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This is my toolset for everyday computing. It protects my workstation/server from most normal Internet threats and keeps the machine running well. Since I didn't want to reinvent the wheel, I thought I'd put down my thoughts and quick assistance for those that 'Got to Know'.
ZONE ALARM – Firewall Protection
The first and most important tool to be installed upon installation of Windows 2000 and other MS OS's is ZoneAlarm. Go to http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp and find the link for the free version. You should have this program ready on a CD with your other tools, so that it is installed prior to getting on the net. This program runs all the time, and never, never get on the net without it.
AD-AWARE – SpyWare Detection
The second program is Ad-Aware. Go to http://lavasoft.element5.com/default.shtml.en and find the link for the 'free' Ad-Aware program. Have you ever found software on your system, and you have no idea where it came from, or your computer starts doing 'strange' things without it asking you. Well, there are programs/software out on the Internet that are Free. But some vendors/programmers are sneaky. Along with the 'free' software, they will embed 'data miners', 'data collectors', that will transmit information (private) to the vendor without 'asking' you. The normal name for this software is spyware. 'Ad-Aware' will find that spyware and let you delete it, or if you're worried that it might be important, it will let you quarantine it. Run this program at least once a week.
Open Office 1.1 – Absolutely free alternative to MS Office
OpenOffice does 99 percent of what I want to do concerning documentation, slides, and spreadsheets. Download it for free, at http://www.openoffice.org/ . Using the 'Save As' function, you can save your documents in almost any format imaginable, MS word, Wordperfect, etc.
Eraser
Eraser will delete files as good or better than it will take the NSA to retrieve. Of course, nothing is sure when it comes to the NSA, and for sure as I don't trust anyone, the latest versions of PGP have been compromised by the NSA. You can find Eraser links here, http://www.thefreecountry.com/security/securedelete.shtml . Eraser gives you a cool link when you are using your file browser, you can right-click and 'erase' a file. If you right-click your 'RecycleBin', you will find another cool link, to 'erase' the contents of the bin, using up to 35 rewrites using different algorithms.
Memtest, v1.70
Memtest is the killer app in troubleshooting hardware problems, in that it will immediately tell you that your hardware is OK. You can find Memtest here, http://http://www.memtest.org/ .
If the memtest program tells you that there are problems, then you can use it to isolate bad memory chips, CPUs and power supplies, by replacing components one by one until you are able to pass memtest. Let's say memtest fails, you would then start troubleshooting by removing all memory from the system and starting with one memory chip, and running memtest, if it passes, swap out memory chips until the test fails, you will then have found the 'bad' memory chip. If all memory chips fail, you either have a bad motherboard, cpu, or power-supply. At that point, it depends what spare parts you have in your supply closet, as to your next steps. For most people you'll be taking the system down to the computer shop to let them handle it.
Windows Privacy Tools (winPT)
Windows Privacy Tools allows you to encrypt and decrypt files easily. It gives you a GUI interface to the 'difficult to remember' tasks of encrypting and decrypting files. You can get Windows Privacy Tools for 'free', because you live in a 'free' society, at http://winpt.sourceforge.net/en/ . Note, write your emails in a word processing document, then paste them into the email program. I've lost quite a few important emails, because of hiccups in Yahoo or MS Outlook. This way, your wordprocessor has a 'temp' copy of the document. You can spell check it with ease, and encrypt the file for transmission. Everyone should be encrypting their email. The Internet is one big listening post. Your email 'conversations' are open to any and all that want to listen to them. Your email is plain-text out in the open data, that doesn't even need to be cracked, it's just there for the taking. How do I know, hmm, did I tell ya I worked for the government...
Ahead NERO burning ROM v7.7.5.1
I swear by this program (click on icon above for site) for burning CDs/DVDs, VCDs, and SVCDs. I've used the DVD movie makerportion, and it sucks. If you really want to know about burning DVD's, see my fav site, Sefy's DVD site for newbie's at http://www.dvdrhelp.com/ . This site will clue you in on the low down of DVD stuff, along with http://www.doom9.org/ and DVD Shrink at http://www.dvdshrink.org/ .
