Rome Library Computer Class

Spear Phishing

2011-05-03T08:33:00.002-04:00

Spear phishing is a more dangerous cyber attack than typically "blind" phishing or spam attempts because they lull people into a false sense of security. Consumers are on their guard against spam from sources they don't know. But when an email seems to be from a trusted entity, or include personal details such as their name, people are more likely to do what it says.

Phishing IQ TEST-http://www.sonicwall.com/furl/phishing/phishing-quiz-question.php

Scareware

2011-02-02T09:15:00.002-05:00

Scareware: Scareware is software that tricks people into downloading or purchasing it, under the guise of fixing their computer, when in reality the faux anti-virus program is the real problem. Scareware programs often run a fictitious or careless system scan, and then present the user with a list of malicious programs that must be corrected, always leaving itself off of the list. The scareware then informs that in order to fix these "problems" it will require the user to pay a fee for a "full" or "registered" version of the software. Examples of scareware include: System Security, Anti-Virus 2010, and Registry Cleaner XP.

Protect Your Identity

2011-01-19T12:07:00.005-05:00

1. Don’t let your credit or debit cards out of your sight. It is common for restaurants to take your card away and run the payment at a register out of your sight. Unfortunately, some servers are dishonest and run your card through a “skimmer” that captures the card’s information so a new one can be made. Bring cash to restaurants that you know will take your card away. Also don’t let a clerk in a store take your card out of your sight. Some dishonest clerks will say they have to get manager approval of your transaction, then go to a back room and skim your card.

2. Be wary of ATM’s that look altered. Thieves will attach skimmers to ATM slots to capture card information and PIN’s. You may notice that the slot looks lumpy or not firmly attached to the machine, or as if there is another piece of hardware attached to the front. If it looks fishy, don’t use it. This is less likely to happen at bank ATM’s since they are more aware of the problem and may be more religious in checking their machines. However, it can happen anywhere so be vigilant.

3. Protect your PIN. When at an ATM, cover the keypad with your hand and do the same as you tap in the information on pads in stores. In a store you can avoid entering your PIN altogether by running the transaction as “credit” rather than “debit.” It doesn’t change anything about how your money is withdrawn, only that you don’t have to enter your PIN.

4. Don’t get caught by phishing scams or phone scams. You hear it all the time, but it bears repeating: Never give personal information out over the phone unless you initiate the call and never enter information into a form you reached by a link in an email. Always type the website directly into your browser and navigate from there. If in doubt, call the company that sent the email or made the phone call and ask if it’s legitimate.

5. Use a cross-cut shredder. Shred anything with your SSN, bank account numbers, address, or other personal information. Be especially sure to shred pre-approved credit card offers and balance transfer checks. Get a cross-cut shredder or “confetti” shredder because these reduce your papers to tiny bits that are almost impossible to put back together. Some shredders make strips which are too easy for a thief to put back together.

6. Keep records of your credit card numbers, bank accounts, insurance cards, and driver’s license information (and contact information for each agency) separate from your wallet or purse. Make photocopies of sensitive items that you carry and keep them in a secure location separate from your wallet. If your wallet or purse is stolen, you can quickly contact each bank and card issuer and notify them of the theft so they can shut down your accounts and open new ones.

7. Don’t leave personal information out in the open. More and more you’re hearing stories about people who had their identity stolen by contractors or delivery people who came to their home. Maybe they left their checkbook out in the open, or an old bank statement, or an insurance claim with their SSN on it. However it happened, the contractor picked up the information or copied it while the homeowner wasn’t looking and then stole their identity. If you’re having work done or deliveries made, make certain that any compromising information is out of sight and preferably locked up. And be sure to keep an eye on the people who are in your home.

8. Monitor your accounts online. Many banks and credit cards now offer online access to your accounts. Take advantage of this and monitor your accounts daily or every other day to check for suspicious activity. This gives you a chance to quickly catch a thief before too much damage is done. If you only wait for the monthly statement, you may be too late.

9. Sign up for e-billing and e-statements. Receiving bills and account statements electronically cuts down on the chances of someone intercepting your information in the mail, either through intentional theft or because your mail was delivered to the wrong place.

