Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
February 12, 2006

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Volume 1, Number 35 — Sunday, February 12, 2006

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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4.  EFF Warns Against Google Desktop Feature

In a news release on February 9, 2006, the Electronic Freedom Foundation warned against a new feature of the Google Desktop.

Quoting the release:

Google today announced a new "feature" of its Google Desktop software that greatly increases the risk to consumer privacy. If a consumer chooses to use it, the new "Search Across Computers" feature will store copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google's own servers, to enable searching from any one of the user's computers. EFF urges consumers not to use this feature, because it will make their personal data more vulnerable to subpoenas from the government and possibly private litigants, while providing a convenient one-stop-shop for hackers who've obtained a user's Google password.

There's a lot more to the news release. I'm not sure what Google is thinking, but they are way, way off base on this one. I can't imagine that anyone wants all their spreadsheets, word processing documents, PDFs and other text-based documents stored on Google's servers and accessible by Google. The EFF also points out that these documents might be produced by Google in response to a subpoena from third parties.

I recommend that you read the article. If you want to continue using Google Desktop (if you've ever started), I recommend that you do not use the Search Across Computers feature.

I'll be watching the news on this one. While not as egregious as Sony-BMC installing rootkits on their music CD customers' PCs, I believe that Google has struck a blow against their own credibility with this "feature."

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5.  CyberSecurity Alert - Mozilla Products

If you subscribe to the US-CERT Cyber Security Alert system (http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/), you received an email this week waring of multiple vulnerabilities in the Mozilla web browser, the Mozilla mail client, the Firefox web browser and the Thunderbird mail client.

If you didn't get one of these warning emails, you can read it at the US-CERT web site at http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-038A.html

Of course, if you use Firefox v1.5, you already know that there is a new version available -- and if you read my Terry's Computer Tips online newsletter, you read about it last week! Hopefully, you have already installed it. Firefox has got the automatic notification and update process right now.

US-CERT's recommendations are to upgrade to Firefox 1.5.0.1 (which most of us did last week) or to the new SeaMonkey 1.0 (which I also discussed last week).

Note that there are not updates for Mozilla Thunderbird or for the Mozilla Suite. If you are using those, US-CERT recommends that you upgrade to Firefox 1.5.0.1 or SeaMonkey 1.0 (SeaMonkey is a suite and includes email. Firefox is a web browser only.)

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6.  My Computer Security Software Recommendations

Anti-Virus

For your anti-virus needs (and, yes, you do have anti-virus needs!) I recommend anti-virus software from Trend Micro, Panda Software, Kaspersky or ESET.

Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 offers anti-virus, anti-spam, and firewall for your PC and PDA. TrendMicro provides an easy-to-use product that is from one of the big names in the anti-virus world.

Panda Software's Platinum 2006 Internet Security offers anti-virus, anti-spam, firewall and more.

The Kaspersky Personal Security Suite is a program package specifically developed to provide comprehensive protection from all types of malicious programs for personal computers running under the Windows operating system (Win98, WinMe, 2000, XP). This solution prevents the infiltration of viruses, worms, spyware, adware and other malicious programs via potential penetration paths, provides protection against unauthorized access attempts, and includes anti-spam components. Kaspersky claims the industry leading virus detection rates and the fastest virus updates. Kaspersky offers a 30-day free trial on its products.

My personal choice is the ESET's small, fast NOD32 anti-virus program, which offers a FREE 30-day evaluation license. Read more about anti-virus programs on my web site.

Firewall Software

If you get either the PC-cillin Internet Security or the Panda Software Internet Security package above, you are covered from a firewall point of view. Just don't count on the Windows firewall to provide your needs — while it's better than nothing, you need better than that.

The Windows firewall does not control outbound communications from your computer -- and you want control if adware/trojans/spyware or even commercial products want to talk to the Internet (do you want your drawing program to call home every time you start it?)

If you don't get either of the above, ZoneAlarm Pro or the ZoneAlarm free firewall are my recommendations. ZoneAlarm has been (read below) my choice for a firewall. Read more about firewalls in The Internet Versus You at my Terry's Computer Tips web site.

Anti-Spyware / Anti-Adware Software

CounterSpy, from Sunbelt Software, has received many kudos from the computer press for its always-running and periodic full system scans. I use CounterSpy on my notebook, my wife's computer and my son's computer. I highly recommend this program.

Panda Software's Platinum 2006 Internet Security also includes anti-spyware. Anti-spyware is one situation where more than one scanner actually is better. Only let one program provide the real-time, always-running protection, but doing periodic scans with two different programs are a better solution to adware & spyware than only one scanner. No one anti-spyware program catches everything. Also, different companies differ in their criteria for classifying programs as adware and/or spyware.

Anti-spam Software

In today's Internet world, the question is not "if" you will get spam, but when and how much. I recommend Mailwasher Pro, or the free version of Mailwasher (www.mailwasher.net) to handle spam before it ever gets into your computer's Inbox. Mailwasher Pro uses on-line Realtime Black Lists mail servers sending spam recently, "training" by you of what you think is spam, and your own "friends" and "blacklist" lists. Mailwasher Pro can even bounce spam messages, as if your email address was not valid, although the usefulness and appropriateness of this is questionable. While "Mailwasher" can do many of the same things, it puts a line of sponsoring ads in the Mailwasher window.

Mailwasher also has less functions than Mailwasher Pro. "Mailwasher Pro" also has "learning filters," can handle multiple email accounts, can access the Realtime Black Lists (Internet sites that maintain lists of which email servers are sending spam now, has technical support, accesses the "FirstAlert! global spam database," and can access IMAP, Hotmail, MSN and AOL email accounts.

PopFile (www.popfile.org) uses a different approach to spam — it does nothing to reduce spam but does a good job, after training, of identifying and segregating spam. PopFile, in my opinion, is not a good choice unless you are an advanced PC user.

Cable/DSL Router

If you have a cable modem or a DSL modem, you need to have another layer of inexpensive protection between you and the Internet. A cable/DSL router isolates your computer from direct connection to the Internet. Your computer can easily request your email, web pages, etc. through the router. The responses come back to the router and are smoothly routed to your computer. But, someone on the Internet side of the router can not initiate a connection to your computer — they can only respond to your request.

Even if you only have one computer to connect to your cable or DSL modem, I recommend that you purchase and use a cable/DSL router because of the protection it can give you against attempts to attack through some flaws in Windows itself.

A router isolates your local network, whether it is only one computer or several, from the Internet by actually making it a separate network. The router gets the "public" IP address and handles all your outbound communications and the responses to them. But, it blocks computers on the Internet side from being able to initiate communications with your computer! This will prevent you from falling prey to many worms that try to attack security holes in Windows itself.

My pick is the Linksys WRT54G 802.11g wireless router. If you don't want wireless now, or at any time, the function is easily turned off in the router's menu. You may be able to find a wired (that is, non-wireless) Linksys router on sale. Either way, based on my experience, I recommend Linksys routers. Read more on my Wireless Security web page.

Note: Many of the above links are affiliate links. If you choose to buy these products, please buy them via my affiliate links to help support my Terry's Computer Tips newsletter and web site.

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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Volume 1, Number 35 — Sunday, February 12, 2006
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Copyright © 2006 Terry A. Stockdale.  All rights reserved.