IronWil Blog » Anti-Virus http://ironwil.net/blog where my thoughts are published Wed, 16 May 2012 15:26:29 +0000 en hourly 1 Security is a Journey . . . and the Future http://ironwil.net/blog/2009/10/13/security-is-a-journey-and-the-future/ http://ironwil.net/blog/2009/10/13/security-is-a-journey-and-the-future/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:51:01 +0000 Iron Wil http://ironwil.net/blog/?p=1079 “I don’t do defense; I do security. When you talk defense, you talk containment and mutually assured destruction. When you talk security, you talk collaboration and networking. This is the future.” – Tom Barnett

Last year, I posted an article referencing Apple’s suggestion to use anti-virus software with the opening line stating “Security is a journey not a destination”.  When I came across an article on 1 Raindrop about the RSA conference last March.  I felt that this quote was a surgical statement, very precise and to the point.  I think it works to help a person find a more comprehensive definition of computer security.

So my revised statement is “Security is a journey, not a destination or a place of defense.  It is collaboration, networking, and the future.”

iron wil

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]]> http://ironwil.net/blog/2009/10/13/security-is-a-journey-and-the-future/feed/ 2 Apple suggests Users get Inoculated http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/12/03/apple-suggests-users-get-inoculated/ http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/12/03/apple-suggests-users-get-inoculated/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:19:44 +0000 Iron Wil http://ironwil.net/blog/?p=726 Security is a journey not a destination, so it comes as no surprise to me that Apple has officially recommended that users get and use an Anti-Virus program.  In a Knowledge Base article posted in June 2007, Apple recommended the use of a commercial AV Program.  I went to Apple’s support pages and found two additional encouragements to use AV software[Mac Maintenance Quick Assist and Mac OS X 10.5 Help].

Brian Krebs who writes for the Washington Post broke the story when he published this column.  It has caused a bit of a stir in the Mac Community with articles appearing on Ars Technica and TUAW.  While Brian has been running AV software for 2 years, I have been running ClamXav for about a year and a half.  The reason that I have been running AV software is because I have family members that use Windows and I didn’t want to send anything on to them.

So, I would recommend AV software to all computer users, even Linux users; because it is better to be safe than sorry.

I have recommendations for both PC & Mac users on the respective Picks Pages in the menu above.

iron wil

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]]> http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/12/03/apple-suggests-users-get-inoculated/feed/ 1 Windows Weekly [#79] NetCast http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/10/17/windows-weekly-79-netcast/ http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/10/17/windows-weekly-79-netcast/#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:41:55 +0000 Iron Wil http://ironwil.net/blog/?p=653 He’s A Biter

Hosts: Dick DeBartolo with Leo Laporte

Apple Tax, Windows 7, PDC 2008, Hyper-V, Aero, Norton UAC, and more.

  • Microsoft talks “Apple Tax”
  • Windows 7: What’s In a Name?
  • All-Star Bloggers at PDC 2008
  • Hyper-V Follow-Up

Tip of the week: Leave Aero on

Software of the week:

  • Norton UAC
  • Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 is outAudible pick of the week: 2008 presidential debates. For a free audiobook, visit Audible.com/windows.

    Check out Paul’s blog at http://www.internet-nexus.com and the SuperSite for Windows http://winsupersite.com for more information.

    get yours here.

    iron wil

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    ]]>     http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/10/17/windows-weekly-79-netcast/feed/ 0     A New Education for White Hats? http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/08/04/a-new-education-for-white-hats/ http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/08/04/a-new-education-for-white-hats/#comments Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:56:41 +0000 Iron Wil http://ironwil.net/blog/?p=539 George Ledin is teaching his students how to hack, crack, write malware and generally learn how to think and act like the enemy!

    Mr. Ledin is getting flack from McAfee and Symantec because of his work and the education he is providing to his students. One of Ledin’s students said, “You can’t really have a defense plan if you don’t know what the other guy’s offense is.” I have to agree.

    iron wil

    Notes:

    This Bug Man Is a Pest, Newsweek.

