PC World has an excellent article on security and public wifi access. Whether Internet cafes, open wifi in coffee shops, airports, etc., their conclusion, there is none, even with paid services where you need an access key. Once logged in, the traffic is open to snooping. Article is here. They recommend Hot Spot Shield software for vpn-like access to the Internet, will be slower, but more secure.
You can be surfing the Internet, going to so-called safe sites and suddenly “You’re infected!” A pop up window is prompting you to click, Okay or Cancel. And it even looks like official MicroSoft stuff. Don’t click anything. This is fake anti virus software. If you click anything, you are installing the rogue program and the first thing it does is zap your legitimate anti virus software! You have a few options. 1) use the ALT and F4 keys on your keyboard (at the same time) to close the browser/malicous popup and do not click on the window. 2) If this fails, use your mouse and go to Start >Shutdown and let Windows close everything and shutdown. And option 3) This is the most drastic, do a hard shutdown of your computer. Go to the on/off button and press the button, holding it until your computer shuts down. Wait a few seconds, power on and hope for the best!
It is out of control, especially the fake anti virus attacks. Here is one solution which is priced right, free, and can be used by home users, from Microsoft. Windows SteadyState- http://bit.ly/NQgRZ)
I call it the “library solution.” It will erase everything on reboot, possibly including user files, so you may want to backup to cloud or an external source, like a thumb drive. Not Compu-Doc tested.
Microsoft has a page on their site where you can check your password security, check here. Never hear of a brute force attack? Wonder why your Windows PC got hacked? Well when your computer gets hijacked into a botnet, one of the possible assignments of your computer could be to hack password protected servers and accounts on the Internet. Typically they use brute force attacks; where the attack computer (zombie) uses a dictionary attack to break into another system. Words in the dictionary? How about password, 123456, changeme, guess, etc., etc. So before you lose your Facebook or Yahoo account, get a better password!!
Barnes and Noble has come out with a new ereader called Nook. Th operating system is Google’s Android, a version of Linux. Runs Linux, I may have to get one of these things. Books made of paper are going to be a thing of the past. And maybe this even reduces some of my carbon footprint.
Based on a recent service call with a client that had to have their computer wiped of malware, (actually fake anti virus: scareware), do not, under any circumstances, use a debit/credit card on the Internet!!! They only got hit for the $59.99 fake AV software purchase. But think about the risk. Bad guys get your debit card, empty your bank account and now what? Well, the banks say you are protected and I don’t doubt that. However, your money is gone until you convince them you are the victim of fraud. And how long before the bank makes you whole, all your money is back?? I use a credit card on the Net, but I won’t have a debit card. The banks love them for the extra profit they make off the merchant in fees, but I will pass.
The director of the FBI is not allowed to bank online. Story at PCWorld Australia. Why do you think they call it phish-ing? Cuz they are trying to get you to act like a fish and take the bait. Pay attention to the Inbox and what you are clicking. The guys without money are out to get yours!
A new video display output is now on higher end PCs, DisplayPort. It looks similar to an HDMI connection, but believe me, it is not. To take advantage of this video card , it needs a compatible higher end model LCD display, or DisplayPort TV.
Ever hear of it? I have. Much too often. The computer user has some (manual) backup system in place, maybe thumb drives, whatever. Then something goes wrong and there is no backup for months, it now becomes a meant-to backup, or as I call it, NoBackupAtAll. I use and recommend Cobian Backup, free, easy to use. I currently use version 8, Black Moon. I will be trying version 9 soon.
Just when you deal with the bad guys all day, now you find another large corporation doing the old invasion of privacy thing without telling you (I guess that is why it is an invasion). The culprit is Adobe Flash Player, used by lots of web sites, generating a secret, persistent, cannot be deleted by the browser, cookie called: flash cookies.