Blocking and unblocking USB Ports

If you think that USB flash/pen drives are infecting your system with virus, then try to block all USB ports so that your system will not accept any USB flash/pen drives.

To do this

Type “REGEDIT” in RUN command window or if you are using latest Windows operating system you can type in Start up menu down run bar.

Then it opens system registry.

Now browse the Registry like this;

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR

Now Click mouse in the right side pane and double click on the registry key START and change the DWORD value as 4.

Now you can restart your computer to get effect of the changes in registry. Your USB devices are not accessible because your system USB ports are blocked.

By default DWORD value is 3.

To make your USB ports accessible do the same steps and change the value back to 3 (default value).

And restart your computer to check the effects.

Using BIOS

You can block USB ports even from BIOS setup itself.

This is very safe and effective.

To do this:

Start your computer and press ESC, F6, F8, F12 as mentioned in user manual to enter in BIOS Setup.

Once you enter in to BIOS Setup

Select “Advanced Options”

And check for the “External USB Ports” option DISABLE/ENABLE will be available.

Just change the option to DISABLE by using  + or – keys from your key board.

Restart your computer and check it.

Again when ever you want use USB Ports then goto BIOS Setup “Advanced Options” Change the “External USB Ports” option to default EANBLE by using  + or – keys from your key board.

Internet Farming

Are you fade up with ads when you open your browser?

Do you want to stop those disturbing ads appear in your browser window?

Now you can stop it, just ad most popular “ad block” extension to your Google chrome browser. That’s all! Now disturbing ads will be blocked by Google chrome. According to Google this extension is used by almost 20 million internet users’ world wide.

Screen Shots

Taking screen shots from OS level is known by everyone. Now Google providing a extension called “Awesome Screenshots”, now ad this extension to your Google chrome browser. It provides you screen shots in different shapes and in .png format.

Better English

Are you preparing some documents to publish on internet? Just wait, there is a extension called “ginger” provided by: www.gingersoftware.com as free tool, anyone can download it for personal use. It will help people who are weak in English writing and preparing documents support in spell check, grammar check and also help the users to write better English.

Tabs View

People who open many tabs while browsing the internet using Google Chrome browser. It supports internet users to open and to preview those tabs. This feature can be added to browser as extension “Too many Tabs”.

Translation

Google providing translation facility in chrome for many international and local languages by extension called “instant Translate”. Internet users can use this extension to get translate web pages from other languages to local language.

Photo Editing

Now Google Chrome providing another extension called “befunky” to edit (cut, rotate, adjustment) your online photos. This extension is providing 190 effects in photo editing.

Make web data as e-book

While browsing internet user may think some web pages are having more important data and while browsing internet it may not be possible to read the data. In this scenario Google chrome provides user an excellent extension called “dotepub”. Which convert web pages data into e-book and users can download it, save it and read it while offline.

Convert Videos

Smart phone users can down load videos from you tube and convert them in to smart phone compatible video format like; MP3, MP4, AV1, WMV, 3GP. This extension is available in www.freemake.com/free_youtube_converter as free tool.

Time and Weather Report

To display time and weather and other information use “Currently” extension in Google Chrome, so every time when you open the browser you will see them in the fresh browser window.

Identify Threats and Security

Identity theft

The fraudulent acquisition and use of person’s private identifying information, usually for financial gain. It can be divided into two broad categories:

Credit card fraud

Credit card frauds committed by making use of credit/debit card of others for obtaining goods or services. The threat emerge due to stealing of information like Credit card number, PIN number, password etc. Theft of cards and cloning of cards are also employed to commit such frauds. Hackers use complex techniques like Phishing, Skimming etc. to gain credit card information from innocent users.

Phishing

Phishing is a way of attempting to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail spoofing or instant messaging and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one.

Skimming

Skimming is the theft of credit card / Debit card information. Thief can procure victim's credit card number using basic methods such as photocopying receipts or more advanced methods such as using a small electronic device (skimmer) to swipe and store hundreds of victim’s credit card numbers. Common scenarios for skimming are restaurants or bars where the skimmer has possession of the victim's credit card and makes note of card details for further use.

Vishing

It is one of the method of social engineering over the telephone system, most often using features facilitated by Voice over IP (VoIP), to gain access to private personal and financial information from the public for the purpose of financial reward. The term is a combination of  “voice” and “phishing” is called as “Vishing”.

Social Engineering

Social engineering involves gaining trust hence the fraudster poses as a member of staff or even security guard. The fraudster would then ask the customer to check the card for damages. The fraudster would have gained confidence from his prey using various tactics such as offering assistance to the customer who perhaps would have tried to use the ATM without success or perhaps the customer who is not familiar with use of ATM machine and requires assistance.

Steps to be followed before Credit card & Debit card/ATM card usage 

•         Whenever you receive the card from the bank make sure the mail is completely sealed and there is no damage.
•         Whenever you receive the card from the bank immediately sign on the card.
•         Try to cover the last three digit number on the card.
•         Register your phone number to check the account transactions.
•         Change the pin number immediately.

Secure usage of credit/Debit cards at Shopping malls and Restaurant

• Always keep an eye how the vendor swipe your card.
• Always make sure that the transactions happen at your presence.
• Never sign a blank credit card receipt. Carefully draw a line through blank portions of the receipt where additional charges could be fraudulently added.
• Don’t give away your personal information in the survey forms given in restaurants/shopping malls.