10.Buy a safe. Keep sensitive documents (tax returns, bank statements, passports, Social Security cards, etc.) in a safe. If your home is broken into, a safe may keep your information out of the wrong hands. Alternatively, you can rent a safe deposit box at your bank but this can be inconvenient if you need the documents and the bank is closed. And don’t keep documents any longer than necessary. Shred or burn statements, tax returns and old bills when they are no longer needed.

11. Don’t put your SSN, phone number, or driver’s license number on your checks. In the old days the advice was to put this information on checks to speed processing and verification. But now this is just more information that can be used against you if your check goes awry. Only put your name and address on a check. If the person taking the check requests additional information, you can give it if you feel comfortable (but don’t give the SSN — they don’t need that), but otherwise don’t give it out.

12.Be careful with your mail. Opting out of junk mail and signing up for e-billing and e-statements where possible will greatly cut down your risk of mail-related identity theft, but you can go further. Don’t leave sensitive outgoing mail in your mailbox for pickup. It can easily be stolen while you’re not looking. Take it to the post office. If you’re going to be out of town, either have your mail held at the post office or have a trusted friend pick it up. Don’t let it pile up in the box where thieves can get to it. Retrieve your mail as soon as possible. If you aren’t home when the mail comes, get it out of the box as soon as you get home. Don’t leave it there overnight. You might also consider a locking mailbox. These are designed so that they can be opened and closed once for the mail delivery, but after that they must be opened with a combination or a key and then reset for the next day’s delivery.

13. Protect your computer. Install antivirus and anit-spyware protection on your computer to prevent anyone from installing malicious software that can capture your personal information or transmit it to another party. Make certain websites are secure before entering personal information (look for “https” in the web address and/or a lock icon in the browser window). Don’t enter personal information when using public computers at schools, universities, libraries, coffee shops, etc. You don’t know what kind of protection, if any, they have in place.

14. Don’t carry anything with your SSN in your wallet or purse unless you are going to need it that day. If your wallet or purse is stolen it’s a pain to cancel and reissue credit cards and bank accounts, but it’s so much worse if the thief gets your SSN in the bargain. While you’re at it, purge your wallet of any credit cards, insurance cards, or other identifying information you don’t use on a regular basis to cut down on the items a thief has access to.

15. Don’t give out your SSN unless you have no other choice. Many places that ask for your SSN (except banks or those issuing credit) will accept another identifier if you ask. Many are aware of the problems of identity theft and may be willing to work with you. If asked for your SSN, ask why they need it and if there is an alternative and, if you’re not satisfied with the answer, consider whether or not you’re willing to take the risk.

16. Spring for an unlisted phone number. Having an unlisted phone number cuts down on the number of phone solicitations you receive and cuts down on people just pulling a phone number and address out of the book and giving it as their own. It also cuts down on some junk mail solicitors that compile their lists from phone listings.

17. Order your free credit reports and set up a monitoring cycle. AnnualCreditReport.com. Only use this site. Others that sound similar require you to pay. But don’t request them all at once. Since you can get one per year from each service, you can request one every four months to keep a constant eye on your credit. So, for example, if you request from Equifax in January, wait until May to request one from TransUnion. Then request one from Experian in September. Then, when January rolls around, you request from Equifax again and keep the cycle going. This means you’re seeing your credit report once every four months which lets you catch potential problems quicker than if you look at it only once a year or less often You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. You get these reports through .

Digital Camera Basics

2010-06-21T14:18:00.002-04:00

It’s nice to pick up a brand new camera and take good pictures without reading the manual. But the manual will always tell you something about your camera that you wouldn’t discover on your own. So give it at least one good read. And keep it handy .If you have any problems, consult the manual to see if it has the answers.

Purchasing a digital camera takes some research. If you ask yourself the right questions, however, the choices become clearer. The most important thing is that you get a camera you are excited about, one that you want to take pictures with, and one that you can take everywhere.

What is a digital camera?

A camera that creates a photograph in digital form and records on digital memory rather than film.

"Think of a film camera. You aim at a subject, press a shutter button, and the shutter inside the camera lens opens to expose light to film inside, capturing the image onto the film. You fill up the roll of film, take it to a lab, they develop it, and you have photos!

