QuickTips Index

Prepare Your PC for BitLocker
BitLocker is a great tool for encrypting and protecting data, particularly on notebook computers. However, BitLocker requires a specific hard drive configuration that most people won't have by default. The BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool automates the repartitioning process to get the computer ready for BitLocker encryption.

[SA10962] Apache Directory Traversal Vulnerability
Jeremy Bae has reported a vulnerability in Apache running on cygwin, allowing malicious people to view arbitrary files on a vulnerable system.

Don't Close That Pop-Up Window!
Pop-Up windows often appear to look like normal message windows. Users may feel that simply clicking "No" or "Close" or clicking on the "X" in the upper corner of the box are sufficient to make it go away. But, doing so may unwittingly download the very malware you are trying to avoid.

What is ASLR?
What is ASLR? This brief article will answer that question and explain the advantages of Address Space Layout Randomization

What Is UAC?
UAC is the most controversial and maligned feature of the Windows Vista operating system. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Learn what UAC is and what it isn't so you can understand why it works the way it works.

Quick Tip: Wireless Networking Equipment
Quick tip or brief overview of the equipment or hardware required to establish a wireless network

Quick Tip: Wireless Networking Protocols
Quick Tip covering wireless networking protocols such as bluetooth, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g and more

Quick Tip: Basics of Wireless Networking
A brief overview of the basics of wireless networking- the technology, terminology, protocols and equipment. This is provided as a beginning point before moving on to the concepts of securing wireless networks in the Free Wireless Network Security Class

Undo Malware With System Restore
If antivirus, firewalls, anti-spyware and other protective measures don't work, you can simply go back in time to a point before your computer had problems by using System Restore.

Disable AutoComplete Password Storage
The Internet Explorer AutoComplete feature can remember Web addresses you have typed and form information such as your address. It can also remember your username and password for various sites. This may seem convenient, but it is also a huge security concern. Anyone who sits down at your computer is able to access your personal sites and information. This Quick Tip will show you how to turn off the AutoComplete feature, or at least disable the storage of usernames and passwords

Remove Hidden Data
Microsoft Office retains a lot of data in the background hidden as metadata. The hidden data includes field comments, deleted data and other information which could be embarrassing or outright damaging if passed on to other people. This Quick Tip will show you how you can remove the hidden data from Microsoft Office files

Prepare Your Hard Drive For Disposal
Deleting data, or even formatting a hard drive before selling or disposing of it is not good enough. The data can still be recovered. This Quick Tip describes the steps you need to take before getting rid of a hard drive

Do Not Use Real Words
One of the main tips when creating passwords is to not use any real words, or close approximations of real words, because they are more easily guessed or cracked by password cracking tools.

Using Windows EFS (Encrypted File System)
Windows EFS (Encrypted File System) can help you add extra security and protection for your files to make sure that unauthorized users are unable to view or use them.

Use 'Run As' To Execute Programs As Administrator
Most security experts recommend that you log into your computer system as a regular user instead of Administrator. By using the 'Run As' option in Microsoft Windows, you can still execute programs with Administrator privileges even when you are logged in as a regular user.

What Is A BHO?
A frequently asked question (faq) explainin what a BHO (browser helper object) is and how they can be used to attack your computer system.

Spy Tip #1
If you want to secretly monitor or check up on what an employee or child, or even a spouse, is doing on their computer, you need to take some precautionary steps to make sure your actions are not discovered.

What Is A Bot?
An overview of what a "bot" or "zombie" is from the perspective of computer or network security

Configuring Unix / Linux File and Directory Access Rights
A brief overview of file and directory access rights in Unix and Linux operating systems and using the chmod command to alter or modify file and directory permissions.

Windows XP SP2 Firewall
The Windows XP SP2 firewall may not offer the best protection, but it offers better protection than no firewall at all and it is built-in to Windows XP systems. This tip will show you how to configure the Windows XP SP2 firewall.

Disable DHCP and Use Static IP Addresses To Protect Your Wireless Network
Most home routers, wireless or wired, provide some form of DHCP which automatically assigns IP addresses to devices as they connect. To reduce the possibility of an unauthorized party accessing your network, you can disable DHCP and manually assign static IP addresses to your devices

Disable SSID Broadcasting To Protect Your Wireless Network
Wireless network equipment generally has a beacon which broadcasts information, part of which usually includes the SSID, about the wireless network every few milliseconds. Disable the SSID broadcast so that random wireless devices won't have it announced to them.

Filter MAC Addresses To Secure Your Wireless Network
One way to protect your wireless network is to establish MAC address filtering. By only allowing the devices with the MAC addresses you identify to connect to your network you greatly reduce the ability for an attacker to gain unauthorized access.

Enable WEP or WPA Encryption To Protect Your Wireless Network
It is great to be able to transmit data back and forth from your wireless device to your wireless router or access point, but what if someone else intercepts those airwaves as well? You can protect your wireless data by enabling encryption.

Change Your Wireless Router or Access Point Default SSID
One of the pieces of information necessary for connecting to a wireless network is to know the network name, or SSID (service set identifier), of the wireless network. Changing it to something other than the default can help secure your wireless network.