7 Free And Easy Steps to Ensure Complete Internet Security

The concerns of Internet Security have grown today like never before. Despite the continuous attempts of Internet community, the threats are increasing and getting more and more vicious by each passing day. Newer viruses, spyware, Trojans, backdoors, rootkits, browser hijackers are being developed, which are capable of devastating any Security attempts. It is a complete jungle out there, where the only defense seems to depend upon how much care and restraint you can exercise while being online.

There are many Internet Security tools available in the market. Some of them are outstanding. But still, none of them is perfect. It cannot be. The best protection is in your own hands. Follow a disciplined approach while using Internet services.

1. Be careful about using MS Outlook. Outlook is more susceptible to worms than other e-mail programs, unless you have efficient Anti-Virus programs running. Use Pegasus or Thunderbird (by Mozilla), or a web-based program such as Hotmail or Yahoo.

2. Take special precaution while dealing with email attachments. Be cautious about attachments with a double extension, such as txt, vb, jpg or exe, as the system will only recognize the extension to the extreme right, and run the file as such. Double extensions are often a good indicator that the file is malicious.

3. Do not use disks that other people gave you, even from work. The disk could be infected with a virus. Of course, you can run a virus scan on it first to check it out, but AV programs are not 100% effective.

4. Do not download software from just any website. If it is a reputable site that you trust, you are probably safe. The threat is not only from software; even other file types like .txt, .doc, .xml can have infections.

5. Be careful when surfing. You might get a malicious script from a webpage without even getting a warning. Tweak your Browser settings for maximum safety.

6. Try to balance paranoia with common sense. Some people get really weird about viruses, spyware, etc. It's just a computer! Back up your data and follow these steps, and it shouldn't be a big problem.

7. Setup your download manager to scan a download first before you open it. When you click to download a file from Internet, generally browser gives two options. To save it on the Disk or To Open the file with the default program. Always choose the first option, because, it ensures that the download is first scanned with your antivirus, before saving it on the disk.

Author Resource:-> Silki Garg has written many high rated articles on Internet Security and Best Spyware Removal Tools. You can download her 91 pages info-packed book on 13 Steps to Online PC Security, absolutely FREE.

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How to Remove Trojans from Your Computer in 10 Minutes or Less

Once you understand how to remove Trojans, the process can be duplicated on a daily or weekly basis to keep your computer clean. The average anti virus programs will not remove Trojans easily, so if you have tried that route you may want to read the steps below for additional guidance. When Trojans install themselves on your system, you will need the help of a quality anti spyware software to complete the job.

A couple popular ways that Trojans attach to your computer will be through spyware and adware. This is why standard virus removers will not usually detect or remove such problems.

The list below will describe some of the common symptoms associated with Trojan viruses:

1. Files open randomly

2. You are experiencing slow computer problems

3. Your internet redirects you to sites that were not requested

4. The default home page on your PC is replaced with a tasteless site

5. Automatically loaded tool bars and pop ups appear

6. Your mouse has a trail as you drag it

7. Window start up button and others disappear

8. The PC shuts down without your command, or boots at will

9. Alt + Control + Delete is non operational

10. Your internet is moving like a turtle

It is a good practice to avoid doing your own Trojan removals without software help, no matter how detailed the instructions are that you are following. If you are not well-versed with executable files, save yourself the future pain of a crashed system and follow the steps below.

How to Remove Trojans in Three Steps:

Step One: Write a List of All Symptoms that You Have Noticed

Create a baseline measure of what issues you are experiencing. That way you will know whether or not the steps to follow work the way you hoped. You can compare the results after repair compared to the initial symptoms you have. Keep in mind that no one product is a miracle cure, but many problems will be cleared up from the first time a repair is conducted.

Think of when the symptoms most commonly occur (like start up versus when on the internet) and just write down any strange behaviors that your computer has shown you. You can start with the symptom list above, but do not be limited just to that list.

