New Technology Reviews!.: Threats

Windows 8 Branded PCs Could Prevent Other Operating Systems From Being Installed

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<img alt="windows 8 limitations" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/9fdff3b6ade-boot.jpg.jpg" src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/9fdff3b6ade-boot.jpg.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" />“Secure Boot” is a new Windows 8 technology that’s required of OEM computers if they are to feature the Windows 8 Compatibility Logo. It’s designed to protect against malware at the boot level by preventing ‘unauthorised’ code from launching during system boot. However it’s been revealed that it may also prevent non Windows 8 operating systems – such as Linux – from being able to install or run. 
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How Does It Work?</h2>
Newer PCs are increasingly using a replacement for the old BIOS called UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). It’s a technology that’s been built into Apple Macs for years now, but basically it allows for faster boot and more efficient hardware access by the operating system. It’s also the main reason OSX is difficult to install on PCs, so if you have any hackintosh experience you’ll know about having to run an EFI emulation. 
The UEFI specification contains a firmware validation method, which works by defining certificate keys for which boot code is ‘secure’ and therefore allowed to run during boot. Microsoft supplies these keys to manufacturers, who include it on their machines, and only boot code which has a corresponding secure key is allowed to boot. 
<img alt="windows 8 limitations" data-mce-src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/1c693b7d3dbios.png.png" height="123" src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/1c693b7d3dbios.png.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="560" /> 
<img alt="windows 8 blocks linux" data-mce-src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fdd58474e1uefi.png.png" height="163" src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fdd58474e1uefi.png.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="560" /> 
Basically this prevents malware from launching at a boot level, so it’s potentially mitigated a large number of security threats. The problem with malware that runs at the boot level is that it’s very difficult for regular anti-malware to protect against or remove, as by the time the anti-malware app has loaded (after windows boot), it’s already there. 
Unfortunately, with Secure Boot enabled, you’ll also be prevented from launching any boot code for which for the machine doesn’t have the appropriate certificate keys. Now, it is entirely possible for other organisations to provide secure keys to manufacturers – like a set of keys for Ubuntu for example – but manufacturers are under absolutely no obligation to incorporate these; and without them, the other OS just won’t install or boot. 
So is it time to say goodbye to installing another OS? 
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Microsoft’s Response</h2>
In response to the concerns that this might prevent other operating systems from being installed,Microsoft has stated that secure boot is optional, and can be turned off from within the pre-boot setup screen. Here’s a screenshot from the MSDN Windows 8 blog post on the topic, clearly showing it’s optional on the Windows-8 based Samsung tablet that was offered to //BUILD/ participants whereWindows 8 was first demoed. 
<img alt="windows 8 blocks linux" data-mce-src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/f0d5ff5dcdboot.jpeg.jpeg" height="329" src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/f0d5ff5dcdboot.jpeg.jpeg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="480" /> 
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So, End Of Story?</h2>
Not entirely it would seem. As Matthew Garret notes: 
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Windows 8 certification does not require that the user be able to disable UEFI secure boot, and we’ve already been informed by hardware vendors that some hardware will not have this option.</blockquote>
That’s right – although some manufacturers may choose to make the Secure Boot setting optional and therefore able to be disabled by the user – gaining certifications for Windows 8 compatibility does not require it, and some have explicitly stated it will not be optional on their machines (though there are no details on precisely which manufacturers have stated this yet). 
Microsoft has thrown the ball to the manufacturers court, and it could go either way. The PC business is incredibly competitive, so getting that Windows logo is all important, that’s a given. On the one hand, manufacturers will be keen to offer the best computing experience to the majority of their customers and if that means mitigating yet another security threat (and the inevitable support calls they need to deal with boot-level malware), then they’ll go for it. Other operating systems can still be run, if they provide certificate keys and if the manufacturers agree to include them. On the other hand, I suspect a real PR backlash will be forthcoming against any PC makers that do decide to force Secure Boot onto the user, so it may be a non-issue in the end. 
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What Can You Do About It?</h2>
The Free Software Foundation is running a petition encouraging computer makers to support Secure Boot in a way which ensures the user has control – specifically, the option to turn it off entirely. Be sure to head over and sign now if you’re at all interested in consumer freedoms and the right to run alternative operating systems on your own PC. 
<img alt="windows 8 limitations" data-mce-src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ce421ea0c9fsf.png.png" height="323" src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ce421ea0c9fsf.png.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="580" /> 
Also, be sure to share this post with all your friends to explain the issue and why they should care, getting them to sign the petition too. 
Source: Free Software Foundation 
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Windows 8 Branded PCs Could Prevent Other Operating Systems From Being Installed

“Secure Boot” is a new Windows 8 technology that’s required of OEM computers if they are to feature the Windows 8 Compatibility Logo. It’s...

Protecting Your Business From Today's Computer Security Threats

The internet security landscape continues to evolve because the threats against computer security keep changing and adapting to the industry's defense tactics.   From computer viruses to malicious software, the methods used to launch these attacks has increased significantly over the years - so staying up-to-date on the types of internet security threats - and how you can protect your company against them - is imperative.   Internet Security Threats: An Overview   Malicious users make a profession out of hacking and creating software that can be harmful to your security. Some of the most common internet security threats include:   o Spyware. This is any software that secretly gathers information about the user while monitoring what the user is doing on the internet. Spyware transports that information to a malicious user, which can have potentially damaging consequences. Spyware applications are usually downloaded onto a computer with a freeware or shareware program. Once installed, keyloggers are used to monitor a user's keystrokes and online activity - which is how sensitive information, such as bank account numbers, often make their way into the wrong hands.   o Malicious Software. Often known as malware or simply as a computer virus, malicious software is any type of software that is designed to penetrate or damage a computer system without the consent of the user. Because of its invasive nature, malware often jeopardizes the security of the entire system and is well worth protecting against.   o Phishing. This type of internet security threat, involves a malicious user who tricks someone into giving them confidential information. More advanced malicious users will do something called "pharming," which uses virus technology to attack the internet browser address bar, so the next time a website URL is typed in, the victim is directed to the criminal's imposter website instead of the true website.   How to Protect Yourself   In the past, in order to protect your computer and network from malicious activity, you would have had to find a separate solution for each threat. For instance you would have had to purchase computer security software to protect against malware, as well as another solution to protect you against spyware applications.   Fortunately, today security providers like Websense offer security suites that not only protect against a variety of spyware, malware and phishing, but the software will also identify new and evolving threats.   When researching a computer security option, there are a few things you should look for before you buy. For instance, a security solution should:   o Block internet threats such as malicious websites, protocols, applications etc., before they can access the internet gateway and cause damage to your system. You should also find one that will identify e-mail-borne worms in the network and present them to the administrator.   o Proactively find new internet security threats. Make sure your security includes regular scanning of millions of websites so you can stay ahead of the game when new threats arise.   o Monitor activity on e-mail, IM attachments and file transfers to identify threats that could result in intellectual property theft.   o Watch your web server closely and alerts you to possible vulnerabilities.   o Immediately report web server attacks to the administrator and include information about the type of attack while providing recommended actions.   With the right information and resources, you will have the knowledge you need to make an informed decision regarding a computer security solution that works for your organization.

Protecting Your Business From Today's Computer Security Threats

The internet security landscape continues to evolve because the threats against computer security keep changing and adapting to the indust...

