Editor’s Dossier

Happy Holidays from VSN

Greeting VSNers,

This will be our final issue of the year, so I would like to thank you for your readership and wish you the very best in the coming year. Have a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever you celebrate.



Starting in January, VIPRE Security News will be a bi-weekly publication. We’ll also be making a few changes to the newsletter format. But don’t worry, VSN will still give you the security news and tools you love! Look for the new VSN in your inbox starting the second week of January.



This week in Deb’s Deep Dive, Contributing Editor Deb Shinder takes on hardware specs and what to look for when buying a new computer. Consider that Deb’s gift to you so you get exactly what you want if a new PC is on your holiday wish list. And, of course, make sure that any PC your family gives or receives this year is protected by VIPRE. Take advantage of our exciting holiday deals at vipreantivirus.com.



Enjoy the latest issue of VIPRE Security News. And remember, stay safe out there.

Best,

Larry Jaffe
Editor, VIPRE Security News

P.S. You can write to us at any time. We want to know how you feel about Internet
security and if you have any ideas for articles or subjects you would like us to
cover. Email us at: feedback@vipresecuritynews.com

Eyes Only: Your Viewpoint on Security Issues

The driver download trap

“Another type of piggy-back is the driver download trap. Driver searching on Google or whatever will return dozens of hits to different sites offering what appears to be the driver you require, BUT all the links take you to the same download site. What is downloaded is a junk application called Driver Detective that insists on interrogating your system, allegedly to check all your drivers are the latest version.



It then provides a list of what to update (but not, in my case, the wireless dongle driver I needed) which have to be paid for before downloading. I got caught by these guys a few years ago and in several cases their drivers were either older or incompatible with my OS.



Thankfully due to legislation from the UK Sale of Goods Act and Trade Descriptions Act my money was refunded. However I was never sure if they grabbed any personal data as a result of the system scan.” – RD

Operations: What You Need to Know

Free support

The VIPRE support team is at your service! You don’t have to call in, send emails or wait in line, just fill out this support request form for free technical support:
VIPRE Support

Stay on top of all the real-time threats:
http://research.sunbelt-software.com

Deb’s Deep Dive

Diving deeper into the hardware specs when buying a new computer

This is the time of the year when many of you will be buying new computers. Maybe you’re getting them as gifts for someone else in your family. Maybe you’re buying yourself a “just reward” with that year-end bonus. Maybe you’re making a last-minute tax deductible purchase for your small business. Whatever the reason, to ensure the best experience, you should look beyond the features that vendors tout in their advertising to get the best bang for your buck, and more importantly, the system that’s best for your purposes.



In deciding which system to buy, many people look only at the “big three” numbers that are usually prominently displayed: processor speed, amount of RAM and hard drive space. These are important considerations and a good place to start comparing, but don’t stop there.



Let’s look more closely at the processor. It’s not just about the speed in GHz or the number of cores, but also about the model of processor. Is it an Intel or AMD? Both have their fans, although Intel has a much larger market share. Many will tell you Intel offers slightly better performance and possibly better reliability, whereas AMD generally costs less and gives you a better price/performance ratio. You can find benchmark comparisons and comprehensive forum discussions about the pros and cons of each all over the web.



Each company offers different processor models. For instance, a machine might have an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor. And within those categories, to confuse matters more, a processor might be a “first generation” i7 or a “second generation” i7. Here’s a technical comparison of all of these.



We all know that the more RAM you have, the better – but don’t look at just how much RAM comes with the system, but also at expandability. What’s the maximum amount of RAM that can be added later? And if you’re looking at desktop machines, RAM isn’t the only thing you might want to expand. Find out how many expansion slots there are, what types they are, and how many are empty. This can be important down the road if you want to add functionality.



I recently purchased an HP system because it had two PCIe x16 slots, while all the Dells in the same price range with the same specs (Core i7 950, 16 GB RAM, 2 TB hard drive) had only one. That’s because I wanted to be able to add a second video card so I could run four monitors. Be sure to consider exactly what you want to do with the computer, now and in the future.



If you’re buying a laptop, be sure to check out the built-in input and output ports. How many USB ports are there? How many USB devices might you want to connect? Will you need a USB hub? Are they all the older, slower USB 2.0 type, or the new, faster USB 3.0? Is there an HDMI output for connecting to an HDTV, or just the old VGA port? What about the keyboard and touchpad? I highly recommend that you “try before you buy” when it comes to laptops, since keyboard comfort is so important to a satisfactory user experience. Weight is also a big comfort factor if you’ll be lugging it around a lot.



Another very important consideration with portable computers is battery life. If you need to work for long periods of time without access to AC power, you need a system with good battery performance. Check the reviews for real-world numbers, as most vendors tend to overrate battery life.



Here’s a good basic computer buying guide from Consumer Reports. Of course, if you can’t find the right specs at the right price, another alternative is to build it yourself – but that’s another subject for another day.



