About.com Internet / Network Security

• 'Statement Request' spam
• 'Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Outlook' spam

Avoid New Spam / Phishing Attacks originally appeared on About.com Internet / Network Security on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 at 09:32:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Aimed at the consumer market, Microsoft Security Essentials leverages the research and resources of the Microsoft Malware Protection Center to identify and block viruses, spyware, and other malicious threats in real-time. It does not replace some of the other functionality of Windows Live OneCare such as defragmenting hard drives or backing up data, but it promises industry leading malware protection at a price that is hard to ignore in this economy- free.

You can get a copy of the Beta version by visiting the Microsoft Security Essentials site. I have downloaded my copy and will post a review of the product in the coming weeks.

Microsoft Releases Beta of New Security Software originally appeared on About.com Internet / Network Security on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 at 01:55:39.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

But, now it has been a few days and it seems safe to say that if you have an iPhone you probably should have acquired the 3.0 update by now. If the copy & paste feature isn't a compelling enough reason, consider that there are almost 50 security updates included in version 3.0. The security updates apply to a broad range of features and functions of the iPhone. Its a virtual guarantee that at least some of them will have some relevance to you.

iPhone 3.0 Filled with Security Updates originally appeared on About.com Internet / Network Security on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 10:35:12.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The next logical question is 'why would I spend $100 more than a comparable netbook that isn't branded by Disney?'. The answer is that Asus and Disney have worked to make the netbook safer for kids. First, it has a reinforced case and design to make it more 'kid-proof' from a physical perspective. Second, it is designed with a unique Disney user interface (built on Windows XP) with more than 40 parental control options.

According to this ZDNet article, "the system’s Disney browser is preloaded with numerous kid-friendly Disney websites for kids to explore, and the 2D “gadget tray” (think Windows taskbar, or OS X dock) displays visual icons for easy access to applications. There’s also a collection of 15 widgets, including a stopwatch, a digital memo pad and a calculator."

Asus + Disney + Toys R Us = Kid-Safe Netbook originally appeared on About.com Internet / Network Security on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 09:33:11.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Apple is releasing the iPhone 3.0 update today which adds copy & paste functionality and some other features to the popular mobile device. Scammers have started a multi-pronged attack involving Twitter, file sharing services, and affiliate marketing schemes capitalizing on the popularity of the iPhone and the excitement about the 3.0 release of the iPhone OS.

Leaked iPhone 3.0 Scam originally appeared on About.com Internet / Network Security on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 08:14:33.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There is also a section for readers to respond with their feedback. Have you used some of these tools? Tell us what you liked and which ones you would never use again. Are there tools you use that aren't on these lists? Give us your feedback and let us know what we're missing and perhaps I can get them added to this list. With readers like you contributing opinions and feedback we can all help each other to not only get software at the right price (FREE!), but also make sure we're getting the best tools available at that price.

Free Software for Computer and Network Security originally appeared on About.com Internet / Network Security on Thursday, June 11th, 2009 at 10:17:15.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Microsoft gives each user 5Gb of free space to store data online. There are a couple of advantages to this. First, you can access the data from anywhere with Web access. Rather than carrying sensitive data on USB flash drives when you travel, you can store the data online and access it from your destination. Second, you can share the data with others and use it as a file transfer or collaboration tool.

Office Live Workspace can also represent a form of secure off-site backup. Granted, 5Gb is not an unlimited amount of storage. You will still need to have a more complete backup solution as well. But, one of the weaknesses of backing up data locally is that a disaster such as a fire or flood can take out your data and your backup at the same time. With Office Live Workspace you can at least take your most important 5Gb of data and store it online where it will survive even when your data and your local backup are destroyed.

Backup Your Files with Office Live Workspace originally appeared on About.com Internet / Network Security on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 at 10:45:43.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

To put it another way- Microsoft has something for everyone this month. Last month you may have been able to skip if you don't have PowerPoint installed or don't use PowerPoint. But, for June its a virtual guarantee that at least one of these Security Bulletins applies to you. Take a look at the summary of June 2009 Microsoft Security Bulletins to learn more about the flaws that are addressed and the patches available.

Ten New Security Bulletins from Microsoft originally appeared on About.com Internet / Network Security on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 at 10:02:57.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

That brings me to my paranoia. I have 140Gb of one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable data that could all be gone in the blink of an eye. Hard drives die. So, once a month I copy the entire photo and video collection to a USB drive that I have connected to a different computer. Then it occurred to me that a fire or flood could still take out both drives, so I began also copying the data to another USB drive which I then store inside of a fireproof safe where I keep important documents like birth certificates and such.

All of that may sound extreme, but I want some assurances that decades of family memories can survive a hard drive crash, or a fire, or a flood. Imagine my excitement then to find out that one USB drive manufacturer has taken my paranoia into consideration and built a disaster proof USB drive. The ioSafe Solo drive comes in 500Gb, 1.0Tb, and 1.5Tb sizes and is encased in a fireproof and waterproof enclosure. With the ioSafe drive I can eliminate a few steps from my routine and still have some peace of mind that my data is relatively safe. In the coming weeks I will be evaluating the device and will post a full review later.

Disaster Proof Storage originally appeared on About.com Internet / Network Security on Monday, June 8th, 2009 at 23:35:48.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Locking Down the iPhone originally appeared on About.com Internet / Network Security on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 10:19:46.

Permalink | Comment | Email this