Thursday 30 April 2015

McAfee Total Protection 2015- Is it an Ideal PC Security Suite?



PC Security SuiteSince the cyber world is full of malicious threats and infections, preventing systems and data from them becomes a great challenge for an average PC user. Many a times, you may avail a free online virus scan to know about the existing threats on your devices, but it may or may not present the exact results. Sometimes these free scans get paired with malicious programs and display fake virus results, forcing you for installing a rogue antivirus solution. Antivirus developers completely understand that you may get trapped in their phishing scams and proceed towards installing malicious programs. McAfeeTotal Protection 2015 is one of the best security suites that safeguard your systems from viruses and ensures complete device as well as user and data security. Read below the various aspects of poor PC security management and how Total Protection 2015 helps to overcome them. 

Why You Need a PC Security Program? 


When you connect to the Internet, you automatically get connected to the network that has hundreds of millions of other users. Unfortunately, you will get affected by the files, data, viruses, and other infections, which are shared over that particular network. Online hackers and malware authors may treat free online virus scan elements as their prime source to enter into your devices. As soon as a user clicks on the free virus scan button, a computer virus may execute and start impacting your system’s software and hardware components. This is just a broad perspective, read below to know more about why you should install a PC security program:

              Your system is a storehouse of your personal files and may impact your regular computing operations if compromised
              Prevent your computer system, private information, data, and sensitive files from hackers to avoid any major mishaps
              Compromised data and private information may raise online frauds and other cyber crimes
              Nearly more than 50,000 viruses exists, and 200 new viruses are bring discovered every month
              Suspicious Internet traffic can provide unwanted accesses to your system and may lead to major cyber frauds
              Spyware steals your personal and important information and sends it to the malware authors
              Trojan horse may get disguised as legitimate software and may operate spying functions to cause data, as well as financial damages
              Pop-up ads or browser display advertisements can scan your information and use it for fraudulent purposes.

How McAfee Total Protection 2015 Can Prevent the Same?


McAfee Total Protection 2015 Undoubtedly, McAfee’s Total Protection 2015 is an amazing PC security suite that offers optimal protection against leading viruses, threats, and infections. The antivirus solution is counted amongst one of the amazing security suites for its excellent data encryption, malware detection, and virus blocking features. Fortunately, the tool incorporates multiple tools that help an average user to protect his system from prevailing virtual threats. Install the program, access the McAfee Login screen and perform regular virus scans to ensure complete device, user, and data safety. Following are some of the brilliant features of the all-in-one PC security suite:





1.       Commendable Anti-Virus Protection


The Total Protection 2015 works as an all-in-one AV solution that protects your data-rich systems from malicious codes and threats. The antivirus suite offers commendable protections against all the leading virtual threats starting from Trojans, viruses, and spyware to rootkits and more. Its state-of-the-art antimalware protection and constantly updated virus database ensures that it keeps zero-day threats and botnets at bay. All in all, it is one of the best security suites that detects and blocks viruses and malware to prevent major technical mishaps.

2.       Advanced Parental Controls


It is one of the best security programs that ensure your kid’s online safety by blocking malicious sites and setting time limits for Internet usage. Your kids may access Internet when you’re not around, so control their online accessibility and monitor their cyber activities by viewing a detailed usage report.

3.       Best Privacy and PC Optimization Tools


Total Protection 2015 ensures complete safety and optimal maintenance of your device and software by using its advanced privacy and PC optimization features. The program’s smart technology identifies software that requires updates and search for the available updates to make them threat-free.  Additionally, it will also check the software’s version against its virus database using the Vulnerability Scanner feature. McAfee’s QuickClean feature deletes unnecessary cookies and temporary Internet files to provide an optimal boost to your PC’s speed and performance. If you wish to experience privacy at its best, then securely destroy your sensitive files and documents with McAfee’s Digital Shredder.

Conclusion


It is agreeable that managing PC security can become a serious challenge for average users, but installing a robust PC security program is the best solution to stay protected. Sometimes you may think that what all makes McAfee Total Protection 2015 to be counted amongst the best security packages? Well, an answer to it is its two-way firewall system, smart network manager, McAfee SiteAdvisor, File Lock technology and many others that make this antivirus solution worth purchase. If the program conflicts with your existing software, then simply remove McAfee Total Protection and install another security suite.

Tuesday 28 April 2015

How to Use Dnscrypt on Raspberry to Safeguard Your Online Privacy?



how to use DNS Nowadays user privacy is under pressure, and Internet Service Providers or governments are coming up with new privacy and online security policies to avoid the major attacks. Full DNS protection is recommended to avoid cyber attacks like snooping, man-in-the-middle attacks, and other crucial cyber flaws. One of the advantages of securing DNS servers is that you can easily prevent online criminal activities and censor malicious websites. Sometimes, you may think that why is it important to avail DNS security and why you should encrypt DNS servers on open WIFI networks? Well, the simply reply to the same is installing Dnscrypt will make your network connection fully encrypted from start to end. The tool can encrypt your DNS queries and protect them from spying and tampering. Read below to know how to use DNS on a Raspberry Pi: 


