Possible for big companies to get any information from my computer?

Call Me Jimmy

Hey, I'm just wondering, with a normal router with a firewall and a software firewall on windows, is it possible for a company under any circumstances to get information from my computer?

BaconZombie

YES....

stellarartois

Most definitely

Call Me Jimmy

Ok, what would be the best program people use to monitor and/or block domains I suspect of illegally collecting information from my computer? Is it possible?

stellarartois

What are you so worried about?

Call Me Jimmy

Well I keep getting annoying updates for all the big programs I have popping up every day or two, microsoft bombard me with updates, same goes for adobe, finale and others. I can't have my computer installing updates after 9 o clock because my dad goes to bed and if I turn off my computer when updates are installing it doesn't turn off for a while.

I sound retarded I know but I just want a way to block specific things or servers.

stellarartois

Turn off the updates or simply cancel them

Call Me Jimmy

some programs dont allow me to stop updates. would it be enough to block their access to the internet completely through firewall? could that work?

krpc

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

some programs dont allow me to stop updates. would it be enough to block their access to the internet completely through firewall? could that work?

You can disable Microsoft and Adobe updates, and update at times of your own choosing (or not update at all, if you wish).

If you are having specific problems with certain applications/programs, post the names and I am sure you will receive advice on configuring them to your your own needs (disabling the update features).

stellarartois

What information do you think that these updates are getting from you?

wolfric

Nothing you should worry about. Major companies like that have privacy policies they follow. Usual data is normally collected for statistics and you can normally opt out of it if you want. The usual is along the lines of the specs of your machine, how much you use it or when you update and if you've had any crashes/errors. Go to control panel and security center or windows update and you can config it all there ( including what times to update).

Really it's rather difficult to find "data" being sent from your machine as you really need to know what you're looking for. Not only can the information be encrypted but it can also just be in a form that isn't exactly plain text or easy to read. (for example they could send a 1 digit number that could represent your operationg system, 1 for xp 2 for vista etc and you'd have no idea what it meant even if you could see the information). I'd be more worried about small companies and malware. If you get those onto your computer... everything. Windows passwords, cam feeds, everything you type, screenshots of your computer, all your files, history, saved passwords, programs installed etc. A good anti virus will normally weed out a great majority of them. As a rule of thumb, the more recent they are the less chance your anti virus has of detecting them. A good practice is to make sure your firewall is enabled.

On the note of policies, a company as big as microsoft stakes its reputation and business on it's privacy policy. If it endangers the customers privacy then it gets a bad rep and lost income (and a lawsuit). However there are still cases (minor but still) where big companies sneak things into the fine print. However these are always minor inconveniences and nothing really really major. I'd stake a rather insane amount of money that microsoft isn't grabbing your pictures and passwords but it's well within their power.

JimmyCrackCorn

stellarartois wrote: »

Turn off the updates or simply cancel them

Worst advice iv ever seen in a computer security forum:D


Yes you send Microsoft personal data in relation to crashed applications. There can be interesting things in the Dr Watson logs/Dumps. They are legally obliged to treat your information with confidentiality and data protection laws in Europe are not that bad.

Good news is you can turn of Dr Watson and your asked before you send the logs.


If your feeling really paranoid move to linux or BSD and maybe talk to a councillor.

old_aussie

JimmyCrackCorn wrote: »

Worst advice iv ever seen in a computer security forum:D

That's good advice from Jimmy, turning off updates, especially security updates, will enable people to gain easier access to your PC.

mehmeh12

JimmyCrackCorn wrote: »

If your feeling really paranoid move to linux or BSD

Yes ubuntu with some alterations would be good for this.

You might also want to use truecrypt to encrypt your data behind a few layers of AES.

In Relation to the OP firewalls will only block unintended traffic, traffic you allow will not be blocked.

stellarartois

mehmeh12 wrote: »

Yes ubuntu with some alterations would be good for this.

You might also want to use truecrypt to encrypt your data behind a few layers of AES.

In Relation to the OP firewalls will only block unintended traffic, traffic you allow will not be blocked.

Linux isn't really an option if you've never studied how to use it in college.

mehmeh12

stellarartois wrote: »

Linux isn't really an option if you've never studied how to use it in college.

Ive learnt everything i know from online. Though ubuntu is linux, albeit in a much easier version than say fedora.

