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Cyber Security and the Emerging Security Threats

Cyber security has been associated with the ever-growing complexities, threats and even costs which are popping up and growing unprecedentedly each passing day. Devices are getting interconnected and this has brought about the many perils in the cyber world. The interconnectivity has made it easier for hackers and criminals to compromise data both on the large scale and irrespective of where it is found. Security risk management has continued to be headache to many different groups of cyber users who happen to be the businesses as well as individuals. The need to proactively protect web applications, web processes and above all data has to be approached with a lot of seriousness and compliance to eliminate all types of threats both external and internal. Not only are cyber attacks the most feared threat but the sabotage of infrastructure is feared since incidences are growing in number each passing day.

The ever-changing cyber security landscape has people, organizations and businesses on their toes in identifying risks and vulnerabilities in their resources and systems. Threats as earlier mentioned have been on the rise due to the communication networks expanding and being in a position to gather humongous amounts of data. Yet another form of threat has been the rise of digital and cyber weapons which have been designed and deployed to target specific control systems or targeted at data stored in them with the intention of bringing each of these down. It should be remembered that the threats to infrastructure arises from the increase in access points within the network. Other threats have been the theft of data especially from governments, the theft of intellectual data property, the theft of financial information and cyber attacks aimed at the mobile devices.

The cyber security landscape this year has seen the problems and challenges which have been presented by mobile devices and applications. The use of the mobile devices has continued to grow and this growth has been matched in the growth of cyber attacks aimed at these devices. The growth of the mobile app niche has also seen an increase in the threats hidden and associated with many apps now found either free or at a small fee. The apps which are location based will have the risk of threat is when the applications are packaged with malicious code and malware such that they are then sold or availed to unsuspecting users. Other applications have been made in such a way that they will download malware and such programs like keyloggers and others that will record phone calls and the text messages.

The social engineering threat has been also on the rise with the intention being people will click on malicious links through the use of rogue antivirus and other many rogue and fake software like fake backup software mimicking the cloud computing services.

Hactivism has also been on the rise with different people or groups of people registering their displeasure and their non compliance with political decisions and opinions and other social factors through the staging of cyber protests. Their biggest tool has the denial of service attacks that are intended to bring down websites and systems. The DoS attacks will limit or totally disrupt the access of data on various websites and across a network. The other form of attacks has seen the posting of sensitive information such as the email information and credit card information which have been stolen or hacked.

The advanced persistent threat is another form of attack which takes the shape of a longterm hacking which is often targeted through subversive and stealthy means at intellectual property. Espionage is one form and the other is capturing network by working on vulnerable points. A network once captured will be used to store data and information and for other people a relay point. The spear phishing attacks are aimed at businesses and the top echelons of organizations with the aim of obtaining some confidential data or gaining access to networks and the businesses.

With so many threats faced in the cyber world, sound security practices need to be used both by individuals and businesses. The practices and measures taken are those that guard against attacks and cyber challenges and ally the impact of an attack.

Go to GNS store for more information on cyber security threats now! GNS specializes in providing the ultimate cyber security solutions in order to prevent devastating types of attacks to your system and facilitate safe web browsing.


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What Would a Hacker Gain From Hacking?

Crackers and Hackers

The first interesting thing to know is that there is a difference between a hacker and a cracker. A hacker tries to test a system for possible security and network breaches, tries to learn as much as possible from a system and tries all strategies to check the system for its optimum performance level. That is all positive and no malicious intent. Whereas a cracker tries to bypass system's security checks for achieving his evil gains such as:

Stealing data about the registered usersGetting hold of credit card numbers and passwords for obvious reasonsFinancial or business informationSome other information for providing potential damage to the owner of the systemThey can get passwords with usernames and personal pictures and photographs of family and dear onesOur computer can also be used for Denial of service attacks on other PC'sCrackers can then sell on this stolen information to online spammers. This can eventually lead to an alarming increase in the traffic to some organizations' website for possible crash down of its server. The PC can also be used as spam bot

There is so much that a cracker can do that there is not limit. One thing for sure is: every system that goes online needs to be protected against such attacks. The bigger the website or organization, the more risk it is at.

Why do Passwords Leak

If you are into playing computer games and visiting online gaming websites, you should be aware of the potential cracking threats that your system is prone to. Gamers have the tendency to create accounts on many websites' forums and bulletin boards to get informed of the latest updates and cheats etc. When they create their accounts on many websites, they leave their usernames and passwords with them. The more information you have on internet, the more at threat you are. Moreover, humans are designed to be inclined towards simple and easy paths so we choose passwords that are easy to remember and this makes them much easier for the crackers to crack.

Various methods can be used to crack passwords like the brute force attack where a system is bombarded with commonly used words from a dictionary and this is where easy to remember passwords can be really helpful for the crackers. Downloading game mod is also a potential security threat. Such software can also contain viruses that are downloaded with them and settle in the PC, hidden from your reach and knowledge. Such viruses can also save keystrokes and hence your passwords and usernames or any such information can be leaked.

This article gives a brief overview of online gamer safety and the potential threats that a gamer's system is prone to. If you want a more detailed information on all possible types of attacks and how to protect your privacy, read The Gamer Safety Guide.


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Redirect on Google

One of the most annoying viruses out there on the web is the redirect on Google. It is very malicious and it is incredibly frustrating since it effectively cuts off the main way of surfing the web. Most anti-virus programs will not get rid of the problem and manual removal is almost impossible because of how complex the infection is. So i thought i would share with you some information on what the virus is, how it infects your system and gets your details and how to get rid of it:

• You know you have this virus when you search on Google and it redirects you to a website you didn't want to go to. This web page contains viruses and spyware that automatically download onto your system before installing themselves. The page also is designed to distract the person whilst the virus gets down to its dirty work. The problems begin after that when dangerous software starts logging everything you are doing online.

• After that happens you will have pop-ups appearing everywhere and it will then try to get access to your personal information such as bank account details, online shopping accounts and credit card details. It does this by monitoring you online habits and what you type in to information boxes to work out what your usernames and passwords might be.

• The Google redirect virus is very sophisticated so most manual removal methods have turned out to be unsuccessful. The intruder is so complex that even if you get rid of the registry and files that it has infected there will still be enough remnants left over for it to recreate itself and cause havoc once again.

• The redirect on Google does not infect your system like any other virus or spyware programme. Traditional antivirus software and spyware removal tools cannot get rid of it because of how different it is to other infections so you have to get specialist programs that only work on that problem but in my opinion they are well worth the money.

The redirect on Google is one of the most annoying viruses out there and it wreaks havoc on thousands of systems worldwide and wrecks many lives as well. These viruses have cropped up not out of hate but because people have the ability to make them, which makes the situation all the more annoying and frustrating. Since it is extremely difficult to remove it manually and all the high profile antivirus programs are not able to cope with it the only way to protect your system and yourself from the devastating effects of this infection is to get one of the many specialised removal programs out there.

The Google / Search redirect virus is one of the most common viruses of 2010, 2011 & 2012, infecting millions of computers around the World. Designed by expert hackers, it is highly annoying and will continually redirect your web searches to fake or dangerous websites. The main reason why this virus is is one of the most damaging is that it cannot be removed with traditional antivirus programs. Instead, you need to use special methods or tools to get rid of it, which have remained a mystery until now. To get rid of it click here


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Ukash Virus - Be Careful of Its Tricks!

Ukash virus belongs to a group of Trojans that lock infected computers. This group of PC parasites uses official institution's name in order to look credible and swindle people money using pre-paid cards like Ukash. Once a computer is blocked the user can see only a message. Usually the warning includes extracts from articles and laws related to copyrighted content, its usage and distribution. The user of the blocked PC is accused of a list of crimes. These may include illegal usage and distribution of copyrighted content, such as movies or music, viewing or distribution of pornographic content and similar crimes. To unblock the computer, according to the message, one must pay a fine using Ukash payment system. The message promises that system will be unlocked during 24 hours after the payment is made. It also scares the owner of the infected machine that if the fine is not paid, the computer might be confiscated and the person might be even imprisoned.

Alas paying the fine will not solve the problem. This is only a well thought scheme to extort the money. All looks very convincing therefore quite a lot of computer users pay the fine without investigating the problem deeper. One should not hurry up spending her money since this is clearly a scam. No official governmental institutions accept payments using prepaid payment systems like Ukash.

Usually a computer gets Ukash virus after visiting an infected website. This does not necessary have to be a site associated with such risks like pornography. It might be quite a regular and legitimate page you visit every day, just this time it is corrupted and serves malicious advertisement. Another way to get PC blocked is by downloading infected files. Ukash virus might be distributed using Trojans already present in your computer as well. If your computer does not have an updated antivirus program you are of a higher risk to be infected with such parasites.