Computer Security - Threats and Solutions

When it comes to computer security, many of us live in a bubble of blissful ignorance. We might be vigilant and never open email attachments from people we don't know, we might take care to make sure an ecommerce site is secure before entering our credit card information, or we might even go so far as to install a standard firewall on our computers. Unfortunately, much of the common sense advice we follow when it comes to Internet security does little to combat the cyber-crime that is rampant.Federal Trade CommissionEven the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, a governmental agency that is designed to help consumers, had to issue a press release stating that "consumers, including corporate and banking executives, appear to be targets of a bogus e-mail supposedly sent by the Federal Trade Commission but actually sent by third parties hoping to install spyware on computers."There's little doubt that spyware, malware, and insidious virus attacks make any computer with Internet access vulnerable. But, because not all Internet security breaches are immediately apparent, people are often unaware that their seemingly hassle-free computing is anything but. The Federal Trade Commission offers seven guidelines to help consumer surf the Web safely:1. Protect your personal information. For example, when shopping on an ecommerce site, make sure that the page where you enter your personal information is secure, as designated by "https" before the URL. It's important to stop identity theft before it starts.2. Know before you click. For instance, many cyber-criminals impersonate legitimate businesses, or send "phishing" email that asks you to click a hyperlink. Check out online merchants and never click on emailed hyperlinks unless you're certain of the source.3. Update anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software often. Hackers and others who engage in cyber-crime seem to always be a step ahead of the good guys. If your computer protection is outdated, you're vulnerable.4. Use Web browser and operating system security features. Make sure your browser settings give you optimal privacy and security, and ensure that you update your operating system regularly to take advantage of security patches.5. Safeguard your passwords. For example, create a unique password for each site you visit, and keep them in a secure place. Use letter, number and symbol combinations that can outsmart automated password detection programs.6. Always do backups. If your computer does get a virus or a worm, your files may be goners. Make sure to regularly back up any important files and store them in a secure place.7. Prepare for emergencies. If something does go wrong, such as your computer being hacked or infected, or if you accidentally divulge personal information, know what courses of action you should take to remedy the situation and prevent further problems.A Hassle-Free SolutionProtecting your computer from all of the threats in cyberspace can seem like full-time job. Thankfully, there are companies who make it their business to offer individuals and businesses the most technologically advanced computer security solutions available. The best of these services offer PC maintenance, full system optimization, problem diagnosis and repair, installation assistance, and a full complement of professionally managed security services. Typically, you pay a small monthly subscription fee and in turn can surf the Web knowing that your computer is locked down and that you'll never again have to stay abreast of the latest security software or lug your computer down to a high-priced repair center.

Computer Security - Threats and Solutions

When it comes to computer security, many of us live in a bubble of blissful ignorance. We might be vigilant and never open email attachme...

Internet Security - 8 Proven Tactics to Eliminate Threats From Spam, Viruses, and Hackers

As an online business owner, you face treacherous Internet security risks every single time you're online. Viruses, hackers, and spam await you at every turn. The reality is that these threats are always going to be a component of being online and doing business online. Unfortunately, they seem to be here to stay.Given that, there are a number of precautions you can take to make yourself, your business and the visitors to your site as safe as possible. Here are 8 tactics proven to enhance your Internet security:1. Virus Protection. Make sure you have the latest virus updates installed on your computer and let the software thoroughly scan your entire computer daily to ensure that no viruses successfully planted themselves on your hard drive. Set your virus checker to scan your email when it downloads, as well.I use AVG Free to scan both my computer and my email. They also have a fee-based version that provides complete Internet protection. McAfee and Norton also offer similar products.For spyware and malware protection, I use CounterSpy. The company that makes this software also has a new product to protect against viruses and spyware called VIPRE.2. Spam Blocker. I have a spam blocker that I use with Outlook called Cloudmark Desktop that does a great job of helping me train my email program to recognize spam. What I like about this program is that the program users tell Cloudmark what spam arrives in their inboxes, and the programmers update Cloudmark accordingly to recognize those kinds of emails. Other spam blocker programs include IHateSpam and MailWasher.3. Web hosting Spam Blocker. To block spam before it even hits my Outlook inbox, one of my hosting accounts offers Postini spam blocking on my server. I pay a few dollars extra each month to add this service, but it is well worth it, as it routinely blocks at least 100 emails per day that are spam. I always have the option to log into that account if I am missing an email that may have ended up there accidentally, and I can "whitelist" the sender so that it goes though without a problem the next time. Every night this service sends me a list of emails that are questionable (i.e. the service isn't sure if it's spam), and I quickly scan them to approve any that have been misidentified.4. Email Address Spam. One of the easiest ways your email address gets added to massive lists of spammed email addresses is by including a clear link to your email address on your website. Spambots routinely patrol the Internet looking for readily available email addresses to harvest online. Even if you have the link "cloaked" by saying "click here to email", which will bring up your email address in the visitor's email program, the spambot is able to read the HTML sourcecode and harvest the email address.Instead, remove your email address off of all of your websites. Use a contact form for people to email you that incorporates CAPTCHA technology (where the form filler has to read a graphic representation of a word or set or numbers to prove that s/he isn't a spambot). I use the free version of Freedback for this task.5. Discussion List Spam. If your email address must appear on any discussion lists, blog posts, or forum postings, use a free email address like the ones available at Gmail or Yahoo. In this way, you protect your "real" email address from being picked up by spambots.6. Catch-All Email Address. If your web host company permits, create a catch-all email address that receives all email not specifically marked for a set POP email address or email forward you may have set up. When you sign up for someone's free giveaway, for example, that will add you to their marketing list you can then enter an email address that reminds you of the site or giveaway where you used it.For example, if I'm signing up for Jane Smith's free dog training tips report, I might use <a href="mailto:dogtraining@mydomain.com">dogtraining@mydomain.com</a>, which will then end up in my catch-all domain email address. In this way, you don't have to give away your "real" email address, and you can determine if the list holder sells or rents your email address to another. So, then, if you suddenly begin to get emails to your <a href="mailto:dogtraining@mydomain.com">dogtraining@mydomain.com</a> address from a dog food company you've never heard of, you'll know that Jane sold or rented your email address to them.7. Firewalls and Hackers. Make sure that you are using Windows firewall protection, at a minimum, to protect your computer from being hacked while you're online. Or, use a free firewall like ZoneAlarm. You can also upgrade for a fee to get enhanced protection.If you use a wireless router, be sure to set a password to secure it so that anyone passing by your home or office cannot hijack your signal and potentially hack your computer. I was resetting the wireless connection on my laptop just last week and discovered that there were 3 unsecured wireless connections in my neighborhood. I live in a residential section with no businesses, so I know that these were unsecure wireless routers in my neighbors' homes.8. Secure Server. If you're selling something online, either your website hosting account or your shopping cart provider needs to have a security certificate so that any monetary transactions can be made over a secure server. You can check to see if your checkout process is secure by looking for https:// in the address window of your browser when browser when you are on the payment page of your site/shopping cart. Some browsers will also show a gold locked padlock icon when you are on a secure server.I had to purchase a security certificate from my hosting company for my membership site, as the secure server wasn't built into the shopping cart that is integrated into the membership site software. If you use Paypal or some version of 1ShoppingCart.com, you are safe, as your customers' transactions are being carried over a secure server.When you make sure that your computer and email are protected from spam, viruses, malware and the like, your customers are then safe when you email them or upload something to your site for them to access. Responsible online business owners need to take every precaution available to them to enhance Internet security for all involved.

