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Virus Scanner Myths

By Mike Warenda

There are many programs out there that tell you they are the best at removing Viruses and Malware. I have seen this too many times now where I show up at a home and they tell me well I have Norton or some other name brand product, so I should be safe from viruses and stuff. I look at the program and see it is not only outdated, but the last scan was sometimes years ago. I then break the news to them how they are probably infected with all kinds of goodies.

Too many people make the assumption that if the program is starting up it is working. Virus scanners are usually only a one year subscription and if you do not pay again in a year you no longer get updates. Therefore, any virus made after the last day you received updates can get right by your anti-virus software. You should check your anti-virus periodically to make sure everything is running smooth and you're receiving your updates.

If you are not receiving updates for the product check to see if the subscription date is past due. If so you will need to purchase another subscription or another product. If you can't get updates and your subscription has not run out yet, this means you are infected. Now you are probably wondering, well how did this happen if I had a virus scanning program? Well this is easy to explain.

There truly is no one great product when it comes to removing malicious programs. Every time they update your anti-virus software someone will be updating their malware programs. It is a never ending battle. The makers of these malware find weaknesses in the anti-virus software and pretty much disable it and your updating abilities of most programs. This leaves you helpless to their attacks.

There are many things you can do to prevent this from happening to you. Always scan every file you download before opening it. Don't open email or click on any links in emails from people or sites you do not know. You would be surprised to see what can be hidden in a link. Every now and again test your anti-virus software by going to sites that will scan your PC for free. There are many sites on the computer there to help people free; all you have to do is look for them.

Before you even get started with installing any programs you should first make sure your hardware is clean and free of dust. Dust buildup can make a computer run very slow and cause freeze issues alike. It is always good to start here because sometimes people think they are infected with viruses and it comes out to be just dust caked in the heat sink of the processor.

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You Need to Use Malware Protection to Safeguard Your Digital Data - No Computer Should Be Without It

As a computer technician I am amazed to see that so many people are still not using malware protection. Malware protection will protect your computer systems and the wealth of information it holds from getting damaged. I have done my share of work in the technical field that I can honestly say I have seen it all. However, the malware I have had to remove from computers is simply surprising. If you are unfamiliar with malware and do not understand the damage it can cause I can explain that to you and if you are someone who has suffered damage from malware I am sure that you will agree that it is a very real and very serious issue.

Malware is software that mimics a virus. It can get into your computer systems when you are browsing certain sites and it then installs itself. The most recent one that I have had to remove takes over your browser whether you use Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc. It doesn't matter, this software will reroute all of your searches to a totally different place and will also change your homepage.

On the majority of these damaged systems I was not able to remove the malware and I had to rebuild the entire operating system from scratch. Malware is most certainly becoming more and more prevalent which has been proven by all the damaged systems I have had to deal with lately. In order to avoid this you must take certain steps if you want to protect yourself from this annoying malware you should make sure that you are running some form of malware protection, I cannot stress this enough. If you do not choose to use the protection you are in jeopardy of having your computer system basically completely taken over. I encourage everyone to get malware protection so you don't have to hire me to tell you your system has been ruined...

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Securing Windows XP Home Edition (2)

continued from previous post

3. Use Private Folders To Protect Data: As mentioned in Step 1 above, Windows XP Home uses something called Simple File Sharing for sharing files, folders and other resources. When you mark a file or folder as Shared, anyone who can get to your computer can access the share and the data it contains because of how Windows XP Home uses the Guest account and its blank password (unless you have followed the information in Step 1) to grant access. Windows XP Home does not allow for more customized file and folder sharing like you would find in Windows 2000 or in Windows XP Professional (with Simple File Sharing disabled).

Windows XP Home does offer the polar opposite of sharing though- marking a folder Private. If you mark a folder as Private the contents of that folder and any sub-folders will be accessible only by you.

To make the most of this feature it helps if you keep all of your personal or confidential data in one place so that you can just mark the one folder as Private rather than having to scour the computer looking for various folders you might want to keep Private. Your User Account folder under Documents and Settings which contains your My Documents folder, your Favorites and other personal configuration data for Windows is marked Private by default in Windows XP Home.

To mark a folder as private you need to right-click on it and select Sharing and Security. On the Sharing tab click the checkbox that says "Make This Folder Private". If the folder is owned by another user or by the operating system itself this option will be grayed out. You may also see a checkmark inthe box that is grayed out if the folder is a sub-folder of a different folder already marked as Private.

