sites. Besides being a little creepy, who has the time to do this? If we suspect that an employee is wasting company hours surfing the Web, there are other ways to reach that conclusion. Try comparing his or her output to that of others. Better yet, walk around and see what staffers are doing.

a sensible step: Antivirus software

Do we really need to "block" certain Web sites from being visited at the office? Last time I checked, my employees were adults who should know which sites are appropriate. We shouldn't have software to monitor what a manager should be able to discern through other means. Monitoring employees is not only a waste of time, it can upset people and create an atmosphere of distrust.

A good security consultant will also tell you to get basic antivirus software. This has been hard for me to swallow in the past. I still feel that a lot of this stuff unnecessarily slows performance of servers and workstations. But I've done some work for McAfee over the past year or two and through this I've learned that there's a lot of screwed-up people sitting at home, sending out malicious files just for the fun of it so that they can wreak havoc on an unsuspecting business owner. Having software installed-and updated-that finds and destroys viruses and worms makes sense.

Some technology dudes I know who sell software go way overboard with their billable hours "securing" the software application's data so that some users can see data but others can't. Other than human resources stuff, if your company's culture encourages hiding customer information from the people who are selling and servicing your customers, you've got more than just a security issue. And your IT guy is feeding this problem.

So no, I'm not worried about security for my small business. That's because I've taken the good advice from those security experts and ignored the bad. Nor am I worried that my school district is spying on my kids' activities. At least someone around here is giving them good adult supervision.

Gene Marks, CPA, is the owner of the Marks Group, and the author of four best-selling small business books and writes the popular "Penny Pincher's Almanac" syndicated column. He frequently speaks to business groups on penny-pinching topics. More penny-pinching advice from Marks can be found at http://www.quickerbetterwiser.com. Follow Gene on Twitter at @genemarks on and Facebook at http://facebook.com/quickerbetterwiser

"Cloud computing" has become a very hot topic. For the uninitiated, "cloud computing" generally refers to providing access to computer software through an Internet browser, with the software and data stored at a remote location at a "data center" or "server farm," instead of on the computer's hard drive or on a server located on the user's premises. This is also referred to "software as a service."

Proponents of this approach claim many benefits, including lower costs, less need for on-site support and "scalability." "Scalability" means that the number of licenses and available resources can easily be adjusted as the need increases. Access can typically be provided to any computer with a browser and an Internet connection, but can be controlled through password protection and other measures. Proponents also argue that the cloud makes it easier to manage and push down software upgrades. Software as a service is usually provided on a fee for service approach that may result in cost savings compared to the traditional local area network. Think of it as somewhat like renting as opposed to owning.

Cloud computing is not a technology of the future, but is here today. Google, for example, uses this approach to provide its suite of business applications intended to compete with Microsoft Office. Google applications are provided free or at very little cost. Salesforce.com is one of the best known providers, providing customer relationship management ("CRM") software to a growing list of companies. IBM and Microsoft are also entering the playing field.

There appears to be little doubt that cloud computing is here to stay, and that it may indeed represent the future of information technology. There are many advantages and potential advantages to the cloud computing model.

That said, from a legal perspective, cloud computing raises a host of issues. Having spoken recently to several cloud computing vendors, there are some rather obvious questions. Perhaps the most obvious question is, "What happens if you lose my data?" The answers I was provided focused on technical and not legal issues, such as the back-up procedures provided.

Technical issues are important, and there are certainly technical issues that a potential customer may want to consider, such as maintaining a back-up on site, or a back-up through a separate vendor. These approaches might provide some real practical protection in the event of a catastrophic failure or bankruptcy at the primary provider. Other technical issues might focus on what happens when the relationship ends, whether happily or not. Is there another vendor that can provide the software and host the data? Will data have to be converted to a different format? If the customer decides to switch back to a local area network, will the terminals that have been used for cloud computing (which, I am told, can be very basic "low powered" machines) be of any use, or will a completely new network need to be installed?

Although technical solutions are a good thing, over twenty-five years of litigation experience have taught me that disasters do happen, even with fail-safe plans in place, and even with parties acting in complete good faith. And, I suppose, it is natural for a lawyer to focus on legal rights and remedies rather than technical solutions.

From a legal standpoint, cloud computing appears to raise a host of essentially contractual issues to be addressed by the parties' contract or licensing arrangements. There are also potential regulatory issues (ranging from privacy to export control issues), potential e-discovery issues, and certainly other issues that have not yet crossed my mind.

As businesses and their lawyers become more experienced with cloud computing issues, it is likely that a consensus will emerge as to how cloud computing issues will be addressed. Hopefully, purveyors of cloud computing services will be flexible and reasonable in addressing legitimate business concerns. However, given the prevalence of "standard" licensing in the software field (often on a shrinkwrap or clickwrap basis) and efforts to limit liability under any circumstances, there is some cause for pessimism.

All that said, here is a list of issues that one might wish to consider asking a vendor or otherwise considering in entering into a possible cloud computing arrangement:


What contractual obligation will you assume to protect my data? This could include reference to particular steps and procedures, including back-up obligations. The contract or license may specify a standard of care that the provider must meet.
What contractual obligation will you assume regarding uptime, if any? Will you provide any type of uptime warranty? Even if such a warranty is subject to a limited remedy, it probably would provide considerable incentive for the provider to limit downtime.
Most providers seem savvy enough to disclaim any interest in your data and will freely say -- in a sales setting anyway -- that "your data is your data." Well, that's good, but how do I physically get my data back at the end of the contract or if you go bankrupt?
What remedy limitations, if any, are in your terms? Are consequential damages excluded? Are total damages capped (such as to a return of fees paid)? Even if contractual obligations are assumed, if remedies are severely limited, the provider may be shielded from liability.
Where is my data going to be stored? Are you willing to agree that all my data will be kept in this location under specified conditions and at agreed security levels? This could be important for regulatory reasons, but also for reasons associated with meeting general customer confidentiality obligations or complying with privacy policies.
Have you inserted a forum selection clause into the terms? Many providers want to insist on litigating on their home turf (which often, it seems, is California), but that is rarely a happy instance for a customer.
How do I get out of this arrangement if you do not perform and what is my exit strategy? What rights do I have upon termination? What obligations do you have to assist in transitioning to a new vendor or back to a self-managed platform?

If you are considering going to the cloud, you should consider involving your business and technology lawyer early in the process. As stated, there are probably many other legal issues that have not even occurred to me. It is clear, however, that lawyers need to begin considering these issues, because cloud computing is clearly not going away.