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    ]]>     http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/08/04/a-new-education-for-white-hats/feed/ 4     War is Coming! http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/07/26/war-is-coming/ http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/07/26/war-is-coming/#comments Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:25:30 +0000 Iron Wil http://ironwil.net/blog/?p=464 Dwight Silverman over at the Houston Chronicle posted a nice little story about malware moving to Macs. I have to admit that he makes a few good points. One point I disagree with is, “many of the people who are now using Macs are people who don’t learn from their mistakes”. 2 of the 3 switchers that I know are all well aware of malware in it’s many forms; and the 3rd probably will have her husband install any software she needs.

    I also know that this is 1 of 2 ‘wild’ malware programs on the net; while there are hundreds of thousands for Windows. Just based on the odds, OS X is in less danger than XP or Vista of getting hacked. Yes, it is true that as Apple market share grows so will the number of viruses, spyware, and trojans for OS X.

    With this in mind, we also need to remember that Apple has released it’s Leopard Security Guide and has announced that Snow Leopard will focus on increasing the security in OS X.

    No software is perfect, in fact, according to Steve Gibson from GRC.com and Security Now, “code wants to be wrong”.

    The War is coming to OS X, but we can be prepared and educated.

    iron wil

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    ]]>     http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/07/26/war-is-coming/feed/ 0     New Security Now [#147] NetCast http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/06/06/new-security-now-147/ http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/06/06/new-security-now-147/#comments Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:39:38 +0000 Iron Wil http://ironwil.net/blog/?p=408 Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer

    Hosts: Steve Gibson with Leo Laporte

    Two useful but lesser-known Microsoft security utilities.

    get yours here.

    iron wil

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    ]]>     http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/06/06/new-security-now-147/feed/ 0     New AVG Anti-Virus [Version 8] http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/05/14/new-avg-anti-virus-version-8/ http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/05/14/new-avg-anti-virus-version-8/#comments Thu, 15 May 2008 01:35:28 +0000 Iron Wil http://ironwil.net/blog/?p=392 AVG has released a new version of their free anti-virus client. This is a manual download and install. This will not come down the pipe with the usual updates. Once you download and run the install. it will uninstall the last version and install version 8.

    get it here.

    iron wil

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    ]]>     http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/05/14/new-avg-anti-virus-version-8/feed/ 0     New Security Now [#141] NetCast http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/04/25/new-security-now-141-netcast/ http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/04/25/new-security-now-141-netcast/#comments Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:57:59 +0000 Iron Wil http://ironwil.net/blog/?p=354 The RSA Conference

    Hosts: Steve Gibson with Leo Laporte

    ClamAV security flaw, ICQ vulnerability, Opera and more.

    For 16kpbs versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve’s site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.

    get yours here.

    iron wil

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    ]]>     http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/04/25/new-security-now-141-netcast/feed/ 0     Vista SP1 breaks Security Programs! http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/02/22/vista-sp1-breaks-security-programs/ http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/02/22/vista-sp1-breaks-security-programs/#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:46:04 +0000 Iron Wil http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/02/22/vista-sp1-breaks-security-programs/ Some of you are aware that Vista SP1 is coming.

    You may not know that it is breaking some programs [Zone Alarm Security Suite 7.1, Trend Micro Internet Security 2008, and BitDefender 10] and has severe problems with drivers. SP1 has been held back until mid-March with a second version of SP1 coming out later this year that will fix driver problems.

    iron wil

    Note: Original article found at InformationWeek, Windows Vista SP1 Blocks Antivirus Programs.

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    ]]>     http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/02/22/vista-sp1-breaks-security-programs/feed/ 0     New Windows Weekly NetCast [#48] http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/02/09/new-windows-weekly-netcast-48/ http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/02/09/new-windows-weekly-netcast-48/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:45:01 +0000 Iron Wil http://ironwil.net/blog/2008/02/09/new-windows-weekly-netcast-48/ Microsoft’s Cardboard Box

    Hosts: Paul Thurrott and Leo Laporte

    Topics:

    • Red Ring of Xbox
    • Vista SP1
    • Vista sales aren’t as bad as they sound
    • XP sales end June 30
    • Microsoft and Yahoo

    Audible Pick: Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

    Tip: Securing Vista, use the free AVG antivirus or the inexpensive but lightweight, NOD32, use gMail for spam filtering, don’t disable UAC!

    Paul’s Software of the Week: Amazon MP3 Downloads

    Leo’s Software of the Week: the free Lotus Symphony

    get your here.

    iron wil

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