Today’s online culture of banking, blogging, social networking and shopping makes it easier than ever for those with nefarious intentions to steal your personal information. Social Security numbers, credit cards and online passwords are all at risk if you don’t keep your personal information secure both online and off. While there is no way to make identity theft a non-issue, there are a number of things that you can do to help ensure that your data is as secure as it possibly can be. Here are 100 places to start researching how to keep your information away from prying eyes.

Articles

Take a moment to read these articles to get some background on identity theft and loss of personal information and learn some ways to prevent it.

1. Shredding Can Save You From Identity Theft: This article from Yahoo takes you through why you should shred instead of just tossing out documents as well as a list of documents that should always be destroyed.
2. Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number: This goverment released article helps you to learn just why you should keep your Social Security number private.
3. Identity Theft Exposed: This article from the AARP talks about the effect identity theft can have on the lives of the victims and the uphill battle it is to get good credit back afterwards.
4. 10 Things Everyone Should Know About Bank Errors: Whether money is accidentally put in your account or taken out, this article can help you know what to do so your finanances and those of others remain secure.
5. Major Banks, Telcos Top Identity Theft Chart: This article shows that your information may not be as safe as you think, even with a corporation you think you can trust.
6. Mitigating Identity Theft: Schneier on Security’s Bruce Schneier dicusses the issues surrounding the increasingly common phenomenon of indentity theft and gives his opinion on the politics and technology that will grow to protect consumers.
7. Credit Card Fraud Keeps Growing on the Net: While most sites are perfectly secure, there are many that aren’t and are out there to steal your information. This article dicusses the growth of credit card theft on the net and the processes by which theives get your information.
8. 5 Disposable Web Accounts to Keep Your Identity Safe: One way you can help protect your identity is by not maintaining the same information to steal from transaction to transaction. This article gives disposable alternatives, from email to phone numbers.
9. Consumers Afraid of Identity Theft Have a New Weapon– A Credit Freeze: Read about a new way you can help protect your credit if you feel you might be at risk for identity theft with this article from The Business Shrink.
10. Your SS Number is Just a Click Away: Here you can read about just how easy it can be for identity theives to get access to your Social Security number and what you can do to fight it.
11. Debit Card Thieves Get Around PIN Obstacle: You might think your PIN makes your debit card safe even if it gets stolen, but that’s hardly the case, as this article points out.
12. 10 Extremely Useful Websites to Stop Big Brother From Snooping on You: Whether it’s the government or someone out to get your information, most people don’t want anyone spying on what they’re doing, no matter how innocuous. This article gives you 10 different sites you can try out to help minimize this risk.
13. What to Do When They Ask for Your Social Security Number: From time to time there are going to be businesses and places that you work with that will ask for your Social Security number. This article can help you learn how to handle this so your personal information stays private and secure.

Blogs

These bloggers share their opinions and concerns about maintaining personal privacy and keeping identity theives at bay.

14. The Privacy Blog: This blog is dedicated to addressing current issues in privacy and security. Written by Lance Cottrell, it covers topics like free speech, online privacy, identity theft and email security to help educate readers on topics they should be aware of.
15. Protect Personal and Financial Privacy: The name says it all, this blog is all about the issues that surround keeping your identity safe, your data secure and your financial and medical information private.
16. The Politics of Privacy Blog: There are many issues that surround the protection of personal data as well as an individual’s right to keep this kind of data only to themselves. This blog written by political science professor Andreas Busch discusses these issues and how they are dealt with in public policy.
17. Privacy and Security Law Blog: Want to know what your legal rights are about personal privacy and what laws govern the security of your information? This blog addresses these issues and more, helping you protect your rights and your information.
18. Ephemeral Law: This blog also addresses some of the legal issues that surround privacy and data security. Read posts about the costs of data exposure and protecting consumer privacy as well as on many other topics.
19. The Dunning Letter: Written by former junk mailer Jack Dunning, in this blog you’ll find information and opinions on how you can protect your most precious possession: your personal information. Dunning is now an advocate for name and data protection and can provide useful tips on how to keep your name off of junk mail lists.
20. ID Theft Secrets Blog: This blog is dedicated to helping consumers find the resources and information they need to protect their credit card and personal data from becoming prey to identity fraudsters. Readers will get tips on simple things they can do to avoid becoming victims.
21. Fight Identity Theft Blog: Here readers will find ways they can actively work to stop identity theft and protect themselves from those with ill intentions. The blog also posts on the latest news, technology and scams to watch out for.
22. Privacy and Identity Theft Blog: Written by Dave Jevans, this blog posts the latest in information and identity theft. Stories of what happened to others can help you ensure that the same things don’t happen to you.
23. Anti-Phishing Blog: This blog acts as a resource for Internet users. It lists recent phishing scams so that if you’re presented with them you’ll know what to look out for and what not to fall for.
24. Mark Nestman: Preserving Your Privacy and More: As the name suggests, this blog focuses on ways that individuals can protect their privacy. Posts on keeping your encrypted data safe and and protecting yourself from identity theft are interspersed with the latest news in privacy politics and law.
25. Digital Soapbox: For those interested in learning more about keeping their computers and online transactions secure, this blog can help provide some insight. Posts give the blogger’s personal feeling and opinions on security, risk and data protection.

Resources

If you’ve been a victim of identity theft or just want to make sure you never are, these resources can be a big help.

26. Identity Theft Awareness: This site, maintained by fraud and security expert Henry Bagdasarian, gives visitors loads of information on how they can keep their data safe and secure. The site contains articles on credit card fraud, laws, theft prevention, travel security and workplace security, making it an invaluable resource.
27. Identity Theft Resource Center: This nonprofit organization has set up this site to help consumers who have had their identity stolen get back on their feet and to help those who want to prevent theft to better do so. Visitors to the site will find consumer and victim resources as well as a variety of business solutions.
28. Call for Action: This international group provides consumers and individuals with a place where they can fight back against identity theft and stolen or sold personal information. The site provides resources on filing a complaint about identity theft as well as how to prevent phishing and other online scams.
29. Consumer Privacy Guide: Few people realize that the things they do every day may be putting their privacy at risk. This site provides consumers with the resources and information they need to make informed choices about shopping online and things they can do to ensure their privacy and protection.
30. Privacy Journal: Published by Robert Ellis, this site is one of the oldest publications around that has to do with privacy. Since the 1970s, the journal has been publishing articles on what individuals can to do help keep their personal information private.
31. Home Computer Security: For many who don’t know a ton about computers, keeping a desktop or laptop secure can be a confusing and sometimes overwhelming problem. This site can help address everything you need to help make sure your computer-based information stays visible only to your eyes.
32. National Do Not Call Registry: Many people have their identities stolen through phone solicitations that trick them into giving away their personal information. You can help prevent this by putting your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. It will block solicitors from calling you greatly reducing your chances of getting scammed.
33. OptOutPrescreen: Those pesky credit card offers you recieve in the mail are not only annoying and wasteful, but they’re also a potential goldmine for someone that wants to steal your identity. Sign up with this site to stop these kind of advertisements from coming to your home and putting your security at risk.
34. Annual Credit Report: By law, you are entitled to recieve one credit report each year. Doing so can not only be a good way to keep an eye on your credit but it can also alert you to any potential indentity theft issues as well. Suspicious activitiy will be easier to spot and take care of with the reports and you can immediately notify the credit bureaus to the fraud.
35. Federal Trade Commission: If your idenitity is stolen, you’ll not only have quite a mess on your hands, but you’ll also need to contact the Federal Trade Commission to help start rectifying the situtation and making sure that the thief is caught in the act.
36. How Identity Theft Works: Ever wonder how thieves actually make use of the information they steal? This article from Howstuffworks will take you through each type of theft to help you better understand and combat it.
37. Identity Theft is a Crime: Resources from the Government: The US government gives those who want to prevent theft of their personal information as well as those who already have been victimized a listing of resources to help them out.

Applications

Take charge of your personal security and privacy with these applications that keep nosy hackers and phishers at bay.

