New Technology Reviews!.: Secured

Connecting Your Secured LinkSys WRT54GC To Your Windows XP Laptop Or Desktop

If you followed along with the first article, then you are ready to set-up your PC to access the secure wireless connection.This article does not go into hardening your PC against other threats, you should always make sure you are using a firewall, virus scanner and/or spam blocking software.Now that you have successfully configured your LinkSys WRT54GC the next step is to configure your PC so that you can access the secured connection.This is easy to do, and only requires a few additional steps.First you should have an icon on your status bar that looks like a computer - it shows the wireless network connection. When you move your mouse over top of it, you should see the wireless information for the connection.Since your connection will not be established, there may be an X or SLASH through the icon. Not to worry, setting up this connection is very easy.First step is to double-click on the icon. This will bring up the WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION STATUS window.Next on this window, click on the PROPERTIES button. This will display another window that reads WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION PROPERTIES on the window bar.Click on the tab that reads WIRELESS NETWORKS.Since your network should already be set-up, you can highlight the entry and click on the PROPERTIES button - it will light-up once you select your network.On this screen and this tab (marked ASSOCIATION) there will be several fields, one of which is called Network name (SSID). This field is not accessible, but will list the name of your network.Then there is another block of options under WIRELESS NETWORK KEY. This is what you need to update in order to access your secured wireless network.The first item is the NETWORK AUTHENTICATION. Provided you've kept your PC updated and have all the latest updates and patches, when you click on this list box you will have several options available to you: OPEN, SHARED, WPA and WPA-PSK.Select the one that you used on your LinkSys WRT54GC wireless access point. Chances are if you followed part 1 of this article then you should select WPA-PSK.Next you will select the DATA ENCRYPTION method. Choices available to you will be: TKIP or AES.Once again you will select the one which you selected on your LinkSys WRT54GC wireless access point. TKIP and AES are both as strong, however AES may slow down your internet connection from your PC to the access point since it goes through more encryption methods.In my experiences I have noticed that when I use TKIP I retain a 108 Mbps speed to the access point, whereas with AES it drops in half to 54 Mbps. However I've decided to stay with AES.Once you have selected the appropriate DATE ENCRYPTION method the next step is to select the NETWORK KEY and enter this into two spots: NETWORK KEY and CONFIRM NETWORK KEY.The network key is the SAME key you entered into your wireless access point (the LinkSys WRT54GC). If this is a long string and you've saved the string (not recommended for long-term, only during your initial set-up and configuration) then you can simply CUT the string from the document and PASTE it into the required fields! Otherwise you will need to manually type in the 63 character string - which may not be an easy task to complete.Enter the string into the required fields - NETWORK KEY and CONFIRM NETWORK KEY then click on the OK button.When the previous window opens up (WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION PROPERTIES) click the OK button again.Finally click CLOSE on the WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION STATUS.It may take a few seconds to a few minutes for your PC to synchronize to the access point, however once it does you will be able to surf the web securely between your PC and your access point. As well, it will be very difficult for the average individual to hack into your wireless connection and steal your broadband access!It really is that simple, that everyone should be protecting their wireless connection. Not only are you ensuring nobody can use your broadband access, but data that is sent between your PC an the access point is secured as well - you won't be sending out your account details un-encrypted anymore just waiting for someone with the smarts to capture that data and use it for their own means.Before we finish, would you like to see how many secured or unsecured connections are in your area? Yes, you can see this easily with Windows own tools. Double-click on the icon we mentioned earlier in this article. This will bring up the WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION STATUS window.Click on the VIEW WIRELESS NETWORKS button.If you've done everything correctly you will not see your connection in the list but you will see all the other connections around you (for those individuals that did not disable the broadcast of their SSID) plus you'll be able to see who has encrypted their connection fully and who is using basic encryption.Those that are using WPA or stronger - those will be tough to crack or hack into. Those that are not - with the right tools (all available freely over the Internet) you could access their wireless connection with a bit of work and steal their broadband access (though I highly recommend that you do not).Setting the appropriate security measures is very easy, and just common sense. Like you would not leave your bank statement in a public place - you should ensure that your computer(s) are secured to prevent your private information being given to the public.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Get 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]

Connecting Your Secured LinkSys WRT54GC To Your Windows XP Laptop Or Desktop

If you followed along with the first article, then you are ready to set-up your PC to access the secure wireless connection. This article...

