Spyware Search and Destroy

Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

7 Tips You Should Use To Protect Your Computer And Yourself On The Internet

The internet is a scary place. Most of you have probably had experiences with a computer virus at some point. Did the virus make your computer go really slow? Did the virus force you to reinstall your operating system? Sadly, these are some of the more lucky results. It’s possible for viruses to steal your information, send e-mails from your account, and a lot more. Hackers can also do just as much and even more. So how do you go about protecting yourself? Here are 7 tips that will show you how to keep you and your computer safe.

1. Safeguard your information! Be very cautious about giving your personal information out over the internet. You should never give it out to someone in an e-mail. If you plan on buying something online, double check to make sure you are on the official website of that online store. Also, make sure there is an “https” before the URL. This indicates that the website you are on is secure.

2. Be very cautious about clicking hyperlinks in e-mails. It is very common for criminals to pretend to be official businesses, friends, etc., to get you to try to click a hyperlink in an e-mail. What’s the worst that could happen? Well, clicking a hyperlink alone can be enough to infect your computer.

3. Keep your protection software updated! This is probably the most important tip. You need to make sure that your spyware protection and virus protection is up to date. New viruses are being created every day, therefore you need to make sure to update your protection every day. If you aren’t keeping your protection updated, you aren’t really protected from the latest viruses.

4. Take advantage of your browser security features. These days, browsers like Internet Explorer and FireFox come with great security features. Don’t skip out on using these!

5. Don’t give out your passwords to friends! This is so important. Even if a friend has good intensions, what if a friends computer has a virus? Then someone can still get your passwords. There is no reason to give your passwords out. Also, make sure to create a secure password. This means creating a unique password for each website. You also want to use passwords that are a mix of letters and numbers.

6. Backup your computer often! Believe me, if something happens to your computer and you lose all your files, you will wish you did this. Backing up your computer can be done in under an hour, and it will save you many weeks of trying to replace everything if you lost all your files.

7. Get an emergency plan figured out. What if your computer is hacked? What is the first thing you are going to do? Are you going to run a virus scan first? Unplug the internet? Take it to someone to have it looked at? Figure out what you will do so that if the worst happens, your first response is getting the computer fixed instead of figuring out how to.

If you follow these 7 tips, you will have a much more secure computer then you may currently have. I would estimate that 90% of computer users don’t follow these tips. So become one of the 10%, and be on your way to keeping yourself and your computer protected.

Good luck!

Computer Security – 10 Tips to Protect Your PC From Malware Attack

Computer users have to deal with all sorts of security threats each day, computer viruses, computer worms, hackers, phishing, spyware. These malicious attacks may damage your boot sector, system BIOS, software and data files, cause disruption of internet traffic, create back door to allow unauthorized access to your computer, and steal confidential information from you. So how do they spread over the internet?

Malware including computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are spread via email, instant messages and file sharing. Computer viruses need a host program to run whereas computer worms are self contained and replicate automatically. Trojan horses usually do not replicate, they are downloaded and run by the computer users pretending to be some innocent programs, such as free games or free screensavers.

Hackers are not malicious programs, they are computer users who gain unauthorized access to your computer. Hackers look for unprotected network or enter you system via a back door installed by other malware.

Spyware are usually downloaded from web sites, email messages, instant messages or file sharing network. Sometimes, spyware are installed with some legitimate programs when you accept the End User License Agreement.

Phishing is an emerging form of malicious attack. Phishers send out spam messages pretending to be legitimate companies such as banks, financial institutes, PayPal. They would use scare tactic to urge you to update your personal information on phish sites which look remarkably similar to the legitimate company sites. If you log in, the phishers will steal your id and password.

Now that you know how these security threats work, here are 10 tips to protect your computer:

1) Install an antivirus + antispyware program or all-in-one internet security program. Do not run any free scan and free download unless you have done your research on the software developer. Some free downloads can be spyware programs or malware that create security hole in your system.

2) Install security programs that provide active real time protection. Some free antivirus programs can only detect viruses that have already infected your PC. However, if your computer is already infected, you may not be able to reach the free virus scan sites at all.

3) Keep your internet security programs up to date. New viruses, spyware, worms are coming out every day, you need the most updated definition database to block these threats.