38. CenturionMail: CenturionMail is a powerful but easy-to-use security program. It works to encrpyt both emails and files on a system to ensure that they remain hidden from prying eyes.
39. Mail2Web: This program allows users to read their emails from any computer in the world or on their cellphone securely and privately, giving them remote access as well as the security of knowing their information is protected.
40. BrowserSpy: This program gives users detailed information about what their browser reveals about them, plus it lets users know just what programs and utlities are installed in their browsers so they can determine if they’re truly secure.
41. Tor: Tor helps stop traffic analysis, a form of network surveillance. The program prevents somebody watching your Internet connection from learning what sites you visit or from anyone knowing your physical location. It can help you surf and chat with others in a more private manner.
42. Camera/Shy: This program can make it easy to hide private information right in plain sight. It offers encryption and decryption of steganography, automatic cache and history clearing, and protection against malicious HTML.
43. SmasheR: Pop-ups can be an annoying feature of browsing the Web and can sometimes result in you clicking on things that might do harm to your computer. SmasheR helps to stop these pop-ups, plus it provides mointoring of 3rd party activity, PC cleaning, and cookie removal.
44. Skype: Chances are good that if you know much about technology you have heard about Skype. This popular VoIP service not only provides low cost calls to anywhere in the world, but the calls are also encrypted, helping add an additional layer of security to confidential discussions.
45. SpeakFreely: SpeakFreely is an entirely free VoIP phone that allows users to securely speak to one another over the web. The program is fully encrypted, making it difficult for prying outside ears to eavesdrop on private conversations.
46. Private Eye: With this program, you can spy on your own computer. It allows users to see the information stored by your browser incuding when you auto-complete forms in the Protected Storage area of your computer. If there is information that you’d rather not have stored on your computer or anywhere else, you can simply remove it.
47. Encryptionizer: This Windows based progam has been used in banks and hospitals all over the world and can help keep everything from a whole database to a simple DVD of information more secure through careful encryption.
48. Icon Lock-It: If you’re prone to forgetting to lock your computer before you leave it unattended or just want a little extra privacy on a shared computer you can try out this program. It allows users to create passwords for files, icons, and folders on your computer, keeping personal data extra secure.
49. SecuriChat: If you need to chat about personal or private topics or just want a little extra security when chatting with your friends and family, you can try out this online messenger. It’s triple layered and requires that both parties have access to an encrypted passcode before initating the chat.
50. AbsoluteShield File Shredder: Many people may not know, but when you add items to your recycle bin they may not really be getting erased from your computer. This program takes care of that and makes sure that any personal information you wanted taken off your computer gets destroyed completely.
51. VauletSuite: This multi-platform suite can provide a comprehensive way to secure all the information on your computer and what is going in and coming out. It comes with secure and spam-free email as well as password storage and file encryption.
52. Anti-Keylog: In these days of spyware, anyone can be watching your computer and you may not even be aware of it. You can help protect yourself, however, with a program like Anti-Keylog. It can help prevent spyware from stealing important personal information like credit card numbers and passwords from programs you might not even know are watching.

Organizations

There are many groups out there that specialize in helping consumers maintain their personal privacy and recover from identity theft. Here are a few you can check out.

53. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: This nonprofit organization works to help educate citizens about their privacy rights and how they can protect sensitive information about their finances, medical history and personal identity when they’re online or off. Visitors to the site will find a large collection of helpful resources.
54. Electronic Privacy Information Center: The Internet leaves even the most conscientious privacy protectors at risk of having personal information stolen. After all, the best security can’t keep out hackers that truly want to get your information. This organization can help you learn how to keep your information safe while still protecting your right to free speech and speedy information exchange.
55. Electronic Frontier Foundation: The EFF is a civil liberties union that works to protect the rights of citizens in the digital world. These include issues of free speech, privacy, innovation, and consumer rights, all of which can have a big impact on your day-to-day online activities.
56. Privacy International: Privacy International is a watchdog group that aims to protect the privacy and information of individuals from both the government and corporations who might infringe on personal privacy rights. Here you’ll find information on everything from data protection to financial surveillance.
57. Anti-Phishing Working Group: The Anti-Phishing Working Group is a global law enforcement association focused on eliminating fraud and identity theft that results from phishing, pharming and email spoofing. You will find information on what scams to watch out for as well as resources to report any suspicious email you might receive.
58. CCGuard: This organization is dedicated to educating consumers on how to protect their credit card information both in the online environment and off. It offers articles on dealing with identity theft, how you can protect your identity when online shopping and what to do if you give your credit card number to a scammer on accident.
59. Privacy Foundation: This organization deals with issues of consumer and citizen privacy as well as homeland security and medical and identity theft. Visitors to the site will be able to get helpful information and resources on these topics as well as many others.
60. ScamBusters: This organization can give you a heads up on what scams to look out for as well as useful articles on what you can do to help prevent getting scammed.
61. Identity Theft Awareness Group: Get facts and resources on identity theft from this prevention-oriented group.
62. Privacy.org: Get the latest information on privacy issues and news from this organization. Visitors to the site will also find a variety of resources and tools as well.
63. Identity Theft 911: This organization provides a leadership role for America’s businesses, but it can also provide news and resources on personal issues in identity theft.
64. Fraud Resource Group: Fight fraud with information and resources distributed by this group.
65. RipOffReport: Keep your personal information out of the hands of scammers and rip-off artists. This site lists known scams and frauds to help save you loads of time and money.

Tips

These sites give some simple tips for protecting your information.

66. Top Ten Ways to Protect Your Privacy Online: These ten tips show how easy it is to both get suckered in by phishers and also to prevent indentity theft. By implementing tips like not using 3rd party information sharing, you can help keep your private information private.
67. What to Consider When Buying a Paper Shredder: Shredding documents is a must for keeping information safe, but how can you know what shredder will work best for your needs? This article discusses what you need to determine before making your shredder purchase.
68. 6 Tips to Avoid Scams: Scam artists are everywhere these days. These tips can give you some simple help in avoiding these potential harmful people and keeping your money and information secure.
69. Tips for Tackling Check Fraud: Many people each year fall victim to check fraud schemes. Here you’ll find some tips that can help keep you from joining these ever-expanding ranks.
70. Consumer Fraud Prevention Tips: You can make purchases with a little more confidence if you know what to watch out for. These tips will help you to avoid getting scammed when you shop just about anywhere.
71. 5 Identity Theft Tips for the Holiday Season: With so much going on around holiday time, identity theft can be the last thing on your mind, but you’re at just as much of a risk as any other time of the year. From watching your wallet on a shopping excursion to watching your credit card statements, these tips can help make a hassle free holiday.
72. Top 10 Indentity Theft Tips for 2008: This up-to-the-minute guide can help you to minimize your risk of identity theft.
73. Privacy: Tips for Protecting Your Personal Information: The FTC put out these tips to help consumers and citizens keep an eye on all their personal information so that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
74. 12 Tips to Protect Personal Information During Tax Season: Doing your taxes often involves sending large amounts of personal information on the Web or in the mail. You can help keep this information safe by following the advice in these 12 tips.
75. Tips for Protecting Yourself When Shopping Online: Online shopping can be a convenient way to get things cheaper and faster without the hassle of waiting in lines and driving to the store. These tips can give you some steps in the right direction for making these shopping options more secure.
76. Phishing Scams! Top 5 Tips to Protect Yourself: Phishing is a growing problem in email and all over the Web. You can avoid falling victim with these tips.
77. Tips for Securing Private Information: Keep your private information private with these computer security tips.

Guides

Everyone needs a little guidance now and then and you can get some from these helpful how tos and guides on privacy protection.

