Personal Info Blocking Software: Looking for

[Scott]

Hi,

I'm looking for software that will inspect outgoing data for information I
specify (name, phone #, SSN) and stop it from being sent. I'm currently
using McAfee Guard Dog but it's no longer supported. Guard Dog has stopped
my name from being sent out several times. I don't know the name for this
type of software. Packet sniffer? Small and fast is good. Any
suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I'm not familiar with guard dog, but abide by all the following and you
should be in good shape -

Good security housekeeping tips, in no particular order:

* See http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm

* Go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download AdAware...install, launch, update &
run it. This will rid your computer of spyware/adware.

* Use antivirus software (www.grisoft.com has a freebie) and update it
regularly - at least once a week; daily if possible.

* Use a good firewall to block access to your computer from the Internet
(www.sygate.com is a decent freebie for a standalone workstation; hardware
appliances are a better choice for networks).

* Run Windows Update regularly (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) to get
all the latest patches for your operating system.

* See http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm for lots of information on
browser hijacking and how to stop it

* Do not use Imesh or Kazaa any other peer-to-peer file sharing software,
ever.

* Do not use Hotbar.

 

[Roger Parks]

Hi,

I'm looking for software that will inspect outgoing data for information I
specify (name, phone #, SSN) and stop it from being sent. I'm currently
using McAfee Guard Dog but it's no longer supported. Guard Dog has stopped
my name from being sent out several times. I don't know the name for this
type of software. Packet sniffer? Small and fast is good. Any
suggestions?

Packet sniffer is probably closest.

You may want to read the specs. of the various firewalls - one of them may
work as GD did.

Flexy Snort could do it, but that is a bit involved.

Why not stick with Guard Dog?

 

[FromTheRafters]

If you really need to kipe downloaded music, etc. Use KazaaLite, the spyware
is removed.

....but the security issue with p2p isn't the possible spyware packaged
with the service's software, it is with the downloaded files obtained by
using the service. Safe practices when handling these files can really
save your butt.

I've never met a filetype I could *really* trust.

 

[Nomad]

Ad-aware is free as well (for what 'you' want to do with it), and picks us
some stuff that Spybot doesn (and visa-versa).

Spybot Search and Destroy is hands above Adaware and doesn't require fee
payment, other than a suggested donation, to relaize it's full potential.

http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download

Norton Internet Security Suite can block personal info you specify and is an
OK personal firewall.

I use it primarily to block our young adult sons access to objectionable
sites and use BlackIce and a router/firewall for real protection.

If you really need to kipe downloaded music, etc. Use KazaaLite, the spyware
is removed.


RT


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

I'm not familiar with guard dog, but abide by all the following and you
should be in good shape -

Good security housekeeping tips, in no particular order:

* See http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm

* Go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download AdAware...install, launch,

update

&
run it. This will rid your computer of spyware/adware.

* Use antivirus software (www.grisoft.com has a freebie) and update it
regularly - at least once a week; daily if possible.

* Use a good firewall to block access to your computer from the Internet
(www.sygate.com is a decent freebie for a standalone workstation; hardware
appliances are a better choice for networks).

* Run Windows Update regularly (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) to get
all the latest patches for your operating system.

* See http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm for lots of

information

on
browser hijacking and how to stop it

* Do not use Imesh or Kazaa any other peer-to-peer file sharing software,
ever.

* Do not use Hotbar.

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free by the latest AVG data file. New
viruses not yet
in the database may have slipped through, so always perform your own local
scan.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.493 / Virus Database: 292 - Release Date: 25/06/2003


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free by the latest AVG data file. New
viruses not yet
in the database may have slipped through, so always perform your own local
scan.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.493 / Virus Database: 292 - Release Date: 25/06/2003

 

[Scott]

From: "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
<[email protected]>

Thank you for all of your tips. I have been following all of those except
for the bit about browser hijacking. I'll follow up on it. What I've
found, using CommView 4.0 is that my computer has been trying to send out my
name over the Internet quite frequently to IP addresses that belong to Asia
Pacific or Genuity. It seems to start after I go onto the web to a site
like SciFi.com. In your tips I would separately identify the need for
software to prevent information leaks. That's the kind of software I'm
looking for. I've got the anti-virus, the software firewall, the hardware
firewall, I run Ad-Aware, I use Naviscope to block ads, and Guard Dog to
stop cookies and personal information leaks on a case-by-case basis.

Norton Internet Security Suite can block personal info ...

Interesting. I've not been a fan of Norton products for a long time because
they always seem to have problems interacting with my Windows OS. I am
using NPROTECT from Norton Utilities and even that can cause some strange
things to happen, like creating a new folder hangs for 60 seconds before
displaying the folder name in the window. That problem is intermittent.

Why not stick with Guard Dog?

It's no longer supported and I'll be upgrading my OS from Win98SE to XP Pro.

 

[Sean mcintosh]

Packet sniffer is probably closest.

You may want to read the specs. of the various firewalls - one of them may
work as GD did.

Flexy Snort could do it, but that is a bit involved.

Why not stick with Guard Dog?

dude, try bullguard