4) Install a firewall program and configure your firewall program to block any unsolicited inbound or outbound communication. This can protect you from hacker attack.

5) Download security patches for your application programs and browser programs. Some programs are vulnerable to malicious attack and the patches can fix these vulnerabilities.

6) Be vigilant and selective about what you download to your computer. Do not download free games, freeware, free music files etc unless you are certain that they are harmless.

7) Be careful with email attachment. Do not open unexpected email attachment even if it comes from people in your address book. An internet security program can protect your computer by scanning the attachment before you open it or save it to your computer.

8) Delete spam messages or install a spam filter. Some spam messages are merely a nuisance but some contain links which land on bogus sites where your personal information can be stolen (phishing). Computer viruses and spyware can also be spread using spam messages. Do not click on the link or open any attachment of spam messages

9) Watch out for hoaxes. If you receive an email message warning you about a computer virus, search the internet to see if it is a hoax. Don’t delete any file or spread the message to other people unless you know that the warning is true.

10) Change your password frequently and do not use the same password for all sites. Use complex words with characters and numbers.

To sum up, malicious attacks come in various forms and they spread and attack your computer in different ways. However, there are software tools available to help you fend off these attacks. If you practice all of the above, you can reduce the chance of malicious attack substantially.

Few Tips On How To Maintain Computer Security And Preventing Viruses

The first part of the process is to destroy the virus on the computer is to ensure that the virus is actually what is causing the problem on the computer. After the source of the problem has been established you will then need to conduct a few more steps in order to treat the virus that is on the computer system. There are several different methods that can be used in order to destroy the viruses that are on the computer system. These methods will all assist you to get rid of the problems that are being caused by the virus.

It is also very important to know how to get rid of the spy ware viruses that can affect the computer system.  Another style of virus that you should learn how to get rid of is the one that is known as Trojan. These methods are generally the same one however there is some differences. If you want to destroy the viruses that can affect your computer then you will need to install a software package that is designed to act against the virus. The software is often referred to as antivirus software.

You will need to visit the manufactures website that deal with virus scan software in order to install any updates. It is important to keep your antivirus software up to date, as this will enable you to keep your computer free from viruses. It is very important to check the labels on the websites for information regarding the specific virus ware that is available. This can be done by simply typing the name of the virus into a search engine such as Google and then you are browse through the information.

It is a good idea to keep in mind that simply deleting the file that contains the virus will not completely remove the virus. Removing the file only will not work because the viruses often create new files in order to make it hard to delete them.  It is very important not to send emails until a virus has been deleted, as this will simply send it from one computer to another. It is very important to make sure that you completely remove the virus from the computer. There is only really one way that you can ensure that the virus is completely removed is to boot the computer system using a clean boot up disk. This rebooting process should be followed up by running a DOS antivirus scanner. The scanner will be able to report if there are any infections.

If the computer is still infected you would then need to delete the infected files and restore them from a backup system. It is better to prevent the virus from getting onto the computer rather than have to find ways to repair the computer had removed the viruses. Prevention will mean that you do not actually have to worry about the virus in the fist place.  There are some steps that you can take in order to prevent viruses from getting onto the computer system.

Computer Repair: 5 Tips For Safer Browsing

The real danger of viruses and other malware is that they can attack you personally. The most common type of trojan is keyloggers. These are programs that simply relay everything you do or type to another person. This includes personal information such as credit card numbers and passwords. Internet threats are numerous. Here are 5 tips to keep yourself and your computer protected.

1. Keep everything up to date. Update your browser, Windows update and your anti-virus software as frequently as possible. New viruses are being developed daily and you may be the unfortunate victim of a new scam. By keeping your security up to date, you’ll have done your best to protect yourself against the latest threats. Your security software becomes less and less effective as long as it remains outdated.

2. Your anti-virus should be on and up to date around the clock. The hackers responsible for many of the web’s security threats use clever methods to infect your system. You’ll be surprised to see that just by going to certain websites, your anti-virus will pop up warning you about trojans trying to install themselves on your computer. If your anti-virus is stopping you from being able to do something you want to do (torrenting, hosting game servers…) consider whether it is wise to pursue that activity.

