Getting a new computer should be an exciting and gratifying experience. After all, you'll be able to do things faster, safer and without having to worry that your old hard drive is so full that one more file will "break the camel's back."
However, there are dangers out there that probably didn't exist when you bought your last computer. And there's the question of what will happen to your old hard drive, with all your personal data on it.
Let's deal with your new computer first. This information applies specifically to Windows XP, although it has broader application as well.
Remember:
Standard (wrong) advice to home users has been to download and install software patches as soon as possible after connecting a new computer to the Internet. However, since the background intruder scanning activity is pervasive, it may not be possible for you to complete the download and installation of software patches before the vulnerabilities they are trying to fix are exploited.
This Special Report offers advice on how to protect your computer before connecting it to the Internet so that you can complete the patching process without incident.
We strongly recommend following all the steps when upgrading to a new operating system from disc(s) as well as when connecting a new computer to the Internet for the first time.
A network firewall or firewall router is a hardware device that is installed between the computers on their Local Area Network (LAN) and their broadband device (cable/DSL modem). By blocking inbound access to the computers on the LAN from the Internet a hardware-based firewall can often provide sufficient protection for you to complete the downloading and installation of necessary software patches. A hardware-based firewall provides a high degree of protection for new computers being brought online.
If you connect to the Internet before you install a firewall, it may be possible for the computer to be exploited before the download and installation of such software is complete.
XP has a built in firewall that may or may not be enabled. If Microsoft XP has not had Service Pack 2 installed, follow these instructions to turn on the Internet Connection Firewall. If XP is installed WITH Service Pack 2, then your firewall is enabled by default.
Microsoft has provided both detailed and summarized instructions for enabling the built-in Internet Connection Firewall on Windows XP.
We strongly recommend that you install a third-party firewall application and THEN turn off the Windows firewall.
We recommend ZoneAlarm (www.ZoneLabs.com), which is FREE. Zone Alarm is the top rated firewall, and protects both incoming and outgoing data. XP's firewall ONLY protects against incoming data. Zone Alarm's setup file is approximately 7 megabytes, which will easily fit on a CD or USB drive.
Follow the instructions there to install all Critical Updates. However, if you are going to install Service Pack 2, READ THIS FIRST! Pay particular attention to "Get the latest PC manufacturer updates for SP2, because you may need to update drivers for your PC to work properly.
Only download software patches from known, trusted sites (i.e., the software vendors' own sites), in order to minimize the possibility of an intruder gaining access through the use of Trojan horse software.
Staying Secure
Follow the principle of least privilege - don't enable it if you don't need it.
Consider using an account with only 'user' privileges instead of an 'administrator' or 'root' level account for everyday tasks. You only need to use administrator level access when installing new software, changing system configurations, and the like. Many vulnerability exploits (e.g., viruses, Trojan horses) are executed with the privileges of the user that runs them - making it far more risky to be logged in as an administrator all the time.
Moving Your Applications and Data
Unless you've never had a computer before, you'll want to move your old data onto your new machine. There are several ways to do this quickly and easily (although there are often a few glitches). The best article on the subject is www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,115632,00.asp.
Protecting Your OLD Data
So, what do you do with your OLD computer? Perhaps someone else can use it, maybe a school or a retirement center?
One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking that deleting files using Windows Explorer actually deletes the files! It DOESN'T!
When you delete files in Windows, all it does is delete the pointers that show where the files are. Any competent computer whiz can easily find a program on the Internet that will rebuild the file pointers, and then they have access to all your files- your emails, your business information and your financial information.
You can go to any flea market in the country, and chances are you can purchase a used hard drive with the old owner's data still on it! Many professional identity thieves are doing just that!!!!
What CAN you do?
Personally, I remove the hard drive from the computer, and I keep it (not in a place that it would be found if a burglar came into my house).
Another alternative is to use a free disk wiping utility or purchase one.
