SPYWARE PROTECTION

How to Detect & Remove BlackBerry Spyware & BlackBerry Spy Apps

2010-02-11T20:13:00.001-08:00

BlackBerry spyware is an ever increasing problem. As the BB continues to gain popularity, people will continue to find ways to spy on a it using either cell phone spyware or a spy app. The good news is that detecting and removing these apps are a lot easier than most people think.

Here are a few detection tips.

Have you recently let your cell out of your sight? It only takes a few minutes to install BlackBerry spyware. If you've recently let someone borrow your phone to make a quick call or download a game, then they could have actually installed spyware on your phone.

Is your cell phone bill's data fee higher than normal? In order to transmit the logs that are recorded on your BB, the spyware needs to use your data connection (GPRS, 3G, etc) in order to upload the logs to a remote server. If you notice that your data usage fee and traffic are higher than usual, this is a sure sign you might have a BlackBerry spyware on your phone.

Is that an echo? There are a few BlackBerry spyware programs that gives someone the ability to "tap" your live calls. When your call is tapped, sometimes you will be able to hear a slight echo or even a "click" that in most cases you might ignore. Sometimes its hard to distinguish this from general network or phone issues, but if you start to hear it more often than you perhaps did in the past, this could be a definite sign you have a one of these apps installed on your phone.

If some (or all) of these warning signs sound familiar to you, then I HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking action on either of the BlackBerry spyware removal tips below.

BLACKBERRY SPYWARE REMOVAL TIPS

1) Take your BlackBerry to your service center & wipe your phone clean. The best way to eradicate your BlackBerry from spyware, is to take the BlackBerry to your service provider and tell them you suspect someone has installed a BlackBerry spy app, so you want them to reinstall the OS. By doing this, any spy app on your BlackBerry will be completely wiped from your phone.

2) Take matter into your own hands and remove it yourself. It's not hard. You can easily remove the BlackBerry spy app yourself by downloading a FREE application called KISSES. This BlackBerry app will do a quick scan to verify that you indeed have a BlackBerry spy app on your phone, then will proceed to remove it.

Remember, it only takes a few minutes to get a BlackBerry spyware on your phone. If you think there is even the slightest chance someone has installed a spy app on your BlackBerry, don't wait to get it removed.

For more information on spy phone software, including more info on the detection and removal of BlackBerry [http://www.spyapps.com]spy apps, check out the #1 [http://www.spyphoneguy.com]spy phone resource site. You can also follow me on Twitter @spyphoneguy

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Detect-and-Remove-BlackBerry-Spyware-and-BlackBerry-Spy-Apps&id=3717948] How to Detect & Remove BlackBerry Spyware & BlackBerry Spy Apps

Google Redirect Virus Removal - 5 Steps How to Get Rid Of Google Redirect Virus Instantly

2010-01-19T22:59:00.001-08:00

Do you suffer agonies because of redirection when searching with Google or Yahoo to sites you never intended to visit? There is no need to worry anymore because there are ways to get rid of Google redirect virus quite easily.

Let us first see some of the things that could happen when a Google redirect virus has found its way into your system.

• Whatever browser and search engine you use you are redirected to random sites. These sites are typically malicious sites which can put in malware and spyware into your computer.
• Your computer's performance really slows down
• You are repeatedly getting to see advertisements and sites which you never opened. Only after a few frantic clicks can you manage to go into the website you want.

The best option for a user to remove Google redirect virus once and for all is to get a spyware removal software/ anti-virus program and installing on the system. But of course it is possible to achieve this manually too - if you are ready to put in a lot of time and effort and have enough computer security knowledge to navigate the necessary files.

Google redirect virus typically corrupts the registry entries (which are used by the OS), the DLL files and Browser helper objects. So a manual cleaning has to take care of these.

There are five simple steps to follow to get rid of Google redirect virus by using manual methods:

1. Click on Start button. Type Run and then regedit. Click OK. Check and find the registry key and corresponding values. Change the values that have been modified and remove redundant entries.

2. You have to no unregister malicious DLL files. To do this you click on Start button, type Run and then cmd. In the command prompt screen you can type regsvr32 /u xyz.dll Here the XYZ is the corrupted dll filename.

3. Next step is to kill all the processes that run for the Google redirect virus

4. If the above do not work you could try resorting to a "system restore"

5. Last you can re-format your system and start afresh; in this step however you might end up losing critical data that have not been backed up.

