Shopping Securely in the Digital Age

Spyware, Virus' and hijackers - Oh My!!!  These days especially with the internet expanding and new sites for buying and selling items popping up everywhere, people need to know how to protect themselves without having a degree in Computer Engineering or learning to speak geek.

To the majority of new computer users and surfers this internet expansion is fantastic - nothing like this was around when they were younger (wait - what am I saying - we - yes, I too am from the age of Atari and no remote controls... we had 12 channels growing up and our version of Cable was UHF channel 68)...  What people aren't told when they walk into BestBuy or CompUSA to purchase their new chunk of world wide machinery - there are several areas of security that are usually (almost ALWAYS) overlooked.

People think - well - my computer came with a firewall or security software so I must be safe, right?  No!  Not at all.  I've spent hours upon hours at my parents (both my and my in-laws) homes cleaning our their computers of spyware, adware, virus', worms, etc. because they didn't know the fundamentals of surfing.  Well, here's my take on Internet Security 101 - something everyone should be told the minute their credit cards are swiped.

First things first.  If you use eBay or PayPal... there are so many spammers and phishers out there trying to get into your eBay and PayPal accounts that I ABSOLUTELY APPLAUDE them for implementing the Security Key.  Seriously - this is a godsend!  Because even though someone may have your eBay or PayPal password - unless they have your security key in their grubby hacker little hands, they can't enter your account.  Then PayPal/eBay will send you an email letting you know that someone attempted to enter your account without the Security Key!!!!  FABULOUS!!!  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ANYONE using eBay or PayPal regularly to get one of these things!!!

OK - now on to the good stuff.

Not all Firewall Software is Created Equal!

Seriously.  Just because your computer may come with either Windows Firewall (which is a joke, by the way) or Norton Firewall or their version of an Internet Security Suite does not mean your computer or your online activities are safe.  Norton is not very user friendly (and IMHO - is a Horrible Firewall and Internet Security Suite option) and lets in a horrifying amount of bad things.  I cannot recommend McAfee enough to new or beginning users.  I use it myself (along with a plethora of other security backups.)

McAfee Total Protection Suite is the one I recommend to everyone that asks.  It's EXTREMELY user friendly and has a ton of great security features like keeping your address and zip code safe.  Ever wonder how the flashing ads on your computer shows you items in your home town or state?  That's because your Firewall or Internet Security Suite isn't set up to block that information from leaving the confines of your computer.  McAfee has a great security feature that will let you enter your address, zip code, area code, etc. and will keep that information safe and will give you a "pop-up" (if you set the controls) to ask you whether you'd like to send that information to the person/site requesting it.  Another great feature in McAfee Firewall is that you can set your computer browsing to "Stealth".  Meaning that you browse sneakily through the web without the plethora of nastiness out there finding out your exact web address to attack you and find any vulnerability you may have.  It blocks all inbound network connections completely hiding your presence on the internet.  It also alerts you of new programs attempting outbound internet connections or ones receiving inbound connection requests.  Therefore, YOU can decide who does and does not connect to your computer.  NICE!!!

Another useful feature of McAfee is that is has a cleaner build right in.  Most people don't know to clean out their computers after connections to the internet.  Imagine you just came back from a long flight ... busy airport, crowded - or - even better - a trip through the New York Subway System during rush hour in July!!!  Perfect analogy.  You're on your way home and you must rush through the quagmire that is the NY Subway & Transit - through the homeless and hygienically questionable.  Although it is considered primarily safe and clean after touching the handrails or sitting next to someone that thinks a shower is something you take on holidays the first thing you'd like to do when you get home is what?  SHOWER!  Cleaning out your computer is the same.  Although you might be primarily safe when you enter the web, the things that you pass on your way through cyberspace are not always.  I like to use several different types of cleaning programs...  you know - what one catches another might not.  I like Window Washer by Webroot.  GREAT!!!  But - I also like McAfee's version.  It's build right in to their Total Protection Suite.  You can set it to clean once a week or after every time you leave the internet.  I'm on the more paranoid side of cleanliness so I run a clean every night before turning off the pc.

McAfee are also the creators of "SiteAdvisor"... ONE OF THE BEST INVENTIONS SINCE Zelda!  (And if any of you reading this know what I'm referring to ... I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT!!!! - for those of you that do not - it's a game from Nintendo.)  Site Advisor lets you know which sites are safe to enter and which ones are ABSOLUTELY NOT!!  Unfortunately - not all surfing platforms utilize SiteAdvisor.  AOL is one that does not - so when I'm searching the web, I search through Internet Explorer instead of signing into AOL and groping blindly through cyberspace.  If you're searching the web for something specific or just have nothing better to do - I suggest trying out SiteAdvisor and using either Internet Explorer or another compatible browsing platform to see what I'm talking about.  SiteAdvisor will tell you whether a site is safe to browse or not.  Go to Google, Yahoo, etc. and type in your search parameters and the information you get will be highlighted either Green (Good) Yellow (Questionable) or RED ... (run like hell!!!) and you can also click on the highlighted area to find out why the site was deemed any of those colors.  FANTASTIC!!!!

Cookies are not Always a Good Thing - Unless They're Homemade Sugar, Oatmeal Raisin or Chocolate Chip!!!

