Only Fools And Horses - Series 7 - Episode 2 - Part 2
How best to understand Firewalls, Viruses and Worms
A firewall helps to keep your computer more secure. It restricts information that comes to your computer from other computers, thereby giving you more control over the data onto your computer and providing a line of defense against people or programs (including viruses and worms) that attempt to connect to the computer without your authority.
One can assume of a firewall as a barrier that only verifies information (often called traffic) coming from the Internet or a network and then either turns it away or allows it to pass through to your computer, depending on your firewall settings.
One can effortlessly install and run any firewall so long as it suits the intended purpose. One way of doing this is by evaluating the features of a variety of firewalls available and then decide on which best meets your specific requirements. Before installing and running a firewall, confirm whether it is the appropriate and can run effectively with the operating system in use.
Firewalls can be for different objectives and so, in line with their work environment. In areas covered by Wide Area Networks (WAN), they require software that is completely efficient to work in that particular network; for the case of Virtual Private Networks (VPN), a higher number of firewalls are useful. This is because they restrict the number of open ports and type of packets that are passed through and which protocols are to be allowed into the networks. Firewalls can be configured to filter certain information from its net. That is why some protocols are at times opened and closed as a necessary ‘heads-up' emergency.
Viruses
Now, a virus is a malicious program that can copy itself and infect various parts of your computer, such as documents, programs, and parts of the operating system.
Most viruses attach themselves to a file or part of the hard disk and then duplicate themselves to other places within the operating system. Some viruses contain codes that wreak extra damage by wiping away files or lowering the security settings, inviting further attacks.
Viruses are disparaging disingenuous programs. They usually spread from computer to computer over the Internet. They do this by easily appending to other files and conceal as files that appear ordinary. The fact that the internet is an information and data superhighway wrought with lot of uncertainty is not enough a statement. It is like a torrent that sweeps downstream, all dirt causing erosion in the process.
Internet today is a vast pacific, whose flux of knowledge is a phenomena of flaring ideas, which are today applied rigorously. Here, you will find loveliest minds and conscious innovators no less their work vilified by hackers, virus creators, fortune hunters (e-fraudsters) and ‘decoy' programmers. These ‘decoy' programmers simply encrypt, decrypt and reengineer codes in language that appear genuine, yet and alas! Their very intention aims at the heart - hacking security codes off systems - for malicious intent.
To counter this, it is important to shield your terminal from viruses and other security threats by installing and using up-to-date antivirus software.
Like a bird flitting from the bird-catchers. Insist on current version of antivirus when purchasing one. It helps given that viruses makers always than not keep-up to the pace of the latest version of antivirus. Configure up e-mail and Internet software so that it is more difficult for files containing virus to make their way onto your computer at all.
The Internet is full of fun places with infinite amounts of information, but also fraught with risks. A computer virus sent through e-mail or through a program and downloaded from the Web can certainly wreck workstations. If you are not using antivirus software, you run the risk of passing viruses along to other computers as well. If you administer a network without virus protection software, all of the computers on the network in use remain very much vulnerable.
Worms
Unlike virus, worm is an encode that makes copies of itself and can swell beyond your operating system; it can copy itself from one computer to another by using e-mail or an alternative transfer mechanism. Worms damage computer data and security in much similar ways as viruses, but are complete opposites from viruses in that they replicate themselves from system to system
Trojans
During the medieval era, battles were fought with the help of Trojan horses as leading emissaries but mainly to hoodwink the enemy. Today in technology, a Trojan horse is a harmless-looking program designed to trick you into thinking it is something you want, but which performs harmful acts when it ‘runs'.
On occasion, one dialogue box can mislead by notifying you of hitting a jackpot, hence requiring you to click on... Though you have no idea how you hit that jackpot, many people fall for this trap. After all, didn't someone say luck chance comes once in a lifetime?
A Trojan is typically received through downloads from the Internet. Trojan horses do not multiply by themselves like viruses and worms.
Virus security programs only detect an incomplete number of Trojan horses. A fine way to help protect a computer system from Trojan horses is to visit only Web sites you can bank on, and avoid downloading stuff except if you trust the source as well.
Antivirus programs
Antivirus programs scrutinize e-mail and other files for viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. If a virus, worm, or Trojan horse is exposed, the antivirus program either quarantines it or expunges it entirely before it damages your computer and files.
Some IT manufactures that make antivirus programs provide regular update for viruses. ‘Real-time' scanning feature in antivirus checks files before opening or used. Many antivirus programs have an automatic update capacity. By updating your antivirus software, it helps adding novel viruses to a catalog of viruses to check for, therefore protecting your computer from new assault.
