Wall Steet Journal On Computer Privacy

[Lucky]

The Wall Street Journal today has extensive articles showing how our privacy is shredded when you visit the web. Companies have learned how to do new and many things with your cookies. The article is hard to summarize (Be Afraid?) so I will provide the link, and hope it works as the WSJ is a paid site which often allows looks at articles of interest:

"he largest U.S. websites are installing new and intrusive consumer-tracking technologies on the computers of people visiting their sites—in some cases, more than 100 tracking tools at a time."

http://online.wsj.com/home-page

http://online.wsj.com/public/page/news-lifestyle-arts-entertainment.html

[Guest tomcal]

Good point Lucky! The one thing most computer owners forget to do and don't want to pay, is the $40. or so to keep their anti virus/spam/etc software up to date. They don't renew it and than like I had happen your computer gets infected! The best money you can spend is having a good anti virus protection software(McAfee is probably the best known along with symantec/norton) Plus Porn sites, not that anyone on this site would frequent those! are one of the worse for leaving "cookies"/spyware/malware on your computer.

www.McAfee.com

www.symantec.com

[JKane]

Good point Lucky! The one thing most computer owners forget to do and don't want to pay, is the $40. or so to keep their anti virus/spam/etc software up to date. They don't renew it and than like I had happen your computer gets infected! The best money you can spend is having a good anti virus protection software(McAfee is probably the best known along with symantec/norton) Plus Porn sites, not that anyone on this site would frequent those! are one of the worse for leaving "cookies"/spyware/malware on your computer.

www.McAfee.com

www.symantec.com

Even $40 isn't an excuse! Microsoft now has a very good antivirus product they offer for free! It's called Microsoft Security Essentials, I'm using it and have read several favorable reviews: it ranks among the top of the free products and is very competitive with the expensive ones--without all the unnecessary (IF you exercise a little bit of caution online!) bloat that often comes with 'suites' from Symantec or McAfee.

So I highly recommend MS Security Essentials as well as keeping your PC up to date with the the latest service pack and other updates through Windows Update. All free!

As for pornsites and their 'leavings', I always use 'Private Browsing' (Firefox) or 'InPrivate' (Internet Explorer) if I go anywhere near that kind of thing (even my 'hobby' email address) at work. At home I have a separate login on my computer for that kind of stuff (preferably an account without administrative privilege). It's actually what I spend most of my time logged into (first step is admitting you have a problem...), but if anybody were to use my computer under the 'normal' account they'd have no access to anything naughty I've done, nor would anything that compromises my porn/escort browsing login have easy access to where I do my online billpay and keep various financial records/etc.

[JKane]

Another important point on computer security/privacy is that US Customs (and that of some other countries) has the right to search your computer and other devices, without cause, as I understand it now. This kind of thing may be especially targeted at men coming back from certain Asian countries, anywhere that underage sex tourism might be happening.

So keep in mind that you may not want to travel with your porn collection on your laptop and that pictures of perfectly 'legal' guys on your camera or phone from your vacation may cause some hassle as you won't have proof of their age with you. Better safe than spending 24-48 hours in limbo (or worse) as you try to get back home.

BUT, as I understand it, (Lucky might have more insight here), they may NOT compel you to give your password. So it is a very good idea (also in case of theft!) to have a strong password on your login account(s) (if you hate typing it in each time get one with a fingerprint scanner built in, it's a very common feature now).

You should also go into the BIOS and make sure it's set to boot from the hard drive *first* and that the BIOS is password protected for changes. (Booting off an external drive /USB key and copying everything is a common tactic; or if stolen this change makes your laptop pretty worthless to the thief--so a 'reward for return to' sticker might actually get it back to you.) Just be sure YOU remember this password, as you'll need it if you ever need to repair/re-install the OS.

If you're really paranoid or have to have critical personal/work info on your laptop there are also options to encrypt the hard drive either built into many laptop's BIOS (if it has a fingerprint scanner it's likely an additional feature) or built into the higher-end versions of Windows (Pro and Ultimate). Be careful with encryption though--if you do it wrong you may never be able to access that data again!

And finally, BACKUP your laptop before travel (before playing with encryption too!). Again, FOR FREE, there is a great option built into Windows; Windows 7 especially: you simply plug in an external drive formatted NTFS (formatting as NTFS is smart thing to do with any new drive regardless), and tell it to make a backup. (I think it even asks if you'd like to!) Takes maybe 20 minutes and you're set. Do this on your main computer ever couple weeks too! But be sure to store that drive someplace SAFE, as it would be easier for somebody else to get to your files on it than on your laptop if you followed the suggestions above!

[Lucky]

The article is not only about security, it is about the new and devious ways that your information is now being parceled out and sold. There are ways to avoid this, and they are spelled out in the articles.

