QBL session next Wednesday night (23 July) on Internet Security

This July's topic:  Internet & Desktop Security: From free personal VPNs to the latest free anti-malware software

• Not only may you not be able to access certain sites outside China, but did you know that your IP address may be blocked?  I'll tell you how to get around this -- with a free package.
• Most of the malware increase is in password stealing trojans (400 in 1997; 13,000 in 2006) ... and most attack banking applications.
• Phishers are employing professional psychologists to scam victims; talented employees can earn $200,000+ per year.
• The most popular brands of anti-virus software have an 80% miss rate.  Repeat: This is not a detection rate, it is a miss rate!!
• Some Russian syndicates even offer free trials:  5 COB (change of billing) credit cards with USD 5,000 credit limit.  For an extra USD 10, you can get 10 active eBay accounts with 100+ positive feedbacks.
• Penetrating stock brokerage accounts is extremely popular.  The existing portfolio is dumped, microcap stocks are bought to drive up prices in a pump-and-dump scheme; account holders are left with mostly worthless stock.

Description: 

As always, the computer security scene is rapidly changing.  Since last year, two free anti-malware software products have taken center stage (one is a firewall, the other is an anti-virus/anti-spyware program; one is well known, the other is barely known), and a free VPN -- especially useful in open (so-called "in the wild") WiFi environments like Starbucks and many hotels, and a way to access sites not normally accessible in China -- is now available.   And among the four major web browsers, one has pushed much further ahead than the others with their latest security features, although another (which has the lowest market share among the top four), is rarely attacked.

In addition to demonstrating how to use these free software packages, this session will discuss best practices, including a look at how to secure a system even after it has been infected with a keylogger (another free software package), how to run the best test for web site malware detection (also free), how to encrypt desktop files (free again), and the easiest way to run encrypted online applications (yep, free).  Time permitting, we'll take a look ahead at what to expect over the next year.

Speaker:

David Scott Lewis is hailed in the forthcoming August issue of Wired magazine as the "model for David Lightman," the lead character in the cyberthriller movie, WarGames.  As a follow-up to the Wired piece, there will be a main event fireside chat with David during the forthcoming DEFCON, the world's largest hacker convention.  He has been involved with computer security issues longer than California has been a state, dating back over 30 years.  David gave our IT-related presentation last June and promises to use screen captures this year -- to make sure the presentation isn't at the mercy of the Crowne Plaza wireless network.  And he promises no more than three minutes on Twine.  (David is co-admin for our QBL twine and the admin for the QBL Executive Committee private twine.)

Location: Crowne Plaza, Third Floor

Day, Date & Time: Wednesday, 23 July, 7 pm (social mixer beginning at 6:30 pm)

Cost: FREE!!

Reservations: Philippe Van Cauwenberge <philippe.vancauwenberge@solideal.net>