Security Basics

Usually all the components of security basics- with respect to the non technical language are:
- Block hackers from entering your PC Firewall
- Prevent unknown threats from entering your PC Firewall
- Virus AntiVirus & Antispyware
- Worm AntiVirus & Antispyware
- Spyware from tracking you online AntiVirus & Antispyware

- Spyware from hijacking your computer AntiVirus & Antispyware
- Guard against online identity theft IE Security, Cookies, Philishing
- Inspect websites to make sure they are not fakes IE Security, Cookies, Philishing
- Block suspecious programs UAC of Vista, AV
- Allow only authorised programs to connect to Interent
- Backup of imp files
- Tuneup your PC and optimize its performance
Most Imp of these are those which any good AntiVirus provides. Rest can be used with some OS features like firewall, UAC, PEC(Program execution Control), Windows Defender, Automatic Updates.

Automatic updates is something which is not covered in any of the security software. It is actually a fix in the base, the OS.

Security of browser also play a very imp role in providing these securities. Features like phishing filter, protected mode etc provides those securities.

Based on the combination of these security threats, different security softwares are packaged.
e.g Nortan AV provides the securities as mentioned in the AV section. Nortan Internet Security provides the service of Firewall and other browser security options. It also provides some other OS security features; whereas Nortan 360 provides all the features of Nortan Internet Security as well as backup and performance tuning of your machine.

Using the good AV and using security feature of browser and OS, can serve the purpose of Nortan Internet Security or any similar Internet security suite.
For backup and performace enhancement, some other utility may be used like Vista's backup feature for backup and Disk cleanup and disk defrag for performance. Other OS feature for performance may also be used. Other freeware can also be used for antivirus, firewall and antispyware.

http://amulyaratna.blogspot.com/2009/04/pc-security-build-your-own-security.html

Freeware utility for backup (backup for all) and disk degrament is also available.

http://amulyaratna.blogspot.com/2009/04/disk-defragmentation.html

Security Administration address on Windows machine:
Control Panel-->Security Center
Windows Firewall-If more than one firewall running then there are chances of conflict.
Automatic Updates
Malware and spyware protection
Anti-Virus
Windows Defender
Other Security Settings
Internet Security Settings(for IE security settings)
User Account Control.

However different icon for firewall and defender is also there in control panel. You can switch on and switch off from there. Security center is only for consolidated view.

Internet Explorer security tools:Tools ->Internet Options -> Securities Tab
Plishing(Tools--> Advanced Tab)
Web sites list on your computer
Characteristics
Online chekcing if enabled.If not enabled manual checking is also possible.
Protected Mode
Addon or ActiveX Controls
Open browser with all addons disabled. Can also use add on manager.

Certificate:
SSL, Secure connection, Encryption
Lock
Meaning of colour
Management of Cookies

Web Technologies

Scope of this notes:
webpage design, upload the wesite at some shared webspace available from some ISP. Simple form and multimedia in your website.
Out of scope:
Web server itself, webserver programs like Apache and IIS, web sevrer interaction with DB server. User interation with forms etc. Database query.
Website construction tool:
Adobe Photoshop:
used for photo and images. Like cut a plane from somewhere and put it in other image of cloud etc. File type .psd. This file type contains diiferent layers and other characteristics of Photoshop. Therefore, before using that as an image, one must save it as .jpg.
Micromedia Dreamweaver or Adobe Go Live or Microsoft FrontPage:
Used to create a webpage. Also called as website construction tool. They generate the correct code for the table.Similarly, they will generate code for rollover, image maps etc. Therefore, each line of HTML code writting is not required. Wasting hours in aligning is also not required. These tools do the reverse job. Create table- they will create code automaticlly. Other thing that Dreamweaver do is placing the images made by photoshop at the right aligment, adding text and hyperlink on it, etc.
Web design combines number of disciplines:
Graphics design
Interface design- method of doing things. How page works etc.
Prgramming and scripting- Forms and interactivity. Writing scripts, programs and application for working with database, servers and so on.
Information design- organisation of content and you get it.flowchart and diagram.
HTML Production- using Dreamweaver or Golive.
Multimedia- Using Micromedia Flash and Director
ISP and buy space on the web server:
Hosting / FTP user name: Testing
Hosting / FTP password: password
Website URL: http://www. Testwebsite.com
FTP Site URL: ftp://www. Testwebsite.com
FTP site, username and password are used for site admin. You will have to use FTP client like SmartFTP or Internet explorer for uploading content to the site.
Sound and video clips are stored in one folder. Images are stored in other folder. Other HTML pages are stored in mail folder.
Some Technicalities:
HTMLcodetutorial.com
yourhtmlsource.com
webopedia.coma.ratna
DHTML: eg- changing of image on mouse rollover. Life and fun on the webpage. Supported only on version 4 and above browser.
Javascript: Scripting language developed by Netscape. Client side programming language. Used for form validation etc. Can not be used for anything else outside browser.Can be embedded in the webpage.
ASP:
Active Server pages
Runs inside IIS
IIS is free component of W2k and above.
PWS is a smaller but fully functional version of IIS
Chili and Instant ASP runs without Windows
ASP file is just same as the HTML file except it has .asp extension.
ASP file contains- HTML, XML and scripts. Scripts on ASP file runs on server.
How ASP different from HTML?
When browser requests an HTML file, server returns HTML file. When browser requests ASP file, IIS passes the request to ASP engine. ASP engine reads the ASP file line by line, executes the script in the file. Finally ASP file is retured to the browser as a plain HTML file.
PHP:
Again a scripting language, especially suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML.It is HTML embedded scripting language.
What it does?
Anything! Other CGI program can do. However there are three main things where PHP is used.
Server side scripting
Command line scripting
Writing desktop applications

