Important- Do you let your Web browser save passwords for you? Read This.

Both Internet Explorer and Firefox offer to save a password every time you type one in. If you think about it, you probably realize it isn't a great idea, but it's SO convenient.

Remember this: For the browser to type the password, it needs to be readable, so anyone with access to your computer can see the passwords under certain conditions.

1. Firefox: All your remembered passwords can be viewed unless you set a master password. Go to Tools->Options-> Security and set a master password. This will encrypt the passwords. It isn't perfect, but it's a start.

2. Internet Explorer. Don't let it remember passwords. It's too easy for another person on your machine or a piece of malware to get them. If you don't believe me, go to nirsoft and see IE Passview

Fairpoint: A good idea?

Fairpoint, a small North Carolina telecommunications company, wants to buy Verizon's business in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. By almost all accounts, they have nowhere near enough money to do it. Here's are some interesting articles from Fosters.com (Fosters Daily Democrat) and The Phoenix, a Maine newspaper. Exclusive: No raises for seven years - News - The Phoenix

Update: May 2008 - Fairpoint is in. Verizon is out - now we're just watching to see what happens.

What is WiMax?

WiMax is the successor to WiMax, and follows the IEEE 802.16 standard as opposed to 802.11 we know and love. It allows much longer distances, up to 30 miles or so, vs WiFi's 300ft.

It uses completely different electronics, and different frequencies, but equipment can be produced that does both.

This technology is being used by cell phone companies like Sprint to supply high speed wireless internet to their customers as infrastructure as opposed to WiMax which is so short range it tends to be privately owned directly by the customers ( like homes or businesses ).

A good description can be found here:
PC Today Article - WiMax & Pre-WiMAX

WiMAX more than a Science Project?

From Ars Technica...

When wireless > DSL: Sprint, Motorola show off WiMAX on the Chicago River

On a muggy early-autumn evening, I set sail down the Chicago River with a group of Motorola and Sprint executives, marketing people, analysts, and journalists. Everyone was there to see one thing: Mobile WiMAX (802.16e) publicly demonstrated for the first time on Sprint's WiMAX spectrum, complete with hand-offs between towers.

With all the discussion about the upcoming 700MHz broadband auction and its potential to provide a third broadband pipe in the US, it's possible to lose sight of Sprint and Clearwire's WiMAX service, which will offer broadband-class speeds using the 2.5GHz spectrum. Dubbed "Xohm," Sprint's $5 billion WiMAX venture will be launched in the spring of 2008 in Chicago, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, with a nationwide rollout to follow.

more...

Don't Use Geek Squad

I guess Best Buy's Geek Squad is out of control, and not an organization you want in your house.

I'm reading this article right now, from a Geek Squad ex-pat.

There's also a question whether they search customers' computers for porn, and bring it back to the office.

Nasty

EEye Blink seems like a good product

A few weeks ago, the "Security Now" podcast from Steve Gibson (maker of a Hard Disk Saver named Spinrite), had an interview from Marc Maiffret from eEye, announcing that their security suite named "Blink" would be free for personal use.

The catch is that in the free personal edition any attack information that Blink sees is sent back to EEye. I don't view this as a privacy problem, which might be hypocritical, but I'd be surprised if Sym and Mc don't do the same thing.

The DoD has licensed their "Retina" product, and it's pretty good, and I've downloaded Blink for use on my main computer, and I like it.

Unfortunately there are rumors that eEye is having problems, so I'm afraid the company might go under or be absorbed by someone else, but I'm recommending the product to people who have their Symantec or McAfee products expiring because they stink so much.

Perry

Perry's Security Blog

In my work and research, I come up with things that are interesting in the field of data security, especially for protecting home networks for family and friends.

When things come up, I'll post them here as a central place to read things and get software that I recommend.

I'll try to keep camera and vacation stuff to a minimum

Perry