LtfcFool Security

[Wimbo]

Just a quick note on the security of the LtfcFool site and indeed many other sites such as football forums, blog sites where you won’t be making any financial transactions.

If you go online shopping, your bank, broker etc and indeed anywhere that you may make a financial transaction, you will transact via an encrypted/secure via the likes of https. In the address bar, you will likely see a little padlock or similar depending on the browser used (Edge, Firefox, Chrome, Opera etc). This means that the site is secure/encrypted. Indeed when you log onto the Fool you will see that little padlock until once logged on when the padlock disappears and is replaced in the case of Opera by a sphere/globe. This means that your password entry went via https (secure) but like all ProBoards sites, once logged on it reverts to the less secure http. This is the same for the likes of Outlaws, CUFC forum, Lincoln City forum etc. You could argue that a determined deranged hacker may choose to hack into the LtfcFool to see our opinions on a game but the point is such sites as ours don’t require encryption or high security as we only exchange views on football; we don't commit to any financial transactions on site.

If we did choose to go for encryption then that’s possible but costs about $50 a month whereas our simple nattering about football does not necessitate an extra level of “hacker proof” security and if free of charge.

So, after talking to the guys who run ProBoards their view is we really don’t have an issue to worry us.

[greeno]

Thank you.

[Singapore hatter]

I thank our 5 star administrator from clarifying. I did some investigative work and discovered that the main browsing companies increased their security levels and some companies websites have not complied in updating their security level, hence the issue.,As Bill states, most sites that do not have the same security(encryption)-maybe due to cost, are not selling services,/no need to provide bank details so feel it unnecessary to update their security level. Please ensure that whenever doing any financial transaction that whatever website you visit has a secured padlock, otherwise check if there is a secure padlock via your android/smart phone which do not have the same security encryption as you have for laptops/desktops but smartphones are I believe well encrypted. Bill, you are more “Au fait “ than me with technical jargon but I think I have summed it up reasonably well.

[flathatter]

I think we may be getting confused between the security of a website and the security of your device which are totally different things.
A website is secured so that your data cannot be stolen. This is the same whatever device you use. Your device does not affect the security of the site.

Some devices are inherently more secure due to their operating systems. Windows is more vulnerable than iOS and some browsers offer better inbuilt antivirus but you MUST install your own and keep it up to date!

So don't give your data to unsecured sites Padlock Https or secured in the address bar is the indicator.

[rutlandhatter]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to stick to cheques and cash! Or perhaps encourage the re-introduction of bartering!

[flathatter]

Aug 8, 2018 17:07:45 GMT rutlandhatter said:

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to stick to cheques and cash! Or perhaps encourage the re-introduction of bartering!

Unfortunately Gale both of these can be forged! And bartered goods can be stolen or rotten!

[tassie]

Thanks for all the info. I'll be more aware in future. Now for Sunderland , COYH

[bms]

Tahkns orf het nfoi, mWiob

(The above is an example of a fully encrypted padlocked response 😀)

[Wimbo]

Aug 9, 2018 7:49:19 GMT bms said:

Tahkns orf het nfoi, mWiob

(The above is an example of a fully encrypted padlocked response 😀)

Yes, that Aldi £1-99 encryption device is average at best.

[tassie]

Looks a bit backward to me ! Thank you and good night COYH

[Wimbo]

Just a thought but the attached article on protecting your PC on the web may be of interest to some. Myself, I use Windows 10 which comes with windows defender and is a perfectly good antivirus system. I feel fairly sure that any folk reading this note will have an antivirus system on a desktop (well maybe not if you are using Linux as the virus boys don’t bother with that as although it's a brilliant operating system, it is little used by the public: I actually rate it as good or better than Windows 10 but it won't handle .exe and as Microsoft are such a dominant player, lots of stuff is .exe). I then supplement with Malwarebytes as malware, ransomware etc are the more likely modern threats than viruses. www.howtogeek.com/225385/what’s-the-best-antivirus-for-windows-10-is-windows-defender-good-enough/

The wifi system is delivered by the 3 saucers of the Mesh-Wifi Deco setup which comes with it’s own inbuilt added continuous virus scan to protect any deceives connected to the property.
It may sound complex/complicated but it is dead straightforward and a doddle to set up. Pleasingly, it delivers over 200 Mbps all around my house and being an old place with the equivalent of a Faraday Cage on the roof and solid thick walls, that’s some speed.

The original theme of this thread was directed to secure/encrypted/insecure web connections to sites. This added note will not alter the security http/encryption/https (s=secure) nature of a website but simply helps the prevention of unwanted viruses/trojans/malware/ransomware being picked up by your computer.


Something else to be concerned about is using a public wifi system such as in your local coffee shop/pub/holiday hotel; it’s handy but often not very secure. Probably the best way around this is to either use a VPN or use the secure 4G connection on your phone (or tether your laptop/tablet onto your phones 4G if you need a larger screen): again all fairly easy to do and just takes a couple of minutes. These days you can get 30GB of 4G added to your contract almost for free if you really push for it.


Possibly one of the main reasons that Windows systems are targeted is that they have almost 90% of the market share in terms of operating system used in the PC market. In comparison, the more limited but nevertheless secure Chrome OS has about 0.3%.