Re: What is a good freeware Internet privacy tracks eraser for WinXP?

From: ellis_jay (ellis_jay_at_firstbase.coma)
Date: 05/23/05

  • Next message: bentknuckle_at_yahoo.com: "Re: What is a good freeware Internet privacy tracks eraser for WinXP?" 
    Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 21:37:45 -0500

    Loan Nguyen wrote:
    >> One MS program that does impress me is the MS Baseline Security
    >> Analyzer:
    >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsahome.mspx
    >> I also installed and recommend Ewido Security Suite to add better
    >> protection from exploits: http://www.ewido.net/en/download
    >> Spyware Guard is another small program that I just added:
    >> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
    >> A good firewall and anti-virus progran are very necessary.
    >> http://pricelesswarehome.org/2005/PL2005SECURITY.php
    >> Create an XP boot CD:
    >> http://www.ubcd4win.com
    >
    > Is not the MS Baseline Security Analyzer just a stripped down version
    > of HfNetChk Pro from Shavlik Technologies?
    > http://www.shavlik.com
    >
    > What about Belarc Advisor http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html &
    > BigFix http://www.bigfix.com?
    >
    > The Belarc Advisor is free software I think. It builds a detailed
    > profile of your installed software & hardware in your Web browser.
    >
    > LN

    Yes, Belarc is a great free program, but I don't think it could be
    considered as a privacy too or security tool..just an info tool and a very
    good one.

    >
    >
    >> These are all good programs that provide a certain degree of privacy
    >> from the inside. There are other tools, such as encryption tools that
    >> protect files or can make encrypted volumns that are even more
    >> secure.
    >>
    >> One other approach to enhance internal security is to buy a gig of
    >> ram (the quality stuff is very affordable) and totally disabling the
    >> swap file. With a gig of ram you won't need a swapfile in most cases
    >> and it can be easily enabled when image processing or something like
    >> that is being done. In this case sensitive data is enclosed within
    >> the temp files the programs above will clean, rather than scattered
    >> all over the hard disk. A new disk with a large cache is another
    >> purchase worthy, as the cache works to enhance machine speed to make
    >> up for the swap file.
    >>
    >> But, until a machine is hardened as much as possible from outside
    >> attacks I'm not certain that the above tools will render the degree
    >> of true success they are capable of providing. This is a cat and
    >> mouse game. The attackers are sophisticated and develop another way
    >> to exploit Windows after previous holes are plugged.
    >>
    >> While Microsoft has provided "nominal" resources to help protect
    >> machines and users (and they better than anyone have the dedicated
    >> resources to apply) the offerings are pretty slim. They recommend
    >> Spybot and Adaware... free of charge... to make their OS and browser
    >> safer. Strange, eh?
    >>
    >> I haven't seen much from the AntiSpyware beta yet. I don't even know
    >> it's there. I did just do a fresh image reinstall and I have already
    >> found a trojan that made its way in somehow. These hide in the
    >> inaccessible folders in XP, so Antivir could not scan it. I found it
    >> using a Boot CD, which makes all files available for a scan to detect
    >> and remove it.
    >>
    >> One MS program that does impress me is the MS Baseline Security
    >> Analyzer:
    >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsahome.mspx
    >>
    >> I'd recommend grabbing this, double clicking the .msi file to install
    >> and scanning the PC. I found several updates that I skipped that
    >> allow exploits, mostly Office updates. There are Messenger, MSN and
    >> Media Player exploits I had not patched, as I use none of these and
    >> I used Gibsons program to kill the messenger. Even unused, the
    >> vulnerable programs are still present and I guess need to be
    >> patched. The above tool will show a list and makes it pretty easy to
    >> grab the required patches.
    >>
    >> I also found that after all of my tinkering I had a telnet service
    >> running to the outside world. It was a quick configuration change
    >> that the program. This is a thumbs up program free from MS! I have
    >> no idea how I made this oversight, but the Baseline Security program
    >> was quick to point it out and guide me to fix it.
    >>
    >> I also installed and recommend Ewido Security Suite to add better
    >> protection from exploits:
    >> http://www.ewido.net/en/download
    >> Very solid!
    >>
    >> And I got Adaware. I wasn't really concerned until I saw how many
    >> tracking cookies and such my kids accumulated. I generally don't
    >> venture to such sites myself, but this is another very useful tool. I
    >> thought that spyware and exploits were my main concern. I think it
    >> best to cover all of the bases now.
    >>
    >> Spyware Guard is another small program that I just added:
    >> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
    >>
    >> All JavaSoft Downloads: (great programs!)
    >> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/downloads.html
    >>
    >> A good firewall and anti-virus progran are very necessary.
    >> Here are the PL 2005 offerings:
    >> http://pricelesswarehome.org/2005/PL2005SECURITY.php
    >>
    >> A boot CD is a very valuable tool to free all disk files for a scan.
    >> There is no where for malware to hide when booting from a CD and
    >> running scans. It's a fairly complicated process, but it is well
    >> worth the effort. This will give a slim, but full XP boot with a GUI
    >> and many tools. I use AntiVir and find that I can update the
    >> definitions before CD booting and use that version, rather than the
    >> version on the CD with outdated files to scan.
    >>
    >> Create an XP boot CD:
    >> http://www.ubcd4win.com/
    >>
    >> I'm "trying" to make a page describing the steps more concisely. That
    >> is a rather difficult task though. I've made so many coasters that I
    >> need to play more before I try and list the steps...
    >>
    >> Print the directions and have a go at it though. I rate this as my
    >> number one tool to ensure integrity, remove malware, and to image and
    >> restore my XP partition. Data recovery from NTFS for damaged
    >> partitions is also possible with this CD. 

    -- 
Their ethics are a short summary of police ordinances: for them the
most important thing is to be a useful member of the state, and to air
their opinions in the club of an evening; they have never felt the
homesickness for something unknown and far away, nor the depths which
consists in being nothing at all. ___________Soren Kierkegaard
Ellis_jay
  • Next message: bentknuckle_at_yahoo.com: "Re: What is a good freeware Internet privacy tracks eraser for WinXP?"

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