Public Service Announcements & Productivity Tools/TSBs-KBs:
Productivity Tools:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bleachbit @ https://www.bleachbit.org/download (an open source program with very nice Temp file cleaner function & also secure wipe function, available for Linux & MS Windows OSes).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CCleaner & other Piriform home optimization tools @ https://www.piriform.com/products (includes system spec pulling program with advanced export functions of hardware, temps, disks & more; a temp file & registry cleaner, file recovery utility for win32 compatible file-systems, & advanced drop in disk defrag replacement tool called Defraggler).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opera's web browser available for windows, mac & Linux platforms plus android (formerly embedded phones under presto), nice add on capabilities plus now with integrated messenger features (v45+) & runs on blink engine (same as chrome, custom webkit): http://www.opera.com/download
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audacity has posted a guide on their project site on being safe while downloading files & surfing online, it is a good ground level approach guide and audacity is a great project (I have also used their audio editing tool for many years and it has served me very well).
http://www.audacityteam.org/download/online-safety-when-downloading/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malware, Viruses, and Spam threats are Always on the rise. Keep your computer protected with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and Microsoft Security Essentials and be knowledgeable about current Pitfalls.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download
http://www.malwarebytes.org/free/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also please be aware that if you receive a phone call claiming to be from Microsoft followed by a read aloud script about viruses and malware being on your computer in an foreign accent IT IS SCAM. Microsoft does not make cold calls of this nature and going along with the scam will put your computer and information on it in danger of being stolen. If you do suspect that your computer is really infected by viruses and/or malware give me a call and have it assessed by a legitimate trained technician.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows XP with any service pack Applied To the operating system is being dropped from Microsoft Support on April 8th 2014. If you still run XP you will be at a higher risk for security exploits. I suggest you switch from IE8 to A current Version of google chrome or Mozilla Firefox if you haven't done so already and get the following add-ons for both web browsers to stay safer on the web: WOT(web of trust), Ghostery tracker blocker, and AD-block plus. (now Ublock origin 11-21-16)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/wot-safe-browsing-tool/?src=search
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/adblock-plus/?src=search
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ghostery/?src=search
As of 11-21-16 adblock plus has cut down on its reliability sadly, also WOT seems to no longer be available in chrome and firefox addon markets unless it's manually installed from their original website, but i have found a worthy contender for their replacement that could even pose a challenge to the strength of ghostery's addon. As of 2-24-2023 though I can happily report that these addons are still working & good, ABP has improved a LOT.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Security Essentials has been officially dropped for Windows XP. I recommend ClamWin open source antivirus engine along with daily definition updates and a fully patched version of Windows XP with service pack 3. ClamWin also makes a great security tool for windows 8 Because of its light framework and non-intrusive user interface.
http://www.clamwin.com/Â {please consider a donation to this project and other open source projects mentioned on this page, if possible}.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WARNING FOR EMAIL USERS: if you receive a email claiming to be about a package from USPS from a non-USPS.gov email address DO NOT OPEN IT OR CLICK ANY LINKS. The links contain multiple Trojans plus root-kits and a boot-kit. I will say i have successfully been able to clean some of these systems off with no data loss; but, the longer you stay infected the worse your machine's condition can get. plus it ends up forwarding the same spam email you received, to your entire contact's list. (this also applies to phishing & dropper type emails from FEDEX and UPS lookalikes; plus now they are also delivering ransomware, more dangerous than before 11-21-16).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you plan on installing Google Chrome browser on a machine please use the following MSI installer version from Google's Chrome for work to ensure better client side security (NOTE FOR THIS VERSION: YOU MUST HAVE ADMIN RIGHTS ON YOUR MACHINE TO INSTALL):
https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/business/browser/admin/
(new links: https://chromeenterprise.google/ & https://chromeenterprise.google/browser/download/#windows-tab )
use 32 or 64 depending on your machine's operating system and build specifications). (NOTE: most 32 bit builds of Google Chrome browser retired in 2019-2020).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WANNACRY 2017 & WinXP: If you still run XP please plan your transition now to depart to higher supported operating system or talk to a tech/systems engineer to get a plan to virtualize & sandbox your old NT5 applications while running on a newer supported host OS. WANNACRY worm & ransomware hybrid has used a long known NSA/CIA exploit in the SMB protocol used by machines around the world for networked file sharing on LAN(s); you only have to have one infected machine to destroy the others thanks to port calling\sniffing after the infection has taken over 1 machine on the network. please apply EMERGENCY MS patches to legacy NT5 operating systems (XP & 2003 server) before you fall victim: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=55245
ALSO check out Steve Gibson's security now podcast if you'd like, Its very good & I recommend it:
https://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm
https://twit.tv/shows/security-now
https://twitter.com/SGgrc?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
https://twit.tv/shows/security-now/episodes/612 (WANNACRY worm topic episode)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------