Step Two: Conduct a Free Scan with a Product Designed to Remove Trojans

The good news is that there are a handful of great products to help you with this step. You do not need to know how to remove Trojans if you have the right software. There are many similarities between top products. The best software programs tend to be effective across a variety of categories.

Look to scan with a software product that is easy to understand, one with extensive help files, ones with a large definitions (solutions) database, and seek ones with a variety of good reviews and not much negative on the search result pages that come up on the net.

If you understand how to remove Trojans, you will also be able to remove other forms of spyware, adware, and malware at the same time. The scan will show results well beyond just Trojans.

Step Three: If Severe Infections are Detected Purchase the Full Version Software

Once you get your results back, see if severe level threats were detected. If so, you should immediately take care of the problems by purchasing the repair utility in the same software that you just completed the scan with. The repair takes seconds compared to the download and scanning process.

I have a year round maintenance plan for my computers that include a solid spyware software, Windows registry cleaner, and a general anti virus program. You can eliminate most of the problems that arise by purchasing these three power tools. I usually scan weekly with each of the three products to keep up with threats on my system. I do not use real-time protection based products due to the system resources that are tied up.

For removal of spyware, adware, malware, and computer Trojans, find a product with extensive definitions database files (as previously mentioned).

Be sure to restart your computer after the repair to make sure that the changes go into effect. Go back to your initial list and see how many of the problems were completely eliminated. Now that you know how to remove Trojans, you can scan and repair additional times to see if additional problems are removed. It might also be a good investment to look into the other tools mentioned above (registry repair and general anti virus).

Author Resource:-> Daryl Moore specializes in reviews on anti spyware and adware software and writes straight forward reviews of top products at www.trojan-remover-tips.com/best-trojan-removal-software.htm. Complete details on the top product reviewed, Xoftspyse, can be found at www.xoftspyse-facts.com

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3 Reasons To Remove Spyware Quickly

Everybody that's had even a semi-serious spyware problem knows that spyware can seriously slow down your computer and put a real damper on your internet activities. Spyware puts a real burden on the speed of your computer. But have you considered these other reasons to remove spyware from your computer?

1. It attracts more spyware

Spyware is notorious for installing other spyware and adware programs. Once you are infected with one program, it's usually only a matter of time until it downloads and installs another spyware program to earn the maker even more money. This makes it even harder to clean out if you are trying to do it manually, without the help of an anti-spyware program. The fact is, removing spyware quickly is the best thing to do before the problem compounds itself.

Luckily, there are several quality anti-spyware tools and utilities that can help remove spyware quickly. Many of them even scan your computer for free to see if they can fix the problem quickly and easily.

2. Spyware makers are making money off of you

Did you know that spyware is an immensely profitable business for the makers? These unscrupulous characters make money off of slowing down your computer and tracking your activities. Your privacy may be getting invaded right now. They may even know that you are looking at this very web site!

They sell the data they collect to other advertisers who then pay the spyware makers to show their ads to you. For example, if you were always looking at video game web sites, the spyware programs would know that because they tracked your use and would then show you video game-related ads. These ads would either be affiliate ads which means that they get a kickback if you buy something, or they are just regular ads that companies pay them to show.

3. They could be tracking your activities

Being able to track user web site visiting behavior is a profitable game for these people. The spyware makers can then sell this information about you to other advertisers who may then begin to advertise on sites you visit regularly because they have a profile of your likes and dislikes.

Trying an anti-spyware utility allows you to scan your computer for free to see if there are problems it can fix. It's worth a shot to see if this problem can be fixed immediately. Good luck!

Author Resource:-> Ryan Gutierrez is a technology expert, specializing in internet security. Visit his site at http://www.removemyspywarenow.com to find articles about how to remove spyware.

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How to Remove Spyware From Your PC

Manual Analysis

One of these three programs should detect and remove any spyware on your PC. In the unlikely event that you have picked up a brand-new specimen that isn't yet included in the antispyware databases, you'll have to do some cyber-investigating to find and eject the interloper.

