You can also review the book’s detailed Table of Contents using Amazon’s ‘Look Inside’ feature.
1: Introduction
Why You Need this Book
About this Book and How to Use it
How this Book is Organized
About the Sister Website
About the Symbols Used in this Book
About the Screenshots Used in this Book
About Copyright and Downloads
I - THE BASICS
2: Risks at a Glance
Malware
Cracked Passwords
Shared Networks; Sniffing
Online Tracking; Profiling
Physical Security
Scams; Spoofing; Phishing
Spam
Adversaries
3: Importance of Good Passwords and Passphrases
What Makes a Good Passphrase
Automatically Generate a Strong Passphrase
Different Passphrases for Different Accounts
Using Tools to Keep Track of Your Passphrases
4: Avoiding Identity Theft
Introduction
Protecting Yourself from Phishing Attacks
If You Get Phished In
Protecting Yourself from Keyloggers
Understanding Credit Reports and Data Brokers
Checking Your Record with Credit Reporting Agencies
Checking Other Sources
Identity Theft Prevention Checklist - How to Protect
Yourself
More Resources
5: Social Networking Sites and Online Forums
Introduction
Understanding the Risks
Assume that Blog Entries are Forever
Your Social Media Presence is not Wholly within Your
own Control
How to Stay Safe
Settings and Good Habits
What Never to Post
Don’t Implicate Yourself, Dummy
Think Before Clicking on Links
6: Protecting Yourself from Malware
What is Malware?
What is a Virus?
What is a Worm?
What is a Trojan?
What is a Rootkit?
What is an Email Bug or Web Bug?
What are Adware and Spyware?
Are You Infected?
What’s Running on Your System?
Using Anti-malware Software
Recommended Anti-malware Software
Don’t Surf as an Administrator
Typing Email Links into Your Browser
Using Spam Filters
Don’t Hide Your File Extensions
How to Check What Services are Running on Your System
(Advanced Users)
Disabling a Service
7: Basic Windows Security
Introduction
Using Your Screensaver as Security
Renaming the Windows Administrator Account
Disabling the Windows Guest Account
A Special Note for Home Users
8: Using Firewall Software
Introduction
How to Use Firewall Software
Ports Explained - An Introduction
Testing Your Ports
Recommended Firewall Software
Another Way to Block Undesirable IP Addresses
9: Dangers of Wireless Networks and “Hotspots”
Introduction
Disabling File Sharing
Properly Configuring Your Router
Changing the Default Username and Passphrase
Disabling Service Set Identifier (SSID) Number Broadcasting
Encrypting Your Wireless Connection
Using Media Access Codes (MACs)
How to Determine Your MAC
Changing the (Subnet) IP Address
Using Hotspots Securely
Beware of Spoofers and Phishers
Beware of Sniffers
II - SAFEGUARDING YOUR COMPUTER AND BEING SAFE ONLINE
10: Covering Your Tracks and Washing Up
Introduction
Why You Need to Remove Trace Data from Your Computer
Records your Web Browser Keeps
Removing the Records Your Browser Keeps
Internet Explorer
IE’s Stealth Mode
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox’s Stealth Mode
Google Chrome
Chrome’s Stealth Mode
A Caveat to Keep in Mind (Advanced Users)
Clearing Your Most Recently Used (MRU) Records
The Records Your Registry Keeps
Cleaning Your Registry of Trace Data (Advanced Users)
Introduction
Accessing the Registry
Part 1: Finding the Sensitive Information
Part 2: Removing Sensitive Information from the Registry
Other Tips
Cleaning Difficult Trace Data from Your System
Removing Temporary Files
Flushing Cached DNS Entries
Washing up after Leaky Applications, Compound Files
and Private File Systems
Clearing the Windows Paging (Swap) File
How to Edit the Registry to Clear the Paging File
Finding and Deleting “Flash” Cookies
Recommended Software for Clearing Unwanted Trace Data
Premium (Not Free) Software
Free Software
About Forensic Software
Introduction
How Forensic Software Experts Go About their Task
How to Affordably Examine Your Own Hard Drive
11: Protecting Your Identity and IP Address with Anonymous Surfing
Introduction to IP Addresses
What is an IP Address?
IP Address = Your Online Fingerprint
The Privacy Risks
Online Tracking and Profiling
Using a Limited User Account to Surf the Web (and to Minimize Damage by
Hackers)
IP Address Tools
Surfing Anonymously Using a Web Proxy
Finding a Web Proxy to Use
Using a Web Form-based Proxy
About Proxy Service Providers
Setting Up a Web Proxy in Your Browser
Always Test the Proxy
Supported Protocols and Ports
Surfing Anonymously Using a Virtual Private Network
(VPN)
Testing Your VPN
Recommended VPN Services
VPN Services
Testing Your Proxy or VPN: What is My IP Address?
Determining Your IP Address
Monitoring Your Ports (Advanced Users)
Using a Separate Web Browser for Sensitive Activities
Introduction
Recommended Browsers
Using Web “Ripping” or Mass Downloading Software
Introduction
Recommended Software
Premium (Not Free) Software
Free Software
12: Getting Downloads Using Torrents and Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
Introduction
Keeping Secure Using Peer-to-peer (“P2P”)
Introduction
Understanding the Risks
Lots of Malware
Copyright Implications
Too Easy to Share
Lots of Spyware and Adware
P2P Reveals Your IP Address
What Can a P2P User Do?