78. Your 5-Minute Guide to Protecting Your Identity: Don’t think you have time to implement increased security measures? This article explains how you can up your awareness of scams in just a few minutes and keep thieves from stealing your information.
79. Online Brokerage Accounts: What You Can Do to Safeguard Your Money and Your Personal Information: This article from the US Securities and Exchange Comission addresses how you can enjoy the ease and profitability of trading online without falling victim to identity theft.
80. Your Guide to Online Privacy: This lengthy article from PBS gives users some interesting background on the Internet security issue as well as information on what to do to help ensure their privacy stays protected online.
81. 10-Minute Guide for Beginners to Getting Safe Online: Newbies to computer security or just those who don’t have a clue what they’re doing online can benefit from this quick and easy guide that gives tips on the most important aspects of safeguarding yourself and your data.
82. How to Keep Your Identity Safe Online: The Internet can be a great place to meet other and find a plethora of information, unfortunately, it’s also a great place for predators to access your personal information. This simple how-to guide will help you learn to protect yourself and keep information theives at bay.
83. Identity Theft Victims Guide: If you have fallen victim to identity theft, this guide from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse can give you a step by step guide as to what you need to do to get your information back and make sure it doesn’t get stolen again.
84. The Ultimate Guide to Identity Theft Prevention: There’s no better cure for identity theft than to prevent it from happening in the first place and you can get a head start on that with this guide from Your Credit Advisor. It gives advice on what to watch out for and what to do if you think your identity has be stolen.
85. How to Pick a Safe Password: A password won’t do much good if it’s so easy anyone can guess it. This how-to can help you learn how to pick a password that will keep your data safe and give you more peace of mind.
86. How to Know What Documents to Shred and When to Shred Them: Without a doubt you want to keep information theives at bay by shredding confidential documents, but knowing just what you need to shred and when it may be time to toss out old files can be a choice that leaves many unsure. This article can help make the decision process easier.
87. The College Student’s Guide to Identity Theft: College students often have to fill out loads of forms, many of which contain their Social Security Numbers. This guide can help students learn what they need to do to keep this and other sensitive information safe.
88. Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Businesses: The FTC has put together this simple guide to help businesses protect their private data as well as that of their customers.
89. The Beginner’s Guide to Phishing: Phishing is a common way that personal information is stolen. This guide can help protect you from becoming a victim of this sneaky email scam.
90. Gizmo’s Guide to Securing Your PC: Don’t let your PC be a buffet of free information to theives. Keep it secure by implementing the suggestions from this guide.

Books

Take a visit to your local library or bookstore to pick up these privacy protection titles.

91. How to Be Invisible: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Personal Privacy, Your Assets, and Your Life by J.J. Luna: This book addresses the issues of privacy both on and off the Web. The book is filled with real-life stories drawn from the author’s life and the lives of others to help ensure that readers will make more of a commitment to safeguarding their own personal information.
92. Identity Theft: How to Protect Your Name, Your Credit and Your Vital Information, and What to Do When Someone Hijacks Any of These: This book lays out all the ways your personal information can be stolen and even gets into the nitty gritty details. The author also offers advice on what to do if you find yourself a victim of any of these crimes.
93. The Wall Street Journal. Complete Identity Theft Guidebook: How to Protect Yourself from the Most Pervasive Crime in America by Terri Cullen: Cullen is the assistant managing editor and personal finance columnist for the Wall Street Journal Online. In this book, the major types of identity theft are discussed as well as tips to reduce your risk and on what to do if you do get your identity stolen.
94. Stealing Your Life: The Ultimate Identity Theft Prevention Plan by Frank W. Abagnale: If you’ve seen the movie Catch Me If You Can then you know at least part of the life story of Frank Abagnale. A former con artist and identity thief, Abagnale now gives advice on what to do to avoid getting scammed and how to deal with fraud when it arises.
95. Identity Theft, Inc.: A Wild Ride with the World’s #1 Identity Thief by Glenn Hastings and Richard Marcus: This book is written by a notorious indentity thief who, in an attempt to repent for his crimes, offers up advice on how you can keep indentity thieves at bay.
96. The Identity Theft Protection Guide by Amanda Welsh: Get advice on minimizing your risk, safeguard your family and recover a stolen identity in this concise guide.
97. 100% Internet Credit Card Fraud Protected by Vesper and Vesper: If you’re not only worried about your personal sercurity but your business’ as well, this book can help give you advice on professional anti-fraud methods that can help you protect your business from credit card fraud.
98. Give Me Back My Credit! by Denise Richardson: A victim of identity theft herself, Denise Richardson puts a face on the all-to-common occurance of identity theft.
99. Your Evil Twin: Behind the Identity Theft Epidemic by Bob Sullivan: Do you have an evil identity lurking around and stealing your good credit? This book discusses this billion dollar crime and the people it affects from all income brackets and walks of life.
100. Phishing: Cutting the Identity Theft Line by Rachael Lininger and Russell Dean Vines: Written by a phishing security expert, this book takes you through the the technical aspects of phishing and explains how you can prevent these thieves from stealing your identity.

By Jessica Hupp

For most computer literate children, a request from mom to get her set up on “this web thing” is met with panic and a feeling of drudgery. Are you about to expose your sweet mother to spam, phishing, viruses, or worse? Or perhaps more frightening, sign your life away as a 24/7 tech support center? Perhaps, but there’s a better way. By setting your mom up on a Linux machine, you can give her a safe, lean computing experience that will let her do all of the things she wants to do without giving you a nervous breakdown. Here, we’ve compiled over 50 of the best resources to help you get your mom on Linux without a whole lot of trouble.

Systems & Environments

With these systems and environments, you can get your mom set up with low maintenance and friendly interfaces.

1. SimplyMEPIS: SimplyMEPIS is low-maintenance and great for Linux beginners.
2. Linspire: Linspire is the “World’s Easiest Desktop Linux,” with a familiar look and feel for Windows users.
3. Mandriva: Mandriva Linux was specifically designed to offer ease of use for new users.
4. Ubuntu: One of the most popular Linux distributions, Ubuntu is stable and easy to use.
5. KDE: The K Desktop Environment is easy to use, and offers basic desktop functions.
6. Ximian Desktop: Ximian offers a simple layout, with large icons that are great for elderly users.
7. Lycoris: This distribution looks a lot like windows, and offers great ease of use.
8. SuSE: With SuSE, you’ll got lots of popular open source software like OpenOffice, Kaffeine, and more.
9. GNOME: In this desktop environment, you’ll find an extremely usable GUI.

Tools & Applications

Put these tools to work to give your mom the functionality she wants while still keeping things safe and simple.

10. Fluxbox: This X window manager makes it easy to customize the view of your mom’s machine.
11. Rfbdrake: Set up rfbdrake to create a pathway for remote support.
12. IEs4Linux: With this handy tool, you can make MSN groups and other Internet Explorer applications play properly for your game-addicted mom.
13. IceWM: This window manager’s goal is to stay out of the user’s way while offering speed and simplicity.
14. OpenAntiVirus: Although a Linux machine isn’t likely to run into virus problems, this antivirus program is better safe than sorry.
15. Wine: Wine makes it easy to run Windows software and applications on your Linux box.
16. Firestarter: For an easy, simple firewall, consider Firestarter.
17. phpGACL: Keep your mom safe by implementing this access control list for applications.
18. CrossOver Office: With CrossOver, you can run lots of Windows-based applications.
19. CNR: This tool makes it easy for your mom to install applications, even if she’s clueless about putting things on her computer.
20. KDE Crystal: KDE Crystal offers an icon set with recognizable images, which is great for remote support so you can tell your mom exactly what to press.
21. Guarddog: Guarddog is an ideal firewall for novices because it offers a goal-oriented, non-technical GUI.
22. Blackbox: Blackbox offers a clean, light environment for a Linux system.
23. IPCop: Create a more secure home network with this simple firewall designed for novice users.
24. vncserver: Utilize vncserver to run remote support on your mom’s Linux machine.
25. OpenOffice: With OpenOffice, your mom will be able to do all of the word processing she wants.
26. Evolution: This personal information manager offers email, addresses, tasks, and more in an interface much like Microsoft Outlook.
27. KMail: Set your mom up on KMail for email with excellent spam filtering, cryptographic support, and more.
28. Kate: With this lightweight editor, your mom can do simple word processing with automatic backup.
29. Ekiga With Ekiga, formerly Gnomemeeting, your mom can video chat with you.
30. MailWasher Pro: With this program, you can make sure that spam email will never hit your mom’s inbox.
31. Abiword: Give your mom simple word processing with AbiWord.
32. Kopete: Use Kopete to get your mom set up on chat programs like AIM, ICQ, and IRC.
33. Adobe Reader: Put Adobe Reader for Linux on your mom’s computer so she can enjoy PDFs.
34. Pidgin: Pidgin, formerly known as Gaim, makes it easy for your mom to log into a number of different messaging systems at once.
35. Konqueror: With Konqueror, your mom can browse the web safely.
36. Thunderbird: Use Thunderbird to offer your mom a clean email interface.
37. Firefox: Get your mom set up on the wildly popular Firefox for safe and easy web browsing.
38. GIMP: Give your mom GIMP for Photoshop functionality.
39. No-Script: Use No-Script to make your mom’s Firefox browsing safe from harmful Javascript and Flash.

