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HeartBleed Bug

By now you have heard news about the Heartbleed / OpenSSL vulnerability that is sweeping the internet. Since getting wind of the problem many programmers, website owners, and other security professionals have been working around the clock to secure their websites.

It’s still very early in the process and as of 4/10/2014 many operators have not yet addressed publically whether their sites were safe or affected. Lists are popping up that show safe and vulnerable websites.  However, the status of the website is as of a snapshot in time.  Thus, if a website operator was vulnerable but patched their website on Wednesday morning and the test was run on Wednesday afternoon, they may give you a false sense of security. Thus, it is not safe to rely on these lists to assess whether or not your accounts were affected since this vulnerability has been present for 2 years.

What is the issue?

This is not a virus or a hack.  This is a vulnerability in the programming code that allows intruders to get through the security “wall” that protects many websites.  This hole allows hackers to compromise the digital keys used to identify websites and encrypt the info.  It also provides a look at unencrypted data as it passes over the internet onto web servers.

Think of it this way:  You moved into a new house 2 years ago. You always lock your doors whether you’re home or away and have 24/7 alarm system. However, while you were painting your front door, you noticed a secret latch on the outside that releases the locks and allows strangers to walk in your front door. While in, they can grab your wallet, social security numbers, usernames, passwords, etc. as if they have a key to the house.  There’s no way to tell if anyone has accessed the house, but the opportunity has always been there.  Thus, the problem is not “backdoor” access to secure websites… hackers can waltz right in the front door.

I have told people for years never to log into a website, provide credit card numbers or any other sensitive information unless the URL address is preceded by https://. The https://, the padlock and the green color indicate that several things have happened behind the curtains, including:

  1. Verification that the website is really who they say they are – your browser verifies digital certificates to confirm that www.gmail.com is really Gmail.
  2. Encrypts the data as it passes across the internet – thus, if someone intercepts your username, password and credit card as it passes across the internet to a web server, it’s scrambled and completely useless to a hacker.

Unfortunately, this vulnerability compromised that security, leaving your passwords, usernames & credit card numbers vulnerable on affected web servers. With that said, you should still follow these rules going forward. They just have not provided the security that we all expected for the last 2 years.

Am I affected?

At this point, it’s not entirely clear which sites are affected – the development is so new that many web site owners are still scrambling to assess and apply patches.  While you can check the lists referenced above, they are as of a point in time. Your best approach is to either check in with your online providers (banks, shopping sites, email providers, etc) to find out whether they were affected, whether they have corrected the problems and what course of action you should take to protect yourself.

Is this a virus?

NO. Despite the subtitle of an Associated Press news article I read Wednesday morning, this is not a virus, but a security hole. According to a Google search

 Virus:  a piece of code that is capable of copying itself and typically has a detrimental effect, such as corrupting the system or destroying data.

 

Thus, running antivirus software or active scans will not detect or remove the problem.

What should I do? 

The first step in securing your accounts is to change passwords for all of your online accounts. But don’t jump out there and do it yet.  As of this writing (7AM EST on 4/10/2014) many websites have not applied the patches to OpenSSL so your changes would be made in vain.

You should already be in the habit of changing your passwords to critical sites every 3-6 months.  You’re not?  Neither is the rest of the world.  As such, use this as a wake-up call to freshen up your passwords.  Be sure they’re complex and use the following guidelines as minimum:

  1. Do not use your name, your user name, family names or familiar numbers, like your birthdate or home address.
  2. Avoid dictionary words.
  3. Use a passphrase instead of a password.
  4. Passwords should be at least 8 characters long.
  5. Employ characters from at least 3 of the 4 following groups:
    1. Uppercase letters;
    2. Lowercase letters;
    3. Numbers;
    4. Symbols;

A brief list of the internet’s most popular sites and whether or not they were affected is available here.

As always, feel free to contact me if you have questions about this problem.  If you want additional information on the bug, check out these articles:

Associated Press

The Register

CNET

DigitalTrends

Business Insider

Be safe out there!

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CryptoLocker

If you saw me right now, you would probably ask if I had just seen a ghost.  After reading several articles about a new extremely dangerous and destructive form of ransomware, I feel like I’m facing Freddy Krueger!

