This is a page about Web Security. Mainly, when we use the Internet, it leaves a trail. A really messy, easy to follow trail. Following these steps will help reduce that trail.

• First of all, if you are using a computer that others might use, use FireFox as your browser. This is because of a feature I like in FireFox that will automatically clean up your personal data when you exit. Here are the steps for enabling it.
  1. Open Firefox
  2. From the menu, select Tools and then Options
  3. Click the Privacy tab
  4. At the bottom of the window, in the Private Data section, click the first check box titled "Always clear my private data when I close Firefox."
  5. Click the Settings button in the Private Data section
  6. Check everything
  7. Click Ok on each screen until you are back to the Firefox main window
  8. You're done!
• For an additional level of protection, search for a program called "Sandboxie." What this software will do is allow you to run applications in a "sandboxed" environment meaning that the sandboxed programs won't actually interact with your file system. It does this by intercepting any request for a file and copying that file to a temporary directory and then sending the copy to the program rather than the original. So, if a program is trying to overwrite files on your computer with bad copies of the files, they are only impacting the copies. Once you download and install it (send me requests for help if needed), you will be able to right click on a program short cut and select "Run Sandboxed" You'll see a weird yellow and red diamond icon show up in your task bar. This just means that there is something sandboxed. When you are done using the sandboxed app, just right click on this icon and select "Terminate Sandboxed Processes" and then "In All Sandboxes" This makes sure those sandboxed programs aren't running now. Then right click again and select "Contents of Sandbox" and then "Delete Contents" This wipes out all your data from when you ran the sandboxed program. This gets rid of new shortcuts, cookies, temporary files, anything you downloaded, etc.
• IE suggestions - If you are like me and still like IE, here are some helpful tips:
  1. Follow the above suggestions for using Sandboxie!
  2. Delete your temporary files regularly. If using IE7, click on "Tools" and then "Internet Options." Under the first tab, you'll see "Delete" under a section titled "Browser History." Click that and then click "Delete All." You're now good (or better)
• If you are running an IM client, such as Trillian or Yahoo Instant Messenger or MSN Messenger, think about running it sandboxed when you want to conceal something - This is because of the possibility that other users on the computer may have enabled logging out of curiosity. Also, this helps sensitive information from being discovered. If you suspect someone is logging your conversations and is in a position of power like a boss, only sandbox the sensitive stuff and keep it brief. Long gaps could become suspicious. This actually applies to just about everything actually.
• Cleaning up when you weren't careful - Everyone occasionally get some malware on their computer. It's a fact these days. What I suggest is to segment your security. While I use McAfee, that is only because it came with my PC. Still, I recommend the following:
  1. AVG Free - Very good antivirus software. If you are low on system resources or you really like to push things to the limit like me, then I'd suggest installing this and playing with the settings so not everything is enabled. Additionally, if you have something else that does similar tasks with less resources, use that. On another note, out of Norton, McAfee, and AVG, I've had the best success removing viruses with AVG. And it's free!
  2. Windows Defender - If you have a legitimate copy of Windows, you can download Windows Defender which is Microsoft's Malware software. It seems to be Anti-virus and Anti-Spyware in one.
  3. Ad-Aware SE - Run this about once a week. Also, update it before you do! It will detect cookies and known malware and remove them.
  4. SpyBot S&D - Similar to Ad-Aware SE, Spybot S&D will look for and remove spyware. I suggest both because there is some difference in the malware databases between the two so one might find something the other doesn't.
  5. WinPatrol - Besides a silly little Scotty Dog icon, this is a good program to have for security and modifying things like your start-up apps. One of the reasons I really like it is because it alerts me whenever anything tries being added to the Start-up of my computer and I have to approve it.
  6. CCleaner - Called this because it's short for Crap Cleaner, this program does a lot of nice little adjustments and cleans and is absolutely free (as of this posting). The app will clean your registry, your temporary files, your cookies, etc. It's definitely one I'd recommend to anyone.

So, there you have it.
-- James