Security • Archives • Page 6 of 26 Technically Easy

Why Protecting Your Computer Should Involve More than Antivirus

May 27, 2014May 8, 2014 by Paul Salmon

Since the days of DOS, we have been told to install an antivirus program on our computers to keep our computers protected from viruses and other malicious software. Over the years, though, malware developers have become more advanced in their development of malware to the point where many antivirus programs are constantly playing catch up, or have failed to find malware installed on a computer.

Antivirus programs have also become more advanced in how they have detected malware, but have fallen short of protecting a computer 100% from various malware. In reality, most antivirus products are “reactive protection” from malware, and not “proactive protection”, meaning that they are able to find and remove malware once the malware has infected computers. While antivirus programs are still an important piece of securing your computer, it is now recommended to have a layered defense when it comes to security.

What You Need to Do to Secure Your Internet Connection

August 16, 2016April 16, 2014 by Paul Salmon

The Internet is a haven for both viruses and malware that infect millions of computers each year. These types of software are coded to do a specific task, such as steal personal information, restrict access to a computer to extort money, or just make a computer inoperable. There are many bad things that can happen because of malware, and most, if not all malware, originates from the Internet.

While it may seem like an impossible task to prevent malware from being installed on your computer, in reality, it can easily be controlled by practicing “safe computing.” My current desktop is over 4 years old, has the same first install of Windows 7, and has had no virus or malware installed because I practice “safe computing.” Safe computing isn’t complex to understand, and usually just requires setting up both your computer and network to help protect all devices that are connected to your network – most settings you will only need to change once.

Why Are Hackers Interested in Your Computer?

May 27, 2014April 10, 2014 by Paul Salmon

To you, a computer is something that you may use for going online, checking your e-mail, playing video games or do work. To a hacker, however, your computer is much more. A computer to a hacker is about the processing power, the applications that are installed, and, of course, the data that is stored on the hard drive. All this information combined is like gold to a hacker.

There are many ways in which hackers can use what you have stored on your computer, as well as what you have installed on your computer. Below are some of the reasons a hacker may be interested in your computer, and what you can do to help prevent hackers from gaining access to your computer.

How to Reset the Linksys EA2700 (N600) Wireless Router

February 26, 2016April 2, 2014 by Paul Salmon

There may be times when you are having issues with your Linksys EA2700 wireless router, such as not being able to connect to the Internet, or even your wireless network. You may even have forgotten the administrator password or the network passphrase, and retrieving such information is impossible without logging into the router.

Essential Tips for Keeping Your Passwords Safe With LastPass

September 24, 2022March 19, 2014 by Paul Salmon

Most people have many logins for many sites. The problem is managing all the user IDs and passwords, at least keeping track of them in a secure way. For me, I store all my login information in LastPass. While it can be difficult to trust a service that stores my login information on the cloud, I understand how LastPass keeps my data safe, so I’m not worried about security.

As with most things about security – you can never be too careful. With that in mind, I have compiled a list of some options that I have set within my LastPass account that will help give even more peace-of-mind relief about storing my passwords online with LastPass. The following are my tips for keeping your passwords safe with LastPass.

How to Secure the Linksys EA2700 (N600) Wireless Router

February 26, 2016March 6, 2014 by Paul Salmon

When you buy a wireless router – any wireless router – you must ensure you take the time to properly secure the router and your wireless network. If you don’t secure both the wireless router and the network, you allow unauthorized users into either your router, your network, and possible any device attached to your wireless network. While securing the Linksys EA2700 wireless router may sound complex, there are only a few setting changes that you need to modify to secure both your router and network.

The Most Effective Tactic to Mitigate 92% of Microsoft Vulnerabilities

May 27, 2014March 4, 2014 by Paul Salmon

Any software product that is installed on a computer can have vulnerabilities. When it comes to such vulnerabilities, Microsoft products are usually some of the most popular to have their vulnerabilities published. The number of Microsoft products in use have a lot to do with such publicity.

A report recently released by Avecto has shed some light on Microsoft product vulnerabilities, and how a simple change in the way we access our computers can mitigate 92% of all vulnerabilities released in 2013. The change is one that I have advocated everyone make when running Windows 7 and above, and this report shows the difference the change can make.

Backblaze or Carbonite: Which Do You Need?

September 24, 2022February 21, 2014 by Paul Salmon

A few years ago my cloud backup provider changed their pricing plans. The change made backing up my data with them very expensive. I also knew that I would be having much more data that needed to be backed up each year, so the price would continue to rise. Fortunately, then I had about one and a half years left in my current plan with that provider, so I had time to review other cloud backup providers before I had to change.

During that time I looked at many different providers and many had pricing packages that had limits to the amount of data I could store. Of course, the larger the storage space and more money it would cost. I looked at two services – Backblaze and Carbonite. Each provided unlimited storage for a flat, affordable, rate per month. Just what I was looking for to back up my data. In the end I went with Backblaze, and my reasons are outlined below.