Tips for Fighting Computer Viruses

Friday, October 10, 2008
It seems that protecting your computer is becoming more difficult as time go on. While society should not become paranoid, you should not let your guard down. Even the most powerful Micosoft Corporation has had its own systems attacked.

If you are old enough, you will remember the old days when the Internet was not full of downloadable programs. There were not concerns about computer viruses, and the majority of users didn’t even know of their existence. The main way viruses could be transmitted was through the use of a floppy disk. In the event there was a virus transmitted the problem was eradicated much easier. At the time if took a great deal of time for a virus to infect a computer and slow it down. There was an anti-virus software program in use, which was designed to terminate the virus before it had time to do much damage. Computer users at the time were commonly aware of the need to use a scanning floppy disk to protect their computer before downloading or coping them onto their computers.

The Internet changed all this. With the Internet, viruses can move from one host to the next with the speed of lighting. Floppy disks are no longer the only point where a virus may enter into a computer. Now, the concern is with emails, email attachments, peer to peer file sharing, instant messaging, as well as software downloads. Today there are viruses, which can enter computers through many avenues. No longer does it require a human to spread a virus. Today with technology advancements, there are constantly new viruses that threat our computers.

How to protect your computer:

It is fortunate that antivirus soft ware has been able to keep up with today’s every changing viral threats. Antivirus virus software is vital to a computer’s ability to fight off viruses, and other harmful programs. These various programs are programmed to protect a computer by not allowing a virus to enter a computer through email, web browsers, file servers as well as desktops. These programs are also capable of deploying and configuring updated data to a computer automatically.

Those, which own a computer, must take the following actions to protect against viruses.

1. Access your computer security system. One should make sure that their computer computer’s security system is not out of date. A computer owner needs to make sure that they have protected their computer from the network, and from the gateway to the server. There are more complete security systems, which offer antivirus, firewalls, and content filtering. If one uses this type of system on their computer, they will experience the greatest protection.

2. It is advised that one purchase software from a reputable company, one which is well known. This is important to be assured that the most advanced security software is installed on you computer. The software should have a feature, which will allow a virus scan every time the computer is booted up. When using this type of software chances are, the program will be able to combat all new viruses.

3. Be sure to always scan new program files even if it is known from where they originated.

4. Be hesitant to open binary, Word, or Excel documents, which are of unknown sources. This is even more important when receiving them through online chatting, and attached emails.

5. In order to protect your system, perform backups. Once a file is corrupted, this may be the only means to recover infected data.

There are many software applications available to consumers. Many programs also offer a free trail version, which allows one to try testing it before they purchase. It should be noted that not all programs are easily installed. Because of this issue, it is suggested that one should set up a System Restore point before installing the security program.

Below you will find a couple highly recommend software applications if you find you have been infected.

Software Review: Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0

The Best Antivirus suite ever!

I've used this product and I have to say it is one of the best virus protection suites out there. For one thing Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0 doesn't eat up a lot of memory like some other antivirus programs have in my experience which leaves your computer running smoother.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0 has won many awards for it level of protection and overall Kaspersky Labs have won many awards for their creation of excellent antivirus suites. The key features are what make you want to buy this product over some of the other ones out there. Those features are:

1. The Best Anti-Virus Protection (Ranked #1 for anti-virus detection)

2. Robust Spyware Protection (#1 in spyware & adware detection)

3. Impressive System Performance (The least processor, memory and bandwidth resources required)

4. Detects unauthorized activity & probes

5. Standard automated hourly anti-virus updates

6. (Tiny at ~50 Kb each!)

7. The industry's fastest response time to new Internet threats

And the list goes on! If you have the chance I would recommend giving this product a try, I do not believe you will be disappointed!

Computer Security - Know What You're Up Against

Computer security issues crop up everywhere these days, on both home and business computers. The leap in information technology has had an impact on many facets of our lives. Consequently, the scope of and number of crimes that violate computer security are on the rise.