As paying the fine does not unblock computer, one might ask how then to fix it. Use a comprehensive Ukash virus removal guide for more information. Do not forget to have updated antivirus program after your computer is fixed. This parasite, just like most of the Trojans, gets into PC through system vulnerabilities and security holes, especially Java or browser ones. Therefore it is highly recommended to invest your money into a reputable computer security rather than spend it on scam like Ukash virus.

Use this comprehensive Ukash virus removal guide to fix your computer and to save your money: http://www.2-viruses.com/remove-ukash-virus


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Choosing the Right Multiple Internet Connecting Devices

A Wireless Router is a device that is used to connect multiple devices at your house or work place. You can link multiple devices that can be connected through the internet at the same time. It has various benefits to the various users than its previous versions. Some of its features include USB 2.0 ports, file and print feature with server capability and spectrum band of 5 GHz. This is usually chosen for enhanced network and communication facilities. Stated below are some of the major features of the Wireless N Router.

1. USB 2.0 port: This is one of the greatest additions to this type of router as this port allows you to do many things compared to any other previous routers that you came across. This is because now you can plug your router to any devices at your home or office to give it wireless capability. This is most efficient if you have a colour printer that has a built in wireless facility.
2. File and print server capability: You can make a $200 worth printer to give it wireless capability. This is possible as you can easily plug Wireless Router in to the printer as you can attach a USB hard drive to the router to develop a file server also.
3. 5 GHz spectrum: This feature allows you to have a relatively better performance out of your Wireless N Router as more and more gadgets at your home or office have same wireless frequency as they are connected to it. This makes you to receive maximum output from these.

The Wireless Router has a very new specification that can operate on a wider frequency band; it is faster and also robust. This router comes under the classification of 802.11g. It was developed by IEEE in September 2009. It has MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output). This MIMO uses multiple antennas transmitters that can receive data that through special streams that takes place at a speed of 600 mbps. It also adheres to the stand theoretical speed of 300 mbps. Some Wireless N Router is upgradeable through a BIOS flash depending on the make of it.

The Wireless Router is more user-friendly as you can connect any gadgets such as cordless phones and cell phones. It has Bluetooth networking technology and also has two hand radios. There are several factors that contribute to the performance of the router such as network hardware, building materials, surrounding structure, configuration, topography etc. This enables it to have a very deep broadcast range and an ultra fast internet connection.

This is highly beneficial when you have a Wireless N Router as it can drastically increase the transfer rate, improve the productivity, keep track of the internet usage and save a lot of time. Also ensure that the router adapter or network card must comply with the model of router to provide you with good output as it would reflect on the rate of amount that you have invested in it. You can also seek the help of professionals to get the ideal wireless router.

NetGenie was established to provide quality and affordable wireless routers for home and businesses of every kind. It also offers a wide range of products and services related to WIFI router, Internet Parental Control, 3G Router and many more.


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The Dangers of a Redirection Virus

At first, Snap.do may seem like a regular browser extension capable of directing one to the best web pages and most useful online sources. Despite this, it has been researched that the application can be applied for malignant activities including phishing, malign advertisement attacks and digital identity theft. So far, many antivirus tools have failed to detect and remove Snap.do, mostly because this application originally causes no harm. Nonetheless, trusting the program may put any computer user at immense risk. Below I provide information regarding the clandestine infection that can easily corrupt computers running with Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or any other popular browser.

As mentioned before, the browser hijacker may resemble authentic search engines and can be downloaded from an official web site; however, this does not determine the reliability of the application. One of the factors letting us know that the product can be untrustworthy hides under the fact that it has been installed illegally on many Windows systems all over the world. The rule is simple - if you have not authorized the application to run, it definitely means trouble. On the other hand, if a computer user is downloading a free program and Snap.do is offered as an additional program, it also does not mean that one can, indeed, trust it. To say the least, cyber criminals and interested in activating the infectious plugin onto as many computers as possible and various infiltration strategies can be applied.

After the browser hijacker gets installed onto a computer, it can implement browser helper objects and tracking cookies to track online information about the actions carried out within an infected computer. This, in general, is completely justifiable, and different web sources often track virtual information for statistical or marketing purposes. This is not the case with the Snap.do. The program is supported by promotional revenue, meaning that it is interested in advertising anything that brings money to the developers. Schemers are willing to pay money to promote bogus advertisements, created accordingly to the infected system owner's interests, which is exactly why this browser hijacker is so dangerous.

The quickest way to recognize the hijacker running in a computer is by noticing browser setting modifications, including home page changes, setting reconfiguration and host file impairment. This feature can cause abrupt and uncontrollable web page redirection, which works as a way for cyber criminals to infect a computer with even more malicious products. Snap.do removal is the only logical step one could make, and if your operating system is infected with this application, there is no time to waste and implementing automatic removal software is the best option. Manual removal may be insufficient because of secretly running infections, and if you do not want your system taken over by virtual criminals you need to act now and delete infections timely.

For more information, click here, or follow the reference link.


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How Does McAfee Personal Firewall Work?

Why let your computer stay raw and unprotected when McAfee Personal Firewall is here to help you. McAfee Personal Firewall, which was first introduced in 2005 to McAfee security suites citing the growing importance of keeping safe online, is a personal firewall designed to check and control the incoming & outgoing traffic to and from a computer and keep unauthorized users from connecting to it. The tool has improved security levels, advanced security features that stand it apart from other firewall programs, and close integration with third-party applications to make sure non-disruptive functioning in a computer.

In this post, I am going to discuss how McAfee Personal Firewall works to protect users from online attacks and intrusions that sneak in their computers without their permissions. Let me tell you first that McAfee® Personal Firewall no longer comes as a standalone program. It now comes integrated with McAfee Total Protection, Internet Security, and Virus scan Plus McAfee security suites.

How McAfee Personal Firewall works:

The firewall has 6 security levels that pose as an unbeatable security barrier between your computer and the Internet. Whatever comes in and whatever goes out using your Internet connection is monitored and controlled to provide maximum protection and blockage against unauthorized intrusion and several types of threats and infections like viruses, spyware, bots, worms, and rootkits etc.

Below are the six levels that McAfee® Personal Firewall has:

Lockdown - This feature blocks all types of connections including yours that try to connect to your computer. It's like un-plugging the network cable to completely disconnect from the Internet connection.

Stealth - This feature blocks all those connections for which you didn't configure a rule for. So if a connection, which you haven't recognized as valid will not be able to connect to your network. If you want to allow a connection, you will have to let it be recognized first by the McAfee firewall by creating a rule.

Open - This feature allows you to make connection to all connection types. This is like disabling the firewall and making your network exposed to all the connections.

Tight - This feature allows one-time access to users for an application. If you want to grant further access to other users, you will need to configure it manually.

Standard - With this feature, you can grant other users access to multiple applications. You will again have to configure it manually if you want to continue granting access.

Trusting/automatic - This feature allows you to keep up little or no action at all to allow other connections to connect to your computer.

So, waiting is not an option if you want to keep your computer and Internet connection safe. Install a McAfee security suite with McAfee® Personal Firewall today and stay protected forever.

***Remember the above mentioned security levels may differ with various McAfee® Personal Firewall versions.

If you are looking for McAfee Antivirus Support, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201 For US/CA.

V tech-squad Inc. is the leading third-party service provider of certified online technical support services. Our Microsoft-certified technicians not only resolve virus/spyware removal issues but also educate you how to avoid your PC from future interaction with any type of worm, virus, or Trojan etc. Our top-class services include Microsoft product support, antivirus issues, malware issues, spyware issues, wireless router issues, printer issues, and non-computer devices etc.


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Do You Have A Search Redirecting Malware Problem?

These days our computers are plagued with all types of threats. One of the more common is a search redirecting malware. These annoyances will make you feel like picking up your computer and throwing it out of the window. But, don't! There is a solution.

What is Malware?

Malware, also known as malicious software, is software designed to intrude into your computer and contaminate it with adware, spyware, Trojan horses, worms, rootkits and computer viruses. Several of these are virtually harmless, but some can severely damage your computer. There are no honorable intentions for the creation of this software. Any time your computer is failing, running slow, short of memory, unable to boot up, redirecting searches, or showing excessive popups, there is probably a malware responsible. These have most recently been used primarily to extract personal and financial information for the profits of those who create them.

How Does Search Redirecting Malware Work?

