Basic Computer Security Tips

Basic Computer Security Tips

Setting up anti-virus and content filtering software, individual user accounts... just a few measures to ensure a secure system. To learn more useful tips to maintain a secure system, read on...

Everyone talks about computer security i.e being secure online but how many of us actually practice the effective security tips? Then when hackers or viruses attack, we look around to attach blame. Well, prevention is better than cure, so it pays in the long run to secure your system in advance.

Tip #1: Set up user accounts

One computer, many users, is a security disaster waiting to happen. Your files and data are your personal, private content and should be protected accordingly. To prevent other users from seeing or accessing your data, set up user accounts on your PC. A user account shows an individual's specific data and not what is present on the entire system. It also specifies privileges on shared data, such as deleting/editing operations and what software can be installed on the machine.

This feature is especially useful when kids and adults use the same machine. What if your child accesses your important work files and deletes them by mistake? With a separate user account, he/she can only view certain files and cannot modify or delete them. Even if you are the sole user of the PC, set up a guest account, in case someone else needs to use the computer.

Tip #2: Secure your wireless network

With wired Internet access, there's little risk of someone encroaching on your network. But wireless networks do have holes in their security, so as the owner of the network, you need to be vigilant. Setting up password-protected network access is the first step. You need to assign a network name and password to your Wi-Fi network. Use the latest wireless encryption methods like WPA or WPA2. Do not reveal your network password to others.

Tip #3: Arm your computer with an anti-virus program

The best defense is a good offense. One of the most basic computer security guidelines is installing an anti-virus software. Installing security programs like an anti-virus, keeps your computer round-the-clock safe against viruses, malware, Trojan worms etc. and other malicious programs. For better protection, try to install complete security suites, that provide Internet security and firewalls along with anti-virus software.

Tip #4: Be regular in updates and virus scans

Just installing an anti-virus program will not protect your PC. You need to keep it up-to-date with regular virus signature and threat updates. New viruses and malware programs emerge online each day. Another bad trait of viruses is that they keep trying to find new ways to enter an unsuspecting computer. The only way to counter such attacks is to update your security programs on a regular basis. You should also scan your computer regularly for dangerous programs. Schedule periodic scans, once-a-month scans, scanning new added devices and automatic full system scans, to ensure your PC is threat-free.

Tip #5: Install parental control software for kid-friendly computer usage

Keeping your computer secure definitely involves keeping your kids safe from cyber enemies. Aside from explicit and adult content, you need to filter and monitor what your kid is up to online. Social networking sites in particular, are fun online places to socialize but they are also preying grounds for the depraved. Parental control software allows you to set filters and block sites as well as receive warnings when suspicious activity is taking place online.

Tip #6: Block unwanted search results

You can even change your web browser's security settings to block certain sites and filter out objectionable content. Such settings are not as powerful as parental control software but it helps to be extra secure. You can find this feature in the Tools option of most browsers. With search engines like Google, you can fiddle with search preferences settings.

Tip #7: Download wisely

Whether it is a picture, an MP3 or a game, downloaded files are an excellent way for malicious software to enter your computer. Once you download and install or use a file, there's no telling what it will do to your machine. So be extra careful when it comes to downloading. Download files from trusted and preferably certified sites. Sites offering free, cracked versions of software programs are especially dangerous, as some cracks can contain malware.

When a download begins, you are asked to save the file before the downloading actually starts. Read the file name and its extension carefully, to ensure what you want is being downloaded. While installing a program, read the license agreement and make sure, only the program you want is being installed. Sometimes spyware and hidden programs are bundled into the installer program, and are installed secretly along with your software. Scan your PC for threats after downloading files from the Internet.

Tip #8: Be careful with emails

Getting and sending emails is easy, going through your inbox for mail, that is actually relevant, is not. Email inboxes are storehouses of junk mail, spam, advertisements, forwards, mail and many times, a hidden threat. You can keep your inbox sorted and clutter-free by using spam blockers and filters. Threat-wise, try to avoid opening emails from senders or addresses you don't know.