If your antivirus updates are not automatic, experts recommend checking for updates on a frequent basis because new viruses are identified day after day. Wise counsel; if the antivirus program you are using requires a subscription, keep the subscription current to receive regular updates. If your list of viruses is out of date, your computer is vulnerable to new threats
What about phishing?
Phishing is an e-mail fraud method in which the perpetrator sends out legitimate-looking email in an attempt to gather personal and financial information from recipients. Typically, the messages appear to come from well-known and trustworthy Web sites.
Messages are crafted to request social security numbers or credit card details. In their attacks, they use a wide range of social engineering techniques, including spoofed emails and fraudulent websites, to trick recipients into revealing their credit card numbers, account, usernames, and passwords. They also use technical ploys to install crimeware on PCs in order to steal credentials directly.
Obtained data can then be used or traded for (illegal) profit. When messages seem to come from very well known people, often-soliciting trivia, which they can get elsewhere, think twice. You become victim of a phishing scam when you respond to a fraudulent or "spoofed" email representing a trusted source (e.g., bank, retailer or Credit Card Company)
Check out
Experts categorize a sophisticated type of phishing, called man-in-the-middle. This attack occurs when an attacker attempts to intercept communications between two parties, such as a customer and a financial organization, without their knowledge. By doing so, the attacker becomes "the man in the middle." Both parties are unaware of the attacker's presence. Therefore, acting as a proxy, the attacker can both review and manipulate the contents of the messages he is relaying between the two parties.
These sorts bait the ignorant, by fooling at least a few ‘prey' before they encounter real loose ends. Any official-looking e-mail message, often asking for updates on personal or financial information should be verified. It is important to find out whether the request is legitimate. Either through phone calls if it is from banks or colleagues you know. That is why as we enter into the era of mobile banking, institutions will be required to invest in a knowledgeable customer care, pronto.
The best way for one deal with these kinds of threats is to always review the security status and look out for any possible attack. No one is actually shielded from this harsh reality.
Most of them are stolen from a mixture of Tim Vine, Milton Jones, Lee Mack and Jimmy Carr (probably via “Sikipedia”), although it's interesting to see this line from “Only Fools and Horses” make it in;
“Don’t see what the fuss is about Gandhi. He only made one film. Then no one ever heard of him again”
As spoken by Trigger, still I guess Chegwin is claiming he wrote that as well and John Sullivan copied him.
He should come to visit Lord Montagu’s Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the New Forest in Hampshire in the UK. There are many cars from every era including all those that hold land speed records. It would take you several days to explore the whole museum.
Nothing better than celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ surrounded by family and friends. Christmas Day will be spent commencing at Church and finished with my family hopefully merrily drunk and enjoying myself watching re runs of Only Fools and Horses!
This country has become too PC for my liking- Happy Holidays- how ridiculous.
Just stick a bit of Wizzard on, pour out a glass of brandy, get out the mince pies, put on a pair of slippers and just enjoy the holidays for what they are: about family and about the birth of Jesus.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Most of them are stolen from a mixture of Tim Vine, Milton Jones, Lee Mack and Jimmy Carr (probably via “Sikipedia”), although it's interesting to see this line from “Only Fools and Horses” make it in;
“Don’t see what the fuss is about Gandhi. He only made one film. Then no one ever heard of him again”
As spoken by Trigger, still I guess Chegwin is claiming he wrote that as well and John Sullivan copied him.
September 19th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
ah, cushty!
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Watching only fools and horses, can't beat it with a big stick
October 3rd, 2010 at 5:24 am
He should come to visit Lord Montagu’s Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the New Forest in Hampshire in the UK. There are many cars from every era including all those that hold land speed records. It would take you several days to explore the whole museum.
November 7th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
HEAR, HEAR.
Nothing better than celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ surrounded by family and friends. Christmas Day will be spent commencing at Church and finished with my family hopefully merrily drunk and enjoying myself watching re runs of Only Fools and Horses!
This country has become too PC for my liking- Happy Holidays- how ridiculous.
Just stick a bit of Wizzard on, pour out a glass of brandy, get out the mince pies, put on a pair of slippers and just enjoy the holidays for what they are: about family and about the birth of Jesus.
And….
Merry Christmas to you all!
November 14th, 2011 at 6:57 am
Mohl bys mi poslat text i mp3? Já tyhle písničky docela sbírám, ačkoliv komunista nejsem ani omylem.