"You can't attack what you can't see"

Discussion in 'privacy general' started by vulcan, May 26, 2004.

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  1. vulcan

    vulcan Guest

    I've been reading and learning, but not fast enough to satisfy my thurst for the feeling of privacy and secuity that we all have a right to as Americans.
    I'm am in the financial services industry, - and admittedly ignorant about these issues for the most part. I happened upon this forum and saw it as a possible catipult to my education. I am tired of being invaded, tired of being spied on and tired of manually removing someones attempt at envading my space and my property. I now have more security software on my system than Estate and Financial Planning software.

    I appreciate and respect that which motivates the people here in trying to stay one step ahead of those who would be strive to take your privacy from you and share in that quest; But find myself without the educational foundation on which to build.

    So I humbly ask:

    What is the way to security and aninimity -and how do "I" get it?

    Respectfully,

    -vulcan




    `m e n s a
     
  2. TheQuest

    TheQuest Registered Member

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    Hi, vulcan


    You will have some quite few answers here from pepole better able to advise you than me.

    But to reach more Members and Guests you should ask this also on Other Security Issues Link:-
    [Wilders] Other Security Issues Forum

    If you do post there please change the wording so it not a Double Post. [Thanks]

    Sorry I am not of more help.
    Take Care,
    TheQuest :cool:
     
  3. firerocks

    firerocks Guest

    Respectfully, we're not all Americans on this site.
     
  4. Disciple

    Disciple Registered Member

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    Vulcan becoming profecient in the computer security area has become the occupation of many, and is a never ending task. You mentioned that you have "more security software on my system than Estate and Financial Planning software.", most of those vendors probably have forums dedicated to their product. I would suggest visiting them and reading (lurking) the posts, not only the ones related to the specific product but others that talk about security/privacy issues in general. You will be surprised at what you learn, and where one link can lead you. Also there is a great wealth of information to be found right here in the other forum areas, as well as some of the more well known newsgroups that deal with your concerns.

    Best wishes in your quest for knowledge and peace of mind.
     
  5. TheQuest

    TheQuest Registered Member

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    Hi, firerocks


    Sorry:- ?

    TheQuest :cool:
     
  6. Jooske

    Jooske Registered Member

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    If you want me to move this thread to the suggested area it spares re-posting.
    If you want to continue Port Explorer which can show at least what is connecting with the outside world and which applications are responsible for that, we can discuss that part too.

    I agree with you, it tires me too, but on the other hand due to our protection we do know now at least what we're protected for, what we need to do and what we can ignore.
     
  7. firerocks

    firerocks Guest

    Sorry TheQuest

    I was responding to Vulcan's first post when he said, "...for the feeling of privacy and security that we all have a right to as Americans."
     
  8. TheQuest

    TheQuest Registered Member

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    Hi, firerocks

    No need to be sorry just did not know what you ment.

    I will no comment on that other.

    I did not take it that vulcan Ment it Literally.

    You have to see through these saying.


    Take Care,
    TheQuest :cool:
     
  9. Pilli

    Pilli Registered Member

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    Hi All, sorry I only read the first post and immediatley moved it to Privacy general as it is not directly Port Explorer related.
    :D
     
  10. SnowGuy

    SnowGuy Guest

    VULCAN

    Yours is more a complex question due to your mention of business.
    Are you using your computer for ANY sort of business matterso_Oo_O

    For several years I have transacted business on the internet an found that in many cases its outright shocking at how insecure "other computers/servers are. An then trying to explain the issue to the person in-charge is like pulling teeth.....ego trips galore. The suggestion I would make to any person using the internet for business purposes is to automatically consider the connection in-secure. An protect yourself accordingly.....which is a subject entirely to its own.
    There is no such thing as "not being seen" on the internet. You can use proxies.....proxy servers...you name it........but someone out there knows you are connected. There are "toys" that boost of providing this or that....an just provide squat.........so careful.........always ask.
    E mail.......everybody uses it and everybody loves it........since you are in the financial service industry you may be awear of how many people have been sent to prison in recent months on evidence obtained from copies of their e mails..............use it wisely...or not at all. If you use it then take the time to LEARN how to properly secure it. Another subject.
    Your ISP.....notice how recently file shares are being sued from evidence obtained from their internet providers........a super major legal question erupts here....but until its answered in the courts......know who not to trust.
    If you notice there are numerous subjects dealing with computer/internet security......there are no books to read worthwhile...time.....time and forums such as this one..is where you will learn.........this forum is about the best there is.....learned posters.....tested in battle over time.......as well as newbies with a desire to learn.....be patient..ask questions......be humble because no matter how much you already know...its never enough.

    Regards
    That Snowman Guy
     
  11. snowguy

    snowguy Guest

    VULCAN

    just re-read your post.......so, you are your your computer to transact business..............GET A SECOND COMPUTER!
    The computer for business....STRIP IT......take everything off that can be safely removed and you don't need........the less the OS the lesser the chance for corruption of any nature.....thats an absolute! If you are really serious about business/computer security.
    If you just want to "play" on the internet....plus do business on the same computer.........well........thats not my bag of tea......business is business..an requires a professional attitude...IMO
     
  12. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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    Excellent SnowGuy! Tell it like it is. :)
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2004
  13. vulcan

    vulcan Guest

    Hello everyone and thank you for all the responses. Let me first explain to Firerocks that I meant no disrespect, that is not in my nature. I have clients who are from many parts of the world and the one comment I hear often is that the English launguage, at least how it is spoken in America is very easily misunderstod because we use much slang and in many cases just the way something is said can carry with it a far different meaning than the words themselves and the typed word can be that much more misunderstood because it lacks that voice inflection. Please except my appoligy, I obviously wasn't thinking, of course "everyone" deserves privacy.