Fed up with constant Google redirect virus? You have the option to correct this situation on your computer by clicking on the link below to check out reliable spyware removal software in the market.

Are you frustrating that viruses/trojan infect your computer and disturb your computer performance? Need to remove Google redirect virus in easy and fast way? Scan your computer now with free antispyware scanner and delete/uninstall the virus. When you've fixed them, be amaze how fast your computer is. http://spyware-removal.online-product-reviews.net

About Author:

Bryan Adam Miller is software expert that review many antispyware and antivirus software in the market. He is also Virus thread analyst that contribute to the security software company.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Google-Redirect-Virus-Removal---5-Steps-How-to-Get-Rid-Of Google Redirect-Virus-Instantly&id=3163317] Google Redirect Virus Removal - 5 Steps How to Get Rid Of Google Redirect Virus Instantly

Caught in a Spyware Trap

2010-01-12T00:28:00.001-08:00

Many people encounter attacks, like virus and spywares, online. More and more are becoming victims every day. One instance is when you are shopping online. You create an account, agree to the store policies and enter your credit card number and personal information and buy it without you knowing that some programs are installed in your computer while you are shopping. These programs are so-called spyware which is responsible for transmitting personal information to a third party without your knowledge and explicit consent.

Some spyware are transferred to your computer legally because you actually allow it to be installed. You might not be aware that you agreed but you did. Some spyware slows down your system, steals confidential information, or compromises the security of your PC. Viruses come in single package such as.EXE file but multiplies quickly. As soon as the suspicious software is executed, it will also deploy many of other files into your PC. Some are hidden files that are hard to find and remove. Some do the action that it finds and sends out personal data immediately. Once you connect your infected laptop to your company's network, the spyware will search through your files and sends your usernames and passwords to a third party. Some spyware records and sends out your keystrokes as you are logging into Internet sites or sensitive areas of your company's information systems. Other spyware downloads more components into your system eating more network bandwidth.

Here are the types of spyware:

1. Adware - A type of software that makes profits for the vendor or partners of the vendor through advertising targeting the user of the PC on which the adware is installed.

2. Dialer - A piece of code redirecting Internet connections to a party other than the user's Internet Security Provider to acquire connection charges for a content provider, vendor, or other third party.

3. Password Crackers - A code designed allowing a legitimate user or administrator to recover lost or forgotten passwords from accounts or data files. If the attacker gets the password crackers at hand, your PC is in danger because it will allow them to access your confidential information. This will threaten your security and privacy.

4. Key-logger - A software program that will capture the keystrokes you entered on the computer to steal information such as IDs and passwords. The said information is stored in a file that can be retrieved or transmitted to a hacker to access to private company information.

5. Joke - A piece of software with no malicious payload or use. It even does not impact security or privacy states but may alarm or annoy you.

Follow the following steps to avoid spyware:

1. Always update your browser and operating system.
2. Use a firewall.
3. Use an updated anti-virus and anti-spyware program.
4. Read privacy policies carefully before installing software.
5. Use a web browser that is less targeted, like Mozilla Firefox.
6. Be careful in downloading free software.
7. Use a regular account for day-to-day work and administrator account only when installing updates, etc.
8. Don't click on links in your email that comes from unknown user.
9. Beware of pornography, online gambling, get-rich-quick, and other high-risk web sites.

Most of the computers have some form of spyware. Some are not aware that they have these spyware on their computers not knowing what to do about it. PC users must be careful when having transactions online because they may acquire a spyware that will steal their personal information threatening their security and privacy. If you think that your PC is harmed with a spyware, contact Techie Now. We can offer you our virus and spyware removal services. Techie Now is here to service your PC at your convenience.

If you want your PC to be protected, Techie Now is ready to provide you flexible, quick and safe services when it comes to virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, software installation and configuration, and other general repair. Feel free to visit us, http://www.techienow.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Caught-in-a-Spyware-Trap&id=3444565] Caught in a Spyware Trap

How to Remove Trojan Horse Virus Quickly?

2009-10-28T21:35:00.000-07:00

ow to Remove Trojan Horse Virus Quickly?Would you like to learn how to remove Trojan horse virus quickly from your PC? This problem has affected most computer users all over the world, and luckily there are great solutions to this. Almost every PC user would have run across a malicious software attack which can be a virus, spyware or adware etc.

