Resource Sites

Being Safe The purpose of this site is to provide simple advice on making sure that your experience of using a computer on the Internet is as safe as it can be.  We've provided a number of resources here to help you understand and add to the security of your home PC when it is attached to the Internet. Courses (OU 15 point P/G course from November 2004) M886 - Summary M886 - Information Security Management Security Resource Sites We realise that there is a lot of detail offered here - don't feel you need to digest them all at once. These include resource sites which cover general issues and contain tests you can perform on your system. Sophos - Data Security Toolkit Zone Alarm - "How to protect your family's PC" (PDF 2.2Mb) eBook - Defending yourself in the Information Age A New PC - connecting up safely National Security Agency Operating Systems Security Guides (Mac OS, Windows and others) Get Safe Online (UK Government) Age Concern Edinburgh (Advice site) OU Anti-Virus website Gibson Research (Shields Up test site) Microsoft Windows Update Microsoft Product Updates CERT Co-ordination Center Home Network Security National Cyber Security Alliance US Dept of Homeland Security Safe Computing Leaflet Download and use our PDF 'Flyer' on Safe Computing Presentations Reading AL Conference November 2005 Health and Safety Resource sites See our Health and Safety pages Email Security Email Security Certificates

OU Technical Support Information Technical support on setup and installation issues for OU Course software is offered by the LTS Student Helpdesk Monday - Sunday from 9.00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m (UK time). NB: The LTS Student Helpdesk does not supply advice or help on the 'Safe Computing' issues covered in this website LTS Student Helpdesk OU Login Security Advice LTS AntiVirus website (NB - only covers viruses and nothing else) LTS Computing Guide (Requires OU signon to view) Phone : +44 (0) 1908 653972 E-Mail : LTS-Student-Helpdesk@open.ac.uk Security Products Firewalls Comodo (Free Firewall) Zone Alarm (Free Firewall) Symantec (Norton products) Gibson Research (Firewall reviews) Anti-Virus Kaspersky Labs Anti-Virus AVG Anti Virus Avast! (Free Anti-virus system) Threatfire (free version) Symantec (Norton products) Sophos 'Small Business' ICSA Labs (comparisons and tests) Virus Hoaxes Operating Systems and software Checks, scans and updates Microsoft Windows Update Microsoft Product Updates Windows Live OneCare (Internet Explorer required) Secunia Software Inspector (update check for all software) Mac OSX Linux Adobe Flash Player Update settings checker Adobe Flash Player Uninstaller (for old versions) Spyware and 'Phishing' 'Spyware' is an increasing threat. It's software that gets planted on your PC which then observes your patterns of behaviour, reporting them back to a central point. In its worst form, it can slow your PC to a crawl. One clear indication that you may have a bad Spyware infection is the frequent popping up of advertisements at random that you haven't asked for. Another is that when you try to install an anti-Spyware product like the ones mentioned below, the system won't allow you to - the Spyware actually tries to 'block' the installation of diagnostic and removal software. Some Spyware versions check your keystrokes in an attempt to grab your username and confidential passwords leading to what is called 'Phishing'. Some 'Spyware' is detected and trapped by anti-virus systems, but not all. It's a growing area of concern. Malicious emails can try and tempt you into opening a web page designed to steal your personal details. Try taking a 'phishing' test now and see if you can tell which emails are real and which fake. 'Social Networking sites such as 'Facebook' are a rich source of information for potential Identity Theft. Read the advice from Sophos on how to minimise this risk. Reources 'Rogue' and 'Trusted' Spyware programs 'Removing Spyware' - Michael Horowitz Spyware descriptions at Gibson Research Try the Phishing Test - were you fooled? Sophos advice on protecting your identity Software Microsoft 'Defender' Anti Spyware (beta) (free version) Spybot Search and Destroy (free version) Threatfire (free version) Netcraft Toolbar (phishing detection) Site Advisor (site check and threat detection) WinPatrol (free version) Lavasoft Adaware (free version) Spychecker.com (general advice) Spyware Warrior (review site) News See our Breaking News pages Current versions of software

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Last modified: Thursday December 08, 2011.

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