Your Home Computer Will Be Safe and Secured If You Follow These Steps

As a home computer user, you need to make sure that your computer is safe from any form of malicious online attack, including hacking. You might have important data including any identification in your computer which intruders can have access to. It is therefore very important for you to find out just how safe your computer is from these potential attacks.Primarily, intruders target home computer users because:(1) Home computer users typically don't have security measures installed on them, which makes them easy targets. and(2) They often have valuable information, such as credit card information stored which is enough to entice these intruders.In addition, you have to know what types of attack to expect. Opening an unknown, seemingly innocent email or clicking on an ad-banner will sometimes put you at unwanted risk and open the door for intruders. Once they are in, they're sometimes hard to get rid of, so your home computer security should start with you being careful about the things you do while connected to the Internet.Besides being careful about which emails to open or not, and which ad-banners to click to or not, you should also be careful about sending valuable information over the Internet. Such information can be interception by a third party. It would be better to transmit really important information the old-fashioned way, unless you are very much confident in your security measures.Next would be putting security measures on your computer. If your operating system is Microsoft Windows, Apple OS or LINUX you can get a free security updates and malicious software removal tools every month, which would be extremely helpful to you. There are monthly updates because the intruders always try to find a way to get around these security measures on regular basis.After getting the free security updates of your operating system, you would need to get an anti-virus program, preferably one that has the greatest number of virus definitions you might need to purchase this. Viruses, aside from causing chaos to your computer, can also be used to retrieve information from you and spread out to attack other computers. By obtaining a high-quality anti-virus program, viruses would not be as much of a problem.Since intruders are aware of the capabilities of anti-virus programs, they sometimes choose to use spyware, which are little bits of data that can be either potentially dangerous or annoying. It slows down your computer processes, and can retrieve data from you. To combat this, there are anti-spyware programs available, both for free -freeware and through purchase.The final security measure is a firewall. Normally, anti-virus programs offer firewalls, so acquiring one should not be much of a problem. A firewall acts like a security guard and disallows outright entry to anything trying to access your computer even if it is a program, without asking for your confirmation.Computer intruders and viruses should not be taken lightly at all, It would therefore be important for you to know the types of computer viruses [http://your-computer-safety.blogspot.com] available, in order to better protect yourself from them.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Yes, Find Out These Dangerous Computer Viruses [http://your-computer-safety.blogspot.com] so can Always Guard Yourself Against them.

Your Home Computer Will Be Safe and Secured If You Follow These Steps

As a home computer user, you need to make sure that your computer is safe from any form of malicious online attack, including hacking. Yo...

How Secured is Your PC

Is keeping your PC secured important?Nowadays, the amount of data a person keeps in his computer makes him almost wholly dependent on it for information retrieval. It is therefore very important to secure your computer from being accessed by external parties without your permission.Following areas are of great concern:EmailOnce regarded little more nuisance, the prevalence of spam has reached a point where many users have begun to express a general lack of confidence in the effectiveness of e-mail transmissions, and increased concern over the spread of computer viruses via unsolicited messages.Get spam blocking software. Competition here is strong and is sparking a lot of innovation.EncryptionYour computer when unguarded, can be a goldmine of personal information to an identity thief. Will encryption stop people from accessing my information?PhishingPhishing (pronounced as "fishing") is defined as the act of sending an email to a recipient falsely claiming to have an established, legitimate business. The intent of the phisher is to scam you into surrendering your private information, and ultimately steal your identity.It is not at easy as you think to spot an email phishing for information. At first glance, the email may look like it is from a legitimate company. The "From" field of the e-mail may have the .com address of the company mentioned in the e-mail. The clickable link even appears to take you to the company's website, when in fact, it is a fake website built to replicate the legitimate site.Many of these people are professional criminals. They have spent a lot of time in creating emails that look authentic. Users need to review all emails requesting personal information carefully. When reviewing your email remember that the "From Field" can be easily changed by the sender. While it may look like it is coming from a .com you do business with, looks can be deceiving. Also keep in mind that the phisher will go all out in trying to make their email look as legitimate as possible. They will even copy logos or images from the official site to use in their emails. Finally, they like to include a clickable link that the recipient can follow to conveniently update their information.A great way to check the legitimacy of the link is to point at the link with your mouse. Then, look in the bottom left hand screen of your computer. The actual website address to which you are being directed will show up for you to view. It is a very quick and easy way to check if you are being directed to a legitimate site.Can you tell if you have become a victim of identity theft? Some signs include unexplained charges or withdrawals from your financial accounts; bills or other mail stop arriving (the thief may have submitted a change of address); a credit application is denied for no apparent reason, or debt collectors begin calling about merchandise or services you didn't buy.Encryption simply makes it harder for people to gain access to important information, like passwords or sensitive information in a file.Antivirus, Spyware and AdwareProtecting your computer from virus is getting harder and harder each day. Spyware and Adware are not only an ever increasing nuisance for computer users everywhere, but also a booming industry.The aggressive advertising and spying tactics demonstrated by some of these programs, require an equally aggressive response from a seasoned eradicator.The amount of effort to find and provide fixes for viruses is staggering. Malicious programs are getting more complex and the number of them is increasing.	 	 		 			 				 					 						AlbertAutoenrichment - EducationAutoenrichment touches on enrichment of life in 4 main areas: Education, Health, Recreation and Wealth.More PC Security tips [http://www.autoenrichment.com/pcsecurity]

How Secured is Your PC

Is keeping your PC secured important? Nowadays, the amount of data a person keeps in his computer makes him almost wholly dependent on it...

