Are you kept awake at night with fears about undiscovered security flaws in your database server? You're not alone! Many database professionals hesitate to blindly trust the assurances they receive from vendors that a product is secure.

If you're running Oracle 7 or Microsoft SQL Server 2000 8.0, you can rest a little easier tonight! The National Security Agency (NSA) recently evaluated these products under the Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC) and determined that they are inherently secure enough for use on classified government computer systems. These criteria, released in 1985, are the yardstick against which the nation's computer security experts evaluate information systems. Ratings on a scale ranging from the strict (and extremely rare) A1 rating of "Verified Design" to the D rating of "Minimal Protection" assigned to systems that fail to meet the minimum government security standards.

How did your favorite product fare? In the report on Oracle 7, NSA awarded a C2 rating signifying "Controlled Access Protection." From a review of the Oracle web site security section, it appears that they do not intend to begin the expensive and lengthy TCSEC process for Oracle 8. Oracle Corporation appears to be counting on a pilot program to replace TCSEC with the International Common Criteria. For the truly paranoid, Oracle also offers a more secure platform in Trusted Oracle 7 which was awarded the advanced B1 rating of "Labeled Security Protection." This level of protection is mainly of interest only to government agencies with strict product acquisition guidelines and requirements.

Microsoft Corporation was awarded the same C2 rating for SQL Server 2000. This rating was awarded based upon a system running Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 6a. NSA cited as strengths SQL Server's full row-level locking, centralized administration and tight integration with the Windows NT identification and authentication facilities. We can probably expect a similar certification for SQL Server 2005, so stay tuned on that front.

When planning your own database environment, be sure to take these evaluations with a grain of salt. It is important to realize that NSA only certifies specific versions of products running on very specific hardware and software configurations. Be sure to read the exact parameters used by reviewing NSA's Evaluated Products List. Keep in mind that the NSA's database certifications cover only the database server itself. Bad security administration practices can easily undermine even the most secure platforms. Be sure to develop and stick to a database security policy tailored to your environment!

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Use a firewall

The castles of yesterday were surrounded with crocodile-filled moats to prevent unwelcome intruders. Firewalls are the virtual equivalent of medieval moats and a good one will prevent unauthorized access to and from your system. If you use Windows XP, the built-in firewall affords little coverage, as it offers no outbound protection. A competent firewall will offer outbound protection and make your systems virtually invisible to crackers. ZoneAlarm, an excellent firewall, does all of this and is available free for personal use from www.zonelabs.com. You should not be on the Internet without it. In fact, this is such an important piece of protection – not just for your system but for the Internet as a whole – it should be mandated that every computer accessing the Internet be required to use a firewall or face penalties if compromised. Quite simply, if your system is cracked, it can be used to launch attacks against others. Thus, inattention to personal computer security not only affects the individual, but it places others at risk as well.

Use antivirus software
Most new computers come with antivirus software pre-installed. If you don't have it, buy it. Either way, it needs to be updated frequently. A good antivirus package will allow you to schedule automatic updates. If it does not, switch to one that does. Configure it to check for updates every 24 hours. When entire new versions are released, upgrade – even if it means spending more money. If you can’t afford to purchase antivirus software, you really can’t afford to be on the Internet. If you use McAfee VirusScan, it cannot work with ZoneAlarm. There are many excellent antivirus products available on the market, but very few excellent firewalls. You might consider spending the money you saved on the free ZoneAlarm for an antivirus package that works cohesively with it.

Supplement your antivirus software

Either through education and proper configuration of your system, or through the use of third-party add-ons, robust protection requires more than just a firewall and updated antivirus software. Knowledgeable filtering of email is perhaps one of the most important pieces of additional protection you can employ. Even with the short few hours it takes signature scanning vendors to release updates, fast moving email worms can gain widespread infection. This can be avoided by making intelligent decisions ahead of time to better secure your mail client. Email should be considered hostile until proven otherwise. That attachment from Auntie Em is more likely to be a virus she is oblivious to being infected with. If you can’t afford the cost of the additional add-ons, you can tighten your security for free. The Email Help Center provides the how. Pegasus offers the most secure email client. If you don’t want to change mail clients and you use Outlook Express, at least upgrade to version 6.0 SP1 - it offers greater security than previous versions. If you use Outlook and don’t want to spend extra money on add-ons for protection, either upgrade to Outlook 2002 or install the Outlook Security patch. If you can’t spend the money, can’t upgrade, and can’t configure your settings for optimum security, you should not be on the Internet.

