Security

Quick Tips For Securing Your Computer System

As technology has advanced more and more people have become computer savvy. While some use computers only for emails and games many are using their computers for everything from communication to online banking and investing to shopping. Security of our computers has now become a huge problem as well an enormous market potential. Learn how to secure your computer today and you will rest easier tonight.

It seems there are hackers, crackers, spies, and viruses at every turn. Some only want to learn about your personal preferences in order that they can possibly sell something to you in the future, but others may want to phish your personal information and identity for resale. Still others simply just want to use your computer as a platform to be used to attack other unsuspecting targets. Below you will find a few tips and easy, free, or low-cost steps you can take to help secure your computer.

1. The golden rule of computers is to have backup copies of all important information stored in a safe place; that safe place must be separate from your computer. This includes passwords, usernames, etc.
2. Update and patch your operating system, web browser and software frequently. If you have a Windows operating system, start by going to www.Updates-Free.com and click the download button. This program, ErrorSmart will scan your computer system, detect and correct problems like spyware infections, failed, stalled or interrupted installations, and your PC performance can be improved by as much as 70%.
3. A good firewall is essential in protection from viruses, worms, Trojans, malware and adware. Without a firewall all of those culprits can easily access your computer from the Internet. Careful research should be done prior to the selection of your firewall as some are better than others.
4. Check out your browser settings. I suggest that you set the Internet Zone to High and Your Trusted Sites to Medium.
5. You definitely need an anti-virus software. Again, you will need to do some research. Some of these programs only filter some viruses. Be sure to set your software for automatic updates so you will always have the most current version available.
6. Use filters on your email settings. Do not open mail from unknown addresses or senders. Viruses may be attached.
7. You know the cute little poems, jokes and stories that peoples send from computer to computer? Oftentimes they contain a Trojan horse waiting to infect a computer. Do not be a part of that. Avoid opening those if possible and definitely do not forward them.
8. The Windows systems is automatically designed to hide file extensions for known file types. You should disable the hidden filename extensions. Disable hidden filename extensions. This will enable you to be more likely to see any unusual file extensions that do not belong.
9. This will probably sound strange to you and I admit, I do not always practice this one myself; it is wise to turn off your computer and disconnect from the network when not using it. Your computer would be hacker safe during that time period.
10. This could be your life saver some day, make a boot disk in case your computer is damaged or compromised by a malicious program. Computers crash all the time. Viruses are rampant. Do not be caught off guard! Take this step now and you will be prepared if that dreaded incident ever occurs!

With those ten quick tips you should be well on your way to a more secure computer. Protect your computer and the information you have stored there. Your identity and much more is at stake!

Want to know if your computer is infected? Scan your PC for free by following this link: http://www.FitInsidenOut.com/PCProtect.html

Debbie Allen is a writer, internet marketer (visit: http://www.InternetDivaDeb.com) and personal coach.

Understanding The Differences Of Adware, Spyware And Anti-Viruses

If you are like me you understand that Adware, spyware and computer viruses are all bad for your computer but you do not really know the differences between them. Until recently all I knew was that I wanted my computer to run efficiently and do what I wanted when I wanted it to.

I really was not too concerned with anything else. That is, until I started having problems, big problems! Not only was my computer running slower but it was freezing up! I was told by different people that I needed to try to locate where I had downloaded my problem.

I began reading about the three possible culprits, Adware, Spyware, and Anti-viruses. I found out that Spyware is software that does not harm your computer, at least not intentionally. Spyware creates pathways in which someone other than the computer owner can communicate with the computer.

The normal function of Spyware is to record the various types of websites that you visit; this information is used by web advertisers. Of course they will be sending you unwanted emails and pop-ups. So essentially Spyware is not good but it does not harm your computer.

That is your word of warning, avoid Spyware whenever possible! As the name implies, Spyware actually have their own programs that allow them to record your keystrokes, scan your files, look at applications you use, and even your Web browser settings. What an invasion of privacy! In some cases the Spyware author may even sell this information to advertisers or other parties, thinking nothing of taking such liberties with your information!

So how do you know if your computer is infected with Spyware? One clue may be that it suddenly slows downs. This slow down effect would be very noticeable. Other signs include pop-up ads that are not related to the site you are viewing, very often they are ads for adult content. Your basic desktop may take longer than usual to load. If you notice any of this I suggest that you scan your system immediately

Let us talk about Adware now. Adwares are often legitimate forms of freeware. However, you need to be aware that adwares are advertising materials which are pre-packaged into a software or program. This means that the advertisements are installed automatically when the particular software or program is added to the computer application.