Guides & Articles

For even more help, check out these guides and articles that will walk you through creating a Linux box for your mom.

40. Ubuntu for your grandmother: One helpful grandchild walks his grandmother through creating a Ubuntu laptop in this article.
41. Post Installation Configuration Basic Help: Get help with basic hardware and network configuration here.
42. Is Linux ready for mom?: This article discusses some of the trials and advantages of Linux for novice users.
43. Windows to Linux: A Beginner’s Guide: Let your mom check out this article to get familiarized with Linux when coming from a Windows environment.
44. Top 10 Ways to Protect Your Linux Home System: Follow this guide to keep your mom’s computer safe.
45. Setting up Linux for Mom and Dad: See how one person set up a parent version of Mandrake Linux in this article.
46. Desktop Adapted for Dad (DAD): This writer gave his father a computer with carefully installed and configured software.
47. Moving a Beginner to Linux: Learn how to make the switch with this article.
48. The Top 50 Proprietary Programs that Drive You Crazy-and Their Open Source Alternatives: In this resource, you’re sure to find lots of programs that will help your mom convert.
49. Linux distro for mom?: In this thread, you’ll find lots of excellent advice for creating a Linux setup for a computer illiterate mom.
50. Beginner’s Introduction to the KDE Desktop: This guide offers a look at KDE for non-techies.
51. A Senior Citizen’s Introduction to Linux: See how one person set up a simple Linux system for an elderly woman in this article.
52. 7 Reasons you should switch Grandma to Linux: This article touts security, stability, and more for Linux.

By Jessica Hupp

Everybody makes mistakes sometimes, but when those mistakes are made online by high-profile figures, it’s hard not to stare at the train wreck. Whether you’ve accidentally launched a virus, or given control of your company blog to a stranger, it’s obvious you’ve screwed up big time. Check out these 15 Internet screw-ups that will live in infamy.

1. Dreamhosts’ $7.5 Million Billing Mistake: Due to a “fat-fingered” error, Dreamhost accidentally overbilled almost all of their customers, charging them for nearly a year in hosting fees. Large charges appeared on customers’ credit and debit cards, but Dreamhost promised to make good on refunds, and even said they’d pay for any overdraft fees they caused.
2. iTunes Leaks Stargate Atlantis: On iTunes, Apple offered what it thought was the season premiere of the sci-fi TV show Stargate Atlantis, but actually sold the fourth episode instead. It didn’t take long for the episode to be uploaded onto BitTorrent and other P2P networks, so there was no way out of this screw up. To make up for it, Apple offered the actual season premiere and an iTunes credit for $2. The mistake was caused by a production number mixup.
3. Viacom Issues a Takedown For its Own Pirated Video: In the midst of a copyright battle with YouTube, Viacom revealed themselves as video pirates themselves. They tried to get a clip removed from YouTube, but they hadn’t yet received permission to use the source video in the clip. Viacom even sent a DCMA takedown notice to the owner of the original content, asking him to take down the clip.
4. AOL Releases Search Data for 650,000 Users: In an effort to provide research tools to the academic community, AOL accidentally released search data on more than 650,000 users. Although it was anonymized, it showed searches for murder, incest, and other unpleasantries. You could also find names, Social Security numbers, addresses, and more.
5. Google Deletes Their Official Blog: Google accidentally deleted their official blog, which was picked up by a well-intentioned college student. It could have been used to send out misinformation or even malware.
6. Google Mistakes Own Blog for Spam, Deletes It: Google didn’t learn from past mistakes. Blogger’s spam classifier accidentally marked the Custom Search Blog as spam, the bloggers overlooked the notification they received, and the blog was disabled as a result. This made the URL available to the general public, and was squatted by a person named Srikanth.
7. Nevada Governor Accidentally Posts Outlook Password: On the Governor of Nevada’s website, an instruction guide was posted that told aides how to send out an email on behalf of the governor. This of course included his email, which was a not-very-secure combination of his first and last names. The files were quickly taken down, but still available for some time through Google’s cache.
8. Google’s Spider Deletes a Website: One of the website’s users accidentally left an “edit” hyperlink open-and somehow copied this on to every page-which allowed deletion, and the Google spider found these pages, which consequently deleted them. They were able to restore the site with backups, and resolved to never copy and paste content again.
9. Capcom Links to Hardcore Porn: On the game box for Capcom’s Killer 7, the official URL is listed as www.killer7.com, which is a hardcore porn site. The site should have been listed as www.killer-7.com. Apparently, the porn site was originally registered to Capcom and was the official site when the game was released, but they lost the URL.
10. The Morris Worm: Although the Mooris Worm gave Robert Tappan Morris fame as a hacker, it was actually one big mistake. His intention was to use the worm to see how large the Internet was, but things went bad when the work replicated itself excessively and slowed down computers.
11. Blogger Can’t Quit AOL: This blogger taped his conversation with AOL in which they did just about everything possible to keep him from canceling his account.
12. The Department of Homeland Security Fails its Own Cyber Attack: Homeland Security simulated a cyber attack, called Operation Cyber Storm, and revealed that we’d fare pretty poorly.
13. Best Buy’s Secret Website: A few customers have found that Best Buy’s in-store website reflects higher prices than the one widely available on the Internet. This is apparently an attempt to convince customers that their in-store price reflects any web specials they may be offering. They are identical, except for the prices.
14. Symantec Kills the CyberSitter: In a Symantec Security Response update, a program called CyberSitter was tagged as a virus. This led to a number of customers losing both their operating systems and Internet access, including schools and libraries.
15. BBC Mistakes Cabbie for Internet Download Expert: A BBC reporter thought she was interviewing Guy Kewney, editor of Newswireless.net, but she was actually interviewing a local cabbie. In this case of mistaken identity, the men looked nothing alike, and Mr. Kewney actually saw the taxi driver being introduced under his name. Although the driver knew nothing about the main topics of Apple, online music, or the Beatles, he said he felt the interview went well, “but it was a bit rushed.

By Jessica Hupp

If you like to check out porn, but would prefer not to pick up nasty viruses, security breaches, and embarassing history, this guide is for you. You’ll learn about some of the best tools and resources available to keep your system clean and safe while you’re busy getting dirty. These aren’t just for horn dogs, either: they’re great for anyone who is concerned about privacy and security, or who heavily browses the Internet, porn or otherwise.

Browsers

These browsers are the foundation for safe and clean browsing.

1. Mozilla Firefox: This browser’s full of privacy and safety features, and we’ve highlighted a number of useful add-ons for the browser here as well.
2. Safari: If you’re on a Mac, you can take advantage of Safari’s Private Browsing mode, which has been jokingly called “Porn Mode.”
3. Opera: Opera has lots of porn privacy and security features, like the ability to delete history, pop-up blocking, and tight code.

History

Don’t leave little reminders of your afternoon delight — cover your tracks with these tools.

4. Eraser: If you’re getting rid of an old hard drive full of porn, wipe it clean with Eraser, and you won’t have to worry about the drive’s new owner checking out your skin flicks.
5. ScrubXP: Clean your temporary files and registry keys with this handy tool.
6. Stealther: Check out porn without worrying about leaving a trail using this add-on that temporarily disables history items, cookies, downloaded files, and more.
7. CCleaner: This freeware makes it easy to cover your tracks, allowing you to choose what you want to delete and what to keep.
8. DeleteOnClick: Use DeleteOnClick to permanently wipe files from your Windows hard drive.
9. Incinerator: Don’t just delete porn from your Mac — incinerate it with this souped-up trash can.
10. Window Washer: Use Window Washer to erase your tracks.
11. Distrust: Get Distrust’s private browsing to remove history, cache, and cookies.
12. BCWipe: Using BCWipe, you can ensure that any naughty files you’ve trashed really get deleted.
13. Permanent Eraser: Make sure you’re really deleting your Mac’s porn files with Permanent Eraser.
14. Evidence Eliminator: Make sure your computer is completely wiped of porn evidence with this tool.

Surfing Transmitted Diseases

Rid yourself of spyware, viruses, and other nasties with these tools.

