It’s best to install virtual machine such as Microsoft Virtual PC or VMWare as it takes the place of a separate computer which is contained and easy to manage as it runs in our desktop. Using a separate computer, as we do with a virtual machine, we [...]]]> Install Virtual Machine – And Be Free!

By Robert Moekoe

It’s best to install virtual machine such as Microsoft Virtual PC or VMWare as it takes the place of a separate computer which is contained and easy to manage as it runs in our desktop. Using a separate computer, as we do with a virtual machine, we can do the followings without any fear or harm:

1. Test and run trials, suspicious and strange programs or software.
2. Experiment with suspected files.
3. Quarantine external files or software to make sure they’re safe.
4. Browse into suspicious or new untested web pages in a safe and isolated environment.
5. Smile when we actually got infected, as all we need to do is restore to the point where we want to be in the virtual machine, and start over if we like.

It is a very effective way of 100% protecting ourselves from any malicious threats.

After we install virtual machine, managing (i.e. creating, deleting and restoring) each machines can be done in a very controlled environment right on our desktop, thus making things very easy to do and safe at the same time.

We can test-run suspicious and strange files or software, browse into suspicious or new untested web pages in a safe and isolated environment of the virtual machine. Using this technique alone can eliminate most of the threats we all have been afraid of, namely virus-infected file, spyware, adware, hacker exploitation, and best of all, should any of those happen, we only need to restore to a desired state of the system without fuss.

So, why wait? Install virtual machine now…

This article is a part of the Ten Ultimate Computer Security Must-Do’s steps.

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The idea of how to protect computer here is to have a private computer of your own, separated from the computer that’s meant for others. To really get a solid grip on your computer’s security, you have to decide and limit as to who can access your [...]]]> Private Personal Computer, How to Protect Computer
By Robert Moekoe

The idea of how to protect computer here is to have a private computer of your own, separated from the computer that’s meant for others. To really get a solid grip on your computer’s security, you have to decide and limit as to who can access your computer. The point is not to let your computer be treated worse than it is conditioned to be treated in a secure manner.
Letting others use your computer without previous warnings about the way you want it to be treated will end up in opening many security holes, most of which are coming from human-decisions psychologically-appealing malicious software downloads. A better practice is to separate your own private personal computer from your public personl computer. Treat your private computer with strict rules. Here are some common warnings how to protect computer I personally uphold to begin with:

1. Never download anything, unless I’m around. When I’m around, I’ll make sure he/she doesn’t download executable files including software installations, software upgrades, hot-fixes, scripts, dll’s, or anything executable.
2. Never give up any information on the internet on my name, passwords (if any), where-about, family members’ information, card information, bank account information or even friends information. This has more to do with information security than computer security.
3. Never turn off or change settings of firewall, antivirus, internet security, or any running security software without my permission. Some security solution provides password protected control panel settings. Supply password for such programs to prevent other users from changing settings.

What About The Public Computer?

As for the public computer, there are brute ways you can put into it. Any way there is how to protect computer that you can apply. You have to prepare for the worst. That way, you can keep your personal computer to yourself and have another for public ready for abusive use, usually coming from your children or friends, without any confidential data to leak out. Meanwhile, you might have developed certain settings on your personal computer that you don’t want other people to change, also you might have pseudo confidential data such as coded passwords in an easy to open document for straightforward access that you don’t want anybody else to play around with.

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Having business firewall software is like putting a filter between each computer in your business and the world outside. With a business firewall you can filter out information coming from certain websites or addresses, or packets containing certain signatures. By doing that, we can be [...]]]> Firewall, The Effective Way to Have a Business Firewall Software Installed.

Having business firewall software is like putting a filter between each computer in your business and the world outside. With a business firewall you can filter out information coming from certain websites or addresses, or packets containing certain signatures. By doing that, we can be shielded from unauthorized access usually made with malicious intentions.

With that in mind, when you need to have a business firewall installed you also have to know what to filter and what not, in order to make use of the business firewall software effectively. These are tailor made settings. You can consult with every individual that uses the network and get every detail about their network traffic’s boundaries.

Who does know best what information we don’t need thus needs to be filtered? Nobody does exactly but us. Not even the best business firewall software vendors put together. The best it can be is that the business firewall software is already set up to a default set of rules commonly used but not yet detailed to your specific needs. What are your special needs to set up on the business firewall software rule? To begin with, these might be some good examples:

1. What IP addresses in your home network you want to grant access to your computer. They might just be the IP addresses of some computers in the office network where various users can use, where those computers have high risk of being compromised by malicious software.
2. What programs in your computer you want to give access to the network. The best configuration is to set a default deny to all programs but trusted ones. This requires you to fill the list with program names you know of that actually need to access the network in order to work properly. Programs that are not in the list will be blocked out.

A business firewall software could also be a firewall that comes bundled with an internet security software. Make sure you fine-tune the business firewall software before use, as leaving it with a default setting will either prevent you from connecting to the internet smoothly or render the business firewall software but more of a system burden.

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nigerian scam warning

If you have ever heard of Nigeria Scam or romantic scam before, you know what I mean. Online (and online only) friends, acquaintances, or even lovers should be treated with prudence. Unless you have proven them to be offline-trustworthy, always put precaution, [...]]]> Beware of Online Friends and Mates, Nigeria Scam

By Robert Moekoe

nigerian scam warning

If you have ever heard of Nigeria Scam or romantic scam before, you know what I mean. Online (and online only) friends, acquaintances, or even lovers should be treated with prudence. Unless you have proven them to be offline-trustworthy, always put precaution, make sure you have a good spyware privacy, and never let go off sensitive information to them. Among them could just be a Nigeria Scam or romantic scam.

So, what harm could romantic or Nigeria scam do to us? Some of the modus operandi online scams (Nigeria scam) are pulling nowadays are listed here:

1. An heir of a very wealthy but overthrown leader of a distant country, needing help to get the family’s money in a bank account out of the country. The help the Nigeria scam says it needs is an amount of money to make the bank account transfer possible. A victim who buys the story usually transfers the money and lost it to the Nigeria scam.
2. Someone who you’ve known of for only a short period of time via an online social networking or an online matchmaker devours special attention to you, usually in the name of love and all about love. In the mean time he / she might or might not offer you something such as money, present, or anything that might be of bonding value to you. In the end, the scenario is that you have to pay for a gift sent via mail as a customs official somewhere tells you that some money is needed to let the cargo in to your country.

There might be more scenarios played by con artists in  an online or Nigeria scam waiting for us to be their preys. So just beware and keep our judgment straight.

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