BitTorrent-based versus “File Sharing” P2P Software
Recommended P2P Software and Tools
P2P Software
BitTorrent-based Software
File Sharing-based Software
Torrent Search Engines (aka Torrent Indexes)
IP Blocking Tools
Selecting the Best P2P Privacy Settings
Anonymous P2P via a SOCKS Proxy or VPN
Introduction
Anonymizing P2P Services
13: Encrypting Your Files to Keep them Safe
Introduction
Keeping Your Data Secure
Using BIOS Passwords
A Quick Reminder about the Importance of Passphrases
Best Solution for Privacy and Security: Encrypted
Virtual Drives (EVD)
How Encrypted Virtual Drives (EVD) Work
Installing Sensitive Software on Encrypted Virtual
Drives (EVD)
Caveat: Encryption is Not Foolproof
Recommended Encryption Software
Why Passphrases Matter
Different Passphrases for Different Encryption
Software
Portable Drives, Memory Cards and Encryption
Introduction
Tip: Don’t be Obsessed with Capacity
Tip: Using Memory Cards
14: Wiping Your Sensitive Data
Introduction
What Happens When You Delete a File?
Using a Shredder for Your Data
Sensitive Data can also be Recovered from Your Hard
Drive’s File Slack
Wiping Physical Media
What Even Wiping Leaves Behind: Directory Entries
Introduction
Why Directory Entries Remain
About Temporary Files and Filenames
Getting Right Down to the Cluster Level of Your Drives
(Advanced Users)
Recommended Wiping Software
Data Wiping Software
Tools for Wiping an Entire Drive
File Recovery (Undelete) Utilities
Detailed Example of File Wiping and Directory Entry
Purging (Advanced Users)
Purging All Your Directory Entries
Wiping Your Drive’s Free Space
The Lessons Learned
15: Using Email, Webmail and Remailers
Introduction
Email Basics
Understanding that Email Travels as Plain Text
How Email Headers Give You Away
Key Email Headers Explained
Testing Your Email for Privacy
Webmail and Secure Mail Services
Introduction
Advantages of Webmail
Secure Mail Services
Setting up a Quasi-Anonymous Private Webmail Account
Tips when Signing Up
Don’t Email, CC or BCC Your Personal Email Account
How to Use Your Private Webmail as Anonymously as
Possible (Advanced Users)
Temporary and Disposable Email Addresses
Introduction
Some Services to Try
Introduction to Remailers
The Basics
Remailer “Syntax”
How Private is Private?
Remailers and Attachments
Web-based Anonymous Remailers
Introduction
Some Web-based Remailers You Can Try
16: Usenet Newsgroups
Introduction
About Usenet (and its many Downloads)
The Basics
How Usenet is Organized
What Are You Missing? (Censored Newsgroups)
What is Newsreader Software?
What People Can Find Out About Your Usenet Newsgroup
Activities
Posting is Traceable
“
Even Only “Lurking” Leaves a Trail
Accessing Open News Servers
Open News Servers Listed on the Web
Recommended Usenet Software
Newsreader Software
NNTP Utilities
Commercial Usenet Services
Introduction
Usenet Services
NNTP-Based Services
Web-Based Services
Accessing Open News Servers with an NNTP Sniffer
(Advanced Users)
Using NNTP Sniffer Software
Posting Anonymously to Usenet (Advanced Users)
Introduction
The Risks of Posting to Usenet
Method 1: Using a Web-based Remailer
Method 2: Using Your Email Account with a Remailer
Method 3: Using a Web-based Newsgroup Service to Post
Anonymously
Method 4: Using Third-party Software to Post
Anonymously
17: Chat, IRC and Instant Messaging
Introduction
The Basics of Chat, IRC and IM
What are the Risks?
How to Stay Safe
Chat, IRC and IM are Meant to be Fun
More about IRC
What are Channels?
A Quick Security Note
Fserve
DCC
Protecting Your Identity on Chat, IRC and IM Using a
SOCKS Proxy
Finding a SOCKS Proxy to Use
Using a Foreign IRC server
Setting Up the SOCKS Proxy to Use in Your IRC, Chat or
IM Software
VPN Services for Chat, IRC and IM
Services to Try
Testing the VPN
Monitoring Your Ports (Advanced Users)
Recommended Software and Tools for Chat, IRC and IM
Internet Chat (IRC)
Instant Messaging (IM)
IRC Search Engines
III - SPECIAL INTERESTS
18: Are They Up to No Good?
Introduction
Checking the Most Recently Used (MRU) Items in Windows
Checking the Web Browser’s History
Checking the Web Browser’s “AutoFill” Feature
Checking the Recycle Bin
Searching for Terms in Filenames
Manually Searching the Registry (Advanced Users)
If You Find Some Indications, but No “Smoking Gun”
If You are Still Suspicious, but Can’t Find Anything
19: Workplace and Small Office or Home Office (SOHO) Issues
Introduction
Don’t Be Stupid
Surfing at Work
Physical Security at Work
The Privacy Risks Posed by Printers and Copiers
How Print-Outs Can Be Traced
Which Printers are Affected?
Office Copiers also Carry Risks
How to Protect Yourself
Small Office and Home Office (SOHO) Considerations
Introduction
Security and Privacy Strategies for SOHOs
20: Keeping Your Children Safe Online
Introduction
There is No Substitute for Good Parenting
The Basics
Web Surfing
Social Networking Sites and Online Forums
Chat and Instant Messaging (IM)
Consider Using Monitoring Software
21: Shopping Safely Online
Introduction
Know Your Merchant
“
Careful Using Wireless Networks and Hotspots
Keeping Your System Up-to-date
Using Strong Passphrases
Using Temporary and Disposable Email Addresses
eShopping is Meant to be Fun
“Top Tips” for Internet Privacy, Anonymity and Security
###