Securing your home network

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Securing your home network

• Tom Deaderick
• Intellithought, Inc.

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Easy time/trouble savers

• Keep that new operating system performance
• Software installs and removals leave behind
  relics which slow performance.
• Many applications include services which run in
  the background of your PC, slowing performance.
• Your PC will never be faster than the day after
  youve wiped the hard disk and installed a fresh
  OS.
• Windows XP can turn back time
• Under Accessories, System Tools then
• System Restore, set an image when your PC
• is still clean and fast. You can restore
  back to
• this wonderful time when your PC has grown
  tired and sluggish.

Cost 0.00
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Windows update

• Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
• Microsoft applications are the most
• common targets for viruses and
• malicious code.
• Microsoft provides automatic updates to prevent
  damage to your PC through vulnerabilities within
  their applications.
• Warning Spammers send emails with the Windows
  update logo. Never install software delivered
  via email.
• Windows update is available under the Start
  button.

Cost 0.00
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Windows Firewall

• One of the few firewalls which are designed to
  protect dial-up accounts. (Were not familiar
  with any other product which does an adequate job
  of this)
• Keep the default settings.
• You will be prompted to permit ActiveX controls
  and allow pop-up windows. Legitimate sites will
  not be able to function properly without these
  allow on a case by case basis.

Cost 0.00
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Protecting your assets Children/Teens

• Dr. Dobson is right
• Dont put a PC in your childrens room. A home
  PC belongs in the open.
• Personal experiences
• Find the most sexually explicit or horrific
  images or video you can on the web, the best kids
  you know will do the same.
• Chat and blogs can be even more dangerous than
  images and video.
• Parental controls are worth the investment
• Easy to set up.
• Foolish not to.

Cost 0.00
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Parental security

• Recommendation Spector 2.2 (www.spector.com)
• 69.00 for 1 home (any number of PCs)
• Tracks keystrokes
• Snapshots the screen at intervals
• Tracks chat and email
• Tracks web site visits
• URL Blocking (optional, ideal for younger
  children)
• Microsoft Internet Explorer has an excellent URL
  blocker, which allows you to deny access to all
  web sites by default, unlocking sites as desired
  with a password.

Cost 69.00
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Virus definitions

• What is a Virus?A virus is a manmade program or
  piece of code that causes an unexpected, usually
  negative, event. Viruses are often disguised
  games or images with clever marketing titles such
  as "Me, nude."
• What is a Worm?Computer Worms are viruses that
  reside in the active memory of a computer and
  duplicate themselves. They may send copies of
  themselves to other computers, such as through
  email or Internet Relay Chat (IRC).
• What is a Trojan Horse?A Trojan horse program is
  a malicious program that pretends to be a benign
  application a Trojan horse program purposefully
  does something the user does not expect. Trojans
  are not viruses since they do not replicate, but
  Trojan horse programs can be just as destructive.
  
• Many people use the term to refer only to
  non-replicating malicious programs, thus making a
  distinction between Trojans and viruses.

Source McAfee web site
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Antivirus

• Some form of antivirus is recommended
• Can be expensive for multiple PC networks
• Choices
• AVG (www.grisoft.com) 59.00 (2 licenses)
• McAfee VirusScan 8.0 (www.mcafee.com) 39.00 (1
  license)
• Norton Antivirus 2005 (www.symantec.com) 49.95
  (1 license)
• Stick with default settings

Cost 39-59.00
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Spyware

• Symptom Degraded PC performance
• Spyware defines software which covertly gathers
  information.
• Commonly installed as a hidden component in other
  software (typically downloaded software).
• Recommended Microsoft AntiSpyware
• Great program
• Warning MS Antispyware will detect (and can
  deactivate) parental monitoring tools such as
  Spector.
• Free.

Cost 0.00
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Broadband extra requirements

• Broadband is more susceptible to attack because
  the connection is always-on.
• Software firewall (Windows firewall) is not
  enough.
• Default installation by broadband providers
  connects your computer directly to the Internet
  (highly dangerous).
• Typical hardware firewalls (any electronics
  store)
• Linksys router
• Netgear router
• D-Link router

Cost 49.00
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Broadband Pulling the plug

• Disconnect broadband connection when not in use
  for extended periods (overnight).
• ZoneAlarm (www.zonealarm.com)
• Great Software firewall
• Has easy Stop button to disconnect the PC from
  the Internet.

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Wireless router security

• Make the following changes to the default
  configuration
• Change the SSID from the default value (e.g. name
  your home network something convenient to your
  family, but not obvious to an outsider)
• Turn off SSID Broadcast
• Requires users to type in the SSID to connect.
  Inconvenient, only necessary if your network
  location has reasonably close neighborhoods.

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Resources

• CERT Coordination Centers Home Network
  Security white paper.
• www.cert.com/tech_tips/home_networks.html
• Great resource, easy to read and understand.
• The regions only Microsoft Gold Certified
  Partner
• (in infrastructure)

877.633.6001
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