Keith Goodrum

Right off… I’m not a security expert. I’m just a guy who got attacked, and learned some hard lessons.

Let ask you a question…

What price do you place on security?

Getting your computer hacked, or email cracked is a crime of opportunity. These criminals scour the internet hunting for computers that are not protected, or have holes in their security. When they find a computer that is vulnerable, they will install spyware. Spyware, like keyloggers, will collect your personal information, passwords, bank account, credit card numbers & other stuff. They will then try to rob you! See what the FTC has to say about this: Botnets and Hackers and Spam(Oh, My!)

These people are often called hackers… but let’s get the facts straight. They are not hackers, they are thieves. They hide behind the anonymity of the internet & steal. They may not be using a gun, but the intentions are the same.

Here are the measures I took to better protect my computer:

1. Update your operating system - Operating system software companies will often release updates to plug security leaks. Most of the time these update are in response to security breech that has already occurred. It’s important that you keep updated, or risk intrusion.

2. Update all Anti-virus & Anti-Spyware software - You would think this is an obvious tip, right? Well, this is where I made a huge mistake. It turns out I thought I was automatically updating, but the updater got corrupted. I never bothered to check, and left a huge gap in my system. Make sure you have the current updates, even if you have it check manually. Don’t always rely on auto-updates. You’ve been warned!

3. Don’t stay logged into any accounts if you walk away from your computer. - Guilty again… I did this almost daily. This leaves your computer open to all kinds of bad things happening to it. Look at it this way… you don’t leave your car running with the doors open when you run into the store. And those of you that do don’t be surprised if one day you come out and your car has driven away.

4. Disconnect from the internet when ever you leave your computer. - Kind of related to the above tip. I don’t go out and run errands & leave the front door open… but I left my computer “open” whenever I left. I know it’s convenient to be able to plop down and instantly fire up the computer… but it’s asking for trouble.

5. Disable your browser password saver - Did you know that it pretty easy to view your passwords saved on your internet browser? I deleted all the saved passwords from both IE & FireFox. Check out what Amit Agarwal over at Digital Inspirations has to say about it… a real eye opener!

6. Change your passwords periodically - Now this one’s a real pain in the butt, however you should change them at least every 90 days. The longer your password stays the same, the more likely it could be figured out.

7. Use different usernames & passwords for each account - The good ol’ universal username and password… easy to remember, and fast to login to all your accounts. Come to think of it… that’s exactly why the criminals love them so much. Fortunately I did not make this mistake, and is probably one of the reasons damage was limited. It’s hard to keep track of all those usernames and passwords, but use the next tip to solve this problem.

8. Use Roboform & lock in down with a master password - Since you are going to be changing your logins often & using a different one for each account you need to have a way to keep track of all this mess. That’s where Roboform comes in. It saves all your passwords, and fills them in automatically. You can download a free copy here.

9. Install Key Scrambler - This is nice little plug-in for your FireFox & IE browser. Here is how QFX Software describes their application:

When you type on your keyboard, the keys travel along a path within the operating system before it arrives at your browser. Keyloggers plant themselves along this path and observe and record your keystrokes. The collected information is then sent to the criminals who will use it to steal from you.

I like it because it adds another layer of security. You can download a free version here.

10. Never Stop Learning - Every new innovation or update is another tool to secure your computer. However you cannot relax or become complacent. These thieves are hard at work trying to crack, or bypass each improvement. It’s a constant battle between these crooks and the companies who create the software. You have to keep up with the changes and updates or the software will fail to protect you.

It’s your responsibility and not the company that created the software. If you don’t take the necessary steps to keep your computer protected, you will suffer the consequences.

For further tips check out these articles:

http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/protect_online.htm
http://onguardonline.gov/spyware.html

Next, I’ll show you the steps I’ve taken to better secure my blog.

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