Community weekly poll: How confident are you in your computer's security?
- 10/26/05 12:35 PM
How confident are you in your computer's security?
by Marc Bennett - 10/26/05 12:35 PM
How confident are you in your computer's security?
Totally confident, bring it on! (share your strategy)
Very confident (why?)
Somewhat confident (how so?)
A little concerned (share your concerns)
Very worried (why?)
Terrified (please explain)
Pride comes before a fall!!!
by gawa - 10/28/05 3:18 AM In reply to: How confident are you in your computer's security? by Marc Bennett
At the moment I'm very confident.
I leave Windows XP Pro auto updates switched on
I have Norton System Works AV and pay an annual subscription and leave auto updates switched on
I have MS Anti Spyware (auto updates)
I have MS Firewall on
I only check for viruses on incoming mail
I have a few other (special) security features enabled.
regards
Glyn
I'm very confident.
by JosePablo58 - 10/28/05 3:30 AM In reply to: How confident are you in your computer's security? by Marc Bennett
I run XP Pro/SP2 + updates.
I have the best AV available = NOD32.
I use a dedicated firewall running Smoothwall express 2.0
I scan weekly with Spybot S&D and ad-aware and have MS antispyware checking every night and never open a mail from unknown sources.
I think I'm confident with reason.
Cheers, Joseph.
im confident
by pbxtreme87 - 10/28/05 3:54 AM In reply to: How confident are you in your computer's security? by Marc Bennett
im running windows xp without service packs as they screwed up my programs. but i have a firewall that hides all my ports on router on my router i have a secondry firewall to further hide ports and a packet inspector all my links r encrypted and i use to have a enterprise protection system on my computer but after a few month it still hadnt picked up one thing as nothing had got through to the computer
No
by Ed-duh-win - 11/12/05 9:25 PM In reply to: im confident by pbxtreme87You should REALLY have Service Pack 2 for Win XP. Without it, you're as vulnerable as a chocolate cookie sitting in front of a cookie lover. No. Seriously. If you don't have SP2, you're basically unprotected against viruses and other security problems XP has.
Computer Security
by andy1512 - 10/28/05 4:15 AM In reply to: How confident are you in your computer's security? by Marc Bennett
The question is security confidence and if I think mine is good enough.
I have guarding my system Bit defender Pro as the Antivirus aspect and Firewall, I have Spyware Doctor to stop System Spys and addware and I have Prevx1 Pro as the background intruder detection.
These 3 combined, have managed so far to stop 98% of attacks, with the rest being quarantined if they can't be dealt with in real time.
The thing that bugs my happyness is the need for all this security in the first place.
All those people out there who have ruined the Net for the rest of us with their childish "I must prove myself by releasing a virus etc." should be castrated.
Also Mr. Gates should get his finger out and use some of his billions to release an operating system that actually is secure, and not have the cheek to say we will have to pay extra for the privillage.
Secure Operating System? Might as well wish for a Pony....
by toraedor - 10/28/05 4:57 AM In reply to: Computer Security by andy1512Mr. Gates has nothing to do with "security". Why do people feel the need to blame someone else for the inherent shortcomings of humanity? As long as human beings have possesed knowledge, people have stolen it. Remember Prometheus? Stole fire from the gods? It's not about Operating systems. It's about personal culability. As I mention in my post, the ONLY way to make a computer secure is to turn it off, and lock it in a closet. Even then, someone could break in and steal the computer itself. Besides, no one is really interested in your wedding pics or your stolen mp3's.
I use AVG Free, a $40 Linksys router (that has had the user/pass changed), S:S&D, and Hijack this.
10 years, no viruses.
10 years, no attacks
10 years, no open port attacks
No hacks. No cracks. No zombies. No trojans
If you're that worried, buy a Mac.
