ID QUIZ

ID QUIZ

Are you curious as to how protected you are from Identity Theft or would like some advice on how to better protect yourself? Take this quiz from the Better Business Bureau to find out.

Free online virus Scan

Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan

If you don't have an anti-virus program on your computer or would just like to check it to see how it is working, Trend Micro offers a free scan of your computer for viruses. It won't eliminate them, but it may provide peace of mind.

New Sober Worm Surfaces

BetaNews | New Sober Worm Surfaces

Yet another computer virus that comes as an attachment to e-mail. It has been defined as "medium risk" so make sure your anti-virus is updated. If you think you may have been infected by this or another virus, try using McAfee's AVERT Stinger which is available here.

Program of the Week - The Gimp

One program I am finding more and more exciting is called The Gimp. It is an open source and free graphics program along the lines of Photoshop. It is lacking in documentation and so you really have to experiment with it and search the web for instructions. Yet, as I continue to learn more and more what it can do I am truly impressed - and remember, it's free!

You can download the Windows version here.

While there is some documentation on the site, here are some other sites that offer good advice on using The Gimp.

The Gimp Guru gives some good advice on using The Gimp as a photo editor.
Gimp Tutorials offers some lessons on discovering what you can do with The Gimp.

This is a title graphic I am thinking about using for a new home web page called The Seraphicum once I learn more about web design. I put it together using the Gimp. I offer it just to show how someone with very little experience using graphics programs can put together something very cool.

Remembering MyDoom, One Year Later

PCWorld.com - Remembering MyDoom, One Year Later

This is an interesting article about the effects of the MyDoom virus that spread through the internet last year infecting even some people that I knew directly. The article talks about the effects of the virus upon virus writing today. What MyDoom demonstrated was the real interrelatedness of the web, the virus was able to infect computers and turn them into new machines for attacking others - so-called "zombie computers". Therefore, not only does your computer become infected with a hostile virus, it come under the control of someone who seeks to obtain personal information and use your computer to distribute spam, to disable other computers, or serve as a source for future viruses.

Not only is it therefore imperative that you keep your own computer secure, but it is in all of our interests that we encourage those we know to keep their computers secure as well. McAfee asserts that at one time between 25,000 and 50,000 computers took part in an attack on one internet site. Each of these computers had been taken over by the MyDoom virus.

Virus in the Mail

Well, today someone tried to send me a copy of the Bagle.AY virus via my Hotmail account. It wasn't too hard to spot due to the failure to use correct English in the headder line "You are made active" and in the single line of the body in the e-mail "Thanks for use of our software". The actual virus came in an attachment called "Jol03.exe" which Hotmail blocked as an unsafe attachment. While this virus is so far rated as "low" by many internet security sites, all viruses are problematic once they get on your system. Hotmail does a good job of identifying suspect attachments, though sometimes it makes errors and falsely identifies a "clean" attachment as infected. Still, the best security is avoiding anything that looks suspicious such as E-mails like the one I recieved from unknown senders who don't know your name, refusing to download suspicious files, and keeping virus software updated.

Blaster writer faces jail

Blaster writer faces jail: ZDNet Australia: News: Security

I know that it is not nice to take pleasure in another's misfortune, but here's to hoping that vigorous prosecution of virus writers might make surfing the web a little safer and more enjoyable.

New Bagle virus

Secunia - Virus Information - Bagle.bj

Computer viruses like biological viruses are constantly changing. Keep yourself protected by keeping virus protection current, downloading windows updates, and avoid downloading suspicious e-mail attachments. It's always easier to keep the virus off the computer than to remove the virus once the computer gets infected.

Computer site of the week

If you are like me, you don't have a lot of money or time to spend looking for answers to computer problems. I have often found that if I am having a problem with my computer, it is likely that someone else has had a similar problem and talked about it on the web.

A good way to look for solutions is simply by "Googling" for example, if your computer gives you an error message and you don't understand what it's talking about - try Googling it for more information.

Another good way to find out about computer problems or possibly strange programs is through the Tech Support Guy, a web site offering free technical support. You can either search through the site to see if someone has already answered your questions or you can register for the site and ask your own - all for free.

Tech Support Guy

Spyware is the newest epidemic to hit PCs

yaledailynews.com - Spyware is the newest epidemic to hit PCs

This is a good article about the nature and reality of spyware from Yale Daily News. Since much spyware comes from ostensibly free software it is important to be careful with what one downloads - always read the license agreement and download only from reputable sights. Some major problem sources are file sharing software like Kazaa or Grokster and continuing issues with Internet Explorer. Since university computers are used by thousands of students and faculty, they can be very susceptible to spyware. Good ways of protection are keeping your operating system updated, avoiding suspicious software, and using an alternative browser like Firefox or Opera. Programs like Ad-Aware, Spybot, and Microsoft's Antispyware software are good means of dealing with spyware that does make it onto your computer.