John L. Watkins is a Shareholder of Chorey, Taylor & Feil, a Professional Corporation, a business litigation and business law firm in Atlanta. John has been a commercial litigator for over 25 years, and has handled a wide variety of cases. Currently, John's litigation practices concentrates on trade secret (including computer data misappropration), insurance coverage, corporate, shareholder, and commercial contract matters. Joh also negotiates and drafts sales contracts, non-disclosure agreements, and other business documents. John represents domestic and international companies or their U.S. subsidiaries. He has spoken frequently at public and private domestic and international seminars on various legal topics.

John graduated first in his class at the University of Georgia law school in 1982. He was named to the list of Georgia Super Lawyers in Business Litigation by Atlanta Magazine and the Journal of Law and Politicis. John is rated AV by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, its highest rating, and 10.0 by the AVVO website, its highest rating. More information can be found at the firm's website, http://ctflegal.com, or its podcast page, http://ctflegal.blip.tv

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.

Daniel Hughes is one of most heralded content writer of http://www.pccarencure.com. Pccarencure offers 24x7 PC Support to millions of customers by expert technicians.

A computer security investigator is an essential specialist for today's networked business. In a situation where all businesses, even the tiniest, use computing equipment and the Internet, the IT security investigator has a great deal to offer. He or she will be qualified in information security, and will tend to specialise in one or two sub-fields.

There are two general types of situation where a computer security investigator may be needed by a business.

Firstly, the IT security expert may be asked to investigate the firm's information security status, and make recommendations for improvement. This task is not necessarily linked to any particular security incident, and may simply form part of the relevant compliance requirements. This type of expert will be knowledgeable about official information security standards, and corporate governance regulations, and will also be experienced in performing audits of computer and information systems.

Secondly, the computer security investigator may be called in after an organisation has suffered an information security incident. In this case, after investigating the incident the IT security specialist may be called upon to advise on improving information security in general so as to avoid further such incidents. This kind of expert will be knowledgeable about relevant legislation and recent legal cases, and will also be able to advise on the forensic aspects of the situation.

The two situations require quite different skill-sets in the security expert. The first case requires a specialist who is qualified in the areas of audit and corporate governance as regards information security, and possibly also a track record in the actual management of computer security. The second case requires an expert who is qualified in the areas of computer-related legislation and possibly digital forensics, with experience of incident management as related to computer crime. It would be a mistake for a hiring manager to attempt to have one kind of specialist do the job of the other type, since the two sub-fields can be highly technical and require very different qualifications.

A computer security investigator will probably be brought in as a consultant for a relatively brief period, and for a well-defined project. This is because few companies are large enough to support a permanent staff of IT security specialists. This makes it all the more important for a firm to take time in choosing the right person as their information security investigator, since the success of the whole project will depend on this decision. But if the right choice is made, then many businesses will find that their computer security investigator provides them with an essential service that simply cannot be dispensed with.

Andrew Leith is a security consultant at commissum, a UK-based information security consultancy specialising in penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, ISO27001 consulting services, and security configuration of enterprise systems.

If you're running a business, a secure network is paramount. Without it, you risk sensitive documents being made public, viruses attaching themselves to your network and more. All of this can be very damaging to your productivity and your business as a whole. The best thing to do is to prevent a network security breach before it ever happens - but how can you do that?

Your network security really isn't that difficult to maintain when you use the right tools. The following list can help you choose which programs and services will make the most difference to your business by ensuring your network security is solid and effective.

Virus & Firewall Programs

One of the most basic network security solutions is to install virus and firewall programs on your network. These will block any dangerous programs that could mean to do you harm. A virus can really wreak havoc on your network - causing computers to crash, files to be deleted, etc. Virus and firewall programs practically run themselves so it is a good solution for maintaining a secure network and not adding on a great deal of work for yourself.

Access Controls

Another way to prevent a network security breach to is keep unauthorized users off of your network in the first place. This can become difficult as the world becomes more mobile and your employees want to access your network from their homes or during their commutes. The right network security program will force all visitors to prove their identities before they get on your network, ensuring unauthorized users cannot access it. However, it is also important to balance ease-of-access with security - you certainly don't want your employees struggling to access your network! Luckily, a network security program can give you the security you need and the quick access your employees are looking for.

Information Rights Management

Imagine sending a sensitive document to an employee. Does that employee have the ability to forward that document on - whether intentionally or accidentally? Information rights management gives you the ability to decide who can access what files or documents and what he or she can do with them. So if you want to ensure no one can forward a certain document on your network, it can be done! Your network security is as much defined by what comes in as by what goes out, so protect it by having the ability to set use parameters on sensitive files. Whether you want to control who can email, forward, print, edit or do other tasks to a document, information rights management can help you do so.

The best way to take advantage of all these solutions is to contact a network security company. They can work with you to decide what will make the biggest difference to your business and they will also make sure any programs you implement stay up and running.

Secure document storage is important for the purpose of future references and to meet formalities laid down by government. Scanning of documents and storing them in network systems with the help of password to archive and retrieve documents with ease and safety is important.

It is very vital that you store your documents carefully. Now that the regulations of government have become stricter than before, storing documents safely has almost become a necessity. Did you know that according the rules, you must keep your past documents for at least six years' time? Apart from the formalities, the documents are also useful for future references. This can end up taking a lot of space in your office; the hassles of maintaining them properly are far too many. This is where the secure document storage system comes into play.

There are various document storage companies around that offer you a range of container sizes and other services to ensure a secure document storage arrangement for your company. You could keep them in secured warehouses where your documents would be safe from fire and other emergencies. However, are they really safe that way? Life is changing and along with life, the demands too are changing fast. Old documents may be torn; the papers may turn yellow beyond recognition. Therefore, the most secure document storage solution is to keep your documents in the form of soft copies. They are in a safer zone when they cease to exist as hard copies.

It is important that the correct document storage space is chosen; you must ensure that the documents are kept in such a way that they suffer no damage. But, when you choose to keep your documents in the form of hard copies, it is always exposed to dangers. Moreover, once the documents are damaged, it is almost next to impossible to retrieve them. While some information can be recovered with a lot of trouble, some information may be lost forever. Document scanning can be helpful while you plan secure document storage. With the advent of document imaging systems, it has become very easy and convenient to store, index and get back documents and images. Documents are electronically piled up and this in turn, reduces the risk of losing them.

Various network systems also offer secure document storage; passwords are used to increase the level of security. There are several advantages of having your documents on central file storage. The details and passwords can be given to the employees of a large-scale company across the globe. With these passwords, the employees are able to log in and lay their hands on the particular documents they want. The documents then can be downloaded to their respective computers. Documents can also be updated and created by users.

