Civil Air Patrol (CAP) members are increasingly required to use information technology (IT) to meet their reporting requirements, to function in a specialty or while serving on a mission. While IT standards are emerging, it behoves each member to know of other software and services that are useful and productive. Noted below are free software and service resources that may assist in this regard.

The software and services listed do not state or imply, directly or indirectly, any endorsement, warranty, guarantee, or assurance of their functionality, merit or utility by the Webmaster, the Wicomico Composite Squadron or any other person or orangization within the CAP. Use of the software and services listed are the sole choice and responsibility of the viewer/user.

Either click on the link under “URL” or paste its contents into your browser for access to the software or service website. Should any link not be active, please advise the Webmaster by clicking here. Also, some software may have a commercial (pay) version. You may have to thoroughly review the website to locate the free version.

If the software has been revised to require payment, please inform the Webmaster so it can be removed. Also, any additions to this list will be considered if sufficient documentation and experience with the software or service is provided to the Webmaster.

Six Rules for Safe Computing (1)

1. Don’t open email attachments; even if it’s from someone you know. If you do get something from someone you know, make sure that they really sent it to you. Email attachments are the number one way viruses and trojan horses get into your email. You might also want to turn off HTML email in Outlook and other programs. HTML emails are just as dangerous as rogue web sites, and can spread infections just by previewing them.

2. Don’t click links in email. That link could lead you to a phishing site, or the link may lead you to install malicious software. Copy and paste links into your browser, or type them in by hand instead. Another reason to disable HTML email - the HTML hides the real destination of that seemingly innocuous link.

3. Don’t download files from places you aren’t absolutely sure are safe. Stick with the well known sites. Teeneagers who use filesharing software like BitTorrent, Azureus, Kazaa, Morpheus, Grokster, and Limewire, often unwittingly download spyware and trojans. If you must, quarantine all downloads then scan them a few days later with an updated anti-virus.

4. Update your OS regularly! Turn on automatic updates in OS X and Windows. Apply all critical updates immediately. Criminals often create hacks within 24 hours of Microsoft’s patches (these are called zero day exploits), so you need to protect yourself the day the patches appear.

5. Use a firewall. The best firewall is a hardware router - the kind you use to share an internet connection. Even if they’re not billed as firewalls, they are, and they’re quite effective. I also recommend turning on your operating system’s firewall - even if you have a router - but I don’t recommend third-party software firewalls. They cause more problems than they solve.

6. Never run as an administrator in any operating system. Administrators have way too many priveleges that malicious people/code can take advantage of. Run as a limited user as much as possible. Windows Vista, Linux, and Mac OSX allow you to run a majority of features, but with some additional safety, as a limited user.

(1) Source: Ohio Wing: "Leo LaPorte's Six Rules for Safe Computing."

http://ohwg.cap.gov/ and http://leoville.com/

Disclaimer: LINKS OR REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM SUCH SOURCES.
Implemented per CAPR 110-1

integrity - excellence - respect - volunteer service

Wicomico Composite Squadron
Maryland Wing
Civil Air Patrol ... U. S. Air Force Auxiliary

Disclaimer: LINKS OR REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM SUCH SOURCES.Implemented per CAPR 110-1

Disclaimer: LINKS OR REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM SUCH SOURCES.
Implemented per CAPR 110-1