Think your computer is secure?

Check out this New York Times article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/us/nsa-effort-pries-open-computers-not-connected-to-internet.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20140115&_r=0

 

Yes my computer is secure sorry yours is not. This requires they put hardware on your computer
so not that big a deal folks unless you are on a list and they break into your house to put the secret hardware on your computer in Mexico. Likelyhood of that is small.

Move on nothing here to see.

Z

The point that I get from this article is that you can run antivirus software and you can disconnect your computer from the internet and your information can still be hacked by a talented and determined hacker.

So Z, you are mistaken. Your computer is not secure.

 

Well in that case " THE BLACKPHONE" is coming soon!!!

http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/15/blackphone/

worry naught about this and other evils. this will protect you and your computer as well as any other silly things y'all chose to worry about.

If you are really going to be worried about the security of your cell phone and computer, you are best served not having either one. If that is not an option, you take your best precautions, keep as up-to-date as you have the time and interest for, light a candle, sprinkle holy water around your devices and pray or chant whichever makes you feel better.   

What about the Fix Me Stick? Has anyone used it?

Wouldn't the stick be better of in a virus and mal ware ddedicated thread since I'm pretty sure the government hasn't been spying on the retirees in "Paradise"

Now the Black Phone is definitely an option for the tinfoil hat brigade!

"

papa chango wrote:The point that I get from this article is that you can run antivirus software and you can disconnect your computer from the internet and your information can still be hacked by a talented and determined hacker.

So Z, you are mistaken. Your computer is not secure.

 

My computer is very secure and my background is a computer Engineer for HP and I have worked as a computer security hardware engineer. I have inserted radios in laptops for Law Enforcement and modified USB sticks to allow tracking.  

No they have to physically get access to your computer or alter a device that you plug into your computer using the methods described in the article. This
is not something one has to worry about unless you are attracting attention somehow and you let people mess with your computers. Please you are not
that important in the scope of things. You have far more to worry from the internet than the danger from hardware hacking unless you are a bad guy or
political person and attract the governments attention.

Below is a part of the article. Notice the words inserted. They cannot sit outside your house and read your computer without adding Hardware.

"Tiny transceivers are built into USB plugs and inserted into target computers. Small circuit boards may be placed in the computers themselves"



Z

You also should be concerned and vigilant if you are working for a high tech company.  I would guess that most countries are interested in economics and would like to get ahold of any technology and either clone it or just steal it.  I know certain Asian countries have been in the United States stealing computer technology since computers were developed. 

Most of the people lakeside here are retired and I doubt if any of them are involved in anything nefarious.. However, I do know people living down here that are still involved with technology companies.

You personally do not have to gain access to a targeted computer. You could just give them the gift of a new USB cable that has the transmitter inside.  There are many more ways that this could be accomplished.

 

So, Zed, let this be a lesson to you. Never accept a gift of a new USB cable--especially from someone dressed in black and wearing sunglasses who talks into his wrist.

Lady Otter Latté wrote:So, Zed, let this be a lesson to you. Never accept a gift of a new USB cable--especially from someone dressed in black and wearing sunglasses who talks into his wrist.

That guy was just here yesterday giving out cables.

I hope they bug me, I'd bore someone to death.

The thing I loved was some Senators sent the NSA a letter and wanted to know if they were being tapped also. The NSA sent back a letter that said they were treated with respect like all citizens.

300 mistresses and 4 boy toys immediately lost their income........

Paranoia strikes deep, in to your life it can creep.
It starts when you're always afraid.
Step outta line, the man come and take you away.
My, how times have not changed.   

Papa you are paranoid.  If you want me to make you nervous how about I can sit outside your house and look at what is on your screen using certain monitor technologies and no I won't tell folks how to do it but it can be done with certain monitors. As I said before my
compute is secure sorry yours is not. I don't take cables from strangers. As far as locals you have no idea how many smart computer people are down here. If they want to get you they are going to do it using the Internet not a piece of hardware.  The article you quote is much more oriented towards corporations/governments/bad guys and politicos not us sitting here lakeside writing on this forum. Also what are they going
to find out? My sister has Cancer or I like to buy science fiction books on Amazon. Not very interesting stuff in my opinion.

Z

Zedinmexico wrote:Papa you are paranoid.  If you want me to make you nervous how about I can sit outside your house and look at what is on your screen using certain monitor technologies and no I won't tell folks how to do it but it can be done with certain monitors. As I said before my
compute is secure sorry yours is not. I don't take cables from strangers. As far as locals you have no idea how many smart computer people are down here. If they want to get you they are going to do it using the Internet not a piece of hardware.  The article you quote is much more oriented towards corporations/governments/bad guys and politicos not us sitting here lakeside writing on this forum. Also what are they going
to find out?  My sister has Cancer or I like to buy science fiction books on Amazon.  Not very interesting stuff in my opinion.