This type of malware derives from rootkits which are embedded in your computers registry and program files as an administrator. Therefore, it is activated before your operating system and prevents anti-virus software from detecting or removing it. From there, it creates a redirect 'host' in your system files that sends your search to the designated web address it was designed to. A few examples of these web addresses are as follows:

Happili(dot)comLuxemil(dot)comSearch(dot)searchonme(dot)comBusinesslistingsearch(dot)netAds(dot)alpha0001(dot)comAim-search(dot)net

This list could go on for days. This is why this problem is so prevalent. So many of these web addresses appear innocent, but couldn't be further from it. In most cases, these web addresses send you to a group of paid to promote or ad sites that the creators of these malwares make profits from. These are not nearly as harmful as other malicious software's, but are a huge annoyance.

What Can Be Done To Remove Them?

There are two options: manually removal or automated removal. Both options can be performed yourself with the automated being the safest. When trying to remove these yourself, there will be several files that need to be deleted. If the wrong program is deleted accidentally, your computer could be ruined for good. There are several automated software's online that can detect and remove the search redirecting malware. There are a few good ones that are free, but the best will need to be bought at a relatively low cost. Pick whichever works best for you.

If you feel that you may have a search redirecting malware, the sooner you can get it taken care of the better. I think it's fair to say everyone with a computer uses a search engine almost daily. Don't allow this problem to slow your life down.

For more information about search redirects and a painless solution to your problem check out Search Redirecting Virus. Thanks for reading.


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A Call That Can Keep Your PC Threat Free

All of us purchase a new computer with a hope that it would be our companion for years. Though no matter how good a brand we choose, and how much we pay, unforeseen events can crop-up crashing our very best hopes. The intrusion of unwanted external threats into the PC is one among them. Severe enough to damage our precious device, these malicious infections, commonly virus, malware, and adware need to be removed from the computer as soon as possible. In general cases, a normal PC-user may not be able to detect and remove these security threats from his gadget. It is here that the role of an online tech support company comes into picture. An expert from the company can make a computer threat-free in a jiffy.

What is a tech support company and how to engage it?

A tech support company homes several certified experts who have the capabilities required to resolve technical complications arising with a computer. The company provides a toll-free number at which you can contact the expert and express your fears for which he finds elucidations in least possible time.

Immediate Action for the Call

Once you call a technician, he gains remote access to your PC to spot the glitch. If the problem is virus-related, the expert employs a free-to-use antivirus to diagnose your PC for threats. If you don't have a paid antivirus handy, he can explain the need of that and can suggest you the ones best suited for your PC. Moreover, he can also guide you to purchase a licensed one at your cost (support companies generally back licensed software only). Once you are done, the techie can install, activate, and configure it in your PC.

Scan to Spot Threats

Once the techie has installed and activated the antivirus he scans the computer to identify and remove infections. A virus removal expert can also schedule computer scan as per your convenience. This confirms that the computer is secured against malicious infections for a long time.

Trouble-free Antivirus Installation

An antivirus copy, if not properly installed, can cause conflicts with other installed software or can refuse to deliver desired results. The copy, if not downloaded in the right way, can also end up yielding no outcome. You can depend on a virus removal expert here as he digs out the exact cause for the issue and fixes it for you.

Update and Upgrade Antivirus

The experts can also update the installed antivirus copy at frequent intervals. If the copy is obsolete, the techie can also replace it with another advanced version. The new copy can be of the same or of a different security brand.

Online antivirus support companies are a real boon for any PC-user as they help him to safeguard the computer. Off late many such companies have sprouted, so to speak, as a result of which there is high level of competition among them. So whenever you require, you can always opt for a tech support company of your liking as their experts can ensure that your computer is free from all threats and extricate enchanting results.

I am passionate about technology and love to read and write on any topic associated with it. With the medium of writing and the power of the Internet, I share my views on technology with individuals across the world. That's exactly why I am here-to reach out to the audience and be a brand ambassador of ITechLine, the company I work for.

I combine my passion for writing with the computer knowledge I possess to come up with something that I believe makes sense.


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Keep Your PC Protected With Online Virus Removal Services

Is someone watching you over all the time when you are surfing the web or checking emails? Does your computer often go slow? Do you have to wait for a program to open up before you can actually use it? Do you see ads, pop-ups coming in and seizing your desktop? Do you feel scared when downloading your favorite songs, videos or apps from the web? Do you find others posting updates in your name on Facebook or Twitter etc.? I know many people, at some point in their lives have dealt with or are still dealing with such problems that will never have an end except that they can be handled carefully. No, don't take my words wrong. I mean to say such problems will continue to arise as their developers will never take rest from creating them. However, users can put up a line of defense on their computers and networks to prevent them from being compromised.

Compromised? Right, compromised is the word I would use for computers which at the great risk of being infected and infested with viruses, bots, worms, bugs, and Trojan horses among other dangerous infections. Your personal, banking, confidential information can be compromised and your computer will just be the most helpful alley to those hackers who would get it done instantly in the absence of a line of defense, a.k.a antivirus software or firewall. Besides a line of defense what's more is needed is the care, proper data backup and the armor of online virus removal support which stands by you day and night to help keep your computer free of those buggy viruses, spyware, and malware infections.

Online virus removal support is the best, simplest, and fastest way to deal with computer security issues that erupt out of nowhere to give you the scare of the lifetime. Online virus removal support is an absolute life saver solution which can help recover your computer from all such life-threatening infections that eat your computer's resources, steal the information stored on it and misuse it for thefts and other criminal activities. With online virus removal support services comes a great relief and comfort which can never be offered by the traditional on-site virus removal support services.

Online virus removal support helps you fix your computer security issues without abandoning your office or school work or leisure for that matter. You can happily go to work or get to play without worrying about your computer's safety and the data stored on it. You simply deserve a virus-free computer which lets you work, play and entertain without spewing spam zombies. And this is exactly what online virus removal support offers to you. Unlike traditional on-site virus removal services, online virus removal support removes viruses and all types of malware infections by remotely accessing your computer. This ensures you can get it done virtually anywhere from your home or office. You need not be sticking with your computer all the time while your computer is being recovered from the attack of a virus infection or hacker. You can email from your other computer, sip a cup of coffee and even go out to drop your kid to school while the technician remotely removes a virus infection from your computer without physically coming to your house.

Online virus support will not just remove viruses from your computer but also recover the data damaged by them after a computer crash. Besides, it will also fix slow speed, performance issues and scan your computer for potential threats. What's more you get complete freedom, safety and best price. Online technical support is very much affordable than the traditional virus removal services. You can take a yearly cover to protect your computer and the network from virus infections and other such online attacks. Remember, having an antivirus or firewall installed on your computer doesn't guarantee complete protection and safety from the ever-growing cyber threats. However, an online virus support service can guarantee 24x7 365 days a year guard, protection, and peace of mind to you.

V tech-squad Inc. is the leading third-party service provider of certified online technical support services. Our Microsoft-certified technicians not only resolve virus/spyware removal issues but also educate you how to avoid your PC from future interaction with any type of worm, virus, or Trojan etc. Our top-class services include Microsoft Technical Support, antivirus issues, malware issues, spyware issues, wireless router issues, printer issues, and non-computer devices etc. If you are looking for Microsoft Product Support, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201 For US/CA.


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How Do You Get a Virus on a Computer

How do you get a virus on a computer? It's a good question and the answer to it will go a long way to helping you to protect your system, personal details and family and friends. Most viruses can be avoided by knowing what signs to look for when it comes to everyday tasks like checking email and downloading documents, so I am going to answer this question and hopefully help you prevent anything catastrophic from ever entering your computer.

-One of the main entry points for viruses is through your email inbox. Most people use email every day now and it has become our first point of contact with big companies we want to get in touch with and when we want to share pictures and files with family and friends. That is however where the problem lies. The email itself is not malicious but it is when you download an attachment that the trouble starts to begin. Most mail readers will automatically download this content which just essentially opens the front door to your computer and leaves all your data vulnerable. Best practise in this situation is to disable the automatic download so you can check the email first to see if it could be corrupt. Never open anything you were not expecting or anything from friends that is out of character.

-Not updating your security program should not need be an obvious example but it is still a major factor in letting in viruses. If you don't update your system then you are leaving it exposed to the new viruses that are being created all the time. The same goes for internet plugins. If you are not updating them then you are losing one of your main defences against a virus.

- Downloading pirated software or music/film from a dodgy site is another way to get a virus. When you download a file from a site that looks dodgy there is a good chance you are watching a virus go straight onto your computer. Look for reviews first to see whether the site is reputable. If it has a chequered past then stay well away and buy the item from a certified retailer.

