Internet Security

[Member #2001]

Has anyone here ever used this program called tor? http://tor.eff.org/ Sounds really good, but I would like someone to tell me about it if they have used it.

I guess its interesting if you are affraid of censershiip like some chinese are. It is suppose to let you surf annoymously.

Would appricate andy comments and observations from anyone that has used this software.

Thanks

[Aether LA]

CCleaner - www.ccleaner.com - excellent free utility for removing temp files and browser traces

IDS - http://www.extramile.ro/ids_overview.html - removes those pesky index.dat files

I find these two to do an excellent job. They're quick, reliable, spyware/adware free, and easy to use.

As a standard, I install these, plus AdAware Personal, Spybot Search & Destroy, Spywareblaster, and Spywareguard on every system I work on. All are free and very dependable.

[My Kapitan]

Anyone know how to remove Adultfriendfinder's annoying startup executible that takes IE to their home page everytime you open IE? I've tried spyware stoppers like spybot and Previx but no joy.

[Freeler]

Remove index.dats,

Start up XP (pro anyway, I guess home too) in safe-mode (hold F8 on start-up) and you can remove all those horrible files like the index.dat stuff in cookies and temp internet files.

I'm startin' ta like XP.

[Freeler]

Damon Pythias,

In adition to my firewall and virusscanner I use:
ashampoo_powerupxp_platinum220
to help set my XP to show less dangerous behaviour.
This proggie works like a charm,

Freeler

[Yusta Vansel]

Without your knowledge or explicit permission, the Windows networking technology which connects your computer to the Internet may be offering some or all of your computer's data to the entire world. Use a firewall all the time. The ideal firewall should

Blocks hackers from gaining access to your computer
Automatically makes your computer invisible to anyone on the Internet
Prevents spyware from sending your personal information across the Internet
Protects your programs and operating system from malware
Prevents your personal data from leaving your computer without your approval
Automatically stops pop-up ads so you can surf in peace
Automatically removes the most dangerous and useless spyware and viruses for you
"Clears" legitimate monitoring software (such as cookies for Web sites you use frequently) so it doesn't get picked up in every spyware scan
Prevents your personal data from leaving your computer without your approval
Automatically stops pop-up ads so you can surf in peace.

[Yusta Vansel]

Some programs can recover picture, movie, etc. files damaged by virus attacks, power failures and software faults or files from deleted and formatted partitions. These programs can also recover files moved to Recycle Bin after it has been emptied. Always wipe free space in your computer for risk eliminating.

[Johan007]

If you guys realy want to cut down security threats please start surfing the web with ANY given Linux distribution.
I myself usualy interact with Suse 9.3 and also sometimes with knoppix.
The most simple way is to start with a socalled LIVE CD....Knoppix is very good for this. You can try out Linux without installing anything to your HD.
Besides once installed you can import your emails,bookmarks or whatever you used to have under XP.

The only thing I use Windows XP for is webcam chatting....as support for webcams under linux (still) is very poor.

With linux you can do (almost) all things as under Windows: emailing (Thunderbird,Kmail or Evolution),webbrowsing (Firefox,Opera,galeon or Konquerer) chatting (Gaim,Koppete and some others...even a linux based version of ICQ) and much more. There even is a Linux version of Yahoo messenger!

Under linux your systeem won't be affected by (windows based) virusses,trojans,spy-adware or any other kind of malware.
The only thing you have to watch out for is phising or pharming.

If there comes (and i have no doubts this will be fixed within 6-12 months from now) a real good program under Linux that handles webcams I have no further reason to use Windows anymore.
Also most Linux distros are FREE....you only need to download the .iso files,burm them and install them on your system.

regards,

Johan.

[Freeler]

For your information:

'Islamic Trojan' disrupts smut surfing

By John Leyden

Published Monday 5th September 2005 16:08 GMT
Get breaking Security news straight to your desktop - click here to find out how
Virus writers have created a Trojan horse which tries to disrupt visits the pornographic websites by displaying messages from the Koran.

The low-risk Yusufali-A Trojan horse monitors the websites Windows users are visiting. If the malware sees one of a set of trigger words (such as "teen", "sex" or "penis") in the url it minimises the window so the user cannot see its content and displays a message from the Koran instead. The message, partly written in Arabic, contains the following English text:

Yusufali: Know, therefore, that there is no god but Allah, and ask forgiveness for they fault, and for the men and women who believe: for Allah knows how ye move about and how ye dwell in your homes.
"Unlike other malware, it appears this Trojan horse isn't trying to steal money or confidential information, but acting as a moral guardian instead - blocking the viewing of websites it determines are unsavoury," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Of course, it's possible for the Trojan horse to make mistakes and block sites that are not pornographic - such as medical sites, or social sites designed for teenagers."

