Saturday, June 30, 2012

Germany's Love Hate Relationship With Social Networks and Search Engines - Often Schizophrenic

Do you recall recently when Germany had a feces fit over Google's street view and satellite view maps, too much resolution and too much invasion of privacy they said, unacceptable they claimed and they sued. Google acquiesced and that case is history. Okay so let's talk because something else has come up, this time instituted by some pretty well connected folks in Germany's financial sector.

You see, there was an interesting article in the Huffington Online News titled; "SCHUFA, Germany's Largest Credit Agency, To Mine Facebook, Twitter for Consumer Risk Information," by Catherine New published on June 15, 2012. The article clearly stated;

"Forget the euro crisis. There's another credit storm brewing in Germany that hits much closer to the heart. It's on Twitter and Facebook. Germany's wired population and business press freaked out when a broadcast news agency revealed confidential documents that showed that the country's largest credit agency, SCHUFA, plans to scrape data from social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to determine an individual's risk to lenders and ability to pay bills, according to Der Spiegel."

Now then, I suppose this is very similar to how insurance companies for auto policies in the US used credit card data and late fees to determine if someone was a greater risk of getting into an accident in their automobile - yes, it turns out that there is a statistical correlation. Still, that didn't sit well with many Americans, and although there was massive outrage, one must understand American politics, insurance lobbying, and how our government works to see why the rectifying of this problem went unabated for so long.

We should all note that social networks are getting a little too friendly with our information, a little too loose with which advertisers they choose as partners, and in the case of Facebook, now it's a public company and needs to make money - and data mining and big data are big business and big money. Worse, much of this information is free for the taking whether or not it is sold to the offending groups who want it or not, and as I note in this case study, it isn't just here, this is happening globally with your personal and private information.

Of course, in their defense, how personal is your data if you willy-nilly post it all over hell's half acre for all the world to see? Whose fault is that my friend? Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Internet Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/


View the original article here

Friday, June 29, 2012

Live Security Platinum - One More Member of WinWebSec Family

Live Security Platinum is a fake antivirus program that has been noticed to infect more and more computer systems lately. For those who are not aware of it, this program is classified as a fake antivirus program that was designed by computer hackers in order to steal money from random computer users. The program belongs to WinWebSec family of rogues which is responsible for a bunch of fake anti viruses, such as Security Tool, Smart Fortress 2012 and others. Basically, it's a program that imitates actions of an antivirus and attempts to convince random computer users into purchasing it. This way computer hackers earn money.

Live Security Platinum uses a fake scanner, fake pop up messages and other security notifications in order to trick computer users into thinking that their systems are badly infected. The program runs its fake scanner with each system reboot. Once it finishes, the program generates a list of infections which is clearly falsified. Basically, the application will display files that do not exist at all or your legitimate files which are necessary for normal functioning of your system. Your system can be completely clear of infections but the scan results will claim the opposite.

What is more, Live Security Platinum does not allow running your executables. Instead it displays another notification warning that the program is infected and cannot be run. In order to fix that you will be offered to get a full version of a program. Basically, it will try to swindle your money away one more time. Since it becomes practically impossible to use any of the programs, many computer users do not find any other solution and they pay for this scam.

Other messages will warn that about spyware infections detected on your machine. Beware that as longs as the warning leads to an offer to purchase a license of Live Security Platinum. As you see, the creators of it are ready for everything.

Please do not fall for this trick of cyber criminals. You are strongly recommended to remove Live Security Platinum using a reputable antispyware program. Please make sure, you upgrade your security tools to their newest versions. New infections are created every single day, so it is crucial to have your security tools up to date. If you have paid for a license of Live Security Platinum already, contact your credit card company and dispute the charges as soon as you can. Do not give your money to computer hackers this easily.


View the original article here

Thursday, June 28, 2012

How to Set Microsoft Security Essentials to Customize a Restore Point Before Applying Malware Action

As you know that Microsoft Security Essentials helps you run virus scans and remove virus, malware etc. to keep your computer safe, but do you know that it can also help you undo and redo the changes to your system settings. You can set Microsoft Security Essentials to create or not to create a restore point before applying malware actions. This Microsoft Security Essentials support tutorial discusses how you customize the Microsoft antivirus program.

Step 1

Look for the Microsoft Security Essentials icon in the system tray and click to open it. If you cannot see the icon in the system tray, click the Start button and navigate to All Programs> Microsoft Security Essentials. When in the Microsoft Security Essentials window, click the Settings tab.

Step 2

Under the Settings tab, click Advanced in the left hand side panel. You will see a list of advanced options in the right hand side. Uncheck the box beside Create a system restore point. Review other settings if you want, otherwise click the Save Changes button and you are done. You can now start running a virus scan and removing malware.

Step 3

You can also configure Microsoft Security Essentials to create a restore point before it applies action to malware by checking the Create a system restore point box again. It will help you save and recover your system settings before the malware breaks into your computer.

Step 4

Click the Save Changes button when you are done. You can now start running a full or custom virus scan of your computer. When done, prompt MSE to remove the virus- or malware-infected files found during the scan. When done, exit the window.

Step 5

You can configure your MSE to scan archive files, removable drives like pen drive, CD etc., or particular files and locations in your computer. Besides, you can set and run automatic scheduled virus scans periodically for the enhanced protection of your computer.

Additional Tips:

It is recommended that you regularly update Microsoft Security Essentials with the latest malware, virus definitions. Updates help your antivirus program know about the ever growing threats and prevent them from taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of your computer.

It is also recommended that you run a full virus scan at least every fortnight or month for the maximum protection of your entire computer data. Also, run custom scans for downloaded files or the removable media drives as these may contain objectionable, susceptible contents. Also make sure that whenever you download something, download it from a trusted website and not from a torrent one.

The Author of this article is associated with V tech-squad Inc, V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. if you have any problem while performing the above steps and need technical assistance for Microsoft support, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201.

About V tech-squad Inc.

V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based online technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. V tech-squad provides support to users for issues with their PCs, Mac's, Tablets, Phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and devices such as MP3 players, Printers, Scanners, Fax, Wireless networking gear, Netflix, Roku boxes and TVs. With an obsessive focus on quality and building technical expertise, V tech-squad continues to maintain an issue resolution rate of more than 90%. V tech-squad's credibility has been tested by more than 10,000 customers. Currently V tech-squad provides support services to consumers and small businesses in United States. For more information on V tech-squad, Inc. visit vtechsquad.com.


View the original article here

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Trading Your Information for Free Online Services Again Are You?

In the United States, we believe that every citizen should have the right to choose. If they wish to share their personal lives with everyone else, well then they should be allowed to do that. If they choose not to, then we all cringe when the paparazzi invades the privacy of our favorite celebrities, and yet the reason they do is that the general public is genuinely interested in their lives. Okay so, I'd like to talk to you a little bit about how folks trade their information for free online services.

The article "The Curious Case of Internet Privacy - Free services in exchange for personal information. That's the "privacy bargain" we all strike on the Web. It could be the worst deal ever," posted on June 6, 2012 by Cory Doctorow was very interesting and made some relevant points such as;

"But if it's a bargain, it's a curious, one-sided arrangement. To understand the kind of deal you make with your privacy a hundred times a day, please read and agree with the following: By reading this agreement, you give our company and its partners the unlimited right to intercept and examine your reading choices from this day forward, to sell the insights gleaned thereby, and to retain that information in perpetuity and supply it without limitation to any third party - and this agreement is subject to change at any time."

Right, so people give their information and assume that that particular website will use that information for only good purposes, and perhaps to send them advertisements, and to help pay for those free services through their advertising partners. But who is to say that those advertising partners will not all get together with other advertising partners, sharing that data together, and before you know it you get your information shared with the entire world, when you supposedly just wanted a free app to run on your mobile phone, probably something silly, something cool, or something that really doesn't matter anyway - look at the real cost now?

Well, this is exactly what's happening now, and that last little bit above about; "and this agreement is subject to change at any time," and for any reason without your consent forever into the future as long as you live, and beyond - is yet completely another thing. Do people really agree to have their information given to every company worldwide just for using a free app? Do people really know what they're in for? I would submit to you that they do not, and that the individual who wrote that article is absolutely correct, and I fear that things are getting worse.

There was another interesting article in the Wall Street Journal on June 5, 2012 which indicated that there were companies able to get by the rules at the Apple's App Store about "tracking consumers" by working with other app companies, and then trading the data amongst them. Some of these networked big data information companies are making a ton of money off your personal information, and God only knows who is going to receive that information future. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Digital Internet Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/


View the original article here

Get Rid of Security Shield

Security Shield has gone through dozens of mutations over the last year. This virus does not seem to be dying off. Users have a hard time removing this virus than others but the method is still the same. You should focus on stopping this malware from running. After this is done the remaining process is easy.