Microsoft to Require Windows Piracy Check

PCWorld.com - Microsoft to Require Windows Piracy Check

In an effort to combat computer piracy, Microsoft will soon require users of Microsoft Windows XP to validate their copy as genuine to take advantage of upgrades to Windows Media Player, the new Windows AntiSpyware product and the install security updates. Validation will not be required for automatic updates. Microsoft hopes to cut down on practice of illegal copying of XP. There is no word on whether a similar validation process will be implemented for other Microsoft software such as Microsoft Office.

Rich pickings for hi-tech thieves

BBC NEWS | Technology | Rich pickings for hi-tech thieves

This is a very interesting article about spyware and how it will likely be the main problem for computer users in the future. Those who wish you and your computer ill are more and more unlikely to seek to do major damage to your computer. Rather they are going to seek a means of stealing your passwords and personal information without you even knowing it.

Wi-Fi 'Evil Twin' to become troublemaker

Wi-Fi 'Evil Twin' to become troublemaker - ZDNet UK News

Basically, an "Evil Twin" is a false wireless access point that pretends to be the access point that you really wish to log on to. "Evil Twins" can be present at any public access point and seek to trick unsuspecting computer users to log onto their wi fi access points where they will gather confidential information such as passwords from these unsuspecting users. The best way to protect yourself is to have your wi-fi hardware configured in the most secure mode possible and to avoid sending confidential information over public web access.

Virus hooks onto CNN headlines

Virus hooks onto CNN headlines | CNET News.com

This article refers to a new computer virus that attempts to infect your computer by appearing to be a news article sent to your e-mail box. So far it doesn't appear to have affected many people. Once more, the best way to avoid it is to keep your anti-virus software updated and never open suspect e-mail attachments.

IE Continues to Lose Grip on Market

PCWorld.com - IE Continues to Lose Grip on Market

Firefox continues to increase its popularity, mostly because of Internet Explorer's security problems. I continue to use Firefox as my own browser and recommend it highly.

Program of the Week

In an attempt to post more often to this page, I am going to begin posting information about some of the fine - and free - programs that I have come across in addition to the continuing news about computer security concerns. These programs do not contain adware or spyware.

One program that I am finding very useful is called Net Snippets. Net Snippets makes researching the internet easier by allowing you to copy web pages and sections of web pages onto your computer. These pages can be catagorized into different topic areas and can be marked by you as you desire. Net Snippets offers a free version and other paid versions with even more features.

PCWorld.com - The New Web Challengers

PCWorld.com - The New Web Challengers

If the recent news about problems with Internet Explorer has you nervous, check out this article from PC.World which reviews several different browsers and gives other nifty information.

Technology News: Security: IE Plagued by 'Extremely Critical' Flaws

Technology News: Security: IE Plagued by 'Extremely Critical' Flaws

Secunia has upgraded the "highly critical" flaw reported earlier to "extremely critical". No word on whether the patch coming out this week will address these three flaws. One flaw has apparently existed for a year now. Secunia advises either switching browsers or at least making sure that your internet security level for IE is "high" and that you have disabled the "drag and drop" function.

Critical Windows fix on the way

Critical Windows fix on the way | CNET News.com

Next Tuesday, Microsoft will release three critical patches but no word on whether they will address security problems with Internet Explorer.

Techworld.com - Windows smashed by Explorer exploit

Techworld.com - Windows smashed by Explorer exploit

Yet another serious flaw in Internet Explorer allows certain web pages to take over your computer without doing anything at all. Read the article at the above link. You can read more detailed information here.
And test to see if your computer is vulnerable here.

Secunia considers this an extremely critical problem and advises switching browers. I continue to plug Firefox here but other options include Opera and Netscape.

Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)

Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) Home

Microsoft has released the Beta version of its own spyware eliminator. Beta means that the version works but may still have some bugs that will be removed by the final version. It is important to have a spyware removal program on your computer. I haven't used Microsoft's yet, but recommend the programs Ad-aware and Spybot as excellent tools for removing spyware. Both are available via my website http://sitekreator.com/sbeshonertor/ under Computer security.

Get yourself the world's longest e-mail address

AbcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzAbcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzAbcdefghijk.com - The World's Longest Alphabetical Email Address

Stop spam by making your e-mail address essentially unrecognizable by most software and most of your friends.

Web site for parents

Parenting advice, child development and family reference at familyeducation.com

Helpful advice and information for raising and educating children from pre-K to 12th grade.