Computer Security: Best Practices for Home

Computing

Presented by
Student Help Desk
Merced Community College
Defining the Problem

z Symantec documented 2,636 new vulnerabilities in

2003, an average of seven per day.

z In 2003, 70% of vulnerabilities were classified as easy

to exploit.

z Threats to privacy and confidentiality were the fastest

growing threat, with 519% growth in volume of submissions within
the top ten.

z The average un-patched computer lasts less than 20 min.

before being compromised

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 2
Presentation Topics

z Home PC Security

z Home Network Security

z Email Security

z Windows XP Service Pack 2

z Q and A

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 3
Best Practices for Securing your
Home Windows Computer
Step 1: Antivirus

z Each computer should have an antivirus product installed on it

and configured to auto update

z We recommend Norton AntiVirus 2006/7 for home machines, not

the Internet Security Package
z Many ISP’s provide customers with Antivirus software as a part of
their services

z Free alternative: AVG from Grisoft

z http://www.grisoft.com

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 5
Step 2: Windows Update

z Windows Update fixes

security holes in your
operating system

z It should be set to
automatically download
and install updates

z Found in Control Panel /

System, or by right
clicking My Computer
and selecting Properties

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 6
Step 3: Install Malware Protection

z Malware tracks your web surfing, causes pop-up windows,

slows down your computer, and other evil deeds.

z Common ways on to your computer:

z Web ActiveX pop ups (Internet Explorer ONLY)

z Kazaa and other file sharing applications
z Many other free “utilities”

z Two Free Scanners:

z Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE: http://www.lavasoft.de
z Spybot Search and Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 7
Step 4: Use a Safer Email Client

z Most viruses target Microsoft Outlook Express

z Using a different email client avoids most of those threats

z Mozilla Thunderbird

z http://www.mozilla.org
z Imports mail and addresses from OE
z Excellent Spam controls
z Plugins and Themes

z It's Free!!

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 8
Step 5: Use a Safer Web Browser

z Internet Explorer has many unpatched vulnerabilities

z Mozilla Firefox: http://www.mozilla.org

Not vulnerable to ActiveX

Malware

Tabbed Browsing

Pop up Blocking

Many excellent extensions

and themes

Fast and Free!!

z Only use IE for sites that require it, like the windows update
web site

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 9
Best Practices for Securing your Home Network
Step 1: Install Router or Gateway

z Protects your PC: Makes

it unseen on the Internet

z Wired Internet Only:

Linksys BEFSR41

z 4 port 10/100 Ethernet

z Wired/Wireless Internet:
Linksys WRT54G

z 4 port 10/100, Wireless

802.11g (54Mbps)

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 11
Step 2: Software Firewall

z If you are using a router / gateway this is not essential

z Can be intrusive and take a while to train it, frequently very cryptic in its
questions

z Firewall Options:

z Built-in Windows Firewall (SP2 version recommended)

z Only stops inbound traffic, does not check outbound

z Zone Alarm: http://www.zonelabs.com

z Free version available, checks inbound and outbound traffic

z Sygate Personal Firewall: http://smb.sygate.com/

z Free version available, checks inbound and outbound traffic

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 12
Step 3: Wireless Security

z You should change the password on your router

z Enable Wireless Encryption (WEP and WPA)

z Encrypts transmissions between PC and router

z Makes the wireless network non-public

z Not foolproof, you should change your key every 3-4 mos.

z Change your SSID (Wireless Network Name)

z Additional security steps are to enable MAC based authentication and

turn off SSID broadcasting
(advanced)

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Overview of Best Practices

z PC Security

z Anti-Virus should be installed and current

z Windows updates should download & install automatically
z Malware checking and removal
z Use a more secure email client
z Use a more secure web browser

z Home Network Security

z Broadband-connected PC's should be behind a gateway/router, even

if there is only one computer
z Software Firewall
z Use Wireless Encryption (WEP/WPA)

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 14
General Email Security

z Use a Spam Filter in your Email Program

z Built in to Thunderbird

z Outlook Express: Norton AntiSpam

z Do not open attachments you are not expecting

z Do not notify people that they sent you a virus, it was most
likely forged anyway

z Do not use HTML email

z It can contain hidden tracking information

z Be Very Cautious when clicking on web links in emails

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 15
Phishing / Email Scams

z No reputable company will

ask you for passwords, credit
cards, or any personal info via
email

z If it sounds too good to be

true, it probably is

z You cannot get the money

out of Nigeria, period.

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

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Windows XP Service Pack 2 Overview
WinXP Service Pack 2

z Generally has been trouble free for home users

z Availability (270mb download):

z Windows Update web site

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Windows XP Security Center

z Security Center: PC Security Status at a glance

z Gives status of Firewall, Auto Updates, Virus Protection

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 19
New Wireless Interface

z Wireless Connections are much easier to set up

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 20
Internet Explorer Improvements

z Pop-up Blocking now

standard

z Improved plug-in
handling and security

z Improved browsing
security

z We still recommend
Firefox

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 21
Outlook Express Improvements

z More secure default settings and isolation of potentially

unsafe attachments

z Won't download images in HTML email by default

z Bug fixes

z We still recommend Thunderbird

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This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 22
Questions?

z Call Student Help Desk at Merced Community College

209 381 6565

z Email: [email protected]

z Website: Click on the Help Link on the bottom of any

page at www.mccd.edu and go to Student Help Desk

Computer Security: Best Practices for Home Computing -

This document was adopted from a presentation made
available by the University of Wisconsin Student Help Desk, Merced Community College 23