I am looking into alternatives to Windows EFS to protect sensitive data on a Linux web server. I know practically nothing about EFS, but I get the impression that the files are effectively plain-text if you are logged into the Windows machine as the user who owns the files, so the same level of "encryption" exists in a Linux environment if the files have only read/write perms for file owner and no perms for anybody else. My colleague says "No, it is not the same level of security" but doesn't provide any further info regarding how/why it's different. What am I missing here?
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posted by 0
on Apr 1, 2013 -
11 answers
Please help me translate the phrase, "Something that you bought at another store has not been cleared. I can fix that for you. Thank you."
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posted by wintersonata9
on Mar 17, 2013 -
8 answers
This has happened twice now, and it is freaky. Google chrome on the iMac I use in my office at work (at a university) will have usernames and passwords for people who have never been in my office ever. The first time it happened it was my father's email, and the second time it was my stepmother's. Why would chrome be filling in these odd emails when it doesn't even save my own login information after closing the browser window?
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posted by artychoke
on Mar 7, 2013 -
8 answers
Strangers from adjoining neighborhoods have created a path on private land behind my house. What are some ways I can stop them?
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posted by Arbitrage1
on Mar 3, 2013 -
48 answers
Open source software is considered trustworthy because anyone can validate the source code and hold the developer accountable. Usually developers will also make compiled binaries available for convenience. How can we know that these binaries are compiled from the
same source code the developer published, and not a malicious variant of it?
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posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis
on Feb 26, 2013 -
17 answers
With email and website passwords, are successful "brute force" attacks still common, where an automated bot tries thousands and thousands of passwords on the same user account until one works?
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posted by pete_22
on Jan 9, 2013 -
17 answers
I need to retrieve the SSID of a wifi network that is not in range from either an iPhone or an old hard drive.
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posted by IanMorr
on Jan 2, 2013 -
5 answers
Help me name my new product, which combines the functionality of popular existing apps, but is specialized with high-security features.
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posted by bfu
on Dec 26, 2012 -
21 answers
I was checking the security setting on my gmail account this AM and was alarmed to see that govtrack.us had somehow been granted " granted the following services access to your Google Account".
Especially concerning since i had never seen that site, or even heard of it. What gives?
posted by dougiedd
on Nov 18, 2012 -
5 answers
I found several "favourited" videos in my YouTube account that were definitely not my or my partner's doing. What could have happened? Was I hacked?
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posted by peripathetic
on Nov 14, 2012 -
3 answers
Please help me understand the difference (or non-difference) in safety for Firefox vs. Chrome browser extensions (plugins/add-ons).
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posted by pavane
on Nov 5, 2012 -
3 answers
Apparently, I didn't keep the answers to my iTunes security authorization questions. I think I can guess my answers with a few more tries, but I might get locked out before I get there.
Will the wrong answer count reset back to zero after a wait time? Meaning, can I try again tomorrow, or will I still get locked out?
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posted by p3t3
on Oct 17, 2012 -
4 answers
New IPad - very computer savvy - do I need to worry about security on my new IPad? I check my banking accounts everyday on my laptop and would like to use my IPad for this. Is there additional security needed (to download) or am I good to go?
posted by pamspanda
on Sep 25, 2012 -
7 answers
This past weekend I had a huge moving sale, and ended up with about $1500 in small bills ($1s, $5s, $10s, $20s). Between cleaning my apartment and packing everything up today, I forgot to go to the bank and deposit the money into my account. Tomorrow morning I fly out of JFK (Terminal 4, specifically) to move to San Francisco, and since my flight is early there's no time to go to a bank. I feel weird traveling with these huge wads of cash, especially as it's all small bills. Right now it's all stuffed into a cigar box in my carry-on. I don't think it will fit in my wallet. Will the currency exchange places give me $100s (or better yet a money order) for my cash, and will I find one before passing through security? Will TSA steal from me, or give me a hard time for carrying these wads of bills? Is there possibly a Bank of America branch in JFK? What should I do? I don't think I'm comfortable depositing this much cash through an ATM, and anyway it would take forever.
posted by betsbillabong
on Aug 27, 2012 -
18 answers
It's very very hot today. My method of cooling the house is entirely fan based. I would like to be able to leave the windows cracked for the cats when I'm at work, and when I'm sleeping, but the first floor presents a security issue. What can you recommend to secure double hung windows?
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posted by instead of three wishes
on Jun 21, 2012 -
26 answers
I just walked past an armoured truck doing a cash drop to a bank. On the back was a sign saying "Police follow this vehicle". Is this a request or a statement? What's it trying to achieve and does it work?
posted by cromagnon
on Jun 19, 2012 -
5 answers
I have contacted the designer of my WordPress theme for support and they are asking for log-in info. This seems like a "stop right there" kinda thing. Am I being to cautious?
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posted by humboldt32
on May 31, 2012 -
14 answers
I need to find a source for travel and security advisories for locations around the world. Our organisation is too small to employ a security advisor and I don't always trust the locals. What publicly available resources do you use to prepare for travel?
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posted by wingless_angel
on May 24, 2012 -
9 answers
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being "very safe" and with going-to-11 being "the most crazy," how insane is it to try to get into London from Heathrow to do some light sightseeing on my way back home to the US. (I've read the previous questions, but needed some clarification about some of the issues!)
