PCinfospace

Why am I writing this article?  As you probably know (unless your under a rock) Digital TV is coming in February 17, 2009.  You do not need any special antenna if you have cable or satellite.  DO NOTHING!!! if you have either of these. The Companies that provide those services will give you what you need automatically.  In fact if you use a converter box on a TV that already has cable or satellite it will block the signal and will not work.  You can’t convert a signal that is already converted.

If you have antenna and or the old type TVs:
You will need a converter box.  BUT! here’s the big one in my opinion.  You may be able to cancel your cable or satellite service.  You will be able to get more channels than when you had your old analog signal.  You may not be able to get all of the channels you received with cable or satellite but I feel it’s no big deal.  You can either go to a bar or place they have cable and take advantage of that service.  From the money you save you can buy a lot of food, drinks or whatever. You may be able to even pay for gasoline or heat for my home.  If you purchase a new digital TV it will work without the converter box  IF it has a digital tuner.  Most if not all new digital TVs not have this tuner. So before popping for a converter box at least test it to see if it already can pick up the digital channels.  Be sure you test everything before canceling any services.

You can purchase digital antennas on the web.  Here is how you can find the antenna that is right for your area.  antennaweb.org .  Some local store may offer these antennas as well.

It also is better if you use the proper coax cable (75 ohm) for digital signals.  The old two strand cable or the old 50 ohm coax cable may give you less ability to get the number of stations available or the quality that digital can provide. It will most likely not work.  Most hardware stores have all the things you need to get going.  You can also search the web of course.

What about store bought antennas?
Here you pretty much get what you pay for.  If you buy rabbit ears (very popular with older TVs) you probably will not get good reception unless your really close to the transmission towers. You need to know about how far you are from the towers.  That’s because the type of antennas vary quite a bit.  Look for the range of the antenna on the box or ask a store clerk.  If you don’t know don’t buy it. There are wall mounted and tower mounted types also.  The thing to remember is that you MUST point these in about the direction of the signal in order to get the best reception.  Get the Multi-direction type. This will allow you to get a station that isn’t exactly in the direction that you are pointing it.  If you get a Uni-direction antenna it is extremely important what direction you point it.  You may have to try several angles in order to get the best range and quality of stations you can get.

All browsers are vulnerable to clickjacking
I will give you some information but there is quite a bit about this subject already on the Internet.

The latest Internet threat cloaks Web links so a wayward click can download malware to your PC without your knowledge.

What’s worse, all browsers and other Web software are susceptible to clickjacking, but you can take steps to reduce the risk.

Clickjacking allows an attacker to use one or more of several new attack scenarios to literally steal your mouse clicks. When you think you’re clicking on a simple button — for example, to see the next page of an article — you may actually be giving the bad guys permission to do something entirely different, such as log on to your online checking account.

By taking advantage of any of a growing number of recently discovered vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Safari, and all other Web browsers, criminals can hijack your system by intercepting clicks of what appears to be legitimate links.

The problem doesn’t stop there, however. At least some of the flaws that make clickjacking possible also show up in such popular Web tools as Adobe’s Flash player and Microsoft’s Silverlight streaming-media plug-in.

If somebody can control your clicks, they may be able to get a user to reconfigure the system so they disable security.

Disguised links lurk behind clickable buttons
In clickjacking, surreptitious buttons are “floated” behind the actual buttons that you see on a Web site. When you click the button, you’re not triggering the function that you expected. Instead, the click is routed to the bad guy’s substitute link.

Even users who watch their systems like a hawk can be victimized.

There’s really no way to know if what you’re looking at is real.

The range of browser vulnerabilities that make clickjacking possible include almost every Browser made.

This doesn’t mean there are no protections, however. In fact, one of the most important steps that users can take to protect themselves is to enable JavaScript only for approved sites.

Disabling JavaScript has serious drawbacks, because so much of the Web’s interactivity is driven by JavaScript apps.

Even browsing with JavaScript disabled will not protect against all possible avenues of attack.

Flash apps may activate webcams and mics
Besides browsers, the bad guys can also exploit Web programs such as Adobe’s Flash player.

For instance, one proof-of-concept demonstration shows that a hacker can use the Flash player to take over a PC’s webcam and microphone. Imagine the implications of stalkers eavesdropping on your laptop’s built-in camera and mic.

Clickjacking vulnerabilities don’t stop there; attacks may also be launched via iFrames by using cross-site scripting techniques.

To date, there have been no attacks in the wild, although with proof-of-concept code already out, it’s just a matter of time. (Contributing editor Mark Edwards also mentions Flash exploits in his column today.)

