WolfHawke’s Security Suite
[Version 1.4 | Updated: 2008-03-09]
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Privacy and security are a big deal these days, especially with all of the news whose sole goal is to scare you spitless about the mere possibility that someone is swiping your data and/or your identity. For some people, such as those living overseas, these may be legitimate concerns, but I’d say that the vast majority of Americans shouldn’t need to worry about their data getting stolen.
Even so, since you’re worried about the security of your machine, your data, and your identity, you've ended up at this page. And so here are a few ideas for you regarding keeping your computer secure.
The Basic Principle of Security
Let me begin by telling you a dirty little secret, that no one — especially not your banks and your government — wants you to know. No one is completely secure. Anything that has been made by a human can be broken by a human.
Thus the basic principle of security is that you make it as hard as possible for someone to get in. If they really want to get in, they will, because they’ll expect a payoff for their pains. But if a home user runs a good firewall, which is moderately hard to crack, a cracker (i.e. an evil hacker) will go somewhere else where he can get in easier.
Consider your computer security as the front door to your house. Many people on the internet don’t even have a front door. People from the internet can waltz in and waltz out without you even knowing it. The more savvy average users only have a screen door on their computer. All you need is a sharp knife and, hey presto, you’re in.
What the average user should aim for is a good, solid wood door on his or her computer. This will most likely keep out the average attacker, since John Doe’s PC will be uninteresting to them: it will take more effort than the hacker is willing to expend to get into the machine. And so they should end up going elsewhere.
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So what does this “wood door” look like on an average computer? In my humble view a wood door consists of five components.
- Common Sense
- Using Passwords Correctly
- Good Anti-Virus Software
- A Decent Firewall
- Anti-Spyware Software
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I’m a bit of a paranoiac when it comes to my computer’s safety so I make sure that my computer is locked up as tightly as possible. This includes doing everything that is listed under the Wood Door option as well as the following:
- Close Up Your Wireless Internet Connection
- Use Skype for Voice and Text Chatting On-Line
- Use Encrypted E-mail
- Put Important Files in an Encrypted Portion of Your Hard Drive
- Put your Thunderbird or Outlook Files on an Encrypted Partiition
- Lock Down Your Laptop When At Home or On the Road
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