Okay, now for the worst of the three, the dreaded computer virus. Computer viruses can be very destructive. That is what they are designed for. I have no idea what pleasure the creator gets from that but none the less that is the purpose. Just as with a human virus, a computer virus infects as many of the applications and components of the computer that it comes into contact with as it initiates self-replication. But it does not stop there; a computer virus can be passed from one computer to another and another, that is how you got it, right?

There are many products available today that offer protection for your computer. But even those products do not insure your complete protection. Some only provide Spyware and Adware scanning and others claim to focus on particular computer viruses. It is wise to scan your computer often. Use a good protection system, including a firewall system.

Want to know if your computer is infected? Scan your PC for free by following this link: http://www.FitInsidenOut.com/PCProtect.html

Debbie Allen is a writer, internet marketer (visit: http://www.InternetDivaDeb.com) and personal coach.

A Few Important Tips About Computer Security

Having a computer at home and being connected to the World Wide Web may be convenient, but it also posesses a threat to your computer security. Computer security can be annoying and devastating in the worst of cases. So it is important for every computer user to know the real score about computer security and the risks involved.

There are many destructive elements lurking on the net and many have been victimized by these vicious attacks. The most common attacks are from viruses, spyware and adware. These elements can penetrate your computer without you knowing it. The can be passed from users as email attachments, bogus links and websites.

In order for your computer to be protected, you need to take counter measures as early as possible. By having your computer protected before you get connected to the net, you can minimize and zero out infiltration from these harmful elements.

Basic To-Do Tips to Enforce Computer Security

Here are just a few basic tips to ensure computer security.

1. Turn on your firewall immediately after purchasing your computer and before connecting to the internet. This is a crucial step that you have to take in order to initiate computer security. Your computer’s operating system comes with a firewall; turn that on before anything else. Although a firewall may sound secure enough, you also need backup to strengthen your computer’s security.

2. Install an anti virus program. You can avail a free anti virus program from the computer retailer and then later replace it with a more updated and potent version from the net. Make sure that your anti virus program runs live every time you are connected on the net to allow regular updates. And download anti virus program/s from popular reputable sites.

3. Install an anti spyware/malware/adware program. You can also ask your computer retailer for a free copy and you may download from a legitimate site afterwards. Make sure the anti spyware runs live and updates regularly.

4. Avoid opening emails and attachments from suspicious senders. Usually spam emails send links, photos and other sorts of attachments that may carry viruses. Whatever you do, avoid these emails and delete them immediately.

5. Avoid surfing suspicious websites. Porn sites are usually one of the hideous carriers of viruses and adware. Avoid surfing from these sites to prevent virus or adware infestation.

6. Always scan diskettes, CDs and devices you insert to your CPU before accessing them. Devices that have been used from other computers could contract viruses and can pass them to your computer when you use them without prior scanning. Always remember to scan them first to be sure.

Computer security can be achieved and enforced but it should start from you, the user. It is imperative that you do check your computer from time to time and do regular maintenance management to ensure that your computer is free from these harmful elements.

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Does Your Business Need to Be PCI DSS Compliant?

Despite increasingly heightened security by merchants and service providers, credit and debit card fraud is still on the rise. Perpetrators are using even more sophisticated methods of infiltration to access sensitive payment card information. The financial cost of fraud to any sized corporation can be huge and the price of preventing it is vast.

Any company which stores, processes or transmits payment card data bearing the logo of the five major payment companies has to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). These five companies include American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard and Visa. These standards were devised in 2004 to provide a common set of industry tools for the storage of payment card data in order to prevent, detect, and react to security incidents.

As well as merchants or banking institutions, compliance is required by any third party who accepts or processes payment cards. This includes call centres who receive cardholder data which they are unable to delete. If merchants use payment gateways to process transactions on their behalf, compliance is not required but they must ensure contractual obligation from the third party that they comply with PCI DSS and are responsible for the security of cardholder data.

Fines for non-compliance or security breaches can be huge, reaching $500,000. High profile cases involving huge corporations have hit the headlines. Some card brands have threatened huge fines against larger merchants of up to $25,000 per month until compliance is obtained. In severe cases, they have even threatened to remove the ability to process credit card payments, which could be economically fatal for any merchant.

While Visa reports that the majority of security breaches occur in small enterprises, any company that stores, processes, or transmits card information has to comply with a strict set of guidelines. Although intended to create a global standard which protects both consumers and corporations alike, these guidelines can be time consuming, costly, and complex to implement. Corporations that require PCI DSS compliance are prevented from storing sensitive credit card information, including security codes, track data from the magnetic strip, and PIN numbers. Information which can be stored includes credit card numbers, expiration dates and customer details, but the method of storage needs to meet certain requirements.