First, examine every process running on your machine to determine whether any of them is a piece of spyware. Window's Task Manager isn't up to this job because many spyware apps specifically hide themselves from it. Fortunately, they are less skillful at hiding from the many Task Manager alternatives. Two of my favorites are Process Explorer (which is free) and Security Task Manager (which comes in free and paid versions). Currently, only Process Explorer, which is now owned by Microsoft, is compatible with Windows Vista. A Vista-compatible version of Security Task Manager is coming, according to its producer, A&M Neuber Software. Either of these programs will show you everything that's running on your PC, and will help you determine whether a particular application should be there.

Warning: Stopping system processes and applications in this manner is risky. In some cases, if you kill the wrong program, Windows will shut down and reboot as a safety measure. While you probably won't render your system unworkable, you should back up all important documents and set a System Restore point (click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore, and follow the on-screen instructions).

Start one of the alternative Task Managers mentioned above, and closely examine the list of running applications on your PC. You're looking for something that's either out of place or behaving oddly. If you're using Process Explorer, unzip the archive you downloaded and double-click the ProcExp.exe program. Click OK after you read the initial dialog, and you'll be presented with a color-coded list of everything that's running: Programs highlighted in pink are Windows services; those in gray-blue are applications. Right-click the bar with the column names (it's just above the list of programs), and choose Select Columns. Check the Command Line box and click OK. A new column will appear, showing you the full path to each running app.

If you're using Security Task Manager, double-click the installer and step through the dialog boxes to complete the installation. The first time you run the program, it will take a moment to scan your PC. Unlike Process Explorer, Security Task Manager doesn't list Windows' own system processes (other than Explorer.exe) on this initial page. If you want to see those, click the Windows Processes button on the toolbar. The higher the utility's rating for a program, the more suspect it is. As you click the entries, the program tells you why it rated the selected application as it did. However, many legitimate programs engage in activities that Security Task Manager views suspiciously, so don't just assume that anything with a rating above 50 is dangerous; instead, use the rating as an indicator of what to look at first.

Here's where it gets tedious: If you don't know what a particular program is, what it does, or where it's supposed to live on your hard drive, you'll have to do some research. Check out the list of processes that are known to be either benign or malevolent at Uniblue Systems' WinTasks Process Library. Alternatively, you can enter the filename in a search engine and look through the results for a description of the process. Some legitimate processes get a bad rap as spyware, so it's important to corroborate any negative reports you discover.

Remove the Reprobates

If the program you want to remove from your PC doesn't have an entry in Windows' Add/Remove Programs applet in Control Panel, it has probably changed your Registry to make itself difficult to find and eradicate.

Enter HijackThis, a free program designed to remove Registry entries and other settings that spyware uses to take over your PC. Rather than removing the programs, HijackThis deletes the Registry entries that prevent you from deleting the software yourself. To familiarize yourself with how HijackThis works, read the Quick Start guide, but beware: HijackThis, if misused, can render your system unbootable. Be sure to proceed deliberately, and keep those essential backups close by.

It's a good idea to consult experts before making any changes with HijackThis. To do so, run the program by double-clicking HijackThis.exe, and then click Do a system scan and save a logfile. HijackThis will make a record of everything it finds and--in a few seconds--will create a text-file report that you can post online or send to your expert. Volunteers who use the message boards at TomCoyote, Geeks to Go, andSpywareInfo will help you sort through the log if you post it to the Malware Removal message board on any of those sites.

If you want HijackThis to dislodge a program, fill in the check box next to it and click Fix Checked at the bottom of the program window to delete the appropriate Registry entries. Then manually delete the related file. Reboot your PC into Safe Mode (press at the beginning of the reboot cycle, before the Windows logo appears), navigate to the unwanted file on your hard drive, right-click it, and select Delete. Easy as pie.

Rid Yourself of Rootkits

The nastiest spyware specimens--the worst of the worst--are rootkits. These programs hide themselves from Windows, from antispyware tools, and from utilities such as Process Explorer and Security Task Manager. If you suspect that a rootkit has invaded your PC, you still may triumph. A free utility called IceSword can find and remove many kinds of rootkits. The only downside (for all but about 1 billion of us)? The tool's instructions are in Chinese.

