Essential Computer Security : Everyone's Guide to Email, Internet, and Wireless Security

by Bradley

• ISBN13: 9781597491143
• ISBN10: 1597491144
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-12-31
• Publisher: Elsevier Science

Summary

Essential Computer Security provides the vast home user and small office computer market with the information they must know in order to understand the risks of computing on the Internet and what they can do to protect themselves. Tony Bradley is the Guide for the About.com site for Internet Network Security. In his role managing the content for a site that has over 600,000 page views per month and a weekly newsletter with 25,000 subscribers, Tony has learned how to talk to people, everyday people, about computer security. Intended for the security illiterate, Essential Computer Security is a source of jargon-less advice everyone needs to operate their computer securely. * Written in easy to understand non-technical language that novices can comprehend * Provides detailed coverage of the essential security subjects that everyone needs to know * Covers just enough information to educate without being overwhelming

Table of Contents

Foreword	xix
Intro	xxi
Part I: Bare Essentials	1	(64)
Basic Windows Security	3	(26)
Introduction	4	(1)
Why Do You Need to Be Secure?	4	(1)
Why Are You at Risk?	5	(23)
Malware	5	(1)
Weak Passwords	6	(1)
Physical Security	6	(1)
Network``Neighbors''	6	(1)
Logging In	7	(1)
User Accounts	7	(2)
Limiting the Number of Accounts	9	(2)
Disabling the Guest Account	11	(1)
Renaming the Administrator Account	12	(1)
Creating a Dummy Administrator Account	13	(1)
Security Groups	13	(2)
Windows XP Home Account Types	15	(1)
FAT32 versus NTFS	16	(1)
File and Folder Security	16	(1)
Keeping It Simple	17	(1)
Sharing and Security	18	(3)
Windows Services	21	(3)
Hidden File Extensions	24	(1)
Screen Saver	25	(3)
Summary	28	(1)
Additional Resources	28	(1)
Passwords	29	(12)
Introduction	30	(1)
Password Power	30	(5)
The Keys to Your Data	32	(1)
Selecting Strong Passwords	33	(2)
Password Cracking	35	(1)
Storing Your Passwords	36	(1)
One Super-Powerful Password	37	(2)
Summary	39	(1)
Additional Resources	39	(2)
Viruses, Worms, and Other Malware	41	(12)
Introduction	42	(1)
Malware Terms	42	(1)
The History of Malware	43	(9)
Protect Yourself with Antivirus Software	44	(3)
Keep Your Antivirus Software Updated	47	(2)
How Not to Get Infected	49	(1)
Do You Think You're Infected?	49	(3)
Summary	52	(1)
Additional Resources	52	(1)
Patching	53	(12)
Introduction	54	(1)
Patch Terminology	54	(1)
Why Should I Patch?	55	(1)
How Do I Know What to Patch?	56	(8)
Patching Precautions	60	(4)
Summary	64	(1)
Additional Resources	64	(1)
Part II: More Essential Security	65	(86)
Perimeter Security	67	(18)
Introduction	68	(1)
From Moats and Bridges to Firewalls and Filters	68	(1)
Firewalls	69	(11)
Network Traffic Flow	70	(1)
Routers and Ports	71	(1)
Packet Routing and Filtering	72	(1)
Stateful Inspection	73	(1)
Application Gateways and Application Proxy Firewalls	74	(1)
Personal and Cable/DSL Router Firewalls	74	(6)
Intrusion Detection and Prevention	80	(4)
Summary	84	(1)
Additional Resources	84	(1)
E-mail Safety	85	(18)
Introduction	86	(1)
The Evolution of E-mail	86	(1)
E-mail Security Concerns	86	(16)
Opening Attachments	87	(4)
Web-Based versus POP3 E-mail	91	(1)
Spoofed Addresses	92	(1)
Spam	93	(4)
Hoaxes and Phishing	97	(5)
Summary	102	(1)
Additional Resources	102	(1)
Web Surfing Privacy and Safety	103	(20)
Introduction	104	(1)
The Revolutionary World Wide Web	104	(2)
Web Security Concerns	106	(15)
Cookies	106	(3)
Privacy and Anonymous Surfing	109	(3)
Getting in the Zone	112	(4)
Shopping Safely: SSL and Certificates	116	(1)
Financial Transactions	117	(2)
Content Filtering and Childproofing	119	(2)
Summary	121	(1)
Additional Resources	121	(2)
Wireless Network Security	123	(16)
Introduction	124	(1)
The Basics of Wireless Networks	124	(4)
802.11b	126	(1)
802.11a	127	(1)
802.11g	127	(1)
Next-Generation Protocols	127	(1)
Basic Wireless Network Security Measures	128	(6)
Secure Your Home Wireless Network	128	(1)
Change the SSID	129	(1)
Configure Your Home Wireless Network	130	(1)
Restrict Access to Your Home Wireless Network	130	(1)
