Computer+Security

The Internet is a place of many safety-related dangerous things. Trojans, spyware, adware, worms, hackers and much more makes internet dangerous for every user. This article is about this risks and the most important steps against them.


 * 1. Trojans & worms:**

The worm "Blaster" infected 1 000 000 Computers in the first 24 hours. Infected Windows 2000/XP Systems shut down after about one minute.

Worms like "W32.Blaster.Worm" oder W32.Sasser.Worm" are normally using security holes in networks to accrete them. Trojan horses and worms are the most frequently types of viruses. Modern trojans send theirselves in Mails. They're using their own SMTP-Engines.

Consequently the most important step is using an antivirus. [|Antivirus software] detects viruses with definition files of the producer. Definition files including a kind of "fingerprint" of a virus. The antivirus uses this "fingerprint" to identify the virus-infected files. If you don't want to pay for a antivirus program, you should use AntiVir. You can download this program [|here].


 * 2. Defense against worms & hackers:**

I think it's time to say something about passive arrangements now. If you don't konw about the security state of your System you should use an scanner service like these:

http://security.symantec.com/ (Checks the most important Ports.) http://port-scan.de/ (GERMAN, checks nearly everything.)

If security holes are detected, use google for information about that port and how to close it.

If you're using DSL, you hopefully have a kind of hardware firewall in your modem/router. That's one of the best ways to guard your system.

Now my opinion about personal firewalls like ZoneAlarm, Norton Firewall, Sygate Personal Firewall, etc.:

wikipedia.org article


 * For private users, shutting down all unnecessary network-aware services and installing up-to-date patches is often enough to secure the system against (nearly) all outside threats
 * Because they are installed on the system they protect, attacks on the firewall also affect that system and vice versa:
 * Instead of reducing the number of network-aware services, a personal firewall is an additional service that consumes system resources and can also be the target of an attack, as the Worm Witty has already shown.
 * If the system has been compromised by Malware, Spyware or similar software, these programs can also manipulate the firewall, because both are running on the same system. In the past, security experts have found numerous ways to bypass or even completely shut down software firewalls.
 * They will often alarm the user about attacks on harmless occasions, for example connection attempts to closed ports, or misinterpret normal network traffic as an attack.
 * They can interfere with the operation of peer-to-peer programs, though sometimes the firewall can be made to grant permission to the program.
 * The high number of 'alerts' generated by such applications will inevitably result in the user simply clicking 'Accept' without checking the content of the alert, leading to complacency on the user's part.

While many people claim that the uses outweigh the negative aspects of personal firewalls, others claim that personal firewalls are snake oil, because they do not offer any real advantages but try to make the user believe that they are effective with constant alerts about "hacker attacks".

end wikipedia.org aricle

Please don't use this programs, because they only disturb your work and don't have any advantages!


 * 3. Spyware, Adware, Hacker-Tools, Browser Hijacks and other nice things:**

Not all dangerous and annoying programs are viruses, although most people think so! MUCH OF THIS UNWANTED TOOLS ARE NO VIRUSES! THEY ARE CONSEQUENTLY NOT DETECTED IF YOU ONLY RUN AN ANTIVIRUS PROGRAM!

I'm also using much other programs in combination with my antivirus program.

The first tool I'm using was created by Microsoft. It is called the "Windows Defender". http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx THIS TOOL ONLY RUNS WITH WINDOWS XP SERVICE PACK 2

The second tool - probably the most popular one - is called "Ad-aware". Download link: http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html

If you want to maximize the security, you should also use the third tool: http://www.safer-networking.org/

__The function of this programs is similar with antivirus programs.__ __They all need new "fingerprints" to detect new risks!__

I hope this article is a help to improve your privacy.