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Your online banking password acts like a key; it opens your account when you need money, and it locks your account while you are away. Keeping your password safe is the easiest way to protect your life savings. Yet cyber criminals are keeping up with technology. Every day sees the launch of a new virus or worm capable of stealing private information from your computer - information like your banking passwords. A key alone cannot protect your bank account. You need a whole arsenal of weapons - from anti-virus software to personal firewalls - to foil a hacker.

Protect Your Password

The ideal password is a combination of letters and numbers that is at least six characters long. Avoid using your birthday or address as your password; you want a word that is hard to guess. Internet security experts recommend committing your passwords to memory, but remembering dozens of different words can be difficult. If you need a written reminder of your passwords, keep it in a safe location away from your computer. Never save your passwords in a file on your computer. A thief can hack into the files and steal your online banking password - and your entire savings account along with it.

Beware the Email

No bank or financial organization would ever ask for your credit card number or account password in an email. Yet messages from your bank clog up your inbox, each asking you to confirm your account information by clicking on a link. These emails are part of a massive phishing scheme, a process where cyber criminals disguise themselves as trustworthy banks in an attempt to steal your personal information. If you think you can spot the difference between a fraudulent email and a genuine one, think again - these phishing emails come complete with your bank’s logo at the top and a copyright logo at the bottom. Avoid being caught in a phishing scheme; never send out personal information through email. And never use a link in one of these emails - it leads to a fraudulent website. Instead, type your bank’s complete web address into the address bar of your browser. The next time you see one of these emails in your inbox, forward it to your bank. Your bank’s IT department can trace the source of the emails, giving law enforcement the ammunition it needs to stop phishing schemes.

Good Computing Practices

Your computer might use software that records passwords. To check, visit a website that has a log-in box and type in your username. If your computer automatically enters your password into the log-in box, then this feature is enabled. Anyone who uses your computer can access your bank account - a dangerous situation if your laptop is ever stolen. Disabling this feature will help protect your banking information. In addition, avoid using public computers; you have no way of knowing what viruses or Spyware programs may be running undetected on these systems. And before you download a program or sign up for an online service, carefully read through the service agreement. Hidden in the dry legal language may be a provision that allows for a third party to access your computer.

Use Anti-Virus Software

Computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses can delete your files, erase your hard drive’s contents, or capture your keystrokes. In short, the information stored on your computer may not be as private as you think. Once a week, run a virus and a Spyware check. Make sure that your anti-virus software’s definitions are up-to-date. Stop viruses and Spyware programs at the source; never open an email if you don’t recognize the address, and never download content if you don’t trust the source.

Protect Your Internet Connection

A computer connected to a cable modem or a digital subscriber line (DSL) never has to dial into the Internet; it is always online. Unfortunately, a permanently connected computer is an easy target for hackers. Try unplugging your computer when its not in use; you’ll save on energy costs while keeping your passwords and banking information safe. If you can’t pull the plug on your computer, consider disabling your computer’s file sharing software. For specific instructions, visit the Help section in your Internet browser. A personal firewall helps prevent unauthorized access to your computer; install one along with your anti-virus software. And be sure to download Microsoft’s and Apple’s regular security updates. Errors in an operating system can leave your computer susceptible to viruses and worms; these downloads help correct the errors in the programs.

Encryption

Anyone with a wireless connection should ensure their computer uses encryption; a hacker cannot access your information if the data transferred between your computer and the wireless router is encrypted. Remember to change the default password of your wireless router. These easy-to-guess default passwords leave your system vulnerable to unauthorized access. While you’re changing the password, pick a unique name for your wireless network. This name, also known as the Service Set Identifier (or SSID), should be hard to guess - refrain from using your last name or your address. Also, be sure to switch off SSID broadcasting. Your network will be hidden from outside users, and unless a hacker can guess the name of your network, your system - and your banking passwords - will be safe.

What to do if …

Just as no home is safe from burglars, no bank account is impervious to hackers. A cyber criminal may one day gain access to your personal banking information. Keep a close watch on your banking and credit card statements. If you see a discrepancy, notify your bank immediately. With a vigilant eye, a clever password, and a protected computer, you can keep your money out of a cyber criminal’s reach.

My guess is that you’re right and that your son did accidentally press something that is causing the problem - kids and buttons, they’re hard to resist. I’m thinking that the problem is in your security settings somewhere, so let’s start with the most likely cause and work our way down.