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A personal firewall is a critical part of computer security, whether you use Windows or Mac OS X. A good personal firewall not only controls who and what can access your computer, it can also help protect you if your computer is already infected. The most important consideration is a firewall that offers both inbound and outbound protection.

While a firewall offers important security protection, it must be configured properly and used appropriately. For example, a permission-based firewall that gives carte blanche to Internet connecting applications will not be as effective as a firewall that seeks permission each time. On the other hand, inexperienced users who don't know how to respond to firewall alerts will likely need to sacrifice a bit of security in exchange for ease of use.

Most antivirus firewall software offers both inbound and outbound protection and most offer at least some permission-based controls. One example would be the firewall included as part of Norton Internet Security. Most third-party firewalls provide more functionality and often more protection than their operating system counterparts. This includes free firewall software.

If your antivirus software disabled the operating system firewall and enabled its own, chances are you will be getting more protection from the antivirus software firewall, and not less.

Suggested Reading

Free Firewall Protection for WindowsTop Windows Antivirus

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The debate goes back and forth as to whether antivirus or firewall software are more important. In terms of what you need to add to your system many computer users will find that in a real world situation their choice of antivirus software is the most important. The reason for this is that many systems are already protected to some degree from outside intrusions by routers that have powerful firewall capabilities and also Windows XP and Vista have limited firewall capabilities built in. For those systems that are not behind a firewall router or are without the firewall feature of Vista or XP then adding a software

Comodo AntiVirus (Comodo)
This great free antivirus application can eliminates viruses, trojans and even worms from both desktops and networks. >> Windows XP(SP2) / 2000(SP4)

PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition (PC Tools)
This is a new free antivirus application from PC Tools. >> Windows Vista / XP / 2000

McAfee Security Center (AOL/McAfee)
This free product is offered free by AOL. >> Windows Vista / XP / 2000

AVG Anti Virus Version 7.5 Free Edition (Grisoft)
Download the new version 7.5 of this top free antivirus product. 4 Antivirus Free Home Edition (Alwil)
This antivirus program is available free for home users. >> Windows Vista / XP / 2000 / NT(SP4) / ME / 98 / 95

AntiVir PersonalEdition (Avira)
Use this antivirus download free! >> Windows Vista / XP / 2000 / ME / 98

To get the easy download links for these and other top free antivirus products visit http://freeinternetsecuritysoftware.com/free-antivirus-software where over a dozen great free antivirus products are featured. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Jacobs
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Kaspersky Labs - The Best Anti-Virus Protection

As the Internet evolves, so do viruses and other computer security threats. Once little more than basic code, viruses are now sophisticated programs capable of stealth and polymorphing technology. To protect your system and data, Kaspersky Labs offers the best anti-virus protection for both home and business users.

All Internet users are at risk of virus infection, and will be threatened by some form of malware many times each year. By clicking on a link on an unknown website, playing a video sent by a friend via email, or downloading a game, a user can invite a virus into their computer system. For a business, a virus infection can mean loss of customer confidence from security breaches or loss of productivity due to downtime.

Some viruses are little more than a nuisance, but others are complex codes designed to destroy the contents of your hard drive after transmitting your important information and financial data to the virus's programmer. To protect yourself, your customers, and your company from identity theft and devastating financial loss, you must protect your system with the best anti-virus protection available.

The best anti-virus protection software will not only recognize a virus after it has revealed itself, but will proactively search out viruses on your computer and destroy them. The sophisticated anti-virus solution provided by Kaspersky is able to see through multiple layers of encrypted virus code and remove the virus before it damages your computer.

Kaspersky Lab's anti-virus and Internet security software is award winning, continually ranking above its competitors in reviews and independent tests of anti-virus software. It has a considerably higher detection rate for viruses than competitors, at 98.86%. Most other anti-virus solutions only provide up to 88.85% protection. Kaspersky provides users with an unmatched 664 updates each month to ensure the greatest level of anti-virus protection possible.

An industry-leading Internet threat response time, coupled with an impressive variety of features, makes Kaspersky's product the best anti-virus protection available on the market.
Get Kaspersky Internet Security Free
Christopher is an Information Security Consultant for Lexan Systems L.L.C. You are welcome to reproduce this article on your Computer Security related web site, as long as you reproduce the article in full, including this resource box and link to our websites.
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Every computer needs a good anti virus software program. Being a computer repair technician I can tell you flat out that most of my money is made from people who do not want to spend the money on a good anti-virus software program.