A key sign of a malicious email is poor language. Weird, nonsensical text or poor grammar or even bogus-seeming email addresses are some signs of a harmful email. Be especially wary of email attachments. Check the file extension. Files with .exe, .pif, .com,.bin or .bat extensions, can be malicious. If you do not know the sender of the email, do not open or download such files, just delete the mail. Instead of opening the attachment from the mail itself, save the file, let it download and scan it, before opening it.

Tip #9: Secure your data with backups

Sometimes no matter what steps you take, you lose data. Part of being secure is having a fail-safe or backup to fall back on, in case something bad happens. So in case a virus has attacked your files or data is accidentally deleted, your data is never really lost, if you have a backup of it. Backup your data regularly, either by storing it on physical devices like CDs or by backing it up on a network. Set a system restore point for your PC, so in the event of a system crash, you can restore your PC to a particular working state with your data intact.

Tip #10: Be smart with your passwords

Passwords are supposed to keep your individual settings and data safe, so you need to keep their true value or the actual password safe. This means, do not write down all your passwords on a piece of paper and keep it lying around. With numerous passwords, it's understandable that remembering them all is difficult. So you can write them down but the place where you store this info, should be secure. And once in a while, please change your passwords. If in case, they are revealed, updating the passwords can render all hacking attempts as naught. Another safety precaution is the "remember me" option in most secure sites. If multiple users access the same PC, do not select this option.

The above computer security tips are just the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to securing your PC. For every good advancement in technology, cyber evil seems to get even more evil, so it pays to be vigilant in today's cyberspace.

source : http://www.buzzle.com/

DDOS Attacks and Protection

DDOS attacks, or Distributed Denial of Service attacks, are a form of network attacks aimed at disabling the functionality of a network being targeted. These attacks generally come in the form of either individuals spamming a network to slow it down or create instability, or a bot that systematically attacks a network or series of networks. DDOS protection is the only security for these types of attacks.

DDOS attacks are more common today because of the wide reaching availability of networks, cloud computing, and "always on" technology in which a network is never offline. Commonly these attacks are taken out on businesses and organizations that are operating in competition to another person's goal. Meaning that instead of harassing a company in person, a group of hackers or another business may launch a DDOS attack as a means of crippling an organization's ability to function.

Even large companies with extremely sophisticated networks are at risk. As recently as 2010, a DDOS attack was launched on PayPal and MasterCard during the height of the WikiLeaks news. The attack was aimed at those companies after they refused to process donations to WikiLeaks. Whichever side of the issue you stand on, doesn't take away from the fact that vulnerability lies at every level of business.

Because of the prevalence of this type of attack, there are many DDOS protection methods available today. To decide which DDOS protection method is right for your particular business depends on the architecture and needs of your network. The key to stopping a DDOS attack is pro-active DDOS protection aimed at identifying the attacking traffic and stopping it as soon as possible.

Firewalls

Firewalls are typically the first method employed in DDOS protection. Firewalls are constantly running, and act as the gate keeper to your castle (network). Once an attack is realized, the first option is to block traffic from the particular IP address that is sending the traffic. In more complex attacks, there will be a system of computers on different IP addresses, so ad-hoc blocking is not most effective tool for DDOS protection. If traffic is all centered on a specific port, then that port can be shut-off until the attack is over. This is an issue if the port being attacked is 80 (internet traffic) as that would shut down all internet traffic to the network. Often times, firewalls are deep in the hierarchy of a network, protection at the switch level may be more appropriate.

Switches

Today's switches are very sophisticated and have constantly running DDOS protection. Switches can use rate limiting, which caps an amount of traffic coming in or out thus denying any chance of overflowing a network's capacity. Also, deep packet inspection offers switches the ability to inspect each packet being sent through before allowing on to the network. Switches can also use Bogon Filtering which blocks bogus IP addresses that may be originating from a DDOS source. This is good to have in case the IP filtering of the Firewall is unable to stop that method of intrusion.

