Most Home PC Users Lack Security

Ant writes "CNET News.com and MSNBC report that a survey of home personal computer (P.C.) users found 81 percent lacked at least one of three critical types of security. However, the number of consumers using firewalls and updated antivirus software is improving, according to a report released Wednesday. The vast majority of consumers surveyed were found to lack at least one of three types of critical security--a firewall, updated antivirus software or anti-spyware protection, according to a report by America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance. Of this group, 56 percent had no antivirus software, or had not updated it within a week, while 44 percent did not have a firewall properly configured, according to the report. Meanwhile, 38 percent of survey respondents lacked spyware protection..."

Comments

Re:Best Free A/V?

[wyckedone]

The free ones that work the best are AVG, AntiVir (Classic, Premium isn't free) and Avast!. I currently use AVG but the new version of AntiVir is supposed to work better and have a smaller footprint.

PCs should contain Defenses

[digitaldc]

When you purchase a PC, you should have the option of installing freeware that might help you in the incessant barrage of spam, viruses, spyware, adware, bots and phishing emails. It might also help to have a short tutorial on how your PC becomes infected/compromised/used to propogate malicious code. Maybe then Windows would be a better and safer O/S?


For those who need some free help:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5 (AVG anti virus)
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/prod ucts/znalm/freeDownload.jsp (Zone Alarm firewall)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ (Ad-Aware adware/spyware detection)
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ (SpyBot S&D adware/spyware detection)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?Fa milyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displa ylang=en (MS Anti-Spyware adware/spyware detection)

Re:lacking security?

[Anonymous Coward]

As far as the Windows registry settings?

Start right here @ "the horses mouth" for Windows NT-based Os':

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb; EN-US;q120642

(That's a starting point for BOTH Tcp & NetBT & that tends to be "NT/2000 centric" but, most of it applies to Windows XP/Server 2003 as well!)

Here are more, & the very ones I used to define & understand the .reg files entries on that site:

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 TCP/IP Implementation Details MAIN PAGE:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windo wsserver2003/technologies/networking/tcpip03.mspx

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 TCP/IP Implementation Details Parameters:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windo wsserver2003/technologies/networking/tcpip03.mspx# ECAA

SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR NETWORK ATTACKS:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/security/ prodtech/windows/iis/dosrv.mspx

TCP Transport Entries (all esoteric/unusual settings found here):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q102973/

TCP/IP Exploits and Countermeasures for Windows 2000 Server:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/guidance /secmod150.mspx

Network Hardening and Security - Packet filtering Udp/Tcp - PortsAllowed + EnableSecurityFilters:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/guidance /legsgch3.mspx

Prevent Session Hijacking

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues /2005/01/sessionhijacking/default.aspx

ADDITIONAL REGISTRY SETTINGS - FOR AFD SETTINGS (ESPECIALLY):

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/guidance /secmod57.mspx

FOR TUNING PARAMETERS FOR SPEED FOR CABLEMODEM/DSL vs. 57.6k/33.6k/28.8k/14.4k DIALUP MODEMS:

http://www.speedguide.net/

* ENJOY! Those will define the settings altered/hardened & also explain EACH in detail as needed for your reference.

APK

P.S.=> What's in my initial URL is years of research since the NT 4.x-2000 days, & still works/applies to XP/Server 2003, & has had any added info. possible for them as well as the older NT-based OS' also... apk