To effectively remove data from a hard drive, it must be overwritten completely several times. All of the temporary files, all of the caches, all of the "swap files" that are created as you work may be lurking in some unknown corner of the hard drive.
Contrary to popular belief, even reformatting the drive does not necessarily make file recovery impossible!
Consider this ? A recent search of hard drives that had been discarded revealed:
There are free programs that will do an adequate job of wiping a hard drive clean ? although the data may still be recoverable by professionals with very expensive programs, and there are inexpensive programs that will make the data completely unrecoverable.
We recommend DBAN (dban.sourceforge.net/)which does 5220.22-M-compliant wiping. 5220.22-M-compliant wiping is the Department of Defense secure delete wiping standard. Be aware, however, properly wiping a hard drive, particularly some of the large ones can take hours, but it is worth it to protect your privacy.
? Steve Freedman, Archer Strategic Alliances, 2005 All Rights Reserved
Steve Freedman
Author of "Help! Something's Got Hold of My Computer and It Won't Let Go!"
A PC Security eBook for Newbies, Skilled Users and Wizards
Archer Strategic Alliances
http://www.helpprotectmycomputer.com
Your first step in removing dangerous infections from your computer... Read More
How familiar does the following sound? Your computer was working... Read More
On 21 August 2003 Symantec Security Response upgraded the W32.SOBIG.F... Read More
Most people download and save so much information on their... Read More
Since the DOS days, batch files have been one of... Read More
We have just entered the time of year that most... Read More
In the early days, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) were not... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
Are you stymied by the vast offerings in cheap mp3... Read More
Many computer users are worried about their computer's performance. After... Read More
You???ve studied hard; you???ve practiced your configurations; you???ve used your... Read More
Those small USB drives have so many names, pocket drives,... Read More
Buying a receiver is one of the most important decisions... Read More
GOT VIRUS? Your Data is NOT lost forever!In the wake... Read More
HTTP ProtocolThe web is run on port 80. You are... Read More
How can you compare mp3 players to be sure you're... Read More
Unless you place your faith in internal search engine software... Read More
It's free, it comes with Windows and it's used by... Read More
The registry is where the computer stores information about the... Read More
In Windows Xp, you can install two operating systems on... Read More
A computer needs a certain amount of information to operate;... Read More
The best way to get the gaming computer that you... Read More
World War II - Germany decided to attack Poland. Poland... Read More
There are many sources of heat that can raise the... Read More
Have you ever thought about building your own computer system?... Read More
When browsing the internet you are likely to come across... Read More
Heading off on vacation soon?Then perhaps you're tempted to take... Read More
IntroductionMac OS X is the most technologically advanced operating system... Read More
I do a holiday letter every year and send them... Read More
Webmasters usually sit at their computers much longer in a... Read More
I got my eyes set on a iPod mini, as... Read More
Flow Text Around a GraphicQuestion: I have inserted a photo... Read More
This article describes the basic properties of color, what the... Read More
OK, so you caught a computer virus and your system... Read More
HTTP ProtocolThe web is run on port 80. You are... Read More
First and foremost before I begin my ranting it is... Read More
Apache, MysQL and PHP for Windows could be a nice... Read More
When I first started studying for my CCNP, some of... Read More
I've worked my way from the CCNA to the CCIE,... Read More
Having two operating systems is not as difficult as many... Read More
I met an entrepreneur who hole heartedly disagree with an... Read More
ComputersBusinesses and individuals alike have all grown to rely on... Read More
As the web has evolved, so have the methods of... Read More
Sometimes your PC will start acting strange for no apparent... Read More
Computer is an electronic machine work on the instructions of... Read More
It's free, it comes with Windows and it's used by... Read More
Computers are everywhere, and vary in specification, brands, sizes, shaped,... Read More
Microsoft Certifications are one of the most widely acclaimed, pursued,... Read More
Cisco Certification: Taking Your First Certification ExamYou've studied hard; you've... Read More
Are you frustrated with your PC?Is it feeling sluggish or... Read More
Personal Technology |