-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- secure computing is kind of a way-of-life. there is no silver bullet that will save the day - unless you are willing to give up the use of a computer ;)
here are some guidelines that may help you: a) don't open email attachments b) only enter sensitive information at verified SSL protected sites c) don't use microsoft outlook for email/news d) don't use internet explorer e) don't use microsoft windows f) use a hardware firewall - most of the cheaper home-user models are pretty equivalent. nowadays some models offer stateful packet inspection. this site http://www.practicallynetworked.com/ has reviews and notes on various models. g) keep your OS up-to-date/patched h) use a software firewall (zonealarm if you violate e, others appropriate to your OS if you don't) i) use a virus scanner, but don't violate a) see http://www.sarc.com/ for notes and tools on viruses. j) set up these tools in their highest security mode and then only loosen the rules for things you need. k) if you use an 802.11b wireless laptop/lan, assume all your traffic is being seen by third parties. l) keep your computer physically secure from third party use m) have a plan for the day when you do get compromised. practice your plan. here are the why's for each of above: a) email attachments are probably the most common way viruses arrive at your computer. some firewall appliances or software will strip dangerous attachments. b) sensitive data is exposed to third parties if not entered at SSL protected sites c) being the most common email reader, outlook is a popular target of viruses. it also has had severe security problems in the past. d) being the most common web browser, IE is a popular target of viruses. it has had severe security problems in the past. e) being the most common OS, windows is a popular target of viruses. it has had severe security problems in the past. f) firewalls prevent most outsider traffic from reaching your computer. g) unpatched OS's expose exploitable vulnerabilities h) zonealarm can prevent malicious software from making connections from your computer. i) a virus scanner may detect and allow you to remove infections from your computer. j) better safe than sorry k) WEP encryption used by 802.11b networks is breakable. do not depend on it for data content protection. l) prevent malicious individual from walking up to your machine and infecting it from a floppy/cd. m) even after following all the rules, the day could arrive when you get a virus or lose data. caveat: following all these rules *may* reduce your chances of having your computer compromised. they are provided as is and with no guarantee of usefulness or completeness. use at your own risk :) jay w. [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 7.0.4 iQEVAwUBPaGVSsyM0YPqVE7FAQGLggf/RmWkGRmg4uFgwD7M8HBZd1bRYBzQ21zW TDBkpGzYDGEertAdlw2p4XABDIO7xChrt1bvtUyyZF4/BrRrXoYaUoILh6fePJVS ij3u62qmrckoB0WBBhL9RzD410pVIVFgZevXHE+ppclqIQhvKeeL/Nqlh1kI45V9 8L6JiyoqDa1UBvv+8+9wPodB+dCU7uYiiDC0B/7MxB5qZa+ZGKq1TO1yT/cLOx6A qSEn+wogI+XGEWeBTWuiCQuXOcQ2IzYdIUVyyGpZ9XGtXyWe0PswE0mtt6gf3zQc T90ALZbSKDx0kVZOIR5QfC78Mg55KftV2B5uiXLYNY30Yj+Z1piJbA== =11Mh -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --- You are currently subscribed to e-gold-list as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use e-gold's Secure Randomized Keyboard (SRK) when accessing your e-gold account(s) via the web and shopping cart interfaces to help thwart keystroke loggers and common viruses.
