InformAction Forums

Does anyone use ClearCloud & if so, what do you think of it as security software?

I see no software, just a DNS server with a blacklist with "bad" sites.

dhouwn wrote:I see no software, just a DNS server with a blacklist with "bad" sites.

Oh, OK. I think I should have phrased the question more clearly. I was wondering if it had any efficacy as a service. I think there is some software to download as well though.

The software is for setting it up as the default DNS server.

And as for efficacy; well, it goes no farther than other domain-based black-list solutions would go.
If let's say someone did a targeted attack on you, it probably won't protect you. If a website get's hacked it would take some time until the site get's blacklisted (I guess they don't pre-scan websites you go to synchronously). And so on…

So you don't particularly recommend it then?

You can accomplish a similar purpose by use of the HOSTS file inside your own machine, which means that all of your browsing habits are not known by some third party. Seems this ClearCloud knows everywhere you go, and what might they do with that info?

Many services provide regularly-updated HOSTS files, with input from users. Here is one:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
They currently blacklist about 15-20,000 sites. It also serves as an annoyance-blocker for a lot of ads and junk. You can add your own sites to it - it's easily editable with Wordpad. So if you wanted to prevent non-tech-savvy family members from visiting sites you consider undesirable, even if not "malicious", you can add them yourself. Or delete any that you would like to visit, without having to disable a program like ClearCloud.

I added http://www.yahoo.com to mine, because I got tired of being redirected to their portal page every time I logged out of e-mail.

There are other Hosts services out there. Note that the same cautions apply that dhouwn mentioned re: lag time between discovery of a bad site and update of Hosts file. But it's simple, free, and totally under your control.

@ Tom T, OK thanks for the information.

Davezilla wrote:@ Tom T, OK thanks for the information.

You're very welcome. If you decide to go that way and need further assistance, I'm sure that if I'm not available, someone else here can help you. GL!

OK, thanks.

I would like to second Tom T.'s recommendation of the MVPS HOSTS file. Have been installing the updates every month and never had any trouble with it. Its big advantage is that it isn't tied to any specific browser but works with every single one of your Internet-facing applications.

NoScript; regular and timely updates of your operating system, Flash and Java; anti-virus; setting UAC (user account control) to maximum in Win 7 /Vista or surfing only on a standard user account; and most importantly, exercising care and caution. So far (knock wood) I haven't been bitten.

That all makes sense.