Great 'Easy Computer Security and Privacy Tips' Hunt

emmapolo

i'm with saffypoo & i am smug. i have a mac already...

http://www.apple.com/getamac

they are more expensive, yes, & i do believe in moneysaving but also know that you get what you pay for too. there are some things you shouldn't put a price on, ie security, health etc.

Millionare

espresso wrote: »

These smug self righteous sMAC heads always have to spout their drivel!

Yep, they are everywhere.

Antexter

Kubuntu for me .
If running under windows though I my brosers is sandboxed (run as guest account) + running opera, which is much more secure than firefox and IE.

anti virus software
Avast! on access scanner
AVG free edition

But the most secure thing i do is NOT saving any passwords anywhere, no cookies no auto login etc.
oh yeah and SSh tunneling on wireless.
I've never had a virus / malware since I've been doing this and have never been hacked

alalagandan

So open up Notepad and write out the letters A-Z. Then use the mouse to copy and paste the letters required into your password box (or copy and paste the letters from any other web page). I think that should be a lot safer unless anyone can see a flaw?

Good one. Even simpler one is, open up Notepad,type some random or misleading
words (in between or within your authentic passwords or login info) in the notepad.

jampton

emmapolo wrote: »

i'm with saffypoo & i am smug. i have a mac already...

http://www.apple.com/getamac

they are more expensive, yes, & i do believe in moneysaving but also know that you get what you pay for too. there are some things you shouldn't put a price on, ie security, health etc.

Thanks very much for the link but users of this site may find they need to consult the following first http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages

bluseychris

cwaring wrote: »

Sorry but I would disagree. I have been using OE now for years without problems. Downloading attachments isn't a problem; 'running' or loading them is!

Self extracting/executing ones are the problem, what the majority of modern virus' are.

Nope, I wouldn't. They are sites that list hacks for software. At least, the were last time I looked. All sorts of lethal pop-ups and nasty stuff could be lurking.

Try https://www.grc.com instead.

You're thinking of Cracking (cracks and warez = part of pirate software scene) which is different to Hacking (breaking through security systems/analysing how they work). Secondly, if you have your Antivirus and Firewall on you won't have a problem. GRC is great link.

Because people exploit them un-necessarily? Seriously, if people didn't go around looking for ways to do illegal hacking there wouldn't be any problems.

Simplistic and naieve maybe, but am I wrong?

That was the point I was making, though there's two schools of hackers: The minority of malicious hackers and the majority who literally just want to learn more/force software companies to actually fix problems that wouldn't be a problem in a perfect world.

wakandem

Whatever security you use and from reading the threads on here you should be able to make an informed decision on what security you want . Once installed & I am going to shout - KEEP IT UPDATED.
If there is a message balloon telling you that updates are ready or virus definition out of date, don't ignore it.
Do not download and install any free programs unless you are sure that it is safe. Ask here or a similar forum.
Don't go to the 1st advertised site in google searches even if the site is nospywareforyourpc.ru - dont click, made up site
Use HTTP mail with outlook,firebird etc then all you see are the titles/headers for the mail & you can delete them without them getting near your pc,(only mail you open downloads to your pc) so that brings me to 'only read mail that you know is for you personally. Don't be curious you know what happened to the cat!
Take an active role, don't rely on security progs to do it for you. Check scans have been done. Check windows update etc.
You should be fine, most criminals are not interested in your pc or anythjing on it! they want big data bases ask tkmax

BaronBarnehurst

Security software I use that I don't think has already been mentioned (all free):
WinPatrol http://www.winpatrol.com
Windows Defender http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
HostsMan http://hostsman.abelhadigital.com/
Spybot Search & Destroy http://www.spybot.info/
Spyware Blaster http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/
Arovax Shield http://www.arovaxshield.com/

Aiadi

Was this thread not assuming that people already know about Antivirus, Firewalls and Anti-spyware software and was setup for other SIMPLE security tips.
It is degenerating into another place to discuss the commonly used security products and discussion that only the techies could swallow.

yorkshire_surfer

Have a look at https://www.YORkshirE-Safe.org which is free and in plain English ( Polish and soon in other languages !)