Ok, now you have a digital camera. You aim at a subject, press a shutter button, and the shutter inside if camera lens opens to expose light to a small sensor inside, capturing the image onto a memory card, instead of film. You fill it up, transfer your images to your computer, and can save them, alter them, print them, email them, and more! Even better, you can take your memory card to the local drug store photo lab, and insert them into a machine and have photo lab prints made .

Digital Camera Terms

Image Sensor- The image sensor is positioned in the digital camera where the film would normally be. When the photograph is captured the information is stored in the digital camera's memory.

Resolution- For digital cameras the resolution is usually expressed as a matrix of horizontal by vertical pixels. A resolution of 640x480 means the digital camera produces images that consist of 640 horizontal pixels by 480 vertical pixels.

Images Capacity- Number of images (pictures) that can be stored depending on the image quality mode.

Focus- Adjustment of the focal length setting on a lens to define the subject sharply.
Most digital cameras have a fixed-focal-length lens with close-up or macro setting. Some have zoom lenses or dual-focal-length lenses.

Focus Range- The range within a camera is able to focus on the selected picture.
Usually the focus range is listed for normal mode and/or macro mode.

Memory/Storage:

Built-in- The image storage method use two different techniques:
Built-in (internal) memory and removable memory.
Once the internal memory is used up by images, the user has to download and erase the images to continue taking pictures.

Removable-Removable memory is like a roll of film for conventional cameras that can be re-used over and over again.

How do I get my digital photos from my camera to my computer?

The pictures taken by a digital camera have to be extracted by some means in order to get them onto a computer, or perhaps directly onto a printer.

USB ports: Some specialized cameras may take advantage of the high speed Firewire protocol for connecting to a computer. Just about all modern computers come with at least a pair of USB ports, but not all computers include Firewire.

Use a Camera Dock: A camera dock can transfer photos directly from your camera to your computer.

Card Readers: Many people find flash memory card readers to be a quick and convenient alternative to using the camera’s native means of connecting. You simply remove the memory from the slot on the camera and pop it into the appropriate slot on the reader, and then the computer system can access the card like a local disk drive.

Memory card slot: Take the memory card out of your camera and place it directly into the memory card slot on your computer.

Photo Sharing-
Flickr-flickr.com
Photobucket -Photobucket.com
Kodak Gallery- KodakGallery.com
Shutterfly-http://www.shutterfly.com/
Snapfish
Picasa- is free photo editing software from Google http://picasa.google.com/

ONLINE EDITORS
Picnik: http://www.picnik.com/
Fotoflexer:http://fotoflexer.com/
Pixlr: http://www.pixlr.com/

Free Photo Editors-
PhotoFiltre –Image editing and filter program. (http://www.photofiltre-studio.com/news-en.htm)

Paint.NET-Is a free image and photo manipulation software for Windows 2000, XP. (http://www.getpaint.net)

Photobie-Is an image editor that offers all the standard editing and paint tool. -(www.photobie.com)

Pixia –Is the English version of a popular Japanese painting and retouch software for full color graphics. http://park18.wakwak.com/~pixia/)

FxFoto- Allows you to edit, correct and improve your digital images. (http://www.fxfoto.com)

Computer / Internet Safety

2010-05-19T12:04:00.008-04:00

Educate Yourself and Be Smart

Understanding how you can get infected and what to avoid when using the Internet will be the most important step in keeping your computer clean and secure. The majority of people who have infections on their machines were infected due to lack of knowledge and clicking on things that they should not.

Secure Your Wireless Network

If you don't secure your network, you provide an entrance point to everything on your network, including personal information.

Don't let strangers use your network

Turn on WEP (wired equivalency privacy) or WPA (Wi-Fi protected access) on all of your devices, including your router

Move your wireless router

Place the wireless access point away from windows and near the center of your house to decrease the signal strength outside of the intended coverage area.

Retiring your old computer ?

Eradicate personal data stored on its hard drive before unplugging it for the last time.

Remove the files yourself at home using disk-cleaning software.