Fortunately, some smart people have created an illustrated guide in English for using IceSword. If you're considering using the program, read this guide carefully before you begin. As with HijackThis, a wrong move can cause serious problems.

Andrew Brandt is a security expert who originated PC World's Privacy Watch column.

Rogue Spyware - Remove Virus Remover 2008 from Your PC

Virus Remover 2008 is one of the recent rogue anti-spyware, which is spreading its ill effects very rapidly. Hundreds of PCs are being infected by this deadly piece of software daily, crippling them to their knees. The main aim of this rogue software is to steal your money. This article is written to let you know the true picture of Virus Remover 2008 and alert you not let it make it to your system.

But, do you know, what is a rogue anti-spyware?

You know spyware programs and Anti-spyware programs very well. Spyware try to spy upon your privacy and security, while Anti-spyware programs try to block spyware.

But there is a third type of programs, which are actually spyware, but they pretend as if they are Anti-spyware programs, to get entry into your system. They have fancy websites and when they come in touch with your system, they display fake warning messages that your system is infected with many malware and spyware. Then they offer to clean your system, if you purchase the licensed version of them.

Many people get tricked by them. They make the payments and get a piece of rogue software in return. This software tries to install more malware in your system, instead of cleaning it.

Virus Remover 2008 is also a similar type of malware. If you have got any trace of Virus Remover 2008, we recommend you to immediately get rid of it so as to protect you system from further harms.

How to remove Virus Remover 2008?

First of all you need to scan your system whether it is actually infected with Virus Remover 2008. If your system has got any trace of it, then you can either remove it manually by following step-by-step instructions available on Internet at many sites. Just search for them.

But it is a risky method. It should be tried by those people, who are comfortable with the Windows Processes and Registry Keys. If you are not sure about them, then it is better to use a good quality Anti-Spyware.

If you want to manually remove Virus Remover 2008, then there are basically four steps involved.

1. Stop all the Windows Processes associated with it. For this you have to open the Windows Task Manager and open the Processes Tab and find the Processes associated with it.

2. Delete the files associated with Virus Remover 2008. Before proceeding for this step, you should search for which files are associated with it.

3. Delete the DLL files associated with it.

4. Delete the registry keys. This is the most important step, which you need to execute with utmost care. Windows Registry is an important area of your system, and you should handle it extreme care. You should search for the exact Registry Keys associate with Virus Remover 2008 and then delete them.

Author Resource:-> Silki Garg is the author of many high rated articles on Online Security, Spyware Removal, Phishing, Malware Protection etc. She advices on how to clean your PCs to remove" target="_blank">http://webtoolsandtips.com/remove-spyware/remove-virus-remover-2008-uninstall-virusremover2008-free/">remove Virus Remover 2008 and other malware on her blog http://webtoolsandtips.com.

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If Your Computer Runs Slow - You May Need a Windows Registry Scan

There is nothing worse than slow running computer, especially if the system is still fairly new. Dealing with the amount of spyware, adware, and malware that is out on the Internet, registry repair tools for your computer is a must have. It doesn't matter if the computer is a standalone PC or a laptop, bits and pieces of programs in your registry that do not need to be there need to be cleaned out every so often. The best registry repair programs will take care of these problems for you and return your computer to the speed you are used to.

A registry cleaner for Windows XP and Vista operating systems will search through the registry of your computer looking for bits and pieces of coding that no longer apply to the programs that are currently running your computer. Many times when you remove a program from your system, pieces of the code that tells the computer how to start up and what to run in the background remain in the registry. When you add to it pieces of spyware, adware, or malware that may have slipped onto the computer that you removed, your computer will slow down.

Once the registry cleaning software identifies these bits and pieces of code, it will ask you if you want to remove them. The registry repair review report will show you all of the miscellaneous code that is causing your system to slow down to a crawl. You have the option then of removing the code if it is not connected to any of the programs that are currently running or have loaded onto your system. Sometimes, the code pieces that the registry fix software finds are actually used by other programs. More often than not, they are stragglers hanging out on your computer and causing issues.