Preventing this malware from running is going to be hard. Put your computer in safe mode with networking so you can install an antivirus program. Update the program and start a full scan. This may not work in each case but it often works. A good free client to use is Malwarebytes. You can download the software on the internet with ease.

Like most other malware clients this threat does not do a huge amount of damage. It will block programs from running. It will also make installing software very hard. A lot of the times Internet Explorer will be easy to run still. The malware still might re-direct the things you search for online.

At this point you'll need to try to start your PC in safe mode with networking to install an antivirus software to remove the virus. At this point use it to full scan the computer. There are many clients that will work in safe mode, most will not.

You can use the browsing option to search the paths in Security Shield and delete the file if you need to. This is the fastest way and the quickest to erase it. View the above sites we mentioned for the latest folder and file paths. They change all the time so looking there is your best bet. Doing a System Restore seems to work very well for some people. This option will undo all the latest changes including installing the virus.

Getting a computer infection is never easy. Not for people who use their computer every day. I love free antivirus options but they don't have all the protection that's necessary to stay safe. Most free protective programs have a paid version as well. The paid programs work the best. You'll get live protection up front. There will also be updates and real time support for you. It's better to invest the 40 dollars per year to protect your computer than use the free antivirus.

Make sure you are able to keep your computer safe as you browse the net. The safer you are the less you have to worry about your personal information online.

Here's a video tutorial about how to remove security shield here.


View the original article here

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Protect Your Computer From Virus-Infected Emails

We have received many calls and emails from customers and friends, who have received an email, from someone they knew, that contained a dangerous virus website link or infected attachment. Noting that the email was from a friend, family member, colleague or a known business contact, they clicked the website link or opened the attachment, only to find their computer immediately infected by a nasty virus. This underhanded way of infecting computers with viruses, spyware and other malware, is on the rise. Here are some simple rules for reducing your risk of getting caught in this trap.
Consider all business and personal emails as potentially dangerous. If ever in doubt, delete it!
The "From:" field can be easily faked to look like it came from someone or a business you have dealt with. If a friend or business, that you deal with, gets a virus infection, it can make a copy of their email contact list, and send email to all people in that list.
Be very suspicious of any email with no subject or "RE:" as the subject. A "RE:" should always have the subject of the reply following it.
Be very suspicious of any email with no textual content and only a website link or attachment. Attachments can contain dangerous links to virus infected sites or an infected software executable. This is a file that once it is double clicked, can plant dangerous spyware or install malicious software.
Do not click on a link or attachment unless you were expecting an email from the sending person.
If you aren't sure about the email, it might be a good idea to call the sender. If they didn't send the email, ask them to quickly change their email account password and have their computer scanned for viruses and spyware. You should immediately delete the email.
To reduce the risk of your email contact list from being used to perpetrate one of these nasty email crimes, make sure you use a strong password to protect your email account. Short and simple passwords are easy to break. Secondly, install a quality antivirus software on your computer. Most people, who come into our Fort Collins, Colorado office, with a virus infected computer, were using the antivirus software, provided free, by their Internet service provider. We have found that the "big" name antivirus companies produce weak antivirus protection and also slow down your computer.

Hello, I'm Dan Ruffolo, the owner/operator of Computer Pc Medic ( http://www.computerpcmedic.com/ ), a computer repair company, in Fort Collins, Colorado. We offer computer repair services and training to homes, students and small businesses in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor and Greeley, Colorado. We also provide business office IT customization to help business offices run more efficiently and securely.


View the original article here

Monday, June 25, 2012

Does My Computer Have a Virus? Some Quick Checks Can Tell

You cannot be protected and safe from the online threats like virus, Trojan, worm etc. when you are online unless you are proactive and exercising best practices. Despite that you are exercising best browsing practices, your computer may catch a virus. Here is a comprehensive, free virus removal support guide that answers your "Do I have a virus" question by letting you run a series of self-tests.

Step 1

Open your antivirus software, update it with the latest virus and spyware definitions, and then run a full virus scan (not a custom scan). Wait for the scanning to complete. When done, you will see the infected files in search results. Prompt the antivirus software to delete the infected items and clean your computer.

Step 2

Some viruses are too powerful to be detected by your antivirus. Yes, they can easily dodge your antivirus when it runs a virus scan by masquerading themselves as legitimate applications. So after having run a virus scan from your antivirus, download Malwarebytes, a powerful virus scan and removal tool and install on your computer.

Step 3

When done, open Malwarebytes and start updating it. When done, run a full virus scan. Wait while the scan completes. If Malwarebytes scan results show infected items, remove them. Other than this, you can run an online virus scan from a legitimate website like McAfee or Trend Micro etc. You can run online virus scan even if you have an antivirus program installed on your computer and even if you have none.

Step 4

Download the online virus scanner and install it on your computer. When done, run a full virus scan and repeat the procedure. If you have a firewall installed on your computer, you can easily detect if you have a virus on your computer or someone has tried to hack it. A firewall program is designed to scan the incoming and outgoing traffic to and fro your computer and block unauthorized users (hackers) from breaking in without your knowledge and consent.

Step 5

A firewall program always logs the entries of programs that try to automatically connect to your computer or send or receive data without your consent and knowledge. It blocks such programs and logs their details. You can view the details and take the desired action against such programs. Another way of finding out if you have a virus on your computer is checking your emails. If you see lots of spam emails in your email account, a virus might have intruded in your PC.

Step 6

If you occasionally or repeatedly see weird error messages while rebooting your computer or opening, running, or closing a program, it indicates that a virus is present on it. One such error is the Blue Screen of Death error or blue screen error that mostly appears when your computer encounters a virus infection and immediately shuts down to prevent it from breaking in the Windows Kernel system. Though the BSOD (blue screen of death) error can occur due to hard drive fail, software compatibility, or driver among other issues, but virus infection is the main reason for it to occur.

Step 7

If you cannot access your antivirus program and run a virus scan, open Task Manager, internet connection, or anything on your Desktop computer. The only way you can get into your Windows is by rebooting your computer in Safe Mode. It clearly indicates the presence of a virus or many viruses. When you open your web browser, it shows a different home page but not yours and takes you to malicious, sales, or adult websites when you search for something. Yes, it alters your search engine and search results.

Step 8

One such virus is Google Redirect virus, which when gets on to your computer alters your searching and redirects you to fake search results and websites of fake free virus removal tools. Another self-test is checking if your computer is trying to reboot or shut down without your intervention. If you desktop shows programs other than your regular ones, which might also be missing, you can be sure that it has a virus.

Step 9

If a program is eating higher memory resources and CPU amount, it surely is a virus and not a legitimate program. Some high-end applications like heavy graphics software, financial applications may consume higher memory and CPU resources, but they may not slow down your computer like a virus does.

Step 10

When you have determined that your computer has a virus, immediately end its process in Task Manager and then run a virus scan from your computer. if you cannot access any of these programs, forcibly shut down your computer and reboot it in Safe Mode. If you are unable to get rid of the virus, contact the professional virus removal support service.

The Author of this article is associated with V tech-squad Inc, V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. if you have any problem while performing the above steps and need technical assistance for online virus removal, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201.

About V tech-squad Inc.

V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based online technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. V tech-squad provides support to users for issues with their PCs, Mac's, Tablets, Phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and devices such as MP3 players, Printers, Scanners, Fax, Wireless networking gear, Netflix, Roku boxes and TVs. With an obsessive focus on quality and building technical expertise, V tech-squad continues to maintain an issue resolution rate of more than 90%. V tech-squad's credibility has been tested by more than 10,000 customers. Currently V tech-squad provides support services to consumers and small businesses in United States. For more information on V tech-squad, Inc. visit vtechsquad.com.


View the original article here

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Three Warning Signs That Your Computer Could Have A Virus

A computer virus is a classic example of one of those things in life that we hear about all the time but don't think it will happen to us. Because of this we tend to dismiss taking any preventative action and then become overtaken by regret and profusely wish we had when we become affected.

For the majority of us, a computer is a daily essential in our lives. Many of us rely on a PC all day at work and then store some of our most precious documents such as photographs of our loved ones and important documentation on our home computers. The effect of having such fundamental features of our lives eaten away or corrupted by a virus can be devastating so why do so many people fail to protect themselves and ignore the signs?

Unfortunately, ridding your computer of a virus can often be a complex procedure. This can often become even more extensive the longer the virus infects your computer. Just like you protect your own health, you should not ignore the symptoms that your computer has been infected because the sooner you detect a potential virus, the more chance you could have of saving your computer's life.