How to obtain PCI DSS compliance

The recommended first step to obtaining compliance is to hire the services of a Quality Security Assessor, who can advise on steps needed to reach compliance as well as completing the official assessments required. Smaller companies that process less than 80,000 transactions per year are permitted to complete a self-assessment questionnaire.

Compliance covers 6 areas of security:

1. Construction and maintenance of a secure network – including installation of a firewall to protect cardholder data
2. Protection of cardholder data – including encryption during data transmission
3. Vulnerability management – with regular updates of anti-virus software
4. Access control – to prevent and restrict access to sensitive data
5. Regular monitoring and testing of networks
6. Maintenance of an information security policy

The latest updated guidelines for PCI DSS are due for release in October 2008.

The benefits of PCI DSS compliance

- Protection from PCI related fines if compliant at the time of breach
- Increased customer confidence in data protection
- Advice on how to remediate any data security risks
- Advice on how to prevent service providers from putting your business at risk from data security
- Increased protection from fraudsters
- Protection from unwanted negative media attention

With this said, there is no question as to why PCI compliant is as important as it is. It both protects the consumer and the merchant, making transactions considerably safer than they would be otherwise.

Managed Hosting provider for companies with applications that demand the highest levels of security and availability. We are SAS 70, and CICA 5970 certified.

How to Erase a Hard Disk Drive Permanently

A hard disk drive also known as hard drive or hard disk is a non-volatile storage device, which has the facility to stock up digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters and magnetic surfaces. Its design consists of a spindle which can hold one or more flat circular disks known as platters, onto which the data is recorded. It has the ability to store data more than floppy disk drives and can also access and transmit data at faster pace.

Today, the boost in disk space and access speeds of hard disk drive have further facilitated the marketable viability of clients products that need great storage capacities, like digital audio players and video recorders. However, the main problem that we are coming across is erasing data or files from hard disk permanently. Most of us think that erasing files and emptying the Recycle Bin will help in permanently get rid of those files. In fact, in most of the cases Recycle Bin tells that emptying the Recycle Bin will permanently remove items. But this statement is totally incorrect.

You have to understand even after emptying the Recycle Bin, the files can be easily recovered by data recovery programs. Making the best use of delete key on actually removes the shortcuts to the files and makes them undetectable to users. Deleted files still reside on the hard drive and a rapid Google search will automatically show options for system recovery software will further allow to restore that data. Apart from erasing the files or data from hard drive, many people also consider that the effective way to erase hard drive data is by formatting the hard drive.

Though formatting the hard drive is somewhat secure than just erasing the files, but you should also note that formatting a disk does erase only the address tables. It makes it much more difficult to recover the files. However a computer specialist would be able to recover most or all the data that was on the disk before the reformat. Disk Wiping is the next new technique that is gaining its popularity these days. Disk wiping is a new secure method and ensure that data, including individually licensed softwares on your computer and storage devices is irrecoverably deleted before recycling.

Disk wiping is better method in comparison to erasing files or formatting the hard drive, because this method basically overwrites your entire hard drive with data, several times and once you format your hard drive, you may find it impossible to get back the data which was present on the drive before the overwrite. Though disk wiping algorithms vary from product to product, they usually write the entire disk with a number (zero or one) and then a reformat is required.

Today, there are many products available in the market that you can purchase or download to perform secure disk wipes. Moreover, the three free programs that are gaining recognition for erasing data from your hard drive are:

(1) Darik’s Boot and Nuke: This is an application that you can install on a bootable floppy or CD Rom. Boot and Nuke uses several methods to wipe the data on your drive to an unrecoverable state. With the facility to delete the contents of any hard disk that it detects, makes this application a suitable utility for urgent situation data destruction.

(2) Eraser: This is next famous software and does a great work of cleaning your hard drive by removing all magnetic and solid state memory. It is an advanced security tool, which further allows you to entirely remove sensitive data by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns.

(3) KillDisk Free Edition: This software supports a variety of wipping options using advanced algorythms that pass NSA standards. There are both windows and dos versions available.

Now once one of these procedures is completed the drive is ready to be given away without fear of privacy invasion or fraud. These tools provide full confidence about your deleted sensitive personal information that is unrecoverable. In addition to this it also provide easy to comprehend and secure and affable graphical user interface GUI for permanent data removal.

Finally if you are still uncertain or want to ensure that deleted files are permanently gone, employ a file deletion management system. Today there are many file deletion programs designed to spot and permanently purge your computer of previously deleted files. These solutions initially scan a computer, find traces of previously erased data and finally remove discarded data including e-mail messages.

This article is distributed by MDofPC LLC MDofPC Custom Computers and Download Software