Till next week,
Deb Shinder
Contributing Editor, VIPRE Security News

Dirty tricks

Latest Release of ProtectedSMS™ Includes Carrier IQ Detection

“Protected Mobility™, a leading mobile application security provider, announced today that its latest release of ProtectedSMS™ for Android includes a spyware detection function that enables users to determine if Carrier IQ or other possible malware is present on the device. ProtectedSMS enables users to exchange encrypted SMS messages with any other ProtectedSMS user…”
Source: Protected Mobility press release
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/12/4117040/latest-release-of-protectedsms.html

Interesting info on the Carrier IQ site itself:
http://www.carrieriq.com/

Security Pros Slam Cnet Download.com’s Bundling

“Prominent members of security community criticize Cnet for pairing bloatware with popular free security tools. Programmers have a strong sense of ownership for the software they create. No wonder then that CBS Interactive subsidiary Cnet ran into problems when security researchers found that unwanted toolbars and thinly veiled marketing utilities were being pushed on people who downloaded popular open source tools and other software…”
Source: InfoWorld
http://www.infoworld.com/t/anti-spyware/security-pros-slam-cnet-downloadcoms-bundling-181392

Internet BitTorrent Spies

“Think no one knows what you’ve downloaded off the Internet with BitTorrent? Think again. People have privacy delusions about the Internet. They seem to think that just because they don’t sign their real name to a site that no one can see what they’ve been doing on it. Oh dear. So dumb, so wrong….”
Source: ZDNet
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/networking/internet-bittorrent-spies/1743?tag=nl.e550

Email Fraud Threatens Even the Savviest Users: Don’t Get Complacent

“Email-based cybercrime continues to thrive, but even the savviest users might fall for a clever scheme. Deb Shinder offers tips to help you and your users remain vigilant…”
Source: TechRepublic
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/security/email-fraud-threatens-even-the-savviest-users-dont-get-complacent/7050?tag=nl.e550

Malicious Apps Discovered In Android Market

“Attackers over the weekend uploaded malware-laden copies of a number of popular apps, such as Angry Birds, to Google’s official Android Market, researchers warned…”
Source: SC Magazine
http://www.scmagazineus.com/malicious-apps-discovered-in-android-market/article/219022/

New Study Claims that Chrome is the Most Secure Browser

“Which is the most secure browser around? According to a newly released study by Accuvant, that’s Google’s Chrome…”
Source: ZDNet
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/new-study-claims-that-chrome-is-the-most-secure-browser/9839?tag=nl.e539

Announcing the Release of the Blueprint for a Secure Cyber Future

Note: This blog was recently posted by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano


“Today, I’m proud to announce the release of the Blueprint for a Secure Cyber Future: The Cybersecurity Strategy for the Homeland Security Enterprise. The Blueprint calls for a coordinated effort across the homeland security community to respond to evolving cyber threats. This strategy provides a framework for a cyberspace that enables innovation and prosperity, advances our economic interests, and national security, and integrates privacy and civil liberties protections into the Department’s cybersecurity activities…”
Source: Department of Homeland Security
http://blog.dhs.gov/2011/12/announcing-release-of-blueprint-for.html

Zone: Cool Products and Other Stuff

We are always looking for some hot stuff to share with our readers and maybe you
are too. Hit us back at: feedback@vipresecuritynews.com.

Delta App to Track Checked Bags

“Want to keep track of your checked luggage? Now, Delta says it has an app for that. The airline’s app, available for Android, Windows, and iPhone platforms, will now allow travelers to track their check bags. Delta says a BlackBerry version of the app is in the works…”
Source: SmartPlanet
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/transportation/delta-app-to-track-check-bags/1265?tag=nl.e660

Sugar Plum Fairy by P. Tchaikovsky – Glass Harp LIVE

This is so cool. They play on actual glasses. It is incredible. First watch the video and then go over to their website to get the inside scoop on this phenomenal performance.
Source: YouTube
http://youtu.be/QdoTdG_VNV4


Performer’s website: http://www.glassduo.com/

FAQs of (Web) Life: Social Tech Advice

Tom’s Guide is one of my favorite tech sites. Check out this cool FAQ which includes: “Does My ISP e-mail address look bad? Yes., The Truth About Royalty Free Images Vs. Free Stock Images, Help! Facebook Can See My Embarrassing Spotify Habits and Who Can I Link On LinkedIn?…”
Source: Tom’s Guide
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/advice-spotify-gmail-facebook-linkedin,review-1707.html

World’s Largest Model Railway

The largest model railway in the world with more than a thousand trains, aircrafts, cars and ships. The attention to detail is amazing.
Source: YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACkmg3Y64_s

R/C Quadrocopter

This R/C Quadrocopter must be one of the coolest flying machines ever.
Source: Flixxy.com
http://www.flixxy.com/coolest-rc-quadrocopter.htm

Hyper Puppy vs. Cat

Hyper little puppy is giving the big cat some good exercise.
Source: YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srsd9PL2e_0

What a Wonderful World

Breathtaking wildlife footage pulled from David Attenborough’s vast collection, made even more poignant when paired with Louis Armstrong’s timeless lyrics.
Source: YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auSo1MyWf8g