security

Kiss Norton Good Bye

The main reason why we were paying for the anti-virus software was to prevent the loss of precious data and the save the downtime resulting from the

system crash due to virus attack. But there was never any humility in the popup windows which asked you to ‘run live update’, ‘your computer is unsafe’, ‘renew or expire’, ‘shell out or crash’. It reflected an arrogant attitude which irked me into thinking how to stick my finger up at those popup anti-virus dictates.

My prayer seemed to be answered. Window Vista’s feature for seeking permission through a pop-up window for running any application aroused my curiosity to know more about it. I found out that there is a new in-built program called Windows Defender which is protecting my computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by unwanted software. It scans the system and contains real-time security! It works with the filter using the database of Microsoft’s SpyNet. It recommends corrective actions and minimizes interruptions and helps you stay productive. Windows Defender is FREE. You can download it for Windows XP too!

As in the software, there has been tremendous progress on the hard disc capacity. Now 160GB hard discs have become inexpensive and commonplace. The larger capacity affords the facility to store your data on another partition on the hard disc. I have three partitions, 40GB (C drive), 60GB (D drive), and 60GB (F drive). I use the C drive to install the Windows and other programs. The storage paths of the data are pointed to F drive. In the D drive I have copied program CDs of Windows Vista, the MS Office, and Adobe creative suite. My other favorite progs are also there: World Clock, Calc98, and Sudoku. The new versions of the free utilities as they become available, are downloaded on this drive and kept ready for installation: Skype, Adobe reader, and Irfan view.

The storage of data in another partition, i.e. the F drive, prevents the data from being lost if the computer crashes. The C Drive can be formatted in isolation without affecting D and F drives. The storage of programs in the D drive makes it easy, quick and painless to re-install all the programs without much ado.

You need to follow a certain discipline in order to keep the risk of virus attack at bay. The most dangerous sites are the XXX ones. These adult sites open a can of worms which invade your computer. Best is to avoid visiting these sites. However, if you can’t resist temptation of seeing adult pics, there is a safe way to do it. Go to google.com and open preferences. Scroll down to ‘Safe Search Filtering’. Select ‘Do Not Filter My Search Results’. Save preferences. Come back to Google opening screen and click on Images. Now search for adult content by typing out the XXX term in the search bar. Viola! You will see thumbnails of what you are looking for. Click on the thumbnail for a larger size. But do not click on any of the links; if you do you will be drawn straight into the virus whirlpool. And if there are kids in the house, don’t forget to change the preferences back to safe search before shutting down the computer!

The second most common door for the virus is the email client. You have to shut it. The availability of large-storage netmail accounts which started with googlemail, have made the automatic desktop download redundant. Now Aol, Hotmail, Yahoo all have very large storage facilities for your mail. Besides, these are all free and you can open as many accounts as you wish. You can forward your mail messages to these accounts to increase your storage capacity if required. You can download and save the attachments from your inbox mail on to your computer and if you wish to save any mail text, it is best to cut and paste it into a word file and save it on your computer on the F drive. That way the Outlook Express or the MS Outlook become redundant for email, and need not be used at all for this purpose. Not allowing the mail to download directly on to your PC helps in blocking one of the main pathways of infection.

I always find certain freshness in my computer when I reinstall the Windows. This is probably because the usage of the computer results in accumulating all kinds of rubbish data in the memory. I think the best thing to do is to format the C drive and reinstall Windows periodically, once in six months or a year. You can then reinstall the programs stored in the D drive. The latest versions of Skype, Adobe reader and Irfan view downloaded from the net on your F drive, are quickly installed to have them fresh on your computer without the interference of the earlier versions.

Basically you need to install Windows Defender on your Windows XP (or upgrade to Vista), save your data in another partition, and use net based email account for your correspondence. You can then heave a sigh of relief as your fear loss of data would have gone, and you are prepared for the worst by having planned for quick reinstallation of all your programs. You are then ready to kiss Norton good bye!

.About the Author:

Dilip Dahanukar is an IIT Powai alumnus. He is an experienced author having written 3 books to his credit. He has written articles on the net, which are widely read. Married to an artist, he is an avid gardener and enjoys nature.