1. What Exactly is a Trojan Horse Virus?

The biggest difference about a Trojan and a virus is that a Trojan is unable to duplicate itself unlike how viruses are able to. Trojan Horse viruses would disguise themselves as executable files and attempt to install themselves when the user runs them. Many unsuspecting users would open these files especially when they are named as another interesting file or some other free download that they think they have downloaded from the Internet. These Trojans are named after the general public's favorite items (songs, games, movie file names etc.) and tempt the user to install them afte it has entered the PC.

2. How to Remove Trojan Horse Virus Quickly from Your PC?

The best solution would be to download and run a scan with antivirus and antispyware software. It is able to run a scan throughout your system and then allows its users to clean out any spyware, adware, viruses or any other malicious software that has been detected. It does its thing automatically and does not require the user to have any technical knowledge. If you have such a piece of protection software, it is very important that you update it frequently to ensure that it has the capabilities to defend against the latest threats. Once my protection software has run a full scan, I rebooted my Pc at home and it was running like new again after that.

3. What Are the Effects of Getting Attacked by Trojan Horse Virus and How Do They Spread?

The user can expect to see various symptoms such as an increase in the number of popup ads, more unauthorized installation of unknown toolbars, slowdown in processing speed and many other irritating and potentially damaging symptoms.

Want to learn How to Remove Trojan Horse Virus? Don't do it yet, because the author has found many bad spyware and Trojan virus cleaning software on the web. Read the author's review of the Top 5 Spyware & Trojan Removal Software on the market now at http://www.review-best.com/spyware-trojan-removal-software.htm first!

Learn to completely get rid of all the spyware and Trojans on your computer in less than 5 minutes with a FREE PC Scan!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_Chambers

http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Remove-Trojan-Horse-Virus-Quickly?&id=2690727

Where Does Spyware Come From?

2009-10-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

“How did these things get on my machine?” This is a common question from victims of spyware. Learning where they come from can prevent your computer from getting infected.

1. Installed Applications
You know that program you installed so that you can download MP3’s for free? Spyware installs with most of these types of applications. File sharing programs have a notorious reputation for installing spyware. Applications that add little features to your computer install spyware
as well. Some examples are programs that:

graphics such as smile faces and hearts to your email.

Track the weather on your desktop.

Manage your desktop wallpaper or other graphics themes on
your computer.

Video games.

Applications that claim to clean spyware.

2. Email
Just like viruses, spyware can be delivered via email. They usually come as file attachments, but they can also load automatically just by opening the email. Always check that you have the latest updates and patches for your email client.

3. Web Sites
Web sites can enable scripts that install spyware on your PC without you even knowing it. Browser developers usually try to combat this with updates, but sometimes users grant permission to the installation without even knowing they are doing so.

The only thing you can do to prevent yourself from being infected with spyware is to only trust programs, email and web sites that you are familiar with. Don't install anything onto your computer that you haven't read a good review of form a reputable publication. Don't open
attachments from email addresses you don't know. Avoid web sites that look shady. You usually can get a good sense whether a web site is reputable or not just based on the look of it. Banner ads and popups everywhere on a site is usually a good indicator of a bad web site.

This article is featured at Technipages where you can find articles and downloads related to anything technical.

Submit your own technical article or post a message at the Computer Help Forum to obtain free computer help.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Wayne
http://EzineArticles.com/?Where-Does-Spyware-Come-From?&id=55957

How to Choose a Spyware Removal Software Tool

2009-08-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

Most of us at some point have come across spyware. Annoying home page changes we have not initiated, your computer suddenly running really slowly and other annoying changes we have not made - this is all down to spyware and other unwanted software, which embeds itself onto our computers when we are least expecting it.

How do you choose a spyware removal tool? Well, a great way to find really good spyware removal tools is by using a major search engine, and hunting for reviews conducted by users of spyware removal software. This is a very good way to find what 'everyone else' recommends. All providers, whether its a good or bad product will advertise theirs as the best - so don't automatically assume that because they say it is the best, that it actually is.

Users of a product get to know the flaws and better features, they find out how consistently well it operates; is it frequently updated or not? Is there help or support for the product in the event of you encountering a problem?