3. Rogue viruses are responsible for half the virus removal jobs we perform. These are programs that “speed up your computer” or “clean your registry.” However, you’ll pay for the program and use it only to find out that:

a. Your problem is still there.

b. You have 700+ problems that can be fixed if you upgrade your subscription.

These websites look very legitimate. The programs look like honest programs. Some of them mimic the look of Windows Security screens and trick you into thinking that windows is issuing these warnings. Your best bet against this problem is to do proper research before using or purchasing a program or to call your neighborhood professional and get their opinion.

4. Trust your anti-virus, not your spam filter. When it comes to e-mail, make sure you scan every attachment you receive before opening it. Just because it was sent from your best friend or a close relative does not mean that it is safe. Remember that most infections are invisible and dangerous. It is very easy for malware to be installed quickly one day and then report everything you do to its owner. That includes passwords and credit card numbers!

5. Finally, when in doubt, don’t.  Remember that the people developing malware are relatively advanced computer users. They know that the average user relies on their own sense of familiarity to gauge what is right or wrong. Don’t open files to discover what they are or leave programs installed on your computer that you are not familiar with. When a screen pops up suggesting that you visit a website or pay a fee to have some new security feature, ignore it and close the window. If you have any doubts, contact your trusted computer repair shop.

Written by Karim Salmi.

Computer Repair Specialist with Vitalitech LLC in Maryland.

Computer Repair Tips For Windows Problems

Getting your computer problem fixed at computer repair shops is expensive but you can keep your computer in top shape by eliminating Windows problems. Use of your common sense and some know-how to avoid the problems in Windows can ensure your computer health. Most often when you start noticing the troubles in your computer, you will know the troubles were brewing long before you actually notice it.

It is advised that you better try to prevent the problems rather than repairing it at a later time. For ensuring this you should always know about the true condition of your computer and its operating system. By following some computer repair tips you can ensure the smooth running of your computer.

Some people advised that you should better go for a new computer if the old one is showing signs of problems because a new PC is not that costly as it was before. However, upgrading your old one is not a bad idea because it can be done quite inexpensively. For faster working of your computer you just need to ensure that your computer got enough memory and hard drive space.  

Ensure the power protection of your computer. Every computer has this capability though the type of it can vary. Computer repair experts suggest that you should better keep a battery backup against any sudden power failure.

Viruses and spyware are lurking every corner of the Internet. So if you have Internet access make your computer protected against any malware attack by downloading the latest version of antivirus software and firewall. For ensuring the privacy of your computer you need to make sure that you should not download anything except from the trusted websites.

Tech support experts suggest that you should not use same password and Id for all the sites you visit. This makes you and your PC vulnerable to privacy threat. For this you can use the same username but you need to use different passwords for the sites you visit.

Computer repair experts want you to read up any error message that is shown up in windows. Reading these properly and solving these can prevent your computer from any serious problem.You need to shut down your computer properly to ensure your computer health. Shutting up the PC by switching it off is harmful to your computer. You need to perform Windows to shut down the PC correctly.

You can perform Quarterly Maintenance for your PC to keep it safe. This will bring forward any brewing problem that could create serious problems at a later time. Diagnosing these sorts of problems in advance can keep your PC safe. You need to scan your Windows System files on regular basis and need to run Chkdsk command to check and fix any hard drive issue.

You need to scan you PC to see if any virus is there in the system. Anti-virus can check and remove any virus on your computer. Make sure that antivirus programs are downloaded to your system. They will automatically upgrade them selves by downloading the latest virus definition and by scanning your computer weekly.

10 Computer Security Tips for Home Bussiness and Personal Protection

Everyday, millions of people face internet based attacks like spams, spywares, mallwares, virus and trojens, hacks etc.. Big companies have lawyers, IT departments and money to fix those problems. For home users and home bussiness partners faceing that problems is usually more devistating. Here is my tips for personal computer protection.

1. Never give your password to anyone else. ?t’s the most important rule.

2. Use numbers, symbols and letters altogether to create higher security passwords. Mixed passwords are harder to guess, hack or find (1982 might be the year you born and easier to remember but its also easier to find too)

3. Use antivirus and antispyware programs together, antivirus programs can’t dedect spyware and adwares all the time and antispywares can’t clear your viruses.