Tips:
If you are using MS Outlook, turn off the 'preview pane', yes, this is a convenient option, however, when the preview pane is used, the graphics (linked to another site) on the email are loaded, and the spammer now knows that your email address if valid. In MS Outlook, do not open any mails from unknown sources, again, once the graphics are loaded, the spammer knows your address is good, and then, your address is 'sold' to other spammers.
If you are using Yahoo Mail, turn off 'html graphics', again, this prevents the spammers from knowing if your address is good. You can 'turn on' individual graphics in the mail if it is something you actually want to look at. Also, definitely use the SPAM button on yahoo mail, it helps everyone when you get a real spam in your inbox and you hit the spam button.
Never 'un-subscribe' from an 'unknown' source, this just validates your email address which is then, you guessed it, sold to other spammers.
Using Windows2000, update to SP4, however, SP3 is OK, if you don't want to download the monsterize of SP4.
Use a different browser instead of Internet Explorer, which is loaded with vulnerabilities. Try Firefox, I use it, and this is where you can get it: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ . Now, a word, there are some sites that only support Active X and IE, but they are few, and you've always got IE installed on win2k/XP if you really need it. And next is why you still need IE.
If you feel your system is not safe, and you've got questions about whether or not your system is infected, don't spend 50 bucks on worthless Norton, do this instead, go to Trend Micro and click on the free virus scan link, see http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ . You will need IE to do this, or a pure version of Netscape (another alternate browser).
Hint number 654847573, make 3 mail account at Yahoo for yourself. 1 is for your friends and family to email you. 2 is for site registration of known 'OK' sites, like your bank, your credit union, safe business contacts. 3 is for junk registration accounts, like college registrations, rebates, etc. You will be surprised how fast number 3 gets filled up with spam, but you will have to check it every once in a while for 'valid' emails. Also, never use your ISP account email box for anything but emailing the ISP for support. Those boxes get filled up fast with spam, as ISP's are worthless for depending on to stop SPAM. On a side note, did you know that your State DMV sells your info to mail spammers. That's why when you first move into a new state, your mailbox stays empty, until you get your new drivers license, then WAM, SPAM.
Passwords, always use a special character(s) in your passwords, like #,$ etc. Have two passwords that you like, use the junk one for 'spammer' accounts, rebate places, etc, where things aren't too secure. This way, when the site is 'hacked' your passwords that you use for really important accounts is not brought out into the open. Did you know that there are sites that publish broken CC number, passwords, etc. Some web sites do not allow 'special characters' in their registration process. TechTV, one of the proponents of Internet Security, does not, nor does Charter Cable Internet, one of the biggest providers of Internet services, does not allow proper password security. Unbelievable, but true.
A word for security again, if it's in a vault safe in a bank, your data is usually secure. If your data has 'ever' been on a computer, you can bet it can be comprised by someone. I know, I've worked in the government, and let's just say, I now do not trust anyone. I can't remember where, but someone said, if it's never been on your computer, then it's safe. Files leave all sorts of recoverable evidence on a hard drive. Repeatedly using Eraser (above) should help quite a bit. If in doubt of a hard drive that you're getting rid of, physically destroy it with a hammer.
I myself have been a victim of Identity Theft. When I moved out of Alabama in '98, someone must have got my SSAN off some military document. The person went and got a Dept Store credit card and charged 800 dollars of stuff. It took 4 months of writing, copying, and phone calls to get those idiots off my back. And they still attempted to put a 'bad' mark on my CC file. I now shred everything that has my name, or address on it, and that includes all my receipts and junk mail. I don't shred all of the junk mail, it, just the 'label's etc.
Use your cell phone number for registrations (everywhere), even in town. Solicitors cannot call your cell phone number, so that will cut down on the junk phone calls. Also, register all your phone numbers at The National Do Not Call Registry at https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx . This will put the hammer down on phone SPAMMERs.
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