Use Encryption in Your Home Wireless Network	131	(1)
Review Your Logs	132	(1)
Use Public Wireless Networks Safely	133	(1)
Install Up-to-Date Antivirus Software	133	(1)
Install a Personal Firewall	133	(1)
Additional Hotspot Security Measures	134	(3)
Verify Your Hotspot Connection	134	(1)
Watch Your Back	135	(1)
Use Encryption and Password Protection	135	(1)
Don't Linger	136	(1)
Use a VPN	136	(1)
Use Web-Based E-mail	136	(1)
Summary	137	(1)
Additional Resources	137	(2)
Spyware and Adware	139	(12)
Introduction	140	(1)
What Is Adware?	140	(4)
What Is Spyware?	144	(1)
Getting Rid of Spyware	145	(5)
Summary	150	(1)
Additional Resources	150	(1)
Part III: Testing and Maintenance	151	(68)
Keeping Things Secure	153	(12)
Introduction	154	(1)
General PC Maintenance	154	(7)
Disk Cleanup	155	(2)
Erase the PageFile	157	(1)
Disk Defragmenter	158	(1)
Scheduled Tasks	159	(2)
Patches and Updates	161	(1)
Windows XP Security Center	162	(2)
Summary	164	(1)
Additional Resources	164	(1)
When Disaster Strikes	165	(14)
Introduction	166	(1)
Check the Event Logs	166	(1)
Enable Security Auditing	167	(3)
Review Your Firewall Logs	170	(1)
Scan Your Computer	171	(2)
Restore Your System	173	(1)
Start from Scratch	174	(1)
Restore Your Data	175	(1)
Call In the Pros	175	(1)
Summary	176	(1)
Additional Resources	177	(2)
Microsoft Alternatives: Inside the Linux Desktop	179	(40)
Introduction	180	(1)
Common Desktop Environments	180	(5)
Gnome	181	(2)
KDE	183	(1)
Common Features	184	(1)
Install Both, Make One the Default	185	(1)
Alternative Window Managers	185	(1)
The X Window System and Window Managers	185	(5)
X Window Servers versus Window Managers	186	(2)
Window Managers as Alternative Desktop Environments	188	(2)
E-mail and Personal Information Management Clients	190	(12)
Evolution	190	(2)
Evolution, Microsoft Exchange, Novell GroupWise, and OpenExchange	192	(1)
KDE Suite/KMail	192	(1)
Kontact	192	(1)
Aethera	193	(1)
Mozilla Mail/Thunderbird	194	(1)
Thunderbird	195	(1)
Sylpheed	195	(1)
Essential Information	196	(1)
E-mail and PIM Software	196	(1)
Migrating Mail	197	(1)
Migrating from Outlook or Outlook Express	197	(1)
Importing Outlook Mail into Mozilla	198	(1)
LibPST	199	(1)
Importing Outlook Mail into Evolution	199	(2)
Document Standards	201	(1)
The Hard Way	201	(1)
Web Browsers	202	(7)
Mozilla	202	(1)
Mozilla and Microsoft CHAP	203	(1)
Firefox	203	(1)
Galeon	204	(1)
Konqueror	205	(1)
Opera	205	(1)
Migrating Bookmarks	206	(1)
Browser Plug-Ins	206	(1)
Macromedia Flash and Shockwave/Director	206	(1)
RealPlayer	207	(1)
Adobe Acrobat Reader	208	(1)
Office Application Suites	209	(5)
OpenOffice.org	209	(3)
Limitations: Macros and PDF Files	212	(1)
Future Plans	213	(1)
StarOffice	213	(1)
KOffice	213	(1)
Hancom Office	214	(1)
Running Windows Applications on Linux	214	(4)
Compatibility Layer Software	215	(1)
Wine	216	(1)
Code Weavers' CrossOver Office	216	(2)
Summary	218	(1)
Additional Resources	218	(1)
Part IV: Security Resources	219	(2)
Appendix A Essential Network Communications	221	(8)
Introduction	222	(1)
Computer Protocols	222	(1)
Communication Ports	223	(1)
TCP and UDP Protocols	223	(1)
Understanding IP Addresses and DNS	224	(2)
Managing IP Addresses	226	(1)
Firewalls	227	(2)
Appendix B Case Study: SOHO (Five Computers, Printer, Servers, etc.)	229	(24)
Introduction	230	(9)
Using netstat to Determine Open Ports on a System	230	(5)
Determining More Information with lsof	235	(1)
Using netstat on Windows XP	236	(3)
Employing a Firewall in a SOHO Environment	239	(1)
Host-Based Firewall Solutions	239	(1)
Introducing the SOHO Firewall Case Study	240	(1)
Assessing Needs	240	(1)
Defining the Scope of the Case Study	241	(1)
Designing the SOHO Firewall	241	(9)
Determining the Functional Requirements	242	(1)
Determining the Needs of the Family	242	(1)
Talking to Local User Groups	242	(1)
Creating a Site Survey of the Home	243	(1)
Identifying Current Technology Options and Constraints	244	(1)
Implementing the SOHO Firewall	245	(1)
Assembling the Components	245	(1)
Installing the Components	245	(1)
Installing the Wireless Cards	246	(3)
Testing the Configuration from Various Access Points	249	(1)
Summary	250	(1)
Solutions Fast Track	251	(1)
Frequently Asked Questions	252	(1)
Appendix C Glossary of Technology and Terminology	253	(16)
Index	269