Hello list members, A few days back I received a mail from an unknown source with 2 attachments and I opened those attachments. Reading this article I'm a bit afraid as I dont have any softwares to stay away from these threats in my computer. Could anyone suggest me what to do so as to protect my computer from these types of threats.
expecting a suggestion Abdul ----- Original Message ----- From: "firoz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:11 PM Subject: Re: [AI] Protect your PC and personal data from hackers and malware. > thanks > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sudhir R (NeSTIT)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> > Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 10:57 AM > Subject: [AI] Protect your PC and personal data from hackers and malware. > > >> rediff.com >> >> December 11, 2007 >> >> You do it almost everyday. You login into your computer, send e-mails, >> open attachments from friends and strangers, shop online, transfer money >> using your >> banks secured payment gateway, chat with friends and upload personal >> information on social networking sites. >> >> But have you ever given a thought to someone who is keeping a close watch >> on all your online activities. Someone, somewhere in some corner of this >> planet >> trying to get inside your computer and filch one of the most important >> resources of information age: personal data. >> >> Data that can be abused to make purchases online, send malicious >> programmes to all those on your contact list and many such things to harm >> you. Welcome >> to the age of hackers (these are people who try to gain access to your >> computer using various hacking tools and misuse your personal data) and >> spies lurking >> on the vast Internet highway. >> >> But don't worry. There are ways in which you can beat the >> hackers.However, >> when it comes to security nothing is 100 per cent secure. Loads of >> exploits are >> developed everyday. Updating the knowledgebase should be a regular >> process. Following could be few of the many measures that could be taken >> to protect >> your computer and all things that you do online: >> >> ~ Install the latest antivirus software (I recommend Kaspersky, Eset >> Nod32, Quickheal, F-Secure) on the computer and never ever disable or >> turn >> it off. >> Install a personal firewall ( >> www.sygate.com >> and >> www.zonelabs.com >> offer free versions) and Spyware Checker (I recommend Spybot Search & >> Destroy). >> >> ~ Keep updating antivirus/anti spywares at least every 15 days. Use >> separate >> Trojan >> removers like anti Trojan shield if possible. Full system scan with your >> anti virus at least once in a week or better set it to scan periodically >> and give >> a small interval say every Friday (the day may vary according to your >> choice). >> >> ~ There are a few free online scanners available at >> http://housecall.trendmicro.com >> or >> http://www.kaspersky.com/kos/eng/partner/us/kavwebscan.html, >> and >> http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml. >> >> ~ Get System's health checked regularly at >> http://www.pcpitstop.com/. >> The site checks the overall system health, tunes up the system and finds >> out the vulnerabilities. It's a free service. >> >> ~ Don't ever download or open attachments whose source you are not >> certain >> about. Even if the source is trusted, see if the content is relevant. >> Even >> non-executable >> files like *.Doc files can contain macro viruses and Trojans. There are >> some special sort of programmes called worms, which don't need human >> interaction. >> You just open a mail or visit any website and that's it. So always stay >> alert. Avoid opening e-mail attachments that contain '.vbs', '.scr', >> '.exe', or >> '.pif' file extensions. Files that end in these extensions are most >> likely >> to contain some sort of virus. >> >> ~ Web browsers like Fire Fox, IE 7 & Opera offer good security features. >> Test your Web Browser for Vulnerability at >> http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/. >> >> ~ Never download any files specially executables over P2P (peer-to-peer) >> sharing networks, because you cannot be absolutely certain what they are. >> P2P file >> sharing programmes can lead to the installation of a lot of adware and >> spyware. Try downloading executables from authentic and well-known sites; >> don't >> just download files from anywhere. >> >> ~ Try not to visit porn sites, Warez, sites of cracks and serials because >> most of them have hell lot of latest spywares, Trojans and viruses .One >> visit >> and you are gone if your virus definitions are not up to date. >> >> ~ Be familiar with the installed programmes on your computer. If you >> notice a new programme installed, which you didn't in the first place, >> possibilities >> are that it might be something malicious. >> >> ~ Read the installation agreements carefully when you download something >> from the Internet. Pay attention to the terms and conditions or EULA >> (end-user >> license agreements) of the program being installed. Reference to third >> party installation should be given more attention. Some EULA's