DDOS protection is must for any network today. Attackers do not always have a reason for attack other than "watching the world burn". While the reason behind the attack may be unclear, an unprotected network is vulnerable to these attacks at any time. In the world of network protection, DDOS protection is the defense in a "defense is the best offense" strategy.

The author of this article, Petra Gordon, has written many Technology articles in the past. As a point of reference, readers may want to check out DOSArrest, which has a lot of trusted and reliable information on DDos technology.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8145401

best antivirus apps for android

 Protection for Android devices has become a high priority over the last year or so. Malware and viruses are more rampant than ever and although being careful usually avoids the problem, sometimes people want more. A good antivirus or anti-malware app can not only bring peace of mind, but also protect your Android device from threats you may accidentally stumble upon. So in this list we’ll show you the 10 best  antivirus and anti-malware apps for Android.

#10 Norton Security Antivirus

[Price: Free or $29.99/year subscription]
Number 10 on our list is Norton Security Antivirus. Norton is already a trusted brand in security and millions use Norton on their PC. It comes in both a lite and paid flavor. The light version offers some peripheral protection, including scanning the SD card and apps for threats. With the free variant, you can also lock the phone via SMS if it is lost or stolen.
With the $29.99/year subscription, you get all the features. Unfortunately, some of them probably should’ve been included in the free version, like locating a lost or stolen phone. Bad free/paid decisions aside, Norton is a solid antivirus app from a name that people know. To give it a shot, click the button below.

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#9 Hornet AntiVirus Free

[Price: Free]
Next up is Hornet AntiVirus and it’s one of the few truly free apps on the list. It includes a number of standard features, like scanning apps for malware and scanning your storage for threats. It also includes a number of unique features, like detection of apps that use offensive advertising.
The interface is easy to use even if it isn’t much to look at. Really, we weren’t able to find anything bad about this app. Hornet is free, it works fairly well, and it updates frequently to add new definitions and features. It’s a win-win. We would’ve liked to have seen some anti-theft features, though. Use the button below to check it out.

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#8 BitDefender AntiVirus Free

[Price: Free]
Number 8 on our list is BitDefender AntiVirus Free. As the name implies, it is completely free. What this app has that the others don’t is simplicity. It performs exactly one action and that’s a comprehensive scan of your device to see if it’s safe. You can do this manually or enable the auto-pilot feature which does it for you.

BitDefender’s claim to fame is the light usage. The app doesn’t have all the bulky features of most of these other apps. It simply scans your device to keep it safe. That’s it. If you need something with more features like anti-theft, you’ll need to look elsewhere. This is for people who just want something that scans for safety, then goes away. It doesn’t hurt that BitDefender is also a well known PC antivirus app. To check it out, use the button below.

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#7 Zoner AntiVirus Free

[Price: Free / $4.99]
Zoner is another free antivirus app. This one carries a much larger set of features than most of the other free offerings on this list. This includes your standard virus and malware protection, anti-theft features, and the ability to block calls from unfamiliar phone numbers. There is even a task manager built in.
The interface is sleek and the features work well. When it’s all said and done you really can’t ask for much more than that out of an antivirus app. There is also a version that was specifically developed for tablets. To check it out, click the button below.

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#6 Mobile Security and AntiVirus by Avast

[Price: Free / $1.99 per month / $14.99 per year]
Next up is Avast, which is another well known name in the PC antivirus space. Avast is one of the more highly rated PC antivirus apps and they’ve translated well to mobile. The mobile app is truly impressive and is packed with features. This includes your standard anti-virus and anti-malware along with one of the highest rated anti-theft systems out there.
Aside from the standards, Avast puts a lot more into the app. There is a network monitor, SMS and call filtering, and even backups. There is a free and premium version. The free version gives you pretty much everything but the paid version makes them better. For instance, you get backups with the free version but when you pay for it, it extends to music, video, and applications. To give this truly impressive app a shot, use the button below.

