If you use Microsoft services like SkyDrive, Outlook.com webmail, or Xbox Live, you have a Microsoft account. If you have a Microsoft account, you might use it to store personal information that you wouldn't want hackers to be able to get at. You know, credit cards and tax returns and such. Turning on two-factor authentication can help keep would-be data thieves out, and your secrets secret.
Nick Mediati | 25 Oct | Read more
If you're a heavy Google user, your Google account is kind of a big deal. It's the gatekeeper to your email, and your Google+ account, important files, online photo storage...that Google account is your life. With so much at stake, you probably want to keep hackers as far away as possible. Two-factor authentication can help.
Nick Mediati | 24 Oct | Read more
Nobody likes it when their friends suddenly start spewing links to weight-loss supplements and porn on Facebook. Don't be that person. Using Facebook's two-factor authentication feature can help keep undesireables out of your account--perhaps saving some friendships.
Nick Mediati | 22 Oct | Read more
Bad things can happen if your Twitter account gets hacked. At best, it annoys and confuses your followers; at worst, your account gets used to spread spam and malware. Ugh. Although nothing can completely stop hack attacks, using two-factor authentication can help.
Nick Mediati | 21 Oct | Read more
Embarrassing photos, bad poetry, MS Paint art...what you keep in your Dropbox account is your business. Two-factor authentication can help keep it that way.
Nick Mediati | 18 Oct | Read more
You've decided that enough is enough--you're going to nuke some of your social media accounts. Maybe you don't use them. Maybe they're too much of a distraction. Maybe you've grown bored of sepia tone. Maybe you're tired of worrying about privacy concerns. Whatever the reason, we won't judge you.
Nick Mediati | 10 Oct | Read more
If you've adjusted your Facebook privacy settings to something other than their defaults or use lists to organize your social circles, it's generally a good thing to know how your profile page appears to others. After all, you might not want the entire world to know of your woe-filled past relationships. Luckily for you, it's easy to do and it only takes a few steps.
Nick Mediati | 29 Aug | Read more
Mac malware is still quite rare, but there is one new threat floating around that you should be aware of. A new Trojan for Mac OS X disguises itself as an installer for the Adobe Flash Player browser plug-in, according to security software company Intego. The good news (if you want to call it that)? This new malware doesn't appear to have spread very far as of yet.
Nick Mediati | 27 Sep | Read more
Fire up iTunes and grab the latest iOS update--unless you jailbroke your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, that is. Apple released the iOS 4.3.4 update, which fixes a lovely PDF rendering bug that could allow someone with nefarious intents to take control of your iPhone. This particular flaw is also what <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/235144/jailbreakme_30_how_does_it_work.html">allowed for Jailbreak.me 3.0</a>, which finally brought a jailbreak to the iPad 2.
Nick Mediati | 16 Jul | Read more
You're starting school this fall. You've got your classes. You've got your books. You may even have a new laptop. But how can you keep your PC and gadgetry safe and secure while you're at school?
Nick Mediati | 11 Jul | Read more
2011 is the year that mobile security is going mainstream. Here at 2011 RSA Conference in San Francisco many of the security software companies I've spoken to have either released--or are planning to release a mobile security app of some sort.
Nick Mediati | 22 Feb | Read more
Smartphone malware is still uncommon -- at least here in the United States -- but every now and then comes a fresh reminder that the threat is real. According to Lookout Mobile Security, a new Trojan is making the rounds in various alternative app markets in China, and it's being distributed through repackaged versions of other apps.
Nick Mediati | 17 Feb | Read more
Avast Pro Antivirus 5 ($US40 for a single-PC, one-year license as of 11/23/2010) ranks third in our roundup of 2011 paid antivirus products. When PCWorld last looked at Avast's paid antivirus offering, our reviewer wasn't particularly impressed with either its interface or its malware detection capabilities. Avast Antivirus Pro 5, however, is a definite improvement, thanks to a slick new interface and some useful additional features. But middling detection capabilities relative to other paid antivirus software keep it from claiming a higher ranking.
Nick Mediati | 30 Nov | Read more
Avast Free Antivirus 5 took the top spot in our late 2010 roundup of free antivirus software. It provides good, all-around malware detection in a speedy, well-designed package. We liked its easy installation process, smooth interface design, and minimal impact in system performance. However, although it wins out overall, its malware detection, while good, isn't the best we've seen.
Nick Mediati | 30 Nov | Read more
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2011 takes fifth place in our roundup of 2011 antivirus software, closely trailing fourth-place finisher G-Data AntiVirus 2011. It did a great job at stopping brand new malware attacks, and a reasonable -- though not top-notch -- job at detecting known malware, and it sports a well-designed interface. On the downside, its impact on PC performance was worse than average.
Nick Mediati | 30 Nov | Read more