Security Center « Support

This is where you can get the latest news, tips, and tidbits about Internet security.  Every three months we post a new article about security.  We’ve found a great online security tool – Symantec’s Security Check – so you can do some DIY diagnosing.  And we’ve got a very affordable solution to your sleepless nights spent wondering if your e-mail is safe.  We’ve thought of everything…

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Check your system for security risks, worms, and viruses – for free!  Use Symantec’s Security Check to get a quick read on what shape your computer is in.

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Quarterly Security Article: Who needs computer security?

Who needs computer security? You may be surprised by the answer. The school of thought most of us subscribe to is that we do not shop online, do any form of online banking, and do not keep financial information on our PC's, and therefore there is nothing to secure. While this used to hold true back in the old days (about 3 years ago in Internet time) things have now changed.

With the advent of DSL and affordable high-speed connections, almost all small businesses, and a large majority of consumers have some form of online connection that is "always on", at speeds much higher than dial-up. With this new convenience comes a new threat. Hackers scan hundreds of thousands of IP addresses daily looking for machines with just such connections and poor security for a number of reasons. Some hack into individual PCs to sharpen their skills before attempting to break into servers at target locations, much the same as a car thief sharpens their skillset in a junk yard before actually trying to steal a car. Others are looking for personal information to aid in identity theft, such as Social Security numbers, checking accounts, home addresses, telephone numbers, etc... The more devious hackers want to use you as an unwitting accomplice for launching Denial of Service attacks against websites such as those that took down e-bay, Yahoo, and E-Trade in 2001. Another favorite pasttime for hackers is using your computer for storing stolen copyrighted material, such as movies or music, without your knowledge. And last, but certainly not least, is the hacker that wants you to unknowingly host a website for them for illegal activities like gambling, or the worst crime of all, child pornography.

So how do you stop this from happening? Most firewall vendors have recognized the need for a consumer version of their product to stop these activities and offer their product for free to those using it for private use. It only takes a few moments to configure a personal firewall such as Zone Alarm, Tiny Personal Firewall from Sygate, Mcaffee Firewall+ and Nortons firewall. After all, without some sort of protection for your computer how are you to know if you are contributing to a sinister cause on the Internet? More importantly, ask yourself who the FBI is going to question when your PC is used to hack in to a government website or database!