All these aspects of Secure Document Storage make the work convenient and it becomes easy to archive and retrieve information since soft copies, as opposed to hard copies, have immense durability.

The world is almost completely digital now, and most every piece of information important to a company is stored and transferred as digital data. Business and government security in the modern age involves much more than a burly man with a nightstick standing watch overnight.

These days, companies and other entities require high-tech options to protect their largely digital assets, and to make sure no information is lost during any transmissions or receipts of data. This is why network security solutions are so important for organizations that wish to assure their data is kept safe.

Entities that should make use of network security solutions include government agencies, stock traders, providers of infrastructure, and larger organizations that retain substantial customer information. It is important for these organizations to be able to monitor all aspects of their networks, which is why a quality security system is so important.

These systems should also be able to immediately notify an administrator when there is a breach or when it is otherwise necessary.

Network monitoring is a process through which a computer network is continuously examined to determine if components are running more slowly than they should, or to determine whether there is any failure of the network's components. Should any outages occur, the system administrator is notified immediately so that appropriate action can be taken.

This type of monitoring focuses on the internal workings of a network, and does not concern itself, generally, with incoming data. A network monitoring system instead looks for problems related to crashed servers or other failed equipment and connections within the network.

The security of a network also involves the monitoring of outside threats to a system. For some organizations, it is vitally important that no data is lost through nefarious means, and for other entities, the loss or theft of valuable client information can cause a major setback.

This is why the security of networks is so vital to organizations that depend upon digital data.

Given the fact that so much information is only available in a digital form, and that information is now basically a form of modern currency, it is easy to see why network security systems are so important. Years ago, the ability to monitor a network was a luxury, but in the present climate a monitoring system is an absolute necessity.

Organizations that depend upon data being handled without failure or crashes need to invest in a network security system. Doing so will give them security and a leg up on the competition.

Paul De Vizard is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about all things technical. This includes Network Monitoring Tools that provide Application Performance Monitoring for large corporations.

A prevalent concern of businesses today is protecting their confidential data. Data security is not an option but a requirement for a business to be reliable and safe. A computer network functions as the technology lifeline of a company. It controls data flow throughout the company. Problems such as intrusions, down time, and disruptions of service can cause revenue loss and possible data integrity problems. Not to mention, the longer a network is down the more productivity decreases. This can result in employees being paid to stand around and do nothing. The reality is that no network is going to be efficiently running one hundred percent of the time. Occasionally something will happen and there will be down time. These occurrences and the amount of down time can be drastically reduced with the help of network security services.

Supporting, upgrading, and monitoring a network is a full time job. For your network to be dependable, someone must be available to not only fix it when something happens, but also to work hard at reducing these types of problems. IT consulting is a great way to get the support and security a business needs. Hiring someone only to find out they really don't have the necessary experience to do the job is a hassle. An inexperienced network security staff member can cause more problems than would occur if there was no network support at all. Companies that offer IT services have a staff with applicable knowledge and skills to outsource to businesses. Their employees are well versed in various network setups and designs and familiar with the most current security issues and applications. These are just some of the reasons why many companies choose these services over in house security maintenance.

Networks are continually becoming more complex with technology advancement occurring daily. Increased intricacy of data and business growth has made networks a must for most businesses. A common risk for business networks is both internal and external attacks on the network to obtain data and pertinent business information. By using network security services, the integrity of data is maintained and information is better protected. Business is more commonly done on the web as well and this opens new security risks. A vulnerable application is all it takes for a hacker to access very personal information through the Internet. IT services can prevent these attacks and ensure that client's data is stored safely and cannot be penetrated from the outside.

A business organization needs well versed network security IT consultants for many reasons. Most importantly, they protect data from any sort of attack. The data protection they provide allows employees to safely access data from any location during any time of the day. Businesses can be confident their data is protected for sharing and other purposes. Unauthorized applications are blocked on the network and this type of support also facilitates better overall collaboration between business partners and employees. Viruses and other threats are eliminated and the network security is effective and reliable. In today's fast paced information age, IT consultants help businesses ensure that the best security is implemented for fail proof data protection.

IT services can help to ensure safe handling of customer data for businesses. IT consultants have the experience to create a security strategy that keeps a network safe and well maintained.

Secure computer networks are intrinsic part of the HIPAA strategy to completely convert the national patent health records into an electronic format, which can be easily exchanged between different agencies like health care providers, insurance providers and administrators. As a result the health care organizations can manage documentation process efficiently in minimal time and provide better service to the patients. But the present day computer system is prone to hacking and virus attacks, which steal or destroy the crucial data. To protect the patient health information there are network security rules, which need to be followed, so that the organization is able to achieve HIPAA compliance.

There are two main sections of HIPAA that relate to computer network security and they are:

Administrative Safeguards:

To achieve HIPAA compliance, it necessary for the provider to identify, guard and report against malicious software program in the system. The infected emails carry with them worms, virus and Trojans, and there should be a security system in place that stops this intrusion. To manage the computer networks smoothly, it is necessary to maintain a vigil by installing special safeguards mentioned below:

Gateway and desktop anti-virus products should be used.
The security gateway should be able carry out, deep-packet-penetration, inspection and provide appropriate web filtering capabilities to the network.
Signature files that update at every 30 minutes should be used, as they are best form of defense against the fast moving worms.
All the security services and subsystem should be proactive with IPS (Intrusion Protection System) instead of IDS (Intrusion Detection System). This is necessary to protect the network from being infected with virus.
The installed firewall should provide protection from the top 50 Dos and DDos well known attacks. The installed security system should register the number time the attacks have been made and counter them effectively.

Security Safeguards:

For a computer network to attain HIPAA compliance it is necessary for the organization to frame security policy, which authorizes the selected personnel or software programs to access the protected health information.

The security device should support native form of authentication. For web related applications, Transparent Authentication(TA) should be used so that a same user who moves to different secure applications does not have to sign-in, his or her, username and password, every time he or she makes a jump.
The security system should support email content filtration process with keywords and regular expression string features.
To prevent, unauthorized access or intercept, of the patient health information when it on journey between sender and receiver, proper encryption techniques should be used. The transport of the PHI to public network should be done in strong encryption mode and received by authenticated users, who should have the requisite deciphering codes.
The security system should continuously monitor for any unwanted or suspicious deviation from the standard procedure and report anomalous activity immediately to IT manager.
Special security features like email content filtering application and digital signatures should be added in the system to prohibit dispatch of confidential data to unverified receivers.