4. Use Limited Accounts For Everyday Use: Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional offer a number of different user account types and also provide a means to create your own custom user account types. Windows XP Home essentially offers two choices- Administrator and Limited. The Administrator account has essentially full control over anything and everything on the computer. The Limited account can use the computer, but is extremely restricted in its ability to install software or alter system configurations in any way.

One of the primary reasons for using the Limited account is to protect the system from yourself. It's possible that a family member with Administrator access can accidentally change or delete critical information on the computer. It is also possible that someone with an Administrator account may have their account hacked or become infected with a virus or worm of some sort. Typically, the attacker or malware will be able to wreak havoc on the system using the access privileges of the account that has been compromised. So, it makes sense to save your Administrator account for when it is needed, but use Limited accounts for everyday use by most users.

To choose an account type in Windows XP Home click on User Accounts in the Control Panel. Once you select a user you can click on the "Change My Account Type" button. You will be able to choose between Administrator and Limited and can see a brief description of the abilities of each account type. You are required to have at least one Administrator account, so be sure to leave or create one- but save it for use when necessary and stick to using Limited accounts wherever possible.

5. Upgrade to Windows XP Professional: I realize that switching operating systems isn't exactly helpful for securing the one you have. However, it is truly my best recommendation for someone using Windows XP Home edition that wants to ensure a high degree of security on their system.

The Simple File Sharing "feature" which doesn't let you protect individual files or select which users can simply read the file vs. which ones can change or delete it turns out to be a feature you may not want if you're trying to be secure.

Windows XP Home lets you mark folders and their data as Private, but does not include support for EFS (Encrypted File System) which you can use in Windows 2000 and in Windows XP Professional to encrypt your data for even more protection from unauthorized access.

These are just a couple of reasons. The bottom line is that it seems that Microsoft did not have security in mind when selecting the features and options to include in Windows XP Home. Users who truly want to be secure (and don't want to switch to Linux or another operating system entirely) should move to Windows XP Professional. Shop Online at BestBuy.com.


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Securing Windows XP Home Edition (1)

5 Simple Steps For A More Secure Home Computer

Users should follow basic security advice like that found in Security Basics In A Home Computing Environment, Password Security, or In Depth Security. But, there are some additional steps to take that are unique to Windows XP Home edition.

The following list includes five things you can do to make sure your Windows XP Home edition is secure- including tricks and tips you might need to know in order to follow the advice from the other articles and implement those recommendations on this operating system.

1. Password Protect The Guest Account: This security measure is discussed in Microsoft Windows Security 101. However, it is not an easy or intuitive task in Windows XP Home. If you open the Control Panel and select User Accounts you will see a list of the users that are able to log on to the system. Selecting your own user account you will see an option that says "Assign Password" or, if a password is already assigned, "Change My Password". However, if you select the Guest account your options are limited to "Turn On The Guest Account" or "Turn Off The Guest Account" as the case may be.

Windows XP Home uses the Guest account as an integral part of network file and folder sharing. Using Simple File Sharing, when you share out a file or folder it is accessible to anyone who can "see" your computer. If you don't have other security measures in place such as a firewall that means that users on the public Internet may be able to connect to your share using the Guest account.

Even if you select "Turn Off The Guest Account" it will only be turned off in terms of its ability to log on directly to Windows. In the background, the account will still be functional because Windows XP Home uses the Guest account to authenticate users connecting remotely to shared resources on that machine. It is virtually impossible to truly disable the Guest account and doing so would cause a number of problems on a Windows XP Home computer.

So, in order to protect your system and ensure that not just anybody can connect to your file or folder shares- even when using Simple File Sharing- you need to assign a password to the Guest account. Because Windows XP Home offers no "easy" point and click solution to help you, you will have to use the command prompt. Click on Start, then All Programs, then Accessories and finally select Command Prompt. Once you have the black command prompt window open you will type the following:

* net user guest

You will of course replace the brackets and the word "password" with the password you wish to assign. Refer to the Password Security article for tips on choosing a good password.

2. Enable The Internet Connection Firewall (ICF): Microsoft Windows XP - both Home and Professional editions- come with a built-in firewall. Unfortunately, it is not enabled by default so you have to know enough to go in and turn it on. For the record, I actually recommend that you leave ICF disabled and install a 3rd-party firewall such as Zone Labs ZoneAlarm which has a version available for free for personal use.

The advantage of using a 3rd-party product like ZoneAlarm is that it monitors both inbound and outbound traffic. ICF only monitors and blocks inbound traffic. That is great for protecting you from external hacking or malicious activity, however it will not protect you from situations where a virus or Trojan on your system attempts to initiate unauthorized or malicious network activity out from your computer.

