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http://www.us-cert.gov/current/current_activity.html
Security Alerts
June 27, 2008 by Michele MooreSecure Communications
June 13, 2008 by Michele MooreWe support the efforts of HappinessHacker.com to protect the integrity of our telephone and email communications systems.
ALERT!!! Norton
May 9, 2008 by Michele MooreBEWARE!!! Norton Internet Security 2008’s default firewall settings make it easy to network but leave your PC open to a number of crucial vulnerabilities.
If you’re running Norton InterNet Security with Vista, it’s important to remember that file sharing security is handled through your Firewall. If your Norton Firewall is not configured correctly, you have easy network access and security vulnerabilities.
If you use WiFi you want to:
Block Windows File Sharing - to prevent other PCs from accessing files on your PC
Block EMAP to prevent other PCs from changing your PC’s configuration
Disabile Inbound Netbios to prevent other computers from accessing your files
Block Microsoft SMB an alternate file sharing method
Disable Inbound Netbios Name to prevent other PCs from discovering your PC’s name
Here are instructions for Norton InterNet Security 2008, it took me a while to find them in the Norton documentation. Blocking Windows File Sharing is crucial if you use WIFI!!!
Norton Internet Security => Settings => Select Norton Internet Security Options at bottom of the page
Select Personal Fire Wall => Advanced – review list to ensure there are no dangerous permissions
See this Norton Description of Options: Note ORDER OF OPTIONS IS IMPORTANT!
BLOCK Windows File Sharing – Prevents other computers from accessing shared files that are on this computer. Also prevents other computers from using shared printers that are attached to this computer.
When this rule is moved up in rules list so that it is applied before other rules regarding file and print sharing, this rule provides an easy method to turn file and print sharing on or off.
ICPM In/Out – Leave Enabled - Allows Pings to be sent and received
DNS In/Out – Leave Enabled - Removing this rule causes DNS to fail. To increase security without removing the rule, change the rule to allow the computer to send DNS queries only to the user’s primary DNS server.
In NetBIOS Name – DISABLE – Prevents NetBIOS requests from finding the name of the local computer. NetBIOS cannot find the computer name by sending a query to the local computer.
Bootp – Leave Enabled – allows for static IP addresses.
Outbound Netbios – Leave Enabled – allows you to view shared files on other computers.
Inbound NetBios – DISABLE – prevents other computers from accessing your files.
Microsoft SMB – BLOCK – SMB is a Microsoft Windows feature that can be used to provide an alternate method for file and print sharing. This rule prevents SMB from being used to permit file and print sharing.
Loopback In/Out – Leave Enabled – allows the computer to send messages to itself.
EMAP Block – ENABLE BLOCK – EPMAP is a protocol that can be used by one computer to change the configuration of the services that are running at another computer. This rule prevents EPMAP from modifying the services that are at the local computer.
UpnP – Leave Enabled – Universal Plug and Play
SSDP – Leave Enabled – Simple Service Discovery Protocol – discovers plug and play
LLMNR – Leave Enabled - Local Link Multicast Name Resolution
Reset the Firewall and make these changes. Check your system often to see if hackers have altered them or if unauthorized changes have been made!
BLOCK LIST: Order is important, move up the most important
BLOCK Windows File Sharing – Prevents other computers from accessing shared files that are on this computer. Also prevents other computers from using shared printers that are attached to this computer.
When this rule is moved up in rules list so that it is applied before other rules regarding file and print sharing, this rule provides an easy method to turn file and print sharing on or off.
In NetBIOS Name – DISABLE Prevents NetBIOS requests from finding the name of the local computer. NetBIOS cannot find the computer name by sending a query to the local computer.
Inbound NetBios – DISABLE – prevents other computers from accessing your files.
Microsoft SMB BLOCK – SMB is a Microsoft Windows feature that can be used to provide an alternate method for file and print sharing. This rule prevents SMB from being used to permit file and print sharing.
EMAP Block – ENABLE BLOCK – EPMAP is a protocol that can be used by one computer to change the configuration of the services that are running at another computer. This rule prevents EPMAP from modifying the services that are at the local computer.
LEAVE ENABLED LIST:
ICPM In/Out – Leave Enabled - Allows Pings to be sent and received.
DNS In/Out – Leave Enabled - Removing this rule causes DNS to fail. To increase security without removing the rule, change the rule to allow the computer to send DNS queries only to the user’s primary DNS server.
Bootp – Leave Enabled – allows for static IP addresses
Outbound Netbios – Leave Enabled – allows you to view shared files on other computers.
Loopback In/Out – Leave Enabled – allows the computer to send messages to itself.
IPV6 – Leave Enabled – no dramatic warnings.