It makes sense to read reviews.

Is it easy to use? Software which performs the tasks you need in the background, without need for constant monitoring is usually what most go for. Thankfully most spyware removal tools do this anyway, but again refer to reviews for ease of use prior to downloading.

Real time monitoring is another 'must have'. If it can remain quietly in the background and do its job discreetly, then that's a real bonus.

Also, the better spyware removal tools have been recognised by certain companies and given awards as a result. It is widely known that no tool can completely remove all of the spyware on your PC in one run. The better spyware removal tools admit to this, and offer updates or an extra run to take it from your system completely. These will scan your whole PC, not just perform a partial scan, so will find any sneaky file-name changes the spyware present on your computer has made.

Regular updates every few days at least are a huge plus for any software, and show real effort on the provider's behalf to keep the software up-to-date. I always feel more comfortable with my Spyware Removal tool when I see the update log loading up daily.

Ensure the product you choose has good customer service. A solution to what is a serious issue for you should be back from them within a few hours, not a few days and don't forget to check they offer support in your language too.

Was This Article Helpful?
To Find Out More Information, Go Here: Best Spyware Remover
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Miller

http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Choose-a-Spyware-Removal-Software-Tool&id=955083

Spyware Adware Threats

2009-08-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

Keylogging software is an extremely dangerous spyware that can invade your PC. This is an invisible software program that cyber criminals use to track your online activity.

The major concern with this type of spyware is that you will not notice any slow down in your computer performance, it will run as normal. The Keylogging spyware will be quietly running in the background watching every keystroke you type.

The cyber criminals often sell your private information to third parties who then employ other techniques to withdraw from bank accounts and credit cards. Other sophisticated hackers use Keylogging spyware to invade company computers so they can steal vital business information. Some organizations have turned this situation around; they use Keylogging software to monitor employees' activity within the workplace, so they can see what sites their employees are visiting during business hours.

Computer experts have said that because Keylogging software can hide deep within a computer it is almost impossible to detect. The traditional antivirus and antispyware that you see advertised free very rarely detects this software. Even the major paid versions find it difficult to locate and remove Keylogging software.

The number of crimes associated with Keylogging has been rising steadily over the last few years but there are proactive measures that you can take to prevent this software from attacking your PC.

You should be careful on the type of sites you visit especially if you download software, music or videos from the web. Keyloggers can easily attach themselves to other unsuspecting software, which in turn you download and install without realizing any thing is wrong. Online retailers and the major banks are relatively safe. Some good antispyware products install security blocks on your browser that alert you if you visit unsafe visits, these products also stop pop-up ads from appearing. Hackers use these ads to get access to your PC; if you are unsure, the best thing to do is not to click on these pop-ups.

It is essential when surfing the web that you have an active firewall in place to prevent unauthorized access from potential hackers. Nowadays, most people know what spam is and usually have some form of spam filter in place to delete these emails. However, cyber criminals are constantly looking for ways to circumvent antispam filters. They use different tactics so that some emails appear to be genuine, the advice here is that you should be wary of emails if you do not recognize the sender, carefully read the subject and never open any emails with attachments.

Cybertec Security offers daily information on spyware, adware and virus threats, and award-winning software. Remove spyware and adware today. Free Downloads.

http://www.cybertecsecurity.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colin_Meadows

http://EzineArticles.com/?Spyware-Adware-Threats&id=2707652

Kill Spyware With Spyware Killer

2009-07-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

Spyware Killer is the name of an antispyware program that effectively removes spyware from your computer. Spyware is one of the major problems that have troubled millions of computer users all over the world. Spyware has caused people to lose their valuable computer data just because they had to format their hard disk without even a chance to take a backup of their data. Spyware can rob your personal and banking information that you have stored on your computer or on login pages of various websites. Spyware install a program called keylogger on your computer to store the passwords, PIN numbers, etc on your computer. This data can be easily accessed by a hacker.

Installing an antispyware is the only solution to free your computer from spyware. Spyware Killer not only detects harmful spyware present in your system but also kills them, giving no chance to the hackers to tamper your valuable data. It gives two options to the user for scanning their system for spyware: regular scan and deep scan. A regular scan may take up to 5 minutes whereas a regular scan may go up to 15-25 minutes. The speed of your computer may also increase the decrease the time taken to scan your computer. Once a scan is complete, you can see the scan result and then you take the necessary steps to remove the spyware from your system. It also offers toll free customer support.