In any event, ICF is better than nothing. It is free and it is built in. So, if you choose not to download and install a 3rd-party product you should at least turn on the Internet Connection Firewall. To enable ICF you need to select Network and Internet Connections from the Control Panel. Then select the Network Connections icon at the bottom of the screen.

At this point you need to right-click the network connection you want to enable ICF on. For most home users there should only be one network connection present. Simply right-click it and select Properties. Click on the Advanced tab and click the checkbox next to "Protect my computer...".

Once you enable ICF, the Settings button at the bottom of the Advanced tab will be enabled as well. If you click on Settings you can configure ICF to allow certain traffic through and what sorts of information you want logged. Most users will be fine leaving this on the default settings.

Whether you use ICF or some 3rd-party firewall, be aware that should you suddenly start experiencing problems connecting with certain sites, computers on your network or the Internet as a whole- your firewall is the first place you should look. Odds are there is some firewall rule that is blocking traffic you would rather allow.


To be continued to the next post...

Before You Buy Antivirus Software

The Internet makes it possible for a new virus to spread around the globe in only minutes. Antivirus software is one of the single most important pieces of software on your system. While many new systems come with antivirus software pre-installed, it may not be the best choice for your needs and it most certainly is out of date by the time it’s delivered to your home.

Certifiable Protection

Antivirus software must be able to detect 100% of all in-the-wild threats to provide proper protection. Various agencies exist to determine which products meet these criteria. AV-Test.org performs the most extensive testing, using both in-the-wild (ItW) and Zoo viruses with displayed results for various categories of threats. Their results form the decision basis for our Top Picks.

* AV-Test.org
* VB100% Award
* ICSA Certification

True Cost of Ownership

After choosing a few certified products to test, determine what the actual cost of ownership is. Unlike other forms of software, antivirus software must be continually updated to remain effective. Additionally, new versions should be purchased annually to maintain the highest level of protection. Vendor prices for upgrades and annual licenses vary widely.

Features, Bells, and Whistles

If you use email, IM, or file-sharing applications, you will want to choose virus software that offers extra protection for those avenues. If you have an older system, you may want to forgo some of the extra bells and whistles and choose a basic antivirus software package that consumes fewer system resources.

Preventing Adware & Spyware

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

Considering the lengths some companies will go to in order to ensure their adware/spyware cannot be easily removed, the best protection is prevention. Fortunately, preventing adware and spyware is simple enough and if you're willing to apply a little elbow grease it won't cost you a dime.

Today's attackers are frequently targeting legitimate sites, compromising them via various attack methods and then implanting those sites with hidden iframes that load malicious content from the attacker-owned site. So-called drive-by downloads can happen silently when you visit one of these compromised sites. Your first step should be to ensure your system cannot and will not install programs automatically over the Internet or launch them automatically from email. Begin by following the steps outlined in Web Browser Security and the Email Help Center.

Ensure your operating system is fully patched against any known security vulnerabilities. Use the free Secunia Software Inspector to alert you to unpatched vulnerabilities in Windows, your browser, and third party apps such as Adobe Reader, Flash, and Apple QuickTime. Use the Secunia Software Inspector at least monthly to ensure your computer software is fully protected against known exploits.

Be alert, informed, and aware. Social engineering attacks are designed trick you into installing harmful software. Keep abreast of the top Internet scams, don't fall for hoaxes, and beware of rogue scanners that only pretend to secure your system.

Disable the Windows Messenger Service. The Windows Messenger Service can be exploited and used to dish up unwelcome advertising on unsuspecting users. The service is also victim to a critical exploit that could allow malicious attackers to remotely run code on vulnerable systems. Disabling the service will prevent both the pop-ups and the exploit.

Before you buy or download any new software, take a few moments to research it via your favorite search engine. And before you install it, make sure you read and understand the End-User Licensing Agreement. Quite often, victims of adware and spyware click "yes" to disagreeable actions - take the time to read any prompts that occur. The following articles discuss some of the tactics employed by previous purveyors of adware and spyware. Familiarize yourself with these tactics and apply that knowledge to ferret out other potentially unscrupulous vendors before letting them attach themselves to your system.

• Wotch Yourself takes a step through of a privacy statement from Wotch networks and helps identify potential pitfalls.
  

• Beware of Friendly Greetings describes the email tactic and implications of the End User Licensing Agreement from PerMedia sites.
  

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Note: If you are choosing Anti-Spyware make sure you choose one that is proven and has genuine awards from one or more world leading research labs such a PC Magazine, PC World, CNET, PC Pro Magazine, PC Authority, PC Answers and other trusted labs. More importantly do not use ratings from unknown review websites, as often these are designed to mislead you into purchase of affiliated, inferior or rogue product.

