Keeping Your Computer Safe / Security Center

[Striperjim]

Recommended site

How secure are your files? Test them using sheilds up. Checks file sharing - common ports - all service ports and browser headers. Skip the passwords and feedback link go to proceed to check your ports
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2


Your system has achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single packet — solicited or otherwise — was received from your system as a result of our security probing tests. Your system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing probes of any hacker, this machine does not exist on the Internet. Some questionable personal security systems expose their users by attempting to "counter-probe the prober", thus revealing themselves. But your system wisely remained silent in every way. Very nice.

[Striperjim]

edited outdated link

another free utility
Spyware removal

Malwarebytes.org

[Striperjim]

February 16th, 2007
MASSIVE DDOS ATTACK KO"S CASTLE COP
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=41

http://www.castlecops.com/

700,000 Hoosier ID's compromised in computer theft

INDIANAPOLIS -- A computer server containing Social Security numbers and other personal information of 700,000 people was stolen last month from a Southside debt-collection bureau in what appears to be the largest computer security breach ever in Indiana.

The information includes customer-billing records for about 100 Indiana businesses, including Citizens Gas & Coke Utility, St. Vincent Health and Methodist Medical Group.


Microsoft has released its latest July - December 2007 volume of the Security Intelligence Report.

Among the findings are :

• There was a 300% increase in the number of trojan downloaders and droppers.
• Adware remained the most prevalent category of potentially unwanted sotware.
• The top potentially unwanted sotware family detected in the second half of 2007 was Win32/Hotbar.
• The most prevalent rogue security sotware detected in the second half of 2007 was Win32/Winixer.
• During 2H07 the MSRT proportionally cleaned malware from 60% less Windows Vista-based computers, compared to computers running Windows XP Service Pack 2.
• Phishing is still predominantly an English-language phenomenon.

[Striperjim]

CastleCops nemesis gets two-year sentence
An American hacker has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for waging potent attacks that took down two volunteer websites for days at a time.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10...ker_sentenced/


Castle cops shuts up shop
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12...lecops_closes/

For six years CastleCops campaigned against internet fraud by running malware and phishing scam investigations and take-downs. CastleCops also ran volunteer training programs, as well as maintaining other services including computer virus clean-up assistance to ordinary punters.
Since the organisation was established in 2002, CastleCops has maintained close ties with other members of the anti-malware community and law enforcement to make the internet a cleaner and safer environment. Despite its sterling work in multiple areas, CastleCops has long had problems with funding and hostile actions by cybercriminals. For example, CastleCops has been the target of repeated denial of service attacks as well as attempts by crooks to discredit the site.

[mikeyred]

http://www.smartnetnyc.com Located in New York, NY. SmartNet Solutions provides Brand Development, IT Consulting Solutions, Website Design, Graphic Design, Print ; Identity, SEO, Advertising, Marketing, Network Server Support to the New York New Jersey area since 1998

[Striperjim]

Computer Security 2010

StopBadware has started to work as a non-profit organization.
http://stopbadware.org/
Google, Mozilla and PayPal are the first companies to supply money for this project.
4 years ago StopBadware existed as Berkman Center project which was established to fight against malicious software like viruses or spyware. The aim of it was to share information about computer parasites to ordinary people.
Corporations like AOL have collaborated with Google to warn the users about the websites that pose risks by installing spyware while visiting them.

[Striperjim]

If you unwillingly have been infected - the best way to get rid of the parasite is to reboot your computer and tap the f8 key repeatedly to work in safe mode. Then open up a firefox browser - (your internet explorer browser has likely been exploited). and download malwarebytes or some other reputable spyware software.
(many of them are frauds - dont buy their products) They the ones who likely installed the trojan or hijacker in the first place. Some can also disable most of your legitimate programs making it look impossible to delete anything from the control panel or open your existing programs like avg and Norton.
The free version will remove all the malware from your computer and your registry.
2-spyware.com/ has a parasite encyclopedia with information and removal instructions for 7692 in their database.
Dont be suckered into bying any software unless you like the evaluation model or need to upgrade from any free ones.
This latest version of the anti-malware software was released in April 29, 2010 and has 41,000,000 downloads since the original version released December 3rd, 2009.
The license version is free
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyte...html?tag=mncol