Tips On How To Prevent Viruses And Malware From Attacking Your Computer

IT analysts state that every day, about 150,000 computer viruses circulate globally and around 148,000 computers are at risk daily. These viruses and malware do not simply annoy and bother the millions of computer users: they can also cost individuals and organizations thousands of dollars due to the damages and security attacks they cause.
There are several things you can do to avoid viruses and malware from attacking your computer. Below are some of these helpful tips and hints:
• Always have anti-virus software installed and running in your computer's system. Doing this is your first line of defence against the hundreds of viruses and malwares that are proliferating around the World Wide Web. IT experts also highly recommend that you always keep the definition database updated and the software runs both manual and automated virus scans regularly.
• Automate security updates. When you do this, you can be sure that your computer will always have the most recent form or updates of software and anti-virus programs.
• Enable your system's firewall. A firewall is a system-level software component that prevents unauthorized access to your computer by others through a network or Internet connection. Most new operating systems already have built-in firewalls that are highly efficient and effective. For older ones, you need to buy and have firewall software installed on the computer.
• Always be cautious of opening any e-mail attachment. Even when you know the sender, it is still possible that their efforts to prevent attacks were not enough and that a threat has infected their system. And this virus or malware was also passed onto you via some seemingly harmless e-mail. If you are the not sure about the contents and attachment of any e-mail you received, you can always contact the sender to verify if they really sent to this.
• Always encrypt your files, hard drives and backup disks. By following this tip, only authorized users with the valid password can have access to your sensitive data.
• Have perimeter security solutions installed on your network. Web hosting experts recommend installing and using an Intrusion Detection System and the Intrusion Prevention program in addition to the Firewall so that any kind of threat can be detected and thwarted immediately.
• Review your network security features periodically. Keep yourself updated when it comes to new security threats and improved solutions by visiting your security software or service vendor websites. Also, always keep up with news about the latest computer threats. If you hear of or read something from a legitimate source, update your security software immediately and make sure that the particular threat is covered.
• Lastly, IT experts say that you have to be extra careful when loading external media such as flash drives without scanning them. In addition, when using the different social networking sites, be careful about clicking any links that look suspicious.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8800856

You Have Already Been Hacked, They're Coming - Prepare!

