Antivirus software and a firewall alone canot guarantee your safety. Here is how to foil the latest crop of sneaky attacks and nefarious attempts to steal your data.
Some attackers will send spam text messages to your mobile phone that appear to be from your network provider or financial institution. These Trojan horse text messages may direct you to a malicious site or request permission to install an update that will change the settings on your cell phone to allow the attackers to capture usernames, passwords, and other sensitive information from your device.
Go to the source for updates and news: If you receive a text message that appears to be from a trustworthy source, but it directs you to install or update software, or if it initiates the installation and requests permission to continue, immediately exit the text-messaging app and contact the customer service department for the wireless provider or business in question to verify whether the software is legitimate.
You may receive a lot of unsolicited e-mail from companies that you do business with--e-mail that you might even regard as spam--but reputable companies will not send you unsolicited links and updates via e-mail. Similarly, reputable companies will not send unsolicited text messages to your mobile device directing you to install an update or download new software.
Attackers prey on your tendency to trust your wireless provider or financial institution. Do not blindly accept software updates or download applications to your mobile phone simply because the text message appears to be official. If in any doubt, follow up with your wireless provider or with the business.
Lost Laptops, Exposed Data
The portability of laptops and cell phones is convenient, of course, but that same portability means that such devices are easily lost or stolen. If your laptop, netbook, phone, or other device falls into the wrong hands, unauthorized users may access the sensitive data that you have stored there.
Encrypt your data: You can use a utility such as Microsoft"s BitLocker to encrypt data. Unfortunately, BitLocker is available only for Windows Vista and Windows 7, and even then it is exclusive to the Ultimate and Enterprise editions of those OSs (and is also available in Windows Server 2008); you would not find the tool in the consumer versions of Vista and Windows 7.
Fortunately, BitLocker is not the only game in town. You can use another encryption program, such as TrueCrypt (available for free under open-source licensing), to protect your data from unauthorized access.
Encrypting your data is not without a pitfall or two, however. The biggest issue is to ensure that you always possess the key. If you lose your encryption key, you will quickly discover just how good encryption is at keeping out unauthorized users.
Use stronger passwords: If encrypting seems to be more of a hassle than it is worth, at least use strong passwords to protect your PC. Longer passwords are better; more characters take longer to crack. You should also mix things up by substituting numbers and special characters for letters. For example, instead of using the plain "PCWorldMagazine", you could use "PCW0r1dM@g@zin3". Though that is still a phrase you can easily remember, the character diversity makes it significantly harder to guess or crack.
You should have a secure password to log in to your user account even if you are the only person who uses your computer. Note, however, that while strong passwords are a great deterrent, they are not impervious to attack: An invader who has physical possession of your computer can find ways to get around that protection.
Lock down your BIOS: By implementing a BIOS password or a hard-drive password (or both), you can ensure that no one else can even boot the computer. Getting into the BIOS varies from system to system. The initial splash screen that your PC displays usually tells you which key to press to access the BIOS settings; watch as the computer is booting, and press Del, Esc, F10, or whichever key it specifies.
Once inside, find the security settings. Again, these settings vary from vendor to vendor, but the BIOS settings are fairly rudimentary. Learn more about accessing and navigating your system"s BIOS in "Tweak Your PC' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N's BIOS Settings the Safe Way."
You can set a master password that prevents other people from booting your computer or altering the BIOS settings. This option goes by different names, but it is often called an administrator password or supervisor password. If you wish, you can also set a hard-drive password, which prevents any access to the hard disk until the password is entered correctly.
Methods for circumventing these passwords exist, but having the passwords in place creates another layer of security that can help to deter all but the most dedicated attackers.
Use a recovery service: If your equipment gets lost or stolen, you had like to recover it; but if you ca not get your hardware back, you"ll at least want to erase the data it holds. Some vendors, such as HP and Dell, offer services that try to do both for select laptop models.
Both HP"s Notebook Tracking and Recovery Service and Dell"s Laptop Tracking and Recovery are based on Computrace from Absolute Software. When you report that a laptop protected with one of these services has been lost or stolen, a small application running in the background on the PC waits for the computer to connect to the Internet and then contacts the monitoring center to relay location information for finding the machine. If a protected lost or stolen laptop cannot be retrieved, or if the data on a system is highly sensitive, these services allow you to remotely erase all of the data stored on it.
Though less comprehensive, free utilities such as the FireFound add-on for Firefox provide similar capabilities. You can configure FireFound to automatically delete your passwords, browsing history, and cookies following a failed login attempt.