Once the message is displayed the malware performs a variety of other actions before forcing infected users to shutdown. All very disconcerting but there's no need for undue alarm since the Yusufali-A Trojan is not yet in the wild. It's unclear whether the malware was written as a joke, or as a serious attempt to clean up the habits of internet users.

Malware featuring an Islamic theme is rare but not unprecedented. Previous examples have include the Mawanella worm which highlighted the friction between Muslims and Buddhists in Sri Lanka and the Cycle worm which contained a message about life in Iran.

[Domino]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4173218.stm
Although Nibu is mentioned here, there is another notorioua poster on the Thai board who has been linked to such scams. Be careful.

[Ciccio]

I read only to-day Jack Spratt III message. Very helpful.

I 've found a better way to destroy CDs: no need fo a blow torch, but simply PUT THEM IN A MICROWAVE.

Low power, for 20 seconds, and all the metallic layer will burn like fireworks.

[Domino]

a middle-aged man is being held on suspicion of hacking into the computer of a 17-year-old girl and activating her webcam to spy on her for sexual kicks.

the case is expected to heighten concern among police forces around the world over the possibility of peeping toms controlling webcams remotely to invade people's privacy.

"footage could not only be used to blackmail unfaithful spouses but burglars could keep a cyber-eye on when people are out of their homes," said web specialist, petros demetriades.

police believe the 45-year-old suspect, a married computer technician from cyprus, tracked the girl down through a chat-room.

he is believed to have then sent her a trojan file giving him access to the pc in her bedroom.

the file asked her to include him in her list of friends. she rejected the request but he kept coming back to her.

he then sent her a video clip showing her emerging from the bathroom in a towel followed by scenes of her getting dressed.

she burst into tears, and immediately received a message from the hacker on her computer telling her to stop crying. the girl realised to her horror that he was watching her at that moment. the man then asked her to undress in front of the webcam and when she refused, he threatened to send the earlier video clip to everyone on her e-mail list.

the distraught girl promptly shut down her computer. the next day she discovered that the hacker had broken into her computer, stolen all her personal data and tracked down her mobile phone number.

he then began to send her text messages and called her on her mobile phone using a pre-paid phone card.

the girl complained to police and officers tracked the man down in early april.

they swooped on monday night and arrested him on suspicion of sexual harassment.

it is feared that the girl was just one of the suspect's victims and that he may have prowled other chat rooms to contact others.(© the times, london)

[Freeler]

Nanio,

Yes indeed, in Windows you can't get rid of the '.dat' files. Windows claims it needs them.
But good old DOS is here to help:
Restart in DOS, you get C:\windows>
Type:deltree cookies, click yes
Type:deltree tempor~1, click yes
Same for any folder you want to get rid of, like:
-temp
-history
Restart windows by pushin' cntr+alt+del
Windows will rebuild the folders you removed in DOS, but the .dat files in them are..... empty!

Get yourself a copy of 'eraser' to completely overwrite the empty space on the HD(s) every now and then.

To reduce the amount of space you have to worry about, reduce the size of your C-drive to a minimum, let's say 'what you need +500MB'.

Get a bunch of seperate HD's for the porn.

[Nanio]

If you are really paranoid, get a knoppix live cd to do your browsing.

It loads into the ram and doesnt need to even write at all to the HD.

A full fledged linux distro with web browser, email, office suite, etc. It does most of the basic networking for you, given a LAN connection of some sort. IE, with a card, and not a modem.

But you will have to RTFM. I know alot of windows users can't abide that, but that's the way it is.

And of course, you should stop using IE and use Mozilla Firefox on your Windows box, otherwise you most certainly will get that nasty Cool WEb Search and the Porn Dialers.

When Firefox deletes your history, it REALLY deletes it, unlike IE, which as I understand it, has a file somewhere of all hosts visited that it won't erase.

And there's eraser at http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/ to give you a serious clean up that probably will stymie even the FBI from trying to recover your data.
Free. Open Source. Like the Knoppix disk.

Hope this helps!

[Sporadic]

Rolly Polly,

It depends on exactly what your personal level of comfort is. For ME it is an acceptable risk, with the precautions I personally take.

Having said that, I think full disclosure is important so each one of may evaluate their own risks.

Cheers,

Sporadic