In the end it is necessary for all the entities that are involved in health care system like, health service providers, insurance companies, transcription service providers, payers, labs, internet service providers, hospitals and billing services to build a chain of trust so that any patient health information routed between them is kept highly confidential. This can be done through a network of computer systems that strictly adhere to HIPAA compliance norms to facilitate, a safe and secure transmission, of confidential health information on public network.

To prevent online theft of patient health information it necessary to install secure computer network.

Jason Gaya,

Read more about HIPAA compliance at, http://www.empowerbpo.com

Information Technology Jobs are Everywhere - Even Where You Don't Expect Them

If you are looking for that great career, or if you are looking for a career change then you should really consider looking at information technology jobs. The world of computers is continually growing, the field is becoming bigger and businesses need more and more experts within a certain field in the realm of computers.

Information technology jobs are increasing daily, and these jobs are permeating all areas and all career fields. The following are traditional information technology jobs, which will give you a basic understanding of the types of jobs available, but there are also many other IT jobs within other career fields.

The Computer Programmer

Career options for computer programmers are continually changing, because software and hardware requirements are also constantly changing. This career field requires you to keep up to date with new programs and to gain experience in them every year. A computer programmer's salary will also vary depending on the experience he has.

Web Designer

This is another Information Technology job, but the web designer is not necessarily a programmer, but may have programming knowledge in some cases. Most web designers work making web pages. Web sales pages, web data bases, etc. The web designer often works hand in hand with a web programmer, but can also work with the creative artist, and graphic artist.

The Computer Animation Expert

This is the specialist that works with moving animations, training videos, games, etc. The person that works in this field needs to be knowledgeable about information technology, but also creative and artistic. This person loves computer games and anything related to animation.

The Web Editor and SEO Specialist

These information technology jobs involve the writing of content in a practical way especially for the internet. It involves the correct placing of a site within Google. Usually the people that enter into this field have had some kind of writing background in college and computer background too.

The Computer Network Engineer

This information technology job involves working with the computer itself, the hardware, software and the company's networking capabilities. He repairs, diagnoses, changes out computers, and re-establishes the servers working when something happens.

Other Information Technology Jobs

The above are the traditional information technology jobs, but now more and more career fields are requiring extensive computer knowledge. For example if you plan on entering an engineering field, there will be many different computer applications you will need to be able to manage.

The same holds true for accounting and science fields. If for instance you decide to work in geology you will need to work with spatial technology computer applications and GPS technology.

Internet technology skills will be vital in the future in almost all career fields. The more computer skills you have the better your job skills will be and the better job you will land.

So, if you are choosing your career and are worried about future job security, then a job in information technology is what you are looking for. To advance your career and improve your pay as an IT professional you should read more in detail at Online IT Degree . Computer technology is not going anywhere. They will never be obsolete, although you will always have to keep your skills up to date because of the fast changes that occur within these fields.

Ryan Baba writes about career prospects for IT professionals at Online IT Degree.

[http://www.onlineitdegree.org]

Social networking is certainly one of the buzzwords of the year. MySpace, Facebook, and a plethora of blog networks and discussion forums all fall under the umbrella of social networking. Although it is typically described as interacting with virtual community members, social marketing takes on new meaning when it becomes an offline approach.

The convenience and comfort of the online world has added much to business networking. However, is it possible that this virtual connection has also taken away from the benefits real-life face to face interaction offers? Perhaps a healthy balance of online and offline networking is what it needed to take a business-even an online business-to the next level.

An Internet Marketer can find numerous effective and interesting ways to connect with people offline. Keeping a stash of business cards to hand out to people you meet while out and about is one simple way to create interest and discussion about your business.

Every Internet marketer knows to always include signatures and links in e-mails, forum and blog postings in order to bring in business. The same techniques can be applied in the outside world by utilizing business cards or just your voice to bring your business and interests into conversation.

Getting involved in local business networking events is another effective way to enter offline social marketing. Attend chamber of commerce events, lunch and learns, or happy hours for professionals to get plugged into circles of people with whom you can swap business advice and learn more about what is going on in your area.

Nervous about leaving the security of your office chair and computer screen? If you have been able to be successful at online social marketing, you can succeed offline as well. Simply use the same social skills that have worked for you on forums and blogs: show a genuine interest in people, be friendly and thoughtful, and use honesty and integrity as you meet with people.

Internet marketing seminars are a great way to connect with people who have similar interests and goals. By using your people-skills, you can develop rewarding professional relationships that will benefit your business and perhaps even your social calendar. Furthermore, such seminars will provide you with information to build your business. You are basically doubling your money with this offline social networking option.

It's all about avoiding the "stuck in a box" scenario. A true Internet marketer is always seeking out opportunities to connect with others, and the offline world provides many avenues for connection.

True, it may not be as easy or comfortable as an online forum. After all, in the real world we don't walk around with our profiles, including hobbies, goals, and favorite movies, listed on our shirts, nor do we have our favorite song playing in the background. But by being honest and real and displaying genuine interest in others, you will find yourself succeeding in the offline world of social networking -no screen name required.

Matthew is the developer of TheWebReviewer: Legitimate Home Based Business Reviews, and NetWebVideo: Mastering SEO, Adwords, and Affiliate Marketing. Matt currently lives in San Diego, CA and is married with two children and has been an online marketer since 2006.

Just as corporate and subordination users are bonding whiz to provide shared protection, however, a barn door emerging adorableness of users is expanding rapidly, and for the incomparably sampling they are unprotected. As broadband Internet coming becomes increasingly popular, supplementary users settle maturity central computers and quit them lengthened 24/7.

The decision is they be reformed targets for attackers. One subscribe to estimated that the scope between when a another computer is bad on and the elite workout is underway is usually less than 10 minutes. This is whereas attackers oftentimes gain automated scanning equipment that test constantly, looking for opportunity. An proceeding can repeatedly be placed in seconds, regularly before countermeasures can be installed to win an installation. Other studies rationalize the marvel is worse still, figuring the scope before bid is spitting image to 2 minutes. I've observed instances in which newly updated computers became infected by a virus within a few minutes, constant though the computers were defended by a cinch network. This happened because the infecting computers were inside the network, ultimate apt infested by pathogens carried in on media trio brought from home.

As the category of computer users has increased, ways are emerging to illicitly use extirpate of them. The computer of a thick user may be forced notice participating in a distributed dissension of reinforcement (DDoS) go aimed valuable a gala use and timed to oxidation croak with hundreds of thousands of others then as to crush the victim. Alternatively, users' broadband computers can be gamy sympathy contravening mesh sites for pornography or far cry products, or fabricated consequence relays for unsolicited email (spam).