I recently read an article in the New York Times titled "How my Mom Got Hacked" and it inspired me to make people in general aware of a much bigger picture that the New York Times chooses to ignore. In 1998 I wrote an article, The Internet Wars of the Tear 2000, in which I predicted the current situation where countries and companies begin to battle for internet dominance. I was a few years off. My apologies! What the Times and nearly every expert in the technology game ignores, maybe to avoid frightening the masses is that there are two simple steps to avoid being a victim, BUT antviruses are NOT on the list. In fact, I would remove most, if not all the antivirus programs from your system. What?! That sounds like insanity, right?
"The most important thing to note is that you have already been hacked!"
If your computer/router combination has been on for more than a few days, you have already been hacked. What, you say? True, I reply. They're Coming, so prepare! How do you avoid being a victim? It is really very simple and inexpensive! And the answer is NOT antiviruses, much to your dismay. There are TWO simple steps to take to avoid becoming a victim in this CyberWar. And, they're very inexpensive AND very easy to implement.
According to Infoworld there are new computer exploits every 24 hours, which makes it almost impossible for antivirus programs to keep up. "In today's 'threaterscape', antivirus software provides little peace of mind. In fact, antimalware scanners on the whole are horrifically inaccurate, especially with exploits less than 24 hours old." [1]
1) Never store files on your hard drive. Use "the cloud." Use Google Drive for "office-type" files and a memory chip for pictures. Backup all files on a memory chip/stick and in the cloud.
2) Get the restore program for your computer. Then you can simply plug your restore disk/stick in and restore to original manufacturer, out of the box, condition. This effectively wipes the drive and erases everything. You an also go to your local "nerd Herd", and ask them to restore your machine back to factory settings. Insist on a complete wipe/restore, not a cleaning.
Prepare yourself using these steps because remember, YOU HAVE ALL ALREADY BEEN HACKED." It is highly likely that somebody has already hacked your router/computer. They're just waiting to pull your switch. The Cyberwars I predicted decades ago started with the Sony hack.
"Should I remove my antivirus programs?"
I have changed my position regarding antivirus protection since the internet war started. I typically researched with the objective of recommending the best free antivirus program for which you could get free updates. Without daily updates, get rid of it, because, as stated earlier, there are new threats every day. Don't have more than one antivirus program running in "live" or "real time" because they can sometimes interfere with each other.
"It is time for a newer, wartime antivirus strategy, not time to 'cheap out'."
My new strategy for recommending antivirus programs is a more serious approach for a time of war. I recommend an antivirus that is created in the USA, provides daily updates and is the most comprehensive. According to a very detailed comparison chart which I located at Wikipedia(r) [2], there is only one antivirus program that meets all the criterion I lay out and that is McCafee. It is clearly one of the most comprehensive, is produced within the borders of the USA, and has daily updates. I believe there is a fee for updates, BUT PAY IT! This is no time to cheap out, and the free ones are constantly trying to trick you into paying. Sorry AVG, I am done with you.
"They're hacking our border too! This will keep you safe until they are at your front door having seeped through a porous, leaking border."
If you are prepared they can't hurt you or extort money from you. Not until they are at your doorstep, which is next, since we refuse to secure our southern border.
There are so many complacent entities when it comes to securing the southern border. The terrorists will hack their right to your computer with a border leak. They act as though this "hack" is a big deal, but it is only just the beginning of the coming invasion. The terrorists are emboldened at this point. Blame whomever you wish, but know it and prepare. We are under attack. Prepare!!
Source 1: http://www.infoworld.com/article/2612634/security/11-sure-signs-you-ve-been-hacked.html
Source 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_antivirus_software

Rob Thrasher is a nationally published author on topics of security (National, Home & Computer), researcher and radio show host. Learn more about Rob, Internet Security and more at http://www.RobThrasher.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8870087

New Chat Messenger for IOS and Android Users

There are lots of people on your Facebook, who keep sending you requests for various games and other stuff. Then there is MewChat that has recently caught the fancy of many a users, but what exactly is this all about? Let us find out what this app is and the utility of it for its users.
About MewChat
MewChat is one of the fast catching IM apps that seems to be somewhat similar to WhatsApp or any other chat messenger. However, the only thing to notice about this app is that it is a social networking app. Another interesting thing about this app is that this app helps one find their match online that is location based. It does sound similar to Tinder.
It begins when you install MewChat on your iPhone or iPad, Android Smartphones or Android device then it starts inviting people in your contacts sending pop-up messages. It is an invitation message sent to other users for inviting friends and joining in. Even when you are finished signing up for the chat, it asks you to select a number of people for sending invites. The messages get delivered within 24 hours.
Even after being a chat that is pro-active in sending message invites to other users within a span of 24 hours, this app enjoys popularity. This app is the most downloadable app in Australia, UK and other countries where youths enjoy getting connected to people world over instantly through messages or chat messenger.
What is this app about?
Users are connected via this app, this means that users who are already in your contacts will be added to MewChat so it is very similar to WhatsApp. This app differs at point where chat rooms are created according to location of people to help them connect with one another. Random chat rooms are created to initiate a connection between people in the same geographic location and thus help them find people with similar interests. The default setting of the app enables in getting in touch with people in the same country. If you want to broaden your reach, you can browse the world map to initiate conversation anywhere in the world. It is easy to initiate a chat as you just need to press on the orange cat, and you are done.
This messaging app is unique as it allows individuals from every country to join in chat rooms. The contacts in your phone are already a part of your network, but you can even add those who you find in random chat groups. To make it easier for users to connect, you can use your Facebook account to sign into your MewChat. Your matches get decided upon the information provided by you in your profile that determines who is compatible with you. Voice and photo messaging are supported by this chat app. The age limit that is required to be a part of this app is that of 13 years.