Authentic Certified & Secured Corporate Email System

Current business email system used by most of the corporations works like normal post office, it  travels like a postcard i.e. There are good chances that other people can open and read & modify your message before it reaches to destination. These systems don't verify sender authenticity and anyone can send E-mail stating it has come from you.Email through Encrypted ChannelsThere is no verification that it is sent by you only, as anyone can use  your  id. Your spoofed id mail can contain information that may be harmful to your organization. E-mail id spoofing is one of the most weakest component of corporate Communication systems. The mail you receive travels through various networks, Internet and servers before it reaches you mail box. There is no way it can be confirmed that it is intact and there is no modification of any kind to the content.Most corporate communication solutions ensure security of your mail box and security of Internet link while you download emails from your mail box to your client like outlook express. This is good way to secure email channel between your client and server and provide very limited security.To solve these issues of lack of verification, authentication and confirmation and hacking protecting there are many solutions available as discussed below. Each solution has its own advantages and limitations. To avoid people intercepting your email and reading it on network and Internet it is advised to use ssl secured channel between your client and server and from your server to other servers. Most of corporate systems support and use ssl based secured channels for email communication.Sender Domain VerificationSecond method is using SPF (Sender policy frame work). In SPF the hosts and ips that will be sending mail from your domain are listed in Domain name system. Whenever a mail is delivered, spf records are verified and it is certified as SPF compliance. This certifies that email has come from senders mail server for sender domains. It doesn't provide any further protections. Many corporate server work with SPF support. This solution adds one step to security.Sender Domain KeysAddition to SPF another method that can be deployed are using Domain Keys technology. A pair of private/public key is generated for each server that your organization uses and public key is published using your Domain Name System, i.e. Public key is added to DNS records as text filed. All mails passing through these servers are checked for Domain Keys. If it is sent by local users a header is added for domain keys to the mail and it is delivered. If email is coming from outside users, Its verified using Domain Keys information in email header and certified OK using public key of sender domain using sender domain DNS records.E-mail CertificationThe content of mail sent by local users are certified by adding check-sum information using domain keys to the headers of the mail. If it has come from outside check-sum is compared using Domain keys of sender domain and it is certified as OK if check-sum verification passes. This method provides double security of sender id verification as well as mail content verification. This system is much more secured and authenticated compared to SPF and can provide very high level of security when used jointly with SPF.Simple Secured SystemIt is very important that the sender servers are very secured. i.e. All mails sent by them are authenticated, verified and certified. Most of corporate servers don't have this system in place. Most of cases there is no authentication for local users sending mails. Many cases any user can send email pretending any other users. Even with authenticated system any user can log-in with one id and can send mail pretending any other user in organization. All these security issues to be addressed while deploying corporate secured communication system. Following steps should be performed by servers before accepting any mail from local users: User is authenticated using his id and password. Sender user id is matching  authenticated user id. Once step1&2 are OK add domain keys to mail header. Add check sum to the header.  Add line confirming it is sent by authenticated user only. Easy DeploymentThere is no modification required in this case at user end for any software. This is very simple and easy solution that can be deployed easily using add-on wrapper to existing mail servers of any kind. This solution provides a reasonable security and delivers certified emails to your system and can be deployed in very short time. Please visit <a href="http://spamshield.us" rel="nofollow" target="_new">spamshield.us</a> for detailed information.User based SecurityThere are more complicated solutions available using GNUPG or MIME Encoding using public & private key pair PKI for each user. Each user has his own key pair. Public keys are published on CA key servers. When user sends any mail, it is encrypted using private key of user. When recipient receives it he can decrypt the message using sender's public key. Even higher security can be used by encrypting sender's encrypted message using recipient's public key. In this case only recipient can decrypt the message and read it. Though this looks like ultimate security for communication system, it has following issues. Each Email clients at sender and recipient has to modified to support GNUPG or MIME. This is very difficult task. Security is a chain; it's only as strong as the weakest link. The security of any CA-based system is based on many links and they're not all cryptographic. People are involved. There is no protection of your keys, you store your private key on a conventional computer. There, it's subject to attack by viruses and other malicious programs. How did the CA identify the certificate holder. Therefore with simple use of authentication, authorization, verification and digitally certification of mail you can achieve reliable email security to serve your corporate communication.This is really very simple and easy to deploy as there is no need for any modification to user lavel and security is integrated to your existing system seamlessly to your existing mail servers.	 	 		 			 				 					 						For further details please visit our website. Trial is available online.Kumar DoshiSpamshield.us 402/403 Orchid, Sec 8b, CBD Belapur Navi Mumbai 400614 Ph. +91-22-27581200/+91-9969032667 Web: spamshield.us Mailto: <a href="mailto:kumarpad@spamshield.us">kumarpad@spamshield.us</a>

Authentic Certified & Secured Corporate Email System

Current business email system used by most of the corporations works like normal post office, it travels like a postcard i.e. There are ...