Filter Spam – Make Spam Get Out of your Inbox

How much time do you spend every day to delete spam or read them? Definitely a sizable amount of the precious productive time is spent on dealing with

spam. Almost all internet users using emails and mailboxes encounter this problem. Spam usually carry advertisements or news irrelevant or unnecessary to you and most of all they land in your mailbox without your permission. This is enough cause for you to filter spam using specialized soft wares.

Many software development companies try consistently to block spam by inventing newer methods to filter spam. Both the spammers and the software professional fight parallel to one another. When the experts develop spam filters, the spammers use another method to introduce spam in different ways. It like the world war between the internet giants and like the real war one party fights for the good of the internet users when the other fights to destroy the internet. Who wins the battle is unpredictable as both win and lose simultaneously.

Anti spam software should be thus carefully chosen to filter spam and protect the working environment and save time. The nature of spam, the size of the work force and the capacity of the software to identify real spam from the important mails should be widely analyzed before ordering software. Home users can download free software to fight spam. But business concerns which work on various computers must have software which can delete spam even before it reaches the computers.

Anti appliance spam is also used to filter spam eve before it reaches the mail box. Whenever mail arrives it first passes through the software spam filter where it is scrutinized for authenticity. It is released to the mail box only if it proves to be real mail. Spam mails can come in different forms. It can also come with your friends email id. The spammers collect the most mailed ids through illegal means and send spam mail through them.

The worst part is many spam might prove to carry virus definition and when opened attack the users operating system deleting files and folder. The spam mails may also be Spyware implemented to hawk the users’ private details. Whatever be the type of mail it is always wise to fight it before it becomes malicious to our working environment. Now after reading the above article, you must have got the idea of the fact that fighting spam is not an easy task but with little care and filter spam, you can achieve it.

.About the Author:

Author is the admin at Official Spam Filter and constantly writes to create awareness about Spam Mails. To know more about the ways of fighting spam and blocking mails, download Official Spam Filter for Outlook Express and MS Outlook.

How to Remove Spyware

Introduction to Spyware

Spyware is a software program that stealthily collects information about the user’s activities on

the computer and reports back to the spyware software creator. The most common sources of the spyware are files sharing programs, online gaming, screens savers and downloading software from insecure websites. Once spyware are enters the computer they change the behavior of the computer. A spyware can be installed in a computer by different ways. Sometimes it can be installed with the popular shareware programs. A spyware infected computer may show following changes.

Symptoms of Spyware

• Web browser’s home page is changed automatically.

• New toolbars are installed.

• Antivirus and Anti spyware programs frequently complains that your system is infected with the spyware, malware or Trojan horses.

• It takes a long time to start or resume your computer programs.

• Excessive pop-up ads are installed in the computer automatically.

• Computer becomes very slow to response and internet connectivity also takes time.

• Unwanted search results appear when you search something.

• New desktop shortcuts are created.

• If your system is infected with spyware then you may notice bounced back emails or emails being sent without your knowledge.

• Keyboard loggers can capture the password and user name and send back to the spyware software creator.

How to Remove Spyware

A spyware program is very different in behavior and symptoms from the viruses. Following are some of the programs that help you manage detect, remove and protect your system from the spyware.

Panda Security Suite

Trend Micro Anti spyware program

Zone Alarm Pro

McAfee Antivirus + Anti spyware program

Pest Patrol

Spyblocker

Spycop

Additionally from the following spyware resources you can check if your system is infected with the spyware.

http://www.spychecker.com/

http://www.tom-cat.com/spybase/spylist.html

http://www.infoforce.qc.ca/spyware/

Prevention

With some preventive measures you can protect your system from being infected from the spyware, malware, adware and keyloggers. These safety tips include safe emailing, safe surfing, securing browser’s settings, using spyware detection and prevention software, blocking pop-up ads, blocking files sharing applications and regularly scanning your computer with the anti spyware and antivirus software programs.

