Internet Security

[Roger]

Security was not a typical issue in the early years of the Internet; hackers were far and few between as we surfed the net. Getting "hacked" was limited to those brave souls who ventured far afield into the underbelly of the neo net. Everyone was still learning this new fangled way of communication, so no one was a real expert in the Internet's possibilities at that time. Now, well, times have changed, and any private information is now out there. If not through social media such as Facebook and Instagram, then perhaps via other social media apps or even lowly online transactions. Whichever way a person chooses to use the Internet, a "footprint" is left, and the more it is used, the more "footprints" are left to the ethernet. So indeed, no one is entirely secure. Nevertheless, anyone can make themself as secure as reasonably possible by using the following simple steps. Some come free others are pay-to-use or outright buy.

Get and use a...

1. Router
A router is a must-have, as it also adds an extra layer of protection and offers extra connections to other internet-capable devices. Some of the best for home use are: TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router, Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC5300, Linksys EA6350 AC1200+ Dual-Band Smart Wi-Fi Wireless Router, and NETGEAR - Nighthawk AX2700 Router. Of course, the prices and availability will vary according to the user's needs and requirements.

2. Virtual Private Network (VPN)
The benefits of a VPN include increases in functionality, security, and management of the private network. Also, encryption is available, which further enhances security. It is a must-have for personal and business purposes. Some of the best VPNs are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, IPVanish. They all have their pros and cons, and they usually involve a monthly fee but remember: "If it's free, you get what you pay for."

3. Firewall
A firewall is a virtual wall that works to allow non-threatening traffic and keep dangerous traffic out. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted network, such as the Internet. Some routers come with built-in firewalls. Firewalls can seem intimidating to the casual computer/internet user, but some are fairly easy to use. Some are free, and some are pay to use. The best free firewall is still Zone Alarm. There are several exceptional pay-to-use firewalls, but for the price, the best pick is Comodo Firewall.

4. Antivirus
An antivirus work by detecting, quarantining and/or deleting malicious code, thus preventing malware from causing damage to a device. Modern antivirus products update themselves automatically to protect against the latest viruses and other types of malware. Some of the better antiviruses (as selected by PCMag) are Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Bitdefender, and Webroot.

5. Other Software
There is a diverse selection of other helpful products to protect, secure, and enhance a user's internet experience. From malware protection to cleaning computers to helping manage the Internet, so to gain a better experience. As an example of some of the applications available: System Mechanic, Advanced System Care, Auslogic's Registry Cleaner, Ccleaner, Malware Bytes.

I have either used most of these products personally or read extensively on them as a prerequisite to purchasing them later. I do not recommend any particular product but offer suggestions as to what I and others think the best products of their kind are. Another thing to keep in mind, most of these products are automatically configured to run on Windows 10 and use its protocols. The condition and age of a computer are as important as what products a user might use. A Linux user might find these specific products incompatible with their OS. However, many of the same companies are now offering similar products to Linux users.

[Roger]

I forgot to mention that the browser you use can also help protect while surfing.

One of the more secure browser systems is Tor browser, some some people think it's a bit unwieldy to use and sometimes very slow, Yup, Tor browser can be a pain at times, but most often it isn't, and everything runs fine. Essentially, while connected to the Tor network, your activity can't be traced back to your IP address. Similarly, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) won't be able to view any information about the contents of your traffic, including which websites you've visited. The Tor network doesn't use VPN to hide your ID, as the Tor website explains:

"The goal of onion routing was to have a way to use the internet with as much privacy as possible, and the idea was to route traffic through multiple servers and encrypt it each step of the way. This is still a simple explanation for how Tor works today."

Furthermore, using Tor is NOT illegal, despite what some others might have you believe.

With all that said, Tor hides your online activity from prying eyes, but used with a VPN the security is even better. In fact, I still wouldn't contemplate doing any financial business using just Tor. I use a VPN, as well.

Tor has a lot of anti-stuff built into it, as it should, but that also means some websites might not let allow a connection while using Tor.

If you're still not comfortable using Tor, then try something like Ad-Blocker with your regular browser. Again, it ads a layer of protection so your surfing is more secure.

Here at Weird Reality we don't have ads, as we are self-funded and use unpaid volunteers, so the chances of being hacked are minimal. We also don't store or use any of our visitors information, or otherwise sell it.

If you want to learn more about internet security then I suggest Googling the term.

P.S. If you're going to use Tor and post, I suggest writing your article beforehand, then sign in and post. Otherwise, you'll face constant disconnection because of the security in the forum.

[Roger]

Another application that helps monitor the computer system is Belarc Advisor. Belarc Advisor gives a detailed but fairly easy to read list of what hardware and software your computer has installed, including the Security Updates your computer has, and what Security Updates might be missing. It's a good safe way of discovering and identifying hardware your computer has and the software that's installed, without getting all nitty gritty.

Belarc Advisor is available at no charge to individuals for their personal use, however they do have a Enterprise version that can be purchased.

If you want to download this app, or find out more about it, go to their website at Belarc Advisor

I get no compensation of any kind, nor am I associated with any software that I post about. I purchase and use them, or download them for no charge and use them. I use whatever software it happens to be for my personal benefit, and in doing so feel qualified to review them, then post that review here.