Russell Winters is an ardent technician associated with Qresolve online tablet support, with wide experience of fixing issues with PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphone. With a strong track record of devising effective ways of tablet support and system security, she has so far helped thousands of users across the globe. Her writings on tech issues are the reflection of her in-depth interest and command she carries as a online android tablet support technician. Her blogs and articles have been rated high for their lucid style and easy to understand language.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8971454

The Truth About Computer Malware and Your System's Vulnerabilities

The truth is there are bad people lurking online waiting for the opportunity to take advantage of the available information from Internet users. The havoc caused by malware goes beyond data corruption. These days, malware does not only cause computer systems to crash, they can also to steal personal and financial information from people. Aside from standard viruses, other types of malicious software are on the prowl, including ransomware, Trojans, and rogue security software. They are being used as tools by organizations that seek to profit by committing heinous crimes such as identity theft.
Why do you need antivirus software?
Antivirus software is a type of computer program that is intended to protect computers against malicious computer software. New and more formidable anti-virus programs are available today that are designed to protect computer systems from malware that could invade a PC when a person visits a bait site. Although people still get viruses from downloading files, just enabling the browser's Java plug-in feature makes the system vulnerable to malware. Oftentimes, clicking on a URL is the only invitation that a lurking malware needs to corrupt a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Even trustworthy sites could be harboring an invisible monster.
The necessity for online security
No matter how careful a computer user is there is always a risk for invasion if the system is connected to the World Wide Web. People are now extra cautious when visiting websites and downloading files from the Web. Still, computer systems are highly vulnerable because viruses are engineered to counter existing defenses.
The bottom line is antivirus software is the last line of defense against rootkits, keyloggers, and all sorts of malware. There really is no reason why a computer should not have this form of protection, especially when plenty of reliable free antivirus software is available for download. Moreover, they provide an additional layer of protection without hogging computer resources. Most are lightweight and require very little disk space.
Finding the best free antivirus programs
There are many ways to improve computer security. A cursory Google search will reveal a long list of options, many of which offer hassle-free installation, automatic updates, and best of all free usage. The Web has so many resources to offer, and for someone who is serious about fortifying systems security, they have the option to download for free or purchase more than one antivirus program to protect themselves from harmful elements online. There are programs offering multiple device protection as well as utilities that provide comprehensive and effective defense against privacy incursion.
It helps to learn about the performance of an antivirus program before downloading or buying it. If reviews are available, then they are worth reading. Utilities that are deemed ineffective, problematic, or outdated should not be patronized lest they cause more problems than solutions. People are usually very generous with their feedback, and so it makes sense to read reviews determine which antivirus applications are worth installing. Learning about the reputation of the software developer helps in the decision-making process as well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8959730

