Home Computer Aid

Browser Security Check

TopBand at WindowsForum.org made a link to this Browser Security Test at bcheck. It seems to work pretty well and should tell you whether you have to make some changes to make your browser more secure.

Neoplanet changed back to WindowsForum.org

Neoplanet.co.uk has changed its name back to WindowsForum.org. The transition back went very smoothly. The same great folks are there to help with your Windows and Linux computing needs, as well as some hardware support.

Critical Internet Explorer Patch

ZDNet announced a patch for a critical flaw is now available. Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-054 addresses the flaw and some others. You can do Windows Update and that should take care of it. If Windows Update is not working, download from here. Be aware, a zero day exploit is out there for this flaw!

Microsoft OneCare

Microsoft's OneCare Beta seems ok, but doesn't seem spectacular. It's supposedly an all-in-one, Antivirus, Firewall, System Update, System Optimization program. The huge thing they neglect is Antispyware which is handled separately in their Microsoft Antispyware (see below). One of the things I DON'T like about Windows XP's native firewall is carried over into OneCare, and that is the Firewall deciding what programs to allow. That decision should always be made by the user in my opinion. On the plus side, it is pretty intuitive and easy to configure, and does take Microsoft Office into consideration when checking for updates. It also updates itself, which one would expect of an Antivirus program.

Microsoft Antispyware

Microsoft has created an Antispyware program based on their acquisition of Giant Antispyware. They've also said it will be free!!! You can download and install it from here: Windows Antispyware (Beta) if you have a valid copy of Windows 2000 or Windows XP. It is still considered Beta (pre-release), but it's a pretty good program in my opinion.

Spam Control

I'm currently evaluating some anti-spam products. Free is good, so I'm doing my utmost to find some good free products. I should have something on the site about it, and possibly a new page devoted to spam this week. [edit]I added an Antispam page and a link to SpamPal to the site.

Protecting Your Computer From Spyware

I've found more information about Spyware Removal and Protection at NeoPlanet.co.uk. I like the forum a lot, and have posted Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of a tutorial on networking designed for home users there. Please check them out. Post some questions!

National Cyber Security Awareness Month

I don't know who's idea it was to make October National Cyber Security Awareness Month, but the National Cyber Security Alliance, the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), and of course, Microsoft, all have articles about it. Some good reading.

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

I recently learned that Wired Equivalent Privacy is all but useless because there are free utilities out there allowing WEP Keys to be broken. This doesn't mean that home users should refrain from configuring WEP to make it more difficult for people to get on their access points, but businesses should find better means of securing Wireless Access Points.

Treat the wireless network like you would treat Internet traffic. Install a Virtual Private Networking device such as a Nortel Wireless LAN Security Switch 2250, or a Contivity. Make all wireless users connect using an IPSec VPN Client before they gain access to the LAN.

Home user's, you're relatively safe, just make sure you have software firewalls on all PC's if you're using wireless.