Turn Off Internal Firewall

Online gaming sites are notorious for causing problems and are usually scanned very carefully with both internal security and third-party security software. If you have a third-party security suite - and if you don’t, you should - it can cause a conflict with internal Windows security that comes with your operating system. In general, we recommend turning Windows Firewall off, and letting your third party firewall run - running two firewalls at one time is practically guaranteed to cause problems. To do this, you’re going to have to know what version of Windows Service Pack you’re running. If you don’t know, go to Start and then Run. At the prompt, type in: sysdm.cpl and then click Ok. This will bring up lines of text on your screen - the last line under System will tell you what Service Pack you have.

Once you know what version you’re running, you can turn off the internal firewall. These directions are only for those with Service Pack 2 and 3 - if you have another version, you can go to the Microsoft website and find directions that will work for your system. Go to Start and then Run. In the dialog box, type in: Firewall.cpl and click Ok. Find the General tab and click Off. Then click Ok to exit out. Once that is turned off, you can try to access the games once again. As a test, you can TEMPORARILY turn off your third party firewall if you’re still having trouble, but I don’t advocate turning your third-party firewall off for any length of time.

Check Security Settings

If your firewall isn’t the culprit, check the security settings on your machine. If your security settings are too high, it will block access to sites like gaming sites. There will usually be an icon for your security software on the taskbar - click on that and it should be easy for you to find where to adjust your security.

I think that adjusting your security will do the trick. If you need any additional help, let us know.

There are several ways to get into a computer that is locked by a password - one requires a little more work, but it’s free while the others are easy but will cost a little bit of money.

Windows XP Security Hole

If you are using Windows XP and you have the CD, you can use a built-in security hole that will let you reset the password. Follow these steps exactly and pay attention to step number 7:

1. Put the Windows XP CD in the disk drive and make sure the computer is set to boot from CD first. If not, you may have to change the boot order in the BIOS.
2. When you see the Welcome screen, press Enter.
3. Accept the licensing agreement by pressing F8.
4. Select the XP installation you need (there will probably only be one) and press R to being the repair process.
5. Now you let it run. If your computer asks you to press a key to reboot from CD, don’t press one. Let it reboot on its own.
6. You will see a highlighted message that the system is installing Windows.
7. Now you need to watch the lower left hand corner of the screen carefully - you will see “Installing Devices” - immediately press Shift+F10. This is the security hole.
8. You will see a command console open. When you see the prompt, type in: NUSRMGR.CPL and press Enter.
9. You should now have access to the User Accounts on the control panel. You can get in here and change any passwords that you need to.
10. If you don’t want a password on this machine, type in: control userpasswword2 at the prompt and you won’t be asked for one when you log in.
11. Exit out of the command box and let the repair continue to run.
12. To complete the repair you will need to enter the product key that came with the CD. You should then be able to log in using the new password you created (or using none at all if that’s how you set it up). All the data and programs will remain intact.

However, since you need to check his e-mail, if his e-mail account is password protected, you may need to crack that software as well.

Password Reset Software

If you don’t have the Windows CD or you don’t want to go to the trouble of doing the repair, there are many downloadable options for cracking a password. Most of these will either recover an encrypted password or remove it from the system entirely so that you can start fresh. There are so many of these on the web these days it is hard to recommend one, but two to try are Office Password Recovery Software (for recovering passwords for Microsoft Office products like Excel, Outlook, and Word) and Password Changer .

These tools should let you access a company computer. Please let us know if you need any further help.

What Does Windows Firewall Do?

First, let’s talk about what Windows Firewall is designed to do. It is intended to protect you from computer worms that are sent over a network. It is also intended to hide your computer from outside users and to prevent them from gaining unauthorized access to your computer and its contents. Therefore, if you do not have Windows Firewall enabled and you do not have another firewall of some type on your computer, then it is not protected.

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall: Possible Reasons behind the Problem

A number of different scenarios could lead to the turning off of your Windows Firewall. In particular, since it is such a superior application, the presence of Norton Antivirus is known to turn off Windows Firewall. As long as you have that application installed, then you will continue to experience this message. In this case, it’s okay as the firewall found in Norton is providing the protection that you need.  

Other applications that include a firewall of their own can also cause this to happen. This includes the following: Zone Alarm, Norton Internet Security, and Comodo Firewall.

Basic incompatibility between applications will make one or both of them fail to function properly. If you recently installed a new computer security application, this could be creating the problem.

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall: Leaving it Disabled

If you have another firewall on the computer that can protect you from viruses, worms, hackers, and Trojans, then you could allow Windows Firewall to remain off. Alternatively, you could decide to continue using Windows Firewall and uninstall the other firewall.

