Town of Braintree

To all those purchasing Xmas computers - When you ''hook'' them up to the internet whether it be BELD / Comcast/ Verizon etc. Do the following

1. Run the Operating Systems Updates (Both Windows and Apple OS's have security issues now) This will protect that new family investment against some of the hackers out there.

HOW?
For the Windows crowd in the Start Menu you will see a menu choice for Windows Update (follow the prompts after it launches a browser)

For the OS X / Apple gang > System Preferences to Software updates take at least the Security updates ( But the new Itunes is cool too)

After that (especially the Windows folks) update your Virus Protection and find out when your subscription expires ( mark it on a calendar!) ..If you opt not to renew or at least keep what you purchase updated The Viruses you will get...Well that will be like getting a $1200 dollar piece of **** (coal) under the tree.

Have a Happy Holiday Season!

p.s. for all you beanbag and cuckoo clock loving folks ..search prices at froogle.com (though it is a bit late to ship at this point )



By Bill

how about a free firewall

billie boy?
we might as well protect it all the way, ad-aware is free, why not load that up also?
pop up blockers are free and real,
mal-ware, spyware slow the processor down so much without protection you will not be able to load yahoo!
register mechanic should be run about every other day to keep bugs out of the registry if you like to roam about on the web. several versions of mal-ware protection should be used. most of this software will provide free versions or at least do a free scan.
Remember the call shields up Scotty, they are firing phasers at us.

More spyware

Beware of CoolWebSearch, a program that can change Microsoft Internet Explorer's security settings and wreak havoc on computers.

Anti-spyware company Webroot Software said Tuesday that CoolWebSearch self-installs malicious HTML applications and exploits security flaws in IE.

''This has vexed all of us,'' said Nick Lewis, managing director of Boulder, Colo.-based Webroot. ''For consumers, CoolWebSearch is probably one of the most vicious programs in terms of how nasty it is. It completely hijacks the browser so you can't do anything.''

CoolWebSearch is the most dangerous program on Webroot's latest list of the 10 worst spyware and adware threats. Webroot's list of top 10 threats also includes:





The list below depicts the spyware threats most frequently identified by Webroot's Spy Audit, a free spyware scanner tool.
Webroot's dedicated team of expert spyware researchers compiled the threat background and additional spyware information provided.
Spy Sweeper, Webroot's anti-spyware software, can detect and remove all of these spyware threats.





The list below depicts the spyware threats most frequently identified by Webroot's Spy Audit, a free spyware scanner tool.

Webroot's dedicated team of expert spyware researchers compiled the threat background and additional spyware information provided.
Spy Sweeper, Webroot's anti-spyware software, can detect and remove all of these spyware threats.

Name: PurityScan
Description: PurityScan frequently displays pop-up advertisements onto your computer whenever you are online. It induces you to install it by claiming to find and delete pornographic images.

Name: n-CASE
Description: (msbb.exe) ?– n-CASE is an adware program that delivers targeted pop-up advertisements to your computer. This program is usually bundled with freeware applications.

Name: Gator
Description: Gator (GAIN) ?– is an adware program that has the ability to display banner advertisements based on your Web surfing habits. Gator is usually bundled with numerous free software programs, including the popular file-sharing program Kazaa.

Name: CoolWebSearch
Description: CoolWebSearch (CWS) ?– CoolWebSearch has the ability to hijack your Web searches, home page, and Internet Explorer settings. Recent variants of CoolWebSearch install using malicious HTML applications or security flaws, such as exploits in the HTML Help format and Microsoft Java Virtual machines.

Name: Transponder
Description: Transponder (vx2) ?– Transponder is an IE Browser Helper Object that monitors requested web pages and data entered into online forms, then delivers targeted advertisements.

Name: ISTbar/AUpdate
Description: ISTbar/AUpdate ?– ISTbar is a toolbar used for searching pornographic web sites that has been reported to display pornographic pop-ups and to hijack your homepage and Internet searches.

Name: KeenValue
Description: KeenValue ?– KeenValue is an adware program that collects personal information and delivers advertisements to your computer.

Name: Internet Optimizer
Description: Bargain Buddy delivers targeted pop-up advertisements to your computer based on key words you might enter while surfing the Web.
Method of Infection:Internet Optimizer ?– Internet Optimizer hijacks error pages and redirects them to its own controlling server at http://www.internet-optimizer.com.

Name: Perfect Keylogger
Description: Perfect Keylogger ?– Perfect Keylogger is a monitoring tool that records all visited web sites, keystrokes and mouse clicks. For example, it can log passwords, account numbers and other sensitive information. It is usually installed manually.

Name: TIBS Dialer
Description: TIBS Dialer ?– TIBS Dialer is a dialer program that hijacks your modem and dials toll numbers, usually to access pornographic ''pay'' Web sites.

Firewalls, Spyware, etc

Zone Labs provides everyones freebie favorite Zone Alarm (It's the favorite of the Hackers too ) Firewall

The Windows update suggestion will protect users when visiting websites where hackers embed code into the website code that allows them root privilages on your machine.

RE: Spyware and Adware and Malware etc -

I like (tread carefully here folks as we dont want to break the machine) - SpyBot Search and Destroy and Ad Aware SE. Both do an above average job of removing what you have already inherited ( ya ya the Kids did it)
Make a System Restore Point prior to running these *spy bot is supposed to do this.. and if you have important files : Backups Backups Backups

Other spyblockers etc have been known to put their own pop ups etc so those are the two that I use. There are 100080802130 articles written about this topic ...read!

My post was not intended to be full blown how to protect your machine, merely a few tips to at least get the average family up and running safely.

Shields Up etc is great but I don't think the normal ( keyword NORMAL) family will understand the concept of port probing.

The Cool Web thing can be a P.I.T.A -
There is a tool called ''Hijack This'' but again its not the easiest thing to remove. Dads careful what sites you visit Xmas eve.. you dont want Granny In Law to come in a check her webmail the next morning and find your homepage is now set to XMASBABESINTOYLAND.com

Shall we dicuss the registry for the 12 days of Christmas?

On the first day of Xmas my true love gave to me a tour of the Windows Registry.

Merry Xmas Folks!

By Bill