Internet Security - 8 Proven Tactics to Eliminate Threats From Spam, Viruses, and Hackers

As an online business owner, you face treacherous Internet security risks every single time you're online. Viruses, hackers, and spam...

iPhone Hacks and Threats to Personal Privacy

We’ve been amazed by it since its introduction. Who can’t remember the address given by Steve Jobs of Apple when he introduced the revolutionary iPhone? Who wasn’t amazed at the device that was capable of surfing the web, taking pictures, listening to music and of course receiving and placing calls?Nothing new, right?Just as the iPhone was released, hackers around North America started to dig into what makes this tick. The primary reason was to unlock the phone so that you didn’t have to sign-up with AT&T but with any carrier that supported the technology. But could there me more nefarious reasons to hack the iPhone?Skilled hackers could now take their phone onto any carrier, but more importantly they could create and enable custom ring tones (without having to pay for buying ring tones), enable custom wallpapers and more.In process of hacking into the iPhone, several tidbits were gleaned - such as the fact that the software on the iPhone runs as "root" - in the Unix world this basically gives you full and complete access to the machine. You could bring down entire servers and even chains of servers if you have ROOT access to a Unix machine.So how does this impact you, the average user of the Apple iPhone that isn’t planning on hacking into their phone? Well someone may want to hack into your phone and they now have the blueprint to do it.While Apple is working hard to try and prevent hacking by playing cat and mouse game, it will always be a cat and mouse game. If you happen to surf into a questionable website that happens to download software to your iPhone you could end up in a whole heap of trouble.In an article in the New York Times Technology section from July 23, 2007, an iPhone flaw was found to let hackers take over the iPhone. Remember that most people store entire lives on their digital assistants (whether this is a Smart Phone, the iPhone or even a PDA). They keep names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses on them. Not to mention passwords, banking information (such as bank account numbers) and even digital images taken by the built-in camera.Now imagine if a hacker has access to all this data.The security firm, Independent Security Advisors found that through common flaws (and without even hacking into the phone) they were able to gain unauthorized access to the contents of the phone through a WiFi connection or by tricking users into visiting websites that insert malicious code onto the phone.The hack enabled the firm to gain a wealth of personal information that the phone contained.Dr. Miller, who was a former employee of the National Security Agency also demonstrated the hack by visiting a website of his own design, inserting some malicious code onto the phone and then proceeding to have the phone transmit data to the attacking computer. He went on to say that the attack could be used to program the phone to make calls thereby running up the phone bill of the user not to mention the phone could be used to spy on the individual by turning it into a portable bugging device - remember, it does have a built-in camera.How can you protect yourself? As with any device, common sense should prevail. Don’t open e-mails from people you don’t know - if you open them, and there are attachments avoid opening the attachments or visiting the websites in question.Since the Apple iPhone has automatic updates, always ensure your iPhone has the latest updates by visiting the manufacturer’s site.If you are very concerned about threats to your iPhone you may also want to visit the website [http://www.exploitingphone.com/], which is run by Independent Security Evaluators to stay on top of hacks and threats to your personal data on the iPhone.Even doing simple searches in Yahoo, Google, or MSN with 'iPhone hacking threats' will give you a wealth of information.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Copyright © Mohammed BhimjiGet more information about adware, spyware, malware and viruses plus information on wireless wifi theft and securing your wireless connection [http://www.free-adware-spyware-virus-removal.com] at [http://www.free-adware-spyware-virus-removal.com]

iPhone Hacks and Threats to Personal Privacy

We’ve been amazed by it since its introduction. Who can’t remember the address given by Steve Jobs of Apple when he introduced the revolu...

Useful Tips of How to Avoid Internet Security Threats

In order to avoid internet security threats, you must have internet security software installed on your computer to defend yourself from any such threats. Since internet is being used for various purposes like online shopping, money transfer, banking, etc. If you do not have proper internet security software installed on your computer, hackers may hack into your banking accounts and misuse itHere are few points you need to keep in mind in order to avoid internet security threats:Spyware Spyware are programs that are primarily meant to spy or steal your personal and banking information. Trojans, keyloggers, adware are some of the types of spyware. A lot of online identity theft has been caused all over the world because of spyware. Spyware enter your computer when you download potentially danger software that appears to be a legitimate one. Spyware can steal your password, modify settings on your computer and considerably malign the performance of your computer. Installing and running an antispyware is a must on your computer. Make sure you update it regularly.Spam and email attachmentsThere are many websites on the internet that ask you to subscribe by typing in your email address on their websites to receive updates and newsletters. There is a high chance of your inbox getting bombarded with all kinds of emails that may carry potential virus in the form of email attachments. Never open or download an email attachment from any unknown source. It may contain virusPhishingPhishing is a process through which hackers steal your highly important information like usernames, password, etc. You will receive an email that will claim to have come from a genuine source and will ask you to open a link that present inside the email; once you click on it you will see a fake login page. The moment you press submit after putting login details, your id will be hacked.It is also important to install a firewall when you are on a network or connected to the internet to avoid internet security. The above mentioned points can surely help you in achieving safe and secure browsing on the internet.	 	 		 			 				 					 						The author of this article, Silki Garg, has written many high rated articles on Online Security and <a href="http://webtoolsandtips.com/pc-security/malware/get-warning-alerts-to-protect-your-website-from-malware-attacks/" target="_new">computer security</a>. She advices on how to avoid <a href="http://thepcsecurity.com/prevent-malware-and-phishing-with-long-url-please-firefox-security-addon/" target="_new">Internet Security Threats</a>, virus, trojans, worms and other malware from your PC.

Useful Tips of How to Avoid Internet Security Threats

In order to avoid internet security threats, you must have internet security software installed on your computer to defend yourself from ...