-It may seem obvious as one of the first things you get when you buy a new system but many people still don't have any form of spyware protection or antivirus. This doesn't leave the door to your computer open but it means that once a virus comes in via an infected email or a dodgy file you will have no way to detect it or get rid of it.

Following simple steps like not opening emails you weren't expecting, updating your security programs regularly, only buy music and films from proper retailers and making sure that you have antivirus and spyware protection will go a long way to stopping any viruses from getting on to your computer and ruining your life. Knowing the answer, to a question like how do you get a virus on a computer, is half the battle in knowing how to protect yourself and others that could get infected via you system.

The Google / Search redirect virus is one of the most common viruses of 2010, 2011 & 2012, infecting millions of computers around the World. Designed by expert hackers, it is highly annoying and will continually redirect your web searches to fake or dangerous websites. This virus cannot be removed with regular software but there are specialist ones out there. Click to find out more


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Cyber Attacks and Your Money

During the last month, there were cyber attacks to our banks from foreign countries. These attacks denied many people access to their banking by overloading the system. I check my online banking daily, so I was one of many who could not get access my bank's website to view my account, or make any transactions.

These attacks have caused many people to become concerned about their money. I don't know if these concerns are real or not. Most large companies have very sophisticated computers with extensive backup systems.

However I do see some experts predicting that there might be some problems in the future, either from viruses or other computer problems beyond my understand.

So is our money safe in our banks? And if not, what should we do?

I trust that our financial institutions are doing everything possible to protect our computers and financial records. I believe we have some of the most intelligent and well-trained people in the world protecting our computers and guarding against potential problems.

Having said that, I do believe that there are certain things everyone should do to protect their money and any situation that may arise to come between us and our money.

Here are the basics.

1. Keep an adequate supply of food and the other necessities of life in your home to ride out a short-term crisis.

2. Keep a little extra cash in your home, in small and large bills. If you can't access the money in your bank, you want to have cash available to buy items where business is still being conducted.

You need a mix of both large and small bills. You do not to have to give someone a $10 bill for a bottle of water when they don't have any change.

3. Keep a paper copy of your money in banks or other saving vehicles. Make sure that it is current. If you have an online bank, be sure to print your bank statement monthly and keep it in a safe place in your home.

Finally, be sure and protect your personal computer. Have a good virus program installed on your computer, and back up your information to a travel disk (USB flash drive) and also use an online backup service to store your information.

No one can predict what may or may not happen. However we can do our part to protect our personal information.

Remember, if you get hungry, you cannot count on the government delivering a fresh loaf of bread to your doorstep. If everyone prepares and works together, we will all do better in handling any cyber attacks and potential emergencies together.

About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at http://www.frugalhappyfamilies.com/ - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!


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How Do You Delete a Virus?

This is a question that is asked all the time and it is a serious one because if a virus remains on your system then it has the potential to destroy your life. So here are some methods for getting rid of it:

- The most obvious way to remove a virus from your computer is to get some antivirus software. You can buy ones or you can get a free version. For it to be effective you must keep it updated so it can detect and get rid of the latest Virus. Once you install the software it will use its information bank of virus definitions to detect and remove an intruder from your system. Different products have different information banks which mean that some will remove certain viruses but not others.

- If you are the DIY kind of person then with some basic knowledge you can remove it yourself but there are risks to doing long-term damage to your system.

-You will need to check your LOCAL_HKEY_USER folder to see if any if the registry files have been infected.

-If you find of your registry files with weird names or with inflated sizes then remove them.

-You will then need to remove all the exe files that are with the virus. These can be found in the program files folder in your C: drive.

-I can't stress enough how careful you have to be when removing viruses manually and insist you purchase a program or get a professional to do it.

-Make sure you check that any virus software you buy is not a scam. There are many programs out there that pass itself off as antivirus software when what it really is a program that ushers viruses into your system and once they are in there they literally destroy your computer. They make it virtually unusable meaning you have to scrap the old device and get a new one. This also means that you lose any important files and are putting your banking details at risk.

Best thing to do is to do a search for the program and you should get a good idea of whether it is a scam or not pretty quickly.

How do you delete a virus is a question that is asked a lot and the best answer is just to do your best not to get a virus in the first place. Install antivirus programs and Check to see if the program you're using is a scam. This will give a virus little chance of getting on to your system meaning you shouldn't have to need to try and delete it.

The Google / Search redirect virus is one of the most common viruses of 2010, 2011 & 2012, infecting millions of computers around the World. Designed by expert hackers, it is highly annoying and will continually redirect your web searches to fake or dangerous websites. The main reason why this virus is is one of the most damaging is that it cannot be removed with traditional antivirus programs. Instead, you need to use special methods or tools to get rid of it, which have remained a mystery until now. Find out more


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Detecting And Removing Spyware From Your System

Malicious software is a very big issue for all internet users today. Millions of people have had to purchase a new computer thanks to a adware attack, with the damages from all these viruses estimated to be in the billions.

Before you can prevent this from happening to your system, you must first have some understanding of how to detect and remove these viruses. The sole purpose of spyware is for collating confidential and private information from a computer, which can later be used or sold to others. If you have little understanding of how to remove them, then your computer is potentially at risk.

Up to 70% of internet users today keep their entire private and confidential information on their system, so you can only imagine what would happen if computer hackers were to get a hold of it. There are six steps that you must take in order to suitably protect your system.

1. The first thing that you need is anti-spyware software, one that supports real time protection, and firewall software. Anti-spyware applications are designed to fight this specific threat, in addition to that, they're also capable of detecting malware, Trojans and key loggers.

The software that I recommend you use would have to be AVG internet security, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and Spybot Search and Destroy. For software that supports real time protection, you may want to consider Zonealarm Security Suite.

For the firewall, I use Zonealarm, which is free and is currently rated amongst the best.

2. After you have downloaded all these applications to your computer, you will first have to update all of them. The reason why you have to do this is so the software can detect all of the latest threats.

3. After that, run all the software, one after the other, scanning your system for any infections. If you didn't have any protection software on your computer before, then it's likely you'll have tons of infections present on it.

4. After you have removed all the threats found on your system, you'll then have to initiate the firewall software, this way; hackers will no longer be able to gain access to your system.

5. After you've done that, go into safe mode and run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware again. This will allow you to remove all the viruses that these applications were unable to detect and/or remove due to share file violation issues.

6. You may also want to install McAfee SiteAdvisor so that you can better avoid visiting phishing and malicious websites. This way you can ensure that your system is optimally secure.

Uchenna Ani-Okoye has been writing articles online for many years now. For information on electronic gadgets and computers, including any questions that you may want answered, advice on specific products and recommendations, check out his latest websites kindle paperwhite and how to speed up your computer


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An Overview Of The Google Redirect Virus

Most people will have had computer viruses on their computer, probably without even realising it. This is because many of the average computer viruses out there are easily detected by anti-virus software programs and thus removed. There is one virus in particular, that is much harder to detect and even harder to remove. The virus I am referring to is the Google Redirect Virus. We will now look at what the Google Redirect Virus actually is, why it is so hard to detect and remove and the damage it can cause.

Whereas other viruses run from an application or file hidden on your computer, the Google Redirect Virus is different. It is a type of virus known as a BHO (Browser Hijack Object) or Trojan Horse virus. This virus is caught by your computer through downloading anything from MP3's, screensavers, videos and music files from illegitimate and unofficial websites. Once it is on your computer, it alters your internet browser files and settings and then removes itself from the hard drive, leaving no trace of its existence.

The way it affects your computer is hinted at in the name. Basically, anytime you search through Google on the web, or any other search engine you will be redirected to a completely unrelated and often dangerous website. Sometimes instead of being redirected to an unconnected website, your search will lead you to a constant stream of ads and pop-up windows. This can be frustrating and annoying if it happens every time and can cause your computer to run slowly.

Although you cannot use normal anti-virus software to detect and stop this virus, there are some indicators that would suggest your computer is infected.

These include -

As mentioned above, your internet searches lead you to unrelated websites, ads and pop-up windows.

A changed desktop background, so if yours has changed, and you aren't sure why it may be this virus.

Trying to click through to a website that sells or gives anti-virus information or downloads is blocked.

Your homepage is changed, and not by you, when you try to change it back you can't.

Alterations have been made to your Windows HOSTS file.

Your internet browsers run slower when loading sites and pages than they normally are.

The majority of symptoms, caused by this virus are a nuisance more than anything else; there are a few more serious side effects. Along with the bogus and useless websites, it may redirect you to; it could also redirect you to potentially dangerous websites. Further to this, the virus can often disable your firewalls and other security programs that help protect your computer and the information you keep on it. This in turn may lead to more and more viruses infecting your computer and causing you yet more problems.

