PC Security

Several days ago a friend asked what I do to keep my computer secure. First off no PC is 100% secure, but you can make it considerably harder for hackers. So what follows is a list of the tools I use and the Internet links to the web sites for these tools.

Between the cable modem and my PC is a router:
This device allows up to 4 or more computers to connect to the Internet or each other. It isolates my PC’s IP address from the cable modem’s IP address making it a little harder for hackers to see the PC when they go hunting. It’s like using a PO Box instead of your actual street address. There are two basic type of home routers, hardwire (requires a cable between the router and the PC) and wireless (you can place your computer anywhere within about 100 to 300 feet of the router). The down side of a wireless router is that you are broadcasting a signal that anyone within range can tap into. If your local Internet service provider gives you a wireless router as part of the package they provide, then look into security. Here you do not want to use WEP (too easy too crack) for security but instead choose WPA/WPA2 which is far more secure.
www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=router
www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=wpa+security
www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=wpa2&btnG=Google+Search

Install a software firewall:
This controls traffic to and from my PC and closes any unnecessary open or unused ports. Port scanning is another trick used by hackers. Open computer ports are like open windows in your house. Here I use a freeware program named Zone Alarm. Using this tool lets you decide what applications or software can access the Internet and also blocks outsiders from accessing your PC. Zone Alarm also sells Pro version and Anti-Virus software. If you don’t not think a firewall is important then you should go to Gibson Research Corporation (http://www.grc.com/default.htm ) and scroll down to the page until you see the ‘Leak Test’ and ShieldsUp’ links, run these test, then you will see why you need a firewall!
www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp

Use an Anti-Virus package:
Use this to scan and protect your computer and any email you receive. AV software is not a total cure for viruses or worms as it is a defensive software tool and the vendor must be aware that a new virus exist, they must then develop a solution and you must download the update to their software when it becomes available. All this takes time and the delay until a fix is developed and downloaded leaves you at a small but potential risk, but you are at a much greater risk without this software. Three of the more popular tools are Trend Micro, Mcafee and Symantec. These companies also have firewall products sold separately or in combination with their AV software.
www.trendmicro.com/en/home/us/enterprise.htm
http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp
www.symantec.com/index.htm

Adware/Spyware detection products:
Every time you visit a web site harmless cookies and sometimes other unwanted and far more malicious content is placed on your PC (www.sunbelt-software.com/CounterSpy-FAQ.cfm) . To this end I use three products to help me spot and remove it. Two are freeware (Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy) and the third and best (CounterSpy) is a low cost product which you can try free for a limited time. Microsoft also provides a free AntiSpyware software. If multiple members of your household use the PC to surf the web then it’s very likely that some form of Spyware is already on your computer.
www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/
www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware
www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

Startup Monitor:
This little program develop by Mike Lin will warn you if something has been downloaded from a malicious web site to your PC without your knowledge and will secretly install itself the next time you turn on your PC. The only time you should legitimately see the warning displayed by Startup Monitor is when you are installing new software, performing a software update and occasionally your AV update or Microsoft security update. If this warning is displayed at any other time such as when you open an email message or when jumping from one web site to the next, then you can at your judgment deny the software from installing. Be aware that if you have ‘Automatic Updates’ turned on for any software on your PC this can sometimes cause a false warning. I have all my automatic update options turned off and update on my own terms, but you may want to keep it on so you don’t miss any updates.
www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml

Rootkits:
Rootkits are designed to be completely invisible to Anti-Virus software. Rootkit Revealer available at Sysinternals.com explains in great detail what a rootkit is and how their software is designed to detect the presence of rootkits.
www.sysinternals.com/utilities/rootkitrevealer.html

Other Software that I use:
Warning: Some of these utilities require more than a passing knowledge of Windows and if used incorrectly can cause serious problems, however some are reasonably safe to use.
Cookie Viewer: http://www.karenware.com/ View the contents of cookies
Autoruns: www.sysinternals.com/utilities/autoruns.html Shows what software starts when you turn on your PC.
Process Explorer: www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html Shows what process are running on your PC and provides a link to Google for any process you are curious about.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer version 2.0: www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Baseline+security+analyzer