Internet Security - How to Protect Your PC From Online Threats

IntroductionInternet becomes popular and popular these days but do you aware your computers are very insecure when you are connect your computer to the Internet?In this article, we will give you 7 easy steps on how to protect your PC from online threat these days.Step 1: Get the latest free anti-virus, personal firewall and anti-spam software and manually update the programs!Computers users usually ignore this simple but yet important step. "Are they automatically updated to newest version?" That was a customer asked me back in 2004. Yes those commercial anti-virus or personal firewall programs will indeed automatically update within their license periods (usually one year), one typical example is Symantec Norton Norton Anti-Virus software. But, when the license is approaching to its end, (usually you have automatically update up to 9 months) the software suddenly could not update itself. Why? Perhaps, it is a marketing strategy to remind the software users that the license is going to expire! Therefore, it is very important for you to do manual anti-virus, anti-spam or personal firewall update (may be once a week) to prevent your PC from viruses or Trojan horses attack.Step 2: Get the latest patch of your windows. Get your latest patch of windows system! And not wait for tomorrow or next year!Computer users always ignore this is vital step to stop their computers are being hacked or being tools to spread computer viruses around. They usually think install an anti virus or personal firewall program is enough. Yes, it is true that anti-virus or personal firewall programs do have some protection on computers but the main problems are Windows are always "buggy". Their security updates or patches often take 6 months to 1 year to launch which already reported about 6 months ago in anti-virus giants such as Symantec or McAfee websites!Therefore, you should get the latest fixes of your Windows! How? One easy way is to use the "automatic update function". It is found in control panel menu. Go to "Start -> control panel -> automatic update" on your Windows XP and make sure your automatic box is checked and set up check for updated daily and you are set! Step 3: Stay alert Why you should stay alert? When come to computer security you may be the first person to notice in your office that a computer virus outbreak is going to begin.Let's look at two examples, those are Iloveyou email virus in year 2000 and Code-red in year 2004. If you remembered that some Fortune 500 giants actually got their email system shutdown because of "iloveu"! It caused tremendous amount of business revenue loss. Hence next time, if you see something wired happening on your computer, immediate seek advice from your computer technicians since that may be a virus outbreak is going to begin and your computer technician do not yet know about it.Step 4: Never ever join computer software, MP3 sites that allow unlimited download for life time or whatsoever.Recently, I found some websites that claimed to have life time membership on downloading unlimited software or movies and mp3. At a glance it was a crappy website and I don't bother to look at it. Because I thought it was some kind of web site which providing software crack codes. As I read further I found they are using Click Bank as their provider! Well, as some of you already know Click Bank is a pretty well known company in internet marketing such as affiliate programs so I joined because I have unlimited download of software that I want to use. Thus I pull my credit card out and fill all the required information and off I go. I accessed the website.After I logged in, they gave me a program to download so I did but what I was not able to find what I was looking for. Therefore I opened up the program that I'd just downloaded and tried to use the built-in search function. As I was waiting the search result, I saw a bunch of cracks files or crack codes related to that software on different computers. What does that mean? It means it is a file sharing software. It does not really provide the software, you may say it is a member site that allow access to others members computer for file sharing, but they did not provide the piece of software that I was looking for nor they stated that they did not actually provide the software but you could find it on their members' computers! Therefore I believed it was a scam. How do they force their members to share files? And how do they guarantee those files shared by their members are 100% owned them or 100% royalty free? It is same sort of old story back to days of the favorite MP3 sharing website called Napster.Thus don't join this kind of website, personally I think they are rubbish and completely waste of money.Step 5:Don't use BT or (Bit Torrent)(for those of you don't know what it is, don't worry. Just skip to step 6. For those who know please read on. BT generally is a good idea on saving time to download a big file when internet connections are slow. However, some people out there tries to use BT (Bit Torrent) for illegal purposes such as copyright infringed mp3, computer software, movies and so on.Often these pieces of mp3, movies or computer software are provided in zip, rar format to save some space and speed. But you don't know what pieces of software are bundled in these zips or rars files. It may be computer viruses, Trojan horses or a key logger which basically can log everything you typed on your keyboard and then send a report to their owners or people who let your download their software or media. Which means your password, username and other personal information may be revealed by another person that you do not know. Therefore, next time when you see a BT site, stay away from it. (Unless it is some well established site like Open Office (software like MS office or World of War Craft, online massive multi-players role playing games)Step 6: Never download software from crack, warez sort of sites. Don't ever never try to find crack of some popular software like WinZip, WinRAR, Dreamweaver, Norton Anti-virus and so on and so forth. Why? Because, again you never know the file that you are downloading contains virus or trojan horse or keylogger or not. For computer safety reasons, do not use BT!Sometimes, we're heard by someone who's seeking "Free" version of popular software like those ones listed above said, "My computer was infected by virus and it becomes not cleanable!" That is you may need to re-install your Windows. What a pain that is!So stop looking these "Free" resources and instead try to look for open source alternatives like FileZilla (a ftp program like cuteFTP or WsFTP), Open Office as opposed to Microsoft Office, kompozer as opposed to Dreamweaver or front page.Step 7: Always back up important files or data to external sourceWhat if your computer is infected by a virus or being hacked and become non-usable?The quickest way often is to re-format your computer hard drive and reinstall Windows XP when it becomes non-usable or simply non-controllable. But before you are a hit by such a situation, make sure you always have up to date important documents or files back up. You can either back them up on your company's file server, your USB flash drive, diskette or CD/DVD ROMsWith today USB flash drive, CD/DVD ROMS are being so cheap you don't have any reasons on why you're not doing it!In conclusion,Computer security is not as hard as you might think, you just basically have to follow the basic instruction in this article and you're done!	 	 		 			 				 					 						Proson Cheng, a founder of leading affordable web hosting company at <a href="http://www.18AffordableWebHosting.com" target="_new">http://www.18AffordableWebHosting.com</a>He has 3+ years experience in outsourcing computer technical support, system administration and computer network support on multi-national companies such as Cosmopolitan Hong Kong, Leigh & Orange Architect firm, TSL container line and so on. If you find the information useful please spread it around.

Internet Security - How to Protect Your PC From Online Threats

Introduction Internet becomes popular and popular these days but do you aware your computers are very insecure when you are connect your ...

Computer Security, Viruses And Threats

Today, many people rely on computers to do homework, work, and create or store useful information. Therefore, it is important for the information on the computer to be stored and kept properly. It is also extremely important for people on computers to protect their computer from data loss, misuse, and abuse.For example, it is crucial for businesses to keep information they have secure so that hackers can't access the information. Home users also need to take means to make sure that their credit card numbers are secure when they are participating in online transactions. A computer security risk is any action that could cause loss of information, software, data, processing incompatibilities, or cause damage to computer hardware, a lot of these are planned to do damage. An intentional breach in computer security is known as a computer crime which is slightly different from a cybercrime. A cybercrime is known as illegal acts based on the internet and is one of the FBI's top priorities. There are several distinct categories for people that cause cybercrimes, and they are refered to as hacker, cracker, cyberterrorist, cyberextortionist, unethical employee, script kiddie and corporate spy.*The Hacker.The term hacker was actually known as a good word but now it has a very negative view. A hacker is defined as someone who accesses a computer or computer network unlawfully. They often claim that they do this to find leaks in the security of a network.*The Cracker.The term cracker has never been associated with something positive this refers to someone how intentionally access a computer or computer network for evil reasons. It's basically an evil hacker. They access it with the intent of destroying, or stealing information. Both crackers and hackers are very advanced with network skills.*The Cyberterrorist.A cyberterrorist is someone who uses a computer network or the internet to destroy computers for political reasons. It's just like a regular terrorist attack because it requires highly skilled individuals, millions of dollars to implement, and years of planning.*The Cyberextortionist.The term cyberextortionist refers to someone who uses emails as an offensive force. They would usually send a company a very threatening email stating that they will release some confidential information, exploit a security leak, or launch an attack that will harm a companies network. They will request a paid sum of money to prevent the threat from being carried out, a bit like black mailing.*The Unethical Employee.An unethical employee is an employee that illegally accesses their company's network for numerous reasons. One could be the money they can get from selling top secret information, or some may be bitter and want revenge.*The Script Kiddie.A script kiddie is someone who is like a cracker because they may have the intentions of doing harm, but they usually lack the technical skills. They are usually silly teenagers that use prewritten hacking and cracking programs. *The Corporate Spy. A corporate spy has extremely high computer and network skills and is hired to break into a specific computer or computer network to steal or delete data and information. Shady companies hire these type people in a practice known as corporate espionage. They do this to gain an advantage over their competition an illegal practice.Business and home users must do their best to protect or safeguard their computers from security risks. The next part of this article will give some pointers to help protect your computer. However, one must remember that there is no one hundred percent guarantee way to protect your computer so becoming more knowledgeable about them is a must during these days.When you transfer information over a network it has a high security risk compared to information transmitted in a business network because the administrators usually take some extreme measures to help protect against security risks. Over the internet there is no powerful administrator which makes the risk a lot higher. If your not sure if your computer is vulnerable to a computer risk than you can always use some-type of online security service which is a website that checks your computer for email and Internet vulnerabilities. The company will then give some pointers on how to correct these vulnerabilities. The Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center is a place that can do this. The typical network attacks that puts computers at risk includes viruses, worms, spoofing, Trojan horses, and denial of service attacks. Every unprotected computer is vulnerable to a computer virus which is a potentially harming computer program that infects a computer negatively and altering the way the computer operates without the user's consent. Once the virus is in the computer it can spread throughout infecting other files and potentially damaging the operating system itself. It's similar to a bacteria virus that infects humans because it gets into the body through small openings and can spread to other parts of the body and can cause some damage. The similarity is, the best way to avoid is preparation. A computer worm is a program that repeatedly copies itself and is very similar to a computer virus. However the difference is that a virus needs to attach itself to an executable file and become a part of it. A computer worm doesn't need to do that, it copies itself to other networks and eats up a lot of bandwidth.A Trojan Horse named after the famous Greek myth and is used to describe a program that secretly hides and actually looks like a legitimate program but is a fake. A certain action usually triggers the Trojan horse, and unlike viruses and worms it will not replicate itself. Computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are all classified as malicious-logic programs which are just programs that deliberately harm a computer. Although these are the common three there are many more variations and it would be almost impossible to list them. You know when a computer is infected by a virus, worm, or Trojan horse if your computer displays one or more of these things:*	Screen shots of weird messages or pictures appear.*	You have less available memory than you expected.*	Music or sounds plays randomly.*	Files get corrupted.*	Programs are files don't work properly.*	Unknown files or programs randomly appear.*	System properties fluctuate.Computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses deliver their payload or instructions through three common ways.1 - When an individual runs an infected program so if you download a lot of things you should always scan the files before executing, especially executable files.2 - When an individual boots a computer with an infected drive, so that is why it's important to not leave removable media in your computer when you shut it down.3 - When an unprotected computer connects to a network. Today, a very common way that people get a computer virus, worm, or Trojan horse is when they open up an infected file through an email attachment.There are literally thousands of malicious logic programs and new ones come out by the numbers so that's why it's important to keep up to date with new ones that come out each day. Many websites keep track of this. There is no known method for providing 100% protection for any computer or computer network from computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses, but people can take several precautions to significantly reduce their chances of being infected by one of those malicious programs. Whenever you start a computer you should have no removable media in the drives. This goes for CD, DVD, and floppy disks. When the computer starts up it tries to execute a boot sector on the drives and even if it's unsuccessful any given virus on the boot sector can infect the computer's hard disk. If you must start the computer using removable media for any reason, such as when the hard disk fails and you are trying to reformat the drive make sure that the disk is not infected.How can you protect your computer?The best way to protect your computer from any of the above is by using good quality internet securities software. Purchasing this from a reputable security company is recommended to ensure that your software is kept up to date with the most recent virus signatures. If you are not up to date an unrecognised virus will not be stopped by the software. A full security package will protect you from viruses, Worms, Trojan horses, keyloggers and will detect when a hacker is attempting to hack into your computer and prevent them from gaining access when you are online or connected to a network. It is not advisable to use a free antivirus service as these do not provide adequate protection and are a false economy. Recommended internet security software companies are:- Norton, McAfee and others.	 	 		 			 				 					 						The author is dedicated to PC security and PC health. See the Error Doctor <a href="http://www.registry-cleaner-magic.com/error-doctor/" rel="nofollow" target="_new">Award Winning Registry Cleaner</a> Software.