1) The performance crash

We've all been there - the loading cursor whirling round and round taunting you with its lack of urgency. A sluggish computer can make even the most simple of tasks difficult and extremely frustrating. This is not to suggest that a slow-performing computer means that you have definitely got a virus as there are a number of reasons which can cause computers to slow down however it should definitely be a trigger sign that you need to investigate.

A virus can drain a computer of its CPU resources. The central processing unit (CPU) is the 'brains' of a computer - the area where all processes are executed. Therefore by tying up vital resources, viruses can cause your computer to work significantly slower than normal. Although it can take around 6 months for an unidentified virus to completely shut a computer down, the effects are normally visible from around 3 weeks of infection. The first signs can often be web pages loading slowly but over time, you may find applications such as word processors responding more slowly.

You can check your CPU usage in task manager - if it is of a high or full percentage, you should look at the individual processes that are taking up the most resources. If there is a file name which you do not recognise, this could be a cause for concern. You may also start to notice web pages or browsers start to crash altogether or you are directed to a new homepage.

2) The curse of the start-up

That painful frustration when your computer takes so long to start up that by the time it has you've forgotten why you even turned it on in the first place.There can be a number of reasons that a computer takes its time to load as often a number of applications are programmed to automatically load on start up of your computer. However if you do not have any applications set to load, the slothery may be a sign that the harmful malware starting up.

In order to check the applications set to start up automatically, run Start > Run > "Msconfig">Startup - if you notice any applications listed which you did not configure to start up, you should investigate these further. However it may not be wise to make any rash delete until you are certain as they could just be a third party application working on behalf of a trusted system.

3) Access denied

In order to corrupt your computer system to their fullest ability, viruses often implement processes in order to disable certain functions to stop you being able to control your system. This makes it extremely difficult for people to attempt to resurrect the effects of the virus when they start to realise something is not right.

Often the first thing that may become inaccessible is your Task Manager. Viruses often do this to try and make it difficult for users to identify and stop the running process. A number of important files and folders may also be prevented from your access - often viruses make these read-only or hidden so you can not easily access or change them. You should look out for any unidentifiable files ending in '.exe' and consider their origin.

Windows Registry Editor often also becomes affected by the virus. This is the 'headquarters' of your computer system and the place that application and operating system preferences are controlled. This is a fundamental tool for the administration of your computer as operations like 'System Restore' which allows you to revive your computer system to previous points are carried out from here. Viruses often deactivate the Windows Registry Editor to prevent this.

If you suddenly become unable to access areas of your computer system that you previously had access to, you could potentially have contracted a virus.

If you are experiencing one or more of the listed symptoms...

You should seek professional help immediately - do not leave it too late as often the sooner a virus is detected, the better it can be for your computer. This does not necessarily mean that your computer has a virus but a full health check could help to diagnose the problem.

If you are not experiencing any of the symptoms...

You should ensure that you have a good active anti-virus package which is kept regularly updated. These are almost always significantly cheaper to buy than the cost of fixing a computer which has been affected by a virus. If your computer does contract a virus, you could lose everything including photographs and files which may be irreplaceable.

Businesses should be especially vigilant about anti-virus protection as a virus may not only corrupt one computer but all computers on your networking putting your important files at risk. An IT Support company will be able to provide you with full anti-virus guidance and support and a regularly updated and well-maintained system to protect your company's technology.

- John T. Hughes writes for Competent Solutions, a full-service Bristol IT Solutions company offering expert support and an extensive range of technology services including Cloud IT to help your business move forward.


View the original article here

Saturday, June 23, 2012

My Dell Desktop Has a Virus, How Do I Wipe It Clean

Virus is a dreadful word not just for you but for every computer user who spends a lot of time working online for office or personal use. So, it is natural for your Dell computer to come face to face with a virus or malware when you browse the internet, download or share a file, or shop online among other things. So, if you suspect a virus activity in your Dell computer, you should tend to it immediately. Here is a free virus removal guide for your Dell computer. it discusses how to wipe clean a computer when it encounters a virus.

Step 1

A virus, other than integrating itself with your files\folders or programs, runs its process (.exe) in Windows Task Manager. So, you must first start by ending the virus process in Task Manager. To open the utility, right-click anywhere on the taskbar (the horizontal bar on your Dell computer) and select Task Manager. If you are unable to access Task Manager or any application on your computer due to virus infection, reboot your Dell computer in Safe Mode with Networking.

Step 2

When in the Task Manager window, carefully examine all the running processes with.exe and other such extensions. A virus often masquerades as an.exe or legitimate file extension to prevent itself from being detected. It may also have weird name like abcd123.exe etc. A popular virus example is mslove.exe. Look for such a weird name process running in Task Manager, select it, and click the End Process button.

Step 3

When done, open your antivirus program and update it with the latest virus, malware definitions. Most of the Dell computers come pre-installed with an antivirus software. Yours must have come with McAfee, Trend Micro, or Norton security software. You can spot the security software icon in the system tray. If your Dell PC did not come with one, connect to the internet and run an online virus scan.

Step 4

When finished updating, run a full virus scan and not a custom scan of your Dell computer. Wait while virus scan is underway. When done, prompt your antivirus software to remove the items brought in the scan results. To double check that no virus has left in your Dell computer, connect to the internet and search for an online virus scan utility. You can trust McAfee virus scanner or Trend Micro's HouseCall tool.

Step 5

Download the file and save it to your computer. When done, run the installation file and complete the installation of the tool. When done, run a full virus scan. When done, prompt your antivirus program to delete the infected files found during the scan. Your Dell computer will be free of virus or malware now. If you do not have an antivirus program installed on your Dell computer, download one from the internet.

Step 6

If you want to go for full security suite, you can purchase a paid antivirus program. You will have to complete the buying requirements to buy an antivirus program. Do as prompted. If your needs are limited, you can limit to the free antivirus software. When done, save the file and install your antivirus program. Update it regularly with the latest virus, spyware definitions and patches when these are available.

Step 7

Run full virus scan every month or fortnight to make sure that your Dell computer stays protected from the ever growing online threats. You must also run a custom scan for every external media like disk, flash drive, or thumb drive etc. Customize your web browser settings for maximum protection against the viruses, spyware, malware etc. Contact Dell technical support if you are unable to remove a virus by yourself.

The Author of this article is associated with V tech-squad Inc, V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. if you have any problem while performing the above steps and need technical assistance for Dell support, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201.

About V tech-squad Inc.

V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based online technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. V tech-squad provides support to users for issues with their PCs, Mac's, Tablets, Phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and devices such as MP3 players, Printers, Scanners, Fax, Wireless networking gear, Netflix, Roku boxes and TVs. With an obsessive focus on quality and building technical expertise, V tech-squad continues to maintain an issue resolution rate of more than 90%. V tech-squad's credibility has been tested by more than 10,000 customers. Currently V tech-squad provides support services to consumers and small businesses in United States. For more information on V tech-squad, Inc. visit vtechsquad.com.


View the original article here

Friday, June 22, 2012

How Can You Find Out If Someone Is Hacking Your Computer?

Many of you become innocent victims of hackers who break in your computers and steal all they can from the credit card details, bank information, emails, passwords, to professional documents among other critical things. You cannot really avoid hackers, their viruses and malware software when you are online but yes you can certainly avoid being a victim. This free virus removal support guide discusses how you can find out if someone is hacking your computer.

Step 1

When you reboot your computer, it reboots twice instead of once. It happens because the hacker has to boot his server in order to keep accessing your Windows or Mac computer. Thus, your computer quickly reboots after you reboot it and the startup screen appears twice. Another symptom of being hacked or virus-infected is when your computer reboots or shuts down on its own time and again. It means it doesn't seek for your mouse or keyboard prompts to be shut down or restarted. When you attempt to access a program on your computer, you are not able to do it. You cannot access Task Manager, the Start menu or anything on your computer.

Step 2

When you open your web browser, some other website loads up but not your regular home page. When you search for something in your search engine, you are being redirected to websites that you have never browsed or even heard of. These can be adult or malicious websites prompting you to download adult materials or fake virus removal tools. If your web browser has a new toolbar, add-in, or plug-in that you did not install, it indicates that your browser and computer has been hacked. You do not see your usually plug-ins, add-ins, or toolbars when the browser is hacked. Besides, if your internet speed is really slow, it indicates your computer has a virus.

Step 3

If your CD- or DVD-ROM drive opens up without your action. Your computer has missing icons like Network Places, antivirus, or Outlook etc. However, you see new programs like virus removal tool (that you didn't even download), music file etc. showing up on your desktop. If you see that your computer clock shows a different date & time, time zone settings, and daylight savings etc. (unless you have changed them), it has a stubborn, dangerous malware.

