Computer Security

[EasyT]

Hey, maybe one of you computer guys answer this:

When you go to log into a pokersite, you can opt to have the site remember your id and password every time. I've alway had the sneaking suspicion that this is not a good idea - security wise.

Does using the auto login put a person at greater risk to hackers, etc?

Thanks!

[Sed]

I wouldn't do it on a laptop... but a home computer properly firewalled and anti-virused should be ok. Physical access is the biggest security hole most computers have. If some asshat can get to it or take it, you are screwed, they can do anything they want. That is, unless you encrypt your drives with strong encryption and a properly obscure key....

-sed

[arkana]

No because all the auto login does is store the password (hopefully encrypted) on your local machine. So it only puts you at a greater risk if someone can access your machine to get it. If anyone else has access to your machine or you are not sure that its clean (ie no trojans) then dont use autologin.

[EasyT]

I have Norton anti-virus. Is this enough for me to assume that trojans have been spotted and eliminated. The HD was washed clean when I bought the old computer in March. Since then, I've downoaded lots of poker software and related files, but scan with Norton weekly.

[tjp]

You got a hardware firewall, a software one or none?

[Element187]

yay a post i'm an expert on (Information security engineer .. flex:)

mostly with saving your passwords, you dont want to do it if mutliple people use your computer .. i just make it a habit to never save passwords.

download able and cain.. it can search your registry for stored passwords and what not to see how vulnerable your machine is to attacks.

[tjp]

element, cause i'm an IT guy i take for granted that i'm rock solid: i.e. sonicwall soho3, adaware pro, nav corporate, make sure fw is flashed with new updates etc. However, most of the FTR readers (not all as there are a lot of techies among us) are not so informed as to security. Maybe a thread should be started on hw / sw setups config's etc? Whaddya think?

element, cause i'm an IT guy i take for granted that i'm rock solid: i.e. sonicwall soho3, adaware pro, nav corporate, make sure fw is flashed with new updates etc. However, most of the FTR readers (not all as there are a lot of techies among us) are not so informed as to security. Maybe a thread should be started on hw / sw setups config's etc? Whaddya think?

Definitely, I'm computer illiterate.

[tjp]

I'll kick one off in this forum, element, all other IT geeks like me spread the knowledge!

[tjp]

kicked off a thread addressing basic home pc / network security issues. it's called "your poker pc, home network and basic security.