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#5 AntiVirus Security Free by AVG

[Price: Free]
AVG already has one of the most popular free PC antivirus apps out there. Their mobile app is no different as AVG boasts over 70 million users to date. It comes with your standard features and a few extra perks to make this powerful antivirus app even better.
You get the standard malware and antivirus protection. Along with that you get web security, anti-theft using Google Maps, a task manager, and a battery monitor to help manage your battery life. It covers all the bases and a couple of bases the others don’t cover. That makes it a great option for mobile security. To try it out, use the button below.

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#4 Armor for Android

[Price: $29.95]
Up next is not only one of the highest rated antivirus apps for Android, but also one of the most expensive. When it first came out, Armor for Android was on sale for $1. It now costs around $75. That doesn’t prevent it from being a great app, but we understand if that’s a little too expensive for your tastes. For the $75 price tag you do get lifetime support for the app as opposed to 1 or 2 year licenses you get from others.
In terms of features, it comes with everything you’d need to keep your Android device secure. Armor for Android has one of the most comprehensive malware databases for Android as well as other helpful features like their Memory Booster. If you can foot the bill, it’s an amazing application to have on your device. Our advice, keep an eye out for any sales because if you can pick it up for cheaper, it’s that much better of a deal. Use the button below to give it a look.
Note: Armor for Android recently dropped their prices to a much more reasonable $29.95. At this price, it is a substantially better deal than it was at $75!

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#3 Mobile Security and Antivirus by ESET

[Price: Free / $15.97/year subscription]
The first in our top 3 is ESET’s offering, called Mobile Security and AntiVirus. Like many others on this list, ESET is known for it’s PC antivirus, called Nod32. It also follows the free-paid paradigm, where you get more features if you pay for it.
The features come packed into a pleasant interface. Other than the standard, you get access to the ESET Live Grid which offers great updates on the latest malware threats and anti-theft. If you pay for it, you get even more unique features like SIM Guard, where you can control the phone even if another SIM card is installed. It’s great for protection and you can check it out by using the button below.

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#2 Antivirus and Mobile Security

[Price: Free]
Number 2 on our list is Antivirus and Mobile Security by TrustGo Inc. This is the highest rated free app on the list. It is 100% free with no pay options. Aside from being free, it has also won awards for its protection and security.
Aside from the standard features, you also get others like data backups and anti-theft. The anti-theft includes a feature that will snap a picture of the thief if they enter your password wrong 3 times. It then emails you the picture. If you want to try it out, use the button below.

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#1 Dr. Web Antivirus

[Price: Free / $75]
Here it is, the number one highest rated app in the antivirus space on Android. It’s called Dr Web Antivirus and it comes in the classic free-paid paradigm. The three versions give you the basics including antivirus and anti-malware. It’s geared toward people who have Android devices with lower specs, limited data plans, and those who are battery savvy.
The paid version includes anti-theft and anti-spyware protection. So if you want complete protection you’ll have to pay for it. It all comes packed in an easy-to-use interface and people genuinely seem to enjoy it. To see more, use the button below.

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Antivirus Wrap-up

This is one of the most truly competitive lists we’ve ever published. The ratings in the Play Store range from 4.5 to 4.7 and every single one of these antivirus apps caters to a different audience. So whether you prefer comprehensive protection or something more minimal, one of these apps will fit your needs.
What it really comes down to is a difference of opinion and which niche you belong to. If you want something that doesn’t consume significant resources or get in the way, you would use something like BitDefender. If you require 100% protection and can’t pay for it, you’d look at TrustGo’s Antivirus and Mobile Security. There simply isn’t one right answer here. Regardless of what you end up choosing, know that we’ve hand picked each one, and that all are a fantastic choice. Let us know what you think down below!

source : androidauthority.com
tags : Android,Antivirus ,Wrap-up, Android devices,Protection for Android,protection for android tablet,malware protection for android,norton

SMS vulnerability all Nexus phones including your newly acquired Nexus 5 lets anybody make it go crazy or stop functioning, check out the fix here

Security researcher Bogdan Alecu has found out very high risk and new SMS vulnerability in the Nexus phones.  This vulnerability can be used by any hacker or attacker to force your Nexus smart phone to overide whatever you are doing and malfunction, restart, freeze or even lose network. 

