Screenshot and security contest
19 Nov 07 Filed in:Blogging
OS9 User News has launched a contest to promote security on the internet. The starting point is a screenshot of your desktop followed by a few tips on secure software.
The picture on my Mac desktop is a gnarly old tree stump. Sadly it's appeal is spoiled by endless files accumulated during a weekend of blogging. What you see is a bucket-load of material, mainly images in Photoshop, that needs to be sorted away or deleted. Tomorrow may never come, but if it does, I will try to be a tidy boy and do the right thing.
Let's talk security! Without wishing to trash Windows, if you are scared to surf the internet, scared of viruses and scared to click on emails, consider a Mac. There are no viruses to worry about and there are only a few simple steps to secure the computer and protect yourself from casual attack.
A Mac is still vulnerable to human engineering, ie no operating system on earth is going to protect people who respond to dodgy dialog boxes! "Click here on a file you have never asked for. It was just delivered to your desktop by sender unknown and we want you to look at it." These folks will likely be victims of on-line nastiness, but in general, with the inbuilt firewall running, and not using the admin account on-line, I have found surfing and blogging to be totally secure and fun on a Mac.
From left to right, Safari browser, Subethaedit editor, Rapidweaver blogging software, Cyberduck FTP software and Photoshop - these are the tools I use to keep the Pisstakers going.
Rapidweaver and Photoshop are fun to use, and the fun browser, editor and ftp software have extra security features, which I will talk about briefly.
I upload The Pisstakers to the server via Cyberduck, freeware ftp software from a guy into ducks.
Without boring you rigid, ftp is how you upload stuff from your desktop to a server. With Cyberduck, it is easy to take security to a new level with the sftp protocol which prevents all but the most determined prying eyes from taking a look at files en route.
Other Mac ftp software does the same sort of job. Some are free, some you have to pay for.
I expect I will get flamed by Windows users who have found Safari security flaws, but by and large, for years Safari on the Mac has been safe for browsing. It is easy to prevent any downloaded files from opening without your knowledge.
There are exploits in the Mac Operating System that can originate from Safari, but only if you are really really unlucky. And as long as you don't surf as an administrator, you would be the unluckiest surfer on earth to be crippled from internet related exploits when using a Mac.
(The big secret to Mac OSX is that you are warned of any software that tries to install itself. Only the administrator can give software the go-ahead to install itself. Simple security, but very effective if you aren't click happy.)
This is a basic text editor with a twist. You can collaborate with other users on-line using Rendezvous and everyone can make alterations to text on the fly. Pretty clever. And really secure if you follow this advice to set up a SSH tunnel!!
(I have done it, but only as an experiment. Email is good enough for someone like me, but more determined writers may find this option rather interesting.)
The Internet is taking over computing. Surfing and on-line social interaction is on the rise and we are getting used to downloading everything from images to bank statements to software. Bottom line, the issue of security isn't going to go away, so just make sure you deal with trusted sources only. and don't just say Yes willy Nilly to every request to install plug-ins and so-on on your computer.
And remember, don't buy anything online or enter very personal info on a site unless you can see that lock in the browser bar!
Join the contest and publish your desktop screenshot and let the world know about some cool secure software you use.
The picture on my Mac desktop is a gnarly old tree stump. Sadly it's appeal is spoiled by endless files accumulated during a weekend of blogging. What you see is a bucket-load of material, mainly images in Photoshop, that needs to be sorted away or deleted. Tomorrow may never come, but if it does, I will try to be a tidy boy and do the right thing.
Secure from the desktop to the internet and back again
Let's talk security! Without wishing to trash Windows, if you are scared to surf the internet, scared of viruses and scared to click on emails, consider a Mac. There are no viruses to worry about and there are only a few simple steps to secure the computer and protect yourself from casual attack.
A Mac is still vulnerable to human engineering, ie no operating system on earth is going to protect people who respond to dodgy dialog boxes! "Click here on a file you have never asked for. It was just delivered to your desktop by sender unknown and we want you to look at it." These folks will likely be victims of on-line nastiness, but in general, with the inbuilt firewall running, and not using the admin account on-line, I have found surfing and blogging to be totally secure and fun on a Mac.
Ed's blogging suite
From left to right, Safari browser, Subethaedit editor, Rapidweaver blogging software, Cyberduck FTP software and Photoshop - these are the tools I use to keep the Pisstakers going.
Rapidweaver and Photoshop are fun to use, and the fun browser, editor and ftp software have extra security features, which I will talk about briefly.
Secure ftp with Cyberduck
I upload The Pisstakers to the server via Cyberduck, freeware ftp software from a guy into ducks.
Without boring you rigid, ftp is how you upload stuff from your desktop to a server. With Cyberduck, it is easy to take security to a new level with the sftp protocol which prevents all but the most determined prying eyes from taking a look at files en route.
Other Mac ftp software does the same sort of job. Some are free, some you have to pay for.
Secure browsing on Safari
I expect I will get flamed by Windows users who have found Safari security flaws, but by and large, for years Safari on the Mac has been safe for browsing. It is easy to prevent any downloaded files from opening without your knowledge.
There are exploits in the Mac Operating System that can originate from Safari, but only if you are really really unlucky. And as long as you don't surf as an administrator, you would be the unluckiest surfer on earth to be crippled from internet related exploits when using a Mac.
(The big secret to Mac OSX is that you are warned of any software that tries to install itself. Only the administrator can give software the go-ahead to install itself. Simple security, but very effective if you aren't click happy.)
Subethaedit
(I have done it, but only as an experiment. Email is good enough for someone like me, but more determined writers may find this option rather interesting.)
Conclusion
The Internet is taking over computing. Surfing and on-line social interaction is on the rise and we are getting used to downloading everything from images to bank statements to software. Bottom line, the issue of security isn't going to go away, so just make sure you deal with trusted sources only. and don't just say Yes willy Nilly to every request to install plug-ins and so-on on your computer.
And remember, don't buy anything online or enter very personal info on a site unless you can see that lock in the browser bar!
Join the contest and publish your desktop screenshot and let the world know about some cool secure software you use.
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