[Guest zipperzone]

Good point Lucky! The one thing most computer owners forget to do and don't want to pay, is the $40. or so to keep their anti virus/spam/etc software up to date. They don't renew it and than like I had happen your computer gets infected! The best money you can spend is having a good anti virus protection software(McAfee is probably the best known along with symantec/norton) Plus Porn sites, not that anyone on this site would frequent those! are one of the worse for leaving "cookies"/spyware/malware on your computer.

www.McAfee.com

www.symantec.com

I have recently switched to an I-Mac. I've been told that virus protection software is not needed with this computer. Any comments?

[JKane]

I have recently switched to an I-Mac. I've been told that virus protection software is not needed with this computer. Any comments?

I would agree it's not *needed*... until one day it desperately is... For a long time there weren't enough Apple computers out there for people to target with the really malicious stuff.

But given the increased marketshare plus the wealthier demographic it's likely to be a growing target for the criminal type of 'hacker', the ones who act for money (stealing account info or extorting money to give you back your data/function of your computer).

Do not, however, mistake the lack of serious threat *so far* for Apple's OSX being any more secure. There've been a couple tests where hackers are challenged to break in to several brand new computers and in the latest rounds I believe Win7 usually lasted longer than OSX. Plus there's the way that MS gives free updates for pretty much the life of the hardware, often adding significant improvements and features in service packs--while Apple makes you spend $100 every year or two for any improvement to their OS, leaving a lot Macs running older, more vulnerable operating systems.

One of these days something really nasty is bound to hit Macs, and since there won't be much established in the way of Antivirus software or urgent patching apparatus it may well spread like wildfire.

So the short answer is that it would probably be a good idea to run some form of Antivirus, but I'm not sure there is even anything particularly good available, because the market is currently so complacent about it.

At least keep your browser up to date, maybe look into some browser plugins that try to block websites from doing malicious stuff. Also run the Apple update, for what it's worth (they do provide some security fixes). Use a strong password and be careful with how you set any sharing settings--remember that if sharing is setup wrong it could give anybody on the same WiFi network access to your stuff.

[BiBottomBoy]

If you go to the /b/ section of 4Chan you will notice that right now there are a bunch of really good hackers working on viruses to completely destroy apple computers, Ipads and Iphones.

[Guest chuck50]

I am using free ones Avasti for Virius and Malawarebyes for spy ware they are both finding things on my computer

[BiBottomBoy]

An easy way to keep your information from being sold is to create a garbage email address full of fake information about yourself (I told Gmail that I'm a 19 year old girl from Congo) and use that email address whenever you register for a site.

[TotallyOz]

Another important point on computer security/privacy is that US Customs (and that of some other countries) has the right to search your computer and other devices, without cause, as I understand it now. This kind of thing may be especially targeted at men coming back from certain Asian countries, anywhere that underage sex tourism might be happening.

So keep in mind that you may not want to travel with your porn collection on your laptop and that pictures of perfectly 'legal' guys on your camera or phone from your vacation may cause some hassle as you won't have proof of their age with you. Better safe than spending 24-48 hours in limbo (or worse) as you try to get back home.

BUT, as I understand it, (Lucky might have more insight here), they may NOT compel you to give your password. So it is a very good idea (also in case of theft!) to have a strong password on your login account(s) (if you hate typing it in each time get one with a fingerprint scanner built in, it's a very common feature now).

You should also go into the BIOS and make sure it's set to boot from the hard drive *first* and that the BIOS is password protected for changes. (Booting off an external drive /USB key and copying everything is a common tactic; or if stolen this change makes your laptop pretty worthless to the thief--so a 'reward for return to' sticker might actually get it back to you.) Just be sure YOU remember this password, as you'll need it if you ever need to repair/re-install the OS.

If you're really paranoid or have to have critical personal/work info on your laptop there are also options to encrypt the hard drive either built into many laptop's BIOS (if it has a fingerprint scanner it's likely an additional feature) or built into the higher-end versions of Windows (Pro and Ultimate). Be careful with encryption though--if you do it wrong you may never be able to access that data again!

And finally, BACKUP your laptop before travel (before playing with encryption too!). Again, FOR FREE, there is a great option built into Windows; Windows 7 especially: you simply plug in an external drive formatted NTFS (formatting as NTFS is smart thing to do with any new drive regardless), and tell it to make a backup. (I think it even asks if you'd like to!) Takes maybe 20 minutes and you're set. Do this on your main computer ever couple weeks too! But be sure to store that drive someplace SAFE, as it would be easier for somebody else to get to your files on it than on your laptop if you followed the suggestions above!

They may not compel you to give them your password, but if you refuse, they will confiscate your computer. They will not only look for illegal porn but for illegal movies and music. They can be a real PITA. Knowing this, I keep everything legal on my computer and it costs a lot to only buy music and movies from ITunes but there is no alternative for me. I sit down, read a book and wait for them to finish. When they ask a question, I respond. When they don't ask directly, I keep reading.

I have recently switched to an I-Mac. I've been told that virus protection software is not needed with this computer. Any comments?

That is true but I keep VirusBarrier X6 on my computer just in case. I use this daily just in case as I have a 2TB hard drive. They also supply a washing machine which erases all unneeded items.