Take your hard drive to a local reputable computer supplier to have them safely overwrite your files.

Primary Threats to Computer Security

Viruses/Worms
Software programs designed to invade your computer, and copy, damage, or delete your data.

Trojans
Viruses that pretend to be helpful programs while destroying your data, damaging your computer, and stealing your personal information.

Spyware
Software that tracks your online activities or displays endless ads.

Primary Online Risks for Children

Cyberbullies
Both children and adults may use the Internet to harass or intimidate other people.

Predators
These people use the Internet to trick children into meeting with them in person.

File-share Abuse
Unauthorized sharing of music, video, and other files may be illegal, and download malicious software.

Disturbing Content
If kids explore unsupervised, they could stumble upon images or information you may not want them exposed to.

Invasion of Privacy
If kids fill out online forms, they may share information you don’t want strangers to have about them or your family.

Primary Threats to Personal Online Safety

Phishing
E-mail sent by online criminals to trick you into going to fake Web sites and revealing personal information

Identity Theft
A crime where con artists get your personal information and access your cash and/or credit

Hoaxes
E-mail sent by online criminals to trick you into giving them money

Spam
Unwanted e-mail, instant messages, and other online communication

Steps You Can Take

Your computer

Turn on Windows Internet firewall.

Use Microsoft Update to keep Windows up-to-date automatically.

Install and maintain antivirus software.

Install and maintain Microsoft Windows Defender.

Your family

Talk with your kids about what they do online.

Set clear rules for Internet use.

Keep personal information private.

Use family safety settings in Microsoft software

Yourself

Practice Internet behavior that lowers your risk.

Manage your personal information carefully.

Use anti-phishing and anti-spam

Four Steps to Help Protect Your Computer

Turn on Windows Internet firewall
Use Microsoft Update to keep Windows up-to-date automatically
Install and maintain antivirus software
Install and maintain antispyware software

Managing Passwords

2010-04-15T09:53:00.001-04:00

Choosing a Password

No matter what method you end up using to manage your passwords, the first concept you should be familiar with is how to choose a good one.

Use combinations of letters, numbers, and (when applicable) special characters.
Mix upper case and lower case when passwords are case-sensitive.
Keep them to about 8 characters on average.
Don't use regular words or phrases. The more straightforward the password, the easier it will be to hack.
Don't use numbers associated with your identity (such as birthdays, phone numbers, social security).

Re-using the Same Password

Writing Your Passwords Down

Some people resort to a sort of "password address book" where they write down usernames and passwords in a notebook as a reference. Unfortunately, this is a similarly insecure habit because of the possibility of someone getting their hands on it, particularly if you are keeping it around the office. If you decide to write them down, keep your password book in a locked drawer or someplace safe!

Develop a Password System

The best way to try to memorize each password is by developing a system that allows you to generate a different memorable password for each site or application. Lifehacker has a great post on choosing and remembering great passwords. By using a combination of a base password, numbers, special characters, and elements from the names of the sites themselves, you can create passwords that are different for every account that you can remember without any outside help.

Upgrading to Windows 7

2009-10-27T08:53:00.003-04:00

Upgrading to Windows 7 ?

1.Check compatibility with your hardware-
Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor The tool automatically scans your system and provides a report of any potential issues.

2. XP Users-
XP users cannot do a straight upgrade; they’ll have to back up their files, format their hard drive and perform a clean install. Microsoft has another download for helping. Easy Transfer

3.Computers shipping with Windows 7- Here is a little tool that will help you find laptops that ship with windows 7. PC Scout

4.You can upgrade without doing a clean install if you are running Vista.

Fake security software

2009-10-19T09:57:00.002-04:00

Avoid Fake Security Software-

Links to help you avoid fake software alerts and downloads.

Fake security software in millions of computers:Yahoo News

Rogue security software List :From Wikipedia

Fake Antivirus Attacks, Demands Ransom: PC World

Here is a list of safe and well known Antivirus you can use.

avast! Home Edition

Avg

Anti-Vir

Kaspersky Anti-Virus

McAfee VirusScan

Panda Antivirus

Norton

Free Online Virus Scan-

Trend Micro

BitDefender

Symantec Security Check