I use this windows utility regularly to check what connections are open. It is quite good to raise the bells. Netstat run this in command window and u will see all the connections established, and then u can ponder who is going where. The 2nd thing I use is mozilla browser to browse the internet other than trading / financial sites. Mozilla (mozilla.org is the origin of netscape) lets u block popups , and up to some imit web bugs for more information on web bugs. http://www.bugnosis.org/faq.html I also tried admuncher to stop popups , but that intercepts my streaming software, so I gave that up. Lastly I jave loaded linux on a old system ( you all will laugh at me if u know the specs) instead of throwing it in the garbage to surf the internet only. and it works as good as my windows 2000 system. Let us all be more proactive on our desktop security instead of throwing flames here and there. Sim
I am using the Google toolbar and it has a great pop-up blocker. A friend of mine who works as a network admin recommended this for hunting trojans and such. Its free and is updated like anti-virus software. I ran it yesterday and it ranks the stuff it finds from dangerous to harmless and lets you decide what to keep and what to remove. Supposedly it will find any keyloggers.
Yes. In a way it is. However it is already in use across the banking and financial networks. There are many layers of security in banking and financial transactions with which you are most likely unaware. This is a good thing by the way. The most important thing in any type of electronic financial transaction is ensuring the identity and instructions exchanged betweeen parties. You should certainly want a system which allows the highest security possible. Of course, in the case of IB - and many other companies - the use of a multi-part code implemented in a hardware key is very difficult to compromise - unless someone steals the key and has access to all the other layers they really cant break in. If you need this and IB offers it take it. However keep in mind that even without it - using ID's exisiting system and following sensible security precautions - the possibility of someone gaining access to your accounts is unlikely.
I surf with Opera. You can stop pop-ups by going to preferences. The odd extention of certain web pages might not open as they are based on microsoft. I find opera browser definitely faster than microsoft and especially no third party crap opens up or sits on my computer. www.opera.com
It is a novel business idea (I do not want to say or imply the author of Spybot did invent it): The author asks user to make donations. Though only a tiny fraction of the users does make a donation, since the software is used a multi-million times around the world he earnes a very comfortable income. Something in the 5 digit range per month (â¬). Obviously, this model works only when your software(service) is in really widespread use and sooner or later it is going to stop. regards Bernd Kuerbs