[Hi-LaL]

Tips for buying a new computer

By: Michael Cottier, Tue Dec 27th, 2005

Copyright 2006 Michael Cottier


A computer is perhaps the most important part of our daily lives. We see it everywhere from our homes to the places we work. Since it is used so much in our lives, we want to make sure that a PC we purchase is a good computer that will be able to do everything we want it to, and last a long time.

But purchasing a new computer is not as easy as you might think it is. Sure you could shell out lots of money and buy a brand PC, but sometimes you are spending money on speed and features you don't even need. They also come with offers and built in software that they dangle in front of you to stay ahead in the business. You can also custom build your own computer, but is it really going to be cheaper then if you bought a brand PC with the same features? Since I have been using, and buying computers, for the past 12 years I know exactly what you need to look for when buying a fully assembled desktop computer. Use my tips below and you will save time and money.

- You need to know what hardware you will need. If you don't know, talk to someone who has knowledge of computers, and tell them what you will be using the PC for. They should know what you will need. Once you know what you should get, then look for a computer that meets those needs.

- Make sure the store you buy your new computer from has great service and are willing to stick by their computer.

- If you will be using the computer for video games or other graphic related applications, you need to have a good graphics card. Most motherboards come with a built in graphics card, but usually that is not suitable for high end graphic demands. Purchasing a nice ATI or NVIDIA graphics card would be a good idea if you plan on using the PC for graphic related applications. There is a slot available to slide your new graphics card in if you choose to buy a separate one.

- The computer and hardware parts should have a warranty. Most hardware comes with long and good warranties, but just to make sure you might want to purchase a warranty from the store that you are buying the PC from. This way if something goes wrong a few years down the road, they still have to fix it or replace it!

- The next thing you need to consider is the computers case. A good computer case should have USB slots available on the front of it, for easy access, and in the back. It should also have a powerful power supply (for additional parts) and at least 1 fan in front of the motherboard to keep the computer cool. Flash drives can also be found sometimes built into the front of the PC, for instant access to your flash media. These are very handy and should be considered especially if you have a digital camera.

- Another very important aspect of your PC is CD/DVD drives and burners. A DVD burner is what I recommend for everyone, since the price is basically the same as a CD burner, but it will also play DVD's and regular CD's, plus be able to burn DVD's and regular CD's! Two types of burners for the price of one!

- Your computer's mouse is how you interact with your PC. The latest mouse technology available is the optical mouse, which uses a laser light instead of a mouse "ball". Old fashioned mouse balls got stuck and were hard to use sometimes, with an optical mouse that problem is no more.

- Perhaps the most important aspect of a computer is the monitor. No longer are we in the realm of old fashioned CRT monitors. The LCD monitor is now readily available when you purchase your new computer, and in my opinion should be required. LCD monitors are so vivid and crystal clear that you will never want to go back to an old CRT monitor. LCD monitor's also consume less power and take up less space, plus they come on much faster.

- Almost as important as the monitor, is the sound system and speakers. Good sound on your computer can really make a difference, especially if you play a lot of games and listen to a lot of music and watch movies. Desktop speakers have gone down significantly in price and in combination with a good sound card your experience will be complete. I recommend a sound card from "Creative" called Sound blaster Audigy.

- Your operating system is a very important factor of how well you will love or hate your new PC. I have always used Windows, so I recommend Windows XP, or in the future, Windows Long Horn. There are of course other choices like Linux, and you could go for a Mac too. Just make sure you have experience with the operating system that you choose.

- Last but not least is your printer. If you are a photo hound, and use a digital camera a lot, then you definitely want a high quality printer that can print out all of your photos. Another good idea to consider is an all in one printer that can scan, copy, and print with just one machine.

That is all of my advice for you when buying a new desktop computer. Follow those steps and maintain your computer properly, and it will last longer and function better.
About the author: For more information on customizing your computer to fit your needs, with step by step help from an expert, go to:http://www.computer-customizing-guide.com/

Direct Link: Tips for Buying A New Computer

[Hi-LaL]

Has Someone Stolen Your Identity? Here Are 8 Ways to Tell

By: Howard Goff, Mon Aug 14th, 2006

Right now, someone could be using your identity to start a new credit card, to get a loan, to drain your checking or savings account. In some cases, you might not find out about the theft for weeks, sometimes even months. Unfortunately, the longer it takes to discover the crime, the more damage will be done and the harder it will be to rectify that damage.

Thankfully, there are some ways for you to detect identity theft before the problems progress too far. Below are some of those methods.
1. Errors on your credit report - By checking your credit report yearly, you'll be able to determine if anyone is opening up accounts in your name without your permission. Otherwise, you may not learn there is a problem until you need to take out credit.