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall: Scan for Malware

Scan your computer now to see if it has been infected with a virus, Trojan, or other form of malware. If it has, this infection could create this type of problem. If you don’t have a reliable anti-virus application, I can recommend that you try Anti-VirusPLUS. Once you remove the infection, this problem should go away.

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall: Additional Tips

• Uninstall any recent hardware additions and reboot the computer.
• Uninstall any recent software additions and reboot the computer.
• Complete a “System Restore” with a date that occurred before this problem began.

How to Turn on Windows Firewall

To enable Windows Firewall, you can follow these directions:

• Select “Start.”
• Select “Run.”
• Type “Firewall.cpl” and select “OK.”
• Select “On (recommended)” under the “General” tab.
• Select “OK.”

If none of the above information helps to resolve the problem for you, please submit the entire error message that you are receiving.

What is Security Center?

Windows Security Center is a tool that is located in the Control Panel of your computer, usually with an icon also located in the computer’s system tray (near the clock). Within the Security Center, you will find links to various security-related tools as well as notifications that provide you with a snapshot of your computer’s security settings.

Security Center Tools

In the left side pane of Windows Vista Security Center you will find links to: Windows Update, Windows Firewall, Windows Defender, Internet Options, “Get latest security and virus information from Windows online,” and “Change the way Security Center alerts me.” Clicking on any of these links, launches the corresponding tool. For example if you want to run a spyware scan on your computer, launching the Security Center and then clicking the Windows Defender link is one way to accomplish this.

In the middle section you will see four security categories: Firewall, Automatic Updating, Malware Protection, and Other Security Settings. Each category is color coded and is expandable. If the category is green, then the security settings are at acceptable levels. A red category needs attention.

Compatibility with Verizon’s Security Suite

As long as Verizon Security Suite is compatible with your version of Windows, you shouldn’t have any problems with Security Center and your 3^rd party computer security software. Security Center is simply a collection of Windows components and alerts, not a standalone software application. It makes it easy for users to access the security-related tools.

Fake Security Center

However, before you get too comfortable with Security Center, be aware that malware developers and advertisers have created popup windows that look extremely similar to Security Center. The difference is that these windows contain so-called security alerts that prompt you to download and install a specific product. If a Security Center alert suddenly popups on your computer, be safe by going into the Control Panel and launching the real Security Center to make sure that you are looking at the real thing and not malware or an advertisement.

Windows Security Alerts

What you are seeing is a “Windows Security Alert” in your system tray area. It looks like a red shield with an “X” in it, correct? If you double-click the shield, the Windows Security Center window will open and you’ll be able to see the security recommendations that Microsoft suggests. Just having one security setting, such as the firewall, turned off will trigger this alert.

For example, many users find User Account Control annoying. User Account Control in Windows Vista is that nagging box that appears every time you want to make a change to your system. While it serves a purpose, it is a bit irritating to have to confirm every little change you make. If you have turned off User Account Control, you will see the red shield and Windows Security Alert warning in the system tray.

Likewise, if your firewall is turned off, you’ll be alerted. Clicking the alert is smart so that you can find out what’s going on with your system and make the necessary corrections.

If all looks good, buy you have User Account Control turned off, the red shield will continue to warn you unless you change the way Windows Security Center alerts you.

Fake Windows Security Alerts

Before I show you how to make the icon go away, I want to mention that fake Windows Security Alerts do exist. These imposters look remarkably like the real thing, only they prompt you to “upgrade” or “install” a particular product. Let’s make sure that you are seeing the real Windows Security Center in action. Does the alert prompt you to upgrade or purchase a specific product (which may sound remarkably similar to well known products)?  Or is the advice more general and geared toward your legitimate software or operating system utilities? One way to be sure is to go into the Control Panel and launching the Security Center directly from there.

Changing how Windows Security Center Alerts You

Once you’re sure that you don’t have an imposter and that the settings are just fine, if you want to get rid of the red shield, you can. For example, if you have User Account Control turned off and don’t want to see the warnings, you can change the way Security Center alerts you. Double-click the red shield icon and then choose the link that says, “Change the way Security Center alerts me.” You have three choices:

• Yes, notify me and display the icon
• Don’t notify me but display the icon
• Don’t notify me and don’t display the icon

Related Articles:

Fake Windows Security Alerts

There are several ways to block certain sites or certain types of content from the users of a public computer. I’m not sure if you’re concerned about viruses and spyware, or if you are simply concerned about content issues, but these answers should address both.