Step 4

If you have a firewall program like ZoneAlarm installed on your computer, it can tell you if someone has tried hacking it. Open ZoneAlarm or the firewall program you have and check if it has logged any malicious program entry that was attempting a server setup on your computer. If your firewall or antivirus program takes forever to scan your computer, it indicates that it has been compromised. If your antivirus icon is missing from your computer and it does not even open once you have found it, it has a virus that has disabled it to prevent itself from being removed.

Step 5

If you run a virus scan from your antivirus software, it shows multiple infected files and programs that you never even downloaded to your computer. All of a sudden you have multiple files with weird names like mslove.exe, abcd1234.exe, or giaehi45.jpg etc. in your computer. all of a sudden your computer starts taking forever to open a small program like Run or Command Prompt etc. The CPU usage shows 100% (maximum) for a small process like explorer.exe.

Step 6

When your friends tell you about the new links or posts you have shared (that you have never actually shared) on your Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter profile. When your friends or relatives receive bogus emails containing adult or objectionable materials, link etc. from your email address. When your credit card or online banking does not accept your password despite that you have it correctly and have not changed it in the recent past.

The Author of this article is associated with V tech-squad Inc, V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. if you have any problem while performing the above steps and need technical assistance for online virus removal, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201.

About V tech-squad Inc.

V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based online technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. V tech-squad provides support to users for issues with their PCs, Mac's, Tablets, Phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and devices such as MP3 players, Printers, Scanners, Fax, Wireless networking gear, Netflix, Roku boxes and TVs. With an obsessive focus on quality and building technical expertise, V tech-squad continues to maintain an issue resolution rate of more than 90%. V tech-squad's credibility has been tested by more than 10,000 customers. Currently V tech-squad provides support services to consumers and small businesses in United States. For more information on V tech-squad, Inc. visit vtechsquad.com.


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No You Can't Have the Global Internet - Make Your Own In-Country Internet Yourselves

Personally, it is hard for me to trust the government when it comes to the Internet. Our government is one of the greatest in the world, but it does get a little paranoid at times, and when it comes to personal data online, it's hard to trust a government which doesn't trust its own people, and is busy archiving everything online. I have an even bigger problem when I see that multiple governments are now sharing information.

Apparently, they are hoping to root out terrorists, tax cheats, and catch money launderers, oh and the occasional drug cartel money flows. Yes, I suppose they might be able to catch a few, especially the stupid ones, but that only makes the smart criminals stronger, having less competition. Then there is the big issue of copyright infringements, and supposedly we have to look at what everybody has on their personal computer to prevent anyone from running off copies of e-books, movies, videos, or music for all of those industries.

Of course, there are other serious issues which should be quite troubling - if we make holes in all the software to let our government in obviously, all the other governments will want into our computers as well. And then there's the biggest wannabe government of all, the government of governments, which is trying to rule the world. Now the United Nations wants access to everything, and they want to control and run the Internet. Personally, I have a real problem with that because I judge any organization by the company it keeps.

There was an interesting piece written on SlashDot not long ago titled; "UN Takeover of Internet Must Be Stopped, US Warns," posted by Samzenpus, June 1, 2012 which states;

"Benfrog writes "In a rare show of bipartisan agreement, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle warned of a UN summit in December to takeover of the Internet if proposals from China, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia are adopted. The World Conference on International Telecommunication, hearing proposals including using international mandates to charge certain Web destinations on a "per-click" basis to fund the build-out of broadband infrastructure across the globe' and allowing 'governments to monitor & restrict content, impose costs on international data."

You see, I'm not sure I want the Russian government having access to my personal data or computer. I'm pretty certain I don't want the cyber hackers from China sifting through my information and conveniently borrowing any proprietary information that they think they might want. Lastly, if we give up control of the Internet to the United Nations, that is one step removed from our own government, the one that we only trust on even days of the week. Are you beginning to see my argument here? Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Internet Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/


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Thursday, June 21, 2012

IT Security Topics Of Importance and Interest - Scary Stuff Indeed

Not long ago, there was an interesting article in Smithsonian Magazine "Cassandra Syndrome" in the April 2012 issue. No it was nothing you hadn't heard before, but it did shed some philosophical light on a very serious topic - cyberwar, privacy, computer viruses, and proprietary information loss amongst other things. Indeed, all leaks in the dam or great wall seems to lead to our largest Asian trading partner. Okay so let's talk.

The other day, I was talking to an IT professional, and I asked a simple question; "Do you agree that one of the biggest challenges right now is the lackadaisical attitude of employees downloading "apps" for their personal tech devices which they also use to log into the corporate IT system? Judging by the news and the uptick of hacking attacks as Apple for instance was allowing 1000s of new apps to be loaded into their catalog daily - well that seemed to be too much for coincidence.

At a time when we are being ripped off blind by Chinese corporate espionage, Russian Spies, Israeli spies, etc, etc, it would seem that corporations, especially high-tech, or those with proprietary process knowledge in manufacturing, or substantial R&D investment would be wiser. Again, lots of finger pointing there, thus, I recommend that you read that article cited above, I am not saying anything I haven't read about in the mainstream media, none of this is secret, it's all a reality in the present period.

Now then, with this all known, shouldn't the IT system have layered barriers for those accessing through personal tech devices not issued by the company, and one-time temporary authentication passes with a quick scan for malware prior to access. And how can the Cloud guarantee safety if the users from the corporation are so loose with their rules? And lastly, with the advent of quantum'esque computing how can anything really be all that safe moving forward.

Further, the way I see it, well it gets rather serious for instance when the USAF decides that iPads are okay for logistics pilots in the cockpit as navigational aids, I mean what other apps also are loaded on those iPads? One landing and use at a foreign airport with unsecured internet access, other than on the secured military servers and the device has been compromised. If those devices are giving away operational intelligence, locations, flights, times, etc. that's uncool.

There's just too much information available to keep secrets or keep our team safe these days - meaning the other option is to overload the system with so much information (misdirection) that it becomes impossible to filter out the reality - still, too much misdirection all at once, that just raises eyebrows on the "chatter scale" thus, tipping off that something is up, and unfortunately thus, when it really matters to keep things mellow.

The article I mentioned does have an interesting quote in it; "America's counter terrorism Chief Richard Clarke says that the cyber war has already begun," and even suggest that; we might be losing. Well stated, I concur. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Internet Safety Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/


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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Corporate IT and Employees Using Their Own Mobile Devices - The Risk Is Real

The other day, I was discussing the challenges of all the 1000s of mobile devices out there and how all of these devices were being used by employees to access their company's computer system. That's a scary proposition, and it's serious. Okay so, let's talk.

Not long ago, MIT Technology Review Blog had an interesting post about how IBM was dealing with all these devices, and they obviously cannot afford to be infiltrated, and regardless of the reality that IBM sees this at as an issue, which it is most definitely, it's not just the Fortune 100, 500, 1000, but all the suppliers, little companies, service vendors - lose lips sink ships right? So, what's the solution - dual IT systems, rapid virus scan checks, or perhaps some new strategy?

Is there another way to run a bare bones unconnected set of servers for basic personal tech device common uses, still with quick scan features prior to access (quick as in 10-20 seconds max) after any changes to the apps on the device - then more important data on a need-to-know basis for execs, while in secure locations, with special devices given out from the company with full security? I asked my acquaintance; "How does your company do this?" Obviously, my acquaintance is not a liberty to say, and even if he did, I probably wouldn't put it into an article here.

Still, is there a service or website which can scan a device or software of similar nature for companies? Is such a thing available on the Oracle or SAP platforms and enterprise software? This is serious business.

Is there a way to divert hackers into traps, and see what files they attempt to access, while trying to track them, then those trying to get in via the personal tech malware apps are caught or all their tricks are learned in the process, not that we don't know as so many have switched sides now, but the information flow is a war-time scenario all to its own - aka they design a new technique or weapon to get in, we build better defense, which they exploit, which we reinforce and so on, never ending game - but who is winning depends on what day it is.

Suffice it to say that most consumers are not very careful with their own computers, and these same folks have mobile devices with weak passwords, and often use open access WiFi systems, or unsecured lines to access company IT systems, so, well, "Ah, Houston, we have a problem." Until, this is fixed at all companies, no one is safe - not our companies, government, people, military, or infrastructure - our very way of life depends on solving these problems and meeting these challenges head on. Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Internet Security. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/


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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

How to Remove DNS Changer

DNS Changer is a malicious program that re-addresses your search results in Search Engines to some websites that can contain viruses. This program steals your personal data. The threat has other names such as rootrkit TDSS, zlob dns changer, Troj/Rustok-N, UACd.sys Trojan.