So if you feel your computer may be suffering the effects of the Google Redirect Virus, do not despair as there are some ways to get rid of it. As the virus is actually made up of different individual layers, these need to be tackled separately. This is not an easy thing to do but is not impossible.

There are two ways that this virus can be dealt with; they are manual removal; this method would be for the experienced user, and online removal tools, which are for those of us that, apart from not wishing to lose our data, like the easy way of doing things.

The author Luke Clayhill, after twice being infected with this type of virus now provides methods of Removing Redirect Virus easily.


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I Just Got The FBI Warning Virus Now What?

The recent outbreak of the FBI Virus also known as Greendot and MoneyPak FBI Virus has made its way across the great wide web and onto computers throughout Burien, Des Moines, Seattle, and the greater Puget Sound area.

A common misconception about the FBI Virus is that it is different than other unwanted software.

First, the program is not actually a virus but is categorized as Malware, or in this case Hoaxware, a subset of Malware. The hoax of this Hoaxware comes in the form of a warning that the FBI has locked you out of your computer for violating some unknown policy. The program creates more psychological damage and downtime than harm to your computer. While the initial fear of being watched and locked out of your own computer by a government agency is more than frightening, take a deep breath and realize you are not public enemy number one.

With all the stories and movies we have seen and heard about mysterious and secretive government agencies that are supposed to "protect" it's citizens, who honestly would want to deal with the real FBI agency? We've seen movies of men in black suites and ties, white shirts, and translucent coils neatly tucked behind one ear. Creators of malicious programs know that fear will drive someone to do any and everything to keep them out of harms way, Including paying a ransom to access their own computer.

Having battled an extensive amount viruses, malware, worms, and rootkits, rest assured that removal of the FBI Virus is not as bad as it looks. Like its predecessors it first masquerades itself as a legitimate program in order to imbed itself into the Windows operating system. Next, it will attempt to keep you from doing anything other than the intended action - giving $200.00 to the very same people who conned their way onto your PC. It will try to keep you from going online, launching an anti-spyware program, other security related software or any other software installed on the computer.

The best way to remove it, is to have an experienced professional dissect and eradicate the virus from your computer. The malware doesn't erase data however, backing up your data is always a good idea when removing malicious programs as some may alter or destroy data upon removal. Always leave an infected computer turned off until the data can be backed up onto another hard drive.

For more information visit: http://www.primo-pc.com/


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Lessons From Sandy for IT, Managers and All of Us

For some, life will never be the same after Hurricane Sandy. Lives and loved ones have been lost. Homes have been lost. Businesses are still closed and some will never reopen.

Trust has been lost. Trust in the notion that life can be stable and predictable has been shattered for many. Trust in the institutions that we depend but take for granted, like the power company, has been damaged.

More than 2 weeks after landfall, 5,000 homes in NJ and 80,000 on Long Island are still without power. There are tunnels and bridges still not open and mass transit still not on normal schedules. Commuters are still feeling the pain and business are still being disrupted. Rebuilding and repair has barely started.

However, we are far enough along on recovery that we can start to look back to find the lessons that must be learned to protect us the next time, God forbid, a disaster such as this befalls us again. These same lessons do not just apply to protecting are homes from natural disasters, but can be applied to protecting are businesses and technology infrastructure from both natural and man-made disasters.

It doesn't matter if your web site is down because power is out or you are the target of a Denial of Service attack. Down means you are out of business, unless you are prepared.

Complacency is our Enemy

The greatest enemy of preparedness is complacency.

Complacency is a hard tendency to fight because we are talking about worst case scenarios. Fortunately, they don't happen very often, and when they do they don't impact everyone equally. It is easy to think, consciously or not, that the warnings are from alarmists and that it won't happen to me!

Take Hurricane Irene, the last monster storm that hit this area just one year ago. Like Sandy it was billed as potentially the worst storm in the history of the New York region. We were told that 100 mph winds could blow out the windows of New York skyscrapers and Jersey shore could be completely underwater.

Well, it wasn't that bad. I was living near the shore at that time and evacuated to North Jersey. As it turned out I was in more danger from falling trees and downed power lines where I evacuated to than the water in my neighborhood.

I got through Irene fine, so I shouldn't be so concerned about Sandy.

One problem with that reasoning: Irene was still very bad and not everyone got through it fine.

My brother had to live without power and water for 9 days after Irene. His basement flooded. He had a sump pump, but what good is that if you don't have electricity to run it?

Start with Prevention

The best strategy does not focus entirely on recovery, but includes prevention. How can I prevent a hurricane? You can't, but you secure your property in a variety of ways that prevent damage.

You can't prevent a hacker from attacking your network, but you can secure your network and computers in a variety of ways that prevent them from accomplishing their dirty work. As with a natural disaster, you should also set up multiple lines of defense, a so called layered approach. If one line fails, the next line may still do the job.

Every point that connects your network to the internet or other networks requires a firewall and malware protection. If your software is perfect, that would be enough to protect all of the computers on your network.

Except, nothing is ever perfect in life. You need to have antivirus scanning and a personal firewall on every computer on your network. I prefer scanners that use a sandbox as an extra layer of protection. If there is any doubt about a program, they run it in an isolated system that allows you to use the program but still protect your computer.

Website operators can also use services provided by companies that scan web sites on a daily basis and identify threats and vulnerabilities.

You Need a Backup Plan

In the event that a disaster does occur, what is most important in the both the natural world and the cyber world is that you are prepared with backups and redundancies. You can't predict exactly what will go wrong, but you know what your points of failure are.

Before the storm I made a point to backup all of my data files in case my home computer was damaged in some way. Backups need to be off site, to another location in a different region. If your computer is underwater it doesn't help if your backup is underwater too!

One of the greatest mistakes in backing up files is to keep backups for too limited a period. If you discover a virus on a system, it doesn't help if all your backups are also infected.

I also pulled out my old laptop and bought a car charger for it. If the power goes out, I could still keep working because I had a redundant system.

Companies need to do the same thing with their data centers and web sites. If you are down because of an attack, natural or man-made, you should be able to cut over to another system.

Urgency

We tend not to prepare for a natural disaster until it is looming before us. The stores were packed here yesterday with people stocking up on food, water, batteries and other supplies.

With cyber disasters you can't wait until the last minute because you never know when that will be. Almost every day there is a news story about a new cyber-attack or malware disaster.

For the man-made threats of cyber criminals you must constantly review your technology and processes to make sure you are protected. Antivirus and firewall products that are fine today may be inadequate tomorrow.

You should assume that you are the next target because you may well be!


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The Best Anti Virus Spyware Removers

I've never understood what drives gifted computer programmers to spend their time creating viruses, worms, and other malware. They could be doing something good for all of Humanity with their amazing abilities, but instead they're coding and releasing programs that exist for no reason but to destroy. If you're using a computer that has any kind of connection to the Internet (and if you're reading this, you probably are), your system is in some way exposed to these nasty programs. Thankfully, there are a few good guys out there who are developing programs to combat these nasty executables. In this guide to anti virus spyware removers, I'll tell you about a few of the best and give you tips to keep your computer safe.

The first line of defense against virus and malware infestations is a home firewall. There are two types of firewalls - software and hardware. For the absolute highest in personal security, a hardware-based firewall is the best choice. By isolating the examination and quarantine of suspect files to a completely separate machine, the chances of infecting other machines in the network is heavily reduced. However, hardware firewalls can be expensive and require some network modification. A simpler option is a software firewall, which adds a layer of protection between your modem and your operating system. A number of free or shareware firewalls that work as anti virus spyware removers exist, but my favorite is PC Tools Firewall Plus, which monitors network connection processes robustly and clearly.

In addition to a firewall, it's a good idea to install a monitoring program to your system to evaluate incoming and outgoing network requests and remove downloads and installations of unwanted programs. My favorite anti virus spyware remover in this category is Spybot Search & Destroy. Not only does it clean your system out of all sorts of unwanted gunk that can compromise your security and privacy, it also monitors your communications and pops up a warning whenever an external program tries to make suspicious changes on your hard drive.

In my opinion, the absolute best anti virus spyware remover to use when your system has been infected is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. This program, which is free to download and use but costs $24.95 to register, is by far the most effective program for removing spyware from your system. Using an advanced heuristic scanning technology, a full system scan with Anti-Malware takes much less time than some other products, and can even neutralize some very nasty advanced programs like Searchpoint without much trouble. The user interface isn't as simple as some other programs, but under the hood this baby is the best ride on the block.