This is the kind of attack that keeps IT professionals up at night.

Most viruses, rootkits, and malware are annoyances and can be removed by tools that are readily available on the internet.  While some can be removed pretty quickly with killer apps like MalwareBytes, others may be more tenacious and require a recovery of your files and reinstallation of your operating system, a process that will take hours or days and cost a pretty penny. However, at the end of the day, all of your files can be safely restored either from your hard drive or a recent backup (you ARE backing up right?)  

This one is different.  It’s called CryptoLocker and it will ruin your day.  Here’s what it does:

CryptoLocker is a ransomware program that was released around the beginning of September 2013. This infection will encrypt certain files using a mixture of RSA & AES encryption. When it has finished encrypting your files, it will display a CryptoLocker payment program that prompts you to send a ransom of either $100 or $300 in order to decrypt the files. This screen will also display a timer stating that you have 96 hours, or 4 days, to pay the ransom or it will delete your encryption key and you will not have any way to decrypt your files. This ransom must be paid using MoneyPak vouchers or Bitcoins. Once you send the payment and it is verified, the program will decrypt the files that it encrypted. (thanks to Lawrence Abrams on BleepingComputer.com for this summary)

How do you become infected with CrptoLocker:

Currently, the infection is spread through emails pretending to be customer support notices from Fedex, UPS, DHL, etc. and the attachment is typically named Form_102213.pdf or Form_102213.pdf.exe (or some variant of these), but might also be disguised as a ZIP or other file type.

What if you get infected:

The first thing to do is disconnect your computer from the internet – this will prevent encryption of additional files.  If you’re working wirelessly, disable wireless on your PC.  If connected via Ethernet cable, pull the plug. Next call your IT pro and start deciding how important your encrypted files are to you. Also, figure out where your most recent backup is and how recently it was completed.  Most cloud-based backup services provide file versioning for a period of time.  For example, Carbonite saves previous versions of files for 3 months which could be your saving grace.

Removal of the malware seems to be straightforward according to the articles.  However, without the decryption keys it is absolutely impossible to decrypt your files. Thus, if you cannot recover the files from a recent backup and need them restored, your only option is to act quickly and send the ransom money. There is currently no tool available (or IT Pro) that can decrypt your files.

How to protect yourself:

1.      Be vigilant about opening email attachments – never open an attachment originating from unknown/unexpected sources (i.e. if you’re not traveling anywhere, don’t open a travel itinerary from Delta!).  Also, be careful when opening unusual attachments from trusted sources as their email may have been hacked.

2.      Be very careful about free software you download from the internet.

3.      Backup to an external hard drive ($85 for 1TB) and disconnect it from your computer or use an online service that provides versioning.

4.      Keep all programs updated and Windows Updates applied.

5.      Make sure you’re running System Restore on your PC.  This can help recover previous versions of files that have been encrypted.

6.      Apply the Software Restriction Policies outlined in this article using Local Security Policy or Group Policy (domain computers) to disable the malware’s ability to execute on your system.  This is fairly advanced, so please let me know if you want assistance applying these policies to your PC.  Also, keep in mind that these policies will block the malware in its current form. If the hackers modify the code to install from another location on your computer, these policies will not protect you.

The above tips can help mitigate the risk but the best tip is not to open suspicious files.  Tip #6 is the best available protection in the event that you accidentally open a file and obtain the infection in its current form.

One last comment on updates:  Don’t forget that Microsoft is ending support for Windows XP in April, 2014.  Expect threats like this on XP machines to heat up following the support sunset.

If you want to geek out on more technical details about the threat, take a look at these articles posted on BleepingComputer.com, MalwareBytes and Microsoft.

Stay safe out there!

 

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How Free is Free Wi Fi?

In the past couple of months, I have spoken with several clients that have experienced serious security breaches.  One client lost $15,000 when it was transferred from her checking account to someone else’s account.  Another person’s AOL email account was hacked by a stranger.  The hacker sent messages from the compromised account to the victim’s financial advisor and attorney requesting that they cut checks and mail them to an address in Ohio.  Several other friends, family and clients reported that their email accounts were hacked and they had spammed everyone in their address book. While the missing money is still being investigated by the bank and law enforcement authorities, the other infractions were enabled by users’ lack of attention to basic security precautions. The owner of the AOL account admitted that he had used the same simple password for close to a decade, acknowledged the error of his ways, but was dumbfounded that someone had actually hacked their way in and attempted to steal from him.  These are not stories I read about on the internet. They are friends, family and clients right here in my community.