15. Ad-Aware: Scrub your computer of any malware you’ve picked up with Ad-Aware.
16. KeyScrambler: With this tool, you can encrypt your keystrokes to protect your information from keyloggers.
17. SpywareBlaster: Prevent spyware from installing itself on your computer with SpywareBlaster.
18. Trust-No-Exe: Keep unauthorized executables from running with this cool tool.
19. ThreatFire: Get real-time monitoring of spyware with ThreatFire.
20. Kapersky Internet Security: This program will detect and eliminate viruses and trojans.
21. ClamWin: This free antivirus program is great for zapping viruses.
22. suDown: By using suDown, any program that makes it past your other blockades will be greeted with very few privileges, making the possibility of doing harm quite low.
23. Spybot Search & Destroy: With Spybot Search & Destroy, you can zap spyware and cover your web usage tracks at the same time.
24. Dr. Web Anti-Virus Link Checker: Check out files before you download them with this link checker.
25. AVG Anti-Virus: With AVG, you can get real-time protection against sneaky viruses.
26. SafeDownload: Scan files for viruses on the fly with this tool.
27. The Cleaner: Seek out trojans on your computer with this program.
28. Avast!: With Avast!, you’ll enjoy protection, safeguards, and more tools to fight viruses.

Privacy

Keep your personal business safe from loved ones and enterprising pornography scammers alike by using these privacy tools.

29. Add N Edit Cookies: Take Firefox’s cookie capability a step futher, and edit cookies with this add-on.
30. Del.icio.us Private Saving: If you want to bookmark your favorite porn sites, but don’t quite know where to do that, check out Del.icio.us’s private bookmarking feature.
31. TabRenamizer: Have you got some nosy person checking out the names of your tabs? Keep them in the dark by renaming them.
32. PrivacyView: Encrypt and hide your naughty activities with this tool that covers temporary files, cookies, favorites, and history.
33. HideWin: Use HideWin to hide selected windows fast.
34. Geek Superhero: With this program, you can protect your PC’s settings, block popups, and prevent tracking.
35. CookieSafe: Use this add-on to get super-easy control of your cookie permissions.
36. hideBad: With the click of a button, hideBad saves, closes and covers up your browsing session with your default homepage, so it’s perfect for keeping your porn sessions secret.
37. HTTP-to-HTTPS Redirector: By using https, you’ll be able to scramble your data, so use this redirector to set your favorite porn site to use https.
38. Privorites: Keep a list of your favorite porn sites secret from prying eyes with this locked bookmarks application.
39. Page Title Eraser: With this extension, you’ll be able to wipe out the title and icon of selected tabs.
40. workFRIENDLY: This browser proxy will turn any webpage into something that looks like a Word document. You won’t be able to see images, so it’s best used for text-heavy porn sites.

Anonymity

Keep your porn activities secret using these anonymity tools.

41. 10 Minute Mail: Get a disposable address that only lasts 10 minutes with this service.
42. TrackMeNot: Protect yourself agains search data profiling using TrackMeNot.
43. PrivateProxy: With this anonymous proxy server, you can hide your IP address and keep your ISP in the dark about your addiction.
44. Googlonymous: Don’t want Google to know you’re checking out skin? Do your search through Googlonymous, and your IP address with show up as theirs.
45. HideMyIP: Use this software to keep your IP address anonymous.
46. OperaTor: OperaTor makes it easy to surf anonymously, and can even be loaded onto a portable drive for anonymity anywhere.
47. TrashMail.net: Don’t share your real email with porn sites. Set up a trash email account with TrashMail.
48. TorPark: Put TorPark on your USB thumb drive to check out your skin flicks anonymously on your computer or even someone else’s.
49. Free Web Proxies: On this site, you can find over 5,000 proxies to use.
50. SocksCap: Bring socks proxy privacy to any IP client with SocksCap.
51. BugMeNot: If you’d rather not set up a login and share your personal information, use BugMeNot to get logged in with a user name and password that’s been shared by another user.
52. Anonymization Toolbar: With this toolbar, you’ll be able to surf anonymously and clear sensitive data.
53. Temporary Inbox: Create a disposable email address for registration using this add-on.
54. PhProxy: Stay anonymous in Firefox with this add-on.

Security

Use these tools to stay safe and clean.

55. TrueCrypt: Use a TrueCrypt partition to encrypt your sensitive porn files.
56. PC Tools Firewall Plus: With this freeware, you can control your network traffic and keep an eye on your applications.
57. NoScript: This Firefox add-on protects you by disabling any JavaScript until you expressly authorize it.
58. Scandoo: With Scandoo, you can get a heads-up about malicious websites, and even search without disclosing your IP address.
59. LinkScanner Lite: Use LinkScanner Lite to detect threats like phishing, malicious content, and software exploits
60. Jetico Personal Firewall: For a great rule-based firewall, check out Jetico.
61. Phish Tank SiteChecker: Find out if a site is legit by putting the power of PhishTank in your Firefox browser.
62. Redirect Remover: Find out where you’re really being taken with this add-on.
63. OpenDNS: OpenDNS blocks phishing sites, and can be customized to block even more.
64. TrustToolbar: Install the TrustToolbar to verify that you’re really visiting the sites you think you are.
65. PhishTank: Check out this resource to find suspected phishers and submit your own.
66. WOT: Find out how much others trust a website to avoid phishers and more.
67. BestCrypt: Store both your porn and confidential data in a safe place with BestCrypt.
68. Link Alert: With this add-on, your cursor will change to let you know if you’re opening a webpage, file, or anything else.
69. Comodo Firewall: Set up a firewall to protect yourself from hackers, spyware, indentity theft, and more.
70. PGP: Use PGP for all of your encryption needs.
71. VeriSign EV Green Bar Extension: Get a clear look at SSL servers with VeriSign, thawte, or Geotrust certificates using this add-on.
72. AppArmor: Make your Ubutu security even better by restricting access to only what’s required.
73. Finjan SecureBrowsing: Find out what’s hiding behind search results, ads, and more with Finjan SecureBrowsing.

Tutorials

Get detailed instructions for safe porn browsing with these tutorials.

74. Prevent Boss From Snooping On Your Google Search Queries: Check out this guide from Digital Inspiration that offers a few suggestions for keeping your Google searches in the dark.
75. Virus-proof your PC in 20 minutes, for free: Protect your computer with this easy guide from Slate.
76. How Do I Remove the Documents Item on My Start Menu?: Find out how to erase your recently-accessed documents with this tutorial.
77. How to Delete Your Usage History Tracks in Windows: This guide will walk you through the steps of erasing search history, cookies, and other goodies you’d rather not leave behind.
78. How to Anonymize Your Search History: Learn how to keep your search history private with this guide from BoingBoing.
79. Stop Firefox From Tracking Downloads: If you’ve just downloaded “Big Juicy Butts IV,” learn how to hide your secret from the next person to download a file on your browser.
80. How to Hide Your Porn: Read this tutorial to learn how to keep sensitive files safe from prying eyes.
81. Do-it-Yourself Internet Anonymity: Check out this article for a run down of the various ways you can make yourself anonymous online.
82. How to Stop Google from Recording Your Search Habits: Follow this guide to get Google anonymity.
83. Hack Attack: Bolster Your Browsing Privacy at Work: Lifehacker’s guide to browser privacy offers tips that help you boost privacy anywhere.
84. Block Third-Party Cookies in IE7: Use this tutorial to learn how to reject cookies for ads and more.
85. How to Not Get Caught Looking at Porn: This how-to guide has a few helpful tips for hiding your porn addiction.
86. Opera-Naked Joy of Surfing: In this resource, you’ll learn about great security methods and more for Opera.
87. How to Create a Secured and Locked Folder in Windows XP: Follow this tutorial to learn how to hide data quick and easy.
88. Tips For Safe Porn Surfing: Learn the signs of a porn-infested computer and what you can do about it with this resource.
89. Kit: Protect Your PC From Viruses for Cheap: Follow this tutorial from Lifehacker for a clean PC on the cheap.
90. Block Pop-up Windows with Internet Explorer: This Microsoft document will walk you through the process of using IE’s pop-up blocker.
91. I Will Keep My Mac Safe From Other Users: Follow these tips for securing your Mac.
92. Anti-Phishing Working Group: Consumer Advice: This document has lots of great tips for preventing phishing.
93. Quick Tip: Empty Internet Explorer 7 Cache When Browser is Closed: Follow this tutorial to learn how to clear your cache at the end of your session.
94. Pornzilla: Check out this site to learn about settings and extensions that are great for porn security and more.

