Got Bugs? Scan Your URL

January 18, 2011 — Mrs. Mecomber
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I discovered a great site that will scan your website or blog for malware, exploits, and other nasty vermin: URL Void. It’s great! It’s free to use and it works well.

In this age of profligate hacking, something like this is almost a requirement for any webmaster. I have heard numerous horror stories from my blogging peers that their website had been hacked. Usually, it’s a prank and the webpage displays a “Hacked By” sign with foul language. Sometimes, it’s a little more malicious– a webmaster or blogger may install a plugin or theme or widget that has malicious code in it. This code may spew juice-drying links from your domain, or assault your visitors with filthy popups.

Now you can fight back. :D I’m so grateful to the dudes at URL Void. Thanks for doing this!

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Posted in blogs, crime, security programs, web design, websites, Wordpress. Tags: , , , . Comments Off »

Test Your Firewall

November 2, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber
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So you have a firewall. How do you know that the firewall is working properly? Here’s a terrific resource for checking your firewall strength: GRC Shields Up! The site has been around a long, long time (I remember it waaaay back about 6 years ago now! Maybe even older!). I rely on it to tell me how my firewall is performing. It’s free to use and it’s very comprehensive.

Basically, Shields Up! attacks your computer. No, not with a virus– with packets. The system will inspect your computer’s ports for vulnerabilities, and inform you of them after each test. You are then given some recommendations for improving your security.

You DO use a firewall…. right?

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Posted in free stuff, security programs. Tags: , . Comments Off »

Fixing an Infected Computer

July 22, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber
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I’m horrified at the rampant spread of malware and viruses that are hitting computers. That junk used to be a threat for people who visited “seedy” websites, or who opened up email attachments (which I don’t). Now, your computer can get a viruses or trojan just by VISITING an infected website. Disgusting!

I found a good tip regarding removing infected PCs. I am of the sort who just wipes the hard drive clean and restarts from scratch, but some folks don’t want to do that. So AVG (who makes the AVG anti-virus software) has a program, a rescue program, that you can run from a CD. It’s here. Read the directions first– this program isn’t something you can run after you boot up your computer. You must burn it to a CD or USB flash drive, and run it from one of those. It’s a wonderful tool to have on hand– just in case.

Hat tip Kim Komando for the heads up about the AVG rescue CD! Thanks!

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Posted in anti-virus, free programs, help, security programs. Comments Off »

Login to Your Computer With Face-Scanning Software

February 11, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

This blows my mind: what was once high-tech security measures comes to a computer near you. C|Net.com wrote a riveting article about the latest program to come down the pike: KeyLemon. It uses the webcam to detect your face and upper-body shape. There’s even a Firefox plugin for logging in to social networking sites.

KeyLemon adds an extra layer of security to your computer log-in process by making your Webcam do all the heavy lifting. Instead of typing your password, KeyLemon 2.2 associates your face with your profile, and then regularly checks to make sure that the person sitting in front of the computer matches the image attached to that profile. If it doesn’t think they match, the computer takes a photo via the Webcam and then automatically goes to hibernate.

The latest version of KeyLemon introduces a Firefox plug-in called LemonFox that lets users log in to three social-networking services using their Webcam.

C|Net said that the software was pretty good, working correctly about 90% of the time.

I don’t know about you… this stuff may be convenient, but if it doesn’t work, I’d probably wind up throwing my computer across the room!

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Posted in crime, security programs. Tags: . 1 Comment »

There’s No Place Like 127.0.0.1

January 20, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

Did you realize that you can control what Internet sites (including advertisements) are displayed on your computer? Within Windows, there’s a file called “Hosts” that essentially controls what websites your computer can connect to. You can modify the Hosts file to block websites on your computer. It’s a great way to block ads, malicious sites, and as a filter for unwanted websites.

There is a terrific website, MVPS.com, that has loads more about the Hosts file. They also offer a pre-made Hosts file that you can use to block websites (mostly ad sites).

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Posted in computers, how to, security programs. Tags: , , . Comments Off »

Completely Wipe Your Hard Drive

October 22, 2009 — Mrs. Mecomber

I remain totally baffled at the amount of pre-owned computers out there today, just handed over to complete strangers without data removed completely. I’ve heard stories of individuals buying old bank computers on eBay, and lo and behold, the bank data is still there! Or of someone just giving someone else his/her computer without making sure the data is completely erased.

Part of the problem is that people don’t know what erasing data really entails. Just tossing documents into the Recycle Bin on your desktop does not erase data. Just selecting “Empty Recycle Bin” doesn’t completely remove the data, either. The data technically still remains on the hard drive– it’s just jumbled now. For data to be completely removed from your hard drive, you have to do one of the following:

  • Remove your hard drive from your computer and smash it to smithereens with a hammer.
  • Delete your data and have the hard drive rewritten.

There’s a neat, free (!) program I’ve recently heard of that erases data. Not surprisingly, it’s called Eraser. It’s open source, so that means it’s free! Eraser rewrites information onto your hard drive several times. This erases your old data. It’s definitely safer than handing over your old unit to an eBay auction!

P.S. this is not a paid review! I know there ar ea lot of readers who buy and use older, pre-owned computers. I hope this program helps you.

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Posted in computers, security programs. Tags: , , . 10 Comments »
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