Portable Internet programs for online security

Midnite Toker · Jan 8th, 2009, 02:48

Quote:

If I use an internet cafe, how do I wipe out entered passwords?
How do I delete paypal codes?
How do I delete credit card numbers entered?

Read this first, then come back if you have more questions. You'll want to scroll down to Basic hygiene in an Internet café if you want to save time, though there's more to be gained by reading all of this page.

One of the best ways to be secure in an Internet cafe is to use your own browser and use a safe method of entering passwords and credit card numbers... this is what cafeKlysm is all about!

edwardseco · Jan 8th, 2009, 15:22

Great job Midnight, set mine up. Just miss the lush pictures of the old site..

Midnite Toker · Jan 8th, 2009, 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

Great job Midnight, set mine up. Just miss the lush pictures of the old site..

Er, you'll have to help me a bit, Rex. The old site? Mine or IndiaMike?

The_Brians · Feb 6th, 2009, 19:47

Thanks Midnight Toker, this is really quite helpful. I'm actually bringing a netbook with me to India, but there's the off chance I'll be using a cafe computer. I'll toss this on my USB drive just in case.

Great work!

Midnite Toker · Feb 7th, 2009, 00:10

Now I haven't had the chance test the interface on a netbook yet, so I'd be interested to hear your feedback on it, and how easy it is to use applications such as portable Firefox and Pidgin on the small screen.

Have a great trip!

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Brians

Thanks Midnight Toker, this is really quite helpful. I'm actually bringing a netbook with me to India, but there's the off chance I'll be using a cafe computer. I'll toss this on my USB drive just in case.

Great work!

Midnite Toker · Feb 7th, 2009, 01:00

Updated versions of cafeKlysm available:

cafeklysm "Typhoon" (full version) updated to 1.1.12
cafeklysm "Breeze" (basic version) updated to 1.1.8

What's changed?

Firefox portable was updated to version 3.0.6
Pidgin portable (chat program) was updated to 2.5.4

Get cafeKlysm here

Nick-H · Feb 7th, 2009, 01:36

Thunderbird Question:

Do you happen to know if there is any way of merging the mails sent/received while away with the home machine database when one gets back?

This was the one big disadvantage that I found when I used portable Thunderbird a couple of years ago.

Midnite Toker · Feb 7th, 2009, 03:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Thunderbird Question:

Do you happen to know if there is any way of merging the mails sent/received while away with the home machine database when one gets back?

This was the one big disadvantage that I found when I used portable Thunderbird a couple of years ago.

Good question Nick, and while I don't profess to be a Thunderbird maven, this strikes me as one solution, though not strictly a merge:
Copy the mailstore from your home machine before you leave (those Mail and ImapMail directories, usually somewhere like C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\defa ult.???\ ) into the Data\profile directory in TB portable.

When you get back, copy the portable directories back to the home machine. Of course, you'd want to back up those valuable mail folders at each step here. I never tried this exact method, but it's common to copy your home TB settings to the the portable version.

Here are some other variations on syncing methods, courtesy of the MozillaZine (a rich source of info for all things Mozilla)

You might want to pop over to the MozillaZine forums which have plenty of eager helpers.

Nick-H · Feb 7th, 2009, 03:41

Thanks for that. Looks possible, then

Midnite Toker · Mar 7th, 2009, 13:42

Updated versions of cafeKlysm available:

cafeklysm "Typhoon" (full version) updated to 1.2.0
cafeklysm "Breeze" (basic version) updated to 1.1.9

What's changed?

Firefox portable was updated to version 3.0.7
KeyPass was updated to version 1.15
KeyScrambler was updated to version 2.4.0

A new application is included in the full version (Toucan 2.0.6) which makes the synchronising of your data between two computers a matter of two or three mouse clicks.

Toucan removes the drawbacks of complexity with maintaining a portable and a home-based version of Thunderbird which people like Nick above ask about. Your personal messages stay in step on multiple computers.

Additionally, Toucan will backup your portable drive contents and/or encrypt it with AES-256 it for total security.

Get cafeKlysm here

nycank · Mar 9th, 2009, 11:09

There no portable application in a USB/jumpdrive that is gonna protect you from a keylogger. If you want to be sure; get a bootable CD of Linux like Knoppix and use the USB drive to write and/or copy stuff off.

Or, carry a small 300USD netbook, and use the connection from an internet cafe if possible.

Midnite Toker · Mar 9th, 2009, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by nycank

There no portable application in a USB/jumpdrive that is gonna protect you from a keylogger. If you want to be sure; get a bootable CD of Linux like Knoppix and use the USB drive to write and/or copy stuff off.

Or, carry a small 300USD netbook, and use the connection from an internet cafe if possible.

This argument has been covered quite comprehensively in another discussion. Using a live Linux CD successfully isn't trivial for non-geeks if there's a network to configure, and you are still prey to hardware keyloggers and packet sniffers in the router. I found a very large number of computers on my last trip in India with either a defunct or disabled CD drive.

A netbook is more secure, that's true, but if you use the cyber cafe network connection, it's theoretically possible to capture your session cookies and reconstruct the login password from this. You'd need to pay for your own ISP connection for top security.

There is no single way to 'be sure' as you assert; taking a series of precautions and being aware of the risks is the best way to reduce your risks if you want to use the budget convenience of cybercafes. It's for these people that cafeKlysm has a role.