Vista and Windows XP registry cleaners are usually small programs that can be downloaded from a reputable site for free. The registry fixes they offer are comprehensive and when used in conjunction with virus programs, spyware and malware cleaners, and your firewall, they can restore your system to its proper functioning form. You do not have to put up with Windows registry errors that could completely crash your system. If at all possible, you should run your registry cleaner as least once a week, once a month at the most. Anytime you do maintenance on your computer such as running the disk defragmenter or other utility programs, make sure you run this registry repair utility as well.

Author Resource:-> ~Gregg Brown

Thank You for reading this article. Please visit Registry-Cleaner-Tools.com if your Computer Runs Slow.

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What is Spyware?

Have you ever been surfing the net and then all of a sudden, your internet access slows to a crawl, and you get several pop-up windows and then your browser gets stuck? Have you ever wondered why this happens?

The answer is simple: spyware. "Spyware" refers to a class of sophisticated computer programs that are surreptitiously installed on your computer by clever internet marketing geeks so that they can deliver advertising directly to you and take control of your machine, which can slow down or sometimes completely stall your internet access temporarily. Spyware evolved sometime around the year 2000, right around the time that email began losing its luster as an effective marketing tool. Faced with declining responses to their spam, top nerds from around the globe joined together and invented a new way to throw advertisements for mortgages, discounted brand names, and cleavage right in your face so that you wouldn't be able to hide behind your spam filter.

How does spyware get onto your computer? Spyware gets installed on your machine many different ways, and savvy programmers are coming up with new ways to infect you every day. One way they do it is by bundling it with legitimate software programs that you install on your machine. You may have ordered or downloaded some sort of shareware or other software for a legitimate purpose that had spyware attached to it. So, when you installed the software, you installed the spyware along with it. Sometimes, anti-spyware software is actually spyware itself!

The most common way that spyware is installed on your computer is by direct download from a website you're visiting, unbeknownst to you. How does this happen? Well, as soon as you arrive at the website, the website begins transferring the spyware to your computer. Internet Explorer is supposed to protect you against unauthorized downloads. This is no problem for spyware developers, as they know how to attack the holes in your firewalls and anti-virus software. Also, they often send a pop-up box to you while you're online that appears to be an Internet Explorer dialog box and says something like "your browser resources are low, click here to optimize your access," and then when you click, spyware is downloaded to your machine.

Once installed on your machine, how does spyware actually work? How does it deliver its insidious, unwelcome contest to your computer? Well, it infects your operating system (Windows, for example), and then begins to direct your internet usage once you go online. It delivers pop-up ads to your browser. Sometimes, it redirects you to the website of its choice when you type an address into your browser. For example, you type in the web address for Yahoo, and the spyware then tosses you over to a website for a company that the spyware author is promoting.

The most annoying and potentially dangerous function of spyware is that it keeps a record of all of the websites you're visiting as you're surfing the net, and then it sends this information back to the spyware company so they can then send you targeted advertisements that match your tastes. Sometimes, spyware is used purely for criminal purposes, such as stealing your credit card information or social security number whenever you enter this information into an order form or email form so that it can be transmitted back to the hacker. The hacker then uses your credit card number for a few days, and maybe uses your social security number to temporarily hijack your financial identity. This is known as identity theft, and it has become much more prevalent during the past several years.

To protect yourself, you can install legitimate spyware protection software that can spot these programs and delete them from your hard drive. One of the most popular spyware programs is Adaware. For AOL users, AOL comes with a spyware detection program that you can use. I recommend that you call your internet service provider, talk to their technical support staff, and ask them which software program they recommend for detecting and deleting spyware from your computer.

Author Resource:-> Jim Pretin is the owner of http://www.forms4free.com, a service that helps programmers make free HTML forms.

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What Are The Best Spyware Removal Tools?

I always love things that are free and effective. I have bills that are reaching extraordinary boundaries and so I have searched and found a few spyware/adware removal and antivirus software which work very effectively and plus they are free.

