How To

How to delete yourself from the Internet

The Internet companies that power your online life know that data equals money, and they're becoming bolder about using that data to track you. If they get their way, your every online step would be not only irrevocable, but traceable back to you. Fortunately, there are some positive steps you can take to reclaim your online history for yourself.

The online privacy software company Abine, which makes Do Not Track Plus, also offers a service called DeleteMe, which removes your data from numerous tracking sites and keeps it from coming back. In an unusual gesture, though, they've made … Read more

Six tips to make your Mac safer

The Flashback Trojan went viral last week, infecting an estimated 1 percent of OS X computers worldwide. While the infection rate has subsided since then, that doesn't mean Mac owners should return to complacency.

It doesn't mean that there's cause for panic, either. Here are some common sense, effective tips for safeguarding your Mac against more malware.

Get a security suite: You can stop rolling your eyes now. Concerns about security suite performance generally come from the way that most security programs used to tie Windows into knots. While the Windows suites have gotten significantly better, their … Read more

How to switch to a standard user account in OS X

One of the commonly recommended safe-computing practices is to run your day-to-day activities in a standard user account and reserve administrative accounts purely for installing applications, adjusting system settings, and otherwise reconfiguring the system. This setup helps prevent mishaps performed in a standard account from affecting global system resources. For instance, a malware attack or bug in an application will have easier access to the Applications folder, global Library folders, and other resources open to admin accounts. Therefore, by using an account with standard permissions you will help prevent problems or dangers from affecting system resources without your explicit permission.… Read more

iCam is the cheap, easy way to get remote video surveillance

Video surveillance, often associated with bank-robbing and 7-11s, isn't just for retailers. Thanks to dirt-cheap apps like iCam, anyone with a computer and smartphone can set up their own video surveillance with little effort and without breaking the bank.

When you're on vacation, traveling for work, or even want to set up baby monitoring, iCam provides the tools to turn your computer's Webcam (or an IP camera) into a surveillance camera that you can monitor remotely with your smartphone or tablet.

You'll spend $5 total, and get access to features like motion detection, multi-camera monitoring, audio … Read more

How to reinstall OS X after malware infection

The recent Flashback malware for OS X has caused a bit of a stir in the Mac community, and while it has only affected a fraction of the OS X install base, it still has had people who have indeed found the malware on their systems writing in to CNET and on the Apple Discussion boards.

For the most part, people have been finding the malware on their systems by having an antivirus scanner or reverse firewall such as Little Snitch installed, and have either been given an alert that the malware was either found or a program file with … Read more

How to remove the Flashback malware from OS X

While OS X was relatively void of malware for the first 10 years of use, recently malware scares have cropped up that have affected a significant number of Mac systems.

One of the first was the MacDefender fake antivirus scam, which had people issuing credit card information out of fear their systems were infected. This scam morphed quite rapidly as it tried to avoid detection and continue coercing people to offer personal information. Another scam was the DNSChanger malware that affected millions of PC systems worldwide, and which ultimately directed affected systems to malicious Web sites, and like the MacDefender … Read more

Mac Flashback malware: What it is and how to get rid of it (FAQ)

Apple's Mac platform has long been promoted as safer than the competition, but as Mac sales and market share grow, it's become a bigger target.

Nowhere is that clearer than with the Flashback Trojan, a gnarly piece of malware designed to steal personal information by masquerading as very mainstream browser plug-ins. Yesterday Russian antivirus company Dr. Web said that an estimated 600,000 Macs are now infected as a result of users unknowingly installing the software.

So here's a quick FAQ on the Flashback Trojan, including information on what it is, how to tell if you have … Read more

How to protect yourself online in three easy steps

Sometimes it may seem safer to go back to the days of the Pony Express rather than deal with the multitude of online threats, but there are some simple steps you can take to minimize the risks you face.

First, get a security suite. CNET gave Avast Free Antivirus 7 (download) and Bitdefender Total Security 2012 (download) Editors' Choice Awards recently, although there are about a dozen good suites, free and paid, out there. Go with one that gets good ratings and that you trust, and make sure that you let it update and scan regularly.

Second, I strongly recommend … Read more

Detect and prevent today's sophisticated malware threats

Today's malware purveyor bears little resemblance to the outcast-teenage-loner caricature popular in days past.

Last November the FBI's Operation Ghost Click led to the arrest of six Estonians charged with promulgating the DNSChanger malware, which the FBI claims allowed the gang to steal $14 million by manipulating the servers of online advertisers. Unfortunately, DNSChanger is estimated to have infected 100 million computers worldwide and 500,000 in the U.S., many of which haven't yet been disinfected.

CNET blogger Topher Kessler describes in the MacFixIt blog how the Trojan horse works. Yes, Macs are as susceptible to … Read more