Home Computer Security
    http://edu-observatory.org/olli/hcs/Week1.html 


  INTRODUCTION
  
    Problems continue to be found in operating systems, applications
    software, networks and technology. And an onging battle between 
    the good guys fixing the problems and the bad guy exploiting the
    problems.  Your role is important in this ongoing drama!
    
            
  HOME COMPUTER SECURITY -- DO A SECURITY CHECK
  
    [ ] OK - Install and Use Anti-Virus/Spyware Programs¹²
    [ ] OK - Keep Your System Patched (up to date)
    [ ] OK - Use Care When Reading Email with Attachments
    [ ] OK - Use a Firewall Program on each Computer (software)³
    [ ] OK - Make Backups of Important Files and Folders
    [ ] OK - Use Strong Passwords
    [ ] OK - Use Care When Downloading and Installing Programs
    [ ] OK - Install and Use a Hardware Firewall³
    [ ] OK - Install and Use a File Encryption Program and Access Controls*
   
    *In memory of hard disk encryption?
       http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=4006


    ¹If you run Microsoft Windows® you're going to need antivirus
    software. Most new computers come bundled with a free antivirus
    solution, but sooner or later you have to start paying to get the
    latest virus-definition updates. When the subscription lapses,
    your protection evaporates. Don't let that happen! There is good
    free antivirus software available.

      This is some of the good stuff:
      o http://free.avg.com/download?prd=afe (free) AVG
      o http://www.srnmicro.com/downloads/ (free)
      o http://www.pandasecurity.com (free)
      o http://www.avast.com/eng/free_software.html (free)
      o http://www.kaspersky.com/ (commercial)
      o Prevx (commercial)
      o http://www.nortonsecuritystore.com/ (commercial)
      o http://www.mcafee.com/us/ (commercial)
      o http://shop.trendmicro.com/ (commercial)

    ²If you run Microsoft Windows®, scan for spyware every day the 
    computer is used. A leading anti-spyware vendor, Webroot, says that
    89 percent of consumer PCs are infected with some sort of spyware
    -- your computer is probably infected! If bad guys wanted to infect
    a computer with spyware... just make it available for download and 
    call it "anti-spyware"! How would you know? Happens all the time!
   
      This is some of the good stuff:
      o http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10045910.html (free) Ad-Aware
      o http://www.download.com/SpywareBlaster/3000-8022-10196637.html (free) Spyware Blaster
      o http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-spyware/us/frt/0 (free) AVG Anti-Spyware
      o http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10122137.html (free) Spybot Search and Destroy
      o Prevx (commercial)
      o Spy Sweeper (commercial)
      o Pest Patrol (commercial)
      o Webroot (commercial)
      
    Never disable your firewall, no matter how good the reasoning sounds
      http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=4789

    Important--Even though you have installed and use antivirus and
    antispyware software, an infected computer (called a zombie) can
    turn off your firewall, antivirus and antispyware! So check often
    that your security is turned on and functioning.  
      
    ³Test your firewall [Recommended]
      https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
      Click "Proceed"
      Click "All Service Ports"
      [ ] OK  - Firewall Test - All green?
     
    ³Test your firewall [Advanced] 
      http://nmap-online.com/

    Has my IP address been reported sending spam?
      Look at Reports: and Targets:
      http://isc.sans.org/ipinfo.html
      [ ] OK  - Reports: - none -
      [ ] OK  - Targets: - none -

    Unless you have a fixed IP address, don't get too excited about
    these IP Blacklisting results.
      http://whatismyipaddress.com/staticpages/index.php/is-my-ip-address-blacklisted

  ¹²F-Secure Health Check - for Microsoft Windows XP and Vista 32-bit
      http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/onlineservices/fshc.shtml
     

  SCAN A FILE - quick detection of viruses, worms, trojans, and all kinds of malware
    http://www.virustotal.com/
  
  BROWSER SECURITY HANDBOOK  
    http://code.google.com/p/browsersec/
    
  SURVEILLANCE SELF-DEFENSE SITE  
     https://ssd.eff.org/  
      
  SECURITY INCIDENT SURVEY
    http://www.zeltser.com/network-os-security/security-incident-survey-cheat-sheet.html
    http://www.zeltser.com/network-os-security/security-incident-survey-cheat-sheet.pdf
      
  REFERENCES
    http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/
    http://www.cert.org/homeusers/
    http://www.cert.org/homeusers/goalof_computersecurity.html
    

    
     
    swormley1@mchsi.com