Mobile phones can hold a significant amount of sensitive data, too. Fortunately, services such as Find My iPhone, part of Apple"s $99-per-year MobileMe service, and Mobile Defense for Android-based smartphones perform similar feats of location tracking and remote data wiping for smartphones. Both MobileMe and Mobile Defense can use the built-in GPS capabilities of your smartphone to pinpoint the current location of the device and relay that information back to you.
Rogue Wi-Fi Hotspots
Free Wi-Fi networks are available almost everywhere you go. Attackers, however, sometimes set up a malicious open Wi-Fi network to lure unsuspecting users into connecting. Once you have connected to a rogue wireless network, the attacker can capture your PC"s traffic and gather any sensitive information you send, such as your usernames and passwords.
Verify the network' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N's name: If you want to connect to the Internet at a coffee shop or in another public place, find out the SSID of the establishment"s network. The SSID is the name of the wireless network; it is broadcast over the airwaves so that your computer can detect the network, and as a result it"s the name that appears in your system"s list of available networks.
The SSID for a network at a McDonald"s restaurant, for instance, might be "mickeyds." An attacker could set up a rogue wireless router in the vicinity of the McDonald"s location and set its SSID to "mcdwifi" or "mickeyds2." Your computer would then display both names on the list of available networks--and the rogue wireless network might even have a stronger signal and appear higher on the list. Make sure that you connect only to the official network.
When in doubt, do not trust any open network. Most free wireless networks are unencrypted--and therefore unprotected. That means that the data traveling between your computer and the wireless router is susceptible to being intercepted and viewed by other parties that happen to be within range of the wireless network. Unless you have your own secure connection, such as a VPN (virtual private network) connection to the network at your office, you should avoid using public Wi-Fi for logging in to sensitive accounts (such as your e-mail or bank account); instead, limit your Internet usage in such public places to reading the news or checking for weather updates and traffic reports.
Weak Wi-Fi Security
If you are cautious, you have already secured your wireless network with a password to keep outsiders from accessing it or using your Internet connection. But password protection alone may not be sufficient.
Use stronger encryption: Several types of Wi-Fi network encryption are available, and there are some important differences between them. WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption is the most common variety employed on wireless networks. If you have a WEP password in place on your Wi-Fi network already, you have taken a significant step toward protecting it from intruders.
But WEP can be easily cracked: Tools are available that allow even unskilled attackers to crack the code and access your network in a matter of minutes. WEP is still helpful, since most aspiring wireless-network hijackers are not dedicated enough to take the time to break in, but to be safe you should use WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or its successor, WPA2. These encryption types resolve the weaknesses of WEP and provide much stronger protection.
Log in to your router"s console and find the wireless-security settings. There, enable encryption and select either WPA or WPA2. Enter a password, save the settings, and restart your router--and you"ll start surfing more safely.
Endangered Data Backups
You know that you should back up your data, especially files of irreplaceable items such as family photos, regularly. But while storing backups on an external hard drive or burning them to blank CDs or DVDs and keeping them in the closet will enable you to restore files easily if your hard drive crashes or corrupts, that approach also creates a portable--and thus easily lost or stolen--archive of your sensitive data.
Encrypt your backup data: Be sure to use a backup utility that allows you to protect your data with encryption, or at least a password, to prevent unauthorized access. If you want to take things a step farther, you can put your backup files on an encrypted external USB drive such as the Seagate Maxtor BlackArmor, a PCWorld Best Buy. You can also find external drives with biometric fingerprint scanners, such as the Apricorn Aegis Bio or the LaCie d2 Safe. (For reviews of these drives and others, see "Encrypted Drives Keep Your Files Safe.")
Use an online backup service: If you prefer, you can use an online storage service such as Microsoft Windows Live SkyDrive, which provides 25GB of storage space for free and offers a measure of security by requiring a username and password for access. Unfortunately, copying 25GB of data and keeping it updated via SkyDrive can be a time-consuming and cumbersome process. For a small fee, though, you can use a service such as Mozy, which includes tools to automate the process and to ensure that your data is backed up regularly.
Unpatched Software (Not Just Windows)
Microsoft"s products have long been favorite targets for malware, but the company has stepped up its game, forcing attackers to seek other weak links in the security chain. These days, third-party products such as Adobe Reader provide attackers with alternative options for hitting your PC.
Install all security updates: You should have both a firewall and an antimalware utility protecting your system, but one of the simplest--and most effective--ways to guard against attack is to make sure that you keep your operating system and applications up-to-date.
Attackers have discovered that a considerable number of third-party applications such as Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash are present on virtually every computer and contain exploitable weaknesses. To guard against threats, you can use a program such as the Secunia Personal Software Inspector to scan your system, identify applications that have known vulnerabilities, and install the necessary updates.
