Steganography !!!

What is this might you ask?  Steganography is an encryption technique that hides communications or files within other files. For example, a simple photo on the internet might actually have a letter in the form of a Microsoft Word file embedded in it. From a simple web surfer perspective this may not appear as anything more than a simple photo.  But to a person looking for a specific communication, and with a small file viewer on their computer, they can download this picture and decrypt the photo from the letter communication in less than 30 seconds. So how does this affect you?  Well the communications can be embedded in any of a multitude of common files types that "Joe Public" comes across everyday.  For example: JPEGs, GIFs, WAV, HTML, BMP, and PNG are just a few of the files that can be used as a file carrier to embed other files into.   How simple is it?  Very simple, in fact we will provide an example at the end of this article. Once again, you might be asking how this will affect you?  Well, whether actually downloading files attached to email, or right mouse clicking and saving photos or files, or simply surfing, these files can easily end up on your computer.  Even simply surfing with no downloading can make you a victim.  How?  The Temporary Internet Folder in your Windows Directory is a cache file that saves components of every web page you surf.  It also is one of the same places cookies are placed.  Problem arises is that your surfing can come across photos, sound files,  or html files that can have the communications embedded in them.  Simply having these files, or reference to these files listed in your cache makes your computer evidence in the eyes of the government. Additionally, these cache files can have embedded scripts that then utilize your computer as a "slave" to unknowingly carry out malicious acts.  Even more reason to have a good personal firewall that not only blocks incoming, but outgoing unauthorized communications. 

Example of Steganography:

Neobyte Solutions is a well known software development company in Step #1 download

The step #2 JPEG is not embedded with script or malicious code. 

The password is "yikes"  all lower case letters

Step #1

View File-click here to download Unhider file at botton of page

Step #2

The click here to download an JPEG photo that is embedded with a copy of this article.

Protection ???

Well first of all you should regularly clean your computers hidden files with a software such as 
TraceEraser or WebWasher from Webroot. 

Next, if you are at home, your PC isn't protected by an expensive network firewall. Nor can you afford an expensive firewall.  There are many firewall products on the market for home PC use, but most only block unrecognized incoming traffic.  What about out going traffic if you are already infected by a Trojan or any other malicious script?  Zone Alarm is a great PC orient personal firewall that can actually block incoming and outgoing unauthorized communications. Zone Alarm has a free personal use version or for $29.95 you can have a Professional Version is gives you instant feedback about the source of whom is trying to invade your computer.

Next if you are looking for an easy method to encrypt email Steganos-has a great online encryption tool free of charge. You just need to save this URL, because this is the English version, and you don't want to get caught in the German version. Send yourself a sample to see how it works.  Then you can copy and paste the encrypted message back into the decryption box. Is a nice service because whom ever you send the encrypted message to can also go online to the decryption tool and open the letter without having to have software.  All the need is the password you encrypt with. 

or 

PGPmail and PGPfile Encryption 7.1-a well known PC based software. 

Down time is bad.  Dell service can't be beat for those occasional hardware problems.