Web Design

Basic Security for Internet, Email, Messaging, and Using MSN Groups

contributed by Rogu?·?c?·?f·v??g??c?

Free Security Tools

Basic Internet Security
Hotmail/Passport/Messenger Basics
Firewall Basics
FileSharing/Download Security
Terminology
Viruses
Trojan Horses
Email Viruses
Security Tools
A list of "not" so nice
"security" tools to avoid.

Aspiring crackers (see the Terminology section) looking for tips will be disappointed with this series. Only tips designed to keep crackers out are presented here. Rogu? is a self-taught hacker (these are the good guys - see Terminology section) and is aware of the latest MSN Groups glitches and vulnerabilities, as well as internet security issues in general.

Please feel free to post your questions on the Using MSN Groups message board.

Good Links and New Stuff Found by Members

BabyStannie's latest list of free Computer Protection and Online Scans
×Sona?× 's Assorted Links(Urls) To Help Computer Users

Great article By Brian Livingston at WindowsSecrets.com
How to defend yourself against adware (scroll to the bottom of the page for the "meat" and important stuff). Special thanks to BabyStannie for pointing this one out. While it's just one set of tests against 20 different nasties, it's still full of great suggestions and links to keep you safe(r).

BabyStannie found a good link to PC World Magazine security tool reviews: PC World Reviews.

For those needing help with using Ad-Aware the first time through, see this post: A Newbie's Guide To Ad-Aware.

How to block unwanted ads, pornography, parasites, scumware and drive-by downloads: Using your built-in HOSTS file to block unwanted content.

Members Keep Getting < LABEL id=HbSession SessionId="###" > On Posts 7 click to find a fix!

For a great explanation on a newer security threat called "phishing" and a handy list of top tools for security, check out this post from Pegger. There's more info here from BriansBuzz.

For tips on removing and preventing the current worms and viruses check this thread

For general information on web crime related issues see CyberCriminals

Collected Links:

Free Online Service: Automated HiJackThis Log File Analyzer
Not certain how accurate this is but it is a new tool for self teaching HiJackThis analyzing.
http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/
American Government web site helps consumers identify fraudulent offers and provides a place to report them.
http://onguardonline.gov
Provides practical tips from the US federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.
http://www.ic3.gov
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (to report false "FBI" emails or threats)

News From The Fronts
On March 11, 2005 the U.S. Federal Trade Commission took action against MaxTheater, the company behind SpywareAssassin, an "anti-spyware" product that has been listed on these pages since July 4, 2004. In its complaint, the FTC specifically named several of the more deceptive and unfair practices that are employed by many of the "anti-spyware" applications listed at Spyware Warrior's Helpful Site FTC Press Release.

Instant Messenger News
A group of companies including Imlogic, McAfee, Sysbari, AOL, Yahoo Microsoft launched the Imlogic Threat Center to provide detection, analysis, alert, and protection for harmful instant messaging (IM) and peer-to-peer (P2P) threats including IM-borne viruses, worms, SPIM (spam over IM), and malicious code.

The new threat center will serve as a comprehensive knowledge base for known IM and P2P vulnerabilities and will additionally provide rapid response and guidance for protection against newly detected threats. The IMlogic Threat Center will serve as the hub for IM and P2P threat alerts launched with the support of Internet security leaders McAfee and Sybari, and global instant messaging leaders America Online, Microsoft and Yahoo.

And remember, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

Updated May 29, 2008