Ask the Geek

Using the Internet for business and leisure is a necessity in today’s world.  As the technology that allows you to work more efficiently on-line
increases, techniques used by Internet criminals also adapts.  While some on-line crimes are perpetrated only for the criminal to exert power
by making your life miserable through damaging your computer, identity theft is a main focus for most Internet thieves.  In addition to identity
theft threats from hackers, computers can fall victim to viruses, spyware
and phishing programs from Internet misuse.  While you may think that
high-profile or wealthy individuals are the common targets, most
hackers are looking for any easy opportunity.  The easiest opportunity,
of course, is an unprotected computer.  Your computer holds all of your
most private personal and financial information, so proper security is a
must to keep you and your files safe.

Very soon, I will be releasing 101 Internet Security Tips, a comprehensive resource guide to all things security on the Internet.

Stay tuned.

Someone asked me just today about why their computer locks up when downloading files. Well, there can be many causes of lockups, especially when you are trying to get files from the Internet. For example, one person has this problem: “When i go to the windows updates site or they download in my system tray, at some point my computer locks up.”

Yet another person has this problem:  “I have a good internet connection via my university. However my computer usually crashes when downloading from servers that I can get a good xfer rate from. Often when I download with a speed above 500 kb/s the computer locks up, the same thing can happen if I do several downloads at the same time even if they are going slower. What happens is that the screen freezes, I can’t do anything and I have to do a hard reboot.”

At this point, I don’t have an answer, but I will keep you posted, as I am researching the problem now.

Happy New Year!

Almost exactly one year ago today, I released “14 Golden Rules of Computer Security.” The response was excellent and I thought about actually selling the book. I decided against that and will continue to make it available for free download to my subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you will receive an email with the download link to the newly revised and updated book.

If you are not already a subscriber, please use the link to the sign up page, enter your email address, and you will receive a download link by return email.

Cheers!

The Geek

If you’re into vintage radios like I am, you’ll be interested in seeing what I have listed on eBay.

Check out my eBay page: http://myworld.ebay.com/kc4iwt.

While you’re there, be sure to sign my guestbook.

Cheers!

The Geek

If you haven’t tried this program, you simply must. Run Dr.Web CureIt!^® (no need to install it) to quickly scan your computer and cure it of any malicious objects. It’s completely free for home use, and believe me, it works. All you have to do is go to http://www.freedrweb.com/cureit/?lng=en and follow the instructions. It’s very simple. Want to know who Dr. Web is? See below.

Doctor Web is a Russian IT-security solutions vendor. Dr.Web anti-virus software has been developed since 1992. The Russian IT security services market leader, Doctor Web was the first vendor to offer an anti-virus as a service in Russia. The company also offers proven anti-virus and anti-spam solutions for businesses, government entities, and personal use. We have a solid record of detecting malicious programs, and we adhere to all international security standards. Doctor Web has received numerous certificates and awards; our satisfied customers spanning the globe are clear evidence of the complete trust customers have in our products.

Enjoy!

The Geek Toolkit has just been updated and is ready for download. If you have previously purchased the toolkit, you’re entitled to free updates and will be receiving download instructions shortly in your email inbox. If you haven’t purchased the toolkit yet, you’re really missing out on some fantastic tools. Click here to get yours today!

This is a major update – more than 150 MB – with six exciting new
tools from Comodo added:

Under ..\Security\Antivirus\ you’ll find Comodo Internet Security, a
complete and very robust security suite.

Under ..\Security\Secure Browsers\ you’ll find the new Comodo Dragon Internet Browser that’s based on Chrome, but has enhanced security features.

Under ..\Security\Secure Email\ you’ll find Comodo SecureEmail and
Comodo AntiSpam.

Under ..\Security\Secure VPN\ you’ll find Comodo EasyVPN. This is a
very cool tool! Be sure to check out the web page.

Under ..\Useful Utilities\ you’ll find Comodo System-Cleaner to help
keep any system in perfect tune. There’s also a portable version
available on their website.

I’m sure you are going to find these new additions interesting and useful.

