Security

Introduction
DOS/Windows Archivers
Macintosh Archivers
Anti-Virus Software
Other Security Software

Many users are familiar with the password facility in Microsoft Word, which allows the use of a password to restrict access to a Word file (if you set a file's password, one can't open it unless you know the password). Microsoft Works doesn't have this capability, so in order to protect Works files from being viewed by those who are unauthorized, you need to enlist the aid of a seperate application. This separate application is usually a file archiving program which will allow you to put your Works file into an archive and put a password on the archive. This does add another level of complexity to the issue, as the person receiving the file has to have not only Microsoft Works, but also a program which will allow them to open the archive. Fortunately, most people have such software on their computers already, and, if they do not, software to open the archives is often available for free.

On the DOS/Windows platform, the most popular archive format is the zip file (not to be confused with a Zip disk, from Iomega). The zip format was originally conceived back in the DOS days by Phil Katz, who created a program called PKZIP (and it's companion, PKUNZIP), and distributed it as shareware. From that program there sprang an open-source, freeware version called Info-ZIP, which provided much the same functionality (it was also ported to almost every platform ever heard of). Both of these packages are still availabled, but most users today want to be able to use a graphical user interface provided by products such as WinZip and PowerArchiver (both of which are distributed as shareware) or WiZ (part of the Info-ZIP stuff). All of these programs allow you to create an archive in which to put your Works file, and then password protect the archive.

It is important to note that both WinZip and PowerArchiver can handle more than just the ZIP format. They can handle many types of formats that are popular not only in the DOS and Windows world, but also formats more common with Linux/UNIX users, and Macintosh users. This can be important when you share archives with users on other platforms.

The most popular archive format on the Macintosh is the StuffIt format, developed by Aladdin Systems along with it's software package called StuffIt (and now, Stuffit Deluxe). If you buy this package, you can create both StuffIt files, for archiving on your Macintosh or sharing with all your Macintosh-using friends. You can also create files in the ZIP format discussed above, and many others. Also, StuffIt will allow you to not only password protect your files, but also encrypt them for even greater security.

Aladdin makes a free un-archving utility called StuffIt Expander. This program comes with every Macintosh now days, and is also available for free on Aladdin's web site (it is also available for Windows).

While not directly apply to Microsoft Works specifically, I can not stress enough how important it is to have a good anti-virus package installed on your computer, especially if you do any kind of communication via the internet or other network, especially email. Some reputable anti-virus packages are (in no particular order):

• Windows
  • Norton AntiVirus 2002 8.0 (from Symantec)
  • McAfee VirusScan 6.0 (from Network Associates)
• Macintosh
  • Dr. Solomon's Virex 6.0 (from Network Associates)
  • Norton Antivirus 8.0

If you are on the internet, you might want to consider installing a firewall on your computer. Conceptually, a firewall is a device that sites between your computer and the internet (or whatever network you're on) and limits other computers on the network from getting to your machine, while letting your network traffic out (although most firewalls can be configured to limit the traffic going out, too). In most corporate and educational environments, the firewall is a physical device, another computer specifically designed and configured to do nothing but firewall duty. For personal use, though, a software firewall is often used. This is, as the name implies, a piece of software that runs on your computer and monitors the network traffic. Some popular firewall software is:

• Windows (note: Windows XP has a built-in software firewall, so the following software may not be needed by XP users)
  • ZoneAlarm Pro 2
  • Norton Personal Firewall 2002
• Macintosh
  • Norton Personal Firewall 2.0

Another piece of security software that some might deem necessary is a data erasure program. This is software that examines the area of disks where files have been deleted and writes "garbage" data (usually just a bunch of zeroes) to that area of the disk, thereby ensuring that someone can't go back later with a disk editing tool and figuring out the names and contents of deleted files. Some reputable software of this type is:

• Windows
  • Evidence Eliminator
• Macintosh
  • Secure Delete (from Aladdin Software)

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