Computer Security, Viruses And Threats

Today, many people rely on computers to do homework, work, and create or store useful information. Therefore, it is important for the inf...

Threats of Information Security

Computer Related CrimesThe absence of routine security precautions can make it a lot easier for unlawful attempts on computer systems to occur. Both the intruder and the person who has not taken proper security measures may be held liable for what happens.Different Kinds of Computer CrimesYou may divide the typical crimes related to computers in four different groups:Assault against the results of the computer processing Damage of the software Computer espionage Damage of the hardwareThe Extent of Computer Crimes The technical character of computing is such that it opens possibilities and opportunities for crime in quite a different way than traditional crime does. By nature it is very hard to discover a computer crime and to follow its path.In fact, the computing technique is not perfect in itself. That makes it even harder to tell if there has been a technical disturbance, a natural malfunction, or if an intruder willingly has manipulated the system in a criminal way.Four different facts seem to be especially important when we try to discover why some people are prepared to commit crime.The attitude of a person towards morals and norms The motives of a person(psychological, economical, etc.) The apprehension of a person to the risk of being discovered The opportunityYou may ask yourself what reasons you have to take some security measures in the system. It is, of course, important to weigh the costs of a security system against the importance of confident technique in the information system, the costs of an intrusion in the computing system, and finally, yet importantly, the possibility of being sued for damages as a result of the lacking information system and the ethical instability.Recently there have been several attacks of viruses pointed against big companies all around the world. Today you could read in the paper that a recent security flaw has been discovered in an email client program. According to the author it would be possible for a hacker using this hole in the system to open up your computer and completely take charge of it through an email that has been received by the email program. It isn't even necessary to open the email; the malicious code would take control of the computer before you even have had a chance to read and delete the email. Recently, there have been several quite severe alarms about security flaws concerning products of a well-known company. Undoubtedly the question comes to mind if the company deliberately incorporates a low level of security. The customers are those who in this manner try out the products. When a flaw appears in the security system of a product, the company eventually hands out a patch to resolve the problem.Two different parties discovered the vulnerability above independently of each other. They contacted the company that had made the email programs and agreed not to publish the vulnerability until a patch was in place.It gives us something to think about when you learn that even security companies agree to be silent about email viruses of this kind. With this virus' capability to spread, it is much more dangerous than previous ones. This way of handling a severe attack must be considered highly unethical.Information security breaches appear in six areas of risk:Electronic (hacking and related) risk Malicious code (virus, Trojan worm and related) risk Privacy risk Downtime risk Physical risk Human factors riskThe Hacker's Ethics In his book, Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution, Steven Levy introduced the following six guidelines:Access to computers -- and anything, which might teach you something about the way the world works -- should be unlimited and total. Always yield to the Hands-On imperative! All information should be free. Mistrust authority -- promote decentralization. Hackers should be judged by their hacking, not bogus criteria such as degrees, age, race or position. You can create art and beauty on a computer. Computers can change your life for the better. This creed was expanded with three principles published in PHRACK, the "official" hacker newsletter:First, hackers reject the notion that "businesses" are the only groups entitled to access and use of modern technology.Second, hacking is a major weapon in the fight against encroaching computer technology.Finally, the high cost of equipment is beyond the means of most hackers, which results in the perception that hacking and phreaking are the only recourse to spreading computer literacy to the masses. Someone upholding ethical and legal rules of the society cannot take these "rules" seriously. But they still give us something to think about. Hackers usually acknowledge that their activities may occasionally be illegal. Nevertheless, a considerable amount of energy is placed on limiting violations only to those required to obtain access and learn a system. The hackers are hostile towards those who go beyond these limits.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Born in Turku, Finland, he is now living in Stockholm, Sweden. He has been a criminal defense lawyer for 34 years and he has a law firm of his own. In the year 2000 he took a Master in Law and IT at the University in Stockholm. Since then he has been Netmarketing a lot and he is also a Happeneur. The hobbies are Music, Writing, Film and Theatre, Gardening, Tennis and Golf.

Threats of Information Security

Computer Related Crimes The absence of routine security precautions can make it a lot easier for unlawful attempts on computer systems to...