Cheers!

The Geek

P.S. If you send me an email with the code “June Geek” in the subject, I’ll send you a special link for $10 off the regular price of the Geek Toolkit. There, now you have no excuse not to get yours today!

Our computers have become a mainstay in our homes and offices, and we rely on them to perform well to keep the rest of our lives motoring along at peak efficiency as well. One of the most common problems people encounter with their computers has to do with their drivers. These tiny bits of software are responsible for many of the communication connections within our computer systems. When communication is hindered, the entire system can be affected. We have some tips to keep your computer in top health by keeping your drivers in top form.

Click Here To Download Your Drive Analyzer Report

First, make sure you perform periodic updates on your drivers. Just like the rest of your system, drivers need to be equipped with the latest and greatest technology to allow them to communicate effectively with the rest of your updated system. In some cases, you will know your driver is due for an update because your computer will slow down or a particular piece of hardware no longer works as well. However, it is best to perform updates before these types of problems arise, so maintaining a regular update schedule may be the best approach.

Next, make sure your system remains clean by removing unused and outdated drivers as necessary. Just like any other excess files cluttering your system, unused drivers can take up valuable computer space, which can slow down the performance of your system. If you have an automated driver program, this software will often remove these unwanted drivers automatically for you. For more about these programs, click here:

Click Here To Download Your Drive Analyzer Report

Keeping your drivers working at top capacity makes a big difference in the performance of your PC. You can handle these tasks manually or invest in an automated driver software program that can take care of these jobs for you. Check out this automated program here:

Click Here To Download Your Drive Analyzer Report

One of the things I come across all the time is the XP forgotten password problem. Running a close second is the router forgotten password. Well, there’s a handy password card you can get that will allow you to remember your passwords in the future.

Thanks to “A password reminder to carry with you” on the IT Trenches blog letting me know about this great little tool. This thing is a real winner for all those XP forgotten password issues. Now, when you get those calls like “I forgot my password for my ____,” you can give them something that allows them to write down password clues that are secure and also easily remembered.

You visit? http://passwordcard.org and it generates an unique credit card sized matrix like the one in the picture. Just pick a symbol, a color and a number of characters and you have a secure password. You have the option of creating a numbers-only area as well as including symbols into the mix, depending on the type of passwords or PINs you require. The default is upper/lowercase and numbers. If you lose your card you can get a duplicate by going to the site and entering the number that appears on the bottom of the card, so you might want to write that down and keep it in a safe place just in case.

There are several ways you can use the password card. The simplest way is to pick a symbol, color and sequence of characters from left to right as in the illustration. You would remember this, or write it down, as “spade green 8.” But notice that there are eight rows under each symbol. You could could choose the column under the diamond symbol and use the password JwdC4aGt. You’d write that down as “diamond down.” Reverse the order, and you might write it down as “diamond up.” In this case, the password would be tGa4CdwJ.

Have fun!

The Geek Toolkit has just been updated and is ready for download. If you have previously purchased the toolkit, you’re entitled to free updates and will be receiving download instructions shortly. If you haven’t purchased the toolkit, you’re really missing out. Click here to get yours today!

The powerful security testing tool Ettercap has been added to the Security tools; dscrypt, a portable standalone file encryption utility has been added to the Encryption tools; and, Partition Wizard 5.0 has been added to the Disk Tools. I’m sure you are going to find these new additions interesting and useful.

Go ahead, get your Geek Toolkit today!

The Register – John Leyden
Posted in Malware, 6th April 2010 13:37 GMT

The security perils of PDF files have been further highlighted by new research illustrating how a manipulated file might be used to infect other PDF files on a system.

Jeremy Conway, an application security researcher at NitroSecurity, said the attack scenario he has discovered shows PDFs are “wormable”. Computer viruses are capable, by definition, of overwriting other files to spread. Conway’s research is chiefly notable for illustrating how a benign PDF file might become infected using features supported by PDF specification, not a software vulnerability as such, and without the use of external binaries or JavaScript. [Read more]