Your Options

There are two main free anti-virus clients out there. One is AVG and the other is Avast. While these are good programs you get what you pay for. Both of these programs are better then nothing but they will not properly protect your computer. When deciding on an anti virus software program it is recommended that you get a program that not only takes care of viruses but also has spyware protection and firewall. These types of programs are called internet security suites. They are named that way because they are your all in one solution. It's easier to mange one piece of software from one company rather then 3 from three different companies. A more resent event that has beniffited customers is most internet security suites can be installed on up to 3 computers instead of just one. This really helps to save money for those that have more then one pc. Two of the best programs out there are Norton internet security suite and Trend Micro

A few of the advantages that you receive here include: security package with virus scanner, AntiAdware, AntiSpyware, AntiDialer, and AntiPhishing, extremely high performance and detection capacity by using the latest standards,signature updates which make sure that the protection against attackers is always up to date, virus check of every file and archive access and easy installation on top of it all. You just have to install it and then you can leave it and forget about it. On the down side having complete protection does come at a price. Anti virus software is a must have and whether you are looking for total system coverage or a solution for a specific problem, you can find whatever you need as long as you know where to look. Because every system is unique you will need to evaluate your options before being able to decide on any particular one.

For more detailed information on anti-virus software and to see what one suits you best read our vista anti virus page. To learn more about your xp and vista operating system check out our windows vista repair site.

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Free spyware protection is something you should consider if you have computer problems that just don't go away. What is the best thing to? What is the best software to download? What is the answer?
Hackers, viruses and other nasty things are abundant these days. The only defense you have against it, are spyware removers. Even if you have the most expensive computer on the market, you can still easily become a victim of a hacker attack. Your computer can be cracked open before you blink your eye.

Here are just a few examples how spyware can destroy your computer. If you want to do something about it, you should consider some options, such as free spyware protection.
How do you choose a free spyware protection program?

The first thing you should do is find a suitable free spyware protection program. The best way to get them is online. A lot of sites are offering different versions of these programs.
Before you pick one, it's a good idea to compare some alternatives and pick one that you think is best. Think about features, the capabilities. Think about what you want to achieve. Do you just want something simple? Is something more advanced, with complex advanced removal options?
Why are free spyware protection programs available?

These programs are made available on the internet for free, because the makers of the programs want to let the users see the functionality of the programs.
These programs will clear some, most or even all of your spyware. But generally, they will also have premium features, such as real-time protection, which are only available to premium users. So for a small fee you can later upgrade the program should you wish.

It generally is recommended that you use more than one free spyware protection program at the same time, as there is no single program that can remove and protect you from all known spyware. Even though it may cost you more upfront, that investment will be well worth it once you realise how much spyware you really have on your computer.

The most important thing to remember is to download your free spyware protection programs from a trustable, reliable source. Be careful, because there are fake spyware protection programs out there, and they are sure to do harm than good. You may end up having more problems than what you started with.

Be sure to check sites like Free Spyware Buster on comparisons of various Free Spyware Protection programs. Sites like this will be able to point you in the right direction, and let you choose the correct free spyware protection program.
Greg Kononenko runs a website devoted to Free Spyware Protection
Do you want to see what Anti-Spyware programs may be most suitable for you? Want to learn the pros and cons, or simply get more info? Visit Greg's site at:

http://www.FreeSpywareBuster.com


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When looking for Virus protection tools it is very important that you ensure that the one you choose has all of the necessary features which will ensure that your pc is kept safe. Most free Virus protection programs that you download off the internet will allow you to download regular Virus definition updates and perform automatic scans. It is also important to ensure that the one you download allows you to view the risk levels of the different infections detected and also gives you the ability to either quarantine or remove those files. Not many people actually know what Virus is so lets briefly talk about it and how it can infect your operating system.

Spyware/ Virus is simply described as infectious software which is designed to track and monitor your web surfing activities and can also record keystrokes as well as steal information from your disk drives without your knowledge. Although Virus infections are different from virus infections in the way that they are not designed to cause instant damage to your computer it must be pointed out that they still pose a great threat to you and your system. The last thing you would want is for your personal login information or banking details to get stolen and sent to distant users who will abuse it.