Fortunately, aid is on the way: Microsoft, for instance, offers child splay software gain updates thanks to the Internet.

Help sites are available for every cordial of Linux and Unix. Many anti virus software publishers mention not idiosyncratic anti virus programs but further some friendly of information assist documenting viruses and what to realize to discourage or stock diagnostic attacks.

Most companies existent are adding their enjoy central confidence forces. Increasingly, corporate yen ads buzz a computer expectancy tab or two as a needed for hiring.

Web-norton : Network Security: Protecting Broadband
http://web-norton.blogspot.com/2008/06/network-security-protecting-broadband.html

A penetration test (in the IT vernacular referred to as a "pen test") is also known as "ethical hacking", and this network security tool provides an essential function in vulnerability assessment. By actively seeking out and deploying attacks and penetration efforts against your network, you are more likely to uncover vulnerabilities and be able to take action to block holes in your security and pre-empt attacks on the perimeter defences.

Penetration testing includes both script-based and human-based attacks on the network in order to seek out and exploit vulnerabilities. The difference between this and say, criminal hackers looking to cause mischief or theft of data, is that you control the "attacker". The "attacker" reports back to you on whether they were successful and if so, how to stop such an attack from being successful in real-life. Penetration testing will reveal network security holes but more than this, it will be able to provide you with a realistic risk assessment including the impact on your business should such an attack succeed. Knowing what such an attack may cost your business will provide you with the ability to quantify the business risk and determine whether you do in fact, need to implement a solution.

"Black Box Testing" involves a penetration test where the attackers have no knowledge of the network infrastructure. They are working from what a real, external hacker would be using - online connectivity and any human intelligence or reliance on human nature, in order to discover vulnerabilities.

"White Box Testing" involves attackers who have full knowledge of the network infrastructure and are seeking out vulnerabilities and scenarios to take advantage of perceived weaknesses.

An intermediate form exists, known as "Grey Box Testing" where some knowledge is provided, known also as "partial disclosure".

The aim of these differing forms of testing is to compel imaginative ways to hack into the network, compromising network security. While having full knowledge of a system may lead the ethical attacker to use an obvious defect in network security, they may pass over and completely miss a less obvious but more severe vulnerability. Blind or black box testing does not allow for precise testing of certain components of the network because they don't know how the network is established but, this form of testing does lead to more imaginative attack scenarios being developed and hence, a more realistic prospect of stopping a real attacker with mischief in mind.

Penetration testing should be a regular scheduled activity and performed at least once a year and every time the network infrastructure is added to or changed. Penetration tests are also a serious component of risk audits conducted to determine network operation and integrity. Script-based penetration testing is relatively inexpensive because of the level of automation involved and is eminently suitable for white box testing. Black box testing, on the other hand, is labor intensive because it involves real people emulating real life hackers and such a penetration test will involve more than simply running an online attack against the network, for instance, rummaging through company trash for computer information, and this dramatically increases the cost.

Lawrence Reaves works for PLANIT Technology Group, a leading provider of Richmond network security, Virginia Beach enterprise storage, and many other services. PLANIT can be found online at: PLANITTech.com.

Computer registry repair isn't a joke. There's a story behind these. Even if you would like to solve the errors from your computer right now, you would better stick with this story (it won't take long and you will get lots of valuable information). It all began approximately 20 years ago (an eternity for the history of computers, isn't it?)

What is a registry?

Analyzing a fundamental guide in IT: Microsoft PC Dictionary fifth edition (is like a bible for technicians), we are able to discover among the best definitions for the "windows registry system". The "Registry" is known as a main database, hierarchical organized, used in Microsoft Home windows working system family to stock all the data essential to configure the system. These include the settings for the system, different user profiles, network profiles, software functions profiles and set up for the smart hardware.

Registry Story

Within the first versions of Windows, the registry was saved as a text file. Yes, a text file (unbelieveble, isn't it?). Nonetheless, the approach towards the registry was rather awkward because too many software and drivers were lunched and a simple text would become enormous to lunch them all. When that *txt reach to a limit and start to respond very slow...finally something changed. In 1993, once the Win NT OS launched, there was already an enormous variety of purposes (software and hardware) in connection with a single PC. And also the quantity continuously increased. The Microsoft specialists proposed a desperate solution to all those questions: each software should have it's own registry.

The type of this file is *.ini for each and every application instead of one *.txt for all. An "ini" is mostly an integrated textual content file containing all the info related to the software in order to function properly. This determination has been reworded! The results: a dramatic improvement and general performance of the system increase accordingly. And this was noticed on every aspect: reliability, security, velocity. Nevertheless, this answer wasn't the last one. Beginning with Win XP (founded in 2001) we have a different approach: the registry construction is split on 5 segments - from each one of those segments stocks a particular kind of selective info.

The heart of your computer

The complexity's of a present PC might be compared with the human body. "Heart" is definitely the Windows system32 (where all the windows applications make sure that your PC will boot every time and will work properly). "Blood" is the Regedit (system registry). Why do we make this comparison? Because it is as essential as it is the heart and the blood for the human body. Likewise, in the same way is the blood vital for the human body, as much important registries are for Windows. To proceed this parallelism... During the life of a person, blood is in a permanent change. Substances that growth or decrease the standard of blood rely upon many factors. Every meal is essential for the standard of blood. For instance, food that is too reach in fats is changing the blood, adding way too much cholesterol. During a day a computer is performing a number of operations. Open or close the software's, setting up or uninstalling components are done every day. Many actions of an user (such us installing unknown toolbars, unwanted software's that turns as been spy-ware, taking viruses on sharing networks) could harm the operating system's default as well as system registry. Errors start to have consequences on the registries. The PC is processing now inefficiently.

They're dozens of computer registry repair software that fix registry and backup your PC safety. Do a Google search and you may be astonished on the outcomes. Do a wise pick and stay away from freeware! You need to have your computer to get better, not a mess!

This is a respectable source to find answers and fixes for your deadening computer: http://www.fixregistry.biz.

Whatever you have a slowly startup or any trouble while running on a daily basis, you can make your computer smoother.

Computer security is an important aspect of computer technology that assures safety and protection of the files and network connection stored and integrated on the computer. This area includes computer safety against any kind of virus, corruption, natural disaster, hardware damage, hacking, and information theft. It encompasses various procedures and mechanism that operate as a measure of computer security.