Effective Tips to Optimize Windows 7 PC for Better Speed and Performance

Irrespective of the configuration and brand of your PC, you are bound to face technical issues after a few years of use. Your PC may start facing issues related to speed and performance especially when you install or remove any particular app or program from your computer. In the same way, no matter how efficient antispyware and antivirus tools you install on your machine, it may get attacked by viruses and malware somehow. If you're fond of downloading games, movies, videos, audio files and other stuff from the Internet, then you must have also downloaded unwanted amounts of junk from the same websites.
Viruses, heavy applications, outdated technology, unwanted program install and other related issues may force your Windows 8 PC to slow down over a period of time. Although, maintenance seems a bit difficult for every user but it is highly recommended to avoid certain breakdowns, slowdowns, freezing and hanging issues. Whatever is the cause behind such issues, there are a number of ways that can help to speed up Windows 7 and make your PC functioning flawless. To get rid of all these issues before they occur, you must know how to optimize Windows 7 so that you can prevent performance and security related issues.
Here are some of the maintenance tips that can help you optimize Windows 7 for better speed and performance.
1. Run windows updates
Even if your Windows 7 PC is a brand new device, then there are chances that Microsoft has already released important updates for it. The windows updates are aimed at improving the operating system on various fronts that also includes security, performance and efficiency factors. Although Windows 7 is a secure OS version than its predecessors, but malware authors are experts at finding and exploiting loopholes in this high-end secured device.
You can easily check that you have the latest Windows updates for Windows 7 by clicking Windows Updates through Control Panel. This section will give you information about all the latest updates released by the manufacturer and whether you've installed it or not.
2. Install antivirus program
With malware, viruses, spyware and Phishing scams located in the each segment of the virtual world, you must ensure that you didn't browse the Internet without adequate protection. Fortunately, a huge section of the market is full of vendors offering high-end security programs to prevent such threats by offering free or paid antivirus and Internet-security tools.
Make sure that you are guarded by an effective Internet security suite, before you shop online or enter your financial details on a portal. The Microsoft Essential antivirus comes preinstalled on your Windows PC and if your device doesn't have this preloaded tool, then immediately download one from the Internet. Microsoft also strives hard to protect its users by offering Windows Defender, a free antivirus utility, which provides protection against low-grade malware.
3. Try to keep your desktop clear
Keeping big files off the desktop makes it look more appealing and easy to understand. Your windows PCs can carry a huge amount of data anytime, anywhere, but, a cluttered desktop may make it difficult for the OS to load several programs and files quickly. Hence, it is always recommended to keep your desktop clean and clear in order to speed up the startup process.
If you have a habit of downloading a lot of files, music, videos and other stuff from the internet, then assign a different folder for them rather than keeping it on the desktop. Keeping desktop cluttered and occupied, may result in slow startup and creates a lot of confusion, while looking for a particular file. Therefore, moving non-essential files into a separate folder will be really helpful in tracing them and keeping them safe from accidental deletion.
4. Download the latest drivers, software and firmware updates
Manufacturers release latest drivers, software updates and firmware updates to maintain optimum performance levels of their products. The developers located at the manufacturer's site deploy all their strength and hard work in finding the way to protect their genuine products from the attacks of various malware and viruses. They keep on releasing timely improvement plans, latest updates and enhanced versions of their products that are at par with the other similar products available in the market.
Various manufacturers offer such editions and updates for free over the Internet to maintain goodwill in the market and to attain maximum satisfaction from their established consumer base. You can easily navigate to the manufacturer's website to look for updates or updated versions of each product including software, operating system, applications and security programs. A set of guideline and instructions are also made available for the beginners to help them while updating their existing software or other programs.
5. Run your PC with closed CPU case
It is estimated that your computer can become dusty in less than a year, depending upon the location where it is placed. It is advised to be proactive about taking care of your Windows 8 PC depending upon the location, climatic conditions and dust factor. If your house is not too dusty, then check after a few months, but if it's very dusty then you might need to check it after a few weeks only.
Carefully remove the dust on the bottom with a vacuum and then spray a bit with compressed canned air. Always pay extra attention towards the CPU heat sink and its fan as it is very essential for the heat produced by the CPU to ventilate. Cleaning dust, checking the power supply fan, ensuring all fans are working, and replacing the fan if it stops spinning, are some of the essential steps that you can take to offer smooth functioning to your PCs.
Apart from this, reinstalling the OS, de-fragmenting the hard disk drive and scanning your PC regularly to identify infection will also help to keep your system up and running. Downloading programs such as LimeWire, Kazaa, BearShare, and many others offer a platform for sharing information, but it may contain malware, spyware, and Trojans that may infect your PC to an irreparable extent. So, download the file with the maximum seeds and peers attached it, only from the trusted sources. Limit the number of programs loading at startup to reduce system slowdowns as these applications consume a considerable amount of memory, disabling Windows to perform to its fullest potential. But things won't go worse if you know how to optimize Windows 7 by employing the above mentioned tips. Last but not the least, ensure that you manage and maintain your devices regularly to avoid paying extra dollars to the technicians while fixing major issues.