Everyone is open to computer security threats and everyone needs protection from them. Both government offices and corporations have been widely targeted by computer criminals. Attempted theft or disclosure of a firm's confidential information, can ruin its reputation and compromise the security of its data. These sorts of breaches of computer security are ones that can cause widespread damage youre aware of as well as unseen damage. Many businesses have chosen Kaspersky AntiVirus in order to thoroughly safeguard themselves from Internet threats.

Corporations are the favorite challenge for hackers, but there are areas in which they threaten individual computer security too. Computers can be temporarily or permanently disabled, along with the theft of personal information (bank account numbers, credit card numbers, or passwords) if a criminal gains access to the computer. Certain attacks allow hackers total access to a computer which in turn allows it to become part of a zombie network. The use of "zombie computers" causes servers to be attacked, spam to be sent, trojans and viruses to be spread, and personal information to be harvested. Fortunately, Kaspersky Internet Security is able to protect computers from attacks, both personal or business.

We all realize now that our data is a valuable asset and must be kept secure. Simultaneously, the data must be available to all those with a valid reason to access it. Which is why the creation of a comprehensive computer security system that protects from both nature related and man-made threats is necessary.

Your computer will be safeguarded against all kinds of attacks including viruses, trojans and spyware when you use Kaspersky antivirus software. Your computer security is also vulnerable to worms, rootkits and adware, among the other forms of malware. Another malware threat is referred to as denial of service (or DoS). The program assaults remote servers and can cause a website to crash. We are all aware of the threat of being hacked. They are targeted at taking data from a remote computer so that the system will break down, or at taking over what is stored on the system.

Kaspersky Internet Security guards against all such breaches of your company's security. When choosing anti-virus software, remember to read lots of user reviews. Do your homework before you choose, because the computer security software you need may not be the one thats the most popular.

We hope that you enjoyed reading this article. If you are looking for additional information on computer-security or Kaspersky-Internet-Security, please be sure to check out our website.

How to Protect Your Mac from a Virus

Once upon a time the thought of getting a virus on your Mac OS X computer would have been laughable. In some ways, it still is. You can almost count on one hand the computer virus' that are actually "in the wild" and could pose a potential for wreaking havoc on your Macintosh. Antivirus software maker Intego recently reported that an enterprising black hat hacker has been trying to auction a virus on a computer bulletin board hacking site to the highest bidder. The virus, in theory, has the potential to seriously damage your Mac. The threat can masquerade as a simple download or an application and if released into the wild on a peer to peer file sharing site, could wreak havoc on your Mac. Without going into a lot of technical detail, the alleged virus could take control of your computer and in turn, inflict quite a bit of damage.

Should you worry about this new threat? Yes and no. The amount of virus and malware infections for the Macintosh is minuscule compared to the threats already lurking on the Internet that can trash a Windows operating system. Still, when it comes to virus protection, your mantra should always be, "it's better to be safe than sorry." Depending on your budget and concern, there are quite a few antivirus software packages available to keep your Mac safe. Here's a rundown of a number of antivirus software packages available for Mac OS X:

ClamXav

If you're on a budget, this is the antivirus software package for you. ClamXav is a free/open source antivirus package that already has a well respected history protecting nearly every Linux webserver on the Internet. ClamXav runs in the background on your Mac system and can be setup to monitor downloads and specific folders and files that could be vounerable to an infection. The application will not only watch out for possible Mac infections, it can also scan a Windows partition or a virtual machine running Windows on your Mac. Most users will find that ClamXav will be all the antivirus protection they will ever need. And best of all, it's free!

Intego

Intego makes the popular Virus Barrier and Net Barrier for the Macintosh and also offers solutions for those of us running dual purpose OS X and Windows operating systems and it will check for not only Mac OS specific virus infections, it also scans for Windows virus infections too. Intego has been on the forefront of the Mac OS X virus detection world lately, being one of the first companies not only announcing the new Mac virus potentialities, Intego has been diligent updating their antivirus software to detect and disinfect Mac virus threats.