Secure Operating System
by roseward - 10/30/05 2:05 AM In reply to: Secure Operating System? Might as well wish for a Pony.... by toraedorAt work 150 computers we use Trends Officescan which is a highly regarded antivirus solution. It still managed to let in a virus this year. There are only a handfull of AV's that are 100% successfull NOD32 is one of those. Grisoft's AV was way down the top 10 of best AV's. Never be complacent ! I'm not knocking Grisoft however it's a very good piece of software, most people use it cos it's free, but i'd much rather know i'm using the best. and no i don't work for Eset !
Secure OS
by Benf - 10/28/05 5:43 PM In reply to: Computer Security by andy1512Do you realy think that and Operating System with as many lines of code ad Windows, Mac OS whatever they call it or Linux could be secure and bug free?
If you do than you need a serious reality check, it is physicaly impossible to write that much code and not have flaws and vulnerabilities.
Look at Fireflop, this was regarded as a panaciea for people that used web browsers when it was first introduced, people, beleiving the hype started using it.
At first it was great but as it became popular the dirt bags started turning their attention to it rather than windows and guess what, Fireflop not only doesnt work on all web sites but now it beleived by a number of researchers that it's less secure than Internet Explorer.
So dont hold your breath untill someone, Gates or anyone else, comes up with a secure OS, that ain't goinna happen for a long time.
Ben
Mr. Gates has no incentive
by greg30307 - 10/30/05 7:45 AM In reply to: Computer Security by andy1512"Mr. Gates should...use some of his billions to release an operating system that actually is secure and not the cheek to say we will have to pay extra for the privilage."
So long as everyone continues to let Windows have a 95% market share, Gates will keep doing what he is doing. You may not like hearing it, but so long as you buy Windows, you are part of the problem.
bah! security is smart if YOU'RE smart
by toraedor - 10/28/05 4:48 AM In reply to: How confident are you in your computer's security? by Marc Bennett
As an IT proffesional, I know the ONLY way to make a computer truly secure is to unplug it, put it in the closet, then lock the closet. However, we in the industry work on ''threat models''; projecting the possible threats to a system, then figuring out how those threats can attack our assets. Here's the thing about your home computer-
Unless you are jacked by some 14 year-old script kiddie from russia...NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR COMPUTER!!!
Real ''hackers'' don't care about your wedding pictures. Real ''hackers'' don't care aout your mp3 collection. Real ''hackers'' don't care about your pr0n collection on your 1.5/128 DSL connection. Real ''hackers'' don't care about your carefully archived movie collection. If they REALLY wanted your credit card info, or your medical info, they can get it quicker and easier by hacking a big companies DB's than by trying to run zero-point execution overflow exploits on your family PC. It's just that simple. Yes, you should use a firewall, but only to protect you from your next-door neighbours kid trying to zombie your box, just to see if he can. I know people who use a hardware and software firewalls, and packet sniffers and who meticulously pour over every packet of information coming into or out of their computers. I say to these people- GET A LIFE!!! Read a book, go for a walk, do something else!!!
You aren't that important. No one cares. Uninstall your FOUR antivirus programs or buy a Mac or something. Jeez, four simultaneous A/V progs?
Use a good router (and change the default user/pass on it), use a good A/V prog, and run a spyware scanner once a week. You'll be fine.
I beg to differ!
by dmcalister51 - 10/28/05 11:14 AM In reply to: bah! security is smart if YOU'RE smart by toraedorAs an IT Professional, I beg to differ. I am a Systems Admin for a company with approximately 600 users. I also moonlight as a consultant for several smaller companies and individual home users. I see compromised computers in our own company, the smaller companies I work with, and individuals on a regular basis. According to many sources, a brand new machine can become infected within four minutes of being connected to the internet. I have personally seen this happen more times than I care to remember. Bots are running rampant looking for unsecure machine.
In the grand scheme of things, the home user may not be ''That Important'' to a professional hacker, but I would venture to guess most home users consider their data important enough to try to protect as best they can.
