Data Security

A Look at Acronis True Image Home 2012

October 19, 2011 By terry

Acronis has released their latest version of their hard drive imaging backup program, Acronis True Image Home 2012 (ATIH 2012). I wasted no time in purchasing my new copies. Although I could have upgraded at a significant discount (40%), I preferred to purchase new licenses for ATIH 2012, so that I had copies for additional computers.

The new version has some neat new features — I’d read about the new features, but, even then, I really didn’t realize their impact until I started to use the new program.

Of course, there are also the bug fixes and optimizations that make existing functions better -— like the new function for setting “credentials” (user ID and password) to be used when backing up to a network drive. The function was there before, but now it’s in the right place, is much more obvious, and it worked smoothly. Yes!

New features include the ability to synchronize files and folders across multiple computers, multiple hard drives, or even to flash drives. Obviously you wouldn’t do this for the entire hard drive, but for critical files, it should be a nice feature.

The Non-Stop Backup function seems a lot friendlier now. It will make backups of changed files every five minutes. With some common programs like Outlook, it will back up the changes in the .PST file rather than the .PST file itself (which might be huge). However, the key is that you’re…

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Filed Under: Backup, Data Security, Storage, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: 2012, acronis, acronis rescue media, acronis secure zone, acronis true image, backup, backup software, bug fixes, computer storage, computing, flash drive, hard drive image backup, hard drive imaging backup program, hard drives, latest version, newer version, programming

Router Encryption — Increasing Wireless Security

July 20, 2010 By terry

I answered a question recently from someone who was using WEP (the so-called “Wired Equivalent Privacy”) encryption on their wireless network. They were considering changing to WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). The real answer is that they need to change to the second generation of WPA — WPA2.

The biggest question in their mind was whether they’d have to change the wireless passphrases on all their computers (quick answer: yes).

Why change? WEP is old, way, way old in computer terms. When it was first released, it was effective.

But, by 2004, second-generation WEP-cracking tools were widely available. In an article, SmallNetBuilder reports on a 2005 demonstration by a team of FBI agents who were able to crack a 128 bit WEP key in about three minutes.

WPA replaced WEP as the choice for encryption. Then, it fell prey…

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Filed Under: Communications, Data Security, Network Security, Router, System Security, Tips & Tricks, Wireless

To Use a Web Proxy Anonymizer or Not…

January 28, 2009 By terry Leave a Comment

A reader wrote me to ask if I would use a web proxy anonymizer service. I wrote back to tell him that my answer was a simple “No.”

It boils down to two things: (1) if you’re afraid of a web site operator knowing who you are, you shouldn’t be going to the web site, and (2) think of a web proxy anonymizer as handing all your web traffic to an intermediate stop on the way to and from your web destination.

I know nothing specific about the particular proxy service he mentioned. My comments below are general comments about the capabilities of proxies, even ones providing their service to anonymize your web surfing, and are not an accusation of improper behavior by any of them or any particular one.

In normal Internet use, different data packets to and from your computer and your web destination can take different routes from your computer to the destination.

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Filed Under: Communications, Data Security, Network Security, System Security, Tips & Tricks, Web Browser

Security versus the Open Wireless Network

October 5, 2008 By terry Leave a Comment

After a recent email newsletter article on securing your wireless network, Clif (of the Clif Notes Newsletter that I enjoy) wrote to yank my leg a little and to ask:

Hi Terry,

I appreciate your tips on securing the router. Most of the wifis in my neighborhood are wide open. That’s nice when my cable goes out and my neighbor’s dsl is still running … I just hop on the neighbor’s wifi for a quick ride. Do you think I should tell them?

I use a different method to secure my wifi. I use a “trusted stations” list in my router that only allows PCs with a MAC address that I’ve entered there. My network looks wide open, but they can’t log onto it.

How does that sound?

Clif

Clif already knows my thoughts about open networks and why they should be closed — that’s why he included a grinning smiley face. While an open wireless network can be handy for use by others, there are security risks for both the network operator and the person connecting through the open network.

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A Look Inside Secunia Software Inspector

June 22, 2008 By terry Leave a Comment

I’ve found a great tool that examines my computer to make sure that it has the latest updates of the most common software packages — not all the updates, but the security updates for the versions I’m runninng.

It’s called Secunia Software Inspector, from the Danish security firm Secunia (www.secunia.com).

Secunia offers three versions of its software inspectors:

* Secunia Software Inspector — scan on-line (free)
* Secunia PSI — download version for personal use (free)
* Secunia Network Software Inspector — the full-featured product.

Quoting Secunia’s FAQ:

# What’s the difference between the Secunia PSI and the Secunia Software Inspector (the online version)?

The Secunia Software Inspector identifies about 40 of the most common applications, while the Secunia PSI can identify over 4,200.

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Filed Under: Admin Control, Data Security, Free Software, Resources, Reviews, System Security, System Stability, Vista, Windows Xp

NOD32 Antivirus Version 3.0 Review

May 30, 2008 By terry Leave a Comment

I recently updated from NOD32 version 2.7 to the latest NOD32 version 3.0. I found that Eset has dramatically simplified the structure of the NOD32 controls. They had been criticized in the past as creating a great product for advanced PC users.

The new version has a simplified “Standard Mode” that is much easier to use.

The Advanced Mode is still there — a simple click on the “Display: Standard mode” in the bottom left-hand corner will let you toggle into Advanced mode to enable control of many more options.

Upgrading from a previous version was easy. I uninstalled the older version, rebooted, and installed the new version. Many anti-virus programs work this way, since some of their components are installed during early parts of the Windows boot process — and not changeable without a reboot.

Then, installing was straight forward.

Once NOD32 is running, the first screen displayed is the Protection Status screen. If all is well, you see a display with a green monitor labelled Maximum Protection. If any features have been turned off or disabled, you’ll see

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Filed Under: Anti-Spyware, Anti-virus, Data Security, Network Security, Security Updates, System Security, Tips & Tricks

Passwords, Password Lists and Keeping Passwords Secure

April 21, 2008 By terry Leave a Comment

I’m often asked about how I handle passwords for all the different sites that require passwords.

The questioner’s eyes get pretty big when I mention that I use random mixtures of letters and numbers for my passwords, and even bigger when I say that I use a different password on every site.

The immediate question is “How can you keep track of them all?”

The answer is one of the reasons that I use a PDA, a Personal Digital Assistant. In my case, it is the PalmOS v4 based Sony Clié SJ-33, which I’ve used for a couple years.

Continue reading Passwords, Password Lists and Keeping Passwords Secure to learn more about password management…

Filed Under: Data Security, Network Security, Privacy, Security Updates, Storage, System Security, Tips & Tricks, Vista, Windows Xp