Personal Firewalls
The purpose of a personal firewall is to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer through the Internet or a network. This can be done in several ways.
All firewalls refer to a pre-configured security policy to decide which communications to permit or deny in order to provide a defensive ring. Any large organisation or network, such as a bank or a transit control system will have a Firewall, which will most likely be a combination of a physical appliance or appliances and interrogation gateways, proxy servers and packet filtering. So, whereas a firewall is designed to protect a network or system a personal firewall is only designed to protect the computer or PDA on which it is installed.
Your personal firewall is usually the last line of defense between your PC and the outside world so it’s important to make sure it’s operational. Your PC will already have a basic firewall installed as soon as it comes out of the box. But you might be surprised at how many people have their firewalls deactivated without even realising, whether through oversight, neglect or in some cases hacking!
Assuming your firewall is functioning correctly it will attempt to control information flowing into and out of your computer. It may do this quietly in the background according to predesignated parameters, or it may flag up unusual activity to you so you can establish a rule. With newly installed firewall software this can be a little irritating at first but it’s essential if it is going to ‘learn’ about your preferences. The most important thing about your personal firewall is that it prevents hackers from gaining access to or control of your computer.
So, what kind of personal firewall do you need? Well, one you can trust and rely on. But it’s important to stress that a personal firewall on it’s own is a weak defense – the thin red line. It needs the support and backup of anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-malware software to detect and prevent intruders.
But you don’t need to spend a fortune on a separate personal firewall. There are some very good free personal firewalls available, and most commercial anti-virus and internet security suites will include a beefed up firewall.
As you might expect the free personal firewalls available are usually cut down versions of the commercial product, but may well be enough for home users. However, if you rely on your computer for your work or business then you really should consider upgrading. The free versions, though, may be a great way of sampling the goods before you buy.
Free personal firewalls
ZoneAlarm
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Not-so-free dedicated firewalls
ZoneAlarm
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Small and Medium Businesses
CA Business Intrusion Prevention Systems and Gateway Security Products
Available from the Business Shop at the Computer Associates Store!
Eliminating Malware
The CCSS Forum is a voluntary organization of security software vendors, operating system providers, and Internet browser software creators.
Some software promoting itself as security software intentionally hurts end-users rather than helping them. CCSS (Common Computing Security Standards) has created a list of known legitimate software vendors. The listed companies all create and distribute security software legitimately designed to protect consumers. Of course, with the vast amount of software available and the dynamic nature of the market, this list is not a complete representation of all security software, but serves as a starting point to differentiate between legitimate protection and viruses or ransomware in disguise. If you have any doubts about a ‘security software’ provider you could do worse than visit the CCSS Forum.
The site also provides some helpful compatibility information reported by both vendors and software users. This could be really helpful if your system is acting strangely and you suspect that it might be due to some recently installed security software.
…For more information visit http://www.ccssforum.org/index.php
Xtremkey – LaCie Launches ‘Indestructible’ Flash Drive!
From the LaCie Newsroom – July 13, 2010
This seems to be a product made firmly with Jack Bauer in mind. He’s always screaming for ‘backup’. Forget CTU. Maybe this is just what he needs.
If, like our Jack, you’re prone to getting run over by a truck, locked in an industrial freezer, barbecued like a corn dog or perhaps just dropping your flash drive down the pan, then this could be just for you (you clunk!). IMHO the guy in this vid needs to take better care of his stuff!
From the LaCie Newsroom…
LaCie has launched the Lacie XtremKey – offering industrial-strength protection for your data. With capacities up to 64GB and an impenetrable shell, the XtremKey is a truly rugged USB key that stands up to the elements.
LaCie, originator of the flat, award-winning key-shaped USB flash drives, shields the XtremKey’s premium flash memory modules inside a 2mm metal pipe casing. Sealed with wear-resistant screw threads and a rubber O-ring, it is watertight up to 100 meters. The LaCie XtremKey is also resistant to 5-meter drops, fierce heat and bitter cold – it holds up in any environment, no matter where you take it (+200°C / -50°).