Stage1: Configure DNSMASQ

Before installing DNSCrypt, you will need to work on dnsmasq, also known as DNS cacher/server, on your system. Below is a quick checklist for DNS dnsmasq configuration and you can match them with the settings installed on your system:

·         Go to the “$ sudo vi /etc/dnsmasq.conf” server and check for the following settings: 

“## DNS CONFIGURATION ##
# Interfaces for DNS
interface=eth0
listen-address=192.168.1.3
bind-interfaces
# Never forward plain names (without a dot or domain part)
domain-needed
# Never forward addresses in the non-routed address spaces.
bogus-priv
# Max concurrent DNS queries (default = 150)
dns-forward-max=150
# DNS cache size (default = 150)
cache-size=300” 

·         Replace the current ‘listen address’ to your system IP address

·         Now, go to the second server “$ sudo vi /etc/resolv.conf” and look out for the following results:

“nameserver 127.0.0.1
nameserver 208.67.220.220
nameserver 208.67.222.222”

·         If you get the IP addresses of both the servers, then your dnsmasq is working correctly, and you can continue to the next stage.

Installing DnscryptStage2: Installing Dnscrypt


·         Check the last version of the tool by visiting the link:
“$ wget https://github.com/downloads/opendns/dnscrypt-proxy/dnscrypt-proxy-1.2.0.tar.gz”
·         Now, type the “sudo pacman -S gcc” command to build your program from sources
·         Build DNSCrypt by typing the following commands, but be patient as it will take a long time to compile on a Raspberry:

“$ tar zxpvf ./dnscrypt-proxy-1.2.0.tar.gz
$ cd dnscrypt-proxy-1.2.0
$ ./configure
$ make
$ sudo make install”

·         If you are setting up the tool on a PiWall, you will need to allow online traffic in your tool’s rules. Type the PiWall advanced script mentioned below:

“DNS_SERVER1="208.67.220.220"
DNS_SERVER2="208.67.222.222"
iptables -A GATEWAY_INTERNET -p udp --sport $UNPRIV_PORTS -d $DNS_SERVER1 -m multiport --dports domain,https -j ACCEPT
iptables -A GATEWAY_INTERNET -p udp --sport $UNPRIV_PORTS -d $DNS_SERVER2 -m multiport --dports domain,https -j ACCEPT
iptables -A GATEWAY_INTERNET -p tcp --sport $UNPRIV_PORTS -d $DNS_SERVER1 -m multiport --dports domain,https -j ACCEPT
iptables -A GATEWAY_INTERNET -p tcp --sport $UNPRIV_PORTS -d $DNS_SERVER2 -m multiport --dports domain,https -j ACCEPT”
·         Try starting the tool from the console and confirm that it launches correctly by typing the “$ sudo /usr/local/sbin/dnscrypt-proxy -a 127.0.0.2:53” command

·         You will now see that the tool is starting, retrieving a certificate, and listening on 127.0.0.2:53. If it does not work, check your firewall rules and your system’s date and time

·         Once it is up and running, interrupt its operations by pressing ‘CTRL+C’ keys and continue to the next stage.

Stage3: Configure the Tool


Configure the ToolNow, you need to define that ‘Dnsmasq’ will serve as a DNS cache/server for the LAN, but it will make its requests to DNSCrypt.

·         Type the following commands to confirm that the DNSCrypt gets launched at startup:

“$ sudo vi /etc/rc.local
echo "Starting DNSCrypt"
/usr/local/sbin/dnscrypt-proxy -a 127.0.0.2:53 –daemonize”

·         To ensure that the static NTP IP address should not interrupt the process of securing DNS servers, you need to use a dnsmasq parameter

·         Command the tool to use another "resolv.conf" file by typing the following commands:

“$ sudo vi /etc/dnsmasq.conf
## DNS CONFIGURATION ##
# Interfaces for DNS
interface=eth0
listen-address=192.168.1.3
bind-interfaces
resolv-file=/etc/resolv-dnsmasq.conf”

·         Now, create a file by typing these commands:

“$ sudo vi /etc/resolv-dnsmasq.conf
nameserver 127.0.0.2
Your regular resolve file can be like this :
nameserver 127.0.0.1
nameserver 208.67.220.220
nameserver 208.67.222.222”

·         Now, launch DNSCrypt by typing the “$ sudo /usr/local/sbin/dnscrypt-proxy -a 127.0.0.2:53 –daemonize” command

·         Check everything, reboot your Linux and confirm that everything is working fine after the system startup.

Conclusion


Once you’ve completed all the stages mentioned above, you can enjoy full DNS protection on your Linux systems. After the tool gets installed on your system, the Raspberry Pi can easily handle the network gateway, firewall, DHCP server and other device security roles. It is true that DNSCrypt does not fix DNS protocol's vulnerabilities, but it plays a vital role in ensuring user, network and device privacy and security.