Identity Theft - Nine Threats & Nine Steps To Protection

The Bad News: Identity theft is escalating at a torrid pace. It has become one of the country's top problems. The bad guys are finding more ways to steal YOUR identity.The Good News: You can take control of the situation, become both reactive and proactive guarding yourself against identity theft.Identity Theft Is Spreading Faster Than The Worst Case Of The Flu!First, let's understand just how bad identity theft has become in this country:·	The Federal Trade Commission says that there is an underground market for credit card numbers, social security numbers and ID documents - organized gangs or web mobs use and sell these documents for as little as $10 each. Some of these groups contain thousands of members. The amount of goods and services purchased with fraudulently obtained personal identity exceeded 52-billion dollars in 2004.·	US Department of Justice states identity theft is affecting millions of households in the U.S. each year. The cost is estimated to be six-point-four billion per year. According to the FTC, an estimated 10 million adults become victims of identity theft each year.·	The Department of Justice goes on to say that the most common misuse of identity was through credit cards, accounting for 50 percent of all identity theft. Next in line were banking and other types of accounts at 25 percent, personal information was 15 percent, and a combination of several types of identity theft was at 12 percent. The average loss for each identity theft was $1,290.00. Two-thirds of those surveyed said the theft cost them money despite credit card coverage.·	A recent State of the Net survey by Consumer Reports which covered more than 2000 households with Internet Access projects that American consumers lost more than eight-billion dollars over the last two years to viruses, spyware and various scams. The report also shows consumers face a one-in-three chance of becoming a "cyber victim" about the same as last year. It goes on to say that consumers lost $630 million over the past two years to e-mail scams.·	The average person today suffers through two or more "incidents" with their computer each year - the computer slows to a crawl, crashes altogether, viruses or spyware take over systems and more. It's getting worse as computers become more complex and as we do more with them.So, Who Is At Risk For Identity Theft?According to the Department of Justice there are three groups that are most at risk for identity theft: young adults 18 to 24, adults who earn $75,000 per year or more and households in urban and suburban area. Interesting to note that about five percent of adults who earn $75,000 or more a year are hit with identity theft.The continued growth of online fraud and identity theft are putting an enormous strain on the existing infrastructure for the Internet as well as our social structure. For example, the banking community has been complacent about security upgrades required by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. They report that every bank in the country has not complied with their guidelines set for now. In an article titled, "U.S. Banks Complacent Toward Identity Theft Solution," by PR Web, the single largest national security threat is a terrorist attack on our banking system. An attack aimed simultaneously at millions of user names and passwords within banks would shut down our banking system. This would instantly shut down banks worldwide. Credit/debit cards, checks, calls to the bank, would not work for at least a matter of days causing tremendous hardship and a ripple effect from no gas to "I simply have to take this baby food."Consider for a moment some of the potential social effects from this identity theft problem. What if citizens developed a lack of confidence in our credit card and monetary system causing economic upheaval similar to what we saw in the "Great Depression?" I know this sounds radical, but what if you couldn't trust your identity to anyone anymore? What if you feared that your money, your identity was going to be stolen? It's not unthinkable that you would store your money under your mattress at home or in a safe in the closet rather than possibly losing it to identity theft. If millions of people lost faith in our monetary system and the ability to keep their identity safe and then took all of their money home where they believe it would be safe, what would happen then?We generally can't control what happens outside of our personal environment, what happens at a bank, corporation or the government seems so far out of reach. There are, however, steps that we can take that will give us a better chance of protecting our personal information. The first step is identifying the threats and then taking steps to protect ourselves.Below, I have identified nine identity theft threats and nine steps to protect our identity in today's society.Nine Threats To Your IdentityHere are nine of the most popular ways for thieves to steal your identity. Some of these are personally preventable and others are out of our control:1.	Stolen Company Data. Your personal information is stored on computers at stores where you shop, at your insurance company, your accountant, and more. It almost seems like a common occurrence where a company is hacked into and their customer's information is stolen. This happens so often now that the crimes are rarely reported and don't make the front page anymore.2.	Social Engineering. Identity Thieves are very clever. They will invent any way possible to fool you into giving your identity out. It's called social engineering because the thief uses common social situations to get the information they want. Like a seemingly innocent phone call supposedly from your credit card company asking for your personal information.3.	Dumpster Diving. Identity thieves get a lot of their victims' information out of garbage cans and recycle bins from old credit card statements and other personal documents thrown out carelessly.4.	Mail Theft. Your mail can contain valuable information: bills, banking information, credit cards, investments and more. Personal mail can often be stolen right from a mailbox.5.	Financial Account Hijacking. Once a thief has your personal information they can take over your personal accounts. You might not know about their activity for months.6.	Credit Card Magnetic Strip Theft. These clever crooks have tools to steal information off the magnetic strips on your credit card.7.	Discarded Computers. Your old computer really can tell stories. Even though you erased your hard drive crooks have tools to reclaim your personal information and use it against you.8.	Spyware and Viruses on Computers. You may not be familiar with the term 'malware.' It's a term that covers all of the hacker tools that can cause harm on your computer. These tools include spyware, keylogger tools, Trojan horses and more.9.	E-mail and Internet Scams. Cyber thieves are getting more and more creative using scams like Phishing, Pharming and fancy come-ons to entice you to give them your personal information.There Are Four Ways You Can Approach Protecting Your Identity...One way is to do nothing and hope that identity thieves don't harm you.Second, you can be reactive. Reactive simply means that you are responding to all the material that comes your way. You are checking your credit card and bank statements to make sure nothing peculiar is on them. And if you do find something strange you contact your bank or credit card company immediately. Reactive also means that you are checking your credit report when you apply for credit or a loan.Third, you can be proactive. A proactive approach is a more aggressive way of protecting yourself against the bad guys. You are constantly looking ahead and evaluating before giving out valuable information.And fourth, combine reactive and proactive approaches. This is the best way to ensure you identity protection.Nine Critical Steps To Proactively Protecting Your Identity...Here are your 'Nine Proactive Steps To Identity Protection:"1.	Begin to operate on an "I have to know everything" approach when you give out your personal information. Only give out your personal information to people you know and trust.2.	Protect your Social Security Number, credit card and other financial information. Do not give this information out over the phone unless you initiated the call or as we stated above are talking to a trusted individual from a trusted company.3.	Cancel all of your unused accounts including banking, credit card, licenses and permits.4.	At least once a year, if not more often, update and check your credit report and Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement to make sure everything appears as it should.5.	Protect your mail. Make sure you have a secure locked mailbox to receive all of your mail. Always mail your payments and checks from a secure Post Office Box or from the Post Office. And, if you have a Post Office Box at the Post Office never discard your mail in a garbage can. Always bring your entire mail home.6.	Always crosscut shred all bank statements, credit card applications or information and important documents before discarding to recycle or the garbage. It is best to stir up the shredded documents to make it even harder for identity thieves to steal your information.7.	Purchase identity theft insurance. This will cover any losses incurred while recovering your lost identity once a crook has stolen it.8.	Invest in professional grade protection for your computer. The best protection available today comes from Managed Internet Security Service providers. The best security services include best-of-breed corporate grade security software for your computer, as well as unlimited service and support from trained security pros. Make sure it is the same kind of service that is used by major corporations around the world. Frankly, the over-the-counter and free security software programs available don't keep up with today's professional cyber thief. If those popular programs worked, why do we see the cyber-crime problem growing at a progressively faster pace?A managed professional Internet security program should have the following technologies installed: A bi-directional or dual Firewall that prevents information from coming in or going out of your computer without your permission, anti-virus protection that is updated daily, and malware protection that is updated daily. Malware consists of spyware, adware, Trojan horses, keyloggers and more. It constantly changes so you will need a technology that keeps up with the professional hackers who want your identity. Your best bet is to find a professional security service that affordably manages all this for you.9.	Beware of e-mail scams like Phishing and Pharming. Phishing is an e-mail that looks like it came from a bank or business claiming you need to take care of a problem or your account will be closed down. It takes you to a page to fill out your personal information. Meanwhile, Pharming is redirecting your computer from a legitimate to a fake web site. For example, you may think that you are going to your banking site, but instead are redirected to a site that looks like your banks web site, but is hosted by an identity thief.Identity theft continues to grow at a torrid pace. Millions of people in the United States will lose their identity to thieves in the coming year. Many of them will suffer for years trying to clean up the mess that was left behind.The bad news is we can't control all of the identity threats we face each day. The good news is there are reactive and proactive steps we can take to protect ourselves against personal tragedy.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Warren is engaged in the cause of educating and protecting people who use the Internet about the threats they face and the inadequacy of the solutions they trust, and over a two-year period has become an expert on PC Security and a passionate advocate of Internet safety. Find out more his campaign for personal and Internet security go to his web site at <a href="http://www.completeinternetprotection.com" target="_new">http://www.completeinternetprotection.com</a>.