XtremKey is constructed with zamac, a metal alloy composed of zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper that’s so strong, it can withstand the pressure of a 10-ton truck. Less than three inches tall, this flash memory drive puts strength, security and storage right on your keyring.
“The XtremKey offers extreme durability and capacity in a convenient, well-protected and fun form factor,” said Alexis Kobassian, Product Manager, LaCie. “Despite the robust, industrial-strength protection we’ve added, it’s still a LaCie key that brings ease-of-use and reliability to customers looking to keep their data secure while on the go.”
Equipped with the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface, XtremKey offers instant compatibility, outstanding transfer speeds and cross-platform convenience to all PC and Mac® users. With writing speeds up to 30 MB/s and reading up to 40 MB/s, you don’t have to sacrifice performance for protection.
Designed by Constance Guisset exclusively for LaCie, XtremKey works relentlessly to keep your data protected, all while being portable, powerful and perfectly suited for your life’s adventures. The key, when placed on a desktop, even shows some playful personality with a perfectly balanced wobble effect.
Availability
The LaCie XtremKey comes in capacities from 8GB to 64GB and will be available in August through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Corner, and LaCie Reseller+ starting at $49.99. For more product information, visit www.lacie.com.
… Clearly if you are as clumsy as me this could be the answer to your prayers. I have to go – I only have 24 minutes to stop the spread of a deadly virus……
P. S. I tried all this stuff with my wife’s iPhone – I can tell you it’s not nearly so durable!
About Page
I’ve updated the About Page today to give a little more information about hosting.
Free Anti-Virus
These three work.
They’re safe and they’re FREE!
While you’re thinking about which Internet Security Suite to buy make sure you at least have basic protection.
If you’re a light user (emails, a few hours surfing each week) these free anti-virus products will probably be sufficient to protect you against the most common viruses, trojans and spyware. You’ll get the software free and free regular updates. Some now even come with enhanced firewalls and anti-spyware.
AVG Free
AVG Anti-Virus Free 9.0 Direct Download Click Here
Avast!
The new avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 includes a spyware detection engine, to protect you from identity theft as well as viruses. For more details visit the Avast.com Home page. If this link takes you to a sales page follow the ‘Home Page’ link on the footer
PC Tools
For the PC Tools Free Antivirus Click Here . If this link takes you to the ‘Spyware Doctor’ sales page pull down the ‘Products Menu’ to find Free Antivirus.
Mac users will also find PC Tools iAntiVirus, designed to protect against Mac OS X specific threats.
Do be aware that most free products are intended for personal and not-for-profit organizations use only.
If you are a heavy internet user, a business, or a home-based teleworker you should consider purchasing a good fully supported anti-virus product, or a comprehensive combined internet security suite.
We Haven’t Got A Plan, So Nothing Can Go Wrong!
We’re all rightly concerned about viruses, trojans, rootkits and spyware. That’s why we spend so much time worrying about which anti-virus software is the best, and which spyware blocker is going to save us from imminent invasion! But how much attention do we really pay to Backup? To many of us it’s just an afterthought, if that. It’s a process that can be easily automated but a huge percentage of computer users fail to backup their precious data regularly. Now is the time to take action.
DEVELOP A DATA RECOVERY PLAN
You’ll be mighty glad you have an up-to-date backup of all your important files in a safe place should the worst happen and a virus does break through your defences and plays havoc with your hard drive! Or worse yet, if some light-fingered individual makes off with your laptop.
Important files to back up include documents, photos, and of course your I-tunes collection! It’s worth taking a little time to do some basic housekeeping and identify those files it would kill you to lose. They may be deeply personal, irreplaceable and/or critical to your business or profession. But it doesn’t stop there. What about your contacts list? Your mailing list? Your invoices and online shopping receipts?
Paperless billing is commonplace for utility providers, cell phone statements, and so on. It’s easy to let those bills languish in a folder in your email programme, or on your desktop. But if you lose those records and need new copies your provider may charge you for them.