Many leading software download websites like Download.com, Sofpedia.com, Soft32.com, etc allow you to download Spyware Killer. Spyware Killer can be downloaded and used for a trial period. If you like this antispyware you may go ahead and buy the full version. It claims that it can find and destroy those spyware that cannot be easily identified by any other leading antispyware software. With this antispyware you can safely browse your online banking and online shopping websites without the fear of getting hacked.

The author of this article, Silki Garg, has written many high rated articles on Internet Security. Her recent articles on Portable Antivirus and Keyloggers are sure to be interesting for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Silki_Garg

http://EzineArticles.com/?Kill-Spyware-With-Spyware-Killer&id=2589956

Spyware, Adware and Malware - How to Avoid the Scammers

2009-06-19T01:05:00.000-07:00

Internet Security is very big business these days and not just because there are lots of different types of spyware, adware and malware appearing all the time. The threat is double edged: on one side you have the hackers and on the other you have the scammers; people and companies selling and promoting inferior software. Software that is far more likely to cause more problems than it will cure.

The list of rogue anti spyware, anti adware and anti malware programs and vendors seems to grow as quickly as the security threats they are supposed to disinfect. The number of prosecutions in Washington is on the rise as more people are found guilty of intentionally supplying rogue software.

A lot of scams are capable of operating in real time; while you browse the internet. They initially appear as a pop up stating that your computer is infected. Quite often a small flashing icon in the bottom right taskbar will also appear. If you follow the advice they offer you'll be taken to a website to download the software that will remove the problems. But this is actually adware being used as malware and what you download is spyware. It's a big scam.

But there is also a lot of supposedly legitimate software on the market that is utterly useless. In a number of cases they will contain exploit software or be based around old or inferior database engines. Anti spyware, adware and malware software of that nature is being openly sold with many people advertising and promoting.

So how do you deal with all of this?

Whichever software you choose; whether it's labeled as anti spyware, anti adware or anti malware, they all do pretty much the same thing. So you only need to download one or two decent programs. Before you do download anything always check up on the internet and see what others are saying, there's plenty of info out there. If something is inferior there will be information about it.

Never click on anything that appears stating your computer is infected and never click on a flashing icon stating the same. If that happens to you and you have anti spyware/adware/malware installed disconnect from the internet and run your software. If you don't have spyware software then download some first. You can get a copy of Doctor Spyware from Tucows; it's free and should do the job. Also download the free version of Lavasoft Ad aware.

Finally always make sure your security software downloads necessary updates and use it to scan your computer on a regular basis that way you will keep your computer clean and free from spyware, adware and malware.

The Truth Revealed About Spyware, Adware and Malicious Software. Feel Free To Visit The Site That Reveals What No-one Else Is Talking About: http://about--spyware.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Guy
http://EzineArticles.com/?Spyware,-Adware-and-Malware---How-to-Avoid-the-Scammers&id=2406518

Wanting to Get Rid of Spyware? Here's What to Do

2009-06-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

Being a computer professional, the most common question I get asked about is how to get rid of spyware and my answer is always the same - get your hands on proven and effective automatic spyware removal software that can do all of the hard work for you, otherwise you'll be left fighting a never ending and extremely frustrating spyware battle.

A few years ago, you might have gotten away with manually deleting spyware when it occasionally infected your computer or even using one of the freebies that are still available, however that has all changed.

Today's spyware threats are more sophisticated, more intelligent, and more dangerous than ever and you simply cannot afford to take a nonchalant approach to your computer's security because it directly translates into your personal security as well.

Spyware and malware have become the method of choice for cyber hackers to gain access to a user's personal information such as passwords, credit card information, and bank account information with the ultimate goal being to steal that person's identity - and it is working as over 9 million people per year get their identity stolen each year in the United States alone.

Aside of that, the threats have become much more sophisticated and difficult to remove due to their dynamic nature and the fact that they are now being programmed with random filenames and registry entries - making them much more difficult to recognize.

But here is the larger issue with attempting to manually remove spyware - it all could have been prevented by investing a small amount of money in antispyware software which blocks threats at the source before they ever get a chance to install on your computer and wreak havoc.