I make no profit from this endeavour (and thanks for trying to trash it without giving any supporting information, by the way) but offer cafeKlysm for those who don't want to futz with Linux or carry their own computer. Using the full version of cafeKlysm with KeyScrambler gives you solid protection against software keyloggers. KeePass (in both versions) pastes the password into the box on a page using a selected hotkey. This avoids your having to type in a recognisable password, and the action generates no keyboard event notification in Windows.

Midnite Toker · Mar 11th, 2009, 17:50

This thread is looking dull. It's time for a picture to brighten the page up.

Here is a screenshot of the "Typhoon" version of cafeKlysm, showing the new synchronise/backup button:

nycank · Mar 11th, 2009, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnite Toker

(and thanks for trying to trash it without giving any supporting information, by the way)

This avoids your having to type in a recognisable password, and the action generates no keyboard event notification in Windows.

I did not trash your effort which I laud. I am a Mac user

I consider Windows to be one onerous and really lousy for non-geeks anyways

Midnite Toker · Mar 11th, 2009, 22:58

Well, nycank, reality is that computers in cybercafes across the sub-continent almost universally run MS Windows. I rejoiced once to find a place in Rishikesh running Windows 2003 Server. It felt like meeting an old friend in the rainforest (I use it myself, and consider it the best Windows version ever), but mostly it's Windows XP and more Windows XP, as you'll know. Some joints are only just graduating from Windows 98.

Windows isn't all that bad, you just need to be pro-active about security. I say that as someone who uses CentOS Linux a lot of the time, and admires its security model and ease of updating all applications with a single click.

If you know any 'Net cafes running Apple gear, perhaps start a new thread to alert users to their location. Any GNU people should post similar notices about public Linux machines they know. I don't expect a very long list, for either, however.

Meantime, those travellers who just find themselves in a place with only Windows running an admin account and a bunch of things running in the background they are not sure about, could do worse than try cafeklysm, although it's not the only security choice.

Feb 6th, 2009, 19:47	#34
The_Brians Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4	Thanks Thanks Midnight Toker, this is really quite helpful. I'm actually bringing a netbook with me to India, but there's the off chance I'll be using a cafe computer. I'll toss this on my USB drive just in case. Great work!

Feb 7th, 2009, 01:00	#36
Midnite Toker absconding member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 509	cafeKlysm update Updated versions of cafeKlysm available: cafeklysm "Typhoon" (full version) updated to 1.1.12 cafeklysm "Breeze" (basic version) updated to 1.1.8 What's changed? Firefox portable was updated to version 3.0.6 Pidgin portable (chat program) was updated to 2.5.4 Get cafeKlysm here

Mar 11th, 2009, 17:50	#43
Midnite Toker absconding member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 509	Screenshot of full version This thread is looking dull. It's time for a picture to brighten the page up. Here is a screenshot of the "Typhoon" version of cafeKlysm, showing the new synchronise/backup button:

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Jan 8th, 2009, 15:22	#32
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,841	Great job Midnight, set mine up. Just miss the lush pictures of the old site..

Feb 7th, 2009, 01:36	#37
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,189	Thunderbird Question: Do you happen to know if there is any way of merging the mails sent/received while away with the home machine database when one gets back? This was the one big disadvantage that I found when I used portable Thunderbird a couple of years ago.

Feb 7th, 2009, 03:41	#39
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,189	Thanks for that. Looks possible, then

Mar 7th, 2009, 13:42	#40
Midnite Toker absconding member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 509	Updated versions of cafeKlysm available: cafeklysm "Typhoon" (full version) updated to 1.2.0 cafeklysm "Breeze" (basic version) updated to 1.1.9 What's changed? Firefox portable was updated to version 3.0.7 KeyPass was updated to version 1.15 KeyScrambler was updated to version 2.4.0 A new application is included in the full version (Toucan 2.0.6) which makes the synchronising of your data between two computers a matter of two or three mouse clicks. Toucan removes the drawbacks of complexity with maintaining a portable and a home-based version of Thunderbird which people like Nick above ask about. Your personal messages stay in step on multiple computers. Additionally, Toucan will backup your portable drive contents and/or encrypt it with AES-256 it for total security. Get cafeKlysm here

Mar 9th, 2009, 11:09	#41
nycank Clueless Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Homeless Posts: 1,307	There no portable application in a USB/jumpdrive that is gonna protect you from a keylogger. If you want to be sure; get a bootable CD of Linux like Knoppix and use the USB drive to write and/or copy stuff off. Or, carry a small 300USD netbook, and use the connection from an internet cafe if possible.

Mar 11th, 2009, 22:58	#45
Midnite Toker absconding member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 509	Well, nycank, reality is that computers in cybercafes across the sub-continent almost universally run MS Windows. I rejoiced once to find a place in Rishikesh running Windows 2003 Server. It felt like meeting an old friend in the rainforest (I use it myself, and consider it the best Windows version ever), but mostly it's Windows XP and more Windows XP, as you'll know. Some joints are only just graduating from Windows 98. Windows isn't all that bad, you just need to be pro-active about security. I say that as someone who uses CentOS Linux a lot of the time, and admires its security model and ease of updating all applications with a single click. If you know any 'Net cafes running Apple gear, perhaps start a new thread to alert users to their location. Any GNU people should post similar notices about public Linux machines they know. I don't expect a very long list, for either, however. Meantime, those travellers who just find themselves in a place with only Windows running an admin account and a bunch of things running in the background they are not sure about, could do worse than try cafeklysm, although it's not the only security choice.