.About the Author:

B. Bashir manages Networking Tutorials and regularly writes articles on various topics such as Computer Networking, IP Address NetworkWireless Networking, Computer Hardware, Certifications, How Tos, Network Glossary Overviewand Computer tips.

Is Malicious Software Just Eavesdropping or is it Stealing your Identity?

In the early 80s, Shareware or Freeware models of trial before use software not only helped bring down software costs but also provided opportunities

to independent software writers. By the 90s, with the proliferation of the internet, Shareware morphed into a much more commercially lucrative pop-up based advertising-supported Adware model of distributing software. Although 2004 released MS Windows XP including internet explorer was the last browser to block Java based pop-ups, Adobe Flash based pop-ups are able to circumvent most of these pop-up blockers. Popular peer-to-peer file-sharing Adware further led to the advent of covertly bundled Spyware that allows the software writer to track information about users.

From intentions like pranks and extortion behind viruses, Spyware evolved with ambitious intentions of tracking user activities, unwanted pop-up advertising to influence user behavior, studying key logs to steal expensive telephone toll dialer, credit card and other financial identity passwords. Beyond privacy infringement, Spyware allows the software writer to use the infected computer resources including memory and bandwidth for more illegal activities. Spyware usually manipulates security holes such as bugs in executables that lead to memory overloads and system crashes. Description of Spyware applications bundled in Shareware End User License Agreements notwithstanding the lack of awareness and understanding of users has limited the control of law over Spyware creators.

Choosing a Spyware detector with rogue software abounding is not so easy. Spyware adware removers are commonly designed for Microsoft OS and browsers which are most vulnerable due to their large user base. Lavasoft distributed Ad-aware and PC Tools distributed Spyware Doctor are the most popular Spyware detectors available in the market. Microsoft acquired GIANT anti-spyware rechristened as Windows Defender is available free of charge to Windows 2000 and XP users. Recognizing the need for Spyware detectors, antivirus leaders Symantec and McAfee have refurbished their products to address Spyware.

As advancement in war led to smaller caliber bullets used by terrorists that fatally wound but do not immediately kill the enemy, likewise malicious software writers are creating sophisticated software that employ deception to make the software appear useful to easily infiltrate any system while allowing it to be remain concealed from the user. Many users avoid the MS Internet Explorer in favour of other browsers to protect their systems from Spyware. Another way of preventing harm from Spyware may be to only download software which is verified by Spyware detectors. Good Spyware removers provide not only removal but also real time protection against Spyware.

Anti Spyware Hub is an online resource, providing in-depth information about Anti Spyware software, which is an essential tool to keep your system free of dangerous spywares, protecting your privacy and your PC. Here you will get vast technical information about anti spyware software to block spyware.

.About the Author:

Free Spyware Protection is Available on the Internet

Free Spyware protection detects and blocks Spyware, adware, phishing, pop-ups, hijackers, trojans and other rogue programs. Today’s computer users

are fighting with spyware and adware problem, it is estimated that out of ten almost eight computers are suffering from this problem. Free Spyware removal programs are listed on reputed websites and also their user ratings are available in case you need to download one. A lot of these programs are used across the world, and have also been listed in computer magazines as well as other publications.

Various free Spyware protection programs would have won the awards for their effective and efficient performance. All this steps are taken to encourage the battle against Spyware, and to try and eradicate it on the whole. Spyware removal software is available in the market in several packages. You may get the advice from the consultant at the computer store if you are particular about buying the software. Since many of these programs are available, it is advisable to pick reputed programs that are known for tested well.

The removal of Spyware adware is not a difficult task at all, all you need is to be little conscious about this dangerous programs that can kill the privacy of you, if proper steps is not taken on the time. Free Spyware protection uses high technology to detect and remove Spyware. These anti spyware program first scan the computer and than detect the malicious substances and finally delete them forever so that they didn’t create any further problem to you and your privacy. These anti spyware softwares are very smart, as they can easily suspect or detect program before they get installs itself on your computer.

Free Spyware protection programs have been designed to control pop-up advertisements. These advertisements try to publish a lot of false leads, luring the user to click on them. Once you click on them, you have invited Spyware into your computer. You also need to be careful when you use credit cards for online payments etc. Spyware can easily monitor your information through key logging. This will record every key you press, and also will trace your Internet activity and all the sites you access.