2. Mail problems - One of the least-technological ways to commit identity theft is stealing mail. If you aren't receiving mail or if you aren't getting items in the mail that you are expecting, such as credit card bills, then you may be a victim of identity theft.

3. Being rejected for credit you didn't request - As you may already know, if a creditor rejects your request for credit, he or she must send you a letter in the mail explaining the reason for the rejection. If you begin getting these letters, but you haven't been requesting credit, then that's a good sign someone is using your identity.

4. Being the victim of pretexting - Pretexting is a scheme involving the Internet or the telephone. Someone contacts you claiming to be a legitimate organization's representative, then they'll ask for your personal information, possibly a PIN number or a checking account number. If that has happened to you and you've given out that information, then there's a good chance you'll be a victim in the near future.

5. Changes in your credit balances or checking account amounts - Unexplained changes in any of your financial accounts should be a big signal to you that something is not right. That's why it's a good idea to check all of your balances weekly and compare them to your estimates. As soon as you spot a discrepancy, you need to follow up with your financial institution.

6. Being denied credit - Sadly, some people don't discover they have been identity theft victims until they go to buy a car, get a second mortgage, or open a new credit card. If you thought you had good credit but are getting denied, then it's a good time to check your credit reports, even if you've already done your yearly check.
7. Being contacted by debt collectors - When you start getting calls or letters about unpaid debts, which you don't recall having, you should never automatically pay them. Instead, send a written request for more information about the debt. By law, the creditor must supply you with this information.

8. Having some types of spyware on your computer - While not all spyware leads to identity theft, you need to realize that it can pose a serious threat to your privacy. Your passwords, credit card information, and online activities could have been monitored by unknown third parties, which leave you vulnerable to an attack.

If you want to learn more about how to detect and prevent identity theft or if you have been an identity theft victim, you need to read Identity Theft: A Resource Guide from PCSecurityNews.com. The ebook is available at http://www.PCSecurityNews.com.

Direct Link: Has Someone Stolen Your Identity?....

[Hi-LaL]

Why Easy To Use Software Is Putting You At Risk?

By: Darren Miller, Thu Dec 1st, 2005

Can Easy To Use Software Also Be Secure?
Anyone who has been working with computers for a long time will have noticed that mainstream operating systems and applications have become easier to use over the years (supposedly). Tasks that use to be complex procedures and required experienced professional to do can now be done at the push of a button. For instance, setting up an Active Directory domain in Windows 2000 or higher can now be done by a wizard leading even the most novice technical person to believe they can "securely" setup the operating environment. This is actually quite far from the truth. Half the time this procedure fails because DNS does not configure properly or security permissions are relaxed because the end user cannot perform a specific function.

If It's Easy To Develop, Is It Also Secure?
One of the reasons why operating systems and applications "appear" to be easier to work with then they use to is developers have created procedures and reusable objects to take care of all the complex tasks for you. For instance, back in the old days when I started as a developer using assembly language and c/c++, I had to write pretty much all the code myself. Now everything is visually driven, with millions of lines of code already written for you. All you have to do is create the framework for your application and the development environment and compiler adds all the other complex stuff for you. Who wrote this other code? How can you be sure it is secure. Basically, you have no idea and there is no easy way to answer this question.

Secure Environments Don't Exist Well With Complexity
The reality is it may look easier on the surface but the complexity of the backend software can be incredible. And guess what, secure environments do not coexist well with complexity. This is one of the reasons there are so many opportunities for hackers, viruses, and malware to attack your computers. How many bugs are in the Microsoft Operating System? I can almost guarantee that no one really knows for sure, not even Microsoft developers. However, I can tell you that there are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of bugs, holes, and security weaknesses in mainstream systems and applications just waiting to be uncovered and maliciously exploited.

How Reliable and Secure are Complex Systems?
Let's draw a comparison between the world of software and security with that of the space program. Scientists at NASA have know for years that the space shuttle is one of the most complex systems in the world. With miles of wiring, incredible mechanical functions, millions of lines of operating system and application code, and failsafe systems to protect failsafe systems, and even more failsafe systems to protect other systems. Systems like the space shuttle need to perform consistently, cost effectively, and have high Mean-Time-Between-Failure(MTBF).

All in all the space shuttle has a good record. One thing it is not though is cost effective and consistent. Every time there is a launch different issues crop up that cause delays. In a few circumstances, even the most basic components of this complex system, like "O" rings, have sadly resulted in a fatal outcome. Why are things like this missed? Are they just not on the radar screen because all the other complexities of the system demand so much attention? There are million different variables I'm sure. The fact is, NASA scientists know they need to work on developing less complex systems to achieve their objectives.

