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 Secure
your computer!
We have some simple methods to keep your system closed against prying
eyes and make sure you haven't left any back doors open for hackers
to sneak through. Seal your PC as tight as a drum with these five
tricks.
1. Plug the holes
Your software could usher in viruses, thieves, and hackers. For
example, viruses often take advantage of security breaches in Microsoft
Outlook to propagate, and the company's own Web browser was accused
of letting in bugs. To help you patch all the holes in your software,
set up a schedule to regularly check the company Web sites of any
software you're running for security updates. Microsoft's update
page, for example, regularly posts patches, fixes, and updated information
about the company's products.
If you don't have the time to do the legwork yourself, download
and install a utility to do it for you. Many different downloads
can perform this task, including CNET CatchUp, a service that automatically
finds what you need to keep your PC up-to-date. Simply install the
free CatchUp software, and the service checks for known vulnerabilities
in your operating system or applications.
2. Choose good passwords
You use passwords for just about every online chore, from checking
e-mail to ordering goods online. But those passwords are just the
keys some hacker is looking for, so you should make sure they aren't
easy for someone else to guess. And to make matters more difficult,
your passwords--especially for e-mail, work networks, and some Web
sites--should be easy for you to remember. Don't write them down
or send them in e-mail messages where a thief could intercept them.
Our advice: Use a combination of letters, numbers, and punctuation
marks, such as my3carsrold or iwas18in75. This makes it harder for
thieves to guess your password and can foil software programs that
try to untangle password decryption. Your passwords should be at
least 10 letters for maximum security. You can also alternate uppercase
and lowercase letters if the password system is case sensitive.
For example, some systems recognize hello as different from Hello,
HeLLo, or HellO. (When you're setting up passwords for Web sites,
most will tell you whether the site is case sensitive.) And never,
ever use your name, your spouse's name, the name of your pet, your
phone number, your birthday, your favorite food, or any other personal
information hackers could easily guess. Get the picture?
3. Protect your ports
What's the biggest open door on your computer? It's called a port,
a virtual door through which your computer reaches out to the Net.
Hackers can use homegrown software to scan for open ports on your
computer. When they find an open port--if you're on the Net and
not protected by a firewall--they can break in and use your computer
at will. Watch out for such attempts with port-monitoring software,
such as NukeNabber, which keeps an eye on 50 of your common ports
and lets you know if someone is scanning them. Net-Commando, another
useful utility, alerts you when port scanners attempt to find out
information about you.
4. Secure your folders
If you're worried about someone snooping around in your computer,
such as a hacker or your pesky little brother, learn to lock sensitive
folders on your hard disk--especially those that contain personal,
financial, or medical data or networking information about your
computer. The best method? Encrypt them. That way, even if a hacker
finds his or her way through your ports, the snoop won't be able
to read your private information. To encrypt your data, try a downloadable
utility such as Magic Folders, which protects sensitive files and
folders by making them invisible to anyone nosing around. Simply
enter a password when you want the hidden files to reappear.
5. Total firewall protection
The most comprehensive way to secure your computer--well, aside from
Internet abstinence--is to install a firewall, software that protects
your computer while you're on the Internet. As long as you're willing
to spend some time installing and configuring firewall software, it'll
pay off in the end. Our favorite is ZoneAlarm, but check out CNET's
roundup of firewall products for more reviews.
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EMAIL Secure
your messages
Watch that in-box! E-mail and instant messages are perhaps the most
insecure missives you can send. Hackers can steal, tamper with, or
intercept e-mail, or worse, impersonate your instant-messenger identity
and start sending nasty notes to your family and friends. Secure your
messages with these handy tips.
Sign and encrypt it
Encrypted e-mail signature tools, usually part of any good encryption
package, inform you if anyone tampers with your e-mail while it
is en route. Encryption packages such as PGPfreeware encrypt your
mail and let you send online decryption keys--the code to unlocking
your e-mail and making it readable again--to your recipients. PGPfreeware
integrates with Eudora and Outlook Express.
Make it anonymous
Your e-mail message headers can cause a security breach, too. Hackers
sometimes use header information to trace your messages back to
their origins--namely, your computer. How do they do it? Every e-mail
message carries important information about the originating computer,
such as its IP address and the route it traveled from the sender
to the recipient. To see this info for yourself, say, in Outlook
Express, right-click any message in your in-box, select Properties,
and click the Details tab. Voilà! You'll see the message
header. To cover your tracks when you're sending sensitive e-mail,
use a service such as Anonymizer.com to strip all header information
from outgoing messages.
Protect your IM sessions
Instant-messaging programs such as AOL Instant Messenger and Odigo
are surprisingly insecure. Someone can easily intercept your messages
or even steal your online identity, either to obtain important information
or simply to make hay out of your personal relationships. Thankfully,
ICQ offers an encryption add-on called Top Secret Messenger, which
lets you encrypt and decrypt messages. If you're not using ICQ,
make sure your buddy list settings are secure. Hide your IP address,
remain invisible to everyone but your buddies, and provide as little
information as possible when you register. Don't, for example, fill
in profile information such as your e-mail address, home address,
phone number, or other details.
Compress and protect
If you must send e-mail attachments, make sure they arrive safely.
You can add a level of security by compressing attachments with
WinZip or a similar program and adding a password so that only the
intended recipient can decompress the file. Click the Password button
or use the Options menu while WinZip is open to assign a password.
Check for patches
As with any software, keep abreast of security patches and updates
to your e-mail or instant-messaging software. Microsoft issues seemingly
continuous security updates for Outlook, and most software Web sites
keep you informed about patches and holes in your e-mail client.
Most of all, be safe! If you're sending extremely private information,
encrypt it every time. Don't send passwords or credit card information
via e-mail, especially not through instant messengers.
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