    Now, let me explain a few things. First, although I do have confidential information stored, I have nothing on my computer that would get anyone into to much trouble. lol -I'm not trying to hide from anyone because I'm doing something I'm not supposed to do, don't get me wrong. Rather I'm just tired of being picked on by those who for some reason would build a program that would harm my property or invade my privacy. The computers that we use to process "sensitive" client data and run estate tax projections are not even hooked to our isp for this very reason. We do however have some which are, and there are constant adware,spyware and unsolicited registry entries and even an ocassional virus in spite of our firewall and up to date norton internet sercurity software. It seems I always have to manually delete registry entries ect. Now, having said that let me explain my post; I have seen strings here where people have made comments like: "It is impossible for it to be spyware" or something similar when referring to an issue they are having. If that's true, then they know something I don't because I have ad aware and spybot and still get them. Sometimes one product will find something that another doesn't. And sometimes I get a virus that slips by norton somehow even after the definitions for that virus where updated on my systems. So I just wanted opinions and advise.
    What program is best to prevent adware,spyware before infection?
    Is there a way that I can protect the registry from unwanted changes?
    What browser is most commonly used by people in the know about security?
    Someone mentioned JAP software to me, any opinions?
    I have Id blaster, is there a similar product that can do the same thing with an IP address?
    I've seen posts discussing that some spyware software has built in spyware itself, now that's scary!
    I also have port explorer but to me "some" of it could be the receipe for a chicken cassarole and I wouldn't know the difference. I'm not just trying to be funny, I really don't understand all of what I'm looking at. If I started discussing estate tax law, most people would have no idea what I was talking about. When you need information you go to an expert right? So "THAT" is what I'm doing here. In other words if this was your equipment what would you do to protect your privacy and what programs would be installed? I can't buy everthing and trial and error is not the answer. I understand that there will not be an overwhelming consensus on everthing, but I will get ideas. Please excuse the Hemmingway novel. (more slang)

    Warm regards,

    -vulcan-
     
  14. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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  15. Ruffian

    Ruffian Guest

    Being sufficently familar with what the most popular breeds of spyware,adware could help.

    It's pretty well known that If you are using Internet explorer then using these 2 ad-aware and spybot alone (espically the freeware version of the former), won't be sufficient. These 2 are primarily scanners, only fairly recently did they start to move into the immunizing,blocking functions.

    There is no magic bullet, no software is perfect.

    For example, People here will tell you NOD , KAV etc is unbeatable as an antivirus but this is just BS. I bet if you gather together a group of people who have not being infected with viruses say in the last 3 years and compared them with another group of people who are constantly keeping infected, you will find the major difference is not in the brand of antimalware software used. I suspect, knowledge of computer security (safe, surfing habits,safehex etc is a much better deteriminant of how likely you are to be in either group.



    There are registry monitors out there, but they are not fool proof.

    Anything but Internet explorer is pretty much the concensus. Mozilla firefox, Opera etc take your pick.

    Do you even know what it does? From my reading of your situation they wont be that useful for you.

    JAP and other remote proxies.

    Antispyware.has that too.


    Well given that I'm a CPA myself, I might have a shot. In any case,


    I bet you use that line a lot in your line of business huh? Seriously, while that is a nice line to use on your customers, when it comes to your own business, it is better to rely on yourself than on others. Sure use this forum as a springboard , but LEARN don't expect software as magic bullets.


    All the software in the world won't help if you don't know what you are doing.

    You basically need to learn the following

    1) General threats, types of malware, the way they are transmitted -


    2) Ways different types software work to migtiate these threats and their strengths and weakness

    Only then , can you make a informed decision on what to use. That level of knowledge won't make you an expert, but without that you are at the mercy of fate.


    Some useful links have already being given,
     
  16. 2ndsite

    2ndsite Guest

    I would say you have alot of work ahead of you Vulcan. Not trying to scare you but these things take TIME and you won't learn everything overnight. But if you stick to it & study hard you will have a much better chance at defending yourself properly.

    I would recommend you switch your browser as Ruffian suggested. IE is one of the biggest problems when it comes to spyware.

    Always make sure you have the latest Windows updates and your anti-virus/firewall updates too.

    Try to stay away from dubious sites (such as porn sites and the like- i know this is very difficult for some of the people around here(joke), but it would help alot)

    There are other spyware scanners besides Spybot & Adaware. Some are Pest Patrol, Spysweeper, X-cleaner, Bazooka, & Spycop. I like Spysweeper it seems to find things the others don't. And neither Spybot nor Adaware are any good at finding keyloggers. That's where Spycop will cover you best.

    A good anti-trojan is always a wise investment. Such as TDS-3 & Trojan Hunter are among the best. There are others too. A2 is a free one that isn't the best of the lot, but is better than nothing.

    Spywareblaster and Spywareguard are great free programs that help alot to block spyware from ever being installed on your computer in the first place. I would recommend you get them too.

    Also a registry protector is helpful. Some are Regprot(free), GRR($25. US), & Regrun gold which gets a Wilders 5 star rating. I like System Safety monitor which also has an application firewall and is free.

    Here's a good site that has a lot of great info on IE/Windows security and other very useful stuff (like different free programs that can help your security). It will take a while to get through it but it's worth it. http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes

    Hope some of this (very limited) list helps you out. Good luck.
     
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