Z

I am NOT paranoid. I started this topic just let people know about the new spying technologies. My computer is secure because it is turned off. Now my smartphone that's a different situation.

Like you, I don't think I have anything to worry about because I'm not doing anything bad on my computer.  If somebody were to try and hack into it they would be wasting their time and money.

If your computer is turned off to be safe I think that qualifies as paranoid. Sorry but all you
do is upset folks who don't know about this stuff by pointing out problems that don't exist
for the vast majority of folks here.  Now if you want to talk about security Internet problems
that effects all of us than go for it and you would not be paranoid to talk about those issues.


Z

Zed, you bring up an interesting point. We read and hear so much about internet security that it can seem overwhelming at times. What do you think are the basic precautions that the average user should take?

i have met you chango and we are in a similar boat i figger-10-15 years left. so why worry about ridiculous never gonna happen crap.
pay attention ta this guy and do something more productive and pleasantly awe inspiring with the few minutes ya got left-SNORK!

I really see no need to criticize, poke fun or put down someone who is offering information and expressing a concern. It may be irrelevant and of no concern to some people, but it obviously is of importance to someone else.

Zedinmexico wrote:If your computer is turned off to be safe I think that qualifies as paranoid. Sorry but all you
do is upset folks who don't know about this stuff by pointing out problems that don't exist
for the vast majority of folks here.  Now if you want to talk about security Internet problems
that effects all of us than go for it and you would not be paranoid to talk about those issues.


Z

My computer is turned off not to be safe but because I don't need it anymore. The only thing I use a computer for now days is to backup my smartphone (which is a computer).

Why use a desktop or a laptop when you can put it in your pocket and use it wherever you are?

My purpose in starting this thread was to let people know that there is technology out there that can affect them.  Governments, Chinese, Russian, Bulgarian, Israeli, United States whatever can get into your system if they think they want to.  If you have some information that you do not want to get out to others then I'd suggest that you do not put it on a computer.

Lady Otter Latté wrote:Zed, you bring up an interesting point. We read and hear so much about internet security that it can seem overwhelming at times. What do you think are the basic precautions that the average user should take?

That's a touch one and understand some folks disagree with some of these points including myself laugh out loud. In other words no one knows for sure
how to be safe anymore so we do our best and hope.

1.)Run a modern operating system (Get rid of XP folks and yes I know you love it and your hardware loves it) Eighty percent of all fraud/cracks is on XP.

2.)Run Security updates on your operating system.

3.)Pick a good browser and keep it updated.

4.)Update your Java. (bad guys use Java code to do bad things)

5.)Use a virus checker (Microsoft Security Essentials works fine and is free)

6.)Keep your virus checker updated and run a scan once in a while.

7.)I run spybot once a month to look for Trojans and such.

8.)Use common sense.
Do not push or open things you don't know about. (Email Phishing is an example)
Maybe if banking is uber important to you keep it on a separate machine and only do banking on it.
If you don't know what you are doing admit it and get help. Your computer probably will not get better on its own.
Pay for help and don't bother your computer friends too much unless you make them cookies or something like that.
Go to a computer boot camp class so you actually can describe your problems correctly to people. It saves us time.
Stop buying the cheap crap. You are not saving money and the cheap crap is harder to support.
Don't buy the most expensive stuff if you don't need it. Unless you are a gamer or photoshop person you don't need
Four I7 processors. Buy the middle.

Understand support folks do not agree with each other and I am sure others will speak up and comment and even disagree with some of what I said.

Z

Fastfox wrote:I really see no need to criticize, poke fun or put down  someone who is offering information and expressing a concern.    It may be irrelevant and of no concern to some people, but it obviously is of importance to someone else.

Understand in Tech we call each other Paranoid all the time. It does not mean the person has a mental Disorder it means that on this one issue someone
is paranoid about that issue alone. I was a security Engineer at HP for a time and I have been called Paranoid hundreds of times when trying to get folks to be secure. We don't mean anything personal just we disagree on the relevancy of his original comment. His last comment before this post makes complete sense.

Z

Thank you, Zed. I appreciate the information. It is difficult to know how much security is overkill, just wasting time, and how little is dangerous. Your list seems doable and covers the bases most of us need covered.
Again, thank you.

"Smart refrigerators and TVs hacked to send out spam, according to a new report"

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/smart-refrigerators-tvs-hacked-send-out-spam-according-new-report-2D11947402

be very very careful. this has been hacked to commit very nasty, dangerous acts upon you.-SNORK!



Pedro I knew someone in Palo Alto (it figures) who had one of these we really had to study it to figure out how to flush it.
Only in the Bay Area would someone have a 3K dollar toilet laugh out loud. Actually for you Canadians the heated seat
would be quite nice actually but you can buy that for a 100 dollar.

Z