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Advice and recommendations to Protect your PC | ||||||||||
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Practical security adviceWhatever the operating system, a firewall and an antivirus software are necessary to use the Internet more securely. The function of a traditional anti-virus is usually to control the possible presence of virus, worms and other harmful programs in the files and e-mails, during the launching of the files or its recording on disc. With a traditional anti-virus, it is necessary to update, at least daily, the virus database. The function of a firewall is to control and allow the incoming communication flow received by the computer and the outgoing communication flow from the computer. In other words, the goal is to block any intrusion from outside and to control the nature of the outgoing communications and which programs are allowed to connect to the Internet. If none of these protections is installed, it is better to install first the firewall, and then the anti-virus. The firewall will first enable to control the allowed commmunications and frequently to discover irregularities. It is up to you to decide if you need to use an application and if you need it online or not. Though a Linux PC is not exposed to the same risks than a PC running a Windows® OS, it is important as well to protect the Linux PC communications. On one hand, because a Linux PC is able to carry programs that are harmful - not for Linux itself - but for a Windows® OS; on another hand, because various risks do not depend on the OS. 0ur survival Kit offers tools, solutions and services for Windows® OS and for Linux, anti-virus, firewalls, anti-spam product and services. Some of them are for sale, other might be used without a financial counterpart. Our resources Portal offers many sources for advice, in relation with operating systems or with specific applications; among the issues targeted: SPAM, Web security, test and detection resources, glossaries and more.
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Slow connectionIf it happens that connection slows down abnormally, it is generally the sign of an attack and wisest is to disconnect immediately from the Internet. Of course your broadband connection can as well be the cause, or even running low in memory. Anyway, be carefull! Email protectionFor email security, prefer simple text to HTML. HTML indeed makes it possible to convey dangerous programs. Whatever your mail program is, avoid loosing the initiative: it's safer to deny automatic connection for routine e-mail checking or at startup. The main e-mail program can be to configured to have the body of the message NOT automatically displayed in a second window. Do not open any e-mail with an attachment without precaution. Be careful for any attachment even when the message comes from a known correspondent. Do not open an attachment directly, save it on disk. Do not open without precaution a message from an unknown correspondent. Sources for email advice: About the danger of HTML in e-mail messages, French.
The CERTA, Direction centrale de la sécurité
des systèmes d’information, offers safety measures for the configuration of the e-mail
program. A clear and easy to understand document. It includes recommendations and useful
explanations to configure various e-mail programs. French.
BrowserAmong the programs and the methods that are executed by a browser on the user machine, some may convey dangerous code. Unfortunately, this include Java, ActiveX and Javascript. In fact, a simple hyperlink in an HTML page may launch a harmful program, just as all new window and just as the cookies. Some browsers are more secure that others. Opera for example allows a serious configuration of the security and authorizes to easily modify the configuration while surfing. Many the risk comes from commercial drifts. Spyware, addware, dialers intended to force your connection towards unquestionable site, thefts of e-mail addresses, information about the sites that have been visited, etc. Sources of advice for privacy and security: Anti-Internet-Advertising recommendations, or how to avoid the majority of the
advertising banners and harmful sites without installing a specific software, French.
http://gjamet.f2o.org/index.php?rub=antipub
What can you do else?Be demanding. Excess of cookie, of Javascript, doubtful banners, not required popup windows, abuse of superlatives, unclear offers, are as many reasons to stop visiting a Web site. If you have the slightest doubt, if something seems suspect when you are visiting a Web site, close your navigator immediately and shut the connection. Be vigilant. The "free stuff" is often a simple abuse of language and sometimes it is a trap. The offer said to be "free" on Internet covers with various realities. Freeware and shareware: developer's communities sharing their programs, without financial counterpart or at low price. Sharing knowledge and information with others: People, associations, companies frequently use their Web site to offer their knowledge to their visitors. In both cases, it is possible to use the word "free" without abuse. At the opposite, when a site owner offers contents or services to attract visitors and use this traffic to sell its advertising space to advertisers, the word free is unsuitable. Though it is conceivable that a user will accept advertising in exchange of interesting contents, services or tools, since the terms of trade are clearly stated, the work "free" is inadequate here. Source for further advice on PCs:
See also our Resources portal, which includes many commented resources in English; in particular the section General resources, SPAM, technical resources and Test tools. To search our web sites use the box below For a Web search, use our Search page. | ||||||||||
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