3 posts tagged “security now”
The link above goes directly to this episodes show notes with lots of links for more information. Podcasts do not require an iPod or other MP3 player for you to listen to them. Many can be streamed or just downloaded and played from your desktop. I encourage you to listen to this podcast regularly for the latest information on computer security.
Okay, So my Norton security suite was pinging me everyday for the last month reminding me that my subscription was about to expire. I was putting it off because I really didn't want to spend the money to renew and I wasn't exactly satisfied with the product. So fate steps in and Leo Laporte and Steve Gibson interviewed one of the people at eEye on the latest Security Now podcast. Steve had mentioned the people at eEye before on the podcast in regards to research into computer vulnerabilities.
A portion of the interview turned into product plug discussed some of eEye's products but of most interest to me was their security suite Blink. The part that really caught my attention was they had made a personal version available for free for the first year so I figure what the heck I will try it out. So this morning I downloaded the free software and for those super privacy conscious out there, yes, you do have to register an email address and yes it phones home. The phone home feature is explained in the license and privacy agreements as how they gather information on new malware and is your cost of getting the free use of the product. For me it is a worthy reason and a way to help contribute to the safety of all that are online.
My impressions so far are very favorable. It has replaced at least 4 programs on my system freeing up quite a bit of hard drive real estate. It runs much more smoothly than Norton ever did. I also ran the included retina scan and found a few vulnerabilities I was unaware of. The Scan found more than 40 possible vulnerabilities on my computer though many really didn't apply as retina is a corporate system vulnerability detection software.
More disturbing though was the 5 malware programs found on my system that had gone undetected by Norton including an IRC worm, a hijacker program, 2 surveillance programs and an adware program. Now to give Norton a little credit (just a little) looking at the malware found I do not believe any had been triggered so they were on the system but had never run. It is great to know they have been found and removed before they could do any damage.
My philosophy to internet and computer security has not been a matter of whether or not I am paranoid but rather whether or not I am paranoid enough. It has become obvious to me that I have not been paranoid enough.
My absolute 'must listen' list of podcasts are as follows:
Daily:
Daily Breakfast
The Dave Ramsey Show
Weekly:
Catholic Word on Fire
Rosary Army
Security Now
TwiT
Voice for Life
I may take the time to review each of the above as to why I just have to listen to each, but not today. So what do you absolutely have to hear? Feel free to post a comment with your top podcasts.