Here's the bottom line if you are wondering how to get rid of spyware - invest the $30 -$40 needed to get top antispyware software installed on your computer so that you can not only remove any current infections that you do have, but also so that you make sure you don't get infected again.

Visit Matthew Carlson's website today, http://www.TopRatedSpywareRemoval.com, to learn about a groundbreaking new spyware and virus removal tool that will not only get rid of spyware on your computer for good, but that will also make sure you never get infected again.

Matthew is a 15 year veteran of the IT industry whose specialties include computer security and desktop optimization.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Carlson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Wanting-to-Get-Rid-of-Spyware?--Heres-What-to-Do&id=2289463

Spyware Removal Tips - Why Spyware is Such a "Big Deal"?

2009-03-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

ware Removal Tips - Why Spyware is Such a "Big Deal"?As the Internet revolution spreads and more and more families have access to personal computers, people quickly learn that while PCs are now more affordable and easier to use than ever before, they are not appliances.

An appliance is an electrical machine that performs a particular function or job. An old landline telephone is an appliance (it only sends, receives phone calls); your cell phone is not since it can both send, receive calls and text messages, play music, take pictures or access the Web, etc.

Appliances have few moving hardware parts and are designed to be repaired quickly and easily by people will minimum skills (although you may want to call in a good repair guy for that gas stove problem you're having!). And any software installed is embedded into chips that you can't access so therefore can't be messed up by outside interference.

Sure, computers are sort of appliance-like. They can have less than 6 internal moving parts (floppy drive (optional), CD-ROM/DVD drive, hard disk drive, motherboard, CPU, and the power supply unit). And while lots of people only use them for limited functions like word processing or surfing the Internet or receiving emails, computers are actually "operator run".

This means that you can customize both your computer's hardware and software and make customizations or setup personal preferences. What this also means that "others" can too gain access to your software and setup their own special little tweaks, tips and malicious "weebly-wobbies" that can spy on you as you go about your private daily business.

Spyware, viruses and other malware programmers can steal your passwords, use your computer and your internet connection to send out thousands of spam emails, or just plain mess all your files up. It doesn't matter if its just some "script kiddies" (computer vandals) hacking into your stuff for bragging rights or to prove a point or by a real professional "hacking crew", spyware can easily ruin your life.

1- Spyware can ruin your life by destroying all your personal documents (letters, wills, emails, resumes, reports, financials, or just plain old school work)

2 - Spyware can ruin your life by making it difficult or almost impossible to access the Internet. With hundreds of popups appearing, blocking you from going online to pay bills or access banking statements in a timely manner can create all kinds of unnecessary havoc in your life.

3 - Spyware can ruin your life by costing your money you can't spare to have a professional computer repair company come to your home or office to perform an expensive spyware removal.

4 - Spyware can ruin your life by having some or all of your personal identity information (social security number, usernames and passwords, bank account numbers, etc) stolen and then sold to the highest bidder on the black market!

Yes spyware can be an annoying pain in your behind but if you aren't careful, it can be a an BIGGER pain in your life.

If you found this article helpful, I invite you to visit http://fixcomputerproblemsguide.com for more free computer spyware tips. - Do you need help, now? Spyware Removal Help - From Chancer Reese, your Small Office Tech Diva.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chancer_Reese

http://EzineArticles.com/?Spyware-Removal-Tips---Why-Spyware-is-Such-a-Big-Deal?&id=2088429

7 Free And Easy Steps to Ensure Complete Internet Security

2008-12-16T00:42:00.000-08:00

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.

Article From Article Emporium

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

2008-11-17T23:02:00.000-08:00

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

Article From Article Emporium

3 Reasons To Remove Spyware Quickly

2008-11-17T22:03:00.000-08:00

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.

Article From Article Emporium

How to Remove Spyware From Your PC

2008-11-09T18:44:00.002-08:00

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

2008-10-25T01:54:00.000-07:00

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.

Article From Article Emporium

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

2008-10-19T23:43:00.001-07:00

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.

Article From Article Emporium

What is Spyware?

2008-10-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

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.

Article From Article Emporium

What Are The Best Spyware Removal Tools?

2008-10-13T20:51:00.001-07:00

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

Article From Article Emporium

5 Tips to Choose the Best Spyware Removal Tool

2008-10-13T20:48:00.001-07:00

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.

Article From Article Emporium