How-To Geek Forums Topic: Internet Security ?

How-To Geek Forums Topic: Internet Security ? http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ How-To Geek Forums Topic: Internet Security ? en Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:14:40 +0000 grandma-sue on "Internet Security ?" http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/internet-security-#post-44570 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:42:20 +0000 grandma-sue 44570@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ Again Thank you Scott and Budohorseman I will take on your advice Best wishes Grandma Sue Budohorseman on "Internet Security ?" http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/internet-security-#post-44525 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:54:05 +0000 Budohorseman 44525@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ Sue, The 'Identity Safe' is a file on your computer that keeps the information you put in it (Name, address, credit cards, etc.) encrypted. It only works if you use it properly, otherwise bits and pieces of that information will be spread around your computer. A rootkit is a small piece of software that give a user remote access to the 'root' of your pc. It basically give full administrative access to everything on your pc. You can consider a rootkit to be a specific 'class' of virus/spyware. You should always consider any security package to be a back-up plan to good computer habits. Do not rely on them to do everything for you, as there is only so much they can do. If you do not take the time to learn how to use them properly, then you make yourself even less secure as you assume that the security package will take care of you. ScottW on "Internet Security ?" http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/internet-security-#post-44524 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:50:16 +0000 ScottW 44524@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ It sounds like Norton IS 2008 is a good fit for you. Just keep in mind what I said before -- just because you have all of this protection does not mean you can stop being cautious. For example, NIS provides some kind of phishing protection but that can't protect you from all phishing schemes because new ones crop up all the time. You have probably heard about these from Paypal. You get an e-mail that *looks* like it's from them, and says, "your account will be closed unless you verify your username and password. Click here." But, clicking there doesn't take you to Paypal but to the bad guys website and if you type in your data, then they have it. As for Identity Safe, my understanding is that it's a password vault. This keeps all of your important passwords in a "vault" that you have a password to. Yes, we are back to all your eggs in one basket again. However, since your vault password is never sent over the Internet the vault is safer. Not safe, but safer. The best use of a password vault is that you can have a different password for each site and those passwords can be very complex so they can't be hacked. It's ideal to have different passwords, but it becomes hard to remember them all. It's ideal to have complex passwords, but they are hard to type and impossible to remember. So, a password vault aids in this if that's what you want to do. Here's an article with some caveats on Identity Safe: <a href='http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/feb/27/how-does-nortons-new-identity-safe-work/'>http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/feb/27/how-does-nortons-new-identity-safe-work/</a> grandma-sue on "Internet Security ?" http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/internet-security-#post-44522 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:04:50 +0000 grandma-sue 44522@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ Hi Scott To my rescue again! I was under the impression that (Identity Safe) meant that it would make it harder for someone to hack into your on-line banking, plus added security when I used my Visa on the Internet - which nearly always goes through PayPal by the way? With you asking this question no doubt I'm way off course! The latest Norton for 2008 covers me for: Antivirus and Antispyware, Two-way firewall, Advanced phishing protection, Intrusion prevention, Rootkit detection. I'm not quite sure what rootkit means except it is to do with stopping Trojan / viruses entering your computer. I just want piece of mind and be covered for viruses and hackers getting into my computer, You hear so much about identity theft and taking what bit of money you have in your bank, that it makes me query all transaction I make when buying on the Internet. As you say I'm definitely not a geek, so it is best that I stick to one complete package and rely on people like you to help me out (broad smile) ScottW on "Internet Security ?" http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/internet-security-#post-44505 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:55:45 +0000 ScottW 44505@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ Grandma Sue, the best security suite is the one that matches your needs. My best would not be your best, so there is no one best. If you like Norton IS, perhaps you should stick with it but it certainly is expensive. Most of the well known security suites cost money. These "suites" have pros and cons. Pros: user friendly, complete, and consistent. Cons: expensive, bloated, slow, and difficult to micromanage. Your typical geek might not like such a suite, but your typical grandma probably would. Some geeks put together various different packages, especially free ones, to create the equivalent of a suite. But that takes more time and knowledge. Another potential problem with security suites is that some users get a false sense of security. They come to believe that this jack-of-all-trades software makes them invulnerable to attack, infection, or identity theft, but it does not. By the way, what makes you think that "Identity Safe" is a must have feature? grandma-sue on "Internet Security ?" http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/internet-security-#post-44488 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:13:16 +0000 grandma-sue 44488@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ I've so far only used Norton Internet Security 2007 NOW! - this will soon be running out and I'm wondering if it is the right one for me? I only have one laptop to worry about so will the 2008 version be sufficient for my needs. Off cause I want the usual: Antivirus,firewall ,spyware, phishing,and especially the identity safe for bank protection etc. At PC World they are offering this at £29.99 for a year - IS THIS THE BEST ONE ?