Bogdan's finding were brought to light in the PCWorld and all Nexus phones right upto the latest Nexus 5 are affected.  The attack operation is simple and easy to execute.  Any potential attacker has to just send 30 flash SMS messages to your Android 4.0 above based Nexus phones.  This messages get displayed immediately on your screen and cause the the phone malfunction.  

The report further adds that the loophole exists because the Nexus phones do not automatically alert users with an audio tone on receiving a flash message.  This allows the potential hacker to send several messages one after another which causes the Nexus to go mad due to radio failure or a full system reboot.  

Alecu added that he found the vulnerability in all the three latest Nexus smart phones running on Android v4.0 to v4.4 but it didnt work on other phone models he tested, concluding that this vulnerability exists only in Nexus devices.  

On his part he has reported the issue to Google but Google is yet to take any action.  Therefore Alecu has build a Android firewall App to stop this exploitation through rapid Flash SMS bombardment. 

The App called Class0Firewall is available in Google Play Store here and provides a workaround to you.  You can install the App and set a threshold for the number of flash messages (called Class0 messages) you can receive successively.  This negates the vulnerability completely. To avoid your precious Nexus from being attacked you can also set how long the messages will stay blocked till Google comes up with a patch or fix for this issue.

Protect your Mac from malware, virus and get 24x7 protection, web protection and on demand scanning with Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

Many of Mac users are under the impression that as they are using Mac they are protected from Virus and Malware.  Well you couldn't be more wrong.  A Virus or a Malware does not make a distinction between a Mac or PC and can propagate themself as stealthily through Mac as it can do with a Windows PC.  Also there are website which trigger auto execution of malware scripts which are harmful for your Mac.  Even if you visit these with your Mac you are bound to execute the scripts which will then use you Mac as a breeding ground for further attacks.

This is where the best of the AV software from the total computer security solutions company Bitdefender Antivirus comes into play. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is a powerful and easy software to use with tons of features which will protect your Mac from any virus or malware attacks.  

A brief look into various modules the Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac employs to keep your Mac safe.

Continuous Protection :

The best feature of Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is that you have to just switch it on and forget about it.  The Bitdefender Antivirus Mac goes about doing its job so silently in the background that you may tend to forget that you have a Antivirus scanner running in the back ground.  The Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac continuously monitors your Mac for all changes to the files and system so that any malicious code worth mention is stopped right in its tracks.

Web protection : 

Most Mac users will agree that the web is perhaps the most dangerous place where you could get inflicted by malware, trojan, worm or a virus.  You can also be inflicted by a App often called scareware.  When it comes to online scams everybody is vulnerable, Mac or PC user alike. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac's unique antiphishing solution scans the webpages you browse and warns you when you accidentally visit an unsafe one. So with Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac installed, you can now surf the web without any fear.

Autoupdates :

Just as the Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is silent in its scans, the auto updations are also very silent.  The Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac silently updates its malware definitions without any interference from you or to you. 

As with other products from Bitdefender, the Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac comes with its On Demand scan.  In case you put a USB into your machine, be sure just to have it scanned by the Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac before proceeding to use it.  The application will also give you customised notifications or 'Growls' as the Bitdefender calls it.  'Growl' will keep you informed about updates or any event that requires your attention not that you may require many of them with Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac turned on.

Besides being the best AV in town, cost wise the Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is most easy on your pocket.  A year's subscription will cost you £9.95 for one user for 1 year with options available for multiple users as well.

You can order your copy online now by visiting the Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac here.  If you want any additional information, you can visit the Bitdefender Antivirus website here.