The most common methods of infection include freeware application downloads, instant messaging chats where links are exchanged as well as from browsing websites which force unwanted background installations to take place. So when your pc starts to experience frequent pop ops, advertisements, speed degradation, browser redirecting and the formation of harmful looking desktop shortcuts or files you will know that it is time for a scan with a free Virus protection tool.

Xoftspyse has been rated as the best free Virus protection program today and has continued to gain much popularity because of its solid Virus removal abilities. If you would like to download the latest free version please visit the website below.

Xoftspyse Spyware Remover

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Many people wonder if they should pay for an anti virus protection program instead of purchasing one. The reason why these people want to know about a free anti virus protection program is because the Internet has conditioned us to think that everything should be free. However, when you are looking for an anti virus protection program, you need to understand that just because someone is telling you that you can have this program for free, does not necessarily mean that it is free.

So, whenever you are choosing a good virus protection program, you should stop to think about this for a minute you will understand that a person who has spent a huge amount of time developing and maintaining an anti virus protection program will want to make money off of it somehow in order for them to be able to create new programs. Plus, with these programs you will more than likely not get any type of technical support because the person who designed the program is giving it away for free.

If you still choose to use a free anti virus protection program, you should know that there are probably some type of spyware attached to it. This spyware will then allow your computer to be tracked for advertisement purposes. You may also have your computer scanned for e-mail addresses or other pertinent information that you would not want to give anyone.

For these reasons alone, you need to be very careful whenever you install these free programs on your computer. Even better yet, you should pay for your anti virus protection program. These programs really are not that expensive and yet they will help keep you safe from any malicious attacks on your computer. Of course, you should also be using a firewall in order to ensure the complete safety of your computer.

When you ready for shopping antivius protection software check for following things.
http://www.spywareantivirus.info

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In the light of the College's recent PC worm scare, people have been asking as to whether the Macs are protected. The answer is yes, the Mac server on which all of your accounts are stored is protected by Clam AV, a free open-source antivirus utility which is automatically updated.

The link below reviews some common Mac AV programs:

http://antivirus.about.com/od/antivirussoftwarereviews/tp/aamacvir.htm

Remember to check regularly for updates - as new viruses arise, new updates emerge in turn to counter them.

It's a common misconception that Macs don't get viruses: it's just that they don't get them as frequently, as they are a smaller proportion of the world PC market.

On an additional note - beware of ripping CS4 off Limewire, some of the files contain a trojan virus!

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How to Buy Antivirus Software

A computer is a necessary and important tool and equipment for getting things done these days. Because the popularity and functionality of the machines are phenomenal, it is not surprising that there are also as numerous viruses, threats and spasm that threaten to destroy and alter the computer systems. Thus, there is a need for appropriate and really effective protection. There is a need to buy antivirus software.

While in the past, it has been considered a luxury to buy antivirus software, these days, the activity can be seen as more than just necessity. To buy antivirus software is actually to secure the computer system and make sure it will be free from harm and programming disruptions. Because viruses are evolving and they come in strategic forms and tactics, there is a need for you to buy antivirus software that is proven effective and functional.

Because there are too many makers and developers of such computer programs, there is a massive confusion in the market. Here is a set of simple guidelines that would help and assist you to buy antivirus software.

1. Choose and buy antivirus software that is compatible with your computer's operating system. Be informed and always remember that no matter how popular and effective an antivirus is, if it will not work due to incompatibility, you will not gain from the purchase. Before you buy antivirus software, be sure to check the software first for any specifications and requirements for system compatibility.

2. As you choose and buy antivirus software, opt for products with excellent background protection. When you say excellent background protection, the antivirus product must be able to scan the PC for viruses even without the required manual intervention. Also favor to buy antivirus software that can neutralize viruses the moment they emerge.

3. Buy antivirus software that is able to facilitate disaster recovery. You may not know it fully, but there are specific antivirus programs in the market that can work wonders like this. The antivirus should have a disaster recovery feature so that data and files would not be lost if ever a notorious virus attacks your computer system.

4. You should strive to buy antivirus software that is able to prompt and initiate automatic updates. Every now and then, there are always new and more sophisticated threats and viruses that are rolled out in cyberspace. It is important that you make sure you would buy antivirus software that is up-to-date and boasts of the newest computer security features.

