Computer Internet network security News

Everyday we are hearing more and more about identity theft, fraud and vandal hackers. Websites that have malicious scripts in them can install viruses, spyware, and adware on your computer without you even knowing it. You never really know who or what is actually behind any particular website that you are viewing and we recommend taking a few easy steps to make your surfing experiences smoother and more secure.

Virus Protection

This is, without a doubt, the most important kind of software you should install. Make sure you keep your virus definitions updated at all times. The key word here is UPDATED! Outdated virus definitions do little good at all. Some viruses actually do more damage if you are infected first and then try to install an anti-virus program. They explode like a bomb and start eating your vital memory resources and can lead to data loss. The point is, be proactive, not reactive when it comes to virus protection.

You can download the free anti-virus program, Grisoft
http://www.grisoft.com/promo/stay-protected-isw-free75cnv/

Grisoft is actually a very nice program, and does provide partial protection, but your virus protection software is not a good place to cut corners, so I recommend something more powerful.

Of course the leaders by far in terms of name recognition are:

Symantec – http://www.symantec.com/index.htm
McAfee – http://www.mcafee.com/us/

…and they definitely charge accordingly for their software.

Two less expensive alternatives that are nearly as good and will keep you well protected against harmful viruses are:

Anti Virus Protector – http://roidetect.novirus01.hop.clickbank.net/
Micro Anti Virus – http://roidetect.microa.hop.clickbank.net/

Anti-Spyware

There isn’t ‘one’ software program that can provide you with 100%
protection, so a ‘layered’ approach is the best strategy.

To create layered virus protection, you should be running a stand alone anti-spyware program on your computer. You can find out about free anti-spyware programs at:

http://www.computersplus.biz/spyware.htm

In my opinion, Perhaps the best anti-spyware software ever developed is XoftSpySE. You can download a copy and get a free scan of your computer here:
XoftSpySE – http://roidetect.xoftspyse.hop.clickbank.net/

Password Managers

It is a very good idea to use a password manager so that you are not using your keyboard to type your passwords in when you login to your programs and payment processor accounts. Hackers have developed programs they maliciously place on your computer without your knowledge that can track your keystrokes. This is a real threat.

That’s why it’s important to use a password manager that automatically enters your ID and password information as soon as the respective login page appears. Your have essentially three choices; (1) keep a copy of all your secure info on a text document and use the copy and paste feature to login; (2) use the password management feature of your internet browser; or (3) purchase a 3rd party password management program.

The best strategy is #3. Using a 3rd party password manager for all of your important information should stop hackers dead in their tracks.

The best password manager on the market is, without a doubt:
RoboForm – http://www.roboform.com/

NEVER use your email or payment processor passwords for other things.
ALWAYS make your email and payment processor passwords difficult.

Web Browser

In my judgment, due to chronic security issues, Internet Explorer has proven not to be the best choice for surfing in general and surfing traffic exchanges in particular.

Mozilla FireFox with the NoScript extension installed is a much sharper sword when it comes to keeping your data safe.

NoScript will not allow any scripts to run on your browser unless you specifically give permission. Only allow scripts to run from websites and programs that you trust.

FireFox – http://www.mozilla.com
Firefox NoScript – https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/

If your budget allows it, there is an all-in-one solution that may be to your liking. I recommend you use Invisus, an powerful and innovative security management program that gives Norton and Mcafee a run for their money.

Invisus – http://www.invisus.com/

Summary

The combination of virus protection overlapped with spyware software using the Mozilla Firefox browser and NoScript extension combined with the use of a password manager will make your internet surfing as trouble free and secure as possible.

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B

Buffer overrun attack is a very common attack utilized by hackers.  This type of attack is not new.  This attack utilizes poor coding practices in C and C++ code, with the handling of string functions. The following code is an example of a buffer overrun.

void myMethod(char * pStr) {

char pBuff[10];

 int nCount = 0;

    strcpy(pBuff, pStr);

}

void foo()

{

}

 There are three main actions to resolve the problem.  First is to utilize the /GS compile option.  This option creates a cookie between the stack overrun and the return address.  This allows the system to helps prevent buffer overruns, by changing the stack layout.   The second action is to use the <strsafe.h> library.  This library has buffer overrun safe functions that will help with the detection of buffer overflows.  Finally, the last action is to perform extensive code reviews of string functionality and indexes utilized within your application.