Most of the free Spyware protection programs have the daily update facility, so that they itself get updated and work silently without disturbing you. The providers of these software programs also provide you great facilities like good customer care in the form of toll free numbers and e-mails, so that you can keep in touch with them and can ask your problems to make them solve instantly.

Free Spyware Removal Resource is an online resource, providing in-depth information about Anti Spyware software, which is an essential tool to keep your system free of dangerous spywares, protecting your privacy and your PC. Here you will get vast technical information to get free spyware protection.

.About the Author:

A Beginner’s Guide to Spyware

Most common individuals like me have no idea of the dangers that spyware brings? Well, allow me to warn you. They are on nearly all computers that use

the Internet, especially if you enjoy the free resources of the Internet.

Spyware does not concern itself with etiquette of asking for your permission. It simply just invades with much evil intent with no respect for your privacy, and the Internet is its pathway to your computer.

A favorite trick is to install spyware when you are installing another program. Generally spyware comes from free programs offered on the Internet. These free programs are called freeware, or shareware. Technically, the spyware company has your permission, although the legal issues are not clear.

After you download your much anticipated free program, you click the installation icon. Then there is a license agreement that stands in the way of your enjoyment. So of course, just like me, you quickly select the I Agree button. And this is what makes these spyware programs legal.

White-hat spyware simply annoys you with constant pop up advertisements. But I am sure this is not just white-hat annoyance to you, but more like something you have come to hate. This is how the producers of spyware programs earn a high standard of living. Some of these white-hat spyware programs just collect your browsing behavior for companies to perform scientific online advertising analysis. Yet I agree with you on this one too, that your browsing behavior is your own business.

Then there are the true spyware villains that gather email addresses and passwords off your PC and either use them or sell your personal information to the highest bidder of the underground Internet world.

Help; Tell Me If I Have Spyware.

Here are some signs of spyware:

1) Constant random pop ups

2) Icons and toolbars just magically appear

3) Web browsing seems slower and your PC appears to have inherited a turtle gene

4) Your browser constantly goes aloft with advertising with sites.

5) Settings have changed on your PC even when your kids are not home

6) Advertisement windows are everywhere

If any of these symptoms are visible, do something!

Ok what can I do?

1) Get a reputable firewall program for your PC. If you have a Windows computer that was built within the last five years, then there is already a firewall built-in. Just make sure it is not disabled. Also virus protection software have firewalls integrated into the application.

2) Never click on popup advertisements. If you click, they will know that you are a real person, and you will just get more.

3) Stay away from free downloads. There is no such thing as free! Make sure to do some research first to determine the legitimacy of the software.

4) Keep your Windows and Browser up to date. Microsoft offers free security updates. Make sure that you update regularly.

5) Use anti-spyware software. Most virus checking programs also check for spyware. Numerous other programs are available.

Watch out for antispyware scams. These programs perpetrate themselves as legitimate software, but they are simply spyware programs. Needless to say, research to proactively guard yourself from scams such as this.

Allow the antispyware program to run on a scheduled basis, like every night when you are not usually on the computer.

.About the Author:

We are glad to have Isaiah Henry has our spyware removal software geek at RemoveSpywareandAdware.com. He works hard to give users the necessary info like the review on Spyware Doctor.

Anti Software Spam Can Minimize the Risk

What is a spam? How does this spam enter your mail box? Are they malicious to your system? How to stop this spam or protect your working environment

and thereby save time? Spam is an unwelcome guest, which enters your email box for commercial purposes. These unsolicited mails can sometimes be sent by internet hawkers to destroy or crash your system. If not really careful these highly dangerous mails might spread deadly viruses into your system configuration thereby creating system crash and loss of files.

Spam’s are sent to many people belonging to the mailing list obtained from the Usenet postings or through internet spies. The only way to stop these unidentified and irrelevant spam mails is to install the anti software Spam to protects your mail box. This software will filter spam and thereby save much of your time you spend on reviewing and deleting them.