What most people are never told is that every time you enter the internet your computer inhales a TON of ridiculousness and not wanted information - especially COOKIES!!!!!  Although some cookies are needed and for legitimate websites (i.e., eBay, PayPal, Macy's, Bloomingdales, etc. are you seeing a pattern here???) not all are a tasty treat for your PC.  There are other cookies lurking out there in cyberspace that are the equivalent to the ones that will give you food poisoning if not cooked correctly.  Not everyone knows that there is an area on your computer where you can block these bad boys!!!  Granted - after setting the control to "prompt" you to allow or disallow certain cookies into your precious PC it may be a P.I.T.A. for a couple of weeks but you will be happy in the long run by  not having to throw your new and very expensive PC out the window because it started acting oddly every time you turned it on or when you signed into the web by harassing you with a tornado of pup-ups or spam.

Here's a quick trick to only take the cookies you want...  Click Start at the bottom right hand of your computer.  Then click "Control Panel".  After a new window opens up you'll see the option for "Network and Internet Connections".  Click that.  ANOTHER new window will appear giving you several more options... click "Internet Options".  From here you will see a new window with several tabs at the top titled - "General" "Security" "Privacy", etc.  Click on the tab Privacy.  From here you will see another window with several buttons titled "Sites" "Import" "Advanced " "Default".  Click Advanced.  From here is where you can block the unwanted cookies from entering your pc.  Check the box that asks to "Override Automatic Cookie Handling" then make sure that you click "Prompt" under both First Party Cookies and Third Party Cookies.  AND NEVER allow session cookies so make sure that that box is cleared.  After you are finished, click OK.  You'll return to the previous window.  If you're using a Windows Based PC, make sure that the area just under the "Cookie" handling is checked... it pertains to pop-ups.  (How annoying are pop-ups???)  Turn your pop-up blocker on and this will prevent most pop-ups from appearing on your pc - then click apply.  After that you're done.  Just X out of the screens and presto... fini.  Now comes the annoying part for the next couple of weeks... you'll receive pop-up windows every time you enter new web-pages until you have the majority of your favorite places allowed.... the pop up will say something like "_____ site is requesting to leave a cookie on your computer - allow or block"  for sites like eBay, PayPal, ie., legitimate sites, check off the "Apply to all" and click allow... for other sites like doubleclick, 2o7, etc. - this is mallware and potentially dangerous - again - check off the "Apply to all" and do not allow them.  You'll be amazed over the next couple of weeks how many of these little buggers try to slip past you on legitimate sites. 

SPYWARE, ADWARE and MALWARE, OH MY!!!

My suggestion here is to invest in a couple of very good and recommended anti-spyware, adware removal systems.  There are several FANTASTIC FREE versions out there (i.e., JavaCool's SypwareBlaster - which you can get through Javacool.com, and AdAware which you can get through Lavasoft.com.)  I suggest purchasing the FULL version of AdAware because it gives a more thorough cleaning and is EXTREMELY customizable.  Another GREAT completely automated AntiSpyware is SpySweeper from Webroot.  It blocks a serious amount of crap from even coming near your computer.  The downside... if you're very into digital imaging or video software - you may have to "tweak" SpySweeper so it doesn't interfere with your programs.  Another fantastic one is AVG AntiSpyware.  Again - you can use the free version, but I suggest purchasing the full version.

If your PC is running sluggish you might be infected.  I suggest doing a clean with either WindowWasher (you might be able to use a free version from the MajorGeeks.com website if available) or purchase your own, but definitely clean out the pc.  Then, make sure all your antispyware, etc. is fully updated and unplug your internet connection.  Then - run a COMPLETE SCAN of your pc with all antispyware you may have at your disposal.  If you're lucky you only have some tracking cookies or malware which is making your computer sluggish... if you're not - like my dad was after my mother turned off the cookie or not to cookie prompts because she didn't feel  like constantly clicking whether she'd like to allow the cookies or not - he wound up infected with a KeyLogger and a Worm.  Not to scare anyone out there from ever using the computer again, but a KeyLogger - to those of you that might not know - is a program stealthily implanted into your computer either through a cookie or other item you might have clicked on and it tracks everything you do - meaning that it records every single keystroke you enter.  AND - when the file is large enough - it secretly transmits the information to its creator and BAM - they have every password and any information you may have typed for however long it's been in your pc - Identity Theft anyone?  Which is why I advocate cleaning out your pc every night and using several security safe guards.

 

Nothing is foolproof, but at least you can try to stay safe while surfing and shopping.  I'm not saying that I'm a computer genius - far from it.  I'm just one of the growing paranoid few that enjoy my anonymity and the fact that I'm the only me out there.  I wouldn't want someone hijacking my identity... know what I'm saying?

Unfortunately, with Summer over (sniff, sniff) and the Holiday Season just a few weeks away, people are going to be buying up everything and anything on the internet.  This is just my pre-holiday opinion to keep the many out there that have no clue about Internet Security to keep safe.  This is just a quick way to keep the majority of nastiness out of your pc.  There are several other things I do which - if I tried to explain here - this little article would go on for days, so I won't... :)  Try reading up on Internet Security issues from PC Magazine or CNet.  You can also ask your IT person where you work... if they know anything about their chosen profession, they should be able to help you out.  But - if you don't work in an office you can always check out the computer help forums.  They're always more than happy to help you out.  If you have any questions - you can always ask me, and I'll direct you (or at least attempt to direct you) to the right website to help you out if I can't answer the question myself.

I do wish everyone Safe Surfing and Happy Holiday Purchasing!!!!!