tell you >> that, if >> you install the program, you have also agreed to install some spyware >> with >> the software. Do check the independent sources as some EULA's do not >> mention >> about the Spywares. >> >> ~ Back up your computer data on a regular basis, at least weekly. Copy >> your important documents and files onto a floppy disk, removable drives, >> CD or a >> DVD for safekeeping. Don't wait for the disaster to happen, take the >> precaution before hand. Create system restore points periodically >> >> ~ Use e-mail encryption like PGP to send important information via >> emails. >> Don't send important information in plain text. >> >> ~ Never respond to unsolicited e-mail. To those who send spam, one >> response or 'hit' from thousands of e-mails is enough to justify the >> practice. Additionally, >> it validates your email address as active, which makes it more valuable, >> and therefore opens the door to more spam. >> >> ~ Beware of phishing attacks. Sites like >> www.antiphishing.org >> offer latest updates on phishing along with good security tips >> >> ~Don't chat with strangers just for fun. Don't ever accept any file, >> especially executables from an unknown person on chat. Don't click on any >> links given >> by someone you don't know. >> >> ~ Do not accept links or downloads from strangers even if it is tempting. >> There have been cases where spywares like Trojans, keyloggers etc. have >> been hidden >> in simple picture files with '.jpg' extensions. You never really know >> what >> is contained inside a file which looks attractive. >> >> Today people use binders to club two different files and send you the >> mixture. Once you click on the file both file gets executed. >> >> ~ Be cautious while displaying your profile, especially your personal >> details, photographs, videos and contacts on social networking sites. >> Your >> profiles >> and contacts may be misused by other people. >> >> ~ Install parental control softwares like netnanny that helps you choose >> what the kids see on the Internet and monitor the activities of children. >> For more >> details visit >> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children. >> >> Wireless security >> >> ~ If you have a wireless network, turn on the security features: Use MAC >> filtering, turn off SSID broadcast, and even use WEP/WPA/WPA2 with the >> biggest >> key you can get. >> >> Online shopping safety tips >> >> ~ While purchasing online, look for signs that online purchases are >> secure >> (SSL secured sites or 128 bit encryption) like >> Ebay.co.in. >> At the point that you are providing your payment information a golden >> coloured lock appears (for SSL secured sites) or the beginning of the Web >> site address >> should change from http to shttp or https, indicating that the >> information >> is being encrypted -- turned into code that can only be read by the >> seller. >> >> Your browser may also signal that the information is secure with a >> symbol, >> such as a broken key that becomes whole or a padlock that closes. >> >> ~ Carefully use credit card and online banking for online shopping. Check >> your credit card and bank statements at regular intervals. Notify the >> bank >> immediately >> if there are unauthorised charges or debits. Avoid using credit card >> details and online banking on public computers and in cyber cafes. It is >> very unsafe >> because most of them are infected with viruses, Trojans and key stroke >> loggers. >> >> Banks such as HDFC [ >> Get Quote] >> have launched their services like Net Safe to create temporary credit >> cards with a limited value to transact online. This way, in the worst >> case >> scenario, >> your damages are limited. >> >> Password security >> >> ~ Use two different passwords. One for mail, work and other important >> access and other for routine purposes like subscribing to websites or >> public viewing. >> But remember to switch between them when you start doing transactions >> after mere browsing. Create another e-mail ID providing false information >> and crazy >> usernames like 'whitecat_4u', 'kkk320' etc. which you use exclusively for >> subscription to sites. That will prevent spam from coming to your main >> ID. >> >> ~ Create a difficult-to-guess password by taking the first alphabet from >> each word of a phrase. What is a good password? It is a password which is >> at least >> 8 characters long, not easily guessable, contains mixture of uppercase >> and >> lowercase letters as well as numbers, and preferably contains special >> characters >> like $, *, %, !, * etc. Some examples of a good password are: >> &(^.1234*cRack&.^). >> >> ~ Always use alphanumeric passwordwith special characters and try to >> adopt >> phrasing technique to construct passwords which are easy to remember, >> hard >> to >> guess and impossible to crack. Create a unique acronym. Never use a >> dictionary based password like guest, home etc. It takes little time for >> a >> good cracker >> to crack the password. >> >> Vineet Kumar is the founder and CEO of >> National anti-Hacking Group. >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. 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