The anti software spam contains special tools which work effectively as anti spam and guards your operating system from malicious mails. Almost two thirds of the mails received world wide is supposed to be spam. Thus managing and protecting the emails is very imperative and we can find a solution only by installing the anti software Spyware.

Usually operating systems have firewall protection or can be enabled to protect the user from unsecured web sites. Like wise a firewall spam works as an email manager, which checks the authenticity and reliability of the emails received by the users. The anti software spam is available online as freeware or as professional prepaid tool kits specially introduced for the purpose of abolishing or stopping the spam.

On installing and running the anti software spam the users can work in a protected and secured environment unperturbed of losing their privacy. The time spent on deleting the spam mails is much higher than installing the anti span software. It is a one-time installation, which when given the auto configuration option will work non-stop. It is one of the powerful software’s easy to operate and configure. It also protects from web bugs, Trojans and viruses. Many anti spam software’s will even allow you to review the spam mails without the fear of infecting viruses or the like. And most of all these software’s is capable of working with almost any email program. Getting rid of those irritating spam is not a tough task at all, all you need is to download anti software spam, and that’s it!

.About the Author:

Author is the admin at Official Spam Filter and constantly writes to create awareness about Spam Mails. To know more about the ways of fighting spam and blocking mails, download Official Spam Filter for Outlook Express and MS Outlook.

Internet Security - How Safe are You?

Is Your Internet Security Software

Keeping Up With The Cyber Crime Pandemic?

· Have you heard U.S. businesses lost over $67 billion to cyber crime in 2006 according to the FBI?

· Did you know that 87% of businesses suffered from some sort of cyber crime last year according to the same report?

· Approximately 15 million U.S. citizens will lose their identity this year according to the FTC

I could add that cyber crime out grew the illegal drugs business in 2006 according to the U.S. Department of Treasury, too. Needless to say we are looking at a huge problem. Many are calling the Internet security issue a pandemic.

Over the last couple of years hackers have shifted their focus from large targets to small business and individuals.

I’ll tell you why…

Small business and individuals don’t have the large sums of money needed to pay for the kind of Internet security protection used by large corporations. This makes both easier targets.

What are these two groups using to protect themselves? Generally, you find small business and individuals using over-the-counter and freeware (shareware) to protect their computers.

Over the last year, antivirus companies have attempted to counter the spyware problem, however, the fact is their code and signature files were not built to effectively remove spyware. How does this impact how well your home or business is protected? The rule for viruses is to keep them out. When it comes to spyware much more sophisticated code and scanning mechanisms are required.

Several September 2005 product reviews state that many antivirus applications have obvious deficiencies in antispyware cleaning and blocking routines. This makes it difficult to recommend these software products to individuals and businesses protecting themselves against the spyware problem. At this time, antivirus companies haven’t arrived at a solid solution.

So what are these anitvirus companies doing? Some are including some type of antispyware functionality into their products. Some vendors are selling patching and spyware combined into one. Others have mixed their spyware solution with their antivirus Bundled together, these solutions aren’t cost effective and probably deliver a lower level antispyware.

Several independent tests have shown that stand-alone antispyware products have been proven to be the most effective.

Today’s over-the-counter anti-virus Internet security products protect against specific code or signature files. Each virus has it’s own code. When the anti-virus software identifies the code it kicks it out or alerts the owner of the computer. Many anti-virus companies try to keep up with this, however consider this:

Professional hackers have developed spy ware that, once it enters a computer and steals your email addresses and other information, changes its code or signature file. The spy ware continues to invade new computers stealing information and changing its signature file automatically from computer to computer virtually making traditional over-the-counter anti-virus Internet security protection useless.

To be safe, small business and individuals need to find a proven Internet security solution that can fight against this type of cyber crime. This solution not only needs to aggressively keep up with the changing cyber crime landscape, but also anticipate what might be coming in the future. This is what the major corporations are using and it’s what you should have on your computer(s), too.

You may find it surprising that many vendors have downgraded or “delisted” known spyware and adware. This can jeopardize the security of your personal or business information.

