Hacker 10 – Security Hacker

Hacker10

  • Use a VPN on a computer without admin rights

    If you have to move around between computers, are using a college or work computer and have no admin rights and want to use a VPN to get around internet filtering you will find that OpenVPN needs administrator rights to be installed. There is a work around for this, simply use a portable VPN on a USB drive, which combined with a portable internet browser will also stop traces being left in the host computer.

    You can bypass your workplace and library internet filtering with a virtual private network, as long as you can install a USB thumbdrive you will be able to launch the portable VPN or SSH tunnel, that will get around any logging, not even visited sites will be seen by the admin.

    Portable VPN applications

    OpenVPN portable (Free): OpenVpnPortable is openvpn and a modification of openvpn-gui as a portable app, so you can connect to your vpn on any computer. It is open source and free, for this portable VPN to work you will need to have your VPN provider digital certificates.

    PortableVPN ($/€): This application allows to establish a VPN connection while using a computer without admin rights. You do not need to configure anything other that the portable VPN, it also allows for a portable PPTP. This application is also U3 capable for USB thumbdrives with U3.

    Portable SSH tunnel

    KiTTY: KiTTY is a fork of the well known SSH client PuTTY, KiTTY does not require any installation and you can use it easy with and SSH provider or your own SSH proxy server, place the portable SSH client on your thumbdrive and configure your browser to do all the surfing through the anonymous tunnel.

    Remote SSH tunnel connection
    Remote SSH tunnel connection

  • Security and encryption Apps for Android phone

    The Android operating system allows for great customization due to its open source nature. If you own a smartphone that runs Android you will want to take care of your personal privacy and security, smartphones can store lots of personal data, you should be using encryption and anonymous proxies on the Android as well as your desktop computer.

    Free Android security applets for encryption

    TextSecure (Free): All text messages sent or received with TextSecure are stored in an encrypted database on your phone, and text messages are encrypted during transmission.

    APG (Free): OpenPGP for Android is open source, it helps you manage encryption keys (GPG/PGP) and encrypt/sign/decrypt emails/files.

    OI Safe (Free): Store password securely using the AES encryption algorithm, encrypt OI Notepad notes and it support the premium Obscura picture safe to encrypt pictures on your Android smartphone.

    CipherLog (Free): CipherLog™ is a simple journalling software that encrypts your entries, enabling you to store sensitive data on your device.

    Password Safe Lite (Free): Keep your Android passwords and confidential info safe using 128bit AES.Encrypted information will be stored in a database on the phone and no information is kept online, the database can be backupby exporting it.

     B-Folders (Free): B-Folders is a secure fully encrypted database password-based 256-bit AES algorithm where to keep passwords, trade secrets and financial info. With its sync technology you can sync all your phones, desktop and laptop computers.

    Keeper (Free): It allows you to securely store all your secret information such as logins, passwords and financial info using 128-bit AES encryption.

    PGP manager encryption Android
    PGP manager encryption Android

    Premium Android security for encryption

    OpenPGP Manager (€/$): PGP & PBE encrypt & decrypt, sending encrypted email using the Android OS, creation of PGP keys, Symmetric encryption and decryption (password-based) with selectable algorithms.

    MyStash (€/$): MyStash encrypts sensitive files you use on your Android device, this Android encryption applet secures your files using the TripleDES encryption algorithm. Photos and movies become viewable only by entering a pre-selected 4-digit pin.

    Password Juggler (€/$): Android app to safely store all those hard to remember passwords for quick easy access. Password Juggler uses the 128 AES algorithm to securely store your passwords.

    Android anonymous communications

    Orbot (Free): Orbot allows mobile Android users to access the web, instant messaging and email without being monitored or blocked by their mobile internet service provider. Orbot integrates the tor proxy to the Android mobile operating system.

    Android NewsGroup Downloader (€/$): Smartphone Usenet newsreader handling all type of newsgroup attachments, it supports posting of binaries and SSL encryption. You will need a newsgroup provider too.

  • List of online services to encrypt email and text messages

    Sending emails it is just like sending postcards, anyone who comes across them can read the content, if you find it too hard to use encryption software like PGP/GnuPG, you can resort to encrypt messages online on a website and send the encrypted text, or post it to Usenet, for the intended recipient to retrieve.

    Online services to encrypt messages

    Lockbin: A free service for sending private email message and files, the service has an integrated online form and you can send the encrypted email from their own website, messages are encrypted in the server using AES256bit and TLS encryption in transit.

    ProtectedText: All encryption is done in your browser with JavaScript, the password is never sent to the server, and just in case you don´t trust the website, the source code used to encrypt is open source. There is no registration, logging or tracking and an easy to remember URL to access the encrypted note is available.

    ProtectedText online text encryption
    ProtectedText online text encryption

    Cypher Dog: This is mostly a paid product, decryption works for free but after two weeks trial you must pay to encrypt messages. It can be used in your desktop computer, smartphone or browser installing an extension, it is a scalable and business friendly solution for encryption.

    Encrypt-Online: An easy to use form allows you encrypt any text message password protecting it, data is encrypted in the browser with JavaScript, you can choose in between the algorithms AES256 bit in CBC mode or 3DES, they are both uncrackable. There is a single advertising banner in the website that finances its operation.

    SecureStuff: This website allows you to encrypt files and text, operation is very easy, there are two windows, enter the text in one of them and you will see the encrypted text in the other window where you can copy and paste it transmitting the decryption password to the recipient by secure means such as a phone call.

    You may also use a compression program like PeaZip, 7Zip or BCArchive to send your encrypted message or file to someone without encryption software installed and with little knowledge of computers, this is very easy to use and free, simply add a password when you compress the .txt file, your recipient will only have to enter a password to read it and it will not overwhelm them if they are not too computer savvy.