Wichita Public LibraryRex Cornelius • Electronic Resources

Webliography online at:http://www.wichita.lib.ks.us/Researchers/

DefensiveComputing.htm

Programs designed to infect other computers.

software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent.

Computer viruses, Worms, Trojan horses,Rootkits, Spyware, Hijackers, dishonest

Adware, Crimeware.

“Back Doors”“Rootkits”

allow other people to access and control your computer

Being an intermediary for an attack on another computer.

Some Trojans function as a mail forwarder, and allow the attacker to transmit spam through the infected system.

A remote administrator can use your computer to store illegal materials.

Capture and record user keystrokes to obtain passwords or encryption keys

Adware - Software that supports itself or another program by displaying ads.

Spyware - Software that gathers and transmits information without your knowledge.

Hijacking software - Advertising software programs that change the settings of your browser without your knowledge.

Currently the biggest threat to personal computing.

Virus-like symptoms. Earthlink: 29 million spyware-related files

on the 1 million computers Microsoft: 50% of computer crashes Google: 450,000 sites that install

malicious code

You

Keep all applications patched to the most recent level

• Operating system• Internet Browsers• Email programs• Word Processors• Spreadsheets

• All Microsoft Products!

1. Use anti-virus software on all Internet-connected computers.

2. Be sure to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date.

3. Use automatic updates of virus definitions when available.

can be exploited by intruders

• Don’t run a program unless you know it’s from a trusted source.

• Never run programs of unknown origin

• Never transfer programs of unknown origin

Scan with a removal tool

often. Ad Aware Spybot MS Malicious

Software Removal Tool

Network deviceLinksys, Netgear, etc.

Personal firewall software ZoneAlarmOutpost Firewall ProWindows Firewall

techniques used to manipulate people into performing actions or divulging confidential information.

An e-mail message can appear to come from one source when it was sent from another.

• Never open unknown e-mail attachments. Know the source.

• Before opening any e-mail attachments, be sure your virus definitions are up-to-date

• You can save the file to your disk and scan the file using your antivirus software

Messages designed to gather confidential information.

Never send confidential information by e-mail:

Credit card numbersPasswords

Never trust links sent by e-mail.

Service Providers will never ask for your username or password.

Disguise malicious programs

LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.TXT.vbsAnnaKournikova.jpg.pif

Using a domain name with bad faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else.

A form of cybersquatting which relies on mistakes such as typographical errors made by Internet users when inputting a website address into a web browser.

Download of spyware, a computer virus or any kind of malware that happens without knowledge of the user. Drive-by downloads may happen by visiting a website, viewing an e-mail message or by clicking on a deceptive popup window.

securitycartoon.com

Windows Firewall Malicious Software Removal Tool Google Warnings (StopBadware.org) McAfee SiteAdvisor - Free plug-in

Warnings at Google

from StopBadware.org

McAfee Site Advisor

ShopSafe is a free service that allows you to create a temporary card number each time you make an online purchase. This number links directly to your credit card account number but keeps your card number private and protected.

Choose another Web Browser

Firefox, Opera

Choose another e-Mail program

Eudora, Thunderbird

Use a Web Mail service

gmail.com, mail.com, everyone.net

Disconnect from any network when it’s not in use

Make regular backups of critical data

• Flash Drive, Floppy Disk• External Hard Drive• Another Hard Drive or

Partition• CD-R / CD-RW• Another PC on a network

Create an emergency boot disk. Remember, before you have a

security event.

Save all program media.

The Internet is still a wonderful information resource.

Take precautions, but use and enjoy Internet access!

Links are online at:http://www.wichita.lib.ks.us/Researchers/DefensiveComputing.htm