I immediately downloaded it and checked it out. I’m impressed. This will save me hours of work coming up with my own campaign and presentation for our employee Lunch-n-Learns.

One of the things I really like about this campaign is the each email tip links to a short video on the topic. Here’s the first one in the series, “Don’t Get Tricked:”

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/rLO4EKvJbEM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

I highly recommend you check this out.

My show airs Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 8 pm EST. Please make it a point to listen. I think you’ll like what you hear, as I certainly enjoyed doing it.

Who knows? There may be a podcast in my future…

Click here to listen.

After the show airs, I will post the audio file here for you to download and pass onto to your clients and family.

I am happy to report that I found what I was looking for at MakeUseOf.com. This handy guide, entitled “Operation Cleanup: Complete Malware Recovery Guide” by Brian Meyer, is just what the Geek ordered for his clients, family and friends. Here’s an excerpt, giving the symptoms of possible malware infection:

• Your computer shows strange error messages or popups.
• Your computer takes longer to start and runs more slowly than usual.
• Your computer freezes or crashes randomly.
• The homepage of your web browser has changed.
• Strange or unexpected toolbars appear in your web browser.
• Your search results are being redirected.
• You start ending up at websites you didn’t intend to go to.
• You cannot access security related websites.
• New icons and programs appear on the desktop that you did not put there.
• Your desktop background has changed without your knowledge.
• Your programs won’t start.
• Your security protection have been disabled for no apparent reason.
• You cannot connect to the internet or it runs very slowly.
• Your programs and files are suddenly missing.
• Your computer is performing actions on its own.

You’ll have to sign up (it’s free) to get the download password, but you won’t regret it. This is clearly one of the best sites I have seen for easy-to-follow, user-oriented information. (Don’t worry, Geeks, there’s a Geeky Stuff section, too!) There are more than 50 guides covering just about everything PC, Mac and SmartPhone, Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. You’ll love the “Best Of” section, too.

Check it out.

I just acquired Private Label Rights to an interesting series of media presentations called 101 Internet Security Tips. Because I am constantly faced with the necessity to educate people on security, I thought this would be a good starting point for a useful reference. [Private Label Rights, called "PLR" in Internet marketing circles, is a license granted by the original creator of the material that essentially gives the purchaser the right to do what he will with the material within the license terms. -Ed.]

After I read the entire report, I realized that I would have to bring it up to present time and expand upon the material given to include links to further reference materials and relevant products and utilities. This is typical for most PLR products–you have a framework of ideas, but it’s up to you as editor to develop them into a comprehensive and coherent end product. Moreover, one who is particularly well versed in the subject material will often find misconceptions and errors introduced by the original creator. Nevertheless, 101 Internet Security Tips is good information, even in its raw form.

So, let me present the raw introduction for your comment. Remember this because I plan to post excerpts, including the revised and updated version, in future posts.

Using the Internet for business and leisure is a necessity in today’s world.  As the technology that allows you to work more efficiently on-line increases, techniques used by Internet criminals also adapts.  While some on-line crimes are perpetrated only for the criminal to exert power by making your life miserable through damaging your computer, identity theft is a main focus for most Internet thieves.  In addition to identity theft threats from hackers, computers can fall victim to viruses, spyware and phishing programs from Internet misuse.  While you may think that high-profile or wealthy individuals are the common targets, most hackers are looking for any easy opportunity.  The easiest opportunity, of course, is an unprotected computer.  Your computer holds all of your most private personal and financial information, so proper security is a must to keep you and your files safe.

Stay tuned.

All I really need to know about security I learned from my cat. Here is the list of lessons:

1. Security is hard. Do it and then take a nap.
2. Curiosity killed the PC.
3. Despite what you’ve heard, cats (and your security) don’t have nine lives.
4. When in doubt, assume the worst.
5. When it comes to security, cop an attitude.
6. Always give your cats expensive treats (Sorry, Squeakers, my cat, made me put that in there!)
7. Purr when your security applications are up to date.
8. Keep your claws sharp and shred intruders, even if they look like your friends.
9. Don’t trust anyone who offers you a free gift (catnip) when you first meet.

Happy New Year, cat lovers!

All I really need to know about security I learned from my dog. Here is the list of lessons:

1. Never pass up the opportunity to to give your dog a treat (OK, that’s not really security related, but my Missy Yorkie made me say that).
2. Always sniff the air before deciding what to do.
3. When loved ones send email with links, sniff to make sure they are really your loved ones.
4. When in doubt, take a nap, then stretch before you click.
5. Have fun, romp and surf when you know it’s safe.
6. Be loyal to your security consultants (like me…).
7. Never pretend to be someone else.
8. Implement safe security practices with gusto and enthusiasm.
9. If the information you want is buried, dig for it; if you still can’t find it, Ask the Geek!
10. Never, never, never trust a link until you have sniffed it and determined it’s friendly.

Happy New Year, dog lovers!

Here are my top five security tips that anyone can employ and everyone should employ.

1. Use strong passwords. It goes without saying that strong passwords are an absolute necessity to thwart brute force attacks, but even more important than using strong passwords is using different strong passwords for different puposes. Far too many people use the same password on multiple sites. This is bad; even worse is using the same password for your financial accounts as you use on social networks. On a recent service call, I was asked to recover an Excel spreadsheet my client used to store login information. While verifying I had the right file, I noticed that the same password was used on eight sites, six of which were financial sites; the other two were Facebook and Twitter. Yikes! I gently suggested that this is not a good idea.

2. Use encryption. On the most basic level, such as to secure text files containing your banking information, passwords, etc., you can employ simple, readily available tools to encrypt single files or directories you want to protect. One such tool that I have good success using on idividual files is AxCrypt. Another good tool is LockNote, a portable memo pad that enables you to store text information using 256-bit AES encryption. For more extensive encryption needs you’ll want to use something like TrueCrypt. Naturally, sensitive communications should be encrypted as well. For that you can use GnuPG.

3. Keep your software updated. While automatic updates for operating system security holes occur regularly, users often neglect to patch their applications. Big mistake. It’s just as important to keep third party software patched. Secunia’s free Personal Software Inspector will test every application on your system and give you a detailed report, included recommended actions to take.

4. Don’t trust open wireless networks. This is worthy of an entire article. Just remember that “open” means just that. Don’t login to any site that doesn’t have a persistent SSL/TLS connection, especially financial sites.  Email isn’t safe either. For example, Yahoo! mail employs an initial secure connection for login and then immediately switches to an insecure connection. Same with Hotmail. Gmail does it right and maintains the secure connection throughout the session. If you don’t want your private email messages to be sniffed out of the air, don’t use insecure webmail.

5. Protect the perimeter. At bare minimum, you must install a NAT router between your high-speed Internet connection and you home network. Even better would be one with an integrated SPI firewall and lock it down tight.