PC Security Tips - Email Mini-Course - Day 4


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The 7 PC Security Secrets Hackers DON'T Want
You To Know But I'm Going To Tell You Anyway.

A 7 Day Mini Course

Greg Reynolds

http://www.SpamVirusHelp.com

You or someone else has subscribed to my 7 day mini
course. If this is an error or you would like to
un-subscribe just go to the bottom of this message
for instructions.

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Day 4

Antivirus Software Prevents Disaster

Ever gotten infected with a PC virus? It's maddeningly
complicated getting rid of files and registry entries. You
can expect to spend a minimum of three or four hours on
debugging your system.

Oh yeah, one more thing. You'll lose those corrupted
files and that's usually even worse than the lost time.

Viruses have struck seemingly well-protected targets
like Bank of America (lost their ATM network for 3 days to
the Slammer Virus) and Verizon (lost 40% of transmission
capacity to Slammer).

Remember the 2003 Blackout started at First Energy in
Ohio by systems failure? Virus attack. They didn't learn
from getting hammered by Slammer and got toasted by
Blaster, leaving 40 milion people without power.

Read the behind-the-scenes story here:

http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-0312.html


Avoid Your Own Disaster

The only antivirus software that I know of (I've
been in the computer business for 23 years) that catches
100% of virus attacks is Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Nobody's ever heard of them because they're a Russian
high-tech company. Sounds like an oxymoron, but the other
name brands can't hold a candle to their AV engine.

Read our review here:

http://www.spamvirushelp.com/antivirus-software.html


We also have a page on no-cost antivirus software. If
you can't afford the good stuff, at least use something.


That's all for today. See you tomorrow with more good stuff.

Greg Reynolds


Tomorrow's Topic:

Spyware: Removing Pests & Blocking Ads

PC Security Tips - Email Mini-Course - Day 4

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Day 3

Blocking Spam from Your Inbox

Everybody hates spam and nobody wants to see it in
their inbox. However, a vast majority of people just let
the spam deluge flood their inbox anyway!

Don't do that. Spam is the prime transfer agent for
viruses, trojans, and back door scripts.

If your email program isn't configured to the highest
security settings, these programs will automatically run
as soon as you view them. That's right - with the newer
scripts you don't even have to open the attachment!

So what can you do to protect yourself? Easy, just
follow some simple common sense rules and put a spam
filter in place.

I'll give you the rules for avoiding becoming a spam
magnet and then a couple of choices on how to get rid of
this junk.

Spam Prevention Tips:

* Don't post your email address online
* Don't open spam, ever
* Don't buy anything from spam messages
* Don't use spam "remove me" links
* Do use an anti-spam filter or spam blocker


Top Notch Low Cost Spam Filter

Spam Bully is a miracle worker and it costs way less
than the so-called name brand offerings from Norton and
McAfee.

Needless to say, it does a better job at blocking
spam than the competition. Don't take my word for it.

They've gotten rave reviews from Wired magazine, USA
Today, and the Wall Street Journal.

Key Features:

* Blocks 99.3% of spam messages
* Sophisticated Bayesian self-learning spam filter.
* Compatible with Outlook and Outlook Express.
* Bounce messages from known spammers.
* Query emails can be sent to unfamiliar emailers.
* Friends/Spammers list protection.
* Attachment blocking. *Outlook only.

Check out their sample trial here:

http://www.clickbank.net/?hitsusa/spam30


Budget Conscious Spam Blocker

Spam Pal - no cost spam filter. Works on their site.
Labels obvious spam for auto-delete within your email
client.

You'll need to setup a rule in your email client to
direct what gets tagged into your wastebasket.

It's better than nothing, but be warned that SpamPal
only catches about 90% of the bad stuff and it doesn't
filter the attachments.

SpamPal also has a 3% false positive rate. That means
that you'll need to search your wastebasket before you
empty it.

Make sure that you've followed our instructions in
Step 2 of this e-course or you'll still be exposed
to active scripting attacks from email attachments.

http://www.spampal.org


That's all for today. See you tomorrow with more good stuff.

Greg Reynolds


Tomorrow's Topic:

Antivirus Software Prevents Disaster

PC Security Secrets Mini-Course - Day 3

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

The 7 PC Security Secrets Hackers DON'T Want
You To Know But I'm Going To Tell You Anyway.

A 7 Day Mini Course

Greg Reynolds

http://www.SpamVirusHelp.com

You or someone else has subscribed to my 7 day mini
course. If this is an error or you would like to
un-subscribe just go to the bottom of this message
for instructions.

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/


Day 3

Blocking Spam from Your Inbox

Everybody hates spam and nobody wants to see it in
their inbox. However, a vast majority of people just let
the spam deluge flood their inbox anyway!

Don't do that. Spam is the prime transfer agent for
viruses, trojans, and back door scripts.

If your email program isn't configured to the highest
security settings, these programs will automatically run
as soon as you view them. That's right - with the newer
scripts you don't even have to open the attachment!

So what can you do to protect yourself? Easy, just
follow some simple common sense rules and put a spam
filter in place.

I'll give you the rules for avoiding becoming a spam
magnet and then a couple of choices on how to get rid of
this junk.

Spam Prevention Tips:

* Don't post your email address online
* Don't open spam, ever
* Don't buy anything from spam messages
* Don't use spam "remove me" links
* Do use an anti-spam filter or spam blocker


Top Notch Low Cost Spam Filter

Spam Bully is a miracle worker and it costs way less
than the so-called name brand offerings from Norton and
McAfee.

Needless to say, it does a better job at blocking
spam than the competition. Don't take my word for it.

They've gotten rave reviews from Wired magazine, USA
Today, and the Wall Street Journal.

Key Features:

* Blocks 99.3% of spam messages
* Sophisticated Bayesian self-learning spam filter.
* Compatible with Outlook and Outlook Express.
* Bounce messages from known spammers.
* Query emails can be sent to unfamiliar emailers.
* Friends/Spammers list protection.
* Attachment blocking. *Outlook only.

Check out their sample trial here:

http://www.clickbank.net/?hitsusa/spam30


Budget Conscious Spam Blocker

Spam Pal - no cost spam filter. Works on their site.
Labels obvious spam for auto-delete within your email
client.

You'll need to setup a rule in your email client to
direct what gets tagged into your wastebasket.

It's better than nothing, but be warned that SpamPal
only catches about 90% of the bad stuff and it doesn't
filter the attachments.

SpamPal also has a 3% false positive rate. That means
that you'll need to search your wastebasket before you
empty it.

Make sure that you've followed our instructions in
Step 2 of this e-course or you'll still be exposed
to active scripting attacks from email attachments.

http://www.spampal.org


That's all for today. See you tomorrow with more good stuff.

Greg Reynolds


Tomorrow's Topic:

Antivirus Software Prevents Disaster

PC Security Secrets MiniCourse - Day 2

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

The 7 PC Security Secrets Hackers DON'T Want
You To Know But I'm Going To Tell You Anyway.

A 7 Day Mini Course

Greg Reynolds

http://www.SpamVirusHelp.com

You or someone else has subscribed to my 7 day mini
course. If this is an error or you would like to
un-subscribe just go to the bottom of this message
for instructions.

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/


Day 2

Locking Down Internet Explorer

Are you familiar with the security vulnerabilities
of Microsoft's flagship browser - Internet Explorer?
Don't worry because most people aren't.

Unfortunately, Internet Explorer (hereafter referred
to as IE) has security holes big enough to drive a truck
through. By default, IE allows ActiveX scripting, spoofing
and buffer overflows.

Those terms may not mean much to you, but to a hacker
they're a gold mine of entry points into your system.

The good news is that patching these holes will also
tremendously strengthen the security of Microsoft's email
programs - Outlook and Outlook Express.

They're often jokingly referred to in the computer
security business as "LookOut!"


Here's How To Lock Down Internet Explorer:

Microsoft Internet Explorer needs to be updated regularly
to maintain computer security. All existing versions of
Internet Explorer have critical vulnerabilities if they
aren't patched.

The vulnerabilities can be categorized into these classes:

* Web page or Windows interface spoofing
* ActiveX control vulnerabilities
* Active scripting vulnerabilities
* MIME-type and Content-type misinterpretation
* Buffer overflows

These vulnerabilities could lead to disclosure of local
files or data, execution of local programs, download
and execution of arbitrary code, or complete takeover
of your system.


Configuring Internet Explorer
To configure the Security settings for Internet Explorer:

* Select Internet Options under the Tools menu.
* Select the Security tab
* Click Custom Level for the Internet zone.

Most of the flaws in IE are exploited through Active
Scripting or ActiveX Controls.

* Under Scripting, select Prompt for Allow paste
operations via script

This increases computer security by preventing content
from being exposed from your clipboard.

Note: Active Scripting should not be disabled since it
is used by many websites.

ActiveX Controls are not as popular but are potentially
more dangerous as they allow greater access to the system.

* Select Prompt for Download signed ActiveX Controls.
* Select Disable for Download unsigned ActiveX Controls.
* Select Disable for Initialize and script ActiveX Controls
not marked as safe.

Java applets typically have more capabilities than
scripts.

* Under Microsoft VM, select High safety for Java permissions

This puts access barriers around the Java applet and prevents
privileged access to your system.

* Under Miscellaneous select Disable for Access to data
sources across domains

This protects you from cross-site scripting attacks.

* Also, make sure you have no un-trusted sites in the
Trusted or Local Intranet zones. These zones have weaker
security settings than the other zones.

Online Security Tip: These security settings for Internet
Explorer will also be automatically applied to your other
Microsoft applications such as Outlook and Outlook Express.


That's all for today. See you tomorrow with more good stuff.

Greg Reynolds


Tomorrow's Topic:

Blocking Spam from Your Inbox