JimmyCrackCorn

mehmeh12 wrote: »

Ive learnt everything i know from online. Though ubuntu is linux, albeit in a much easier version than say fedora.

What he said. If you dont try to learn you wont learn.

stellarartois

I've tried and i've worked in IT all my life. its impossible.

syklops

stellarartois wrote: »

Linux isn't really an option if you've never studied how to use it in college.

Never went to college so I dont understand this comment. I started using linux when I was 17. Before college going age anyway. Whats so impossible about it? You learn commands to do stuff. Its easy. Just takes a bit more learning than windows does.

+1 on turning updates off to make PC more secure malarky. Worst advice. Akin to disabling your house alarm because you find the sound of it annoying.

JimmyCrackCorn

stellarartois wrote: »

I've tried and i've worked in IT all my life. its impossible.

Wow. what a statement. Please tell me your a troll.

Maybe you should consider a different career path.

syklops

JimmyCrackCorn wrote: »

Wow. what a statement. Please tell me your a troll.

Maybe you should consider a different career path.

Well be fair. He might be like 6 or something and has been working in IT since he was 4.

I bought my cousin the OLPC last year. She loves it. That runs Linux. She's only 7. Bless!

sflemings

Why don't you just take the hit and install the updates? That way the updates will stop annoying you for a while at least.
It's very important IMO to install any windows updates. More of them are security updates anyway for the operating system.
Updates for Adobe and other such applications are not so critical to install but I find it's always good to have the latest updated software.

Capt'n Midnight

stellarartois wrote: »

Linux isn't really an option if you've never studied how to use it in college.

NEWSFLASH
Linux has had desktop support for years, and windows too can be a complete pig for some things

If you just want to surf the web, email, use office and don't want to play games, and you remember to buy hardware that isn't incompatible with Linux then for the casual user it's probably easier.

to install anything on windows you have to do this
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Next

Most common apps are built in. Those that aren't are on a pick list. And all apps are patched at the same time. And you have to go out of your way to find an untrusted app.

In the windows world almost every app is from a site with an ulterior motives. There are a few trust worthy freeware sites, but most want to sell you something or worse.

every companies app has to be patched separately

Capt'n Midnight

stellarartois wrote: »

Linux isn't really an option if you've never studied how to use it in college.

Maybe you are referring setting up a firewall in Linux ? There are plenty of GUI tools / cheat sheets / people to ask too. And you have far less unknown outward traffic to block.

Then again in the windows world the people who write the firewall could have access to your machine, in their National Interest.

irish_stickman

stellarartois wrote: »

Linux isn't really an option if you've never studied how to use it in college.

this literally made me lol til i felt pain in my side

Gavin

sflemings wrote: »

Why don't you just take the hit and install the updates? That way the updates will stop annoying you for a while at least.
It's very important IMO to install any windows updates. More of them are security updates anyway for the operating system.
Updates for Adobe and other such applications are not so critical to install but I find it's always good to have the latest updated software.

Arguably, the applications are more important to update. Disable any services running on your machine and there's nothing for a worm/attacker to attempt to exploit remotely.

But if you browse the web/check email, you'll need to keep your browser/pdf/flash and office apps up to date. Adobe in particular have a terrible security record.

LoLth

Just a quick interlude: "move to linux" isnt really a fair comment. the OP asked about security on the box he has not what box would you recommend. Fair enough, someone advised linux but lets not get into a OSvOS debate.

OP: without asking what data you are trying to protect, you should really give more information when asking for advice. What OS are you running? What level of lockdown do you require? Do you connect to the internet or collect/read email?

A lot of software will allow you to turn off updates but this really is not advisable unless you intend keeping up to date on security concerns and will apply security updates promptly and even then, you should be absolutely sure that you know the software and all underlying dependancies so you can monitor their situation.

If you are worried about sensitive information: use encryption. either truecrypt on a partition to store the data or a solution like ROHOS to keep the data on an external source.

Not everyone "gets" linux. To some, it is impossible, especially for those surrounded by the more common windows OS. However, a user's ability to learn linux or not is not the issue beign asked about here. Please keep on topic and for those that think the poster was a troll, why on earth did you respond? Dont feed trolls! If you didnt think it was a troll, then you're just being insulting. There is no rule that says you *have* to respond to a statement.