Can you stay safe in a clickjacking world?
Browser and plug-in vendors have joined watchdog organizations in describing what you can do to stay safe.

• Adobe: The Flash vendor has issued a patched version that will help keep you safe from Flash-based attacks. See the company’s download page. Previously, the company had posted a security advisory containing a workaround.  

• Mozilla Foundation: Install Giorgio Maone’s open-source NoScript plug-in to block execution of JavaScript except for sites you approve. NoScript is free, though the vendor requests a donation. The add-on lets Firefox users designate the sites on which scripts are allowed to run and blocks JavaScript on all other sites.  

• Microsoft: To date, the company has taken a noncommittal stance in regard to the clickjacking threat. Microsoft responds to questions by referring users to the company’s Security Support page.  

• U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT): The agency provides a document that describes how to protect IE, Firefox, Safari, and other browsers from a range of attacks.

Even taking all of the above precautions doesn’t guarantee that your system is 100% immune to the new threat. You’ll need to become more conservative in visiting untrustworthy sites until the applications you use are made more secure.

STAY AWAY FROM PORN SITES
These carry a wide array of malware and other dangers.

When in doubt, ask yourself whether your mom would approve of the site. However, even on sites where you could reasonably expect to be safe from such attacks, you can still be blindsided, so always think twice before you click.

First and foremost this does take some time and talent to do.

• You must have software that will record the music or video.
• You need to break down the tracks, edit them and mix and master them.
• You need the device necessary to transfer the sound to the PC. If you are converting LP’s to CD format you need a turntable with a good quality needle and transfer cable or outlets.
• You need a fairly decent sound card on your PC.
• You need to label disks as you get them done. Labeling can range from very cheap to very expensive.  You can use a felt tip pen, a label from a stomper kit, laser labeling machine or what ever method is in the price range you desire.

These are some quick guidelines. You may need to have a budget to handle buying the equipment to do this with.

I can write more about this subject if I see there is interest.

I have been asked what is meant by identity theft, who has to worry about it and how to prevent it.

What is identity theft?
This may seem like a dumb question but if you don’t know about it or your playing ignorant you could be subjecting yourself to big problems.  It is the attempt to gain information about you or somebody your associated with by any means possible.  This information, once obtained, may be used for any purpose desired by the person obtaining it. It is somebody’s attempt to become you.

How is this information obtained?
There are more ways than I can explain here.  I will give you as many as I can.
1. Your normal  mail box.   Somebody may take things from a mail box and get information they are looking for.  They may destroy the information after they’re done or may just return it so it doesn’t look suspicious.
2. Trash bins. This is very common.  Many cases of theft have been done through this method sometimes known as dumpster diving.
3. Bogus e-mails.  These are e-mail that are normally SPAM or junk mail.  Just by opening the e-mail it would signal the server that you are real.  Normally a Virus known as a Trojan Horse is used to distribute a spy-ware program to your computer.  It is written to withdraw the information needed to do the damage that it was designed to do.
4. On line credit card purchases.  Sites are hacked to obtain your credit card number.  The person that gets this information can then buy things using your number.
5. On line banking.  This is one of the biggest targets.  If access to your account can be made, money can be withdrawn from your account.  In the past entire accounts have been drained in this manner.

Prevention

•  This is a tough one.  Buy yourself a cross cut shredder.  Shred any junk mail you may get that has your name on it.  This is usually all your mail.  Be very sure that you destroy any check documents that you don’t plan to use or keep.  Anything with an account number could be a target.

•  To prevent e-mails from sending you a virus buy the best Anti-Virus program you can afford.  Also do not open e-mails if you don’t know were they came from.  Be sure to keep your Virus program activated and updated at all times.  DO NOT go without a Anti-Virus and spy-ware program.  Your only asking for problems.

•  As far as Credit cards are concerned, check every statement.  Be sure that you really made the purchase.  Report any problems to you credit card company “fast”.  Do not wait.  Then change you card number immediately.
• Bank accounts-the best way is to be sure you have a secure password.  Do not use real simple things like your birth date, pets name or your initials.  Do not use real simple numbers such as 1234.  Although this rule keeps changing, use at least one Capital letter, one number and a total of more than eight characters. I normally use at least two numbers and two capital letters but do whatever you think is secure.   The way I do it is make up something not associate with you. ( Example: I2tm9Hff ) Then either right it down or memorize it.  Do NOT put a sticky note by you computer with this password on.  Your idea is to keep others out of your account.  Do not get lazy or ignorant here.  That’s exactly what these crooks are looking for.  Don’t purposely make yourself a target.