Updated: April 21, 2014

Passwords

With so many sites using passwords online, many people tend to use the same (and often easy to remember) password for all the sites they log into. But the recommended approach is to use different passwords for every site. But then trying to remember all those passwords, they tend to get written down on a piece of paper or recorded in a text file on the computer – not secure at all. After trying many different methods to securely record passwords, my current recommendation is BitWarden. It is free, though you can purchase an annual premium account which gives you more features. It will automatically generate unique passwords for all your sites. You can add it to your browser and it can automatically log you in. The information is stored securely on their servers, but the master password is not stored on their servers so the last password you have to remember, is your BitWarden master password, which should also be not easily guessed.

Background

For several years, part of my responsibilities at one large company included the email system and virus protection. During this time, I learned a lot about email, hoaxes, chain letters and computer viruses. This page contains links to sites I found useful.

If you receive an email

• warning you about a virus
• telling how you can get free money or products
• wishing you good luck if you forward the message and bad luck if you don’t
• etc.

do some research before doing anything else with the message. You can quickly and easily check out the message by enter a key word or two from the message, into the search field on the left. Or you can check out some of the links below. If you don’t want to bother checking it out, simply delete the message.

Virus Information

• Microsoft Security Essentials – My current recommendation for antivirus software is Microsoft’s free product. It reportedly works well, is free, and simply to use. Other free versions I’ve used include:
  • AVAST – For a while, after a version upgrade by AVG caused some system problems, I switch to AVAST which has worked well for me for a number of years.
  • AVG AntiVirus – You cannot afford to not have virus protection on your computer. If you can’t afford to purchase some, you can afford this virus protection – it is free. To download the software visit AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it for many years and in January 2005, I switched to it from one of the well know antivirus vendor’s products. I like it much better and it does just as good, if not better, job of keeping my system free of viruses.
• Symantec Security Response – You can find information about real viruses and many hoaxes at this site. Symantec is the maker of Norton AntiVirus, which I highly recommend because of the good protection and easy and automated way of updating the virus definitions.
• GFI Email Security Testing Zone – So you have virus protection, but how good is it? Many viruses are spread through email. Go to this site, fill out the form and it will send you email messages with attachments that should appear as viruses, but are not. If you antivirus software is working correctly, it should prevent you from opening the attachment. If not, you may want to look for different antivirus software.
• Cyber Incident Response Capability (CIAC) – A US Government site

Online Virus Scans

• Norton Security Scan – Examine your computer using Symantec’s virus detection technology to determine if it is infected by any known virus or Trojan horse.
• Trend Micro’s FREE online virus scan – Always up to date. Nothing to install. Detects viruses and cleans your PC.
• McAfee FreeScan – Based on the award-winning McAfee VirusScan engine, FreeScan searches for viruses, including the latest known “in the wild” viruses, and displays a detailed list of any infected files.

Hoaxes and Chain Letters

By far, after SPAM, the most annoying email messages are hoaxes, chain letters, etc. If you forward one of these email messages to me, expect to get an email back from me with a scolding and a link to my Email Chain Letter page. If you don’t amend your ways, your email address may be added to my list of blocked email addresses. That means all of your emails, including valid messages, will automatically be deleted, without ever being seen.

• Urban Legends and Folklore – This is the first place I go when I receive an email I think is a hoax or chain letter. Simply type in a few of the key words from the message to see if the message is a hoax.
• Hoax Busters
• How to recognize a Hoax.
• F-Secure Hoax Warnings (formally Data Fellows)
• Truth or Fiction

Other

• Anti-Phishing Working Group – The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) is an industry association focused on eliminating the identity theft and fraud that result from the growing problem of phishing and email spoofing.
• FTC Spam Email Information – The Federal Trade Commission site concerning spam email.
• Introduction to Spyware – Microsoft answers the question “What you should know about spyware?”
• Protect your PC – Microsoft provides information and the steps you should take to protect your PC.
• Scam Busters – Give us just 5 to 10 minutes a month, and we’ll help you protect yourself — and avoid being taken by — Internet scams and fraud.
• Spyware and Parasites Information – Do you have “Spyware” on your system? Parasites or an Unwanted Search Engine?
• Spybot – Home of Spybot-S&D, the best (according to PC World, PC Mag, …) privacy software available!
• The Internet Soapbox – Before you forward that email so you can make an easy buck, help out a kid with cancer, etc., check out this link.
• US-CERT – The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team
• 419 Legal – dedicated to fighting 419 Advance Fee Fraud