Thursday 23 April 2015

Simple Tips for Installing DNSCrypt on OpenWrt



DNSCrypt Since Internet is full of virtual threats, availing DNS security is must to ensure smooth and safer computing operations. Tech geeks claim that DNS networks serve as the possible entry point for vulnerabilities, and they may damage your computers to an irreparable extent. You can easily install the latest security tool- DNSCrypt to enjoy encrypted Internet browsing experience. The security utility not only encrypts your inward or outward network traffic, but also helps to avoid some major security breaches that may lead to serious frauds. The tool is capable of securing communications between a client and a DNS resolver to ensure that no sensitive data or information goes into the wrong hands. The utility uses elliptic-curve cryptography and protects your device and identity by encrypting web traffic, the way the SSL turns HTTP into HTTPS. Read the blog to know how to install the tool on OpenWrt for beginners:

Steps for Installing the Tool on Your Computers 

Stage1. Installing the Utility on OpenWrt


        Open the OpenWrt’s ‘LuCI Web’ Interface and select ‘System – Software’ tab

        Click the ‘Update List’ option and wait for window to appear

        Type ‘dnscrypt-proxy’ in ‘Download and Install Packages’ field

        Click ‘OK’ and wait until the process gets completed.


If you’re using x86 Platforms, then try the following steps to install the tool:


        Type the following commands to install the utility:


A.      cd /tmp wget

B.      https://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/x86/packages/packages/dnscrypt-proxy_1.4.1-1_x86.ipk

C.      opkg install dnscrypt-proxy*.ipk

D.      rm -f dnscrypt-proxy*ipk
OR 

        Enter these commands to install the CACert SSL certificates


A.      mkdir -p /etc/ssl/certs/

B.      wget -P /etc/ssl/certs/ http://curl.haxx.se/ca/cacert.pem



        Now, Install libsodium by typing these commands

A.      cd /tmp

B.      curl -OL --cacert /etc/ssl/certs/cacert.pem https://github.com/damianorenfer/libsodium-openwrt/raw/master/openwrt/bin/x86/libsodium_0.4.5-1_x86.ipk

C.      opkg install libsodium_0.4.5-1_x86.ipk

D.      rm -f libsodium*.ipk


        And, finally install dnscrypt-proxy for Barrier Breaker

A.      cd /tmp

B.      curl -OL --cacert /etc/ssl/certs/cacert.pem https://github.com/damianorenfer/dnscrypt-proxy-openwrt/raw/master/bin/x86/packages/dnscrypt-proxy_1.4.0-1_x86.ipk

C.      opkg install dnscrypt-proxy_1.4.0-1_x86.ipk

D.      rm -f dnscrypt-proxy*.ipk


Stage2: Check Successful Installation of ‘dnscrypt-proxy’


        Type {opkg status | grep -n "dnscrypt-proxy"} command to check if dnscrypt-proxy already installed or not
        The command will show the following results:

“217:Package: dnscrypt-proxy

224: /etc/config/dnscrypt-proxy 7524801bccfc5504202a7c469f9fbc51”

        If it doesn’t display anything, there might be any problem with the installation of the tool.

Stage3: Configure the Tool to Work Properly


dnscrypt-proxy        Connect your network router via web Interface and select ‘System – Startup’ tab
        Find in ‘initscript – dnscrypt-proxy’ section and click ‘Enable’ button to start the service
        Now, you will need to configure OpenWrt to send DNS request to dnscrypt address
        Select ‘Network’ tab and go to the ‘DHCP and DNS’ section
        Select ‘General Setting’ tab and click the ‘DNS Forwardings’ option
        Fill the both columns with ‘127.0.0.1#2053’ and ‘/pool.ntp.org/208.67.222.222’ details
        Select ‘Resolv and Hosts File’ section and checkmark the ‘Ignore Resolve File’ option

        Press ‘Save & Apply’ option to make the changes

        Now, restart your router and select the ‘System – Startup’ tab

        Find the ‘initscript – dnsmasq’ and click ‘Restart’ option.

Stage4. Test the Tool to Confirm Encrypted Internet Browsing Experience 


        Run the following commands in SSH to test that the tool is working properly on router:

“logread | grep -n "using nameserver"

“logread | grep "Proxying from"

        If the utility has successfully installed, it will showcase the following results:

“132:Jan  1 01:01:00 openwrt daemon.info dnsmasq[1883]: using nameserver 208.67.222.222#53 for domain pool.ntp.org

133:Jan  1 01:01:00 openwrt daemon.info dnsmasq[1883]: using nameserver 127.0.0.1#2053
Jul 1 12:00:00 openwrt daemon.info dnscrypt-proxy[1831]: Proxying from 127.0.0.1:2053 to 208.67.220.220:443”

        If you’re using a Windows PC, open Command Prompt and run the following commands:

nslookup

set type=txt

debug.opendns.com

        Linux OS users will need to open Terminal and type the “dig txt debug.opendns.com” command
        If the results portray “dnscrypt enabled (7165343751484877)” messages, then you and your computing operations are secured.

Conclusion


Many of you may think that adopting DNS security tips isn’t that important, but you should consider it as an additional responsibility to safeguard your device and identity from cyber attacks. You should install DNS tool to enjoy the encrypted internet browsing environment and to secure your DNS networks. The tool can efficiently prevent you from leading cyber crimes including spying, spoofing, and man-in-the-middle attacks. So install DNSCrypt right now and browse through a protected yet secure online network!