Russell Winters is an ardent technician associated with Qresolve online computer support with wide experience of fixing issues with PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphone. With a strong track record of devising effective ways of online tech support and system security, she has so far helped thousands of users across the globe. Her writings on tech issues are the reflection of her in-depth interest and command she carries as a tech support technician. Her blogs and articles have been rated high for their lucid style and easy to understand language.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8947889

How to Use Firefox As an RSS Reader With NewsFox

It has been quite long since the Google Reader was shut down, and many users migrated to other RSS readers for catering their latest updates requirements. Reading and accessing online content isn't easy at all so popular RSS readers aggregate syndicated web content like blogs, online newspapers, podcasts, and video blogs at one place. Since these services make your research-related work easy, it is quite important to install and start using them instantly. Many browsers have come up with numerous solutions that can assist you in making RSS feeds more accessible and organized while other focused on keeping the service updated with the latest news feeds.
In this article, a Firefox user will be briefed how to use the NewsFox, a Firefox add-on, efficiently and make the most out of their RSS feeds.
Installation and Interface
• Download and install NewsFox from its official website and open it either from the Preferences menu or by clicking on the NewsFox icon in the toolbar
OR
• You can also install the tool by typing 'chrome://newsfox/content/newsfox.xul' into the address bar of your browser.
The default interface might remind you of an age-old email client that features a list of RSS feeds on the left and the main toolbar on top. The middle area is reserved to show up the articles that have been downloaded from the feed. Apart from this, the tool is also provided with the reading pane that acts as a plain area, where you'll actually read the articles.
If you don't like the layout, then you can switch to the vertical one with the main toolbar that controls the RSS feeds and global NewsFox options. The icons incorporated with the tool can add/delete feed groups, refresh all feeds, add/delete RSS feeds, and manage Live Bookmarks. The small menus for Options, Help, and History are also provided for offering more option to the content, seeking help from the main server, and viewing the previously viewed content. You can also use the icons for refresh feed, go to the homepage, mark all articles as read/unread tag articles, and delete selected articles to perform their designated actions.
Importing and managing feeds
• To modify feed options, you will be required to add some feeds to NewsFox first and then apply the following changes to the tool in order to seek desired results.
• You can also transfer subscriptions from another RSS reader by saving them as an 'OPML file' and importing it into the tool.
• To import a file, click on the 'Options' button in the main toolbar and select 'Import OPML' -> 'Add to existing feeds' -? 'from file.'
• You can also click on the 'Add feed' button and paste the URLs to add feeds manually one-by-one.
If your NewsFox informs you about the latest feeds as soon as they arise, then the NewsFox icon in the 'Add-on' Bar will change its color immediately after detecting RSS feeds on websites. You can then view the desired feeds by clicking or selecting them. If you use Live Bookmarks to access the most recent RSS feeds, NewsFox would immediately display all the latest results as soon as you click on the 'Manage Live Bookmarks' icon.
You might find NewsFox a bit complicated as it is equipped with some of the most advanced and updated features that you might not find in any other tool. Since it's quite easy to get used to it, all you require is the ample time to explore and learn it. Offering you an effortless experience while importing feeds from other RSS readers, the tool comes with a Restore Backup option to fix things if something goes wrong. Offering you seamless access to the RSS feeds from various sources, the tool keeps tracking everything right into your browser to avoid the pain of registering for a new account.

Russell Winters is an ardent technician associated with Qresolve online computer support with wide experience of fixing issues with PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphone. With a strong track record of devising effective ways of online tech support and system security, she has so far helped thousands of users across the globe. Her writings on tech issues are the reflection of her in-depth interest and command she carries as a tech support technician. Her blogs and articles have been rated high for their lucid style and easy to understand language.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8934701