Think of the Children

After you’ve gone to a lot of trouble to keep your computer’s nose clean, keep your punk kids from ruining everything with these resources. Oh, and of course, prevent them from scarring their innocent minds.

95. FoxFilter: Use FoxFilter to block access to specific websites, allowing the user to view them only with a password.
96. BumperCar: This browser for Mac was made just for kids.
97. CYBERsitter: Check out this content management program to restrict access to objectionable sites.
98. ScrubIT: Block porn at the server level with this handy tool.
99. ProCon Latte: This add-on filters pages with explicit content based on their text.
100. Naomi: This program will shut down your browser if Junior stumbles upon some porn.

If you’ve had an e-mail account for more than a couple of years, or even just a couple of months, you’ve probably received an e-mail hoax promising you the opportunity to make millions working from home, asking you to donate money to a fraudulent fund, or just passing along a fascinating (but false) story to elicit a widespread response from the public. While many, truly damaging scams are designed to covertly steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from innocent people, this list is mostly comprised of those hoaxes that are just downright ridiculous.

1. Lonelygirl15: One of the most popular Internet hoaxes in recent years, the lonelygirl15 teenager named Bree turned out to be nothing more than an actress named Jessica Rose. The YouTube sensation assuredly broke many lonely hearts who thought they shared a special connection with the web cam princess, the show is still going strong with an average of 70 million viewers, all of whom (hopefully) now know that lonelygirl15 isn’t real.
2. Disney Hoax: Could you imagine receiving a real live e-mail from Walt Disney, Jr. himself? Well, we couldn’t either, but enough people did to make this Disney hoax a real problem. The fraudluent e-mail claims to work with Bill Gates and Microsoft to try out a new e-mail tracing program. The e-mail asks people to forward the e-mail to as many people as possible, and “if it reaches 13,000 people, 1,300 of the people on the list will receive $5,000, and the rest will receive a free trip for two to Disney World for one week during the summer of 1999 at our expense.” We wish.
3. Show Your Bum Joke: According to Hoax-Slayer.com, this hoax “warns that a man supposedly conducting a survey may come to your door and ask to see your bum.” While this hoax is more of a spoof of a hoax, we just had to include it on our list.
4. Internet Wedding Scam: Irish and Scottish folk singer Marc Gunn posts on his website a warning for other musicians about the Internet Wedding scam. A person claiming to be a soon-to-be married man named Pitt Andre wanted to book Gunn’s band at their wedding. Agreeing to pay the 50% deposit upfront, the scammer instead sent a check for nearly double the amount, and then asked for a refund making up the difference. A couple of days later, the man e-mailed Gunn to tell him the wedding was off, and that he wanted all of the money back. According to Gunn, the first check “seemed to have cleared” after three days, and his group sent back the $2500. Of course, the original check inevitably bounced, leaving Gunn and his group “miserable…and $2500 poorer.”
5. Citibank Scam: This scam is pretty tricky. Online banking sites often promise tight security settings and password-protected account access, but even top companies aren’t immune to Internet scams. In 2003, the Citibank website was under siege from a scam artist that designed a pop-up, which “appears to be a Citibank page” and “comes up and asks you to verify your information,” which then “goes to a server in Russia that has nothing to do with Citibank.”
6. Nikki Leotardo: When the immensely popular HBO series The Sopranos planned its final episode during the summer of 2007, there was much speculation as to how America’s favorite mobsters would end their run on television. After the finale, viewers were left hanging, scratching their heads over what could have happened during the blackout from several suspicious characters looming over the Sopranos’ family dinner. A rumor started circulating on the Internet that the man standing at the counter was Nikki Leotardo, Phil’s nephew who had been on the show before and who could have been out to kill Tony. As it turns out, the whole thing was just a joke, and Sopranos fans are still left in the dark about how the show really ended.
7. Killer Bananas: In 2000, an Internet hoax about imported bananas containting flesh eating bacteria that “spread faster than the flu,” according to Kathy Means, vice-president of the Produce Marketing Association. Despite efforts to squash the rumor, people panicked, inciting investigative stories in the LA Times and from the Knight Ridder news service.
8. Neiman Marcus Cookie Hoax: Would you pay $250 for a cookie recipe? What if it came from Neiman Marcus? We hope that you answered no to both of those questions, but one woman claims to have been tricked into paying the absurd amount and then seeks revenge by sending the recipe out in an e-mail blast. As it turns out, Neiman Marcus never put its cookie recipe up for sale and now publishes the recipe on its website, free of charge of course.
9. Money-at-Home.com: How great would it be to manage your own company from home by turning your computer “into a money-making machine?” Unfortunately, the scammers are the only ones making money with this system. An e-mail invites people to send them money so that they can receive “instructions on where to go and what to download and install on your computer” so that you can run the business and start making lots of money. Even if the instructions actually come, you also have to give the scammers access to your PayPal account, where they can control your online funds.
10. Deodorant Causes Breast Cancer: Several years ago, a popular e-mail chain circulated the Internet claiming that antiperspirants caused breast cancer. Thankfully, experts debunked the ugly rumor, and women felt comfortable enough to continue using their deodorant.
11. Don’t Pump Gas on May 15: In May of 2007, an e-mail hoax pleaded with American drivers, “Don’t pump gas on May 15!” The hope was that large oil companies would suffer great financial losses if millions of people refused to fuel up on one single day. An article on CNN reveals that “the chain e-mail urging the gas boycott has been around for several years, surfacing most years in the springtime” and that “many of the numbers in the e-mail are either misleading or flat out wrong.”
12. Bill Gates Hoax: Poor Bill Gates has found himself involved in another e-mail scam, this time with AOL. As with the Disney hoax, people are rewarded for passing along the chain e-mail in $5.00, $3.00, and $1.00 increments. No Disney vacation included in this one, though.
13. ATM Security Hoax: Who needs 911 when you’ve got your trusty PIN number? This scam reports that if you need to call the police at an ATM machine, you can subtlely make the call by typing in your PIN number backwards. The website Hoax-Slayer.com reports that the scam “stated that this method of calling the police is very seldom used because people don’t know it exists,” and assures customers that “the machine will still give you the monies you requested,” despite having typed in your code backwards. Um, we don’t think so.
14. KFC Hoax: Despite what this Internet hoax wants you to believe, the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise does not genetically engineer chicken-related organisms to maximize the amount of meat collected from each creature. This disgusting scam attempt to explain why Kentucky Fried Chicken is now referred to as just KFC, “because they can not use the word chicken anymore. Why? KFC does not use real chickens.”
15. Internet Auctions: Internet auctioning is a legal business, but it can also be a breeding ground for clever scams and identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission cautions people against phishing e-mails which attempt to steal important passwords and banking information.
16. The Helius Project: This popular scam is still believed by many people to be concrete evidence that intelligent aliens do exist. The Helius Project pretends to originate from “an alien species” trying to reach out to humans via the Internet. Where are Mulder and Scully when you need them to debunk your online alien rumors?
17. “Send An Email Ad to 10,000 Opt-in Subscribers”: Number 7 on the “Top 10 Internet Marketing Scams” list from the Real Estate Marketing Tools blog involves a scam that tries to convince innocent people to engage in illegal marketing tactics by sending advertisements to allegedly opt-in e-mail clients. Instead of falling for one of these scams, the author advises readers to start an e-mail campaign themselves, because “that way, you will know for sure that they are opt-in, and you will be able to manage the results.”
18. 419 Scam: This infamous network of scams is also known as the Nigerian Scam because of its West African origins. About.com reports that “in every variation” of the hoaxes, “the scammer is promising obscenely large payments for small unskilled tasks,” like paying legal and transfer fees out of your own pocket.
19. Snowball the Monster Cat: You wouldn’t believe a photo of an oversized cat if it was published on the front cover of National Enquirer, would you? If that’s the case, we’re wondering why so many people believed the picture of an 87-pound monster cat that surfaced on the Internet. Unbelievably, the photo was even talked about on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Good Morning America. Supposedly, the cat’s mother was rescued after being found “abandoned near a Canadian nuclear lab” in Canada; however, the cat’s owner admitted to doctoring the photo and starting the hoax.
20. Dead Fairy Hoax: “If you believe in fairies, then clap your hands!” As with Tinker Bell, clapping your hands won’t bring these little garden fairies back to life, probably because they never existed. An Englishman created and photographed small models of dead and mummified fairies to trick people into believing that fairies once existed. After e-mailing the pictures to friends as an April Fools’ joke, fairy lovers all over the world continue to believe that the photos are real, “even though [the] creator has long since admitted to the hoax,” according to Snopes.com.