B, Glossary of computer security B, buffer, buffer-overrun, C, Glossary-of-computer-security, programing

A temporary storage area, usually in RAM. The purpose of most buffers is to act as a holding area, enabling the CPU to manipulate data before transferring it to a device. Because the processes of reading and writing data to a disk are relatively slow, many programs keep track of data changes in a buffer and then copy the buffer to a disk. For example, word processors employ a buffer to keep track of changes to files. Then when you save the file, the word processor updates the disk file with the contents of the buffer. This is much more efficient than accessing the file on the disk each time you make a change to the file.

This term is used both in programming and in hardware. In programming, buffering sometimes implies the need to screen data from its final intended place so that it can be edited or otherwise processed before being moved to a regular file or database.

B, Glossary of computer security B, buffer, computer, Computer hardware security, Glossary-of-computer-security, RAM

A privacy seal program established by the Better Business Bureau which certifies that certain Web sites conform to baseline privacy standards. Microsoft is a sponsor of BBBOnLine.

Use safe shopping site to locate companies that are members of their local Better Business Bureau, pledge to meet the BBBOnLine Reliability standards for ethical online business practices and have agreed to resolve complaints using the BBB’s dispute resolution program or a similar program. Companies must live up to these promises or lose the right to remain in our program. There are currently 39159web sites covered by the BBBOnLine Reliability seal.

It is important for you to remember that a business’s participation in BBBOnLine does not guarantee you will be satisfied with its product or service. While BBBOnLine participants have satisfactory complaint handling records with Better Business Bureaus, this does not mean that they have never experienced complaints, nor is it a guarantee that they won’t in the future.

Better Business Bureaus do not endorse any company, product or service and participation in a Better Business Bureau program is not a guarantee by the Better Business Bureau of the company’s performance. BBBOnLine participants have agreed to meet our program standards, including resolving customer disputes through Better Business Bureau dispute resolution processes, which have a proven consumer-friendly track record.

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Also called a trapdoor. An undocumented way of gaining access to a program, online service or an entire computer system. The backdoor is written by the programmer who creates the code for the program. It is often only known by the programmer.

Backdoor is a hacker’s remote access tool. Usually a backdoor is a standalone file that installs itself to system and then remains active there listening to specific network ports for specific
commands. A typical backdoor consists of 2 parts – client and
server. Some backdoor packages have configuration utilities that
allow a hacker to configure server parts to their needs. A few
backdoors have special scanner utilities to locate victim
computers where server parts are installed.

There also exist IRC backdoors. These backdoors are controlled
via bots that they create in specific channels on selected IRC
channels. These channels are usually invite-only, so they can be
only accessed by hackers who use these backdoors.

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Before a commercial software program is released to the public, it usually goes through a “beta” phase. During this stage, the software is tested for bugs, crashes, errors, inconsistencies, and any other problems. Though beta versions of software used to be made available only to developers, they are now sometimes made available for the general public to test, usually through the software company’s Web site. However, because beta software is free, the programs usually expire after a period of time. If you choose to test a beta software program, don’t be surprised if it has multiple problems and causes your computer to repeatedly crash. After all, it is the beta version. You can tell if a program is still in beta by checking the program’s properties. If there is a “b” in the version number (i.e. Version: 1.2 b3) that means it’s a beta version.

A test for a computer product prior to commercial release.  Beta testing is the last stage of testing, and normally can involve sending the product to beta test sites outside the company for real-world exposure or offering the product for a free trial download over the Internet. Beta testing is often preceded by a round of testing called alpha testing

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The term “bespoke” comes from England where it originally referred to custom or tailor-made clothing. In recent years, however, the term has been applied to information technology (IT), and refers to custom services or products.

For example, bespoke software is software customized for a specific purpose. Bespoke programs may include custom accounting software for a certain company or a network monitoring tool for a specific network. Because bespoke software is custom-made for a specific purpose, bespoke programs are also considered vertical market software.

Another area where bespoke is used in the computer industry is in reference to websites. A bespoke website is one that is custom-built, often from scratch, to suit the needs of a business or organization. This may include a custom layout, custom database integration, and other extra features the client may require. Because bespoke websites must be individually tailored to a client’s needs, they often take longer to develop and are more expensive than websites built from templates.

Finally, bespoke can also be used to refer to hardware. Computer companies, such as Dell, HP, and Apple may provide customers with custom options for the systems they buy. For example, one person may choose to build his system with a high-end graphics card for video production, while another person may choose a basic graphics card, but may add additional RAM so her computer will be able to run several programs at once. These custom configurations are sometimes referred to as bespoke systems.

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Stands for “Blind Carbon Copy.” When you send an e-mail to only one person, you type the recipient’s address in the “To:” field. When you send a message to more than one person, you have the option to enter addresses in the “Cc:” and “Bcc:” fields. “Cc” stands for “Carbon Copy,” while “Bcc” stands for “Blind Carbon Copy.”

