Free Tools for Safe Computing

Ed Greenberg

ASU College of Nursing

August 20, 2003

Anti-Virus Software

PRODUCT: NAI/McAfee VirusScan

PROVIDER: ASU Information Technology

WEB: http://www.asu.edu/it/fyi/comm/antivirus/vsindex.html

NOTES: Protects your computer and the university from the harmful effects of viruses. Virus definitions must be updated regularly.

ASU CON Information Systems has installed and maintains VirusScan on all CON computers.

Spam Filtering

PRODUCT: emma spam filtering option

PROVIDER: ASU Information Technology

WEB: https://webmail.asu.edu/emma

NOTES: Detects and quarantines spam a.k.a. UCE (unsolicited commercial e-mail) before it is delivered to your e-mail in-box.

Requires some monitoring of the quarantine area to ensure that legitimate mail isn't lost.

emma login screen

spam filtering settings

access list settings

spam quarantine area

recent message from emma

VPN (Virtual Private Network) client

PRODUCT: Check Point SecureRemote

PROVIDER: ASU Information Technology

WEB: http://www.asu.edu/it/fyi/comm/sw/serveraccess/securemote.html

NOTES: Secure/encrypted access to the ASU network and administrative systems.

Needed for login access to ASU systems from off-campus.

Spyware detection and removal

PRODUCT: Ad-aware

PROVIDER: Lavasoft

WEB: http://www.lavasoftusa.com

NOTES: "A program dedicated to scanning for and removing advertising systems and spyware."

Should be run regularly, and spyware definitions need to be updated periodically.

Ad-aware startup screen

scan options

summary of scan results

detailed summary

selecting objects for deletion

warning pop-up

Spyware detection and removal

PRODUCT: Spybot Search & Destroy

PROVIDER: PepiMK Software

WEB: http://www.safer-networking.org

NOTES: Spyware detection and removal. Should be run regularly, and spyware definitions need to be updated periodically.

I suggest that both anti-spyware products, Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy, be installed, updated, and run on a regular basis.

Spybot startup screen

Spybot scan results(after running Ad-aware!)

list of problems fixed

Secure Shell Telnet

PRODUCT: SSH Client

PROVIDER: ASU Information Technology

WEB: http://www.asu.edu/it/fyi/comm/sw/serveraccess/ssh.html

NOTES: Provides for a secure telnet sessions with encrypted usernames and passwords.