Newsletters to help keep you up to date on what happening:
PC Mag Tip of the day: www.pcmag.com/tips
Brian Livingston’s Windows Secrets: http://www.windowssecrets.com/
Langalist: www.langa.com/join_langalist.htm
Scot’s Newsletter: http://www.scotsnewsletter.com/

Now after reading all this you may think I’m paranoid, but there are some computer owners who go even farther than I have to make their pc safe. Yes it takes time and effort on your part, but there are hackers out there with plenty of time and will spare no effort to gain control of or bring your computer to its knees, not to mention identity theft, using your email address list to spread viruses to your friends and other nastiness.

High Gas Prices

One barrel of crude oil equal 44 gallons and yields about 20 gallons of Gasoline, plus other products such as Kerosene, Diesel fuel, Lubricating oil and other byproducts.
To refine crude oil into motor fuel is no small effort compared to what it takes to sell bottled water, milk or orange juice.

Not so long ago a gallon of gas sold for a dollar, named brand bottled water sold for $1.25, milk and orange juice even more. Today at our local supermarket bottled water was 99 cents a gallon, milk was $2.99, orange juice was $3.39 and down the road gas was $2.35 a gallon (Before I could finish this article gas jumped to $2.50 a gallon), that means milk and orange juice still cost more.

So what is the significance of this? Simple put, if you what more milk…raise more cows, more orange juice…plant more orange trees, more and cheaper gas … not so simple, now that China is on the move with a population of about 1.3 billion compared to about 300 million for the United States.

Something is UP in the World of PC Pricing

Each year in the Fall I update my list of what Money Can Buy, which simply put is how much does a well configured PC cost. Consistently over the years the cost has ranged between $3000.00 to $3500.00 dollars for a high end PC. Lately however after reading a number of reviews on the latest desktop computers the cost quite often ranges between $4000.00 to $4500.00 dollars.

I’m not entirely sure of what’s going on but it would appear there is a greater demand for high end gaming and power user configurations. So where only a few years ago 512MB of ram, 100GB hard drive, 128MB Video Cards, 17/19” CRT monitors and 3GHz processors were king of the hill, now you can buy a system with 2GB of ram, 360GB of hard drives (sometimes in a Raid array), 256MB multiprocessor video cards, 19” LCD displays and 64 bit processors plus any number of extras which drive up the price even more if you have the money.

So what does all this mean, about the same as it always has, in about 2 years your brand new top of the line system will be a mid-range $1500.00 dollar system and in 4 years it will be a dinosaur. The big question is, if you by it today will it run Windows Vista when it is released late in 2006?

Remember it’s your money and you only get to spend it once, so spend it wisely!

Second Thoughts

Late today I watched MSNBC’s Hardball during which various people who were close to Peter Jennings where interviewed. A particular statement by Ted Koppel in which he said something to the effect that most Americans knew Peter as being somewhat cool and aloof, but I think at least in my case what drew me to watch his evening news show over others was that you could see in his eyes or the tone of voice that he genuinely cared about the issues that confronted us.

Peter Jennings

Yesterday I had an urge to write to Peter Jennings and express my hopes for his recovery. Today I awoke to hear the sad news that Jennings had passed away. Each night over the past few months I would turn on ABC News and hope to see Peter’s face again, tonight the news will be hard to watch and especially sad for everyone at ABC.

Over the years I would eat dinner and make it a point to watch Peter Jennings not only for the latest news but for the special segments woven in to the coverage. In a few days for the first time I will do something I have not done in many many years, that is to channel hop during the evening news.

Windows Vista

Microsoft continues to pursue the protection of what it feels is the use of the word Windows or Win as part of an independent web site or newsletter.

Could it be that Microsoft's next version of Windows named Vista is infringing on Paramount Pictures VistaVision? And there may be other companies with Vista as their name, part of their name or product!

After all the use of Win in a title is a part of the word Windows as Vista is part of VistaVision!