NOD32 Antivirus Version 3.0 Review

May 30, 2008 By 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

Continue reading NOD32 Antivirus Version 3.0 Review

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 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

Router for 1 Computer?

June 27, 2007 By Leave a Comment

I answered a question recently from someone who wondered whether a router was necessary with a cable Internet connection.

No if’s, and’s or but’s, I recommend a router for any cable or dsl connection.

Whether you intend to have multiple computers connected or not, the router will give you another layer of security. Most significantly, the router will actually gives your computer a “non-routable IP address”. The router isolates anything on the local area network (LAN) side of the router from the Internet (the Wide Area Network – WAN).

This isolation, and the “Network Address Translation” that the router does for your computers, means that you can access computers on the Internet, but no computer on the Internet side of the router can touch yours. All they can do is send a response from your computer to your router ” your router will know how to get the response to your computer.

If you watch, you can find a good deal on a wired router. If you get a wireless one, make sure you can actually disable the wireless function — I used to have a Belkin where there was no option to turn off wireless. If you doesn’t use wireless, turn off the wireless functions.

Continue reading Router for 1 Computer?


Filed Under: Hardware, Network Security, Requirements, Router, System Security

Security in Windows Vista

November 9, 2006 By Leave a Comment

Hot on the heels of the Windows Vista security pages for IT professionals, Microsoft has a Security in Windows Vista section for consumers.

Quoting the web site:

For Windows Vista security our goals are simple:

  • Maintain a PC that is protected from malware such as viruses, spyware, worms, and other potentially unwanted software
  • Provide safer online experiences at home and at work
  • Gain an understanding of when a PC is unsafe, and know how to help make it safe again

So far, these pages seem to be links to other resources in and around Microsoft, but they’re a good start…

Filed Under: Data Security, Network Security, System Security

Microsoft Releases Windows Vista Security Guide

November 8, 2006 By Leave a Comment

Microsoft’s Technet site has a new Windows Vista Security Guide for IT Professionals.

Unfortunately, it really does seem to be aimed at Information Technology professionals, with information for users scattered hither and yon through the document:
Chapter 1: Implementing the Security Baseline

Chapter 2: Defend Against Malware

Chapter 3: Protect Sensitive Data

Chapter 4: Application Compatibility

Chapter 5: Specialized Security – Limited Functionality

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/security/guide.mspx

Filed Under: Admin Control, Data Security, Group Controls, Network Security, System Security

Security Rivals Not Happy with Vista

October 24, 2006 By Leave a Comment

Amazing how MS can put such a positive spin on fixing the security problems it has allowed to fester and expand.

It’s good to hear that Microsoft is the Windows Vista security feature API’s with third-party security tool vendors, but I’m not sure how real this will be. And, apparently McAfee and Symantec aren’t either, based on the posting today it ITBusinessEdge.

This API sharing announcement has all the positive spin, and the potential for nothingness, of Microsoft’s “sharing” of code with open-source programmers.

Filed Under: Compatibility, Data Security, Network Security, System Security, Uncategorized

Vista’s OS-level Preview Pane

October 23, 2006 By 1 Comment

From the Microsoft Windows Vista web page:

The new Document Explorer makes working with your files a snap. Find your files more quickly with the new Live Icon feature, and see what they contain without having to open them.

That’s just the kind of thing that Microsoft has been aiming for with all of its OLE (Object LInking and Embedding) that’s been such a security nightmare in Windows and Office.

I hope they’re getting it right this time. All we need is an Operating System-level “preview pane” that let’s scripts and other nasties run…

Filed Under: Data Security, Network Security, System Security, User Interface
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