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At meetings (standards and others) you
need to secure your portable computer...............
Updated in October 2005
Of course, you need to look at
Backup, using an external USB hard disk or CD pr DVD for backup (and you can keep sensitive software on
it, though of course most of it will be left in
swap and cache areas on your PC!). I have often failed to follow this advice and regretted it with lost, stolen or damaged laptops!!
I use Norton Ghost for backup.
The electronic security a more
interesting issue, as LANs (both fixed and wireless) are
used at meetings, and most people use Microsoft software
which needs some work to secure (Linux is an option!). Otherwise other people may look at your data or worse......
You should definitely have the most of the security measures below for Internet connections using telephone, and 'always on' connections such as cable or ADSL.
Here is some security advice and guidance:
- Antivirus
- Norton works well for me,
and can also be used to look for viruses in email. I have found catches most Email
viruses, but update it all the time! There are, interestingly,
free options available:
AVG antivirus on http://free.grisoft.com/
- Firewalls - Zonelabs offer a free firewall at www.zonelabs.com.
This works very well, there is a free version which is perfectly good, and you can upgrade to a professional version which does a bit more such as script blocking in emails etc. Use this, even if you are using the XP firewall which is not as good as Zonelabs.
- Test you security - To test your system, try
www.grc.com
and go to 'Test
My Shields'.
This
will try a few low level number and well known
ports for weakness. Without a firewall you will
be surprised what is exposed. Other sites offer
full port scanning, but at a cost ($ and time).
- Spyware - Check your PC for spyware programmes that may be leaking your
browsing, dialling premium rate internet connections or monitoring your passwords!
www.lavasoft.de is a good site, and Ad-aware has a free version.
Try also SpySoft (which is what I am using at the moment....)
http://security.kolla.de, which is free (but you can donate).
Both will also delete cookies that may be looked at by sites you are visiting
tracking your surfing activities. And Microsoft has a free
version for XP users as well, see http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
- SPAM - is a real problem these days. I have use Mailwasher which works well enough, and is free for one POP mail server,
www.mailwasher.net . Now I just use
the service my ISP provides. See also (see Eudora below as well).
- Microsoft software itself needs to be secured. Patch it regularly by visiting
windowsupdate.microsoft.com, there are often security updates to find.......
Don't forget to disable file sharing and protocols you do not use (generally only TCP/IP is used).
- Secure email - Look out for secure email
packages, such as PGP which offers 'plug ins' to many email
programs up your data - Consider access control
for your PC (hardware or software) and encryption of your files. Don't forget that Windows XP has encryption built in.
- Need to use the Internet abroad? - I used to use Compuserve (AOL) but now use net2roam
www.net2roam.com.
You can connect almost anywhere in the world pre-paid for the price of a local call and their connection costs.
Of course GPRS and 3G also works well!
- Email - I also use for email Eudora at
www.eudora.com as this
isn't seem quite so prone to outlook type viruses (which use Visual Basic and exploit browser flaws etc) such as
'I LOVE YOU'.
It will also take PGP plugins, has free version, and Version 6 incorporates spam filtering (if you pay and register).
- Sending email problems? - Sometimes it's not easy to find
an smtp server to send emails. You can get a free client to use on
your PC on
http://www.postcastserver.com/ or better http://www.argosoft.com/mailserver/
I hope this helps!
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