UpnP – Leave Enabled – Universal Plug and Play
SSDP Simple Service Discovery Protocol – discovers plug and play
See also: Auditmypc.com
Vista – Norton Internet Security
January 30, 2008 by Michele MooreIf you’re running Norton InterNet Security with Vista, it’s important to remember that file sharing security is handled through your Firewall.
Here are instructions for Norton InterNet Security, it took me a while to find them in the Norton documentation. Blocking Windows File Sharing is especially important if you use WIFI!!!
Norton Internet Security => Settings => Select Norton Internet Security Options at bottom of the page
Select Personal Fire Wall => Advanced – review list to ensure there are no dangerous permissions
See this Norton Description of Options: Note ORDER OF OPTIONS IS IMPORTANT!
BLOCK Windows File Sharing – Prevents other computers from accessing shared files that are on this computer. Also prevents other computers from using shared printers that are attached to this computer.
When this rule is moved up in rules list so that it is applied before other rules regarding file and print sharing, this rule provides an easy method to turn file and print sharing on or off.
ICPM In/Out – Leave Enabled - Allows Pings to be sent and received
DNS In/Out – Leave Enabled - Removing this rule causes DNS to fail. To increase security without removing the rule, change the rule to allow the computer to send DNS queries only to the user’s primary DNS server.
In NetBIOS Name – DISABLE – Prevents NetBIOS requests from finding the name of the local computer. NetBIOS cannot find the computer name by sending a query to the local computer.
Bootp – Leave Enabled – allows for static IP addresses.
Outbound Netbios – Leave Enabled – allows you to view shared files on other computers.
Inbound NetBios – DISABLE – prevents other computers from accessing your files.
Microsoft SMB – BLOCK – SMB is a Microsoft Windows feature that can be used to provide an alternate method for file and print sharing. This rule prevents SMB from being used to permit file and print sharing.
Loopback In/Out – Leave Enabled – allows the computer to send messages to itself.
EMAP Block – ENABLE BLOCK – EPMAP is a protocol that can be used by one computer to change the configuration of the services that are running at another computer. This rule prevents EPMAP from modifying the services that are at the local computer.
UpnP – Leave Enabled – Universal Plug and Play
SSDP – Leave Enabled – Simple Service Discovery Protocol – discovers plug and play
LLMNR – Leave Enabled - Local Link Multicast Name Resolution
Reset the Firewall and make these changes. Check your system often to see if hackers have altered them or if unauthorized changes have been made!
BLOCK LIST: Order is important, move up the most important
BLOCK Windows File Sharing – Prevents other computers from accessing shared files that are on this computer. Also prevents other computers from using shared printers that are attached to this computer.
When this rule is moved up in rules list so that it is applied before other rules regarding file and print sharing, this rule provides an easy method to turn file and print sharing on or off.
In NetBIOS Name – DISABLE Prevents NetBIOS requests from finding the name of the local computer. NetBIOS cannot find the computer name by sending a query to the local computer.
Inbound NetBios – DISABLE – prevents other computers from accessing your files.
Microsoft SMB BLOCK – SMB is a Microsoft Windows feature that can be used to provide an alternate method for file and print sharing. This rule prevents SMB from being used to permit file and print sharing.
EMAP Block – ENABLE BLOCK – EPMAP is a protocol that can be used by one computer to change the configuration of the services that are running at another computer. This rule prevents EPMAP from modifying the services that are at the local computer.
LEAVE ENABLED LIST:
ICPM In/Out – Leave Enabled - Allows Pings to be sent and received.
DNS In/Out – Leave Enabled - Removing this rule causes DNS to fail. To increase security without removing the rule, change the rule to allow the computer to send DNS queries only to the user’s primary DNS server.
Bootp – Leave Enabled – allows for static IP addresses
Outbound Netbios – Leave Enabled – allows you to view shared files on other computers.
Loopback In/Out – Leave Enabled – allows the computer to send messages to itself.
IPV6 – Leave Enabled – no dramatic warnings.
UpnP – Leave Enabled – Universal Plug and Play
SSDP Simple Service Discovery Protocol – discovers plug and play
See also: Auditmypc.com
Norton FireWall Settings
January 11, 2008 by Michele MooreIf you’re running Norton InterNet Security and Vista, it’s important to remember that file sharing security is handled through your Firewall.
Here are instructions for Norton InterNet Security, it took me a while to find them. Blocking Windows file sharing, especially if wireless is active, is a very important security step.
Norton Internet Security => Settings => Select Norton Internet Security Options at bottom of the page
Select Personal Fire Wall – Advanced – review list to ensure there are no dangerous permissions
See this Norton Description of Options: Note ORDER OF OPTIONS IS IMPORTANT!