4. Install a good firewall. Firewalls are the best ways to protect your computers versus hacker attacks and it’s allways better to block a virus then using a antivirus to clean it from your computers.

5. Never open spam mails without beeing sure they are comming from a reliable source, and allways use antivirus and antispyware programs to scan mail attacments. Even if you are sure its coming from someone you know or a family member.

6. Keep your password safe. You need to chance passwords aften a fixed time period, serious attacks, big spam rains etc.. And never use same password for more then one site, you can loose credit card numbers or your websites access if you use same passworld for every single place.

7. If you are a employer, be sure that your old co-workers can’t access your companies data-base. Erase their accounts, passwords, personal web paces on your companies website.

8. Physical security is as important as internet security. Use laptop lockers; a good lock and some steel can make wonders. Also keep your external harddisks and flash disks at office, and use quality coolers to prevent computers from overheating.

9. Don’t let anyone to enter your / your companies personal networks and keep strangers laptops, external drivers, cd’s etc.. away from your computers. They can infect viruses to network or steal your personal files before you can understand.

10. Never install unauthorized applications to your computer, they may contain unwanted virus and spywares and they also can be illegal & contain cracked material. Use Windows (or any other operation systems you are using)’s signature programmes.

To keep your computer safe, you can find various antispyware, antiadware, firewalls and antivirus programmes at www.get2use.com

Top Ten Tips For Computer Security

Have you ever wondered why there is a huge increase in online fraud? Well the main reason its happening, is that most computer users are not protecting themselves properly.

When you follow the top 10 tips for online and offline protection, you will discover were your computer system weaknesses are.

1. It is a proven fact that 75% of American PC users do not use an up to date anti-virus program, this is a program that scans the PC searching for any malicious software, when it discovers them they can either quarantine them or delete them. Some AV programs even scan sites you visit and detect any phishing sites.

2. Phishing sites are websites that have been created to look similar to a bank or payment processor such as PayPal. We have all received the emails from our bank stating our account is empty and to log in immediately, the hyperlink in the email you click on looks real, however the site you are taken to is fraudulent, they are after stealing your money! Always make sure your banks website has a padlock image on the toolbar, this shows that it is a secure site for logging in. If you have any doubts contact your bank immediately.

3. We all need a firewall to hide behind. This is a piece of software that prevents anyone hacking into our computers, either at home or at work. Once the software is set up it runs in the background. It basically blocks the ports on our computers that hackers use to gain access through the back door. Like the AV, there are plenty of free firewalls.

4. Is your computer operating system up to date? When did you last update it? Most people will answer, never. The main reason software manufacturers such as Microsoft provide updates, is to plug any security vulnerabilities in the software, this is why when they issue an update, its wise to update your system.

5. Check any public computers you use, as there are products out there called key loggers, this is an electronic device that logs all keystrokes and can be downloaded. So if you use the library for your online bank or eBay, make sure the keyboard lead connects directly into the computer, if it connects to an extra piece of cable, it could be a key logger. The person who put it there only has to download the information and they have all your details and access to your money! Always log out and do not save any passwords on a public computer – Ever!

6. Check public WiFi connections are public! Make sure it is not just another computer acting as a gateway, so you pass your details to them such a credit card and address, then they grant you access to the internet. While you are sending emails, they are using your credit card details to purchase products online!

7. Do not share games, as this is how some viruses were transferred from computer to computer. Always run your anti virus software to scan the disc first.

8. Do not let anyone one use a flash drive on your computer, as soon as someone plugs a flash drive into a computer a virus could be transferring to your computer, this may or may not be done on purpose, but the problem is still there, it will take information from your computer and can even email it from your computer, at a later date!

9. Physical protection at home and at work, this is essential for preventing your computer and the data stored on it falling into the wrong hands. The PC enclosure is a special steel box, that has been designed for protecting computers, so heating and security issues has been addresses, these units are fully welded and normally bolted to walls, (this is how banks protect their computers).

10. Physical protection on the move is essential for laptops, so Kingston Security offers the best option, this is a high grade steel cable that locks into the laptop and ties around a leg of a table, this prevents your personal information being stolen along with the laptop, in a smash and grab robbery.

Follow these simple steps and your online and offline security will be safe.