I encounter simple passwords on a daily basis.  Things like password123 or kenspassword provide a minor speed bump for a determined hacker that wants access to sensitive information.  I discussed creating complex passwords in a blog entry last year and encourage you to read it.

So how do hackers obtain passwords and access accounts?  While some passwords are easily guessed, others are hacked using “brute force” methods – software that repeatedly guesses passwords until an account is unlocked. Still others are found written down on a sticky note and “hidden” on your computer monitor or desk for the world (and cleaning people) to see.

Sure, there are the “typical” ways that passwords are obtained by unauthorized users.  But how safe are you when accessing your accounts on public networks, such as free wi-fi in coffee shops and bookstores? There are a variety of free tools available on the internet that allow snoopers to monitor wireless channels, watching what their neighbors are viewing and collecting passwords, account names and a whole host of other useful information. As illustrated in this recent PC World article, it’s easier than ever for even a novice to gather very damaging information over public wi-fi.

So how do you defend against these criminals?  Here are a few pointers:

  1. Never log into your accounts on public wi-fi unless the website is SECURE**.  This includes all email accounts, online banking, Amazon, or any other service that might store your credit card numbers.  Also, beware of logging into your email account over public wi-fi, especially since your email account can be used to reset passwords for other accounts.  This also includes using MS Outlook. If Outlook is not set up to use a secure connection, then your password is being transmitted in clear text, meaning that the kid in the corner of the coffee shop has access to your email account. (Yes… even if you don’t have to enter a password to get your Outlook email, one is being sent to your mail servers behind the curtains).
  2. Make sure that your connection stays encrypted for the entire session, not just when you log in.  Various websites and email services allow you to tweak this setting.  For example, Gmail includes a Browser Connection option, “Always use https”.
  3. If you have access to a VPN at work, log in to that before surfing the web on a public network.
  4. BYOD (bring your own device).  If you are frequently on the go and need access to the internet, pick up a portable hot spot.  I just got one from Verizon for $0 upfront and $20/month.  This way, I always have access to the internet and can connect up to 10 devices.
  5. When in doubt, just wait until you get back home or to the office to conduct your banking, check email or buy that latest book from Amazon.

As a side note, I NEVER conduct financial transactions on someone else’s internet connection (coffee shops, hotels, or cousin Tommy’s house). I also NEVER check my email on someone else’s computer. You never know what malware or keylogger is lurking on someone else’s machine.

** How do you tell if a website is SECURE?  The address (URL) is preceded with https://.  If it is http:// (without the “s”), then you might as well stand up in the middle of the coffee shop and announce your login credentials. A SECURE connection (https://) indicates that a lot is going on behind the scenes. Your browser has verified that the website is who it says it is (yes, this is really Bank of America, not Vladmir’s fake banking site). It also indicates that anything you transmit across the internet, such as passwords, user names, and credit card numbers are encrypted, or scrambled.  Thus, even if Poindexter intercepts the information, it is worthless to him.

Just one more thing:  If you are using wireless at home and have not set up security on the connection, then everyone on your street can enjoy a free ride on your high speed connection.  Not only that, but your data is subject to the same snooping vulnerabilities described above.  Your wireless router should be set up with WPA or WPA2 security at a minimum.  Wireless router manufacturers have made it easier than ever to complete your initial setup, so it’s worth taking the time to do it right or call someone that can help you.

So take a few minutes to assess your online habits and IT security, whether you’re surfing from the office, from home or on public wireless. If all of this is just too much to digest, give us a call and we can help you navigate these dangerous waters before you surf.

Stay safe out there!

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Shop Safely This Holiday Season!

BREAKING NEWS FLASH:  Microsoft’s Internet Explorer Has a Security Flaw! 

As Yogi Berra famously said, “It’s déjà vu all over again”.