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posted by jph
on Apr 16, 2012 -
39 answers
So...I'm thinking my Mac has a virus. I have a Mac OS X 10.5.8. I keep running out of hard drive space and deleting files constantly, so I got Disk Inventory X to see where my space is. Turns out there is 20 GB of 130,000 text files on my computer in a hidden file marked "private". I can't see this "private" folder from the file manager...only from Disk Inventory X. What do I do?
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posted by HylandErickson
on Feb 26, 2012 -
9 answers
When uploading my files to major cloud services (Microsoft SkyDrive, Google Docs and Google Picasaweb), are they automatically encrypted
before they leave my computer?
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posted by paleyellowwithorange
on Feb 5, 2012 -
9 answers
Is it ok to put a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer in my checked luggage on a flight from JFK to Heathrow?
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posted by Grither
on Jan 12, 2012 -
13 answers
What do I *really* need to do in order to keep my computer reasonably save from malware and intrusions?
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posted by lord_yo
on Dec 10, 2011 -
23 answers
On the way home from work today I found an employee badge that someone appeared to have dropped and lost (it was right next to the bus stop I usually wait at). The badge's owner was nowhere in sight (it was a photo ID) and I don't know anyone who works for the company identified on the badge. What's the best / quickest way to get it back to its owner, especially given tomorrow is a (US) holiday?
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posted by aecorwin
on Nov 23, 2011 -
21 answers
An elderly relative, once technically savvy, now goes into fugue states where, in his confusion, he dismantles computer and A/V setups, with no one in the household to reconnect them properly.
I'm looking for a way of securing A/V and computer connections while leaving the function of the devices still accessible. The alternative so far is spending endless hours with the cable company to get them to send someone to help, or paying someone else to come by. Phone instructions are no good, and there is no one in the household who can help.
posted by oneironaut
on Nov 21, 2011 -
20 answers
I work for medium sized non profit and know only a modest amount about IT. This wouldn't be a problem were it not for the fact that among my responsibilities is running IT (long story).
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posted by TheShadowKnows
on Nov 11, 2011 -
10 answers
I've got a windows vista installation that, as of a few months ago, has stopped letting me write to a bunch of directories or change a bunch of files, and it won't let me make them writeable again.
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posted by rmd1023
on Nov 5, 2011 -
8 answers
IP Cameras or security system?
So, in a follow up to this
question, we've moved into another house, also without a security system. (Much better neighborhood, and a watchful older neighbor across the street, however) The landlord is fine with us having a security system installed. However, my dad has an IP camera installed in his house, which takes photos of movement (also can track sound) and emails them to him.
Which do you recommend - ip cameras or security system? Any suggestions for either?
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posted by needlegrrl
on Oct 18, 2011 -
6 answers
Please help me configure and secure my Ubuntu-based combined home file server/public web server/VNC server! I am building a low-ish power home file server, which will likely run Ubuntu 11.04 or 11.10 (possibly server edition), and I should be able to set up a basic samba share easily enough. But I would also like to use the same computer to serve a few basic webpages, and I would like to provide ssh and ideally VNC or RDP-like access from outside the LAN. I can probably get the basic software set up, but I'm a n00b when it comes to NAT stuff, firewalls, and security issues generally. I would also appreciate help with setting up dynamic DNS.
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posted by dilettanti
on Oct 7, 2011 -
6 answers
Does this website error message indicate that my financial institution is using a version of Apache built in 2006 on their secure server? Should I be concerned about that? If so, what should I do about it?
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posted by alms
on Sep 15, 2011 -
9 answers
I am attempting to play a video file that has come from a security camera, under Ubuntu. I think it's a codec problem, but I'm not sure of the solution.
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posted by chmmr
on Sep 1, 2011 -
12 answers
A friend of mine has become convinced that Facebook is using her cell phone number to steal her contacts off her cell phone. My question - given the limitations listed in the more inside, how could this happen? Could it?
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posted by routergirl
on Aug 11, 2011 -
25 answers
Is Randall Munroe right about passwords in today's
xkcd? Are very long (all lower case) plain text passwords more secure than short ones using a mix of numerals and upper/lower case text?
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posted by Ahab
on Aug 10, 2011 -
95 answers
Is there any windows program that allows to see the desktop or allow programs to be seen and password protect if any modification is needed.
posted by radsqd
on Aug 4, 2011 -
5 answers
I want to access my personal diary from anywhere - and keep it as secure as possible at the same time. Here's my idea on how to do this...what do you think?
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posted by jspierre
on Jul 1, 2011 -
19 answers
How careful do I need to be in disposing of the credit card offers that come in the mail?
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posted by segfault
on Jun 28, 2011 -
10 answers
Listening to NPR I heard them saying, a little too casually, that "Generation Y is preparing for a future without any Social Security benefits". REALLY?? I did _NOT_ get that memo.
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posted by shipbreaker
on May 23, 2011 -
38 answers
How do I create a public wifi network that is separate from our corporate network while using the same internet connection?
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posted by talkingmuffin
on May 19, 2011 -
4 answers
What simple, secure, portable password and secure data management systems do you use?
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posted by garlic
on May 4, 2011 -
21 answers