It is possible to detect the presence of DNS Changer on your computer. There are several signs of this infection, for example your Internet Connection slows down, the restore function of your OS is blocked, you also can see different pop-ups on some Web-sites, even on secure ones. You can notice that "msconfig" utility is not available on your computer because of the DNS Changer's impact. The update of your antivirus program can also be blocked as well as antispyware programs or any other security programs. No matter what browser you use, the influence of DNS Changer can be noticed. So, to solve all these terrible problems you should remove DNS Changer from your computer. Sometimes it is not an easy thing to do, but if follow our instructions carefully, you will get rid of this infection.

In order to remove DNS Changer you can use HijackThis. It is a very useful security program that can save you from any virus. First you should download HijackThis and install it on your computer, then run the program and click on the Scan button. After the scanning process you will find the following lines in the HijackThis window. Check their check-boxes.

O17 - HKLMSystemCCSServicesTcpip..{1F5A3FA3-74FB-41DD-AD5B-F8C6C8B3D0EC}: NameServer = 85.255.116.86,85.255.112.157

O17 - HKLMSystemCCSServicesTcpip..{2B7C04D2-0898-43A3-B374-B7AFA580EA23}: NameServer = 93.188.163.113,93.188.161.83

After that you should click on the Fix Checked button. On the completion of this step all your problems will be solved and DNS Changer will be removed. If the previous method was not appropriate for your case and you want to use another one, then try to remove DNS Changer with the help of TDSSKiller. You should download TDSSKiller, unzip it if necessary and open its folder. Then run the TDSSKiller program, it will find the problem on your computer and will remove the virus.

But if this method seems very hard to you, then follow the instructions bellow:

Download any antivirus program, for example, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, Spyware Doctor or any special removal tool, we advise you Free DNSChanger Removal Tool from Security Stronghold.Install it on your computer and update it (the removal tool does not need to be updated).Then run the Full Scan and the antivirus will find your problem.

For Macintosh use Special removal tool - DNSChanger Removal Tool for Mac (it can be found on CNET):

Start DNSChanger Removal Tool, click the Scan button to allow the program check your files. DNS Changer Removal Tool will alert you if the infection is detected. When detected, DNSChanger Removal Tool will give you the opportunity to remove it. After detecting and removing the problem, you will need to restart your computer to flush out the bad DNS entries added by the threat.

Security Stronghold is a member of Intel Software Partner Program since May, 2009 and Microsoft Partner Network since November, 2011. I am the owner of SecurityStronghold.com and writing articles is my hobby. Learn about computer security from the trusted source - http://www.securitystronghold.com/


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Monday, June 18, 2012

Building a Logic Bomb Bypass System for Our Artificial Intelligent Infrastructure Systems

Over the last year, our think tank has been reviewing the Stuxnet computer worm. Indeed, we've also been reviewing this latest computer virus which is said to be gathering information throughout the Middle East, and running rampant on their computer systems. What happens when a similar computer virus or computer worm is able to infiltrate our infrastructure computer systems here the United States? Did we let the cat out of the bag, did someone else, and how on earth are we going to get that genie back in the bottle? Okay so, let's talk about this for second shall we?

And let's go ahead and spin this topic a bit, and talk about logic bombs, and other challenges that are artificial intelligence systems will have to deal with in the future. Perhaps, they may recognize when there is a problem, and reprogram themselves to bypass their instructions. If they hit a logic bomb, there may be a bypass system, and the artificial intelligent infrastructure computer software will begin to rewrite some of its code from scratch. Yes, to do this, it will have to be thinking machine, or advanced artificial intelligence, but much of the software running these complex systems for instance with our energy grid, or other major infrastructure systems - are using the state-of-the-art AI.

In the human mind there seems to be bypasses that allow for creativity rather than the information flowing down the leafy skeleton of the brain's neural pathways. Maybe such a system should borrow this trick from the organic natural intelligence that all human brains have to solve this problem - bypassing all the logic gates opening and closing due to a virus or computer worm which is set everything into a giant loop. Is it possible to outsmart such a complex computer worm?

With a little creativity, there is no problem that cannot be solved, and maybe the solution is so simple its right under our noses, but we haven't stepped back long enough to philosophically consider the rationale or potential strategies available to us. There is no reason the system cannot jump, skip, or bypass a problem area. If an insect eats part of a leaf, the leaf is still able to get nutrients around the problem area and survive, just as stroke victims are able to reprogram their brain to get to information by going a different way, or using different associations to access their memory.

Is it as simple as I am explain it? No, it's a complex problem, but all complexity starts from simplicity, so it is just a matter of starting out with the right fundamentals before attacking the problem, or becoming overwhelmed with the challenge that has presented itself. Perhaps, it's time to stop and think. Maybe everyone is looking in the wrong direction. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Internet Security Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/


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Sunday, June 17, 2012

Cyberattacks - A Major Threat in Modern Times

Cyberattacks have become a big concern for companies, and the US and foreign governments, especially in the last decade.

Companies store secrets on their computers that are accessible via the internet. Many companies and even governments are at risk, and not prepared for an attack.

Countries/individuals use cyberattacks to get trade secrets, and gain an economic advantage, as well as to get defense/military secrets.

Stories about attacks may only make headlines for a brief time, and/or information may only appear in business and industry websites/magazines.

However, this is something everyone should be aware of.

A Brief History of Attacks:

In 2007 there was an attack on Estonian (Estonia is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe) government and banking websites.

In August of 2008 there were cyberattacks on Georgian government websites (Georgia is in Europe - east of the Black Sea and south of Russia).

In November 2008 a virus attacked a US military computer network, believed to have come from Russia.

In June 2009 the "stuxnet" virus started sabotaging Iran's nuclear program.

More Recent Attacks:

On May 21, 2011 Lockheed Martin, which is the largest U.S. government contractor, and RSA Security, said there was a hacker attack on it's computer networks.

RSA Security is a branch of EMC Corp. and supplies "electronic access tokens" to corporate users and government officials. Some clients include Lockhead Martin, Northwest Bancshares, and Wells Fargo.

RSA said the May 21 cyberattack was linked to a March attack on RSA's database.

Lockhead said the attack was "significant and tenacious", but a White House spokesman said the damage was "fairly minimal"!

There have also been attacks against other large corporations such as Northrop-Grumman, Sony, Google, Visa, and Mastercard.

In April 2011, Sony PlayStation Network accountholders information was stolen.

Also in April 2011, Gmail accounts of top government officials were hacked.

Many investigators think the attacks come from China - possibly from a vocational school run by the People's Liberation Army.

On October 13, 2011 the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) released a document that says public companies must disclose cyberattacks and describe the intellectual property stolen by the hackers.

In late January 2012, The FBI director Robert Mueller said that cyberattacks are becoming a top terror threat.

James Clapper, director of national intelligence for the United States, says that China, Russia, and even Iran have been responsible for intrusions into computer networks.

He said Iran claimed it brought down an American drone, by hacking into the plane's guidance systems.

A New Modern Concern:

Today most of us are now dependent on computers and digital networks for electricity, banking, and many other items.

If power plants are disrupted, or bank accounts, ATM networks, etc, are hacked into, it can affect thousands of people and cost millions of dollars.

Not to mention railroads, nuclear plants and other areas.

So this is something that we should certainly all be aware of, and take whatever security measures we can to counteract.


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Saturday, June 16, 2012

The SMART HDD Infection - How You Got It and What It Is

Over the years, the nefarious characters responsible for viruses, spyware and other forms of Malware have truly honed their tactics. In the last year we have seen a particularly sharp rise in professional looking malware. These are dangerous malware applications that purport to do one thing, when in fact their entire goal is something else. Take for example the issue with SMART HDD malware.

In short SMART HDD is a scam. It is a rogue program for Microsoft windows that attempts to confuse computer users into thinking that it is the similarly named S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) hardware monitoring system. It interacts with users by appearing as a popup stating that the user's drive is failing. This particular form of Malware would be classified as Scareware. Its purpose is to scare the user that there is a major danger to their file integrity. It does this by ruining your settings and personalized desktop, moving and hiding key files from access, and reporting several alarming looking disk integrity scans and failures. Effectively making so that when the user interacts with their computer the only thing that they encounter is a start bar with virtually nothing in it and file folders that no longer have any files in them, along with constantly replicating error messages. Then the user will begin to see numerous SMART HDD error screens pop up that highlight scan errors, and other bogus and fabricated reports.