This is not the first time and certainly will not be the last that Microsoft issues critical security bulletins and patches. This warning is particularly timely in light of the upcoming holiday shopping season.  According to comScore, online purchases during the 2011 holiday season topped $37 billion, a 15% increase over the previous year.  Forecasters are projecting growth of 12% or more in 2012.

One of the security bulletins released on November’s Patch Tuesday addressed multiple vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer (IE). For those of you who have not followed my recommendation to dump IE in favor of Google’s Chrome browser, it is absolutely critical to apply this update as soon as possible.   This is even more urgent if you plan to shop online next week and enter your credit card information.

To make sure that Windows (and IE) is completely up to date, take a look at my September post.  It outlines the steps to verify whether Windows Updates are current and how to ensure they are installed automatically going forward.

While you’re at it, take a look at my March 2012 blog post about staying safe online. There I touch on public wireless networks, antivirus software, applying Windows Updates and utilizing strong passwords.  I also discuss the importance of ensuring that a website is secure (https://) before entering credit card information.

If you want more details on the current batch of Microsoft Updates (or simply need help sleeping), take a look at the article in PC World or Microsoft’s Security Bulletins.

Stay safe out there.  Please contact me if you need assistance securing your system.

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The Problems with Free Email

You finally made the jump from DSL to your cable internet service provider (ISP) and they offered a pile of “free” email addresses.  Awesome, right? Not so fast!

Before changing your address to billybob@coyotecable.com, there are a few things you should consider.

I work and communicate with a lot of people who took advantage of free email addresses provided by their ISP.  I always wonder what they will do when they decide to switch ISPs again to save a few bucks, improve their TV channel line up or escape a bad customer service situation.

Most of the free addresses in my area are with Time Warner Cable (TWC) or Bellsouth / AT&T.  In the last few years, AT&T’s U-Verse (TV/Internet/phone) has made a big splash in our market and lured away many long time cable and DSL customers.  So what happens with your Roadrunner email address when you jump ship?  I called the cable company to find out.  Unfortunately for cable customers, the email address goes away when you cancel cable.  Suddenly those free email addresses don’t look so free anymore!

Here are a few good reasons that using your provider’s free addresses is a bad idea:

  1. Portablility – as mentioned above, you frequently cannot take your email address with you when you leave the cable company for a new ISP.  A buddy of mine has moved from Chicago to New Orleans to California.  Each time he moves, his email address changes to the local cable company. I never know where to find him.
  2. POP – most cable companies offer very basic POP3 services.  In its most basic setup, any messages downloaded to Outlook or Outlook Express are removed from the email server.  Thus, if you want to look at your messages from another computer (at work) then you’re out of luck.
  3. Lack of features – many cable services offer email only.  While they have limited contact management features on their webmail portal, contacts don’t sync up well with Outlook or other mail clients. In the unlikely event that an online calendar is offered, it’s not very robust.
  4. SPAM – keep your email address long enough and you will eventually get so much spam that it’s tempting to abandon the account.
  5. Capacity – while some ISPs now offer larger email boxes, they have traditionally not provided a whole lot of capacity.  I recently looked at a business-class client whose ISP only allocated 100 MB to each mailbox.  That’s only about 20-25 photos of your newborn niece.
  6. Cost – “free” addresses are included in your monthly internet service bill.  However, if you jump ship to another company, be prepared to pay a monthly fee to maintain your old email address so friends, family and online retailers can find you. This, of course, assumes that you can keep your address at all. This happened to me when I left Mindspring a few years back.  I was able to keep the address for a monthly fee.
  7. Relay – Have you ever taken your laptop to a coffee shop or hotel and tried using Outlook or Windows Live Mail to answer your emails?  Incoming messages work fine. However, outgoing messages get stuck in your outbox and cannot send until you’re back at home.  This is because many POP3 accounts require authentication when a user is connected to a network outside of their home network.  This can be fixed with the right configuration.  Good luck setting it up so that it works right every time.

Back in the early days of the internet and email, I signed up for new dial up services every few months depending on who sent me floppy disks and a free trial.  I jumped from AOL to Prodigy to Infinet to CompuServe to WorldCom… It wasn’t a big deal because no one used email for important correspondence – just for forwarding jokes.

