Computer Security

[nothermark]

FWIW - I use a mail service that has a lot of security options. I
have not explored most of them as I usually only connect from a couple
of places. Given my expected increase in travel and the interest here
it looks like it is time for me to do another knowledge upgrade. I
partly posted this to let folks know services like this are available.
I would like any thougts about the security of using an SSH connection
to www.cotse.net then going out through a proxy there. Also the CGI
proxy.


I have access to a lot of training material. Would CBT's aimed at a
Cisco Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) be a
good place to study or are there better things to look at?

[rvfulltime]

The secure data I'm most concerned about is between my computer and my financial
institutions. My second most concern is between my computer and the vendors I
buy from using my credit card. As long and I'm on my laptop computer and these
businesses, I'm satisfied with the security that is normally available.

I was pretty good at keeping my primary email address private for about 6 years.
This means no spam. But in the past 2 years, at least 6 people in my
community that have my email address in their computer, did stupid things on the
internet and became infected with email address stealing programs. My spam
count afterwards has become unsettling high. The spam filter from my ISP are
usually pretty good, but not always.

I assume email is not private, and behave accordingly. I haven't had a need for
secure email, so I haven't researched the subject. I know that if I want secure
email, the parties that I'm communicating with also need secure email. I would
look at PGP first if I wanted secure email.

Anonymous browsing is always an option as your ISP can log every IP address you
access. What if you stumble onto a kiddie porn or jihadist site by accident.
If one were to venture close to those worlds, anonymous browsing is the way to go.

What I do to keep my computers safe without using anti-virus software include:
1. I don't use MicroSoft email.
2. I don't use MS web browsers. I use Firefox and Opera.
3. I am cautious about "phishing" emails. I don't click on links.
4. I enter the URLs of financial institutions, instead of clicking on links.
5. I download very few programs, and then only from sites that I trust.
6. I turn off my computer when I'm done. I don't leave it connected to the
internet.
7. I turn off file sharing whenever I take my laptop away from home.
8. I'm cautious about which public WiFi networks I connect to.
9. I use passwords that are at least 8 characters, include uppper and lower
case, numbers, and symbols.
10. I keep the software as vanilla as possible. I never accept toolbars, or
similar type add-ons.
11. I use a unique password for every site that involves money.
12. I don't use password vaults except for my own.

For privacy I:
1. Don't allow third party cookies.
2. I configure my browser to delete all cookies when I exit.
3. I configure my browser to delete all history when I exit.

I have a new Android tablet. I'm finding out that being secure and private is
very difficult. The software there is years behind wWindows software in the
area of security and privacy. Google seems to want to know everything that you
are doing. Therefore I try to avoid using Google applications.

[George Anthony]

"nothermark" <nothe...@not.here> wrote in message
news:4tesp8t9a3ir32gia...@4ax.com...

For email, I think you would like this:

http://tinyurl.com/7m2clyd

[nothermark]

sometimes you exceed expectations...

[nothermark]

Thanks for the reply.

That is pretty much what I do too. One advantage with the COTSE
account is I have multiple names and domains along with the ability to
create accounts that time out. That lets me use a diffferent address
for every company I do business with. I also have filtering at the
server level so I can kill off sources, subjects, and target address's
there. I seldom let mail get to my mail reader until I have cleaned
things out withthe web interface. That also blocks html mail unless I
specifically authorize a message.

[George Anthony]

"nothermark" <nothe...@not.here> wrote in message

news:hspsp8lll4qrr75js...@4ax.com...

:-)

[Bob]

In article <knln96$ltb$1...@news.america.net>,
rvfulltim...@isp.nospaam.com says...

Yep, that's pretty much what I do.

> I have a new Android tablet. I'm finding out that being secure and private is
> very difficult. The software there is years behind wWindows software in the
> area of security and privacy. Google seems to want to know everything that you
> are doing. Therefore I try to avoid using Google applications.

Android is a Google operating system. I don't trust Google for anything
privacy related.

Bob

[nothermark]

Yes, they are hardly any more secure than Microsoft....

;-)