BACKUP YOUR CRITICAL DATA EVERYDAY
You should aim to backup your critical data every day. Whatever operating system you are using, XP, Vista, Window 7, Mac, or Linux, it’s not that complicated to do. If your computer is less than five years old it should have some basic software to help you. In Vista it’s the Backup and Restore Centre. Find it and use it. It will at least give you the option to back everything up to a partitioned section on your hard disk, but a small external hard drive may be a better solution.You should be able to get
Your important, critical files may not actually amount to more than a few gigabytes. You could probably store them all on a decent memory stick. But memory sticks are really only to be used as a temporary storage solution. And heaven forefend you should lose the stick!
Most memory is taken up by the system files, i.e. the programs and OS (Operating System) for your computer, and usually you’ll have the system files already on CD so you shouldn’t need to back these up seperately. That said, it is quite possible to completely back EVERYTHING up if you have the storage capacity, which might be a good idea if a day of reloading the OS and essential software fills you with dread!
IDENTIFY YOUR CRITICAL FILES AND GROUP THEM TOGETHER
Start by identifying your critical files and group them together, in their various subfolders of course, in one folder called ‘The Crucial Stuff’, or some such thing. That way it’s easy to simply drag that folder over to your external hard drive, or better still set things up to happen automatically.
You may have to disarm your firewall or antivirus software during this process – certainly the first time you create a disc image. And the first time can take a lo-o-ong time! After that it’s usually a breeze because your software only updates files that have been changed since the last time.
If you’re running any kind of business you may need to go through this whole process several times a day. It’s easy and convenient to automate the process with the right software.
A good online backup service may well be more time and cost-effective, and you can use it in addition to your physical storage to provide an extra layer of protection and flexibility. A few, like Mozy, will give you 2GB of free storage – ample for most home use.
BACKUP SOFTWARE
Your proprietory data backup and restore software will do the job, so don’t think you have to invest in additional software.
Don’t just rely on one storage method. As we already mentioned memory sticks are great for temporary storage, transporting files and so on, but they are easily misplaced or damaged. You should also consider backing-up to another hard drive, zip drive, or server and possibly using an online storage service if your budget will allow. You should be able to get 250GB of external storage for less than $100.
When backing up to memory sticks or cards, zip drives, CD, DVD or tape storage media, make sure they’re kept in a safe and secure place, preferably away from your computer. They may hold detailed information about you and your clients which could be damaging in the wrong hands.
Apart from guarding against the impact of hackers, viruses, malicious software, and accidental data removal, a realistic PC backup plan can help protect you if your PC is stolen, or damaged in a fire or flood. Without wishing to sound like your grandmother, plan for the worst and hope for the best!
: Backup and Restore software for Windows Data Backup and Disaster Recovery.
Why Do You Need To Be So Defensive?
Even in the safety and comfort of your own home you should be prepared to defend yourself against hackers, spyware, and data loss.
Viruses and spyware are a constant threat to your online security. You may have spent hundreds or possibly thousands of dollars on your PC or laptop, and you wouldn’t leave it lying around for someone to walk off with….would you?
Yet, even more valuable to thieves is the information held inside your computer about you, your business, your friends, and you may not even know they are stealing it. If your firewalls and anti virus software aren’t adequate you could be vulnerable to attack by hackers.
Malicious software (malware) tends to arrive unannounced – possibly through infected files shared on peer-to-peer networks, downloads from an insecure site, and even through following links in Spam emails. Free screensavers for example, are a classic method of distributing trojans, which can give hackers complete access to your computer. But it’s not always obvious that you’ve been infected.
If you are on a tight budget there is plenty of reliable free antivirus software, firewalls, spyware detectors, and spam filters. Most can be upgraded at a later date if you wish, to offer you even greater protection.
Many comprehensive internet security products combine all these functions, and some are available to try before you buy – just like test driving a new automobile. If you have internet banking your bank may even give you the software for free or at a discount. Barclays Bank in the UK for example gives it’s internet banking customers Kaspersky Internet Security for free.
If enhanced security is important to you for your business then you’ll also need to consider hardware firewall solutions.
And don’t forget to back up all your files. When was the last time you did that? If you can’t remember do it NOW!
A good firewall, decent antivirus software, spyware blocker and regular backup are the four essentials you need to protect yourself.
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