 Security
Information
These are links having to do
with protecting your computer from security breaches, hackers and
security flaws. Links below are alphabetized by name and address
viruses, spyware and other intrusion attempts.
Spyware is becoming more and more of a problem on the Internet. It is relatively new and may be the cause of problems such as your start
page changing automatically, new toolbars added to Internet Explorer,
you can connect to the net but cannot view websites (page cannot be
displayed error) or causing your browser to crash. Spyware can also be programs that track your
activities on the net and websites that you visit often, so as to market you with pop up ads or email
advertising.
Spyware can be contracted by simply visiting websites or opening
emails that contain spyware. Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, 2k & XP are
vulnerable to getting Spyware.
Ad-Aware Cost: Free
www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/ (Download size: 1654 kb)
-
AdAware is a program that will scan any memory drives in your computer
(hard drives, disk drives, etc) for any known programs (Spy programs)
that are using your computer to acquire data from you. This program
will quarantine the offending programs/components and will allow you
to purge them from your system. This program also has a built in
update mechanism that allows you to download latest updates from the
web. Note: If you are running Kazaa or another file sharing program,
Ad-ware may disable its functionality.
AVG Anti-virus Free Edition Cost: Free to paying
http://free.grisoft.com
AVG Free Edition is for private, non-commercial, single home computer
use only.
GRC Cost: Free to paying www.grc.com
This site contains many free security programs that are
invaluable.
Iconix Cost: Free
www.iconix.com
This programs ads a "visual ID" to your email. This software helps
identify trusted Email and protects against "Phishing".
Mcafee Cost: Varies www.mcafee.com
This is another well known anti-virus company.
Norton Anti Virus Cost: Varies us.norton.com
Norton is a well known and respected anti-virus and security program.
This is the place to look first for information about new threats,
worms, and viruses.
Their Security Response USA website is invaluable as it lists the
latest virus threats, security updates, removal tools, and virus
definitions. The removal tools are free for downloading. The main
program does cost money but is well worth it - it runs on your
computer and checks for viruses, worms, and other security problems as
well as provides a live update via the web when new known viruses are
release. http://securityresponse.symantec.com
SpyBot Cost: Free www.spybot.info
This program is available in 8 different languages and is our
recommendation for safely removing Spyware. Once you install this software you must
go online and get the updates before actually
running it (the program doesn't really remind you to get the online
updates although in the program itself, there is an
"Updates" tab).
Stinger Cost: Free
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger
This program
is a stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses -
its free and is brought to you by the well-known Anti Virus company,
McAfee. This program should not be used as a substitute for full
anti-virus protection. Click on the above link for the download and
install file as well as step by step setup and installation
instructions.
Zone Alarm Cost: Varies www.zonelabs.com
This is a software based firewall program. It monitors all incoming
network traffic for your computer - and it can be setup to only allow
connections that you know and want to receive. Basically it works by
closing off ports on your computer that you do not need open. For
example port # 80 is the port that you use to browse web sites, so
this port of course would remain open.
This software also helps hide your computer on the net - which helps
prevents hackers and other data mining programs from finding
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Phishing
Phishing is when someone tries to
gain access to sensitive data usually by sending out emails that pretend
to be from legitimate companies in which they ask you to fill out
information usually by going to a website that they link in their email
(common phishing emails pretend to be from PayPay, Amazon, Ebay etc).
We have a "phishing"
Example Here
 Upgrades &
Updates
Windows Updates
This is the official Microsoft Windows Update page. On occasion
Microsoft will release "updates" and depending on which
Operating System you have, will need to be installed on your computer.
The Critical updates are the most important as they "patch"
known security flaws. If you do not have the windows updates you will
be extremely vulnerable to security flaws, and other
worms. Please visit: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
Internet Explorer for Windows based operating systems
This page contains information and also the latest version
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie
Internet Explorer for Macintosh based operating systems
This page contains information and also the latest version
www.microsoft.com/mac/products/ie/ie_default.asp
Spam
 (Put
it in the can)
Spam is
unsolicited (unwanted) emails sent out via mass mail. Visit the SPAM
section of our support page for other
methods of fighting SPAM. Pacific Online runs a server
side anti-SPAM program which catches literally hundreds of thousands
of junk mails each month. Spam is held in the quarantine section of
webmail, http://email.pon.net for
10 days before being auto deleted. For more information about spam
filtering in webmail click
here
Recommended SPAM Blocker Program:
If you are on a WindowsTM
system we recommend using SpamPal
Additional SPAM Blocker Programs:
The following program (1.51mb) is freeware
and is called MailWasher - it is a
program that will filter incoming mail to your specifications.
MailWasher
analyses each email as it arrives and warns you if it is suspected
junkmail or a virus. This program only analyses incoming mail - it
does not send mail for you.
The following program (1.1mb) is freeware and is called
Spam
Weasel - the
program arrives pre-configured, collects mail from multiple POP
accounts, & uses powerful and flexible rules to identify Spam.
This program also only analyses incoming mail - it does not
send mail for you.
In addition McAfeeTM
has an inexpensive program to fight Spam using blocking and filtering.
This program is called SpamKiller.
 Parental
Control
We recommend Net Nanny - this is a rather
inexpensive program that lets you control what your children see on
the Internet. You are able to filter harmful websites, monitor online
activity, and even restrict Internet access.
Click
here for more information.
 Online Virus
Scanner
With the variety and numbers
of viruses on the Internet it is always a good idea to run a virus
scan/cleanup on your PC. The following program is a web based online virus scanner which will scan
and clean your PC system for viruses. Please
visit Trend
MicroTM for their online virus scanner.
In addition, Norton AntiVirusTM
2002 Free Trialware is available here
 Pop Up Ad Remover
Popup Killer is
freeware and is 62kb in size. Note: it only
works with Windows and MicrosoftTM
Internet Explorer. Download,
run the
program and follow the step by step instructions. Once you have
downloaded this program it will appear in your System Tray on the
Start menu bar as a small
icon. You can toggle this program on and off by clicking your mouse on the icon
(it is ON when the red X appears through the icon, meaning it will
block pop ups). You should turn Popup Killer off while using Webmail
http://email.pon.net.
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