True, not all hackers are that interested in the data on a home computer. However, they ARE interested in gaining control of as many home systems as they can in order to add them to their ''Zombie Network''.
A compromised home computer can be used to launch DOS attacks and/or send out mass emials. Various infections can grind a machine to a hault, corrupt operating systems, or cause uncontrolled pop-ups. And yes, if there is some ''jucy data'' that contains Bank or Credit Card account numbers or even better, drivers license and/or Social Security numbers, trust me, so much the better. Identiy Theft is a growing problem, and is often the result of unsecure home computer systems.
A home user needs only to take the following steps.
1. Use a router with a hardwall firewall.
2. Run a software firewall such as ZoneAlarm
3. Run a decent AV such as Norton or McAfee and keep it updated.
4. Run a decent Spyware software such as Spysweeper and keep it updated.
5. Keep Windows updated.
6. Stay away from wireless networks.
7. Backup your data on a regular basis.
To home computer users, I do not advocate running multiple AV and Spyware programs. I agree there is no need to stress over it. But some ''IT Professionals'' tend to have a bit of a snobbish attitude towards less experienced computer users and that is why I was compelled to respond to this post.
Thanks, "I beg to differ"
by morninglory - 10/28/05 12:41 PM In reply to: I beg to differ! by dmcalister51Your post was very helpful to me as I am not a computer whiz and probably never will be. I currently run Spybot and Lavasoft + I have the new Yahoo! toolbar which also has spyware detection. I figured I probably did not need all of this stuff on here but I had a trojan earlier this year and the darn thing aggravated me to death until I got it removed. I am not very confident in the safety of my computer as I browse anything that looks interesting.
I use Zonealarm "free" and AVG but am looking into getting Norton. Your post has helped me decide what I should be running in order to stay relatively spyware and virus-free. Thanks! 
Un-important homeuser
by andy1512 - 10/30/05 5:11 AM In reply to: I beg to differ! by dmcalister51Hi
I can't believe an IT Specialist thinks homeusers are uninteresting and not worth bothering with to pro hackers.
Has he or she not heard of Identity theft, this is the biggest growing problem in the world thanks to the net.
It is costing bank and credit card companies billions in fraud.
Some might say so what, they can afford it can they?
but who do think ends up paying the gross interest rates on our cards to help them get that money back.
Also unprotected machines are used by hackers to swamp companies with email spam or worse and again this costs millions to put right.
It was estimated that email spam and viruses cost American industry over 2 and a half billion dollars last year alone.
So as an IT specialist he or she should not dismiss the fact hackers don't exploit unprotected homeusers because it costs us all in the end to pay for these scumbags to have their fun.
I agree; just be smart.
by techguy651 - 10/28/05 5:14 PM In reply to: bah! security is smart if YOU'RE smart by toraedorMy best computer protection is that I'm a smart surfer. I don't let webpages install toolbars or spyware and I don't install anything that's not from a trusted source (Authentic product CD, Microsoft.com, etc.).
I work in the IT field, so I've been trained to do this. My advice to others is not to stress about it, just keep windows updated, run a good antivirus solution, and don't open email or programs from untrusted sources. It's also a good idea for the average user to have the Windows XP firewall active. Just like driving a car or using a lawnmower: Safety is key.
As a backup, Ii have Ad-Aware and Zone Alarm downloaded on my computer, but they do not autorun. The few times I have run Ad-Aware, it never finds anything more then a few cookies.
Personally, firewall's have cause me frustration and kept me from doing the things I want to do on my own network. Occasionally, I log my network activity and I've never found anything insecure.
I'm very confident in my security.
As for someone hacking into my files. If someone wants to steal or photochop my baby pictures or home movies, go right ahead. The point of being digital is to make them easy to share and one of the drawbacks of this is that the kid next door might see them. Just be aware that that can happen. If this kid wants to waste his time then go ahead. I've got better things to do with my time then worry about it.
I keep bank numbers and statements in paper form as much as possible.
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