Firewalls

In any case, you should have and run a good antivirus program. Many programs such as Norton Internet Security or Zone Alarm have security built in. These firewalls are built in to the programs that monitor and restrict information to certain websites. Check with the manufacturers of your specific system to see what controls you have.

Windows Controls

The easiest thing to use is the controls that come with your Windows system. The first thing you need to do is get the latest Internet Explorer version. Click on the link to download Internet Explorer 7.0. Once you have that installed, open IE. Go to Tools and then Internet Options. Choose Content and then Enable. Here, you can select filter settings for broad categories such as Nudity, Language, Violence and Sex. The further to the right you slide the control, the more restricted the system becomes.

Then click on the Approved Sites tab. Here, you can enter website addresses that you either want to always allow access to or that you always want to restrict. This is where you would type in the web address for MySpace, or any site that you didn’t want the users to be able to access. Choosing websites for this tab will override the controls you set above. For example, if you enter an approved site that does contain offensive language, you will be able to access that site because it has been approved.

To prevent other users from changing these settings, you need to go to the General tab and click on Create Password. This will give you control over the settings, as long as you keep the password to yourself. Click Ok and exit.

The major issue with this method of control is that it only works with Internet Explorer. If another user installs a different browser such as Firefox, these controls won’t apply. If you want to prevent the installation of a different program, you will need to create a different User ID and Password and have all of the roommates log in using this password. Once you set it with limited powers, they won’t be able to change or install new programs like Firefox.

If you want to use a different browser, you might want to look into a downloaded program that will give you similar controls. There are many downloads out there - two good ones to try are K9 Web Protection and CyberPatrol. These will give you similar control options.

You might also consider using the built-in Parental Controls found in Windows Vista. While designed for parents restricting their childrens’ Internet usage, it can also be used in your situation to limit access to social networking and adult sites. In addition, you can set it up to prevent users from downloading suspicious downloads along with numerous other settings.

Switching from Zone Alarm to another firewall might not actually provide you with an improvement in Internet browsing or game playing. In fact, if in general you are happy with Zone Alarm, I would stick with it as the differences are probably going to be less favorable than you would want. From most of the reviews that I have read, Zone Alarm is the preferred option among gamers.

Some of what you are experiencing might be related to the latest update for Zone Alarm. It is possible that this will get tweaked and fixed sooner rather than later. Alternatively, it could be related to traffic conditions with online games or heavy demand for Internet bandwidth. However, alternatives to Zone Alarm do exist and I will provide some pertinent details on some of them below, although I cannot vouch for any of them since I haven’t used them personally.

Alternative to Zone Alarm: Comodo Internet Security Suite

Comodo Internet Security Suite offers exceptional protection against hackers, viruses, Trojans, and other forms of malware. This application offers firewall protection and anti-virus software. Additionally, it provides protection when using the Internet at hotels, airports, coffee shops, and more through its “TrustConnect^TM“. Plus, this application also offers protection for your critical operating system files, registry and more through its “Proactive Security” feature.

You can check it out for yourself at this link: Comodo Internet Security Suite. This is a free application if you download Comodo Internet Security, but if you get Comodo Internet Security Pro, the download only offers a free 30-day trial.

Alternative to Zone Alarm: Jetico Personal Firewall

Jetico Personal Firewall is another application that offers protection for your computer while gaming or browsing the Internet. It is available in a free version as well as a paid version. You can access the download for the free version at the following link: Jetico Personal Firewall v.1. This application offers a flexible firewall for computers using the following Windows operating systems: Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

While every computer user understands the importance of keeping his or her PC secure, many people are simply unsure about the best ways to keep the bad guys out of their systems.

Fortunately there are some simple steps computer users can take to keep their PCs safe from harm.  If you want to stay safe while online you should:

• 1) Always make sure your virus scanning software is up and running, and up to date. Be sure to check the system tray icon to make sure that your virus scanner is running. It is also a good idea to review your virus scanning logs at least once per week.
• 2) Install anti-spyware and anti-adware software and keep it up to date. Spyware and adware can be used to track your movements on the internet and even install malicious programs on your PC.
• 3) Never click on links in emails from unknown sources. If you receive a suspect email just delete it. Even if the email appears to be legitimate it is a good idea to avoid clicking any links. Instead type the web address directly into your browser.
• 4) Do not download programs from suspect sources. These programs can have embedded code that can damage your PC or even record all your keystrokes to steal your passwords.
• 5) Make your passwords complicated and difficult to guess. Do not use the names of your children, your pets or other easily obtainable information. And try to use a combination of capital letters, lower case letters and special characters in your passwords. This will help foil many password guessing programs.