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/sunset-c2002kb.nsf/pfdocs/2001023451590766?Open&docid=2001023451590766&nsf=nip.nsf&view=pfdocs
Block Windows File Sharing – Prevents other computers from accessing shared files that are on this computer. Also prevents other computers from using shared printers that are attached to this computer. When this rule is moved up in rules list so that it is applied before other rules regarding file and print sharing, this rule provides an easy method to turn file and print sharing on or off.
ICPM In/Out Leave Enabled - Allows Pings to be sent and received
DNS In/Out Leave Enabled - Removing this rule causes DNS to fail. To increase security without removing the rule, change the rule to allow the computer to send DNS queries only to the user’s primary DNS server.
In NetBIOS Name DISABLE Prevents NetBIOS requests from finding the name of the local computer. NetBIOS cannot find the computer name by sending a query to the local computer.
Bootp Leave Enabled – allows for static IP addresses.
Outbound Netbios Leave Enabled – allows you to view shared files on other computers.
Inbound NetBios Disable – prevents other computers from accessing your files.
Microsoft SMB Block – SMB is a Microsoft Windows feature that can be used to provide an alternate method for file and print sharing. This rule prevents SMB from being used to permit file and print sharing.
Loopback In/Out Leave Enabled – allows the computer to send messages to itself.
EMAP Block – Disable – EPMAP is a protocol that can be used by one computer to change the configuration of the services that are running at another computer. This rule prevents EPMAP from modifying the services that are at the local computer.
UpnP Leave Enabled – Universal Plug and Play
SSDP Leave Enabled – Simple Service Discovery Protocol – discovers plug and play
LLMNR Leave Enabled - Local Link Multicast Name Resolution
Reset the Firewall and make these changes. Check your system often to see if hackers have altered them or if unauthorized changes have been made!
Block List: Order is important, move up the most important
Block Windows File Sharing – Prevents other computers from accessing shared files that are on this computer. Also prevents other computers from using shared printers that are attached to this computer. When this rule is moved up in rules list so that it is applied before other rules regarding file and print sharing, this rule provides an easy method to turn file and print sharing on or off.
In NetBIOS Name DISABLE Prevents NetBIOS requests from finding the name of the local computer. NetBIOS cannot find the computer name by sending a query to the local computer.
Inbound NetBios Disable – prevents other computers from accessing your files.
Microsoft SMB Block – SMB is a Microsoft Windows feature that can be used to provide an alternate method for file and print sharing. This rule prevents SMB from being used to permit file and print sharing.
EMAP Block – Disable – EPMAP is a protocol that can be used by one computer to change the configuration of the services that are running at another computer. This rule prevents EPMAP from modifying the services that are at the local computer.
Leave Enabled List:ICPM In/Out Leave Enabled - Allows Pings to be sent and received.
DNS In/Out Leave Enabled - Removing this rule causes DNS to fail. To increase security without removing the rule, change the rule to allow the computer to send DNS queries only to the user’s primary DNS server.
Bootp Leave Enabled – allows for statis IP addresses
Outbound Netbios Leave Enabled – allows you to view shared files on other computers.
Loopback In/Out Leave Enabled – allows the computer to send messages to itself.
IPV6 Leave Enabled – no dramatic warnings.
UpnP Leave Enabled – Universal Plug and Play
SSDP Simple Service Discovery Protocol – discovers plug and play
See also: Auditmypc.com
Cheer And Customer Complaints
December 1, 2007 by Michele Moore
Cheerfulness is the best way to handle customer complaints, Respond with warm, loving, unruffled concern no matter how outrageous their reactions.
Remember a certain percentage of the population is drugged out or crazy. You are probably not personally responsible for their problem.
Be Cheerful and Unruffled. Don’t give an angry person control of your thoughts, feelings or actions. Just respond with loving warmth. It gets easier with practice.
Don’t cite rules, procedures or schedules beyond your control, it won’t help.
Customer complaints express emotional needs that are usually not resolved by logic. Some value, right or need they hold dear has been violated or they simply feel unloved and unappreciated. Logic often doesn’t meet these needs, love does.
The nicer and more unruffled you are in the face of their craziness, the more outrageous they will seem.
Don’t let them direct the conversation. If someone screams, “Why is this line so long and slow, why don’t you get more cashiers?” saying you’re sorry, the schedule doesn’t allow it, won’t help.
Saying, “Oh, I wish the line was much shorter and faster too, thank you so much for your patience, we really value your business,” affirms their angst in a loving way. You can’t change it, try to find ways to enjoy it.
Answering or reacting to their complaints puts you on the defensive and gives them control of the conversation.
Project positive, loving energy. Look for a security guard and reserve your right to smile, say, Excuse me please” and walk away.
Copyright 2008, Michele Moore. All Rights Reserved. Email Michele at MicheleMoore.com for reprint permission.
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