The problem of a virus attack is a very common threat for computer users and nobody is immune from catching this virus. Furthermore, wireless network, Bluetooth connection and similar devices have given rise to issues like viral attacks, automatic download of corrupted file, theft of secured information, and phishing scam.

Here are some of the excellent tips for computer security at home:

• Install an up-to-date antivirus program to protect the PC against virus.
• Anti-Spyware is a more beneficial tool for computer safety. Spyware is more dangerous and harmful than a virus, so anti-spyware software will be of great help to you and your computer.
• Make sure that the operating system installed is the original version with the latest updates.
• Firewall is a great addition to ensure entry of hackers into your computer. Choose the firewall software that holds the power to control both the incoming as well as the outgoing internet traffic.
• Be well-known that no sensitive information should be stored in your computer.
• Be aware of fraudulent mails and don't mention any password and log in id if not sure of the authenticity of the mail sender.
• Be smart enough to have a complicated and a confusing password but something that you can easily remember. Try some good combinations and avoid any password that can be easily tracked.
• No credit card company asks for any kind of information so it's wise not to give such sensitive information to any unknown sender.
• When downloading any song, music, movie, or document, make sure you don't catch virus. Avoid downloading with P2P networks because these are most unsafe for downloading.
• Make a practice of deleting any chain emails and unwanted messages without opening it and without downloading any attachment.
• Avoid any kind of installation that is not required and essential for your daily operation.
• Always have a backup of all important files and downloads stored at a different location on your computer and also on any removable media.

To know more about security and safety, check Security System.

One issue you have to address if you choose to install a wireless system in your home is that of security. You want to make at least some effort to make it harder for others to access your computer network, especially those who may want to attack your computer or steal your personal information. You can reduce these risks if you use the available security features that are built into a typical wireless system.

Performing any of the following steps will help you maintain your privacy when using a wireless network, and performing all of the steps will help even more.

* Change the router's user name and password: Use something other than the default user name and password in order to make it harder for a hacker to access your system.

* Control access with a user name and password: Most wireless routers have a mechanism called identifier broadcasting. It sends out a service set identifier (SSID) signal or an extended service set identifier (ESSID) signal to any device in the vicinity announcing its presence. Change the default user name to a unique user name. For added protection, set it up to require a password for access.

* Turn off identifier broadcasting: Hackers near your home can use identifier broadcasting to locate unprotected wireless networks. Disable this mechanism if your wireless router allows it.

* Turn off wireless network when not in use: If you will not be using your wireless network for an extended period of time, turn it off or disconnect it. Hackers are unable to gain unauthorized wireless access to your computers if the wireless network is not operating.

* Use encryption: The most effective way to secure your wireless network from intruders is to encrypt, or scramble, communications over the network. Typically, the default setting is to have this system turned off. Follow the directions included with your wireless router, or the product support information on the manufacturer's web site, to turn on encryption. Turning on encryption will allow access only to users with the proper user names and passwords. If your wireless router doesn't have an encryption feature, consider getting one that does. Two main types of encryption are available: Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and the more secure Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). Your computer, router, and other equipment must use the same encryption.

* Be careful away from home: If you are accessing the Internet through a public hot spot, do not use this connection for anything involving sensitive private information.

Depending on your system, you may not be able to adjust all of your router's settings. You may want to review your router's documentation or your ISP for additional information on securing your wireless system.

Other Resources
The book Parenting and the Internet (Speedbrake Publishing, 2007) by Todd Curtis has more detailed suggestions about setting up your home computer system, with additional advice on how to set up your browser and operating system to enhance your online security. Visit http://speedbrake.com for more information about the book.

About the Author: Dr. Todd Curtis is the creator of the web's most popular airline safety site AirSafe.com (http://www.airsafe.com), the director of the AirSafe.com Foundation, and an expert in the areas of engineering risk assessment and risk management. He has applied those basic principles to the problem of managing Internet use, and has put many of those insights and lessons learned into his book Parenting and the Internet (Speedbrake Publishing, 2007), an easy to understand how-to guide that parents can use to manage the activities of their online children. For more information about the book and how it can help you, visit http://books.speedbrake.com

In this age of modern technology if there is one thing that makes most of the things that we see around us is being by a computer. Even ordinary folks had finally gotten themselves into the mainstream of Internet users since most of the communications are being done through this magnificent piece of invention that man has ever contributed to its society.

However, along with all the good amenities as well as the advantages that it can provide to its users, there are those whose sole intention is to take advantage of those who may have certain limitations when it comes to knowing the technical aspects of this tool of communication. Thus, you will find out that there will be times that your account has been tampered with or may have been hijacked by certain individuals which have the advance knowledge on how to do such things.

You may think that such things cannot be prevented and there is no way that you will be able to use the net without having your own kind of privacy since the internet or most of it belongs to the public. There is actually a way, that is aside from those anti-viruses or malware software that you can download freely on the web.

Virtual Private Network or VPN is one of the best ways that could guarantee your total online security and protection. If you have been yearning for a way where you will be able to surf the internet worry free, a VPN service provider can provide such online services for you. If you don't have any idea as to how these kind of online services actually work, you will find several VPN review sites wherein you might be able to get valuable and helpful information that will open your eyes to the wondrous opportunities that this online service has to offer.

The right kind of VPN service provider will be able to hide your real IP address as well as hide your current location which will be quite impossible to trace or track you down.

This is the only way that you will be able to get the kind of online privacy that you need, most importantly this is not as costly as you may think it is. There are good providers that you can find on the web today that are way affordable and at the same time could provide you total online security and protection for an entire year.

Hence, why not make your surfing and browsing of the web worry free and try out a VPN service provider as your computer's primary online protection.

Kiff Zee De Paz is a proud contributing author who writes articles on several subjects including VPN and Technology. You can read more of the articles and learn about best VPN services when you visit http://www.vpnreviewz.com/best-vpn-service-providers/.

Network administrators are surrounded today with a growing list of security risks and analysts are faced with not just one crisis but more while accessing servers. Dealing with such security risks is an overwhelming job and everyday, as these risks multiply, they are affecting more and more corporate lives.

Cyber security still has to keep worms, Trojans and viruses at bay, provided by many hackers and cyber criminals over the years. Despite the threat of cyber-terrorism, employers, as well as employees who use instant messengers and those who download featured movies and other applications increase their risk of being attacked by viruses.

Here is the list of the risk factors involved which the network security company should guard themselves against:

· Email attachments- when employees open attachments, especially unknown ones, they allow a worm or a virus to enter the corporate network. The latest worms can make their way into the system even without clicking a link to them.

