Computer Security Basics

Backup Data Plans

Backup data plans are a security failsafe for when the original data is damaged or lost. This can be due natural disasters, hardware/software malfunction, user error, physical access to your device by the attacker, spyware and malware, and other risks. By backing up data, you can restore the data that was lost onto the device. It is recommended that you keep your backup in a separate location from the device that contains the original data.

Three possible cloud-based data storage solutions include:

CrashPlan

CrashPlan subscriptions cost $60 a year or $6 a month. The service provides a Family Plan which allows up to 10 computers to be backed up for $12.50 a month. Once subscribed to any plan, users are given unlimited storage space, their data fully encrypted with a 448-bit Blowfish key and the option to add their own password. CrashPlan possesses continuous file backup and checks for new files every 15 minutes by default, which can be adjusted by the user. Resource usage is about 6-7% during restorations, and has unlimited deleted-files protection (files are not deleted after a 30 day period). CrashPlan also has a mobile application that allows you to share files.

If the time comes when you need to restore, CrashPlan will mail you an external hard drive for restores over 300GB, up to 3.5TB, for a fee of $300. Included in the fee is the prepaid return label to send back the storage drive as required after restoration. I assume you are able to restore over the Internet for restorations less than 300GB.

Backblaze

Subscriptions with Backblaze cost $50 per year or $5 per month. With one subscription, users gain unlimited storage space for one PC or Mac. Backblaze encrypts your data with a 128-bit AES symmetric key with SSL connection, and users can add their own password. The service has continuous file backup that checks for new files about every hour. Backblaze also uses modest resource usage, and has a mobile application. Files that are greater than 38MB cannot be downloaded using the mobile app.

For hefty restorations, Backblaze sends you a 128GB USB flash drive for $99, or a 4TB external hard drive for $189. Users are allowed to keep these storage devices. Unique to Backblaze, users can restore individuals files using the web application. The author of the linked article was able to download a movie in approximately 1 minute at a speed of 4 Mbps, the average for other services was 4.2 Mbps. Lastly, Backblaze keeps deleted files for up to 30 days before they are permanently removed from storage.

iDrive

iDrive’s only regular subscription is for 1TB of storage for $45 a year. However, unlike the other services listed, iDrive is the only one to offer a free 5GB plan, and also three Wi-Fi plans:

  • $100 for 1TB
  • $150 for 2TB
  • Free one-year subscription for 1TB of data for users with a free plan who purchased iDrive Wi-Fi

Any of iDrive’s subscriptions permit backups to an unlimited number of devices, but unfortunately, iDrive is lacking in providing unlimited storage.

Data is protected with a 256-bit AES encryption, and users are able to create their own private key. Deleted files are not automatically expunged from storage after a fixed number of days has passed (typically 30 days) without action from the user. Last but not least, iDrive has a mobile application that users can restore and share files on, and backup their phone’s content.

Source: Tom's Guide

Antivirus Software

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2016

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2016 ranked as the best antivirus software for 2016 in Top Ten Reviews using data from by AV-Test, an independent lab that tests security software. Firstly, Bitdefender detected 100% of the 20,094 malware samples AV-Test ran through it. Of the 20,094 malware samples, 165 were “zero-day malware,” another term for malware with unknown signatures. Most of the malware used were discovered within the four weeks prior to the test.

As we learned in our textbooks, this detection technique is called dynamic heuristic detection, which creates a simulation on how the malware affects the central processing system and computer memory. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2016 also scored high on performance, in which it didn’t slow down the speed as much as the other softwares tested, and usability, how accurately the program determines safe and unsafe files. Lastly, in comparison to its evaluated competitors, it also had minimal consumption on the computer’s resources.

Notable features:

  • Rescue mode
  • Cooperates with Windows security monitoring settings
    • Notifies you of new patches
    • Warns you that a change in security configurations could be unsafe
  • USB immunizer to block malware from flash drive and other USB devices
  • Provides a browser that protects against fraud
  • Monitors privacy settings on social networking sites
  • Tracks and blocks known phishing and scamming sites
  • Warns and blocks infected links
  • File shredder
  • Prevents a file from being recovered using file recovery softwares
  • Personal data filter

Source: Top Ten Reviews

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2016

Kaspersky detected 98.2% of malware. including zero-day malware. Kasperky records the PC in the user network that is a threat (the article doesn’t say what it does next. I suspect it probably to block or scan any inbound connections from that PC). The antivirus doesn’t affect computer speed or resources even while processing full scans. It also gave no false alarms about the presence of malware. Lastly, updates are small as to not slow down the computer.

Notable features:

  • Protects viruses from
    • Malware
    • Spyware
    • Rootkits
    • Ransomware
  • Anti-phishing and identity theft protection
    • Warns and blocks threatening sites
  • Can make backup copies of your file before ransomeware encrypts them
  • Provides a virtual keyboard to circumvent keyloggers

Source: Top Ten Reviews

McAfee Antivirus Plus

McAfee blocked 98.9% of the 165 zero-day malware. The program did not give any false indications about infection and uses modest number of computer resources.

Notable features:

  • Unlimited device licenses
  • Scans for out-of-date Windows installations and programs
  • Erase unnecessary files to improve performance
  • Customize scanning
    • Select or exempt files
    • Network drives
    • E-mail and instant messaging attachments
  • File shredder
    • Erases files thoroughly so they cannot be recovered with a file recovery softwares
  • Firewall

Source: Top Ten Reviews