Tor: Your Complete Anonymity Solution Online For Mac OS X (Recommended)

Do you think somebody is watching your internet connection, learning what sites you visit or your physical location IP address ? Do you want to hide your IP address before accessing a particular site ?

Tor is a software that help you defend against traffic analysis ,personal freedom and privacy. Tor protects you by bouncing your communications around a distributed network of relays run by volunteers all around the world . It prevents somebody to watch your internet connection from learning what sites you visit, and even mask your physical location.

Tor helps to reduce the risks of both simple and sophisticated traffic analysis by distributing your transactions over several places on the Internet, so no single point can link you to your destination.

It focuses only on protecting the transport of data. You need to use protocol-specific support software if you don't want the sites you visit to see your identifying information. For example, you can use web proxies such as Privoxy while web browsing to block cookies and withhold information about your browser type.

I have been using it for a while and am really happy with the results. And would really recommend it to you.Tor is a network of virtual tunnels that allows people and groups to improve their privacy and security on the Internet.
Download TOR :Mac OS X [OSX 10.4 & 10.5] [OSX 10.3]

more info: http://www.torproject.org/download.html.en

Download and install the Mac OS X bundles .
Now setup the browser
Firefox users can install Torbutton Plugin
Safari users need to change change the Network Settings.
1) From System Preference choose Network
2) Choose your connection (AirPort or Ethernet).
3) Go to Advanced -- Proxies enter 127.0.0.1 and port 8118 for both web proxy (HTTP) and Secure Web Proxy(HTTPS)

Check if you are using Tor CLICK HERE

For more info on Tor :Mac OS X Install Instructions http://www.torproject.org/docs/tor-doc-osx.html.en

written by Avipar\\

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Protect Your Mac Hard Disk From Attacks

Here are some security tips that I came across and wanted to share with you. Although Mac OS X is a secure interface but still there are some precautions to be taken.

The data that an application writes to random-access memory (RAM) might contain sensitive information, such as user names and passwords. Mac OS X writes the contents of RAM to your local hard disk to free memory for other applications.
While the data is on the hard disk, it can be easily viewed or accessed. You can protect this data by securing your virtual memory in case of an attack or theft of your computer.

System Swap File
System swap is a process that your computer uses to free the RAM for other application uses.
When your computer is turned off, the RAM on your computer contains no data. Computers use virtual memory to reduce problems caused by limited memory.

Virtual memory swaps data between your hard disk and RAM. It’s possible that sensitive information in your computer’s RAM will be written to your hard disk in virtual memory while you are working and remain there until overwritten. This data can be compromised if your computer is accessed by an unauthorized user because the data is stored on the hard disk unencrypted.

Even when you computer hibernation, it writes the content of RAM to a sleepimage file unencrypted.

You can prevent your sensitive RAM information from being left unencrypted on your hard disk by enabling secure virtual memory to encrypt the virtual memory.

How to Encrypt System Swap?
You can prevent your sensitive information from remaining on your hard disk and
eliminate the security risk by using secure virtual memory. Secure virtual memory
encrypts the data being written to disk.

Turn ON secure virtual memory:

• Open System Preferences
• Click on Security, then go to General tab.
• Select "Use secure virtual memory" checkbox.
• Reboot system.

Turn ON FileVault:
If you use FileVault, your virtual memory or the home folder is encrypted because the data being written to virtual memory is encrypted by FileVault.

• System preferences
• Click Security, Go to FileVault tab.
• Click on "Turn On FileVault" button.
• Set a master password (DON'T FORGET IT).

You are now safe and secure!

written by Avipar\\

Technorati Tags: Mac OS X Ticks, Macintosh OS X Tools, MacOs X leopard, MacOs X Terminal, OS X Tools , Macintosh OS, MacOs X 10.5, MacOS X Software, MacOS X Hints, Free MacOS X, OSX Desktop, Macintosh consulting, MacOS X Apps, Leopard Tricks, OS X Leopard, System swap, Hibernation, Virtual Memory, FileVault

Is your User Account in Mac OS X Leopard Secure?

When you create a user's account you specify the information to prove the user's identity,such as userame ,user ID ,authentication method ,and password.These information is required by many services in your Mac which makes it less secure.

Basically ,some access details provided to the users accounts are listed below.

• Administrator: Full control over the computers configuration.
• System administrator(root): Unrestricted access to computer
• Guest Account: Restricted user access
• Standard Account: Non privileged user access
• Managed with Parental Controls: Restricted computer access
  

How to create a secure account?


Follow these key guidelines while creating a new user account:

1) If you are the administrator of the computer then , create another standard account for daily use and use the administrator account for administration purposes. By this you reduse the risk of accidentall
reconfiguring secure system preferences.

2) Use strong Authentication Password. You require passwords to log in ,to wake up the computer from sleep or from a screen saver,to install applications ,or change system settings.

Mac OS X provides Password Assistant, an application analyzes and generates a complex password for you. This feature appears when you click on the 'Key' button infront the 'Password' block.
You can choose from following types of password:

• Manual
• Memorable
• Letters & Numbers
• Numbers only
• Random
  

You can even use it to create passwords for other purpose.

3) Put a 'Password Hint'. Its important that you remember the password, but incase if you forget always keep a backup question or a hint to help.

4) Select FileVault Checkbox. Click on the option "Turn on FireVault Protection".
Mac OS X includes FileVault which encrypts information in your home folder and its files.


5) Never create account that are shared by several users. Each user should have his or her own Standard or Managed accounts. Individual accounts also help to keep a track of user's own folders.


Secure that Guest Account Too!

The guest account ,used to give a user temporary access to computer, is disabled by default. Because it does not require a password to log in, if this account is enabled and not secured it can be dangerous.

After enabling the account :

1) Enable parent controls. To limit what users can do, select parental control.You can manage its preferences. Parental Controls can also be used to secure Standard user accounts and Managed user accounts.

• System:only allow selected applications

• Content:Limit access to certain websites

• Mail & iChat: Limit Mail and iChat restricted to a specified list

• Time Limits: Limit computer use to certain hours a day/week

• Log: keep an eye on visited websites ,iChat logs,applications.

2)Deselect the "Allow guest to connect to shared folders" checkbox

3)When you finish with this account, disable it.

Securing Administrator Accounts

Each administrator should make two accounts:a standard account for daily purposes and the other for administrative purposes.
A user account with administration privileges can perform tasks such as:

• Creating user accounts

• Adding users to Admin group

• Installing system softwares

• Enable,or disable sharing firewall settings.

• Changing FileVault master password

I hope these advise would help you in making your Mac OS personal and safe.

Written by Avipar//

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