Comments on: Identity Theft – Be Scared

By: Eduardo Gonzalez

Eduardo Gonzalez — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:21:40 +0000

Another factor of Identity theft, could be keyloggers. They catch every keystroke you generate, and then the hacker uses your personal information you typed in, grabbed by the keylogger for fraudulent purposes. Software that monitors online behaviour could be the most common convict of "IT"(Identity theft)

By: Samuel

Samuel — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:28:33 +0000

When you delete info from your computer it isn't trully gone until it is overwritten several times.

Make sure when you erase your sensitve data you use a secure algorithm like the gutmann algorithm which overwrites data 35 times.

4 Programs that I can think of from the of my head that make use of the gutmann algorithm are.

CCleaner – Temp, cache, recently opened files cleaners, etc.

http://www.ccleaner.com/

——————————————————————-

Darik's Boot And Nuke (DBAN) – Entire Hard Drive Disk Wipe –

http://www.dban.org/

——————————————————————-

FileShredder – Securely wipes files (docs, archives, pics, or pretty much any other file you may have) also securely removes folders –

http://www.fileshredder.org/

——————————————————————-

Heidi Eraser – Securely wipes files (docs, archives, pics, or pretty much any other file you may have) also securely removes folders –

http://www.heidi.ie/

——————————————————————-

NOTE: YOU WILL HAVE TO MODIFY THE PREFERENCES IN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPS TO TELL THEM TO USE THE GUTMANN ALGORITHM INSTEAD OF THE DEFAULTS.

ALSO, IF YOU USE DBAN TO WIPE YOUR HARD DISK DRIVE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN OPERATING SYSTEM RESTORE CD, AS DBAN WILL OVERWRITE THE ENTIRE DRIVE AND NOTHING WILL BE LEFT, INCLUDING WINDOWS.

WHEN WIPEING AN 80GB HARD DISK DRIVE USING DBAN WITH THE GUTMANN ALGORITHM IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 24 HRS.

IF YOU DECIDE TO USE DBAN, YOU COULD PROBABLY USE THE PRNG OPTION WITH 8 ROUNDS AND IT NOT TAKE AS LONG AS THE GUTMANN ALGORITHM.

FOR SOME TASKS THE GUTMANN ALGORITHM MAY BE OVERKILL.

INSTEAD, YOU COULD PROBABLY USE DOD (7 PASSES) OR DOD SHORT (3 PASSES).

PS: WHEN I SAY DOD,I MEAN U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

ALL SOFTWARE MENTIONED ABOVE IS FREE!!!

By: shogan

shogan — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:38:35 +0000

Hello Shar.
I use Internet Explorer as my default browser so I open it and go to:

Tools/Internet Options/Content/Auto Complete/Make sure all items are UNCHECKED and then click CLEAR FROMS CLEAR PASSWORDS.

That should do it.

By: Shar

Shar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:04:36 +0000

How do I get this information out of my computer. I run CCleaner, AVG,Adaware, Trendmicro/housecall, spybot search and destroy, reg cleaner, and other cleaners. However, everytime I go to certain personal sites choices are made for me to fill in the boxes or the boxes are filled in. I want them out.

By: John Ross

John Ross — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:51:44 +0000

using cards online is a lot safer than in a brick & mortar store/restaurant imo…as long as your not on wifi, that is. Usually online, the merchant uses a third-party service and so they don't even see your CCN at all. No paper receipt and no one swiping your card to steal info. Try to use a major credit card for transactions rather than your debit card. You can always refuse to pay a credit card but debit comes right out of your bank and a CC company will then have motivation to help solve any problems.

By: Dubbia Bee

Dubbia Bee — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:51:50 +0000

The tips for staying safe fall a little short. Users need to develop a habit of clearing the CACHE daily. Not to make your life inconvenient, but to make sensitive information disappear. Don't let windows remember your passwords, use a password safe such as the FREE KeePass or the safe taht comes with McAfee Suite. Also, an easier logoff is to use the Windows key with the L key, it will log you off in an instant and no one can access your computer without the password. It's especially great at work when you have to leave your desk in a hurry.

By: Donna

Donna — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:54:44 +0000

I ran into the same thing Shane did; a blank page.

By: rob cheng

rob cheng — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:23:32 +0000

Thank you everyone for the comments. For those of you that are skeptical of PC Pitstop, I say BE SKEPTICAL. Skepticism is very necessary in this day and age. The internet is probably the greatest invention of my lifetime, but it is also has its dangers.

By: R.W.

R.W. — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:44:51 +0000

Plain and simple people, don't store your CCN on your computer, let alone passwords!! Investigate a not well-known retailer/supplier be4 buying online 2! U just can't trust the BBB, and Secure Server emblems @ the bottom of some websites because they can B faked!

By: shogan hogan

shogan hogan — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:52:10 +0000

JB and bigfish, Read the instructions at the top, IN BOLD.

You are to click the box not fill it in.