Bookmarks for Desktop
Self-Defense
Basic Security
Tips
Get Safe Online will help you protect yourself against internet
threats. The site is sponsored by government and leading businesses working
together to provide a free, public service.
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20051001/email-intro.html
A guide to the biggest e-mail concerns,
particularly security, compliance, and archiving.
http://www.stayinvisible.com/index.pl/basic_security_tips
Handy guide with practical tips to stay low-profile online.
http://www.winguides.com/security/password.php
Pick how many letter, whether you want capitals, numbers or a mix, and hey presto! instant random passwords.
Nice collection of useful tips for staying safe online, from email security, to keeping kids safe online, to keeping personal information safe.
Tips for Mastering Email Overload
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item.jhtml?id=4438&t=srobbins
This article looks at ways you can spend time more efficiently reading and sorting through your email. It also offers tips on effectively replying to messages.
Phishing
Basics Quiz
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/quiz/phishingbasics1.mspx
Good
basic quiz to test your knowlegde of email scams.
Limiting Spam
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/spam/consumer.htm
From the FTC, tip sheets to help stop spam from filling your Inbox.
Email Etiquette
Good tips to follow & things to avoid when writing and sending email.
PayPal - Protect
Yourself from Fraudulent Emails
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/general/SecuritySpoof-outside
PayPal has been hit more than most by phishers. To combat it, they have created a very helpful guide to spotting email scams.
How Not to Get Hooked
by a ‘Phishing’ Scam
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/phishingalrt.htm
From the FTC, a guide to email scams – what to look for and how to avoid them.
Preventing email
worms
http://antivirus.about.com/od/securitytips/a/emailsafety.htm
This article goes over some basic rules to help avoid becoming infected with email viruses and/or worms.
Executable file
extensions
http://antivirus.about.com/od/securitytips/a/fileextview.htm
Don’t just rely on your antivirus software! This article lists the file extensions most often used by viruses, and offers useful tips to protect your computer from viruses and worms.
Symantec Security
Response
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html
This site will help you stayed informed about the latest virus threats. if you use Norton Anti-Virus, you can download new virus definitions here.
McAfee Virus
Information
http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?cid=10371
McAfee is the other big provider of anti-virus software. this site, like Symantec’s, will keep you up-to-date on new virus threats, and allows you to download the latest virus definitions.
Urban Legends and
Myths
Ever ponder if a virus threat is real? This site will help you separate fact from fiction. Can your mobile phone get a virus? Computer myths proven or debunked. Site has a great search engine.
Vmyths.com
The truth about computer viruses & hoaxes.
PC Hell: What Are
Computer Viruses?
http://www.pchell.com/virus/virusbasics.shtml
Good explanation of computer viruses.
Block Pop-up Windows
with Internet Explorer
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/web/sp2_popupblocker.mspx
How-to guide for Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Sunday Smackdown:
Mozilla Firefox 1.0 vs. Internet Explorer 6
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3000-5568116-1.html
A comparison of the two most popular PC web browsers.
Step-by-Step
Instructions for Installing the Firefox Browser Program on Windows
Handy guide has screen shots to guide you through the process (for version 1.04 but is correct for later versions, too), if you decide to try another web browser.
Microsoft Security
Center
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/default.mspx
Links to updates, software downloads, and information to keep Windows computers more secure.
How Do Hackers Break into Computers?
http://netforbeginners.about.com/b/a/207189.htm
Good basic explanation of how hackers work, and steps you can take to
protect yourself.
Archive of SB 1386
Disclosures
http://www.strongauth.com/regulations/sb1386/sb1386Disclosures.html
List of websites whose security has been compromised, and what
happened.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/support/zasc/whyFirewall.jsp
Lots of info on the whats, whys and hows of
firewalls.
Why You Need a PC
Firewall
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/support/zasc/whyFirewall.jsp
Lots of info on the whats, whys and hows of firewalls.
How Firewalls
Work
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/firewall1.htm
How firewalls work, what sorts of firewalls are available, software reviews.
Shields Up: Internet
Security for Windows Users
http://grc.com/su-firewalls.htm
Ins and outs of firewalls, tests to check your computer’s vulnerability.
Test Your Firewall
This website allows you to test your computer’s vulnerability to intruders. It also offers and Activity map to monitor hacker activity – who is getting hit and where the hits are coming from.
Popup Blocker Test
http://www.popupcheck.com/pop_up_blocker.asp
Real-time test of your browser’s popup blocking protection.
Zombie
Computers Abound
http://www.aarp.org/learntech/computers/howto/zombie.html
Zombie computers have been taken over by a
worm and send data out without the owner's knowledge. the performance of a
zombie computer is badly compromised. This article provides information on what
to look for and how to stop it from happening to you.
Denial
of Service Attacks
http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/denial_of_service.html
DNS attacks can bring down a whole network, or ISP. In some cases your computer may be unwillingly involved! This site will tell you how.
Find
out about and download Google's free toolbar, which offers a pop-up blocker.
Find out about and download Yahoo's free toolbar,
which offers a pop-up blocker and spyware protection.
Test Your Knowledge:
Spyware Quiz
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/quiz/spywarebasics1.mspx
This quiz will help reinforce your knowledge of spyware and its symptoms!
Online Spyware Scan
http://www.spywareinfo.com/xscan.php
Handy online scanner will check your computer or spyware infections. Note: this is a scan only, it won’t help get rid of the spyware!
9 Warning Signs of
SpyWare & AdWare
http://www.intek.net/support/9_warning_signs_of_spyware_or_ad.htm
Handy tip sheet.
Spyware (information
from the FTC)
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/spywarealrt.htm
FTC consumer alert page about spyware: how to avoid it, what to do about it, and how to file complaints.
Symantec Anti-Spyware
Information
http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/content.cfm?articleid=5667
Ignore the plugs for Symantec software, and just read this article to better understand where spyware comes from and the problems getting rid of it.
Is Your PC a Zombie?
http://antivirus.about.com/od/whatisavirus/a/zombiepc.htm
A zombie computer is one that has been taken over by a remote computer and can then be used in serious problems like Denial of Service attacks.
SpywareGuide
This site provides links to anti-spyware software, offers information on detecting spyware and what are the most common spyware products, and also offers a free online scanning service (note: it only lets you know if you have it, it doesn’t get rid of it!).
Adware Info
This site offers definitions and information about adware and spyware. It also has links to free and shareware adware removal software.
Spybot Info
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
Website for Spybot spyware removal software.
Ad-Aware Information
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Website for Ad-Aware - adware removal software.
What Is Spyware?
http://www.spychecker.com/spyware.html
Website offers good explanation of spyware, and links to software tools you can download.