This is a variant of many of the FakeAV software methodologies. It attempts to prevent the user from accessing and applications and will try to disable any anti-virus software present on the machine. The end game of the developers is to scare the user into believing that their file structure has been so compromised that they must purchase/activate a copy of Smart HDD so that it can restore system integrity. In the event that someone does purchase the software - the software will simply restore the moved and hidden folders and appear to have done its job. The reality of what has happened though is that the user has given all of their sensitive credit card information to a criminal enterprise and along with being at risk for future credit card fraud, they have spent a great deal of money and not removed the infection that caused the problem in the first place. One that will most certainly re-appear in the future, and potentially provide a backdoor for future attacks on the system.

There are a few ways that computers can become infected with the SMART HDD scareware.

1) You went to an unsafe site, and because of vulnerabilities, it was automatically installed on your machine

2) You used an unsafe "scan online" scam that installed the software.

3) Your system has vulnerabilities because it is not up to date on all patches and windows updates.

4) You don't have Malwarebytes (this is by far the most recommended tool for protecting your machine from Malware and scareware. We recommend it at least 2-3 times per week. It is affordable and worth every cent.

5) You opened an infected attachment.

Remaining protected from Malware can be difficult without the right tools. It is also important to delineate that a Virus and Malware are very different and many Anti-virus tools are not able to identify Malware such as SMART HDD. We recommend that you use a tool like Malwarebytes. It has a free edition for cleaning and removal of malware, and its Pro edition provides active protection from infections. Of all the anti malware software that we have evaluated over the years Malwarebytes is hands down the absolute best.

If you need information on how to remove the SMART HDD infection, Go to our friends over at bleepingcomputer.com. They offer a free step by step guide and links to all the tools you will need to safely clean your computer. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-smart-hdd

AM Data Service is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner providing reliable, cost effective information technology, network implementation and computer support services to businesses of all sizes in Michigan and Central Florida. For more information on how AM Data can help your organization please visit us at: http://www.amdataservice.com/contact-form.html


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Friday, June 15, 2012

Twitter Passwords And Logins Exposed And How Future Breaches Can Be Prevented

It was announced recently that Twitter was hacked, and over fifty-five thousand Twitter usernames and passwords were leaked and posted publicly on the web for anyone to ascertain. Information from users appeared on Pastebin, a service utilized by hackers to brag about their achievements, however the social network acknowledged that several of those profiles were spam bots and duplicates. If you're on Twitter, currently, it would be a sensible time to log-in and alter your password.

Twitter spokesman Robert Weeks explained, "We are currently looking into the situation. In the meantime, we have pushed out password resets to accounts that may have been affected." Twitter is investigating the security breach to seek out the source of the attack. Twitter is giving little weight to the incident stating that the accounts and passwords includes some twenty thousand duplicates, spam accounts that are suspended, and login credentials that don't be associated with one another (passwords and logins don't match).

The social network claims to possess over a hundred and forty million active users that the security breach would have affected regarding.02% of its user base. Still, this is a reality check for Twitter as a result of the security breach might have been far more widespread and will have tarnished the company's name. The question that Twitter should be asking themselves who would have leaked the confidential account info and why? The Pastebin poster still remains anonymous and no group is stepping forward to take credit for the attack, however that has yet to be concluded.

In 2009, Twitter was compromised twice and hackers had complete management over the social network. Two years ago, Twitter came to a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over the hacking due to client privacy and data being in danger. A part of the FTC settlement includes twice a year security audits, regular data security audits for ten years, avoiding creating any misleading statements regarding the effectiveness of their security or privacy practices for twenty years, and a passionate person for security to be on payroll at twitter to be in charge of and coordinate its data security and privacy issues. The FTC settlement details are often seen at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2011/03/twitter.shtm. The group of social networks agreed to place "reasonable safeguards" to mitigate any data security risks it identifies and to store date securely.

Although Twitter had added the majority of the required security enhancements by the time the FTC settlement was announced in two years ago, they might have done a lot more to stop the present attack and future attacks. Even with employees dedicated to boost security and be in control of data security, they still got compromised. If the employees at the social website were to include new technology like 2 factor authentication, the security breach may not have occurred. For example, two-factor authentication employing a mobile device might have protected their users and therefore the website from being accessed by authenticating users via their mobile devices when logging in. This is technology that Google currently embraces and what several major banks use to authenticate their users logging in to their services. It's an efficient and value effective way to implement an out-of-band authentication technique whereas employing a device that almost all users invariably possess and own a mobile phone.

To implement two-factor authentication, Twitter would simply need users to opt-in to using their mobile phone as a security device and comply with receiving a one-time password (OTP) through SMS on their mobile devices. When a user logins their credentials on Twitter, an OTP is distributed through an out-of-band network (their mobile carrier) and enters the password onto the location that authenticates them. It's economical and effective by authenticating their users as a result of most of the general public have mobile phones on them in the least times, and it needs no further hardware or tokens to deploy on Twitter's finish. Two-factor authentication is a actually effective layered security answer that Twitter ought to be using to safeguard their users and perhaps this current attack can get them to rethink their security measures in place. The FTC has extended the social network's security once which wasn't enough, however perhaps if they implement a two-factor authentication solution they be less vulnerable to additional security breaches.

David is an information security specialist who believes remote access security is gained through strong authentication. That is why he provides info to healthcare professionals about two factor authentication and one time password.


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How to Protect Your Business Website From Malware Attacks

Virus attacks have ended up making your online experience a time consuming affair. So if your primary concern is the growth of your e-commerce business, install the best malware protection software. According to sources, the business website of a 25 year old individual landed up being blacklisted and got blogged online due to a powerful malware attack. The businessman took some prominent snapshots of a few locals at a classy fundraiser, but as attendees went online to look for their photos, they were given a security warning by their internet browser of his site online.

Though it was a pretty embarrassing episode, it can be stated as an unfortunate timing since owner had already invested in the best antivirus software download. He didn't realize the importance of installing malware removal software to keep his website safe and secure. Keep in mind that ability to hack computers has been minimized by automatic operating system updates and powerful antivirus programs, hackers are therefore now targeting small online firms.

Once a website gets infected it can ruin your reputation, company and its customers, which makes it imperative that you protect your business and clean up the attacks already made. Google blacklists about 6,000 malware infected sites each day, so in case your site gets infected your visitors too can be infectious without proper installation of malware removal software. Malwares can get on your business site using various avenues that include weak passwords that can be easily decoded and help visit already infected sites. A typical website owner has indeed no idea that his business site has already been infected of vicious programs. And this can lead to stripping customers of banking and personal data, redirect visitors to pornography sites.

Read on to protect your website from malware attacks online::

1. Ensure your antivirus plus program is updated and checks attacks of any malicious objects online.
2. Install proper security patches and antivirus program as they help keep safety on your system and aids in keeping your system up-to-date.
3. Maintain proper time on the best virus safety program by choosing the best program to maintain safety on your site.
4. Create a better password that can help aid greatly in protecting files and folders on your system.

Keep in mind that small businesses are vulnerable to malicious attacks online. Install a dynamic antispyware program that and catch any malevolent software or illicit file that can sneak your system beyond limits.

Register with Immunet to get the best malware removal software today. Immunet antimalware software protects your system from all internet threats. Visit Immunet.com and download best malware protection absolutely free & safely.


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Thursday, June 14, 2012

Runtime Errors Caused by Viruses

A runtime error happens when there is a problem during or after the execution of a program in a computer. A common cause of this kind of error is problem with the system registry. More often than not, a virus or any malicious file can cause a runtime error. It can also cause your computer to develop odd quirks or exhibit problems that weren't there before. A free antivirus software that offers basic protection can usually detect this kind of malicious infection.

It is quite easy for computers to be attacked by viruses despite the steps we take for protection. Even the most hard core computer users are open to viruses. Once connected to the Internet or to a network, your computer is vulnerable to attacks. Checking an email, browsing, and file-sharing can put your computer in danger.

A virus can affect a computer as soon as it is inside it. The worst kind of attack for many of us is one that can steal personal information. One such virus is known as the SubSeven. Fortunately, this kind of infection is associated with a specific warning, runtime error code 216.

It is important to recognize the signs of threats and infections on our computers. We can do the necessary steps right away to prevent further risks and damages. The hypinit32.exe virus, for example, can give a Runtime Error 21 and a few other symptoms. Your computer may freeze, may be able to access the internet, update and download programs.

A decent free antivirus can deal with this kind of problem. But there are runtime errors which are serious enough to require more attention. The extent of infection may also need a little more exertion from you. You may need to locate the specific malicious file and the worst case scenario may require you to reinstall the operating system.

Fortunately, there is a wide variety of free antivirus software to choose from. Information on how to remove specific problems can also be found online.