Test Your PC

HDD:
Altrixsoft.com
Gives everything about your hard drive. Also identifies 20+ potential probelm spots. Not free, but 15 days trial version of Hard Drive Inspector is available.

Datacent's Hard Drive Sounds:
datacent.com

Broadband speed test:
dslreports.com/tools
speedtest.net

Internet Connection Quality:
VoIP test- voipreview.org
Down for everyone or just me- downforeveryoneorjustme.com

Inside your PC:
SIW- System Information for Windows- gtopala.com

BugMeNot

Get into free sites without registering:
www.bugmenot.com
It provides username and password to enter into free sites without giving your personal information. This prevents spams and SMS on your mobile phones.

PC Security, AV, AntiSpyware, Firewall, Suite

Build your own security suite for free:
Clearing doubts:
1. Many security companies use the same signature base for paid as well as free version. Paid version may have some more feaures.
2. Two antivirus may not conflict always, if they are compatible and light on PC resourse.
Make suite:
Use AVG 8.0 free version for base antivirus. Light on system resourse. Anti spyware also.
AVG does not detect a rootkit if already entered in the PC.
Use ThreatFire 4.0 in association with AVG. ThreatFire removes already entered rootkit also. Also has behavioural analysis and identify Trojan Horse based on that.
Use OnLine Armor 3.0 as a Firewall. Limit on XP firewall- only prevent incoming connection. Vista prevents out connection also but not ON by default. Be sure to turn off Windows firewall. Both can not work together.
Use Super Antispyware 4.25 - Acts as a supplement to antispyware of AVG. Handles stubborn spyware and adware.

Alternatevely, a free all in one security suite is COMODO Internet Security. This does not include antispyware.
If you are a little bit techy, you shoud use the combination of all 4 components.

Disk Defragmentation

AbelsSoft- 'JetDrive 2009 Professional' is a freeware disk defrag utility. This is available free with PC World's March-09 issue. You need to obtain keys online to activate.
My Windows Vista Home Premium disk defrag does not work properly. Scheduled defrag should have PC powered on. 'Defrag now' does not give any result and is over in few seconds.

Using AbelsSoft- 'JetDrive 2009 Professional' - do not defrag memory or registry. It is not recommended.

Start-Run, PC Op Basics, PC Admin Basics

• Start--> Run
  Looks at .exe in System32 folder.
  You can always right click the icon->properties and look at what exe it has.
  Also send any of your prog's exe to System32 and u can also change the name and run per your choice.
  eg Computer mgmt-> control panel-> Administrastive tools-> RC computer mgmt-> properties u will find compmgmt.mcs, run it in run.

• Config of machine and reaching imp places(Windows Machine Admin)
  1. Sysytem Info(msinfo32) Start-->Accessories-->System Tools-->Sys Info, System Restore, Task Sche, Backup etc.
  2. System Properties COMPMGMT.MSC, CONTROL, SERVICES.MSC, TASKMGR, My Computer(RC)-->Properties or win+pause
  3. System Management COMPMGMT.MSC, Control-->Administrative Tools.
  4. BIOS- Press DEL
  5. Network, Dialup, Modem Settings-->Network, Control-->Network(RC)-->Properties, TCPIP Properties, etc.
  6. Start Menu and task bar--> Start(RC)Properties, Control Panel.
  7. My Computer(RC)--> Properties W+Pause
  8. Environment variables-- My Computer (RC)-->Properties-->Advanced

• Others
  RAID Manager for exact HDD details
  SIW(Syetem Info for Windows) utility or Bellarc utility
  System Properties-> Advanced->Page file info.
  mstsc Remote Desktop sharing and conf netmeeting
  fsmgmt.msc Shared Folders
  devmgmt.msc Device Manager
  diskmgmt.msc Disk Management
  w+r to launch run
  w+Pause system properties
  w+e My computer
  w+f find/search
  w+d to show desktop
  Direct double click on the same gives many details like DNS IP, DHCP IP, time of connection, speed etc.