If you suspect an e-mail of trying to solicit money or personal information from you, delete it immediately or report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is a federal organization comprised of a joint partnership with the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. While some of these hoaxes seem altogether ridiculous, Internet scamming is no joke.

By Laura Milligan

When shopping for a new computer, your mind is probably spinning with considerations: price, reliability, speed, software capabilities, security, and other specs. Perhaps the hardest part is choosing an operating system on which everything will run. To get a good idea of what capabilities Apple’s OSX Tiger/Leopard, Windows Vista, and Ubuntu Linux have to offer, check out our 15 point report card that compares the levels of protection you’ll get with each of them.

1. Personal Firewall
   • OSX Tiger: Grade: B+
     The Mac’s personal firewall security system denies absolutely every kind of traffic trying to get into your computer, unless of course you choose to explicitly allow it. No word, though, on what it does for outbound communications.
   • Windows Vista: Grade: C+
     While Windows boasts that its personal firewall protects your computer from both inbound and outbound communications, some experts beg to differ. They argue that while the capacity for outbound security protection is there, it isn’t effective.
   • Ubuntu: Grade: A-
     Firestarter is the firewall of choice for Ubuntu users. Most seem happy with the application. Other options include Lokkit, for new users, and Guarddog for advanced users. Guarddog offers sophisticated protection, so it’s almost totally hackproof.
2. Network Security
   • OSX Tiger: Grade: A
     Mac’s secure keychain lets you share information within your network without having to worry about others hacking into the system. It’s password protected, so your content is totally safe.
   • Windows Vista: Grade: C
     A case study about a successful hacking attempt on university computers is published on WindowSecurity.com. One of the main weaknesses with Windows? The study suggests that the network lacked proper intrusion detection and prevention Systems, which “are used to monitor servers and network segments for indications of unusual traffic patterns. These can automatically send alerts to system administrators, or even take action to automatically lock out sessions from the originating systems.”
   • Ubuntu: Grade: B+
     Ubuntu has a number of solutions for network security. These include Nagios, which monitors your network at all times, Wireshark, which analyzes your network protocols, EtherApe, tcpdump, tcptrace, and others.
3. Secured Default Configuration and Installation
   • OSX Tiger: Grade: A-
     When you turn your Mac on for the first time, every possible file and network sharing systems is automatically set to off. This lets you decide whether or not you want to put your computer out in the open.
   • Windows Vista: Grade: B-
     Administrator accounts are turned off when the computer is powered up for the very first time, boosting security levels; however, weaknesses still exist. This article, from TechRepublic.com, debunks two major myths about the administrator account: “Renaming this account prevents hackers from finding it” and “You can’t lock out the account after failed logon attempts.” Both so-called tricks are easily circumvented by hackers.
   • Ubuntu: Grade: A-
     Ubuntu has a notoriously secure operating system because it doesn’t have too many enemies. Read about these essential security installs to make sure you’re covered. The article boasts that “instead of spending hundreds of dollars on sophisticated firewalls, spyware blockers and intrusion detection and prevention systems, Ubuntu users simply have to install several free programs,” like PaX, Pro Police, and Dig Sig.
4. Auto Update
   • OSX Tiger: Grade: A
     If you’ve got a Mac, you won’t ever have to worry about whether or not your computer has the most up-to-date hardware and software protection. Their automatic updates come from an official source on a regular basis.
   • Windows Vista: Grade: B+
     Microsoft Update allows you to register for automatic Windows and Microsoft Office updates. Pop ups will let you decide whether or not you want to install each update when it’s due for a renewal.
   • Ubuntu: Grade: B
     Ubuntu users are never short on updates, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get them implemented. This wiki assures users that “Linux is one of the most secure and “well-updated” operating systems in the world. But with this cutting edge technology comes endless updates. Although this can be seen as a good thing, it can become overly cumbersome and annoying to end-users, simply trying to do their work, without tinkering with the underlying OS.”
5. Personal Settings
   • OSX Tiger: Grade: A+
     FireVault “automatically encrypts and decrypts the contents of your home directory,” making it virtually impossible for someone to break into your documents.
   • Windows Vista: Grade: C-
     Vista lacks in the personal security department. Besides creating a username and password to access your desktop, we can’t find any real obstacles to stealing access to your files.
   • Ubuntu: Grade: C+
     Unlike Mac, Ubuntu doesn’t have an ecryption system already installed on your computer; however, there are plenty of resources out there. You’ll need to check out the Ubuntu user forum for more advice on protecting your personal settings. For example, create a password that is at least 8 characters long and doesn’t include birthdays, anniversaries, or addresses.
6. Technical Support
   • OSX Tiger: Grade: A-
     The Apple Support page has excellent resources for getting support for your OS. Mac 101 introduces new users to Tiger, offering step-by-step instructions for connecting cameras, printers, and other accessories. Plus, it allows access to the Microsoft Cheat Sheet and shows users how to custom design their personal settings. The Apple Support site also has updates available for immediate download and a link to the Mac discussion forums.
   • Windows Vista: Grade: B+
     The Windows Vista Solution Center is well organized and offers support in many different areas. Browse topics like error messages, installing and upgrading, security and privacy, networking, configuring and maintaining, and hardware. Or, you can enlist the help of other Windows users in a special community support section if you need even more assistance.
   • Ubuntu: Grade: B+
     The Ubuntu Support page: allows users free access to their support team or community forum, but you have to pay to speak with professionals. Ubuntu still maintains a grassroots feel, so going directly to the forum is probably your best bet for finding helpful, informative support.
7. Spyware Solutions
   • OSX Tiger: Grade: B+
     Purchasing MacScan is your best bet for catching spyware, blacklisted cookies, and other harmful applications on a Mac. MacScan goes above and beyond the protection offered by traditional anti-virus programs: It “is designed specifically to detect and eradicate the threat to your Macintosh,” whether the threat comes from viruses or spyware.
   • Windows Vista: Grade: C
     This review of Windows Defender applauds the spyware blocker for being included free on Vista programs, but admits it’s nearly useless on its own. Free of charge, Defender is “included in the new Windows Vista operating system” and “can run manual and scheduled scans;” however, you’ll need to supplement another anti-spyware program for maximum benefits.
   • Ubuntu: Grade: A-
     Clever ways to avoid spyware are abundant on the Linux-based operating system’s forum. Advanced users can find solutions they can implement on their own without having to purchase expensive programs.
8. Hardware Performance
   • OSX Tiger: Grade: B
     It’s fairly easy to secure hardware on OSX. This article, found on About.com, gives tips for cleaning up your hard drive in order to make your computer run more effectively. It has suggestions like: remove deleted applications’ files from the Preferences, Extensions, and Control Panels folders; remove temporary files; and remove downloaded files.
   • Windows Vista: Grade: B-
     Windows Vista has a hardware assessment tool that will evaluate your computer’s ability to run the appropriate Windows program securely and effectively. According to Microsoft’s Technet, “the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment Solution Accelerator provides secure, agentless inventory for up to 25,000 computers. It collects and organizes system resource and device information, network wide and remotely, from a single networked computer.”
   • Ubuntu: Grade: B+
     When pitted against Windows Vista, it’s easy to see Ubuntu’s hardware strenghts from security to reliability. Ubuntu has much less trouble adapting to the 64-bit configuration and excells in many other areas as well.
9. Default Web Browsers
   • OSX Tiger: Grade: A-
     Mac’s default Web browser, Safari 3.0, claims to be “up to 2 times faster than Internet Explorer.” This review from MacWorld details the pros and cons of Safari 3.0. While Steve Jobs praises the incredible speed, the author can’t find much difference between Safari and other browsers; however, the author was impressed by the improvements to the find-on pages.
   • Windows Vista: Grade: C
     It’s no secret that many users loathe Internet Explorer, opting instead to download Mozilla Firefox or other solutions. Although IE has been updated with tabs and a few other improvements, it’s still flawed with security and ease of use problems.
   • Ubuntu: Grade: A
     Ubuntu’s default browser is Firefox, which is widely applauded for its tight security and useful add-ons.
10. Administrator Accounts
    • OSX Tiger: Grade: B+
      Apple discourages using the administrator account frequently, as it exposes your computer to potentially insecure networks and even hackers. They advise users to set up personal accounts for everyday use so they can “prevent [themselves] from accidentally breaking their systems,” according to Apple’s Developer Connection.
    • Windows Vista: Grade: C+
      The User Account Control allows Vista users to run administrative programs as a standard user, making actions more secure and easier to use in general. This article explains, “running with standard user rights can therefore reduce urgent help desk calls in corporate environments, mitigate the impact of malware, keep home computers running more smoothly, and protect sensitive data on shared computers.” Some argue, though, that this process makes Windows more vulnerable to outside attacks.
    • Ubuntu: Grade: B-
      Administrator passwords are generally not necessary, unless you’re going to create a non-administrator account on the same network. The initial user must enter his or her password, but doing this is still controversial. You can read more information about managing users here. The author illuminates, “inevitably, once you set up Ubuntu in your home or office, others will come to you begging to get access…In other words, you need a good way to give them access without giving them the keys to the system.” Adding new users with restricted accounts is incredibly easy and secure with Ubuntu.
11. Sharing Computer Accessories
    • OSX Tiger: Grade: A-
      Mac and Windows can now share printers and faxes, according to Apple.com: “You can create a queue for as many shared Windows (and Macintosh) printers as you like, and any application that can print on the Macintosh can print to the shared printer.” Read this overview to find out how it’s all possible. Just remember, though, opening up your network to share accessories can have an impact on security.
    • Windows Vista: Grade: A-
      See above for sharing with a Mac. You’ll also want to check out this article, which gives tips on how to share a printer from Windows.
    • Ubuntu: Grade: B+
      Like most Ubuntu components, it’s easy to figure out how to share accessories, thanks to resources like Peter’s Blog, which shares with readers how to configure a system for printer sharing and writing.
12. Bluetooth Capabilities
    • OSX Tiger: Grade: B
      Last year, a Bluetooth worm infected the Mac OS X, but the problem has been fixed. No other viruses have posed major problems.
    • Windows Vista: Grade: B-
      Some users have complained of not being able to use their headsets with a Vista computer, even though the general Bluetooth system is quite compatible.
    • Ubuntu: Grade: B
      Configuring your Linux-based computer with Bluetooth may seem frustrating at first, but it’s definitely possible. Check out this helpful guide for a complete run down on linking up your phone and computer.
13. Data Protection
    • OSX Tiger: Grade: B+
      Apple has a solution in BakBone Software, which created exlusively for “Apple’s Xserve, Xserve RAID and Xsan product lines.” The program has a maximum data protection system that’s reliable and easy to use.
    • Windows Vista: Grade: B
      Windows Vista has a third party data protection solution, too. The BitLocker is a tool that is used when content is under attack or in the process of being stolen. It “addresses the threats of data theft or exposure from lost, stolen, or inappropriately decommissioned personal computers by providing a closely integrated solution in Windows Vista.” Lock down your system by encrypting it with BitLocker.
    • Ubuntu: Grade: A-
      Don’t worry, Ubuntu has one, too.R1Soft is compatible with Linux-based systems like Ubuntu. This software continuously backs up data as soon as it is entered into the computer. Traditional “methods often only provide data protection on a daily or weekly basis, resulting in large losses of data in the event of a disaster. R1Soft’s CDP Server, however, monitors changes to the disk as they happen, thereby reducing backup windows to seconds or minutes.”
14. Application Compatibility
    • OSX Tiger: Grade: A-
      Apple has become more compatible with Windows. Read this article to find out exactly how it works.
    • Windows Vista: Grade: A
      The Program Compatibility Assistant notifies users when new compatibility updates are available. Additionally, “Microsoft is also releasing an Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0 in alignment with the release of Windows Vista, allowing enterprises to immediately begin identifying application compatibility issues for their Windows Vista deployment in their current environment.” Consistent, continuous attention to application combatibility gives Vista a high score.
    • Ubuntu: Grade: A-
      Ubuntu’s Migration Assistant “will detect if you have a Windows partition on your system and offer to migrate your settings to Ubuntu.” Positive reviews are all over the Internet.
15. Permanent Deletion
    • OSX Tiger: Grade: A-
      The Tiger offers Secure Erase Trash to make sure you’re really destroying files. The applicatin “immediately overwrites the file with erroneous data, so that the file disappears and cannot be reconstructed.”
    • Windows Vista: Grade: C-
      The program Schredit “has a unique feature called Schred my Trashcan,” while Okoker Delete is “designed to help you permanently delete data from your PC by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns.” Double check the settings before you download, though. You’ll probably have to pay for it.
    • Ubuntu: Grade: B
      It’s possible to permanently delete items on Ubuntu, but like most other components of this OS, you’ll have to work for it.