· Blended attacks- viruses and worms are becoming more and more complicated and a single virus or worm can attack more than one platform.

· Downloading from websites- the employees frequently misuse the network access at their work place by downloading too many things like games, movies, music, etc. It creates a platform for the viruses to attack and they can use up most of the bandwidth.

· By renaming documents-when an employee saves critical business information under a different file name, the monitoring software that regularly checks the emails leaving the company might fail to recognize the saved information under the different name.

· Music and video browsers- these are browsers that automatically connect the user with the related websites without the user's permission. If a music browser knows a user's interest, it can automatically connect the user to the related sites and execute the applications that could put the networks at risk and potentially use a huge portion of the bandwidth.

There are other network security risks that can cause disastrous effects to the server and automatically damage a huge amount of online corporate functionalities. To prevent these damages, the employees and the employers need to avoid all of the risks associated with network security. The network security company, with the use of intrusion detection system (IDS) and intrusion prevention system (IPS) can ensure an effective network security for your organization so that you can perform effectively and safely.

Network security companies have a large number of dedicated security teams that can effectively install next generation firewalls that can protect your server from hackers and cyber criminals. Moreover, with the help of the expanded firewall protection, the server can then create a good network administration. To find the best network security company, you could search online for the one that best suits your needs and requirements.

Get 100% guaranteed network security with best software firewall, network Intrusion detection system, next generation firewall and Intrusion prevention system.

Computer forensics is a field in demand. Computers have become valuable targets of theft. The information they contain can be stolen or altered for malicious purposes. The need for trained professionals in this field has never been greater.

In law enforcement, computer forensics professionals may work for local police departments, state police departments, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They may go to the scene of incidents, gather evidence, investigate the evidence, and write reports. They may also provide testimony for criminal cases in court. Individuals who specialize in the forensic study of computers may also be called "cyber investigators", "cyber cops", or "digital detectives".

Computer forensics experts investigate crimes such as identity theft, credit card fraud, intellectual property theft, threats/harassment, pedophilia, and unauthorized computer system intrusion. These computer crimes or "cyber crimes" constitute a significant risk to individuals, companies, and governments. Cyber crimes result in tens of millions of dollars of dollars in losses each year.

Computer forensics examiners need a wide range of technical skills and knowledge. They must have expertise in network security, protocols, software, computer file formats, routing, cryptology, reverse software engineering, password cracking, and diagnostic techniques. In addition to technical skills, professionals in this field must have good oral and written communication skills, understand and comply with investigation procedures, work under tight deadlines, have problem solving abilities and be creative and persistent in the pursuit of evidence.

Experts in this field may also be involved in crimes that were not directly committed via computer. There may be information stored on a computer or storage device that is important for the case. For example, e-mail evidence can be used in cases against robbery and homicide suspects. Computer forensics experts are needed in these cases, as there are very specific procedures that must be followed for digital information to be presented as valid evidence.

The forensic study of computers can be an interesting, rewarding career. Learn more about this field and computer forensics certification at http://www.computerforensicscertification.net.

Computer security is something you should not take for granted. This is especially true if you care about your job and deadlines that involve the use of computer. In this article, we will talk about malicious software (malware) and how they can infect your computer.

The most common ways of how a form of malware infects your computer are the following:

- Through opening attachments which have malware in them.

- By downloading files online.

- By visiting or exploring a malicious website.

Having enumerated these things, it is hence important to always be cautious when using your computer as well as the internet. Be constantly reminded that you can't trust any message sent to you and that there's always a possibility of them carrying some viruses or worms. Of course, this possibility increases when you receive a message from someone you don't even know.

Another thing you should remember is that not everything that says "free" is actually free. Sometimes, they come with malicious programs that infect your system and gather confidential information not meant for sharing such as email addresses found in your accounts. When this happens, your computer becomes even more prone to getting new infections as you may start receiving emails from people you're "supposed" to know but actually don't. These mails come in the guise of being useful or official such as security updates. They may contain innocent-looking links that put your computer security in a higher risk.

Another common way of getting a virus is from downloading from the internet. Sites which offer free downloads like music files, pornography, and screen savers are likely to abound with malicious software. The online scoundrels find these sites very convenient to put viruses in as they provide the easiest route into other people's systems.

The third most common way that your computer can get virus infection is by simply exploring websites setup to bait internet users. These websites may appear normal but they are actually a decoy for visitors to (unknowingly) download malicious software. Whether you click "OK," "Cancel," or "Exit," it will automatically start downloading. Among all browsers, it is said that Internet Explorer is the most prone to activities like this.

Now, since malware is rampant and they can be pretty tricky most times, it is very important that you know how to protect yourself from them. While there may be no foolproof way to get rid or prevent them, there are some things that can significantly help to heighten the security of your computer system. For one, you can install software that will help you scan for viruses or spyware. You may also want to learn about virtual private network (VPN) which can help protect your computer from many harmful software out there in the web.

Remember, computer security is very important. If you don't put premium on it, you are likely to suffer a bigger problem in the future. Think of identity theft and fraud. These are just two of the ugly things you can fall a victim to. Hence, beware!

Expert Michael Maxstead maintains several websites about VPN and Security technologies. By visiting his website VPNreviewz.com you can learn about astrill VPN and vyprvpn.

The importance of computer security is an issue that many people tend to ignore. But this should not be so. If you neglect maintaining your computer's protection, the very least thing that can happen to you is having your computer rendered useless because of the spyware and malware bogging your system. At the very worst, you may see your finances and your life ruined by identity theft.

We all know the old adage: "An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure." If you want to save money on possible computer repairs for data loss because of malicious code, or if you want to save yourself from the tragedy of identity theft, you will take the matter of computer security very seriously. It is not that difficult to keep your machine protected. All you need to do is to install the three pieces of software listed below.

1. Anti-virus software. As its name suggests, anti-virus software will keep viruses, computer worms and Trojans away from your computer. It is supposed to scan your files or anything being downloaded into your computer for any malicious code in real time. You can also use it to deep-scan your computer for any virus hidden in your computer system.

It is always suggested that you use professional-grade anti-virus software. Norton AntiVirus, McAfee VirusScan and Trend Micro are just some of the professional-grade anti-virus software that you can buy. However, if you cannot afford to buy software, you can always download reputable freeware like Avast or AVG.

2. Firewall. Another piece of protective software that you should have to ensure your computer security is a firewall. A firewall is supposed to limit access to your computer using a network or through the Internet. Ideally, outgoing information from your computer will be encrypted for your safety. In the same light, only safe data or data that you permit will be allowed into your system.

