NETcessities
Security

Just some basics...

"If they can bring down Yahoo! and eBay, 
the rest of us don't have a chance" 
- Web site owner whose site was attacked days after spending $35,000 on security.
As recent attacks on major websites show, there is no such thing as a secure system. The hackers have won. But you can take steps to protect yourself.  Below are basic security tips and links to websites of people that know a whole lot more about this than we do.

WIRED NEWS
IE X Bug & Patch

If you use intrusion detection software like Black Ice Defender, 
turn off evidence and packet logging.

Passwords are a first defense in guarding your information and computer from malicious attack. Use a good password. 

It will take only a couple of minutes for a password "cracking" program to obtain the bad password. To crack the good password
 will take days, even months.

• DON'T use your login name in any form (as-is, reversed, capitalized, doubled, etc.). 

• DON'T use your first, middle, or last name in any form. DON'T use your spouse's or child's name. 

• DON'T use other information easily obtained about you. This includes license plate numbers, telephone numbers, social security numbers, the make of your automobile, the name of the street you live on, etc.

• DON'T use a password with all numbers or using only letters.

• DON'T use a word contained in English or foreign language dictionaries.

• DON'T use a password shorter than six characters. These are easy to crack.

• DO use a password with upper and lower case letters.

Never give out a password or any
sensitive information to an unsolicited telephone call or e-mail.

• Never email information such as passwords or credit card information unless you encrypt it.

• Be careful about the web sites you visit. Never submit sensitive information to a web site that does not use a secure connection.

• Do not reveal your IP address to people or display your IP address on a web site.

• Be careful of emails sent to you by people you do not know. These can easily contain what is known as Trojan horse (hidden files) that allow remote access to your computer.

• Change your passwords often and use passwords that are not easy to figure out (see above).

• Upgrade your software and operating system regularly, especially your web browser.

• Check software suppliers websites for updates and patches.

• If you use “chat rooms” be careful with any information you reveal to strangers.

• Always shred confidential information, particularly about your computer.

• Install a intrusion detection and blocking software and a personal firewall.

• Don't browse the internet with the same computer you use to store business records or sensitive information. Buy a second computer to be used for web browsing and email only.