This same principal of reducing complexity to increase security, performance, and decrease failures really does apply to the world of computers and networking. Ever time I here associates of mine talk about incredibly complex systems they design for clients and how hard they were to implement I cringe. How in the world are people suppose to cost effectively and reliably manage such things. In some cases it's almost impossible. Just ask any organization how many versions or different brands of intrusion detection systems they have been through. As them how many times the have had infections by virus and malware because of poorly developed software or applications. Or, if they have ever had a breach in security because the developer of a specific system was driven by ease of use and inadvertently put in place a piece of helpful code that was also helpful to a hacker.

Can I Write A Document Without A Potential Security Problem Please?
Just a few days ago I was thinking about something as simple as Microsoft Word. I use MS-Word all the time, every day in fact. Do you know how powerful this application really is? Microsoft Word can do all kinds of complex tasks like math, algorithms, graphing, trend analysis, crazy font and graphic effects, link to external data including databases, and execute web based functions.

Do you know what I use it for, to write documents. nothing crazy or complex, at least most of the time. Wouldn't it be interesting that when you first installed or configured Microsoft Word, there was an option for installing only a bare bones version of the core product. I mean, really stripped down so there was not much to it. You can do this to a degree, but all the shared application components are still there. Almost every computer I have compromised during security assessments has had MS-Word installed on it. I can't tell you how many times I have used this applications ability to do all kinds of complex tasks to compromise the system and other systems further. We'll leave the details of this for another article though.

Conclusion
Here's the bottom line. The more complex systems get, typically in the name of ease of use for end users, the more opportunity for failure, compromise, and infection increases. There are ways of making things easy to use, perform well, and provide a wide variety of function and still decrease complexity and maintain security. It just takes a little longer to develop and more thought of security. You might think that a large part of the blame for complex insecure software should fall on the shoulders of the developers. But the reality is it is us, the end users and consumers that are partially to blame. We want software that is bigger, faster, can do just about everything, and we want it fast. We don't have time to wait for it to be developed in a secure manner, do we?

You may reprint or publish this article free of charge as long as the bylines are included. Original URL (The Web version of the article)
http://www.defendingthenet.com/NewsLetters/WhyEasyToUseSoftwareIsPuttingYouAtRisk.htm


Direct Link: Why Easy To Use Software Is Putting You At Risk?

[Hi-LaL]

Computer Network Installation

By: Adrian Griffiths, Fri Oct 28th, 2005

Computer network installation can be daunting but with a few guidelines you can install a good network at your home or office. Networking allows computers to share peripherals, and allows one computer to backup the data of another. Also networks can enable a single computer to act as an Internet access point for the entire network without the inconvenience of fitting a modem and telephone extension for each computer.
Planning This involves defining business requirements and growth plans to build a framework for connecting computers and other equipment in the organization. Good network planning eases the process of a suitable network installation. Here users need to consider usage requirements and assess who will manage the network. Usage, maintenance, expansion and security issues also need consideration.
Hardware requirements Once the planning has been done, the next stage involves understanding what hardware will be required and what hardware your network will support. These can include back-up devices, uninterruptible power supplies, network printers, etc. Once this is determined you need to understand how many network points will be required. Hubs and switches should have sufficient ports for the various connections. Also there should be enough scope for growth and expansion in the future.
Network design Here various aspects like the kind of topology, network operating system, the right network interface cards and cabling needs to be considered. If the network is small, a basic topology like ring, bus, mesh or star may be used. But if the network is complex, a hybrid of two or more technologies may need to be implemented. The location of the network cables, various devices, hubs, switches, servers, printers, firewalls, routers and modems needs consideration. Building or leasing regulations that may affect the cabling also need to be kept in mind. Security issues, both within the organization and on the Internet also need consideration.
Support services Here you need to consider resources like consultants, support staff, other in-house staff and where they are located. You will need to consider the staff for management, security, maintenance and training. Employees will require to adopt new habits while using the network and sufficient training needs to be provided in this regard.
Networks can help people share information, efficiently access the Internet, and work collaboratively. As networks become necessary, it is important to know which technologies will work for your organization. To help make an informed choice on what technologies, hardware and support systems to use, Vipersystems offers its turnkey solutions. Our services enable your organizations to install suitable networks that are easy to upgrade and expand.
About the author: Adrian Griffiths, write article and provide consultancy to Viper systems

Direct Link:Computer Network Installation

[Hi-LaL]

Data backups are the biggest security threats!

