S ecurity hints
Instant Message Security Tips
Avoid Giving Full Windows Administrative Privileges
In Windows XP, there are two main types of users to set up out of the box. Administrators, and regular users.
The main difference is that Administrators can install and delete programs, access the registry, install and
delete programs, and generally manage all functions the operating system. A regular user cannot manage the
operating system, but they can use installed programs, manage their own files, and access the Internet.
By setting up users with as regular users, you will greatly reduce their ability to manipulate the computer
and to work around controls that are installed.
Use Windows Lock down Features
Windows lock down features include blocking Task Manager, Registry Editor, Control Panel, Time and Date Functions.
By restricting these functions, the ability to inspect and modify control systems put in place is greatly reduced.
Run Live Updates
Make sure you frequently run the "live update" feature. For now, we have made this a manual process
because we don't like the way some programs force their updates. But we do frequently add to the live updates,
and it is important to include these.
Limit the number of Instant Message clients installed.
There are many instant message clients available today. Besides MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, AIM,
ICQ, GAIM, there are a myriad of lesser known clients. One easy way to control instant messaging is to limit
the number of IM clients installed. This makes it much easier to block IM and control IM using IMterrupt with
scheduling. The easiest way to prevent the installation of new IM programs is to restrict administrative
privileges, and to delete these programs when they are found.
Tips For Blocking MSN Messenger
Remember that MSN Messenger comes in 4 main varieties,
MSN Explorer, MSN Web Messenger, MSN Messenger loaded with Windows,
and MSN Messenger Program. If you want to effectively Block MSN
Messenger, you must block each form of MSN Messenger. This can
be done with IMterrupt, and it comes preconfigured to block all
forms of MSN Messenger. Also, remember that Passport.net is the
central login for MSN Messenger. If you block Passport.net, then
you will block access to MSN Web Messenger, but you will also block the user's
access to Hotmail.
General Home Computer Security Tips
Use a Firewall
By all means, install a personal firewall. What a firewall does is
prevent many "bad" programs, viruses, worms, etc. from getting in to your
computer. If a virus is already in your computer, a good firewall will
prevent that program from "phoning home", or making an internet call
to it's home server, possibly with your personal information. One very
good firewall is Zone Alarm.
Encrypt Your Wireless Network
If you use a wireless broadband router, use WEP encryption. This
is readily availble out of the box with almost all commercial wireless routers.
By using an encryption key, it will prevent casual surfers in your
broadcast area from logging on to your broadband wireless network. Check
your router instructions on how to do this, it is not too difficult, and
it is worth the effort.
Use Mozilla Firefox Browser instead of Internet Explorer
Because of their majority in the market, and their open and available
scripting API's, Internet Explorer is the browser that malware and
virus writers target the most. Simply by using Mozilla Firefox, you
eliminate a large majority of the programs that are designed to infect
your browser and attack your computer.
6 Tips for Child Safe Computing At Home
1. Put the Computer in a Public Area of the Home
Many online predators will ask the child where their computer is. If they find out the child is in a public area of the home, they will be discouraged from venturing into inappropriate behavior. Also, children will tend to behave online if they know their parents or other family members are in the room with them.
2. Restrict Administrative Rights
With Windows you can set up users as Administrators or Users. Users cannot install programs, and have limited access to other windows functions used to control the computer and work around parental controls and monitoring. By setting children up as regular users, their ability and options to create online mischief is greatly reduced. The parents as administrators can set up programs for them and help them troubleshoot the computer or supervise the child while the child installs new programs. This also has the added advantage of reducing the number of programs on the computer that can lead to trouble, such as unrestricted chat and illegal file sharing programs.
3. Schedule Online Time
Restrict online recreational time. This will discourage children from chatting, Instant Messaging, and blogging late at night. It will also ensure that the children are online during a time they can be supervised.
4. Use Parental Control Software
There are many parental control software products out there to restrict and monitor internet use. Of course, we recommend our product, IMterrupt (http://www.imterrupt.com). While none of these products alone are 100% effective against determined and tech savvy teenagers, they do provide significant help in restricting their activities. And if used properly with other guidelines of safe computer use outlined in this blog, they can approach 99% or better effectiveness.
5. Monitor Online Activities
We're not advocates of spying on adult's emails and chat logs online. But we feel that in the case of young children it may be appropriate. It is important to ensure they are not giving out personal contact information and they are not chatting in an inappropriate manner with adults. It's also important to know what blogs they are creating, and the information contained on those blogs. There are products available to monitor online activities, and there are also ways to inspect the browser and computer logs for this information.
6. Have Open Communications With Your Children About The Internet
This is probably the most important. Having computer time is very important and valuable for children and teens today. When most parents were kids, this was not a big deal. But it is a big deal for kids today. So we think it's important for parents to have open and non-threatening discussion about the internet, safety, and what the dangers are. Ultimately, no matter what you do determined children can find a way to get in trouble online. But if they are educated, and they internalize the potential for danger, this can shape their behavior in a positive way.