One of my recent finds was Windows Defender which is a product from Microsoft. You can find it by doing a quick search on the download page of the Microsoft website. I have found it to be very effective. It gives you the option to scan your pc at specified times or scan whenever you want. It is equipped with the quick scan and the full scan capabilities. At the end of the scan you are presented with all the results to choose the next action which can be to delete all or delete specific items. In addition if windows is set to update itself automatically Windows Defender will also be updated automatically. I feel there is no one better than Microsoft to suggest the spy-ware removal tools we use. After all they are the ones who developed the operating system so they will know the best. It still puzzles me why Microsoft didn't make the software more widely known by many. But I'm glad I have found it and that's important.

If you download files with the peer to peer network with programs like Kaaza, LimeWire, etc you are at a high risk of becoming affected with spy ware. However these programs are now equipped with scanners that scan for viruses after you have downloaded your files.

-If you are looking for paid antispyware then you can browse the ads which show up on the sides of the pages in Helium when looking into the subject of anti spyware. You will be surprised at the amount you find. But I like the freebie stuff.

-Because I was fed up of paying monthly fees for every computer in my home when using Norton, I got my hands on Avast anti-virus. If you are from a corporation you have to pay for the software, but for home use it is free of charge. Compare this service to Norton which charges $4.95 per computer ($30 per month!).

Avast comes with a 60 day trial and is easily installed. For registration, all that you need to do is visit their website and copy the code they provide you with and past it into the software. This code is valid for one year, after which you simply return to the main site and grab another code for free carry out the copy past job again.

The program is automatically updated regularly and informs you audibly upon each update. There are plenty scanning options available. Upon detection of a virus or adware the software asks to delete or quarantine the infections as appropriate.

I have Avast installed on 6 computers owned by my immediate family. I am always pleased with its performance.

To those who say you cant get good things free; thanks to microsoft & avast! they have proven you wrong.

Author Resource:-> For all your Content Manager Software and Extranet Solutions

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5 Tips to Choose the Best Spyware Removal Tool

With the proliferation of Internet, the threats of online security are increasing day by day. More and more spyware, virus, trojans and worms are being created each day. With them, more and more programs to counter these online threats are being developed. Some are feature-rich, some are trialware, some are free and some charge hefty price to clean your PC.

In such a situation, sometimes it becomes very difficult for an average computer user to choose the best spyware removal tool. Here we give you five tips, which will help you to choose the best tool for your need.

1. Don't go for FREE: Nothing in this world is FREE. It is very obvious. Software development requires lots of efforts, time and money spend. And this is not a one time-activity. Anti-spyware tools require constant updation of the definition to detect and remove latest spyware threats. Why would somebody give it free to you. It is always good to invest a few 20-30 bucks in a good quality Anti-spyware, instead of rely on so-called free software and repent later.

2. Choose a full-featured spyware removal tool: Look for the features. And remember "more" is not always "better". Two of the most important features are "Auto-update" and "Undo" features. Look for the frequency at which the files and spyware definitions get updated. Undo features allows you to recover some of the files which you wrongly deleted.

3. Look for the Support: Look at the website. How do they provide the support. Whether they are available through IM, Phone email. What is most convenient to you. Count on all factors.

4. Ease of Use: Test drive the Spyware Removal Tool before you purchase it. Be comfortable with the look and feel and the user interface. Make sure that you understand all the features and facilities. If you cannot use some features, then they are useless for you.

5. Stick with the big guns: Rogue Anti-spyware programs are on the rampage in 2008. They pretend to be a genuine spyware removal tool, and from their website, it extremely difficult to tell, whether they are fake or genuine. Your best bet will be stick only with the well-known brands.

These five tips are general tips and look very simple to understand. But these tips go a long way to help you choose the beast anti-spyware from among the hundreds of spyware removal tools available on Internet.

Author Resource:-> Silki Garg has written many high rated articles on Online Security and Best Spyware Removal Tools. She advices on how to remove spyware, virus, trojans, worms and other malware from your PC.

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