[TampaYankee]

Another important point on computer security/privacy is...

Good info JKane, thanks.

I avoid the standard pay security suites with all the leaden bioler plate that attends them. Not only expensive but very burdensome performance wise. That performance factor was what inspired me to tube them.

I presently use the free versions of Avast antivirus, COMODO firewall, Ad-Aware to sweep tracking cookies, and Free Windows Registry Repair to clean that out -- all downloaded from download.com. I also have some additional tools which I won't go into due to the nature of the environment out there.

I used to pay for Registry Mechanic and one of their spyware apps until I caught them charging my credit card for re-upping my license without notice and without my permission.

[TampaYankee]

I would agree it's not *needed*... until one day it desperately is... For a long time there weren't enough Apple computers out there for people to target

with the really malicious stuff.

...

I suspect Mac computers will remain relatively immune to hacker attacks, mainly because they still are a small market share and will remain so as long as they are not price competitive. That is not in the offing anytime soon.

However, the IPhone and IPad Os's are potentially big targets with their potential market share growth. I have already read elsewhere where the IPhone OS is already under hacker attack.

Depending on shared similarities, potentially that could spill over the the computers IMO. Time will tell.

[JKane]

They may not compel you to give them your password, but if you refuse, they will confiscate your computer. They will not only look for illegal porn but for illegal movies and music. They can be a real PITA.

Wow, and so few realize this is even happening... Thanks for providing first-hand knowledge on it! Guess this is another reason to donate to the EFF!

[JKane]

Good info JKane, thanks.

I avoid the standard pay security suites with all the leaden bioler plate that attends them. Not only expensive but very burdensome performance wise. That performance factor was what inspired me to tube them.

I presently use the free versions of Avast antivirus, COMODO firewall, Ad-Aware to sweep tracking cookies, and Free Windows Registry Repair to clean that out -- all downloaded from download.com. I also have some additional tools which I won't go into due to the nature of the environment out there.

I used to pay for Registry Mechanic and one of their spyware apps until I caught them charging my credit card for re-upping my license without notice and without my permission.

You're welcome! I agree the suites have gotten way too heavy. I'd been using AVG (don't recommend) but now like Essentials which has very low performance impact.

I've generally relied on the built-in Windows firewall (plus a NAT-ing router), but one of the more robust software firewalls that makes sure connections aren't going *out* of your computer without your knowledge makes sense for the extra security conscious. I worry that they bury many users in too many requests and become worthless as soon as the user just starts hitting 'allow' automatically though.

I've never felt the need for a specialized registry cleaner, with so many of them being scams. Ad-aware has disappointed me the last couple times I tried to use it to clean up an infection, tried Spybot with mixed results, lately I've had pretty good success with Malwarebytes.

[BiBottomBoy]

I disagree.

Now that Steve Jobs has pissed off the hacker community - most dramatically by encouraging the cops to bust in the door of a Gizmodo reporter and confiscate all his equipment and less dramatically by telling Gawker that he was going to make an internet world "free of porn" the 4Chan people are right now doing everything they can to write the worst, most nasty viruses possible for Apple products because they see it as a mission from god.

So, my guess would be that in a couple months you'll see some really, really nasty viruses pop up on Apple products - quite simply because they want to ruin Apple's reputation.

My guess is their first hit will be to encode malicious code into iPhone/iPad apps, just because that's a really easy way in and will give them practice. Once they have that down pat they'll start targeting the laptops.

These people managed to bring all of AT&T's websites down for two days last year when AT&T did a lot less to annoy them than Jobs has.

I suspect Mac computers will remain relatively immune to hacker attacks, mainly because they still are a small market share and will remain so as long as they are not price competitive. That is not in the offing anytime soon.

However, the IPhone and IPad Os's are potentially big targets with their potential market share growth. I have already read elsewhere where the IPhone OS is already under hacker attack.

Depending on shared similarities, potentially that could spill over the the computers IMO. Time will tell.

[Guest restless]

The article is not only about security, it is about the new and devious ways that your information is now being parceled out and sold. There are ways to avoid this, and they are spelled out in the articles.

Read it on the train. REALLY glad I use my own computer for MER + other leisure activities. Ha.

[Lucky]

The Journal today looks at cookies and how advertisers piggy-back them with with their own, third-party, cookies. If you visit this site, for example, all of the advertisers here can conceivably place their own cookies on your hard drive.

Here's a video from the Journal for those of you who want to know more about this:

http://online.wsj.com/video/how-advertisers-use-internet-cookies-to-track-you/92E525EB-9E4A-4399-817D-8C4E6EF68F93.html

[BiBottomBoy]

Firefox allows you to clear cookies at the end of the day.

[lookin]

I wrote myself a 'POP' cookie (Poor Old Pervert). It tells outside browsers that I'm elderly, financially challenged, and engaged in a rather seedy alternative lifestyle. I hardly ever hear from advertisers, save the odd viatical firm.