SECURITY IN A MOBILE WORLD! ---- PART III

By , posted Thursday, May. 4th, 2006
Reader Comments: 3

SUGGESTED SOLUTION PATH FOR SECURING YOUR LAPTOP

It is suggested that you download and install a program of your choice from each category in this order of Priority:
1.) Anti-Virus program: This program should periodically scan your computer files and folders, cleaning your system of any Virus or Trojan programs it finds. It may also detect Key-logger and some Spyware software.
2.) Spyware Removal: This program should periodically scan your computer files and folders, cleaning your system of any Spyware programs (and some key-logger software) that if finds.
3.) Firewall program: This program will create a wall between you and the outside world, which should keep external forces (like hackers) from gaining access to your PC. In some cases, it can also keep undetected Spyware programs still remaining on your PC from “calling home”.
4.) Use Encryption on your Wi-Fi Connection: No sense waiting until later to implement this option. Once your Firewall is active (previous step), you are ready to enter the deeper waters.
5.) Update your OS with all relevant Patches: Your operating system needs to be updated from time to time with security patches. Turning on "Automatic Updates" is a great place to start. For those who like to control their machines, turning off “Automatic Updates is fine so long as you take an active hand in updating your system manually on a frequent basis.
6.) Anti-spam program: This program will search your e-mail for spam and filter them out or delete them for you.
7.) ALL-In-ONE Suites: (OPTIONAL) If you would prefer that one company handle multiple aspects of your security, then you will be better suited in purchasing an “all-in-one” suite that provides you with multiple programs (AntiVirus, AntiSpam, AntiSpyware, and Firewall) all rolled into one package.

A QUICK LIST OF APPLICATIONS

1.) Anti-Virus Programs: These programs should clean your system of any Virus infections, and may detect Trojan Horse programs and Keystroke Recording programs.

- McAfee offers a full retail package of VirusScan
- Symantec (providers of Norton based products) offers full retail package of Norton AntiVirus
- Grisoft provides a free antivirus package called AVG Free Edition
- Frisk Software International sells a product called F-Prot AntiVirus.
- Alwil Software provides a free antivirus package called avast! 4 Home Edition.
- Kaspersky Labs sells a retail package called Kaspersky AntiVirus

2.) Anti-Spyware Programs: These programs will search your personal computer and find most (if not all) of the known Spyware software packages, and remove them.

- Microsoft offers a beta program called AntiSpyware, and it is very effective software indeed!
- Lavasoft offers a program called AdAware, which was one of the first and best free utilities available.
- Another program that has a more grassroots beginning is Spybot Search & Destroy. Free!
- A full retail product called CounterSpy is considered the best retail Anti-Spyware program available.

3.) Firewall Programs: This type of program will create a wall between you and the outside world, which should keep external forces (like hackers) from gaining access to your PC. In the case of ZoneAlarm, it can also keep undetected Spyware programs still remaining on your PC from “calling home”.
- My all-time favorite software based free firewall is ZoneAlarm, from ZoneLabs. This program is one of the most highly-rated programs available, and monitors not only incoming traffic like all other firewalls, but it also monitors outgoing traffic as well, which was a first in the firewall community.
- Microsoft’s own firewall is fairly good as Firewalls go, it’s free, and it’s built-in to XP based systems. Go to Control Panel, Double-click on “Security Center” and choose your settings!
- Agnitum Software’s Outpost is another freeware offering, but appears to be going retail.
- Kerio sells a retail Firewall package called Personal Firewall.

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Whit,

I am sorry to hear that you were bothered by my paralleling vigilance in the arena of security with the specific example of women requesting an escort to their car (presuming it is located in a dark/unlighted location).

If I understand your question correctly, you seem to be inferring that I would place the blame at a woman's feet if she were assaulted after chosing to decline an escort. This is absolutely not the case, as I demonstrate with another example that precedes the "escort" example.

All I am attempting to do is drive the initial thought: "could I do something to better protect myself?". If the woman asks the question of herself at all, then my job is done. Likewise, if you consider if it's safest to secure your bike in a dark corner next to a store, or in the well lit bike rack, then my job is done. Your choices are yours to make, as are the results of that choice.

On to your seperate question relating to links and "measures" that Mobility Today offers: any links offered on this site are for your convenience only, we offer no measures which protect users from clicking on ANY links. While we actively police the forums for innappropriate posts, we are not the actual Police or any kind of law enforcement. We are merely VOLUNTEER librarians trying to answer as many questions as possible for end users, while asking those noisy users to "shhhh!".

I am sorry to hear that a download that you installed opened up your home network, but you should not expect Mobility Today to do your work for you in screening downloads or testing them with antivirus or trojan detection software. This is your job. Assuming it's someone else's job to protect you is the surest way to get into trouble.

In the same manner, the individual should always check the credentials of the person they are accepting the escort from. If you judge the escort to be a "black hat" (BH), then it's up to you decide how to utilize their services or offerings.

Posted by , Tuesday, May. 9th, 2006

This was helpful to me and it has good hints. However, at times I am taken by your references to women and what you seem to imply about the responsibility of a victim.

Your parellel about women who choose not to ask for security escorts to their cars at night is bothersome. Eactly what were you implying?

I downloaded something someone offered through a link posted in davesipaq forum (65xx series) that contained programming that opened up my home network, and PDA. I had no way of knowing what was in that download.

So what if the individual security escort is the attacker?

Who is wearing the white hat and who is wearing the black hat?

What measures does Mobilitytoday.com take to protect forum members like myself, who are willing to download. Are posted downloads reviewed by any security-enhancing protocol?

Posted by Whit, Wednesday, Mar. 22nd, 2006

Elrendhel, I can't thank you enough for your work here. It's incredibly well written and presented in terms that I can understand. Thank you so so much.

Posted by Laura, Monday, Oct. 17th, 2005

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