Identity Theft - Nine Threats & Nine Steps To Protection

The Bad News: Identity theft is escalating at a torrid pace. It has become one of the country's top problems. The bad guys are fin...

Protect Yourself From Cyberwarfare & Rootkit Threats

Cyberwarfare attacks pose a growing and little understood threat. Internet users think nothing about surfing the internet superhighway through virtual battle zones with only their mouse for company. Most people never forget to secure their doors at night but the same individuals will leave their computer ports open when they are out surfing the net. The internet respects no borders and can take the user into dangerous territories infested with malware. No one is safe from these internet malware threats and these virtual terrorists use multiple methods. They piggyback on our existing infrastructure and bandwidth to invade our privacy and security in our own homes and offices without our knowledge.Hundreds of cyberwarfare attacks on military systems and government infrastructures are reported daily. A botnet is a network of infected computers, called zombies, which can be used for sending out spam, mounting denial of service attacks, stealing personal information, cyber terrorism, etc. Computer botnets are facilitated by rootkit infections.Cyberwarfare is an enormous threat around the world, as an enemy can cripple our economy using malware such as rootkits which were virtually undetectable until now. Power stations, highways, offices, hospitals, etc. are all vulnerable to a cyberwarfare attack. It is estimated that over 50 million computers worldwide are infected with botnets.Hacker tools are becoming cheaper and easier to obtain and rootkits allow hackers to bypass normal security controls and remain undetectable. Rootkits are used to infect zombies to create botnets. A rootkit will capture personal information, while creating a back-door into the system to alter files, processes, or tools to escape detection. As rootkits become more powerful, common, and difficult to detect they can be widely used in combination with social malware techniques to attack a large number of computer systems in a relatively short period of time. Rootkits not only download updates to themselves, but also virus payloads that they install inside their encrypted folders to avoid detection.According to the Associated Press, Spanish police arrested three ringleaders behind a <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/02/mariposa_botnet_takedown/" rel="nofollow" target="_new">Mariposa botnet</a> that infected 12.7 million PCs, stealing credit card and banking information. Infected computers were at more than half the Fortune 1,000 companies and 40 major banks. The Mariposa botnet was one of the world's largest, as it spread into more than 200 countries and appears to be more sophisticated than the botnet that was used to hack Google Inc.Malware writers keep updating rootkits and their malicious attacking methods, as anti malware tools become able to detect them. The three most dangerous rootkits that were recently updated are Rustock, 4DW4R3, and TDL3. Safe rootkit removal is a very complex process, and only security companies that have the best cutting edge technology are able to accomplish this.X-Wire Technology's internet security division Tizer Secure? has released two powerful free tools to help individuals protect themselves against these hard to remove threats. Newly released Tizer? Rootkit Razor is able to detect newly updated rootkits Rusktock and 4DW4R3 as well as all other malicious rootkits using multiple methodologies. This tool will scan files, registry keys, DLLs, processes, kernel API modifications, SSDT modifications, kernel object modifications, hidden ports, hidden drivers/services, etc. to help detect and safely remove rootkits. It is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and 7 (32-bit).	 	 		 			 				 					 						Tizer? TDL3 Razor will allow you to easily scan for and remove the particular TDL3 rootkit that infects Windows XP machines with intel processors and hard disks that use atapi.sys or iaStor.sys drivers. The TDL3 rootkit is actually a botnet and TDL3 Razor is currently the only tool that is able to remove the rootkit from both of these drivers. It is compatible with Windows XP machines. These two tools are released free for personal use and are available for download at <a href="http://www.tizersecure.com/" target="_new">www.TizerSecure.com</a>. With offices in Chapel Hill, NC and Mumbai, India, <a href="http://www.x-wiretechnology.com/" target="_new">X-Wire Technology</a> provides IT outsourcing to clients around the world.Shelley Koerber leads online marketing for X-Wire Technology, a company focused on computer security solutions and other IT initiatives. With offices in Chapel Hill, NC and Mumbai, India, X-Wire Technology provides IT services to clients around the world. As a Microsoft Certified Partner, X-Wire Technology specializes in product development, technical support, software customization, business automation, ecommerce solutions, web programming, design, and engineering services.

Protect Yourself From Cyberwarfare & Rootkit Threats

Cyberwarfare attacks pose a growing and little understood threat. Internet users think nothing about surfing the internet superhighway th...

Kaspersky AntiVirus 7.0 - Protection From Viruses And Other Internet Threats

The number of Internet security threats is constantly increasing, and to protect your data and the integrity of your system you need an anti-virus solution, such as Kaspersky AntiVirus 7.0. Due to holes in security created by a rapidly evolving Internet, the threat posed by cyber criminals and hackers is becoming increasingly severe. Kaspersky's sophisticated software package offers many features that are essential to reducing your threat of virus exposure and infection.Viruses are not the only criminal activity on the Internet today, and threats such as spyware, phishers, and hackers pose tremendous risk to your network security. A growing problem, identity theft has likely already affected you or someone else that you know. If your system is hacked, or your laptop is lost or stolen, your sensitive personal and financial information can become compromised. Kaspersky AntiVirus 7.0 scans web files and email for malware and other threats, allowing you to browse the Internet without worry.As new viruses and other threats continue to surface, the technology used to create them is becoming more complex and difficult to detect. Virus programmers are always looking for ways to layer on encryption to conceal their code deep within your system where many anti-virus programs cannot find it. Anti-virus programming must constantly evolve to keep up with these always-changing threats.Many anti-virus programs offer only periodic updates, and your system can be attacked before your software even recognizes the threat. Kaspersky AntiVirus 7.0 provides automatic hourly updates, and is able to respond to malware threats within two hours of detection. The unparalleled number of updates each month prevents new viruses from entering your system undetected.Malware moves quickly, and some viruses are capable of destroying files within seconds. Therefore, it is vital to use anti-virus software that is able to minimize attacks before they happen. Kaspersky AntiVirus 7.0 utilizes intelligent proactive heuristics, which allows for the automatic isolation of files without a match to those contained in the signature database. This way, code is checked in a safe place, reducing the risk of harm to your computer. To prevent possible viral infection, Kaspersky monitors your system with real-time behavior analysis. The anti-virus software will alert you to any potential problems immediately, roll back malicious changes to your system, and restore files that have been encrypted with ransomware.Ranked first in both independent tests and reviews, Kaspersky AntiVirus 7.0 is the leading anti-virus software. It finds and neutralizes more threats more quickly to keep your computer and private information safe. Kaspersky even varies its scans based on the user's activity for a customized approach. Based on its variety of sophisticated features and impressive rate of updates, it is easy to understand why Kaspersky AntiVirus 7.0 is the anti-virus software preferred by so many people.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Get <a href="http://internetsecurity.getkasperskyantivirus.com" target="_new">Kaspersky Internet Security Free</a>Christopher is an Information Security Consultant for <a href="http://www.lexansystems.com" target="_new">Lexan Systems L.L.C</a>.. You are welcome to reproduce this article on your Computer Security related web site, as long as you reproduce the article in full, including this resource box and link to our website.