Do your best to stay informed of existing flaws for the various applications you use, and apply appropriate patches as soon as possible. The About.com Antivirus Software site is a good resource to use in collecting such information. You can also check sites such as McAfee' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N' + char(39)+ N's Avert Labs Threat Library for the latest news on emerging threats.
Though attacking third-party products may be a path of least resistance, bad guys have not given up entirely on Microsoft products. Windows users should have Automatic Updates (or Windows Update) enabled and set to download and install important security updates automatically. The automatic updates will keep the Windows operating system--as well as other Microsoft software such as Internet Explorer and the various Office applications--patched and current.
5 Security Myths
Think you are doing everything you need to do to be safe? Think again. Here are five common myths about digital security.
Illustration by Frank StocktonI do not have anything an attacker would want.
Average users commonly believe that the data on their computers is valuable only to them or has no intrinsic value at all, and that therefore they have nothing to protect and no need to worry. There are three problems with this way of thinking. First, instead of pilfering data, attackers often want to take control of the computer itself, as they can employ a compromised PC to host malware or to distribute spam. Second, you may not think that your PC has any important or sensitive information, but an attacker may be able to use seemingly trivial information such as your name, address, and birth date to steal your identity. And third, most attacks are automated and simply seek out and compromise all vulnerable systems; they do not discriminate based on a target"s value.
I have antivirus software installed, so I am safe.
Antivirus software is an absolute necessity, and it is a great start, but installing it would not protect against everything. Some antivirus products are just that--they do not detect or block spam, phishing attempts, spyware, and other malware attacks. Even if you have a comprehensive security software product that protects against more than just viruses, you still must update it regularly: New malware threats are discovered daily, and antimalware protection is only as good as its last update. Keep in mind, as well, that security vendors need time to add protection against emerging threats, so your antimalware software will not guard you from zero-day or newly launched attacks.
Security is a concern only if I use Windows.
Microsoft certainly has had its share of security issues over the years, but that does not mean that other operating systems or applications are immune from assault. Though Microsoft products are the biggest target, Linux and Mac OS X have vulnerabilities and flaws, too. As alternative OSs and Web browsers gain users, they become more attractive targets, as well. Increasingly, attackers are targeting widely used third-party products that span operating systems, such as Adobe Reader.
My router has a firewall, so my PC is protected.
A firewall is great for blocking random, unauthorized access to your network, and it will protect your computer from a variety of threats; but attackers long ago figured out that the quickest way through the firewall is to attack you via ports that commonly allow data to pass unfettered. By default your firewall would not block normal traffic such as Web data and e-mail, and few users are comfortable reviewing firewall settings and determining which traffic to permit or block. In addition, many attacks today are Web-based or originate from a phishing attack that lures you into visiting a malicious Website; your firewall cannot protect against such threats.
Since I visit only major, reputable sites, I have nothing to worry about.
You certainly increase your system"s odds of being infected or compromised when you visit the shady side of the Web, but even well-known Websites are occasionally infiltrated. Sites such as those for Apple, CNN, eBay, Microsoft, Yahoo, and even the FBI have been compromised by attackers running cross-site scripting attacks to gather information about users or to install malicious software on visitors" computers.
Additional Security Resources
Many sites and services on the Web can help you learn more about computer security threats or can analyze your machine to make sure it is clean and safe.
Hoax Encyclopedia: The About.com Antivirus site has a comprehensive database of e-mail and virus hoax messages. Before you forward the next "urgent" alert to your family and friends, check for it on this list.
McAfee Virus Information Library: McAfee maintains a complete listing of malware threats, including details on how they spread and how you can protect your computer against them.
Microsoft Consumer Security Support Center: On this page you can find solutions to common security problems, as well as links to other information and resources for Microsoft"s security products.
Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool: This tool is designed to scan for and remove current, pervasive threats. Its scan is smaller and faster than a complete antimalware scan, but it identifies only a handful of threats. Microsoft releases a new version of the tool--along with regular security fixes--on the second Tuesday of each month ("Patch Tuesday").
Microsoft Security Essentials: This free antivirus application provides real-time protection for Windows PCs against viruses, worms, spyware, and other malicious software.
PhishTank: A community project, PhishTank is a database of known phishing sites. You can search the database to identify phishing sites, and you can add to the list any new sites you have encountered.
Trend Micro Housecall: Trend Micro"s free HouseCall service scans your computer online to discover and remove any viruses, worms, or other malware that may be residing on it.
-Tony Bradley, PCWorld-
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