A carbon copy, or “Cc’d” message is an e-mail that is copied to one or more recipients. Both the main recipient (whose address is in the “To:” field) and the Cc’d recipients can see all the addresses the message was sent to. When a message is blind carbon copied, neither the main recipient nor the Bcc’d recipients can see the addresses in the “Bcc:” field.

Blind carbon copying is a useful way to let others see an e-mail you sent without the main recipient knowing. It is faster than sending the original message and then forwarding the sent message to the other recipients. It is also good netiquette to use Bcc when copying a message to many people. This prevents the e-mail addresses from being captured by someone in the list who might use them for spamming purposes. However, if it is important that each recipient knows who your message was sent to, use carbon copy (Cc) instead.

B, Glossary of computer security B, bcc, Email security, Glossary-of-computer-security

Contrary to popular belief, baud is not a direct measurement of data transfer speed, but instead it measures how many electrical signals are sent per second. Baud is used to measure the rate of electrical signals, or “signaling elements,” for modems, networks, serial cables, and other data transfer mediums.

Some people think that baud and bits per second are equal. For example, they’ll say a 28,800 bps modem transmits at 28,800 baud, and act like they know everything. But the fact is, most modems transmit multiple bits of data per baud, so while the the two values are related, they are typically not equal. So the next time your friend says his 56K v.90 modem can transfer data at 56,000 baud, you can kindly tell him that he is incorrect and explain to him the difference between baud and bps.

At slow speeds, only one bit of information (signaling element) is encoded in each electrical change. The baud, therefore, indicates the number of bits per second that are transmitted. For example, 300 baud means that 300 bits are transmitted each second (abbreviated 300 bps ). Assuming asynchronous communication, which requires 10 bits per character, this translates to 30 characters per second (cps). For slow rates (below 1,200 baud), you can divide the baud by 10 to see how many characters per second are sent.

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As most computer users know, some computing tasks can be tedious and repetitive. Fortunately, if a task is indeed repetitive, a batch process can be used to automate much of the work.

A batch process performs a list of commands in sequence. It be run by a computer’s operating system using a script or batch file, or may be executed within a program using a macro or internal scripting tool. For example, an accountant may create a script to open several financial programs at once, saving him the hassle of opening each program individually. This type of batch process would be executed by the operating system, such as Windows or the Mac OS. A Photoshop user, on the other hand, might use a batch process to modify several images at one time. For example, she might record an action within Photoshop that resizes and crops an image. Once the action has been recorded, she can batch process a folder of images, which will perform the action on all the images in the folder.

Batch processing can save time and energy by automating repetitive tasks. While it may take awhile to write the script or record the repetitive actions, doing it once is certainly better than having to do it many times.

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A batch file is a type of script that contains a list of commands. These commands are executed in sequence and can be used to automate processes. For example, some programs may include a batch file that executes a number of commands as the program starts up. A user can also create a custom batch file to automate tedious processes such as copying multiple directories or renaming several files at once.

Batch files are run by the COMMAND.COM program, which is part of DOS and Windows. Therefore, batch files can only be run within the Windows operating system. Macintosh and Unix have other scripting tools, such as AppleScript and Unix shell commands, that can be used for similar tasks. Because batch files contain executable commands, it is important not to open unknown batch files on your hard disk or in e-mail attachments.

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Stands for “Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.” BASIC is a computer programming language that was developed in the mid-1960s to provide a way for students to write simple computer programs. Since then, the language has evolved into a more robust and powerful language and can be used to create advanced programs for today’s computer systems.

BASIC originally used numbers at the beginning of each instruction (or line) to tell the computer what order to process the instructions. Lines would be numbered as 10, 20, 30, etc., which would allow additional instructions to be placed between commands later on if needed. “GOTO” statements enabled programs to loop back to earlier instructions during execution. For example, line 230 of a BASIC program may have an “if” clause that tells the computer to jump back to line 50 if a variable is less than 10. This instruction might look something like this:

230 IF (N < 10) THEN GOTO 50

More modern BASIC implementations use “while loops,” which perform a series of instructions as long as a certain case is true. Newer BASIC development software also supports more data types, such as integers, strings, and arrays, for storing variables and other data. While the first BASIC development environments were strictly text-based, today’s BASIC programming software allows developers to design much of their programs visually, using a graphical user interface. Some of the more popular BASIC development programs used today include REALbasic and Microsoft Visual Basic.

many variations of BASIC have appeared as programming, or macro, languages within applications. For example, Microsoft Word and Excel both come with a version of BASIC with which users can write programs to customize and automate these applications.

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