Computer Security Related Software
Below is a list of computer security related software. I’ve found many of these programs to be useful for securing the personal data on my laptop in case it is stolen, erasing the personal data from computer before selling/discarding them, etc. While non-exhaustive, this list should be helpful. If you can think of any software I’ve missed, feel free to let me know.
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Encryption Software
GPG - GPG is the GNU replacement for PGP. It allows for symmetric and asymmetric encryption of files, emails, and more, as well as digital signatures and a robust key-trust model. GPG is even backwards compatible with PGP. GPG is available for all platforms, and is open source.
Imad’s PGP Build - Imad’s PGP is a freeware, security enhanced build of the last open-source PGP version. It includes PGP disk, and the PGP file deletion/free space wipe utilities.
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt is a freeware, open source disk encryption utility for windows, implimenting Blowfish, Twofish, AES, Serpent, 3DES, CAST, and various combination (such as AES-Blowfish-Serpent). SHA-1 and RIPEMD160 hash algorithms are supported. TrueCrypt encrypted volumes can take the form of a ‘container’ file that is stored on a hard drive, floppy drive, USB drive, CD, DVD, etc, or directly on a logical volume. TrueCrypt also supports hidden voumes, and the nesting of volumes within other TrueCrypt volumes.
CompuSec - CompuSec is a freeware windows entire disk encryption and security product. It uses AES 128 to encrypt the entire disk(s), and requires that the appropriate password be enterd before the computer boots. It should be noted that this software is closed source.
CryptoSwap Guerilla - CryptoSwap Guerilla is a freeware windows utility encrypts the windows swap file with AES, GOST, Twofish, or Blowfish, using a randomly generated key that is replaced on each reboot. The effect is that once the computer is rebooted or powered off, the key is lost and data previously written to the swap file is unrecoverable.
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Secure Deletion Software
Eraser - Eraser is a freeware secure deletion utility for windows.
Darik’s Boot and Nuke - DBAN is a freeware boot disk (CD or Floppy) that will securely delete the contents of a system’s hard drives. DBAN supports a variety of overwrite methods.
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Internet Privacy
MetroPipe an encrypted tunnel service to anonymize internet activity.
GAIM-Encryption - GAIM is a multi-platform AIM/IRQ/Messenger/etc client, and there is an encryption plug-in that uses asymmetric encryption to secure your chat sessions.
Off The Record - A plugin for GAIM, as well as a stand alone proxy for other instant message clients that provides encryption as well as perfect forward secrecy, among other things.
TOR - TOR is an onion routing project funded by the EFF that encrypts connections and routes them through three TOR nodes, providing anonymous and secure communication. It is also quite interesting to see the differences in content that some website provide depending upon which country you appear to be accessing the site. Also very useful for testing whether changes to your DNS records have propagated.
I2P - I2P is an anonymizing network that is both similar and different to Tor. One key difference is that I2P uses UDP and is not as focused on functioning as an “outproxy” (like Tor) to the rest of the internet, but instead focuses on services provided within the network.
CCleaner - CCleaner is a freeware utility that removes cookie, history, temporary files and much more from windows explorer, internet explorer, and firefox, amoung others.
NoScript - NoScript is an extention for Firefox that prevents all sites except those you white-list from running java, javascript, or other applets.
Privoxy - Privoxy is a freeware, open source content filtering proxy that removes ads, privacy-invading cookies, and more from websites as your browse. Privoxy is excellent in combination with TOR.
Ramdisk - A free, up to 64MB, ramdisk utility. By combining this ramdisk software with Portable Firefox, (or by storing your web browser temporary files on the ramdisk), temporary internet files can be kept in RAM and never written to disk.
Portable Firefox - A portable version of Firefox designed that runs out of a single folder. Portable firefox can be installed on a USB drive, a Ramdisk (for extra security and speed), etc. Portable Firefox supports standard firefox extensions and plugins.
Anonym.OS - A OpenBSD Live-CD that sends all outgoing data through Tor, and has support for instant messaging, web broswing, email, etc.