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Spyware Doctor has been downloaded over 125 million times with millions more downloads every week. People worldwide use and trust Spyware Doctor to protect their PCs from spyware, adware and other online threats.

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Detects, removes and blocks all types of Spyware

Did you know that numerous programs tested against Spyware Doctor detected only small fraction of Spyware and completely removed an even smaller amount? Also most of them were unable to effectively block Spyware in real time from being installed on users PC in the first place.
Spyware Doctor has the most advanced update feature that continually improves its Spyware fighting capabilities on daily basis. As Spyware gets more complex to avoid detection by AntiSpyware programs Spyware Doctor responds with new technology to stay one step ahead.

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Spyware Doctor is advanced technology designed especially for people, not just experts. That is one reason why it won the People's Choice Award in 2005, 2006 and 2007. It is automatically configured out of the box to give you optimal protection with limited interaction so all you need to do is install it for immediate and ongoing protection.

Spyware Doctor's advanced IntelliGuard technology only alerts users on a true Spyware detection. This is significant because you should not be interrupted by cryptic questions every time you install software, add a site to your favorites or change your PC settings. Such messages can be confusing and lead to undesirable outcomes such as inoperable programs, lost favorites or even Spyware being allowed to install on the system. We've done the research so you don't have to.

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Spyware Programs - What Are Spyware Programs and Why You Should Fight Against Them?

Spyware programs are really bad pieces of code that get injected into your PC via dangerous areas on the on the internet, What happens afterward can vary - it might collect all your private data and send them to someone else, it can give your passwords to the hacker who made the spyware and might actually make room for viruses, trojans etc. So removing them is important.

Almost everyone who uses the Internet on a regular basis has some kind of spyware removal software installed or has at least heard of these programs. But what many don't realise is that not all of these programs are equally effective.

So you can't just randomly pick one, install it and forget about it. There are many spyware removal programs in the market that are made by incompetent programmers who do not give you adequate protection.

These spyware removal programs are not what you should be using. They rarely have regular updates and can catch spyware only from a few different sources. The most dangerous are fake spyware programs, which themselves are viruses, trojans or spyware.

So choose your spyware removal program very carefully.

When you think your system is infected with spywares, the first thing you should do is backup your data. You don't have to backup everything on the disc, because that would include the spyware as well.

Do not back up programs because they may be infected. Image files, audio files, video files and text files are all safe to be backed up. Put them on a separate disc and keep them safe. After you have properly backed up all your data, you can begin installing a spyware removal program. You can download one from the Internet and then install it onto your hard drive.

Don't delay, protect your identity today, and don't let these adwares and other spywares kill your computer.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Franck_Silvestre

Getting Rid of Spyware From Your System

Spyware is one of the most downright obnoxious problems you can face with your computer. Spyware is very sneaky and it can cause a lot of different problems. It works by taking over some part of the way your computer functions. Since most folks don't download anything bad with their programs, it tends to "piggyback" its way onto your computer.

For example, the programs you use to download music frequently have tons of spyware. This can slow the computer function, monitor behavior to see which sites you're prone too, and then display ads or various other messages pertaining to what you might like.

Occasionally, spyware masquerades as an anti spyware program. Thus, rather than cleaning your computer, you just get more spyware. It's frustrating and can be overwhelming.

Removing Spyware

There are a number of ways to get rid of spyware. The first thing to do in all cases is disconnect yourself from the internet. This is important, because it relies on your Internet connection.

First, go to your Control Panel and attempt to get rid of the program. You can get to the Control Panel through your computer easily. After you get there, you need to go into Add/Remove Programs.

A lot of these harmful programs can be easily uninstalled. After uninstalling, reboot your computer.

Now you want to use your anti virus scanner. Your scanner will pick up spyware and adware as well as viruses. There are a host of quality scanners and free ones on the internet. You have to be careful and make sure you aren't just downloading more spyware though.

Once the scanner has finished, it will let you know what to do with the infected files.

You may want to have your computer in safe mode when you are doing all of this.

If none of these options work then you need to get to the drive before the spyware loads up. To do this you'll need a BartPE Bootable CD. Such CDs will let you get into the file manager and get rid of the spyware files yourself.

Cleaning out your browser cache is the next step. This requires resetting your browser files and deleting any sites or favorites that might be problematic.

The key to preventing spyware after this is paying attention to the programs you download. You want to make sure any programs are legitimate. It pays to be careful since a lot of programs have it attached.

After all these steps, you won't have a problem anymore. Make sure your computer runs the way it was meant to by keeping it free of spyware.