By: Gary, Sun Jan 22nd, 2006

Gary, a network security consultant with Fortune 500 companies, and an editor of data-recovery-reviews.com argues that data backups actually hinder corporate IS security and makes a case for offsite backups.
Gary J, security consultant of the Disk storage and network security portal,starts off every conversation with IT senior management with the question 'Did u ever stop to think that data backups are the biggest security threats facing your company today?'
The usual response from corporate IT big-wigs is 'No way. Data backups are supposed to help us recover from security threats and not a security threat'. And where are backups usually stored? Backups are usually stored in the most accessible part of the office for easy backup data recovery!
Gary Joseph calls for a contrarian view on physical data backups. Physical data backups may be necessary, but you have to keep them under lock and key. Most organizations store corporate data securely in ultra- tight security data centers. Corporate data centers also have an elaborate network of firewalls, demilitarized zones and honeypots to reduce security risks to the system. However, corporate data center management never ensures that backups of even the most mission critical applications are secure.
Gary , with his vast internet network security consulting experience, calls for a move to online offsite data backups. This ensures that the data backups are not only stored in a secure separate location but also are automatically catalogued and immediately available for data retrieval in case of a data center disaster.
Offsite data backups have become quite popular in recent times in corporate data centers, due to the ease of use and automatic provision of business continuity without any elaborate BCP planning.
Gary's organization is a huge supporter of offline data backups and suggests that offline data backups are the future and can even be combined with technology offshoring initiatives in order to save money in creating the offline data center.
This article may be re-published in its entirety as long as the author Bio is included in full,including the links to the author's website and contact details




Direct Link : Data backups are the biggest security threats!

[Blue Blood]

By: Adrian Griffiths, Fri Oct 28th, 2005

Computer network installation can be daunting but with a few guidelines you can install a good network at your home or office. Networking allows computers to share peripherals, and allows one computer to backup the data of another. Also networks can enable a single computer to act as an Internet access point for the entire network without the inconvenience of fitting a modem and telephone extension for each computer.

Planning This involves defining business requirements and growth plans to build a framework for connecting computers and other equipment in the organization. Good network planning eases the process of a suitable network installation. Here users need to consider usage requirements and assess who will manage the network. Usage, maintenance, expansion and security issues also need consideration.

Hardware requirements Once the planning has been done, the next stage involves understanding what hardware will be required and what hardware your network will support. These can include back-up devices, uninterruptible power supplies, network printers, etc. Once this is determined you need to understand how many network points will be required. Hubs and switches should have sufficient ports for the various connections. Also there should be enough scope for growth and expansion in the future.

Network design Here various aspects like the kind of topology, network operating system, the right network interface cards and cabling needs to be considered. If the network is small, a basic topology like ring, bus, mesh or star may be used. But if the network is complex, a hybrid of two or more technologies may need to be implemented. The location of the network cables, various devices, hubs, switches, servers, printers, firewalls, routers and modems needs consideration. Building or leasing regulations that may affect the cabling also need to be kept in mind. Security issues, both within the organization and on the Internet also need consideration.

Support services Here you need to consider resources like consultants, support staff, other in-house staff and where they are located. You will need to consider the staff for management, security, maintenance and training. Employees will require to adopt new habits while using the network and sufficient training needs to be provided in this regard.

Networks can help people share information, efficiently access the Internet, and work collaboratively. As networks become necessary, it is important to know which technologies will work for your organization. To help make an informed choice on what technologies, hardware and support systems to use, Vipersystems offers its turnkey solutions. Our services enable your organizations to install suitable networks that are easy to upgrade and expand.

Direct Link: Computer Network Installation

[Blue Blood]

By: otis cooper, Wed Apr 12th, 2006

Its not something we like to think about but your computer will fail, if you keep it long enough.It may be a simple problem,such as the floppy drive not reading the disk to a major system crash.

Because computers are run by operators,User Error is the most common cause of computer malfunction.When the user is at the computer,he or she may add or delete certain files.Or he/she may remove or exchange certain hardware features.

When we look at user error,we must remember that since we're human,the user error may be easy to solve by simply asking the last user if he/she installed any software,re-configured any software or hardware settings,etc.

A large percentage of computer malfunctions are due to environmental factors such as power surges caused by lightning, resulting in overvoltage.

Another cause for failure may be room temperature being too high or low,as well as dust,dirt,or sunlight. If you're in business and heavily dependent on your computers,such fators as room temperature,sunlight and protection against power surges is of the utmost importance and simply cannot be overlooked.

The most common pc problem is when you can't access your PC at all.When you turn on the power switch,NOTHING HAPPENS.

Here is a quick checklist of troublshooting procedures you should follow if you encounter this problem .We also have videos you can download from the Internet should you need assistance in just how to perform these procedures:

Try the Power Switch a second or third time.If nothing happens..

Check the wall outlet for power.If the outlet has power.

Check the power cord itself from wall to computer.
http://www.ultimatepcrepair.com/files/outlet.mpg

Check the Power Supply inside the System Unit.
http://www.ultimatepcrepair.com/files/powt.mpg

Replace the Power Supply rather than trying to repair it.
http://www.ultimatepcrepair.com/files/inspower.mpg

If the system make those click noises,but the screen is blank, check the Monitor. http://www.ultimatepcrepair.com/files/mont.mpg

If the monitor proves to be good,check the Video Card, even in a new system. http://www.ultimatepcrepair.com/files/vid4.mpg

Another big headache you will most likely encounter if you're a regular user of your computer system,is the fact that Windows will fail to load or the system's POST will fail to run.Download the file below to learn much more about the Power On Self Test.Don't forget those preventive maintenance procedures that can be done to keep your PC running at peek performance.

Running such Windows ultilities as Scandisk,Disk Defragment,and Disk Cleanup will help your computer performing at its best.Using a can of compressed air removes dust that could build to the point of causing a short.

If you get the computer to boot but it does not want to read from the hard drive'the Master Boot Record on the hard drive may be corrupted or even missing. To verify that the master boot record has not been damaged...

Boot from the floppy disk that contains the FDISK program and type the command " fdisk mbr " to restore the master boot record onto your hard drive.

About the author: Otis F. Cooper is solely dedicated to boosting the knowledge and confidence of every computer user that is serious about knowing computers.Use his informative articles and videos to understand every aspect about the PC.Read more about his formula for pc training at http://www.pcbyvideo.com

Direct Link: See How To Revive A Dead Computer

[Hi-LaL]

I.P. address?

By: Seamus Dolly, Thu Jan 19th, 2006

All computers connected to the internet have a special or unique number. This is known as an I.P. address. Such addresses are issued by I.C.A.N.N.. This stands for the International Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers and is responsible for, and presumably capable of, ensuring the uniqueness of your, and everyone else�s I.P. or Internet Protocol address. I�m sure that most people have seen their I.P. address before. On-line payment forms often record your address to help prevent fraud. Recently, due to false and destructive spamming or unsolicited commercial mail allegations, many marketers are recording the addresses of subscribers, to go some way, in proving their innocence. Incidentally, electronic mail can be sent to your �machine�, and lists of addresses are bought, and obviously sold, so that less virtuous individuals than yourself can fill your inbox without knowing your conventional e-mail address. This applies mainly to people who don�t display, exhibit or insert their contact e-mail address on their respective sites, or indeed, the sites of others. The people that do are at the mercy of �e-mail harvesters�( software for automatically collecting addresses for one almost apparent purpose, which is �busting their buns� with various and sundry psuedo-marketing material ). If you are new to this, well then there are scripts available to over come this inconvenience.
I.P. addresses are comprised of four sets of numbers with each set ranging from zero(0) to two hundred and fifty five(255). This addressing system is known as thirty two(32) bit. That�s four sets of numbers with eight bits each (a byte) and one multiplied by the other gives an output of thirty-two, as the name would suggest. The way it is written is called decimal dotted notation.
The version that is currently in use is known as I.P. version 4. Hey! there�s nothing wrong with it but we are now �running out� of such addresses. I.P. version 6 is the upcoming, agreed version with tighter security implications and has an address limitation in the order of seventy octillion addresses. An octillion is ten to the power of twenty-seven and is a relatively large number and somewhat, mind boggling. Whoever brainstormed the current version would, perhaps, agree. Under conditions where hosting occurs, separate or different addresses are allocated to each site so each computer is not limited to one. Future trends are also envisaged and allowed for, by such a multi-octillion number. In conclusion; it works and wherever would we be without it?



About the author: Seamus is the webmaster of CountControl.com

Direkt Link: I.P. address?

[Hi-LaL]

Digital Dispatch - Is the Internet Safe?

By: Todd Althouse, Tue Mar 21st, 2006

The simple answer is no. Most of the computers today are vulnerable to some kind of hacker or virus attack. If you don�t believe me, just pickup any newspaper or listen to any news show, computer attacks happen everyday. Should you stop using the Internet? ABSOLUTELY NOT! With the proper precautions you can adequately secure your information. In fact, I read a statistic the other day that said more data is lost from computers being stolen than from data being accessed from the Internet.
Then why should you use a computer connected to the Internet? - To stay profitable. Many of your competitors already manage their businesses using a computer. Today, most of the motorclubs encourage service providers to use the Internet to receive calls. Tomorrow this may become a requirement. In fact, the Internet will soon be used by car dealers, trucking companies (http://www.wrecker.com), car rental agencies, and insurance companies to send the majority of towing requests. Therefore, it is imperative that you protect your information from malicious Hackers.
Just like we use locks on our doors and windows to prevent intruders, we can lock down the information on our computer. However, just as it is difficult to absolutely prevent someone from entering your house, it is difficult to absolutely prevent someone (a hacker) from gaining access to your computer. That is why backups (your insurance) are so important. So, if you are attacked you can restore your information.
The same way banks protect your money and valuables in high security vaults, professional system administrators protect your data by preventing nearly all attacks from hackers, losses from fire, storms or theft with the proper hardware and software, but it is expensive. The average computer owner is not willing or not able to go to this expense. So my article is aimed at affordable solutions that will give you adequate protection against viruses and hackers.
Let�s start with a few definitions:
Hacker (or more correctly a Cracker): Is a programmer who breaks into a computer system for the mere challenge of doing it. This may or may not be a malicious attack.
Viruses and Trojan Horses: Viruses are computer programs that run against your wishes and without your knowledge. Some cause damage to your system, while other are just annoying. A Trojan Horse, a special kind of computer virus, is a malicious program that is disguised as a useful or fun program. It can be installed on your computer by email or other means. Someone can send you an email with an attachment claiming that it is a super duper screen saver or another appealing document. When you launch the attachment it appears as if nothing has happened, but in reality the Trojan has been installed and initialized on your system. It can be a remote control type of program, which will allow someone to control your computer, access your data or delete things. Usually the anti-virus vendors are on top of threats like this and issue a new virus definition that detects the Trojan before it can do any harm. That is why it is very important to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date.
Firewall: A software program or hardware device that monitors Internet activity to detect and prevent unauthorized access to a computer system.
Are you at risk? There are several FREE resources that will test the vulnerability of your computer system to outside attacks:
� McAfee
� Symantec Internet Security
� Home of Gibson Research Corporation
� http://scan.sygatetech.com/
These programs will also identify other areas of concern and rate your exposure. They will also give instructions on minimizing your risks, like:
Disabling File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks This is a Windows networking setting that should be disabled (off) unless you are behind a firewall. If you have this enabled (on) anyone can access the data on your computer hard drive. Look in the Microsoft Windows help file under �File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks� for instructions on disabling it.
Using better passwords
Do not use proper names, since many of the password cracking programs assume that most people use the names of their spouse, kids, pets, etc. You should also mix upper and lower case letters with numbers. The more random you make the sequence the better. For example �rfghZyU23Iu� is hard to crack, but it is also hard to remember. Think of it as remembering a combination to a lock or a phone number. You can remember it with a little practice.
Consider purchasing a personal firewall (Free - $40) A personal firewall program will limit your exposure to unwanted guests by monitoring all Internet activity. The next version of Microsoft Windows (Windows XP) will have a personal firewall integrated into the operating system.
Service providers are being told that the motorclub Digital Dispatch will not work behind a firewall. While this may be true for the web solutions from the motorclubs, it is not true for the solutions being provided by the towing software vendors. Furthermore, I believe with a little investigation and testing the motorclub browser solution should work behind a firewall too.
But is it safe to use Digital Dispatch? Although Digital Dispatch uses the Internet, it poses a relatively low security risk if properly implemented. This is because data is expected in a certain format, if does not receive data in that format it rejects the packet. However, your towing software vendor should also verify that the data packet came from one of the motorclubs and the connection should not remain open for more than a few seconds. These precautions will keep your risk exposure to a minimum.
Purchase an anti-virus program and keep it up-to-date Most anti-virus programs have a �live update� feature that will check the company�s web site for virus updates and update the software when needed. You need to do this about every 2 weeks to make sure you are protected against the latest viruses. You can order an anti-virus program online from McAfee - Antivirus Software and Intrusion Prevention Solutions or http://www.symantec.com.
Give Credit Card information on a secure site only
You can tell you are on a secure site by looking for �locked padlock�. Netscape places the padlock in the lower left corner and Internet Explorer places the padlock in lower right corner of the program screen. Giving your credit card information over the Internet on a secure site is more secure than giving your card over the phone or even using you card in a store. This is because your credit card information is usually sent directly to the credit card company, bank, or processing company without human intervention.
Use online applications (ASPs)
The next generation of applications for towing management, accounting (Quickbooks for the Web), anti-virus, etc. will be online. This will give tremendous security advantages. First of all, Internet professionals that know how to thwart the efforts of hackers will maintain the sites. Your data will be safer on the web than in your own office. Secondly, if you were to get a virus or your computer is lost or stolen, all of your data would be safe on the server of your application service provider. Therefore, since nothing is stored on your local computer, you can simply go to another computer, input your password and you are back in business without experiencing any downtime or lost information.
Use secure databases to store your information
If you are using a towing management or accounting software, your data is stored in databases. Think of a database like a file cabinet. Some people lock their file cabinets and others do not. Databases are locked using user IDs and passwords. Just because your program requires you to login with a password, this does not mean the database is protected. Certain older less expensive database systems allow access to your information from outside the software that created it (using something like Microsoft Excel). However, expensive enterprise (professional client/server) database systems, such as SQL Server and Oracle maintain a very high level of security. That is to say, without the proper user ID and password, it is nearly impossible to view your information. This is not the case with older (distributed) databases, such as FoxPro and dBase. These packages merely store information and do not require authorization to view the information. They rely on your local network to provide the security.
The Internet generation of towing software (ASPs) will likely use professional client/server databases for information storage. This will bring a level of security to your information that has been needed for a long time.
To review, you should do the following to reduce your Internet risk:
1. Disable file and printer sharing.
2. Purchase personal firewall and anti-virus software.
3. Only use secure �pad locked� sites for credit card transactions.
4. Look to new online applications (ASPs) for towing management, accounting, etc. to provide the most secure, cost effective business environment.
Using computers, the Internet, and proper safeguards, your business information will be more secure and accessible. Your competitors will have a tough time catching up!
About the author: Todd Althouse is a Managing Partner of Beacon Software, LLC - an Internet Application development company specializing in towing software and fleet management software. Visit Towing Software and Fleet Management by Beacon Software for more information.






Direct Link : Digital Dispatch - Is the Internet Safe?

[Hi-LaL]

Natalya Kaspersky, CEO of Kaspersky Lab
Does Vista mean you won’t need an antivirus solution?Security from Microsoft – the door to a brave new world?

Recently, Jim Allchin, Co-President of Microsoft’s Platforms & Services Division ended up in a tight spot. Journalists misinterpreted a phrase from an interview he gave, fuelling a potential scandal. According to the media, Vista is so secure that users will no longer require additional antivirus protection.
However, it all turned out to be a storm in a teacup. Jim Allchin apologized for his lack of clarity and explained that he had been misrepresented. In his words, although he believes that Vista is the most secure operating system Microsoft has developed to date, it will not provide complete protection against viruses and other malware.
Is Vista secure? How secure is secure? What does Microsoft hope to achieve by entering the security market? These are currently hot topics in the media. Leading representatives from the antivirus industry have expressed totally opposing views. As CEO of Kaspersky Lab, I would like to take this opportunity to add my opinion on Vista and security.
Vista security: a few key points

To start, we need to look at Vista as a whole. Microsoft has redesigned and improved the user interface, added 3-D windows, and simplified the way in which users can search for files, documents and applications. All of these modifications will make computers more approachable for new users, at the same time offering improved usability for those with more experience.
Microsoft has also introduced a number of new and enhanced security features in Windows Vista.
For instance, the number of processes and applications that launch by default with administrative privileges has been significantly reduced. Attempts to solve compatibility issues in previous versions of Windows led to large numbers of users working from the administrator account, and a large number of applications running with high privileges.
In Vista, all processes and applications run with limited privileges by default. This means that if an application contains a potentially exploitable vulnerability, an attack will not have a major impact on the operating system and will prevent serious damage to the computer.
This new technology is known as User Account Control. This will ask the user for confirmation before any action that would require higher privileges is performed. User Account Control is designed to prevent events from taking place without user consent, a feature which was absent from previous versions of Windows.
Windows Vista also offers a protected mode for Internet Explorer 7.0 to make web surfing safer. In this mode, the browser works with a certain set of system restrictions that prevent malicious code from modifying key system areas. This does not protect against all types of attack, but reduces their likelihood. Internet Explorer 7.0 is also available for Windows XP, but without the option of protected mode.
Vista includes Windows Defender, which “protects your computers against spyware and other potentially unwanted software”. Many people take this to mean that Windows Defender will ensure protection from malware. This is simply untrue. Windows Defender is not a fully functional antivirus product – it only protects against spyware, just one subset of contemporary malware. Windows Defender does not protect against viruses, Trojans, worms etc.
Currently, Microsoft offers two solutions that provide protection against malware. Windows Defender, integrated into Windows, only protects against spyware. Microsoft OneCare is a standalone solution that does protect against viruses, Trojans and other threats, but it is not part of Vista. OneCare is a separate product and has to be purchased separately, like any other antivirus solution.
Malware Classification according to Microsoft
Today Microsoft divides malicious programs into two categories: spyware (programs that steal data) and viruses (everything else).
This is a purely nominal distinction; other antivirus vendors have other, more detailed classification systems. Moreover, there is no one industry wide definition for spyware. For instance, we at Kaspersky Lab define spyware as programs that harvest user data and then send this information to the author/ user of the program.
However, it is often impossible to categorize malicious programs without some ambiguity, as they have a range of functionality. Given this, how would Microsoft classify a malicious program that ends up on a computer because it is part of a worm, or spam or a Trojan, and then proceeds to spy on the user's actions? Vista's protection module, which only protects against a single type of malware, may give users a false sense of security, resulting in an increase in infected machines.
Unlike Microsoft, most antivirus vendors offer protection against all types of malware. Dedicated solutions such as anti-spyware programs are becoming a thing of the past. Anti-spyware was a hot issue several years ago and a number of start-ups appeared that cashed in on this trend. Since then, most of them have either disappeared without trace or been bought out by major antivirus vendors.

But let’s return to Vista and antivirus solutions. Microsoft itself recommends that users install a standalone antivirus solution. The Windows Security Center in Vista will inform a user that s/he does not have an antivirus solution, and it will continue to alert the user until appropriate software is installed.

If a user clicks on ‘Find a program’ they will land on a page that lists OneCare, as well as all Microsoft approved antivirus solutions.
Will your antivirus solution run on Windows Vista?

Most people know it is not recommended to install two antivirus solutions on a single computer. This is because many antivirus solutions use the same system resources and the conflict may result in system instability or even the notorious Blue Screen of Death.
Because Windows Defender is integrated into Vista, users may assume that it is dangerous to install another antivirus solution. However, Windows Defender has been deliberately developed to be compatible with standalone antivirus solutions.
Another possible misconception that needs to be dispelled: some believe that Microsoft solutions, such as OneCare, are more suitable for users than similar products from other vendors. Why? It is claimed that OneCare integrates better with the operating system. This is supposedly because OneCare utilizes undocumented possibilities in Vista, whereas independent vendors are unable to do this.
In fact, this is a myth. Everything that Microsoft develops can be divided into two groups – the platform or operating system and applications that run on this platform. In terms of applications, both Microsoft developers and independent software developers have access to the same libraries and functions and the same documentation. These conditions are described in detail in the Windows Principles section of the Microsoft website. Moreover, Microsoft’s phenomenal success is due in part to its well-developed partnership model. The company has always provided developers with a wide range of opportunities to develop applications.
The fact that Microsoft occasionally chooses to compete with its partners for a share of existing markets is another story. But from a technical point of view, Microsoft application developers and independent developers work under the same conditions.
A few words about OneCare

I ** often asked about OneCare, Microsoft’s commercial antivirus solution. How does this product compare to solutions from other vendors? The best way to answer this question is to look at results of comparative tests from independent laboratories. I ** aware of two tests that have been conducted on the commercial version of OneCare, which is currently only available in the USA. The product has been tested twice by the AV-Test GmbH team, which is based at the University of Magdeburg in Germany and is one of the most respected independent test laboratories in the world. These tests have provided some initial findings about the quality of detection provided by OneCare.
From my point of view, there are three significant factors that make Microsoft’s competition with today’s leading antivirus vendors complex.

1. Microsoft’s reputation in the security field. Microsoft still does not have a good reputation in this area. By default, Microsoft solutions are perceived as being insecure or full of security loopholes. These loopholes in Windows and MS Office applications are due, above all, to extraordinary popularity – hackers across the world are going to hack programs used by the majority. Given this, I ** afraid that Microsoft’s new antivirus solutions may suffer the same fate; virus writers will create malware that is designed primarily to evade detection by OneCare.
2. Another important factor is the speed at which vendors have to respond to new threats. All vendors face the same dilemma – either detect the maximum possible number of malicious programs (even at the risk of false positives) or avoid false positives at the risk of failing to detect malicious programs. Just remember the media fuss which broke out when Microsoft's antivirus detected Gmail as being malicious, with only a few journalists failing to pick up on the story. Another slightly less well-known case was when a Microsoft product detected the Russian antivirus product Dr. Web. Given Microsoft’s brand and reputation, the company simply cannot allow itself to make such mistakes. As Microsoft will need to check each potential false positive with its legal department, response to new threats will inevitably be slow.
3. The detection rate is an important characteristic of any antivirus. AV-Test GmbH at the University of Magdeburg tested OneCare in September and November 2006. The results from both tests indicated a detection rate that would be considered fairly low for your average antivirus product (the most recent – 81.22%).

In conclusion, I will risk making the following prediction. Microsoft’s antivirus will improve its detection rates and take its place among its competitors. OneCare will offer good user features (something Microsoft has always been good at). However, OneCare is unlikely to become a leader either in terms of response time to new threats or in terms of detection rates.
What should you do?

First. Windows Vista does have a number of features that improve security, but it still cannot guarantee protection against malware. A standalone antivirus solution is therefore a must.
Second. Consumers can protect their computers by choosing either a Microsoft solution or one from an independent antivirus company.
Which solution should you choose?

• A solution from a vendor that you trust
• A solution that you believe will reliably protect you against malware – if you can find the time to read the results of comparative, independent tests, that’s great!
• And last but not least, you need a solution that’s Vista-compatible. A reputable antivirus vendor will include this information in the system requirements.

Enjoy Vista and Safe Surfing!



Direct Link: Does Vista mean you won’t need an antivirus solution?