Hopefully with these virus programs you will be able to keep your home computing environment safe and secure from anything that may come down the pipe.


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Why Are Android Phones Being Targeted By Malware Attackers

Computers, laptops and PC tablets are not the only devices that are targeted by malicious software developers but smartphones have now joined the list of the most threatened devices by intruders. There has been a steady rise on the number of attacks, which are targeted on smartphones and this means that people need to watch out for the malware. Apparently, the number of malware is so huge that people may not be able to identify them and it means that comprehensive information dissemination is required to educate smartphone users on the threats posed by malicious software.

Android in particular, tops the list of smartphones that are threatened by malware attackers. There are various reasons why android smartphones are being eyed by attackers. One of major reason is that there are many people using android devices. It is estimated that globally, android takes a commanding lead in smartphone market. Around 6 out of every 10 smartphone users own an android device.

This figure translates to around 52.3 percent of the smartphone market. These devices are owned by people who run businesses and this could mean that hackers and cybercriminals are looking for ways in which they can steal confidential business and personal details like bank account information.

Another reason is that smartphone users do not upgrade or update their operating systems. Those users who are running older versions of android OS are at higher risk of being attacked than those who update their operating system platforms regularly. Usually older versions of the operating systems are not protected of malicious codes and will most likely be attacked easily.

Moreover, lack of knowledge is another reason, which could be causing the increased attacks on android smartphones. Not every user is aware of the different malware threats found on the internet. There is a misconception by smartphone users that these devices are not susceptible to malware and virus attacks.

The term malware and virus has in the past been associated with personal computers and laptops but this is not the case today. There is a notion that smartphones run on different OS platforms, which are not vulnerable to hackers, phishers and cybercriminals and this has left many users suffering from ignorance. There is laxity among users in enhancing security measures to protect their devices and this substantiates the reasons why many do not even bother to update their OS features.

Another reason is that these users do not know what to do about the security issues pertaining to their devices. Although PC and laptop users have gained more knowledge on how to prevent malware vulnerabilities, on the other hand, smartphone users seem to lag behind in observing ways to protect their devices. It is also argued that android software developers are not providing timely patches and updates to their consumers' devices.

It is estimated that more than 50 percent of android smartphones contain unpatched vulnerabilities. Various androids are released in the market with outdated software and more so, these programs are never updated once sold to consumers. This has created a loophole in protecting android devices and hackers have take advantage of such shortfalls. Android carriers and manufacturers should make sure that the software programs they release in the market are updated continuously to protect their consumers. In essence, the fight against android malware attacks is the responsibility of both developers and users.


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Computer Viruses and Threats and Staying Clear Of Them

Computer viruses have been on the rise and they have been giving people using the internet a very hard time and especially at the present times. The biggest danger with the viruses is that they are easily transmitted across computers and this is possible through very many avenues just as the people creating them have intended. Their intentions are also varied chiefly stealing personal data and secondly gaining control of networks and computers and lastly another of their intentions will be the malicious damage to information and infrastructure. The viruses are able to spread extremely fast and this is perhaps the biggest danger since they will be found in email attachments, as funny images, as even audio and video files and lots of other material which can be found online and downloaded for use on a personal computer.

Every computer owner and user should be wary of being a recipient of viruses. The fear of a virus attack is always very big and this arises also from the fear of the unexpected. Not everyone will really fear the viruses and some people especially in the cyber security niche will take their time to study various different computer viruses to identify how they have been programmed and the kind of damage they have been programmed to cause and lastly how they are able to spread. Having known these important pieces of information, an individual will have the necessary information to keep themselves protected and maintain cyber security. The information here is about knowing about the risk and how to deal with it far from knowing the consequences which when they finally happen are devastating. A look at some of the viruses frown at present will unearth different types which are the browser-hijackers which are usually aimed at raising advertising revenue by criminals via the directing of the browser to different websites and to voluntary download.

To mention just a few types of viruses known today, we will find the boot sector viruses, the web scripting viruses, the macro viruses, the file infector viruses, the resident viruses and the polymorphic viruses. These are just but a few of the viruses and are not an exhaustive list of the viruses known to man today. Aside from the viruses which are a big security threat, there are the worms, spyware, malware, rogue security software and the Trojans. These are threats which are equally devastating just like the viruses but are not as technically similar to the viruses.

The viruses have the potential to cause irreparable damage on the computer or the network and this has to do with the kind of problems that they are capable of causing. Of utmost importance is to have basic knowledge about the security threats and to know what measures to take to always be on the safe side. It is important that an individual knows some of the symptoms of the attacks by viruses. These will help prevent further damage being realized on the computer or on a network. The most obvious indications of the infection by viruses include the hard drive of the computer constantly running out of space. Computer programs will usually take quite a long time to load which is not normally the case. The programs will also be exhibiting inconsistent behavior which cannot be explained. The appearance and the disappearance of files in the computer is also a classic example of viruses having infected the computer. Other symptoms will be the display of strange graphics on the computer monitor, conventional memory reducing by a big margin among other changes which cannot be explained.

The most important steps to take so that an individual is able to protect himself from the Trojans and the computer viruses especially when online, begins with caution. Beware of downloads and the exchanging of files and documents. Open attachments only in the event that the author and the origin of the files are known. It certainly helps to side step any form of trouble. Antivirus software is another way to keep your PC protected from virus attacks. The antivirus software should always be updated to surely prevent any attacks. The process has been simplified and this has been so through automated updates being enabled with the antivirus software available today. Configure browsers to make sure that they do not launch programs automatically like the MS Word especially with the continued risk of macro viruses. Lastly, do a back up of the system which allows that an infected file will be replaced with a non infected file.

There are companies which are committed to preventing the spread of computer viruses and threats, like KaspAV, a division of Guardian Network Solutions and authorized Kaspersky reseller. KaspAV specializes in providing the ultimate cyber security solutions in order to prevent harmful types of viruses from lodging into your system and facilitate safe web browsing. Visit us by clicking on the link to speak to any of our consultants.


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Malwarebytes Not Working? Try These 3 Ways To Still Find And Destroy The Google Search Virus

Google search virus symptoms are some of the most frustrating of all the issues on your PC. For most of us, being able to search for information online is paramount in the necessity for the computer in the first place! By now, most of us have heard of and downloaded Malwarebytes Anti-Malware onto our computers and used it. But, what if you have Google search virus symptoms and run the MBAM scan with results showing no threats? Try these 3 ways to find and destroy the Google search virus.

Remove and update your Malwarebytes Anti-Malware program on your computer. Depending on which type of Google Search Virus you have, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware does have the capability of picking up the threat. Overall, MBAM is a great malware scanner. But, that doesn't always make it a good rootkit scanner or rootkit remover. MBAM stays extremely current and needs to update at least a couple of times a week to keep up with the new variations of viruses and rootkits.

Add a really good free rootkit scanner and rootkit remover to your computer. There are several good programs dedicated to being a good rootkit detector. Instead, you want to look for a program that is a rootkit scanner and rootkit remover. Some of the better ones out there right now are Kaspersky TDSS Killer and Avast Anti-Rootkit for those of us not well versed in IT(information Technology). The instructions are fairly simple. For those of you that are more experienced, some great rootkit scanner and rootkit remover programs are GMER and RootRepeal.

If you're a computer expert, use a configuration display program to find to your rootkit(s) and then manually remove. I strongly advise against trying this if your not highly knowledgable with computers. There are also some highly effective programs available to assist with displaying the startup configuration(as you probably know, google search viruses automatically start before your operating system). Ironically, the two best I've found are both made by sUBs. These are DDS and ComboFix. DDS will only reveal your configuration. ComboFix, on the otherhand, is an automatic rootkit scanner and rootkit remover for the ones it can then creates a log of the remaining configuration threats to be addressed manually.

There are lots of options for removing malware from your computer such as rootkits that cause the Google Search Virus. Like any thing else there are several approaches to fixing the problem depending on your skill level.

If your like me, you'd rather skip the headache and go to a reliable, guaranteed, and fast solution to this problem. For more information into this problem and solution check out Search Redirecting Virus. Thanks for reading.


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Antispam and the Intricacies of Effectively Dealing With Spam

Spam has been a big issue for long. It has been difficult to deal with but ways are being developed day by day to deal with such issues. There has been a study that has been conducted over a period of time and it came to being that most spam for example emails come from the Eastern part of the world and to be specific from China. Spam is very hard to deal with and you will often find very many hurdles in dealing with spam.