Different security companies now offer free versions of the antivirus software they have. A free antivirus software may not have the extensive features that full version has, but it does provide basic protection. Companies like Trend Micro, AVG, Avira and Avast have decent free versions of their security software. It is only important to recognize the different signs that can tell you whether or not your machine is infected by a virus.


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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

How to Tell If Viruses Are Attacking Your Computer

When plagued by virus attacks, your PC has the tendency to malfunction and show negative responses. Every PC user needs to deal every day with this attack known as a virus. The computer virus, considered as a malicious program when it deliberately invades a computer, can cause damage among the programs including the computer operations. PC users are regularly advised to utilize free antivirus removal software to keep them constantly virus protected.

Hence, it is so important to understand the several virus signs and symptoms so that whenever one gets a virus attack, he can look for solutions and discard the PC virus before his online identity or system gets ruined.

While dealing with your network, you may discover a lot of the telltale signs to help you identify viruses thereby helping you install a free antivirus removal program. Some signs are outlined below:

• Starting Windows takes a lot of time despite the fact that there are no changes made or installed and no software or program removed.

• Automatically starting Windows is not possible because some system or application files are not present. Moreover, an error note is received every time the missing data files are searched for.

• The PC functions at a slower rate and it needs a longer time to begin any PC application.

• There are times when even if the PC begins booting, it stops functioning right before the task toolbar and the desktop display icon appear.

• The PC and/or Windows automatically and spontaneously restart.

• New programs are incorrectly installed.

• Antivirus program will show or send you alerts on virus detection.

• An antivirus program is aborted for no valid reason and, additionally, restarting the antivirus is impossible.

• Installing the antivirus program is not permitted or the previously installed antivirus program download cannot perform its roles.

• Despite having a substantial amount of RAM, your PC will display empty memory error signals.

• While you are utilizing Microsoft Office tools, your PC stops answering and the computer applications do not function properly.

• You can view the distorted task bars and menus and you can not commence the Windows Task Manager.

• You will be able to see longer file extensions on a recently viewed file attachment, such as:.vbs,.exe,.jpg, or.gif.

• You can hear strange noise or sudden playing of video and music from the audio speakers.

Then, if ever you have noticed any of the given signs, your PC is most likely infected with viruses. You have to combat these viruses to guarantee your secured and safe web reputation.

Furthermore, you will discover several available online businesses which can give you an impressive solution to keep your PC safe by getting for yourself the most notable antivirus program. Surf on a few popular search engines to look for the most useful free antivirus program solution for your PC.


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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Knowing How to Maintain Your Computer

We need to check our personal computer for maintenance at some point or another. Computer maintenance tasks can be performed by any novice user though most of the time it is best to let a professional handle them. Maintenance has to be done periodically. It can involve using simple tools on the computer like disk cleanup, defragmenter, and installing the best antivirus for protection against threats. Hardware maintenance, on the other hand, is a little complicated because it requires opening the CPU case. For example, a simple problem of dust build-up can wreak havoc on the unit if not checked early. It prevents proper ventilation, decreases the efficiency of operation and can even damage computer components permanently.

Companies that offer repair and maintenance calculate costs differently. Costs also depend on the specific needs of a unit. Some companies charge a service fee by the hour. Normally, the service fee is about $75 an hour and there is an additional charge for every fifteen minutes beyond that. Others collect a fixed amount of $100 regardless of the number of hours it takes to finish the repair or maintenance. There are also companies that try to lure potential customers by offering discounts.

Computer maintenance ranges from simple tasks of running disk clean-ups or installing updates on the best antivirus program to buying and installing software and component upgrades. Depending on the needs, a computer user may eventually decide to increase the unit's memory, add more hard disk space, replace an old video card or upgrade to the latest processor. These things usually take less than an hour or two and only require minimal fees if taken to a professional service.

Some computer repairs, on the other hand, can rack up charges of up to $300 depending on how serious the problem is. Extensive system upgrade sometimes requires re-installation of the unit's operating system. Performance complaints such as system crashes, network connectivity and problems with the peripherals (printers, audio, and video) often require professional help. If the computer has a severe virus infection, even the best antivirus program may not be enough and a complete reformat of the unit is needed. These problems can take from about an hour to half a day to be resolved. Computer repair and maintenance, however, should not be as expensive as it sounds. Save money by arming yourself with simple knowledge on troubleshooting. Visit this site to learn more.


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Monday, June 11, 2012

Computer Viruses: What Are They?

Computer Viruses are the Definition of trouble

All over the world, computers and other devices that are connected to the internet are at risk of becoming infected by a computer virus. But what is a computer virus, anyways? Like with humans, a virus can make your computer "sick", and can be spread from computer to computer. A computer virus is described as a program that infiltrates your computer's defenses, disrupting normal computer functions, and can even delete programs, files, and can even wipe your hard drive clean. Some viruses simply make things frustrating, and are intended as pranks. Others, though, have a more destructive purpose, and can make things very difficult, and can even wind up costing you money for repairs.

Different Types of Viruses

Today, there are several different types of viruses. Most of them infect your computer through attachments in emails, or by clicking on popup ads, or even simply visiting a website. Some viruses are harmful, and others malicious, but not a real threat, as stated previously. Sometimes, all that happens is that you get spyware dumped in to your system. Every week, a new, stronger virus is being created, making antivirus companies stay on their toes. But what are the different types of viruses out there?

• Trojan Viruses - This type of virus is probably the kind that is most often encountered. They lie in wait on websites, popup ads, and emails, and don't make themselves out to be threats. Some get caught right away by antivirus software, and are easily taken care of. Others, though, can be a bit sneakier. Trojans can be disguised to look like a legitimate file. But the second you open that file, you've infected your computer. Some Trojans are destructive, and others dump spyware in to your system.

• Worm Viruses - A worm is a very serious risk to your computer, and others. Worms are defined as a sub-class of viruses, and can spread without any interaction from users. When a worm infects your system, it uses file and information transfers to carry itself in to your system. Email is the preferred choice of travel, but really, you can pick them up just about anywhere, at any time, and they don't always make themselves known to your antivirus. The most dangerous part about a worm is that it can make replications of itself, and if it is in your email, it will infect every single person you have listed as email contacts. They are destructive, and can wipe out hard drives.

• Blended Threats - These are probably the most sophisticated form of a virus attack. Blended threats combine some of the worst attributes of malware, viruses, worms, and Trojans in to a single, but very serious threat. They aren't encountered very often, but when they are, watch out. They use vulnerabilities within your system to infiltrate, infect, and spread. They are also capable of spreading to other computers, like a worm does. But they don't attack just one part of your computer. In fact, they are capable of launching multiple attacks to.exe files, HTML files, and so on all at the same time.

Computer Virus Removal and Future Protection

Now, this should be obvious to most. The best way to remove viruses and protect your computer is by investing in antivirus software. Sure, you can download some antivirus programs for free, but they don't offer the full protection plan like the programs you purchase. Depending on what you do while on the internet will determine what kind of antivirus program you need. If you just play games, and surf the web for leisure, then you don't need anything overly fancy. But if you run your business on the web, like web designing and other such occupations, then you might want to spend a little extra and get the more advanced programs. Of course, these are just opinions and suggestions. In the end, it's personal preference on what you get.


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Sunday, June 10, 2012

The Secret of Online Security Protection

People these days are faced with a wide variety of choices when it comes to protection from viruses and other online threats. There are companies that have developed 100% free antivirus programs that offer basic protection, while some say they provide Internet security and protection from other threats like malware and spyware.

Choosing an antivirus software can be pretty daunting for most ordinary computer users. Many of them don't even know what kind of security they need and tend to get creative in choosing a program over another. Some people are thrown off by complicated software interface and end up settling with a user-friendly but ineffective free antivirus program. Some are fooled into thinking that the expensive programs are the most effective and end up paying too much for a software with features they don't even need.

Many security products allow people to subscribe to protection for a certain period of time. The danger here is that you end up renewing a subscription unknowingly and unwillingly, and shelling out money without intending to.

An antivirus company, for example, may require you to unsubscribe from their service one month before your current subscription expires. While they do send you a reminder of such a rule, they do so very discreetly that you end up ignoring it. Your credit card is then charged with a renewal of the subscription and you are forced to face a bill you are not prepared to pay.

Another problem with these antivirus programs is that their effectiveness in wiping out threats is simply on a decline. Some studies have shown that security software products are about half as effective now as they were the previous year and the percentage continues to decline the following year.

The explanation for this is that viruses and all forms of malware are simply more dangerous today than they were ever before. The people developing these viruses are getting smarter and are learning from their mistakes. Some threats are designed and disguised as simple ads online that fool even the most cautious of users. Other threats are created by well-funded professionals and are designed to bypass any security tool.