  

Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android smart phones : Use the best malware scanner, web security, App audit and Anti theft App there is

You may already have experienced it by now or may actually be sitting on a timebomb which you don't know.  I am speaking about the omnipresent danger of malware for Android operating systems. With reports from Security Analysts saying the 79 percent of Malware is targeted at smart phones operating on Android Operating System, you may be rather lucky to not have one on your smart phone or tablet yet.    One thing about malware is that you dont actually notice it till it does something unusual.  Malware is a silent and unobtrusive killer that even the best of mobile security companies have fail to detect.  This the first area where the Bitdefender scores heavily over other mobile security Apps available in Google Play.  

Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android has detection rate of 100 % as per a report filed in March 2013, by AV Test Organisation which tests the antivirus apps for their skill sets on various parameters.

The publishers, Bitdefender Antivirus, have promised a 'nimble' App which believe me is correct word for Bitdefender Mobile Security.   This is possible because of the fact that Bitdefender on-demand scan is 'nimble'.  The scan extracts information about the Apps which are inflicted by virus or malware and then head over to its cloud services where a detailed analysis is run.  This way you get a fast result of the Apps, Apks and other files without you even knowing that they have been analysed.    Also the cloud based analysis system and top of the line security engine, the battery impact on your smart phone is minimal.  This is also true for the booting time of your smart phone.  My S IV took just 30 secs to reboot with Bitdefender installed on it.  

It also scans each app as it's downloaded or updated, ensuring that your device is always protected. It also rescans your device when it's connected to a computer. This way you are least aware of the threats the Bitdefender encounters and deals with.  Bitdefender Mobile Security  has a specialised App audit system which most of other security Apps do not have.  As you know, when you install any sort of App on Android, the App asks for different permissions before installation.  Sometimes it so happens that the particular App may not need a particular function like a game may never need access to camera.  However in our haste to install the App we also accept all the permissions the App asks without giving it a second thought. This is very loophole that the malware exposes to the hilt by making you accept unauthorised permissions to the system files of your Android.  Bitdefender Mobile Security's App audit identifies various permissions an App has taken from you while installing (unknowingly off course!) and with a single tap you can uninstall the App which you don't think deserves the permissions it is asking.    The only negative is that Bitdefender doesnt warn you of potentially dangerous Apps during the App audit.  It just flags the permissions an App has for you to decide which is trust worthy and which is not.  

Among its other advantages is that it is fast compared to other popular AV Apps available on Google Play.  With around 8 Apps running in the background, it took Bitdefender just 9.52 secs  for a complete system scan on my Samsung Galaxy S IV.    This was achieved when I was playing Angry Birds Star Wars on it without any pause or glitch.  

When you are installing a new App, 3rd party App or a Apk from untrusted site, the Bitdefender Mobile Security automatically scans and warns you if it is a malware carrier.  You can uninstall it there and then, thereby minimising the risk of carrying a malware on your smart phone.  

The next feature is Web Security.  Web Security scans the pages you visit online for any potential virus or malware.   Bitdefender says it defends your smart phone and you against phishing, fraud, and other malicious sites but only supports the default Android Webkit browser as of now.

The best of the lot I have kept for the last.  Bitdefender Mobile Security has a great Anti-theft mechanism in place.  Bitdefender Mobile Security has a new Anti-theft, with web dashboard and supports SMS commands.  Considering the fact that the high end smart phones available in the market are filthy expensive and you store important and sensitive data on your smart phone, it is imperative that you have a nice anti theft and remote wiping mechanism in place.  With Bitdefender Mobile Security, you can remotely locate, lock, wipe or send a message to the Android device.

This must have App is available on Google Play for a 14 day free trial after which it will cost you $ 9.99 USD (£6.95 and Rs.600.00) per year.  In my opinion its a small price to pay to have a nice AV/malware scanner with realtime and on demand scanning of your Apps, system as well as web browsing along with the great anti theft module considering the amount of money and resources you have invested in your Android smart phone.

You can download the Bidefender Mobile Security from Google Play here, try it out and decide on whether to purchase it or not. You can visit the publisher, Bitdefender's website here for further information.