There have been ways that have been brought about for fighting or simply avoiding spam. There are several ways of ducking spam emails that have been brought about and they include the use of antispam software that will act easily to detect any spam email that comes into your inbox and most importantly before you download anything including an email. This software is very effective for it will act by deleting or sending back the spam email to the sender. This will then appear to you as an invalid email or as an email from an invalid sender. You can either way have the option of creating a new email address if your old one is spammed too much. You will just have to inform the persons involved like your friends that you have changed your email address. You will have saved yourself from great agony of finding a lot of spam mails in your inbox.

The creation of a new email address would be probably the best way to deal with the spam email for you can do this for even a couple of times after a short period. The only thing that may seem difficult is issuing your new email address again but this would be worth regarding the number of spam mail that you receive on a single day. There is also another way of countering the spam emails but this one only works well if the person involved receives a limited number of spam emails in a day or in a specific amount of time. This will work by ignoring all the spam emails that you will receive and by this you can easily prevent more from coming since the sender may have the feeling that is a dormant email.

Spam emails have been referred to as a threat for they can cause a lot of damage to the person involved. This can be in for of a link that is sent to you as an email and once you click on it, you will enable the sender to get your account log ins and will then gain access to your email. There are also other links that will enable software get installed automatically in your computer and this can also help the sender gain access to your computer. It is for this reason that you should dedicate some time to read well your emails so that you can easily detect such a spam email that may have a suspicious link embedded onto it. This will enable you make informed decisions on the way to handle them or the way you can get yourself out of the problem.

There is also another way of dealing with these emails that you will find suspicious by reporting them as spam on your email account options. This will help you so much for all emails you will receive from the same sender will directly be posted in the spam mail box. You will then have to be extra careful for this will not mean that you cannot receive spam emails. There are new ones that will come and this means that you will have to be careful as you read your emails so that you can easily detect the spam emails and take action on them or decide what the wisest thing to do is.

You should however never reply to any spam email or a suspicious email that you are not very sure about its source. This should include even doing anything that you have been directed to do in the email this can include clicking on links embedded on the email. This is very dangerous for it will make the sender know that the email is an active one and they can work tirelessly towards getting more of your private information.

There are companies which are committed to preventing the spread of spam, like KaspAV, a division of Guardian Network Solutions and authorized Kaspersky reseller. KaspAV specializes in providing the ultimate anti-spam solutions in order to prevent harmful types of viruses from lodging into your system and facilitate safe web browsing. Find us on the link and we together can find a solution to this menace.


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The Importance of Firewall

All over the world, millions of people now own a personal computer or interact with other internet-capable devices, especially at work. Without question, the internet provides increased functionality for the people who are involved either in communication, work tasks, the search and collection of information, online shopping/financial transactions. People are able to make sure that the quality of life they lead has more value and life is much easier. With so many advantages, the internet is, to many, a necessity. However, there are some serious negative aspects which have to be considered when using the internet. Caution is especially advised to avoid falling prey to some of the snares set about by the criminals.

There are criminals as well as hackers who are lurking out there with ill intentions, often waiting upon unsuspecting internet users to make their moves. Some measures are vital before connecting to the internet and conducting any business. Once you're online the risk of falling into the hands of criminals is very high. This is where security software and applications come in and their purpose is to defend an internet user from the attacks and malicious actions of criminals. One very important security application is the firewall which acts as an intermediary between the internet and the personal computer or the network.

Many people will ask how the firewall is installed and especially how to go about getting the firewall and the options available. The answer to this and a welcome relief is that almost all operating systems come with a firewall which is already built in and all that is needed to make sure that the firewall is already on. The most common operating systems which have the firewall are those which operate with windows and primarily prevent attacks. Some minor configurations changes can be made as to which are the programs to restrict or to allow to run on the personal computer. In the scenario where an individual doest know exactly what to do, then help can be solicited from the internet to find help on how to configure the settings with your firewall. This is important since nobody would want to erroneously render the firewall useless.

The firewall is a prominent security software which should be installed in every computer to make each computer secure from attacks. It will not only protect the computer but it also protects your identity when online and from hackers who intend to steal your identity and use it to perpetrate all manner of actions and transactions. When the firewall is installed, it is made such that it will protect you from the hackers and other unauthorized users from gaining access or breaking through and using your network any moment you get online. The firewall is usually made to work in such a manner that it is always monitoring data which is leaving and entering the network and the personal computer when connected to the internet. The mode of operation is that the data packets are scanned against the set security criteria after which the data packet is allowed for transfer if it is considered safe. The best kind of firewall protection is that offered by the two way firewall protection which is able to filter outbound and the inward bound traffic hence preventing threats and providing total and complete protection. With the firewall in place, then the malware, viruses, the Trojans and any other malicious scripts will not be in a position to interfere and even get hold of your network or your computer. Firewall act as an intrusion detection system able to especially guard against incoming threats.

In conclusion, the firewall is usually available in two forms which are all important in protecting computers and the network as well. The major categories of the firewall are the firewall hardware especially for networked computers and the firewall software for the personal computers. Always ensure that the personal computer has the firewall as the first line of defense.

Go to AstaroWall for advanced firewall and unified threat management solutions. Astarowall specializes in providing the ultimate firewall hardware and software in order to prevent attacks and threats to your system and facilitate safe web browsing within your business or home network.


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Cybersecurity: Playing Defense and Offense in Cyberspace and the Economy

In the early years of cyberattacks, organizations would wait to be attacked before they developed a comprehensive plan and response to the attacker. The attack would render the organizations' network presence useless and down for days. Several reasons cyberattacks could severely cripple a network in the early days of this malicious behavior are not enough concentrated research on defending and preventing and the lack of a coordinated effort between private industry and the government.

Since the first well known and wide spread cyberattack in the mid-1990's, many professionals in public and private organizations have diligently been studying and working on the problem of cyberattacks. Initially security companies like Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro, etc. approached the problem from a reactive posture. They knew hackers/malicious attackers were going to strike. The goal of what is now called Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) was to detect a malicious attacker before an anti-virus, Trojan horse, or worm was used to strike. If the attacker was able to strike the network, security professionals would dissect the code. Once the code was dissected, a response or "fix" was applied to the infected machine(s). The "fix" is now called a signature and they are consistently downloaded over the network as weekly updates to defend against known attacks. Although IDS is a wait and see posture, security professionals have gotten much more sophisticated in their approach and it continues to evolve as part of the arsenal.

Security professionals began looking at the problem from a preventive angle. This moved the cybersecurity industry from defensive to offensive mode. They were now troubleshooting how to prevent an attack on a system or network. Based on this line of thinking, an Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) called Snort (2010) was soon introduced. Snort is a combination IDS and IPS open source software available for FREE download. Using IDS/IPS software like Snort allows security professionals to be proactive in the cybersecurity arena. Though IPS allows security professionals to play offense as well as defense, they do not rest on their laurels nor do they stop monitoring the work of malicious attackers which fuels creativity, imagination, and innovation. It also allows security professionals that defend the cyberworld to stay equal or one step ahead of attackers.

Cybersecurity also plays an offensive and defensive role in the economy. In its cybersecurity commercial, The University of Maryland University College (2012) states there will be "fifty-thousand jobs available in cybersecurity over the next ten years." The school has been running this commercial for more than two years. When the commercial first began running they quoted thirty-thousand jobs. They have obviously adjusted the forecast higher based upon studies as well as the government and private industry identifying cybersecurity as a critical need to defend critical infrastructure.

Cybersecurity can play economic defense by protecting these jobs which deal with national security concerns and must remain the in the United States. The cybersecurity industry is driven by national security in the government realm and intellectual property (IP) in the private industry space. Many U.S. companies complain to the government about foreign countries hi-jacking their software ideas and inventions through state sponsored and organized crime hackers. Given that foreign countries condone state sponsored national security and intellectual property attacks, it would be to the benefit of companies to find human capital within the shores of the United States to perform the duties and tasks needed.

On the offensive side, Cybersecurity can spur development and increase the skill sets of residents in counties like Prince George's County, Maryland which sits in the epicenter of Cybersecurity for the state of Maryland and the nation. Prince George's Community College is the home of Cyberwatch and the central hub for cybersecurity training and best practices that gets pushed out to other community colleges that are part of the consortium. The goal of these community colleges is to align the education offered to students with skills that companies say are needed to be "workforce ready." It is also a rich recruiting ground for tech companies across the country to identify and hire human capital to put on the front lines of the U.S. fight in cybersecurity. As Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski (2012) says, the students are trained to be "cyberwarriors" and in turn workforce ready.

