Always use a rubber dude!

Everyone knows the serious security threats the internet brings. Whether it's having your credit card details phished or the MPAA/RIAA scanning your system for music you have “acquired”, it is incredibly important to make sure your system is secure/anonymous to the rest of world. Below are my tips to ensure you make it as hard as possible for unwanted guests to intrude your privacy.

Step 1: That version of windows is “soooo last week”

There are a variety of ways you can install windows updates…the easiest being to turn on Automatic Updates in Control Panel. Microsoft sucks when it comes to security, so make sure you have installed all the patches/updates and keep checking for new ones regularly.

Step 2: Get a Firewall

If you’re very paranoid like me, then get a hardware firewall router as well as a software firewall (like Norton). Even if you have windows firewall enabled, I recommend you “obtain” a 3^rd party application…I hear ZoneAlarm is a good alternative to Norton.

Step 3: Fire it up with FireFox

FireFox is faster, smarter and more secure then Internet Explorer will ever be. It’s free and only 4.7Mb…just GET IT!

Step 4: Cover your tracks

SwitchProxy is a FireFox extension that allows you to ‘switch’ between anonymous ‘proxy’ servers at a chosen interval. Anonymous proxy servers allow you to mask your true IP address giving you an added layer on anonymity. Use the proxy list here to load hundreds of anonymous proxy servers into SwitchProxy.

Step 5: Not Even Norton can protect you

Seen this t-shirt?? Well it is true to some extent. Firewalls will block any attempt to gain access your system, but they will not block bad IP ranges when downloading from P2P applications such as bit torrent or eMule/Donkey. This is where ProtoWall comes in use.
Installation is a bit tricky, but instructions can be found here (you need to register to the forum) and after installation, you will need this .
I cannot stress enough that you WILL need this application if you are planning to download anything from P2P networks. Even whilst writing this, I have had numerous “bad packets” being sent from Sony software research corp in Japan via bit torrent!!

Well…those five tips should keep you secure and anonymous for a while, but the key thing is to continually update everything. The last thing you want is a $2,000 fine for downloading a nursery rhyme

I’m planning to write an article in the next couple of days which will go through my own personal favorite file sharing methods, so stay tuned!

+nicks