Overall Review

• OSX Tiger: Overall Grade: A-
  Apple is continuously upgrading its security systems and design. Due out soon is the Leopard, which will probably include even more security features that are just as user friendly as the Tiger.
• Windows Vista: Overall Grade: B-
  Windows Vista has improved its security systems, but it’s still generally regarded as lacking in the user-friendliness department and tends to be a memory hog.
• Ubuntu: Overall Grade: B+
  When compared with giants OSX and Windows, Ubuntu is still a relatively unpopular OS, but it stands up to the competition well. Self-installation is regarded as one of the perks among Ubuntu techies, and the available technical support is easy to find and understand.

By Laura Milligan

Contrary to what many Americans think, hackers aren’t all bad. While some create nefarious viruses that steal personal information, shut down corporate networks, or even hack into the high profile (and top secret) systems of NASA and the Dept. of Defense, some hone their hacking skills by figuring out ways to stop the “bad” hackers, or black hats, as they’re sometimes called. Others use their hacking knowledge to improve security on websites, operating systems, or even develop new software programs.

Using their powers for good rather than evil, these hackers also possess a slight element of danger, they are armed with the knowledge to take over the Internet after all, giving them just enough of that bad boy or bad girl edge to sweep you off your feet. Take a look at this list of the 10 famous hackers I’d like to date.

1. Joanna Rutkowska: This Polish computer research specialist is probably the most attractive hacker on my list. Rutkowska has been busy testing the security systems on Windows Vista for a while now, but when she successfully broke into the Vista security checks, she earned herself a spot on the Five Hackers who Put a Mark on 2006 list compiled by eWeek Magazine. Why is she on my list of most dateable hackers? She’s unbelievably smart, unbelievably beautiful, and undoubtedly one of Vista’s most important assets.
2. Tim Berners-Lee: You might have a hard time convincing Al Gore otherwise, but Tim Berners-Lee is the real father of the Internet. This super suave Brit has won several prestigious awards and has even been knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Once kicked out of the elite Oxford University for hacking mischief, Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web Consortium and is a senior consultant at MIT. I’m sorry, but a knight, an accent, and the inventor of the Internet? Tim Berners-Lee, will you marry me?
3. Sarah Palin: Sarah Palin is an unlikely candidate for this list, not because of her looks (she’s gorgeous and a former beauty queen), but because she’s actually the governor of Alaska. Her hacking credentials come from an ethics investigation into the shady behavior of Republican party boss Randy Ruedrich, during which she legally hacked into his computer in pursuit of evidence. This plucky Tina Fey look-alike has got it all: brains, beauty, and power.
4. Lance Spitzner: Self-confessed computer geek and former U.S. Army officer Lance Spitzner is perhaps most famous for creating the The Honeynet Project, a nonprofit research alliance that is “dedicated to improving the security of the Internet at no cost to the public,” according to the organization’s website. Spitzner’s heart of gold has earned him a top spot on my list. Check out this article from the Hack Report to learn more about his work with the Honeynet Project.
5. Tsu