Kaspersky AntiVirus 7.0 - Protection From Viruses And Other Internet Threats

The number of Internet security threats is constantly increasing, and to protect your data and the integrity of your system you need an a...

Internet Security - 8 Proven Tactics to Eliminate Threats From Spam, Viruses, and Hackers

Internet Security - 8 Proven Tactics to Eliminate Threats From Spam, Viruses, and Hackers

As an online business owner, you face treacherous Internet security risks every single time you're online. Viruses, hackers, and spam...

VoIP Security Threats Explained

In a recent report issued by CompTIA, the Computer Technology Industry Association, 50% of small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) had very little trust in the security offered by VoIP vendors, or for that matter, voice over IP security in general.It is true, having your voice and data running on the same infrastructure leaves your telecommunications particularly vulnerable to all the security threats inherent in an IP network. Viruses, Trojan Horses, and worms can all wreak havoc on a network, and having your voice network go down for even the shortest time is intolerable for most business.That said, security has come a long way, and most attacks can be stopped at the gateway by a good network administrator. While attacks on VoIP networks in particular are by no means widespread, the possibilities are there, if not imminent, and pose a very real threat to the very time sensitive requirements of voice over IP.The following is a compilation of just some of the security threats facing a voice over IP network, as well as some security measures that could be taken to prevent such attacks.SPIT - The new Spam for VoIPMost anybody that receives email is familiar with the term Spam. Who among us has not received dozens of unsolicited emails, clogging up our mailboxes and causing us to waste our valuable time? Laws have been made to reduce the clutter in our mailboxes, and major offenders have been fined heavily, in some cases put in jail.Spam is basically the broadcasting of advertisements, announcements, or other unwanted messages, over a network or networks, ending up in the mail boxes of anyone that has an email address on that network. At worst, spam is frustrating for the recipient, and can also cause network problems utilizing a good majority of bandwidth that is meant for other things. As email applications are connectionless and not sensitive to time delay, eventually the recipient will receive their emails intact, albeit a few minutes later than it would normally take.Spam over Internet telephony, otherwise known as SPIT, can have far greater consequences than email spam. Spitters that target VoIP gateways can use up the available bandwidth, severely disrupting Quality of Service and causing a major degradation in voice quality.The open nature of VoIP phone calls makes it easy for spitters to broadcast audio commercials just as email advertisements are broadcast. On closed networks like Vonage or Skype, or even your companies LAN, it is a little more difficult as the spitter would have to hack into the network in order to implement the broadcast. It can, however, be done.The ability to broadcast audio messages over a VoIP network is not, in itself, necessarily a bad thing. Companies should be able to get out important messages quickly, and on a broader scope, emergency services could easily communicate mandatory evacuations, or warn of impending disasters in the event of catastrophe.While Spit is certainly a technical possibility, to date, we have not seen a lot of it. In 2004, the peer to peer VoIP network Skype got hacked into, and users were inundated with unsolicited audio messages. Shortly thereafter, Skype had found and closed the loophole in the network. One other legal recourse is to get on the national Do Not Call list, to prevent solicitors from bombarding your voice mail boxEavesdroppingProbably one of the scariest vulnerabilities of VoIP is the ability of an outsider to eavesdrop on a private conversation. This concept is nothing new to IP data networks, and generally requires a packet analyzer to intercept IP packets, and in the case of VoIP, saving the data as an audio file. Hackers then have the ability to learn user ids and passwords, or worse, to gain knowledge of confidential business information.While it is true that eavesdropping occurs on traditional telephone lines as well as cellular networks, for someone to tap into your home phone line pretty much requires a physical presence outside your house. In the case of an IP network, a hacker requires only a laptop, some readily available software, and the knowledge of how to hack into your network.Security analysts have long used encryption techniques to protect the confidentiality of data traveling through an IP network, and the same concept holds true for voice packets. The challenge with voice is to encrypt strongly and quickly, to protect confidentiality and as not to slow down the packet flow.Nevertheless, if someone really wants to listen in on your calls, no type of telecommunication is 100% secure.Phishing the Waters of Voice over IPAnother variation of an email attack, Phishing is designed to trick a user into revealing sensitive data such as user names, passwords, bank accounts, credit cards, and even social security numbers. In the case of VoIP, the attack could come as a voice mail message urging you to call a designated number and provide your user information. Even if the call is automated, touch tones can be easily deciphered. Depending on what information they get, hackers can use it to access bank accounts, or to steal identities.While you can program a PBX to restrict call backs to known phishers, as more users become familiar with the pitfalls of the Internet, it becomes common knowledge to never give out sensitive information to automated media, be it via data or voice.SIP Registration HijackingThe Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is becoming widely accepted as the method for setting up VoIP phone calls. The process involves a Registrar (in some cases the company PBX itself), which maintains a database of all users subscribed to the network, and basically maps their telephone number to an IP address.Registration hijacking occurs when the packet header of either party is intercepted by a hacker, who substitutes his IP address for that of the legitimate one. Attacks can take the form of fraudulent toll free calls, denial of service attacks that can render the user's device useless, or a simple diversion of communication.SpoofingAnother hack that is well known in data networks is spoofing Also known as a man in the middle attack, spoofing requires hacking into a network and intercepting packets being sent between two parties. Once the IP address or phone number of the trusted host is discovered, hackers can use this attack to misdirect communications, modify data, or in the case of Caller ID Spoofing, transfer cash from a stolen credit card number.SIP registration hijacking is a form of spoofing. Both of these spoofs, as well as other hacks such as eavesdropping, can be prevented by employing encryption techniques at the call set up phase. Today, the up and coming mechanism to achieve this is to send SIP messages over an encrypted Transport Layer Security channel. Putting these two protocols together forms the acronym SIPS.There is no doubt that IP networks can be, and are, hacked into. Since a converged network consists of data and voice, VoIP is as vulnerable as any application to these disruptions, but with a downtime tolerance of no more than 5 minutes a year, such interruptions are considered intolerable for voice applications.As of today, most of these security threats are not wide spread, and are presented here as a what could happen in the future scenario. Industry experts agree that as voice over Internet telephony becomes more wide spread, malicious hacking attempts are bound to follow.These and other VoIP security threats can be prevented by a vigilant network staff, using all the known security precautions typical of an IP network. No VoIP solution is secure out of the box, and must be locked down by using common sense approaches, including but not limited to changing default passwords, closing down unused ports and services, utilizing firewalls and VPNs for network communications, and diligent intrusion detection.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Author Michael Talbert is a certified systems engineer and web designer with over 7 years experience in the industry. For more information on <a href="http://voip-facts.net/" target="_new">VoIP Telecommunications</a>, visit the website VoIP-Facts.net, or the <a href="http://voip-facts.net/voip-blog/" target="_new">VoIP Facts Blog</a> for up to date industry news and commentary.

VoIP Security Threats Explained

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