Security with OpenDNS

OpenDNS provides an extra layer of safety to Internet browsing in addition to anti-virus software and firewalls. It keeps bad websites out with filtering and customized settings you control. The biggest draw to OpenDNS besides the extra security, is the price. OpenDNS is absolutely free! There is no software to download or install and setup takes about ten minutes if you have access to your home router or computer's TCP/IP settings.

OpenDNS replaces the DNS server of your current Internet Service Provider (ISP). According to the creators of OpenDNS,  "industry-leading anti-phishing protects everyone on your network from fraudulent phishing scams, web content filtering to block up to 50 categories of content and detailed statistics to understand your network traffic and spot trends before they become problems." (http://www.opendns.com/solutions/overview) That's a lot of features for a free security product which claims it can do a better job of DNS resolution than your current ISP. To appreciate the benefits of OpenDNS, you must understand what DNS is.

DNS stands for Domain Name System. DNS provides an IP address for the domain name entered into a web browser. Every website you visit has a DNS server assigned to it. So when you hit enter after typing the name of your favorite website, your computer sends a request to find info about that domain name. The DNS server from your ISP will process the request and return the information back to your computer. Your computer will store this information then send it to your browser. Your browser will read the IP address and open a connection to display the website. All this usually happens in just a few seconds.

I recommend OpenDNS for those who find Internet browsing slow and for those who worry about phishing scams on their network. I setup OpenDNS on my home router and my online experience has improved. Pages load a bit faster and my web filter controls are manageable from anywhere.

If you would like to get started with OpenDNS, check out the link below.

OpenDNS

What is SSH?

SSH is know as secure shell. It is a network protocol that provides authentication and encryption to remote Internet connections.

Why Should I Care

If you routinely log into one computer to gain access to another, then you will want to secure that connection. The Internet is one big endless world to explore and enjoy. The downside is, there are ways your enjoyment can come to an abrupt halt from malicious intentions such as IP and DNS spoofing. SSH encryption ensures that your Internet connections are as safe as possible. Engadget has a very good How-To on SSH. See link below.

SSH on Engadget

Cloud Banking

There are plenty of ways to save money these days and there is no shortage of places to put that hard earned cash. Most of us have memberships to the old guard of banking, the brick and mortar financial institutions that charge us exorbitant fees for everything. But today, we have alternatives to traditional banking that existing solely online. There are no branches to visit, because they don't exist with most online banks.

Online savings and checking accounts have been around for a few years, and they offer greater flexibility and convenience over traditional banks. Now, you can have your entire financial portfolio online without ever walking into a bank branch. Signing up is easy with just a few clicks, a form, verification and you are on your way to managing your money at the comfort of your couch, kitchen or wherever you have an Internet connection. While nothing is completely secured or guaranteed, you can feel good knowing that these accounts are FDIC insured.

Some online banks such as ING and Ameriprise (a spin off from American Express) offer you a debit Mastercard or Visa for purchases. Banks like PNC offer virtual wallets that combine multiple accounts into one online portfolio for easy money management.

Its always a good idea to check up on the health of banks that you currently use and banks you are considering in the future. Websites like bankrate.com and mybanktracker.com offer good ways to evaluate banks to get you started.

If you are ready to take the leap into online banking and save some travel time, then check out the list of banks below.

Savings Accounts

PNC-VirtualWallet

Ameriprise

ING Direct

ETRADE

HSBC

FDIC