Best Free Antivirus and Anti Malware Solutions for 2015

You may be confused when those who seem to know a lot about this topic use terms like "antivirus" and "malware" interchangeably. Or you may wonder why you need a firewall if you have an antivirus. To the casual reader, these terms can be confusing - and certainly off-putting. That's why so many people put their trust in paid-for solutions. And money in those companies' pockets.
Over the next few minutes I am going to lift that veil of confusion and empower you to make decisions for yourself that will protect your PC from those who might seek to damage it for fun or profit.
First: what is a PC security suite?
A security suite comprises of six items:
1. An antivirus
2. A firewall
3. A malware detector
4. A web page phishing, or malware, detector
5. A software uninstaller
6. A cache cleaner and leftover removal software
Let's take a look at each of these aspects in turn.
Best Free Antivirus
There are at present 5 key players when it comes to free antivirus software providers: Avast, AVG, Microsoft Security Essentials, Avira and Panda.
Avast is my favorite of the bunch. First installation was a little frustrating as it took quite a long time and hung a couple of times, but it was well worth it in the end. In many of the reports from others online I found it to be a very well regarded solution. In fact, it won Bronze in WebUser's "Best Antivirus 2015." Not bad at all,considering it was the only free antivirus deemed worthy of inclusion among the paid-for contenders.
Special Mention:
When I first tried Panda, the cloud based antivirus I was very unimpressed. It did its best to upload all my files to the cloud and make them inoperable on my PC. Now, two years later, it has matured and does a very noteworthy job with very lightweight software. It's cloud-based so it doesn't clog up your laptop.
Free Firewall
A firewall is used to protect your home network - not just an individual PC. Windows already comes with its own Firewall, but if you want real control over what your computer is sending and receiving online, Glasswire is awesome!
It's a network and threat monitor all in one - and can even tell you what your laptop has been accessing online in your absence (or what applications have accessed it).
You'll get notified the first time any software accesses the internet so you can see whether it's intentional or a nasty,
Glasswire will even monitor your bandwidth and internet usage for you. Hurry though, Glasswire have stated this won't stay free forever!
Anti-Malware Security
Contrary to many people's ideas of an antivirus, it's just the front line of defence and doesn't always ensure a trouble-free laptop. From time to time it's important to run a malware scan on your machine. This is to find malicious software that you downloaded in error, or got past your antivirus because it was unknown to it at the time.
The very best of the free options, in most people's opinion according to my research (and in my own experience) is MalwareBytes free anti malware.
When using this program, always update it beforehand, as it is constantly being updated to battle new threats. Also, don't delete anything unless you do your homework on what it is recommending you delete.
Always delete a Trojan.
Web Link Malware Detector
When browsing search results it's not always possible to avoid the infected sites that will harm your laptop just by visiting them. Thankfully there is a way to know whether to visit a link or avoid it!
There are two contenders for this section and both are equally good.
1. The Web of Trust
2. Avast Online Security for Chrome
Both give a green light (either circle or tick) beside a safe link in your search results - or an orange or red one if the site link is dodgy. The only difference is that Web of Trust has fewer users to report malware and so I would trust Avast more.
Software and Leftover Files Removal
From time to time you will need to remove old or unwanted software and the best uninstaller I have found that balances amount of leftover files removed with speed of operation is iObit's rather excellent Advanced Uninstaller.
Be careful when doing deeper cleans that you make sure any registry files you delete are part of the unwanted software. However, this has not been the same problem using iObit as it has been when using other uninstallers which have more scope for mistakes - deleting incorrect registry files can be fatal for your PC or laptop!
CCleaner
CCleaner is short for "crap cleaner" and is used for clearing cookies, temporary files and all sorts of other junk files that when let build up on your machine over time, will slowly drag its performance down to a crawl.
Admittedly I own the professional version of this, but the free version is not to be taken lightly. In fact there's little extra to the pro version than extras like automatic cleaning and self timing. However at less than $20 for a lifetime license and the ability to use the same license for every laptop in the household it's a very small price to pay.
Defraggler
Check out Defraggler from the same people, to help defrag your machine on a monthly basis so that after removing files, what remains is kept in one piece to allow smoother hard drive operation.
There you have it - a complete set of absolutely free software that will rival any paid antivirus security suite!
Enjoy the savings and the peace of mind.

Dave Lynch is a freelance writer and internet entrepreneur from Ireland, He loves things like keyword research and latent semantic indexing. Topics that make normal people go, "Huh?"

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