Sophos

Sophos is somewhat of a newcomer on the Mac antivirus front. Its Sophos Endpoint Security and Control is a cross platform product that provides a virus detection engine that scans and detects non-Mac viruses.

MS Antivirus 2008 Security Center Spyware Removal is the Greatest Internet Scam in History

This Company and Thousands of Others Are Scamming and Infecting the Internet with PROFITABLE Viruses!

I honestly believe I have run across the greatest Internet scam in history! This MS 2008 Anti-Virus Security Center "Pop Up" immediately entered my computer and I could NOT get rid of it? It continuously "Popped Up" on my computer monitor screen and the only thing I could do was to click on the X in the top right hand corner over and over again until it finally disappeared, which was a BAD mistake on my part! These people were obviously trying to convince me to buy their fraudulent product using my credit card.

(My computer technician informed me that "I had done nothing wrong?" These companies like MS 2008 Anti-Virus spyware removal security center and thousands of other so-called "Spyware Removal" companies are extremely common on todays Internet?) The only thing I could do at the time was was click on the Top right hand corner X (but some how they have figured a way to reverse this process) and then they will automatically download a virus into your computer and then have the "Nerve" to ask you to pay for their service which is causing your computer to run slow because of a virus which has somehow entered your computer system, which they originally caused to begin with?

Unfortunately, if you click the wrong box, you will get even more problems and pop-ups with other Internet companies, which eventually leads to a chain reaction? "What's even worse? If you google search for a Internet website that can help you with this problem? You will get another Internet fraudulent company, because they advertise the word "FREE" for your virus scans, but DO NOT tell you how much money it will cost to REMOVE these monthly computer infections and will continuously "Pop Up" on your computer monitor screen and even place themselves on your desk top, without any way of removal.

"How do I know that these people did NOT create this computer virus to begin with?" It's truly amazing how there are over 400,000 google websites that advertise the way to get rid of the MS 2008 Anti-Virus security center and other spyware removal companies? It's one versus the other? What's even more amazing is the fact that this MS Anti-Virus searches for your "Bugs" in your computer with very little results and DOSES NOT mention their name in the scan of bogus files? The biggest "Bug" in your computer is them and their Internet associates with their result findings!

I logged on to the Microsoft website after so much frustration, and searched for ways to eliminate this problem. I finally downloaded this software program from their website called "Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool" and it gradually removed these viruses from my computer. At the present time of this article, Microsoft's download is still removing these fraudulent "Pop Ups!" Microsoft's main website tells me this could take hours to eliminate this problem, but it's well worth the time spent. And it's also FREE of charge!"

Another way to rid yourself of this problem (which my computer technician told me about) is a FREE website called: "Smit Fraud Removal Tool" so far this website is extremely safe and has deleted these hazardous files on my computer which seem too continue. You may also want to try using "STOPZILLA.COM" It will tell you the exact cause of your viruses and will rid your computer of any "Pop-Ups", however they do have a minimum price of $19.95 for a (1) one year subscription to remove all of these PRESENT viruses. It can be easily downloaded "FREE" and immediately STOP any unwanted FUTURE viruses, but it can possibly cause your computer operating system too run slower than normal because it CONSTANTLY runs and never stops.

My computer technician also told me me my biggest mistake is the fact that I did NOT update my operating system with Microsoft on a weekly basis, and also did NOT have a legitimate anti-virus program and the fact that I had my internet security setting too low . He also suggested pressing Alt +F-4 on your keyboard whenever this situation arises to prevent any fraudulent viruses entering your computer instead of clicking on the X in the top right hand corner of the Pop-Up.

I realize that are so many Internet websites that can track down your Internet clicks and files, and possibly "eat into your computer?" simply because you clicked on to something unfortunate for possible research or even curiosity? Then there is absolutely nothing you can do about it? Even if you use a computer anti- virus program after receiving all of the "Pop Ups". These people are also experts and prey on NON-Computer Internet beginners. Especially the elderly, which have very little experience with Today's Internet.