Changing your email address is not so easy today.  When you change your address, you not only have to notify friends and family, but also your customer accounts with Amazon, iTunes, ABC Bank, etc.  Changing addresses and logins tied to an email address can be a monumental hassle. As such, plan to transition to a new address over the course of several months.

What to use?

There are a variety of web-based email providers that are not tied to your physical connection.  Players include Gmail, Hotmail (now Outlook.com), Yahoo!, Netscape, AOL, Netzero, MSN, etc., etc., etc.  These are all free and will not change when you jump internet providers.

 Folks that know me and my love for all things Google will not be surprised to hear me recommend Gmail. There are a variety of reasons that I recommend Gmail including:

  1. Portability – since Gmail is web-based and not tied to your physical connection, there’s no need to change if you move your internet service.
  2. Web/cloud based – while it is possible to use an email client such as Outlook or Outlook Express, there’s no compelling reason to install anything onto your PC. Simply launch your browser and navigate to Gmail.com. If your hard drive crashes, there’s no need to worry about losing years of email, hundreds of contacts or your calendar. All of this information is stored safely in the cloud.
  3. Features – Gmail includes your email platform (complete with folder capabilities), a robust calendar system (allows multiple calendars and shared calendars) and a good contact manager. Additionally, Google Docs provides a web-based alternative to costly MS Office applications (Word & Excel).
  4. SPAM Filters – Google’s SPAM filters are phenomenal.  I have seen Yahoo accounts that receive SPAM 5:1 over legitimate messages.  On the rare occasion that SPAM gets through Google’s filters, I can flag it as SPAM and Google learns and prevents it in the future.
  5. Large capacity – the standard free account now offers 10GB of space – FREE.  That’s tremendous capacity.  I have used my Gmail account for almost 5 years and have only filled 31% of their generous allocation.  If that’s not enough space, purchase Google Apps for $50/year. They give you 25GB of space and a few other bells & whistles.
  6. FREE – yes, that’s correct.  It costs nothing.
  7. Relay – since Gmail is web-based you never have to worry about outgoing messages getting stuck in your outbox when you’re away from your home network.
  8. Mobile Sync – if you’re using an Android phone or tablet, simply link your device to your Google account and your email, calendar, contacts, cloud documents, etc. all seamlessly sync between Google’s cloud and your device. Apple’s devices sync well with your Google account too, once you configure the account properly.  Plus, when you delete or file messages on your portable device, they are synced with your inbox back at the computer and vice versa.  Blackberry?  Maybe.  Google has cooled to the BB platform, so support may be lean going forward.
One last thing to consider: Several free providers, including Yahoo and AOL, are tired of losing accounts to Gmail and have made it difficult to walk away from your account.  The most notable methods they use is to disable forwarding to another address and disable POP3 access.  This removes your safety net, since many people would simply keep the old account and forward it to the new account indefinitely. Yahoo will enable forwarding and POP3 if you pay them $20/year for a Premium account.

If you have an existing ISP email address and are thinking about jumping to another internet provider, it’s probably a good time to begin the process of closing your existing account and migrating to a new online account. I usually advise 3 months.

If your business is seeking branded email, we can help set that up as well.

Ready to make the jump but unsure where to start? Contact PartnerTechs for guidance and we will launch you painlessly into the 21st century.

 

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Ready for Big Time Productivity?

In the past month, I have set up dual monitors for several clients.  A couple of these users had seen multiple monitors used by others and were ready to make the jump.  One user did not know it was possible, but has been blown away by his increased productivity.  In most cases, the users were non-technical and thought that multiple monitors were either costly to purchase and setup, beyond the capabilities of their existing equipment, or too difficult to use.  After experiencing their expanded screen real estate for a few days, they’re hooked for life.  

I have used dual monitors for almost a decade.  Not only does it reduce constant toggling between open applications (Alt+Tab), it also saves on paper usage.  Just think of all the times you have printed a document simply to transfer information from one page into a spreadsheet or document.  Imagine eliminating the printed page(s) and transcribing (or copying/pasting) from one screen to another.  I typically keep email/calendar open on the left (smaller) screen and spreadsheets or web sessions on the right (wide) screen.

Researchers are divided on whether productivity actually increases with extra monitors. A New York Times article cites several studies and academic opinions on the topic. Some academics think that multitasking kills productivity, while others laud the benefits of extra screens. At the end of the day it comes down to the type of work you’re doing, your work habits and your ability to efficiently juggle multiple tasks.