5. As a resourceful consumer, make sure you buy antivirus software that is certified by the most reliable standards setting and certification bodies. These groups include the popular Virus Bulletin 100% Awards, the West Coast Checkmark and the International Computer Security Association or ICSA.

6. Buy antivirus software that has a firewall protection. Firewalls help shield your PC from active threats, most especially when you are connected to the Internet. Usually, firewalls are offered and sold as a separate product from the antivirus, although there are some protection programs that offer both in a single package.

7. Make sure you prefer to buy antivirus software that is configured to monitor your PC automatically. It is right that you buy antivirus software that detects and cleans viruses. It would be better if you would secure products that could initiate automatic checkups. This way, no matter what, no virus can be unforeseen and undetected.

8. Buy antivirus software that is proven to be easier to use, install and even configure. The best products are always those that are user-friendly. Otherwise, you may not be able to fully make use of them.

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How to Select the Best Virus Protection For PC Users
Do you need the best virus protection for PC? Viruses are one of he greatest threats facing PC users around the world. They are used to steal your private information, destroy your computer, and use your PC as a launching board to spread more attacks. Deciding on the best computer virus protection is paramount to protect your computer and identity. But what exactly should one be looking for when deciding on virus protection for PC?
Large Threat Database

Antivirus software is only as good as its threat database. Many people have this misconception about virus protection. They can only detect and remove a virus that has been added to the database and updated through the software. Frequent updates are an extremely important feature of the best antivirus software. The program should be able to detect and remove the latest threats like:
XP Antivirus Antivirus 2009 Virtumonde AntiSpywareMaster Vundo Winfixer A lot of antivirus programs can not detect these viruses. They hide out in hard to reach areas like the registry, DLL, and startup commands. A lot of people ask me the same thing. They say, "Why do I have all of these viruses when I scanned my computer with Ad-Aware and Spybot and they say my computer is clean?!?" Well those two programs cannot remove the viruses listed above. But I have used a program below that can.
Real Time Protection

Detection and removal is only half the battle. The key word in the phrase "virus protection for PC" is PROTECTION. The best antivirus software will prevent these viruses from attacking your computer in the first place! Real time protection is extremely important to keeping your computer protected.
Best Virus Protection for PC
I personally use virus protection software that has a larger threat database than any program in the world. This means it can remove all the latest and most dangerous threats and is constantly being updated. It also provides real time protection to fight off future attacks. Scan your computer for free below and try it out for yourself!
Tired of viruses infecting your computer? Want to surf the web with the peace of mind that your computer is safe and secure? Get your free scan from the top trojan virus remover on the market today!

Jim Marshall is an expert computer technician with fifteen years of experience in the industry. Since his own computer was destroyed by malicious software, he has been studying anti-spyware, adware, and malware systems for years.


http://www.spyware-fix.net
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Computer security software helps you detect unsolicited use of your computer and misuse of private information. The information extracted by unfair means can be used to the hacker’s benefit and may result in huge monetary and privacy losses. These people will go after your hard disk space, computer processor and even your Internet connection. They will infect as many computers they can by spreading disastrous viruses.

Companies like Microsoft spent a lot of money and resources to come up with effective and affordable computer security software. These software programs prevent and detect the misuse of your computer. Preventive software curbs hackers from accessing private data, while detection software helps you detect any damage done by the intruding virus. In the current scenario, where we use computers in almost all essential activities like investing, purchasing and chatting, it has become imperative for us to regularly update our computer security software.

You may consider yourself to be not important or rich enough for hackers to choose you as a target, but these people may not be after your information after all. They may use your system to attack other computers. Under your false identity they may use your email to get into other high-profile computer systems like banks or government records.

A seemingly harmless activity like playing a poker game on the Internet may get these hackers on your computer trail. It is not a very pleasing thought that all your moves on PC are closely monitored, so it is advisable to get computer security software.

Purchase or download the anti-virus products that will provide protection for your systems. You will have to install the latest software, since new viruses are floated on the net every day.

Computer Security provides detailed information on Computer Security, Computer Security Systems, Computer Network Securities, Computer Security Software and more. Computer Security is affiliated with Information Security Systems.

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Recomended antivirus site

http://www.mcafee.com/

http://www.mcafee.com/uk/

http://www.symantec.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_security

http://www.pcworld.com/topics/security.html

http://usa.kaspersky.com/products_services/HomeProducts.php

http://security.fnal.gov/tools/

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/default.mspx

http://www.dekart.com/howto/general/computer_security_software/

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