These fraudulent Internet people are in violation of FCC regulations and agreements and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. My advice is too use Microsoft's security updates and find a truly honest anti-virus Internet company and also increase your computer to the medium or moderate security level to eliminate these scam artist.

Software Review - Norton 360

Norton 360 is a complete security suite for your PC. This product is brought to you by the people that set the bar in antivirus software, and is the mark by which all other antivirus software is measured. If you were not aware of it Symantec and Norton are one in the same company. They are also the people which monitor and report any new virus threats released on the Internet, or through email.

This is a big responsibility, but Norton has stepped up to the task and performed above expectations. Now they bring you the ultimate in computer security. I was privileged enough to be one of the Beta testers for Norton 360, and I can say unequivocally that this product lives up to its namesake. Norton 360 is not just about virus protection, but almost every imaginable threat facing computer users today. Some of the features in Norton 360 include:

* Antivirus Protection

* Anti Spyware

* Anti Phishing

* Online Identity Protection

* Web Site Authentication

* Two Way Firewall

Antivirus protection is quite simply unmatched. Norton provides constant updates on new virus threats. Anti Spyware protects against malicious software which is generally downloaded when visiting a website, opening an email, or by installing software. Phishing is a big concern these days. Phishing is just what it sounds like. It is an attempt by unscrupulous individuals to fish for your personal information which can lead to credit card fraud, or identity theft.

Phishing usually appears in the form of an email from a financial institution which tells the recipient that they must click a link and update their account information. Norton 360 will help protect you against this type of fraud. One of the best features is the ability to protect your information online. If you do any shopping, or enter your personal information at any particular website, Norton will ensure that your data is safe from hackers and keyloggers.

Norton 360 also includes a PC tune up application which can test and diagnose many computer problems. Norton 360 will notify you of the problems and has a set of tools to remedy troubles located in the registry, startup, and the hard drive. Norton 360 is compatible with Windows XP, and Windows Vista, and provides the user with worry free computer and identity security.

Antivirus and Computer Security Programs: What Are Your Best Options?

When it comes to choosing a anti-virus program or a security program for your computer there really are a lot of programs to choose from. What many people don't know is which security program will work best for their computer. A lot really does depend on what you use your computer for.

For example if you or someone in your household uses the computer to download various computer games than you will need to choose a program that will spot a problem before or during the downloading process. You also want to find a virus program that will not interfere with your game while you are playing on line if this is what you like to do. Some just end up turning the anti virus firewall off so that it no longer interferes with their game. The problem is that your computer is no longer safe and protected.

A good option for those who like to play online games is the Avira Premium Security Suite. It only requires a small amount of your computers resources but gives you the best protection. Basically this means that it will not interfere with your game while scanning your computer during game lay. All you have to do is make sure that you set the security settings to game mode before you begin to play. For more information you can visit their website at

If you want to be warned before you even enter a website than you should try the McAfee Site Advisor. This program will help to protect you from exposure to sites that have dangerous programs that can cause serious damage to your computer. It will also automatically update itself so that you will be able to get warnings on even the newest sites.

For more information you can visit www.avira.com. If you are more concerned about the threat of bots and botnets, then you would want to try Symantec's Norton Antibot program. This program will scan your computer while you are online and fined the bots before they begin to dismantle your computer. This program also will work with any existing anti virus program that you currently have on your computer. www.siteadvisor.com.

f you want to try something that is free you can give the Secunia Software Inspector a try. You can visit www.secunia.com to find out what computer requirements you need for this program. This program will scan your computer for software vulnerabilities, and give you some tips and instructions on how to repair those vulnerabilities.

It is also pretty easy for anyone to use. Of course when it comes to using anything for free you still want to be cautious, especially when it comes to downloading programs from the internet. Last but certainly not least on the list is the McAfee Virus Scan program. They offer daily virus updates which include adware and spy ware detection and removal.

I must say that the McAfee virus program is one of the easiest that I have ever used and has worked well even when I am constantly on the internet. The bottom line when it comes to security programs for your computer you really do have to take the time to do your research and find out which one will be best suited for you and your family.