Windows users will have Windows Defender as their built-in firewall. It needs to be updated regularly using the Windows Update service. But you can buy a third-party firewall if you want more protection. If you are the administrator of a network, you can also install hardware to augment your firewall.

3. Spyware scanner. The last piece of essential software that you should have is a spyware scanner. When we surf the Internet, we sometimes visit websites that are not as straightforward and trustworthy as we want them to be. A spyware scanner will block any malware or spyware that will try to wriggle its way into your computer through the Internet.

The Internet can be a scary place. If you do not exercise caution in implementing your computer security, you run the risk of destroying your computer with malware eroding your system. Data loss can be undone by a successful attempt at data retrieval, but it can be very costly. Nonetheless, this cost is nothing if you become a victim of identity theft and you lose all your money.

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This year marks the 31th anniversary of the first mobile phone in Australia. Ten years later, in the Swiss headquarters of CERN, the Computer Scientist Tim Berners Lee created the World Wide Web.

Despite the relative 'youth' of these technologies, it is hard to imagine a world without them. They are fundamental. They have changed the way we interact forever. They have changed the way we communicate, the way we work and the way we relax.

As always, there is a price to pay for such a rapid change and development in technology. As a society, we have left gaping holes in security and privacy as we march on, ever modernising and digitising. These effects are so far reaching that they concern the security of nations, the integrity of corporations and the privacy of individuals. Yet are scientists and engineers to blame? When have we ever stopped and considered the privacy and security implications of the technology we develop?

In 2010 Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's atomic energy agency, announced that completion of Bushehr (Iran's first Nuclear power plant) would be delayed a further 3 months. They denied any connection to 'stuxnet'.

Stuxnet, a computer worm, has been described by the Internet security firm Semantic as "the most complex threat they have ever analysed". Described as a master of stealth, stuxnet transmitted itself to over 45,000 devices; of which 60% were in Iran. Ordinary computer users would not have noticed a change; for there was nothing to notice. It was designed to install itself on a USB flash drive, and hide. It then waited for the right set of conditions to occur.

Those conditions are unique to specific Siemens machines called SCADA systems. These are high end machines that run and monitor systems such as manufacturing plants, water treatment facilities, civil defence systems and... power plants around the world. Even the smallest security breach to one of these systems could wreck havoc on society - power plants would halt, water treatment systems would stop, traffic control systems would crumble.

The elegance of stuxnet was the target computer didn't need to be connected to the Internet at all - all it needed was an infected USB to be inserted into one of these high-end SCADA systems.

Stuxnet was not looking for just any SCADA system, but rather it had targets. Curiously the only SCADA systems believed to be affected by the worm were those involved in the Iranian nuclear program. It is believed that stuxnet was the product of a state-backed attack to delay Iran's nuclear ambitions. Politically motivated, no doubt; but stuxnet serves to highlight an important point - technology is now a weapon, and security our only defence.

In a world of increasing technology and connectedness, it is near impossible to keep any system isolated. Traffic systems, airports, power plants... all are susceptible to similar attacks. Our society has modernised and interconnected itself so rapidly that scientists and engineers who create the technology have been unable to strike the balance between security and advancement.

Nations are not the only ones affected. In April 2011, the Japanese juggernaut Sony and its PlayStation Network and Qriocity service were crippled by hackers for a cringe-worthy 23 days - an eternity in Internet time. In the process, over 77 million credit cards and other personally identifiable information was stolen.

The examples are plentiful: Britain's National Health Service (hacked), CityGroup network (some 200,000 clients' information stolen), Epsilon database (2500 companies' emailing lists stolen).

Even the Australian government is vulnerable to cyber attack. Despite similar attacks back in 2007, in February of this year the government was stung once again. Up to 10 Federal ministerial computers (including the Prime Minister's) were compromised.

Perhaps the most confronting breaches to our own privacy and security are self-inflicted. The technology that represents the biggest breach of our privacy and security is often the most integral and entrenched... our mobile phones.

Our mobile phones never leave us. They are the last thing we check at night as we go to sleep, and the first when we wake. One smart phone alone has the computing power that was used to send man to the moon. Despite this, society is generally blind to the risks they present; and to the implications this causes.

Ever since GPS chips started appearing in phones there has been a resulting privacy fallout. Apple's latest iPhones come with GPS tracking built-in; should the phone become lost or stolen. However, this service is always on; and because our phones are always with us, it becomes a very simple and covert way to track someone's whereabouts. GPS tracking is a feature, not an oversight. Without much difficulty at all, parents can covertly track their children's whereabouts, wives can check up on their husbands, and bosses can monitor their staff.

Nowadays, when a picture is taken, most GPS-enabled phones will automatically include the location in the photo data. This isn't a problem until the image is widely distributed; and potentially thousands can discover the location it was taken. With services like email, Twitter and Facebook; this is easy. Most will strip out the location data, but many, including email, will not. Technology such as this runs the risk of exposing the locations where photos are taken, with pinpoint accuracy. Often, these are people's homes and workplaces.

Sometimes, the apps are also to blame. Blendr is a mobile dating app with a twist - It shows users how many kilometers they are from each other. Many such users are unaware, but by sampling distances from three different positions and using triangulation, it's possible to compute a person's location, without them explicitly revealing it.

Chinese and US researchers have shown a proof-of-concept Android smart phone application that spies in on users' phone calls, listening for credit card numbers and pins. With the app running in the background, when the user made a call, the app would monitor the microphone for someone speaking or dialing a string of numbers (as in telephone banking) then log the information surreptitiously. It was just an experiment, but startling nonetheless.

The solution is clear... there is no going back. The only solution is to move forward. Society owes a great deal of gratitude to the scientists and engineers who create these immensely powerful technologies, but it does not excuse these professionals from their responsibilities. There is a high risk to our privacy and security today. It is the responsibility of the creators to inform and make society aware of the dangers of these technologies, rather than just providing them.

Whether it's a nation, a corporation or an end user... security is more important than we think. We need to address the issue of privacy and security in the industry, and for scientists and engineers; security and privacy need to be a priority, not an after thought.

Adam Smallhorn is the secretary and a regular contributor for the Young Scientists of Australia, Sydney Chapter. The Young Scientists of Australia (or YSA Sydney) is a volunteer, youth run organisation dedicated to promoting Science to the Youth of Australia. Accepting members from ages 15-25, you can find more information at the website: http://www.ysa.org.au/sydney/