VGA and DVI PortsMost desktop computers include dual video ports – an analog VGA (blue) and digital DVI (white).  Laptops generally have a video port that supports an external monitor, although some Ultrabooks do not include external video ports.  Be sure you look at the ports available on your PC to make sure the display that you select matches up. Some monitors have both VGA and DVI connections, although the cheaper models will have only one.  Before you carry it out of the store make sure the box contains the appropriate video cable, otherwise you will have to make another trip.

Also, be aware that installing a second monitor can adversely affect your PC’s performance, especially if the graphics adapter is embedded on your motherboard.  When this is the case, the computer’s processor and system memory have to carry the load of two displays, so less memory is available for the operating system and programs to use.  You can avoid this performance hit by installing a graphics card with its own processor and memory.

Installing an extra monitor is usually as simple as connecting to the appropriate port on your computer.  Once the monitor is connected, you will need to enable multiple monitors in Windows, tweak the resolution settings for the new monitor and turn on Clear Type in order to smooth the fonts.  Instructions for these tasks are beyond the scope of this article but can be found here.   Installing a graphics card is a bit more complicated and beyond the scope of this article. Windows 7 display settings

Computer monitor costs have plummeted dramatically over the last few years.  Once a high cost item, a 20” monitor can now be had for about $100. In fact, CompUSA is currently advertising a 20” monitor for $79.97.  Larger 21” – 23” displays are available for $100 – $125.  When displays were expensive I used to get caught up on name brands.  At today’s prices who cares if you buy a monitor manufactured by Joe’s Computers and Hair Products?  If you cruise the monitor aisle at Best Buy, CompUSA, or Amazon you will notice that the big names like Samsung command premium prices.  However, to save money, look at brands you’ve never heard of such as AOC, Planar, and Hannspree.  At $99 for a 22” device, it’s not too painful if you only get 3 years out of it. And don’t waste your money on an extended warranty.  This is just a ploy for retailers to squeeze out a little more profit margin.

If you’re ready to make the jump but concerned about fouling something up, give us a call.  In most cases this add-on can be setup and configured in less than an hour.

Once you’ve installed the desktop expansion and had a few weeks to play with it, post a reply and tell us what you’re doing with all your new found spare time!

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Microsoft Issues Critical Update for Internet Explorer

In case you missed my Facebook and LinkedIn posts over the weekend, Microsoft issued a Critical Security Bulletin on Friday to address vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer.  The security hole may allow remote hackers to access your computer and execute code on it. In other words: NOT GOOD.

If you regularly use Internet Explorer (IE) you should install the Microsoft patch without delay. If you don’t use IE you should update anyway. Either way, you should always make sure you apply all Windows Updates as well as updates for troublesome apps such as Adobe and Java.

If your computer is set to automatically install updates, you’re probably fine.  However, it’s worthwhile to check your system tray (bottom right hand corner of the screen) to make sure you don’t have any pending Windows Updates.

For more geeky details and analysis, take a look at this article in Information Week.

ADD ON:

After sending out this post, I received several responses asking how to verify that Windows Updates are up to date.  Here’s the easiest way to check and also set them to install automatically so you won’t have to worry:

Windows 7:

1. Start>All programs>Windows Update

2. At the top left of the Windows Update page click on Check for Updates

(this will take a few minutes)

 

 3. Once it’s complete, look for ‘Important Updates’.  If any are listed, click the ‘Install Updates’ button.  If there are none, you’re fine.  It will probably list Optional Updates, but I would not install those.

To make sure your updates are applied automatically in the future:

1. On the same page as above, click on ‘Change Settings’.

2. Under Important Updates, change to ‘Install Updates Automatically’.

 

Windows XP:

1. Start>All Programs>Windows Update

2. A web browser will open and navigate to the following page:

3. Click on Express and Windows will check for updates.  Once the scan is complete, choose Install Updates.  Once this is complete, the machine will likely require a restart.

4. To make sure that Updates are applied automatically going forward:

Start > Control Panel > Security Center > Windows Updates (select Automatic)

That’s it.

Stay safe out there!

Ken