In conclusion, cybersecurity has come a long way since the publicized hacking cases of the 1990's (Krebs, 2003). These cases brought awareness to the need for the best and brightest to enter the field of computer and network security with the purpose of devising strategies and techniques to defend against "bad actors" that would use technology to commit malicious acts. Because computer and network security require STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) skills, the pool of U.S. born applicants is presently small. This presents an economic development opportunity for locales that use their community colleges as technology training grounds that are closely aligned with technology companies who need the human capital. The overarching goal of the stakeholders is to produce "workforce ready" students.

Reference

"Cybersecurity Degree". University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, MD. WRC-TV, Washington, DC. 12 Oct. 2012

Krebs, B. (2003). A short history of computer viruses and attacks. Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50636-2002Jun26.html

Mikulski, B. (2012, February 23). General format. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWNTOi3pEhg

Snort. (2010). About snort.


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Staying Clear of Threats and Attacks While Online

With the majority of the people in the world today having daily access to the internet, their lives are to a big extent dependent on the internet to facilitate and effectively go about their businesses. The IT world has had a very big impact on the way that people are able to lead their lives and even interact with each other all made easy by the internet. But many of these achievements are offset by some very unfortunate incidences which have been brought about by the very large numbers of attacks which happen day in and day out. Most disheartening is the fact that the attacks are in most cases perpetrated on the unsuspecting users of the internet bringing them losses in in terms of data, personal information, time, and financial resources. Some of the threats and the attacks have been in the form of malware, scams, identity theft and hackers and people have to really educate themselves about these threats and how to stay clear of them to avoid getting ensnared to the devious schemes of the lurking cyber criminals.

To ensure that people are in the position to avoid the threats and many attacks which are prevalent on the internet, a number of steps and measures have to be taken to remain on the safe side. The biggest threat to internet security is the element of human error and indifference. How is this possible? It is common that good judgement and some common sense will usually be thrown to the wind and the results are fatal counting into loads of cash and lost man hours as the damage is rectified. The infection of a PC or any device will happen out of curiosity as people are keen to click on a link even when they know only too well that it might be potentially dangerous. Hence internet security calls for a proactive nature where an individual is keen to follow rules and guidelines which will guarantee that they protect themselves from and their networks when online.

First and foremost, access to the internet should be done only after a quality antivirus has been installed to guarantee security. A good antivirus or internet security suite can be gotten through the finding and reading of reviews and finding the most effective security software at the available budget. Second to installing the antivirus software, it must remain updated and must be renewed once it has expired to guarantee that threats and attacks are prevented. It will be a disastrously mistake not to have an antivirus and not to have it updated.

Other measures will be to have spam filters to an email account in order that spam and suspicious emails are quickly identified and deleted. Some other rules are that you should never download attachments or files without conducting a virus scan. It is even recommended that sharing files from dubious sites is avoided. In fact the best piece of advice is that the file sharing should be avoided at all costs since they become a potentially big source of threats.

Social networks have become very popular with people now having multiple accounts on the different social networks. Social networks have become a playing ground for cyber criminals whose intentions are not right. Users of the social media need to be aware of the threats and adopt steps which will help avoid attacks and unfortunate incidences. Some will be on the social media itself and most dangerous will be getting malware and the viruses on your personal computer which can be devastating in the kind of damage they can cause and the difficulty in eradicating them.

The smartphones have been an area of big concern since people carrying these gadgets which are miniature computers are often a threat to networks. This is best explained that smartphones and other portable devices are open to attacks by malware, Trojans and viruses and worms. Secondly, through access to internet on the workplace network, the smartphones are an area of weakness which can be exploited by hackers and criminals.

Having looked at the threats and forms of cyber attacks, the best way to stay clear of them is by having antivirus software or an internet suite which is running and is promptly updated.

Visit KaspAV now and for effective and affordable antivirus solutions! KaspAV is a division of Guardian Network Solutions and authorized Kaspersky reseller. It specializes in providing the ultimate antivirus solutions in order to prevent harmful types of viruses from lodging into your system and stealing information. Kaspersky's products are industry-leading, and increase the health and defenses of any device, mobile or desktop.


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Effective Ways to Defend Your System Against Hackers and Viruses

Viruses are the deadliest enemies of computer systems. One encounter with a virus, malware or Trojan, can immediately lead to devastating effects. It can lead to alterations of how your computer operates normally, it can hack your information and worse, it can delete your hard drive and totally crash your computer. Install the best antivirus protection to protect your computer system from harmful viruses.

If you notice that your system has been working differently and misses some data, you could look at a few tips listed below that you could install which would work effectively in protecting your computer from harmful, malicious data.

Antivirus Program: This is the most obvious and the most important software needed to be installed in your computer system. Having an antivirus system will help you determine which websites you should not enter and will guarantee you a trouble free internet experience. Although it is pricey at first, the benefits and features will definitely exceed its price especially if you are the one who connects to the internet frequently.

Updates for Windows: A lot of users of the most common and most coveted operating system have become victims of hackers and viruses. It is very important to always update Windows especially when given a notification. Do not pass on updating your operating system as this will allow your computer to keep track of the different worms, viruses and Trojans.

Updates for Software Applications: All software applications you install in your computer need to be updated. These updates fix bugs and equip the software with their new features. Moreover, they come with enhanced security applications, making your computer safe more resistant to viruses.

Anti-Spyware Program: Some antivirus software, especially, free downloadable versions do not come with spyware protection. If this is the case, you need to avail of the antivirus software or download a different anti-spyware program. Spyware is a big threat to your computer; it can ruin your computer system and hack your information.

Software That Determines Hacker Prone Websites: Porn, free download and online gaming sites have made hacking an easy task. Do not fall into these traps. Instead, some antivirus software offers a service that immediately informs you whether or not the websites you are trying to visit are safe or not.

Firewall Program: Firewall programs are really important for a computer system. If you don't have any third party firewall program, have it installed to ensure that your system can filter all your data. Activate your Windows firewall to the latest Windows operating system version which will help filter data traffic. These firewall programs can easily and effectively filter incoming and outgoing data streams.

Software That Controls Email Spam: Spam mails are bogus emails that lure people into opening them. Once opened, a malicious code can enter your computer and hack your information. Be wary of opening file attachments especially from unknown senders. Although, web based emails come with extra layers of protection against spam, if you do not recognize the email, it would be wiser to just delete the email.

Data Backup: If most of your important information and work related stuff are stored in your computer, make sure that you back-up all of those data and store them in an external hard drive or store it in a drop box. A simple virus has the capability to hack your information.

Download the best antivirus for windows 7 from Internet to protect your computer from viruses, malwares and other malicious programs. There are many websites available on the Internet that offers antivirus software download service absolutely free.


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Support Call Hoaxes

Cybercrime is a growing trend. Several scams are prevalent but one that is rising is supposed calls from Microsoft Tech Support. A computer owner receives a call and is notified that their Internet service provider has found serious virus activity on their computer - thus, Microsoft was contacted to reach out and tackle the issue. The Microsoft security professional will typically run a free scan to "detect" what viruses are on the machine. Low and behold, serious problems are on hand and for only $250 or more, they'll solve the issue while the computer owner sits comfortably at home.

These tactics aren't new, but growing because of the ability of cheap phone calls and cheap labor outside of the United States. Some consumers are fighting back to record information about the scammer's identity and modus operandi.

The tactics used are meant to fool the unsuspecting and prey on the uninformed. First of all, the scammer will speak with confidence and probably use technical words to play on the user's fear. They'll represent a department from Microsoft that is following up on an indication of a broken computer or a system that has been infected by viruses or malware.

While on the phone, the scammer will direct the user to various error messages which indicate virus issues on the machine. Typically, the errors are quite general - like log files - and have no relevance to infectious programs.

The scammer then asks the user to execute DOS command to confirm the system's unique ID. Although this might sound like excellent proof of a legitimate tech support person, when the scammer reads back the same number the user sees on the screen, all that is being confirmed is a generic ID for a file extension that ships with every Windows PC. This technique is nothing more than sleight of hand.

After a bit of drama, it is verified that the user's system has big problems. The scammer requests to remotely log on the system to perform tests. When access is granted, an old certificate is found by the remote access tool administrator to display to the user. The old dates of past certificates back up the scammers story, which usually states the system hasn't been updated in "this many months" or "over a year" and proceeds to run an application that will update security software to protect the system from viruses, malware, Trojans, hackers, among other things.

Once these actions are complete, the user is directed to a PayPal account where he or she should pay the bill. Typically $250, but as I mentioned earlier the costs can be more.

Take heed of these tactics. If someone calls from Microsoft speaking of problems on your computer, just hang up.

George is the online strategy manager for Comset Computers, providing Chicago-based malware removal.


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