Unfortunately, most Internet security software available to small business and individuals don’t have the ability to keep up with the growing cyber crime pandemic creating Internet insecurity.

.About the Author:

Warren Franklin is engaged in the cause of educating and protecting people who use the Internet about the threats they face and the inadequacy of the solutions they trust, and over a three-year period has become an expert on PC Security and a passionate advocate of Internet safety. Find out more his campaign for personal and Internet security go to his web site at http://www.completeinternetprotection.com or email warrenfranklin@completeinternetprotection.com

How Spyware Spies

More and more PC owners are realizing the impact of spyware in their operating systems and are taking the necessary actions in undoing the damage by

installing spyware removal software. But what is the real reason we need such software and how does spyware actually trace our cyber behavior? There are plenty of fundamentals to know before choosing anti-spyware software.

For starters, spyware records your every activity, from keystrokes and file sharing activity, to what you say in your emails and IM’s. Most of the time, these aren’t for malicious purposes and are tagged ‘adware.’ In many cases, your web browsing activity is useful to advertisers in their marketing campaigns, as they can track your purchase decisions and scope out their competitors.

However, spyware can be malicious and can be transmitted through ‘bundling’ or Internet browser deficiencies. In other words, a security flaw can open doors for spyware programs to attach themselves to your PC or your information is given to software publishers by spyware companies themselves for payment.

6StarReviews.com reports that popular anti-spyware software STOPzilla targets spyware from all directions. This program not only scans for commonly known and discreet adware and spyware, it prevents browser hijacks and phishing attempts, which are typical when spyware is prevalent in your operating system. In order to protect your important files and confidential information, it’s vital to implement spyware removal software.

.About the Author:

Kelly Liyakasa is staff writer for 6StarReviews.com. Kelly Staller is site manager at 6StarReviews.com, a site dedicated to giving YOU, the consumer, the best product and service reviews around. If you like saving time and money by having someone else review leading sites and products, then Visit our site at 6StarReviews.com. Also, if you have the time, check out the 6StarReviews Blog for product updates, new site reviews and to give us suggestions or feedback! Visit 6StarReviews.com Blog!

Install Adware Spyware Removal Tool for Uninterrupted Browsing

If you browse internet, do online shopping, or use online banking an adware spyware removal tool is a must have for your PC. Spywares are programs that

are created and used to track the internet usage of the users of the infected PC. These data is transferred to the authors of the spyware to show advertisement to that user based on his or her interest areas that are determined by the internet browsing habits of that particular user. Adware is also a type of malware that fetches online advertisements and pop up advertisements to the infected computer and disable the pop up blockers and advertisement blocking software. Both of these programs are malwares and needs to be removed from the computer to get safe and uninterrupted browsing free from pop ups and online advertisements.

Spywares and adware are generally spread through internet hidden within freeware and shareware programs that apparently seem to be innocent in nature. These programs that we download from the internet or get through peer to peer file transfer have the adware and spyware embedded in them. When the host program is installed the spyware or the adware is also installed in the PC. These malwares are distinctively different in nature from the usual computer viruses and hence they are not detected by the normal anti virus software. Therefore to keep your computer free from threats of spyware and adware you need to install the adware spyware removal tool.

Apart from collecting data about your internet usage from your computer, spywares are capable of causing much more harm to your online security and privacy. There are spyware programs that can even steal your bank account numbers, your credit card numbers, pin codes and passwords from your computer. The confidential information is collected by the spyware by logging the keystrokes while you enter them at the online forms. So even if you are using secured sites for your online banking or online shopping you are never completely protected against the threats of spyware. Only an adware spyware removal tool can ensure effective spyware protection.

There are so many spyware remover tools available for download from the internet. You can choose any adware spyware removal tool to keep your PC clean. The anti spyware program will detect and remove the traces of spywares from your PC and prevent further attacks of the spywares to ensure your privacy and security.

Spyware Remover Tools is an online resource, providing in-depth information about Anti Spyware program, which is an essential tool to keep your system free of dangerous spywares, protecting your privacy and your PC. Here you will get vast technical information on spyware removal.

.About the Author: