Network Security

Many parents are highly concerned about the safety and viewing habits of their children on the internet. There are ways to block content from some sites as well as set up special types of accounts to protect children, but these measures generally only work on the youngest of children. By the time a child reaches their teen years, they will likely be computer savvy enough to bypass most if not all of these measures. Therefore a parent must find another way to keep track of what their kids are exposed to online.

One tool available to parents are key loggers. Key loggers come in both hardware and software versions. The software version of these monitoring programs run hidden in the background and record what your child is doing. The hardware versions accomplish the same thing but consist of a small device that plugs into the computer between the computer and the keyboard. Today, the software version is by far the most common and the hardware versions are generally reserved for when a person is not able to log onto the target computer.

The most flexible for of key logger is by far the software version. There are hundreds of these programs available. Some simply do what the name suggests and logs the characters that your child types. From there you can see what he is saying in chat, email, etc. The more advanced and much more versatile versions record every aspect of your child’s use of the computer. It records both sides of chat conversations, captures screen shots, records all websites visited and many other aspects of computer usage.

The monitoring programs have another useful feature that can come in handy if your child has his or her own computer. the program can be configured to periodically send the reports to you via email. this way you can even monitor your kids while you are at work. If you prefer, the files can also be transfered using FTP if you have that type of account. You control how often the files are sent to you.

These programs are generally easy and quick to install. Some of the monitoring programs that are feature rich take a little longer to configure and tweak to your exact needs. For these it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with these features before you decide to install them. Most of the programs can be installed in either visible or stealth mode, depending on your needs. In stealth mode, a series of distinctive keystrokes is required to open the program. the programs can also be remotely installed on the target computer by sending the program disguised as another file. This file could be an mp3 or a picture file that your child would be likely to open. Once they click on the file to open it, the program automatically installs itself in stealth mode. This is another handy feature if you don’t have easy access to your child’s computer.

Whatever you choose, be sure to weigh the pros and cons of your child’s safety versus your child’s privacy. Trust is a big things in kids, especially teenagers and this type of monitoring program can be seen as a major intrusion into their life. However, as a parent, you sometimes must do what’s best for your child’s safety regardless of the consequences. These key logger monitoring programs are just one more tool you can use to protect your child.

There are numerous ways for your network to malfunction. Among them are the following. Hacking occurs when a person willfully breaks security codes and passwords in order to retrieve private and confidential information. Furthermore, they may even manipulate information and try to let it look like it was done by the main owner. IP spoofing happens when a person uses a bogus address and manipulates messages to seem like they are coming from a more secured confidential source. Denial of a service attack can also happen when a person infiltrates a site and sends too many wrong data at once thereby making the site temporarily non functional which prevents people from having access to the site.

It also uses one of these common methods to manage input to your network. Proxy service is a feature wherein internet data is received by the firewall. Afterwards, data is sent to the origin of request. Small quantities of data are sifted through filters which can be customized in a process called packet filtering. All others are then segregated and are treated as junk. One of the most modern ways is the use of stateful inspection wherein one simply compares the information to an already sifted base group of data. Incoming and outgoing information are monitored and similarities are trimmed together to make sifting easier.

Essentially there are two types of firewall. First is the internal / software which already comes with the operating systems of the computer. Some computer users download it for free or at a very little cost from the internet. Make sure you install it in an external device such as CDS or USB since you really don’t know the authenticity and the safety of the file. This type provides the basic protection since installing it may already post some risk and lessens the ability of the software to catch it. Second is the external / hardware which are also called network firewalls. This gadget is placed in between your modem or cable and your computer. This is more expensive than the internal type but is especially useful if you have various computers. Some internet service providers combine this with the routers. Lastly, this gadget is separated from the operating system thus it can be more secure against viruses or unsolicited contents.

It can be custom made in that it can filter the data based on your predetermined qualifications. Some of the common ones are the following. Some would like to block certain sites with a given domain name, some can simply block an IP address that is slowing down the network. Others block the port, individualized per server, to just deny access to computers Lastly, you can also set your own protocol to characterize your intended relationship with the server.

If you surf around the Internet, one of the words you will come across is “encryption.” Many people have a legitimate concern about identity theft, and protecting your personal information is an important task to undertake. With all of the wireless technology available, there are a number of ways for hackers to intercept your data files. One of the best ways to protect your files is to encode your data.

Encryption is the process of taking a plain text file, and running it through an algorithm (or program) which “scrambles up” the letters, making it completely illegible. Usually, the person encoding the text file assigns a password to the file, which is needed to “unlock” or “decode” the file, restoring it to its original state. The stronger the password you choose (for example, making it longer, or using a combination of letters and numbers instead of just letters), the safer your file.

One question to ask yourself is this: why encode your data? Most people encode their data to protect themselves against identity theft. If your sensitive data is encoded, even if a hacker or other nare-do-well gains possession of the data files, they will still not be able to read it unless they steal the password. (This is why it is important to store your passwords on a piece of good, old-fashioned *paper*, away from your computer.)

How, you may ask, does one encode a text file? One common method is to use an off-the-shelf package like Microsoft Word. After you have created a text file, there is a feature where you can tell the software to encode the file, and assign a password. Anyone trying to open the file without the password will only see a mishmash of letters. When a “legitimate” user with the password opens the file, they enter the password, and the file appears as it was originally created.

The big question is: does this process really work? Does it really make it impossible for people to get to your data?

And the answer is yes. It would take the best minds in the world, using the largest and fastest computers, years and years to break the algorithms used to encode your data. Even the encoding algorithms used in everyday software such as MS Word provide incredibly strong protection.

What happens if a hacker gets a hold of your file? Usually, s/he will know that trying to “crack the code” is impossible. Instead of taking that approach, s/he will try to “guess” the password. If you use simple words, like “fluffy” (the name of your poodle), the hacker has a much better chance of guessing the password. On the other hand, if you use a password like, “s9j5hqz3c41m2,” the hacker will have a much harder time coming across the correct sequence of characters. (A character is either a letter, a number, or a punctuation mark.)

Once you have mastered the fairly simple steps to encoding your data, you may rest assured that you have taken one very important step towards creating “information-age-peace-of-mind.”

Anti-Virus software is used for protection against threats coming from the internet or other data-containing sources. It stops programs such as trojans, malware, spyware and other harmful agents from interfering with the well-being of your computer and information. Nowadays this kind of software is a must to have, as worms and viruses are running rampant all over the world-wide-web. As natural as the internet might seem in our present age, so should protecting yourself be.

The advantages are many, but it would be better to describe the disadvantages first, as threats are often needed to keep a man about his security. Think about it like this: You drive home from work, stopping by an ATM only to be flabbergasted at the fact that your card balance is empty. Awestruck, you ring your bank only to find out all of your accounts have been emptied in the last few hours. You get home, sit at your computer, and try logging on to your business sites when, you guessed it, your identity and accounts have been stolen as well. After thinking hard about everything you could have done that might have allowed someone to take control of your personal information, an ad on the internet says it all: “Get your virus defending software now!”.

You guessed it, surfing the web unprotected is like walking down the street with all your money and documents dangling out of your back-pocket by a thin thread, and while your SECRET, personal information is printed on the front of your shirt. The virus protection market has boomed in the last few years, with dozens of products to choose from, and so has the technology behind it. While the first viruses only messed around with your PC’s performance and were minor, albeit annoying threats, today they can make you lose whatever is linked to your computer, which could be everything. But fret not; defense software technology has also advanced to a level that can match any threat this present age might offer, and next I’m going to present to you the clear advantages.

The software of an anti-virus is purely designed to defend against all incoming or already existing threats, or possible ones. All of these programs feature system scanning, which is the action of verifying all the files on your computer against possibly hidden viruses, and which is the first thing one should do after acquiring the software. The next most important thing is the passive shield, always automatically activated and which is the means to keeping out viruses from the internet out of your computer as you are browsing and surfing. Last, but not least, some programs feature a “Firewall” option to defend against attacks by hackers over open gateways and security faults, this being essential if the environment you are surfing or working in is likely to be targeted. This all being said folks, I hope I’ve made you understand about the importance of protecting your computer and yourself all the time, so as not to get into any unnecessary trouble. Stay protected!

As more and more people become increasingly dependent on the use of the internet and computers as a whole, there will always be a significant increase in threats against these important aspects in one’s everyday life. Many people often overlook the importance of being fully protected from outside sources who pose a threat against their personal computers. These cruel individuals continually contrive ways to break into systems, stealing vital information or simply destroying the operating system of an innocent yet naive victim. To decrease the risk of falling into this category, it is important to be up-to-date with computer protection.

Many computers come with a free trial offer and updated anti-virus programs already loaded onto their machines, however once these trial periods end the programs are more or less useless. The virus combating software will simply become obsolete due to the fact that the program will not have updated versions of new virus threats. New viruses are created and contrived of daily so it is of the utmost importance to stay ahead of this curve by having a shield against these new terrors. If one is not satisfied with the preloaded software, there are several programs available that can fit most budgets based on need and overall exposure.

Although some of these programs can be found for free against adware and what not, the more name brand, mainstream software lines are normally something that needs to be purchased. With this in mind, many fail to purchase the newer programs increasing their vulnerability to potential harmful individuals up to no good. The normal thought process is that the computer owner will just proceed with caution in everything done on the internet; however, viruses and hackers have become much smarter over the years and can really blindside someone without them even knowing.

In addition, these threats can come in a variety of forms. Many come through email. An unsuspecting victim could open up a piece of spam mail that looks legit and find that their whole operating system is taken over by a bug. Also, navigating to the wrong website could also lead to a hazardous situation with an unprotected computer. Many of these sites will have random pop up advertisements as well which can be harmful and just plain annoying. Having the proper shield can eliminate and warn the user prior to going to websites such as these.

The catastrophic results of not having proper anti-virus software can lead to far more damaging consequences than just simply paying for and taking the time to keep these programs up to date. One wrong move and a computer can be picked apart by these bugs leaving one extremely exposed to identification theft, having personal information sent out to the public, or having to deal with the expensive cost of fixing or replacing the valuable computer. Rather than dealing with these terrible problems that are created evil individuals, people should simply make them a non-issue by continually protecting themselves with the proper software.

There are some very simple ways to protect your information when using the internet and most do not cost you a penny. The first thing you should always do is change your passwords on a regular basis and never give your password for any site to anyone. By doing this you will avoid the possibility of someone getting your passwords with a Trojan that is designed to capture passwords and other information. Also when making purchases online always use one credit card for those types of purchases should your credit card information be used by someone it is more likely that it will be caught by the issuer and reversed. It is also much easier to dispute a credit card charge and get it removed than it is to do on a debit card.

One rule of thumb everyone should follow is to never enter your social security number on any site. If a social security number is required to do the transaction you should do that transaction by phone so that you know who you are talking with. You Should also never click on links in e-mails from people that you do not know. Even question suspicious looking links from people you do know because their ID and passwords may have been hijacked along with their contact lists.

Set up a spam folder and have spam mail go there automatically by setting up criteria for mail to go to that folder. Most ISP’s provide this ability with their basic service and have a site policy to protect you. Always delete your spam folder on a regular basis to avoid problems with unauthorized access to your information. Keep in mind that some SPAM will always get through so be very careful of the e-mails you open. If you don’t recognize the sender don’t open it and send it to your spam folder or delete it. On a regular basis, clear the cookies and temporary files from your system. This will help assure that your system is safe from infiltration from something lurking in those folders. This takes only a few minutes on most systems and really is one of the best defenses against invasion into your privacy via the internet.

These are simple no cost steps that can help protect your information while using the internet. Of course, there are additional ways to protect your valuable information that can be combined with the simple steps to make you feel safer. There is no better way to protect your computer and the information there than to have a very good virus scan program. If you ever have had a virus infiltrate your computer you already know the value of a good program. Along with virus scan programs you can add a firewall, spam detectors and other programs that have a cost. These programs are very effective when used with common sense and the simple no cost steps that have already been covered. Taking these precautions will make your internet experience much more enjoyable and will protect your good name at the same time.