One product that can be a solution to your dilemma is using an online free antivirus scanner that has an unprecedented percentage in detecting suspicious files on your infected computer. There are tons of antivirus programs to choose from these days, but this Free Online Computer Virus Scanner is highly recommended.


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Saturday, June 9, 2012

Computers Performing Poorly: Possible Non-Hardware Causes And Solutions

Why did my computer become so slow? is a question almost every regular owner of a desktop computer or a laptop computer will sooner or later ask. It may puzzle you how your computer used to be lightning fast and then suddenly, it is already performing poorly. Some people might relate this to a hardware problem and take their computers to a technician only to be told that nothing is wrong with the hardware.

This is because the slowing down of a computer's performance is more often related to software and/or system problems. And most of the time, such problems can easily be fixed at home using simple and sometimes, dumb-proof solutions.

Crowded hard disk

Just because you have a sweet 500 GB hard disk capacity does not mean you can just fill it up until only a few megabytes or gigabytes are left. The more crowded you hard disk gets, the slower your computer will be. Opening files and retrieving date will be especially slower.

So what should you do? Do these simple steps: 1) empty your recycle bin (deleting a file does not remove it from your storage dude), 2) remove unnecessary files, 3) uninstall programs you do not really use, and 4) considering saving large files you do not regularly use to a separate storage device such as an external hard drive.

Fragmented hard disk

Nope, not even emptying your recycle bin will permanently delete a file. Essentially, you are only removing the recall data (this is why deleted files can be restored using a special software). So the more you perform the save and delete action, the more you are fragmenting your disk. The more fragmented a disk, the slower its performance will be. SO what do you do?

It is simple really. You just need to defragment your disk, a process available to all. So where do you find this function? Well, let us makes things easier and skip the difficult part. Just use the search files and programs function in the windows button and type defrag and you should find the function. You just activate it and it will do everything. The only let down is that it takes hours and hours to finish. Do this only 2 or 3 times a year.

Too many startup programs

These are programs that are set to open and activate upon turning your computer on. One good example is Yahoo Messenger. You can set it up to run and even automatically login the moment you turn on your computer. However, many startup programs are not necessary. Simply go to the settings of these programs and disable their run at startup function.

Virus infection

A computer virus can affect your computer in many adverse ways. One is that it can cripple your computer from running to crawling. This can easily be remedied by installing an up-to-date computer virus. But if the virus has already done a lot of damage, it is advisable that you reformat your computer or run windows repair before installing an antivirus.


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Host Intrusion Detection Systems

Network Security incidents are becoming a bigger and bigger problem for businesses of all sizes. Recent attacks on large entities such as NASA, Lockheed Martin, RSA, and Google have shown us that no company is completely safe. Managers need to figure out ways to mitigate risks and develop contingency plans for the inevitable break in. There are a variety of tools and systems available, but the one we want to talk about today is the Intrusion Detection System, otherwise known as IDS. The intrusion detection system focuses on detecting malicious activity. By using these tools to recognize when an incident has occurred, administrators are able to respond quickly to take corrective measures.

Malicious users or hackers can get access to an organization's internal systems in various ways, including

Software bugs called vulnerabilitiesLapses in administrationLeaving systems to default configuration

An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) complements firewall security. While the firewall protects an organization from malicious attacks from the Internet, the IDS detects attempts on breaking through a firewall. If someone attempts or manages to break through the firewall security, the system springs into action. It alerts a system administrator, functioning much like a burglar alarm.

There are two main types of Intrusion Detection systems: host based IDS and network based IDS. The host-based sensor is software that runs on the host being protected, monitoring system audit and event logs. When any of these files change, the IDS sensor compares the new log entry with attack signatures to see if there is a match. In case a match is found, the sensor notifies the management console. These sensors do not do any packet level analysis. Instead, they monitor system level activities. For example, the system would detect events such as an unauthorized user (not an administrator) changing registry files in a Windows NT system, changing /etc/password or /etc/shadow file in a Unix system, or a user trying to login late at night when only authorized for normal business hours. These indications are useful for detecting suspicious activities that may indicate a compromise.

The host-based sensors monitor these kinds of activities, responding with administrator alerts when anomalies occur. Host based IDS have grown over the years. Some systems checks key system files and executables via checksums at regular intervals for unexpected changes. Other products listen to port based activity and alert administrators when specific ports are accessed. Each system solution has its own advantages and disadvantages. What is important is that managers determine which solution is correct for their companies.

To learn more, please visit Host-Based IDS


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Friday, June 8, 2012

Choosing the Right Virus Protection

The computer crashes all of a sudden. It reboots automatically every few minutes. Your homepage changed and you cannot change it back. You observe some unrecognizable files in your documents folder. These situations sound familiar because they are tell-tale signs that your computer is infected with a malicious file. Because of the internet's ready accessibility, it is quite easy for viruses to sneak into a computer. Your unit can be infected when you simply go to a website, check an email, chat, or share files over a network. The best way to protect your unit from malicious threats is to block them before they enter your computer. Some people think that a free antivirus download can give as much protection as any program that costs a good amount of money.

A malicious file wreaks havoc on a hard drive by changing some important files. Some viruses are designed to prevent programs from executing properly. Others are designed to allow access to a remote user to confidential files like passwords, bank and credit card information. These threats can attack any time. And the only way to protect your computer from these threats is by installing software that can give you the proper protection.

Many programs are now available to prevent any malicious attacks on computers. It is important to choose software that is right for your needs and internet browsing activity.

Whether it's a free antivirus download or expensive software, your privacy is safe if it gives you the right protection. Research is important. Each program works differently and has unique features to offer. Comparing different programs also helps.

If independent research is not enough, you can seek help directly from representatives of security companies. You need to get information on the software's features, how they work, what hardware you need to support it and its price.

Once you've decided on a particular product, you can now install it yourself or have someone install it for you. Once it's on your computer, a full system scan should be done. This takes a while and mostly depends on how large your file system is.

If a malicious file is detected, the program can either remove or quarantine it. This prevents the virus from spreading any more damage on your computer.

Having the proper virus protection on your computer is the best defense against online threats. Keep important documents, bank and credit information safe from hackers. Protect your identity and privacy. Get a free antivirus download or any other protection software.


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Thursday, June 7, 2012

Protect Your Network From Malware Using Anti Spam Services

Studies show 90% of the 200 billion emails sent out and received each day are spam messages. These spam messages are often harmless, but some may include malicious software (commonly known as malware) that compromise your security. You need reliable email filtering or anti spam services to protect your business.

There are two types of malware that are serious threats to businesses: spyware and Trojan horses. Spyware collects information about your network's users without your knowledge, while Trojan horses conceal other malicious programs that can do everything from keystroke logging to stealing passwords and credit card information. These malware aren't just threats to you, but to your business associates, customers, and anyone else you send emails to. This is why you need to find an email filtering service that has both inbound and outbound filtering.

Inbound Filtering

When talking about spam protection for email, inbound filtering is what usually comes to mind. This type of filtering scans all emails you receive for threats, and alerts you about them or automatically put the infected emails into a designated spam folder. Inbound filtering is usually included in most email hosting services, such as Gmail and Yahoo Mail. Certain anti spam services may keep records of the email or IP addresses sending you spam messages, which makes it easier for you to block them.

Outbound Filtering

Instead of scanning messages you receive through your email, an outbound email filtering service scans the messages sent from within your email system. Some hackers are able to gain access to your computer network without being detected, and could be using your own servers to send out malicious emails. Outbound filtering prevents this from happening by monitoring any potential threats in the messages you send, and detecting any suspicious activity such as sending out massive amounts of emails. This allows you to determine exactly where the spam or security threats come from, and enables you or your IT team to come up with an immediate solution.

Finding a Good Email Filtering Service

The tricky thing about security software is striking a balance between eliminating threats and making sure you still receive all your legitimate emails. Some filtering systems go over the top with their security measures, and may block messages from your business partners or customers. You want to stay protected but not risk losing any business relationships or opportunities because of your email's anti-spam protection.

There are many companies and software developers offering filtering services for businesses. When looking for reliable service providers, look for those who have years of experience and proven results under their belt. Doing a quick search on Google should reveal which among the available spam protection services are the most popular and effective, but you need to do more in-depth research than that. Find customer reviews and testimonials that talk about the software you are looking into, or ask your IT team for their recommendations.

Do not forget to keep your budget in mind as you search for filtering software. Some of the more effective packages are often pricey, but it is easy to find alternatives you can use until you manage to build up the funds for the best filtering services.

Mae O'Connell is a software developer who helped create an effective email filtering service and anti spam service.


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