CEP 810 - PC Maintenance and Security

Explaining what intrusion detection software does
I chose a tutorial about intrusion detection software thinking that it was software that detects when an intruder comes in from the Internet and accesses my computer.  What I learned and will share with others is that intrusion detection is actually a much more advanced form of anti-virus software.  Where anti-virus software only detects known viruses based on virus signatures, intrusion detection software appears to detect changes to key windows files and processes.  The tutorial compares intrusion detection to looking at behaviors, while anti-virus software really only looks at fingerprints.  I was surprised to find out that my anti-virus software doesn't protect against 'all' viruses.  It only protects against viruses it knows about.  I can see where there is a need for intrusion detection software that checks to see if there are differences between how the computer is supposed to behave (start up, registry, processes) compared to how it is behaving.

Securing Internet Explorer
I chose the Securing Internet Explorer tutorial because that is the web browser that came with Windows on my PC.  I learned that there are settings that can be enabled or disabled which control how Internet Explorer behaves.  I will share with others that under the 'Internet Options' menu item, one should choose settings to only allow signed active-x controls because unsigned active-x controls usually come from a source that is not safe.  One thing that surprised me was that I can get spyware and malware just by clicking on a link on a web page if that page was created by someone motivated on distributing these types of items.  I thought you actually had to "install" something to get infected.  Rather, it can happen as easily as clicking on a hyperlink.  It turns out there are security settings that allow you to "disable install on demand" functionality, preventing applications from being installed when you click on them (e.g. on demand).

Setting up Content Advisor in Internet Explorer
I chose the 'Setting up Content Adviser in Internet Explorer' because I was hoping to find that there were tools that could filter the content that my children may be exposed to on the Internet.  The main thing I learned that I will share with others is that Microsoft has built in to their web browser the ability to control the viewing of inappropriate content.  Using Content advisor I can set the levels I am willing to accept my children seeing on the Internet in regards to language, nudity, sex, and violence.  I can set the levels for each category individually to prevent my kids from seeing things or words that I don't want them to see.  Not only was I surprised to see that this feature was built in to the software, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I can set a supervisory password that will be required in order to change any of settings.  This means that they won't be able to override the settings that I choose because they won't be have the password.  As a parent I can say, 'Nice feature Microsoft'.