How safe is my computer?

junii

I run Spybot, Ad aware and bit defender on my machine. I keep them updated and scan once a week. I also run zone alarm personal firewall. Xp is my operating systems and its fully patched.

Am I giving myself a false sense of security thinking that im safe with these installed. I know you can't be 100% but I would like to be near enough it.

I have one or two files on my computer which contain confidential information. Should things like this be kept on a USB key or something.

Also, im the only person that ever uses this computer so for sites I visit regularily such as email, forums et cetera I have it automatically signing me in. Are these login credentials (there stored as cookies, right) safe.
Thanks.

Cuddlesworth

ip?

junii

213.200.110.95

Cuddlesworth

I was joking, that was retarded. Take your ip down. The answer is not safe if you keep doing things like that.

junii

FGS... Thats not my IP

Tom Dunne

junii wrote:

213.200.110.95

That points to www.bighooters.com :eek:

Anyway, it sounds like your PC is as safe as you can make it. Am I correct in assuming you are on broadband behind a firewall? You should also back up files regularly to CD or DVD and store them somewhere safe. I am pretty, well, anal about backing up and it's saved my ass sooooo many times.

The only other minor thing you can do is switch to Firefox - it is that bit safer (i.e. there are not as many exploits around for it). Other than that, I don't really think there is much you can do.

junii

Really? Thats the ip I got when I pinged whitehouse.gov. Maybe I mispelled. Cant bother checking anyway.

Well I understand the importance of backups. Ive had a failure myself. Still though im not doing them at the moment. I will have to make it a priority.

Im also running Firefox aswell. Forgot to mention that.

Tom Dunne

junii wrote:

Really? Thats the ip I got when I pinged whitehouse.gov. Maybe I mispelled. Cant bother checking anyway.

Just joking - I haven't the foggiest what it resolves to.

Spear

tom dunne wrote:

Just joking - I haven't the foggiest what it resolves to.

It's just another Akamai content server, so whitehouse.gov and bighooters.com could both be happily living alongside each other...

Cuddlesworth

Ahh bighooters.com . Nearly as good as....... hmm dont want a ban.

I dont use a firewall. Just Nat on a router. Never really use spybot or ad-aware and I am really lazy about Av. That being said, I format about once a month.

challengemaster

tom dunne wrote:

it sounds like your PC is as safe as you can make it.

For a xp pc anyway

junii

I used to use Linux. Spent months setting it up..Debian btw.

Then I had to format in a hurry and had no image of the install. Up to now I haven't been arsed setting it up again. When I do ill make an image.

aidan_walsh

Thats a pretty good setup.

The only other things that I could suggest to make yourself safer would be running IE with the highest possible security level (if you use it as your everyday browser), and making your XP account a non-admin account (although this might well be more of a pain that a help due to the prevalence of crappy third party developers).

sharingan

I would install some kind of opt-in javascript plug-in in firefox or IE, like no-script for Firefox, which allows you to restrict javascript to permissable domains (like where you shop, your forum sites, but not their banner servers)

I would also periodically scan your machine for rootkits (look for rootkit revealer).

HelterSkelter

"I have one or two files on my computer which contain confidential information. Should things like this be kept on a USB key or something"

Put them in a password protected ZIP file and backup to a USB/CD/DVD/External Hard Drive

parliament

you need to check that the guest is disabled account and the administrator account has a password. XP install requires you to add a username other than administrator and then autologs you in as this account, leaving the administrator account without a password by default. check this in local users and groups in computer management

Snowbat

Having seen the features of Zip Key, I wouldn't depend on a password protected zip file to store confidential information.

TrueCrypt as discussed at length in episode 41 of Security Now is a better option.

EOA_Mushy

junii wrote:

213.200.110.95

ROFL... LMAO... LOL

Thank you very much... you made my day!

junii

EOA_Mushy wrote:

ROFL... LMAO... LOL

Thank you very much... you made my day!

And just how did I make your day then?