Security

How does Anti-virus Applications Work

June 2, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Anti-virus software application is very important for protecting the computers, it acts like a defense to protect sensitive data and information. The main aim of this application is to scan the entire system to identify and remove any virus or other threats. In addition, these applications also fight all the new virus and other threats before entering into the system.

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This anti-virus application identifies virus from the files and also identifies other application that might plant any infectious virus into the system. The anti-virus application uses two approaches to eliminate threats: suspicious behavior approach and virus dictionary approach.

In the suspicious behavior approach, the anti-virus monitors the software applications and its function. In this method, the anti-virus never try to identify known virus, but it flags any program that tries to write any executable code on the system. This approach flags the suspected application and issues warning message to the user with the recommendation for any actions.

This suspicious approach is very useful in identifying the new virus as it does not rely on the virus dictionary. This method is very much annoying for the user because it raises many false alarms and user gradually ignores the warning message which may lead to plant any virus.

In virus dictionary approach, after detecting new virus, it is added to the dictionary with all the information about the virus such as name, author, causes, and behavior. The anti-virus programs compare the suspicious programs or files with the dictionary and delete or repair it. In this method, to stay updated, the anti-virus must update the dictionary regularly.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: antivirus, Personal computer, Security

Businesses Need Virus Protection

May 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Image by Alex Dunne via Flickr

Take a look at any of the news updates about the security leaks and the safety concerns affecting businesses everywhere and you would be worried. If you were a customer of that business, you would be worried about your personal information and you might think twice about working with them again in the future. As a business owner, you need to take steps to prevent such problems from occurring.

What to Know

If you have not yet updated your IT management and technology, now is the time to do so. The world of technology continues to change to allow for better ways for you to protect yourself and your business.

Simple antivirus computer programs are not enough. Most businesses need products that are going to be more effective, including firewalls, to prevent problems from occurring.
Know that the threats are not just to your customers. Your proprietary information could be leaking out from holes in your system. This is especially true for those businesses using VoIP or other constant Internet connections.
Protecting your customer’s data is also important. You can do this by taking steps now to put a secure program in place. Most businesses need to protect personal data through third party providers.

As a business, protecting your customers is your duty. Otherwise, you may allow a hacker to get your customer’s information or allow your business’s valuable resources to be at risk. The only way to obtain this type of safety is to be proactive in doing so. It can take time and it does take a constant watchful eye on the latest up dates to technology and security to ensure safety.

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: Security, Voice over IP

Antivirus Updating – Is Yours Up to Date?

May 5, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

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Antivirus programs are one of the most important tools that computer and Internet users have to manage their systems. Without the right protection in place, you could lose your business data, your personal identification or your entire computer system. The good news is that most antivirus programs can be helpful at stopping this threat from playing out.

Updating It

The problem with antivirus programs is that you have to ensure they are up to date. As soon as something changes in terms of the threats your system could face, your software protection is out of date. Here are some tips to keeping it updated.

Be sure that your program automatically checks for updates from its manufacturer. Most programs do this and it is critical to ensure they do.
Daily or at least every other day, check to ensure the latest update from your antivirus program is in place. You simply need to open the system up, check for updates and ensure they are downloaded.
Schedule antivirus scans to happen on their own, without you having to start them. There is no better way to protect your computer than to make the process as automatic as possible.
Know what the threats are. Do you know what could happen to your computer? More importantly, know how to prevent cyber attacks from happening to you.
Purchase and use a quality program. None of this is possible if the program you are using is not up to date in terms of its technology.

Take the time to find out if your antivirus protection is in place and is working at its best. Otherwise, your system could be at risk.

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: antivirus, Malware, Security

Create and Protect Better Than Good Passwords

March 9, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

It can seems like almost everyone you know, that uses a computer, has had passwords stolen. For many they are lucky and it was only an email account or a social networking site password. For others that are not so lucky it is a bank account, a credit card, or something that allows someone to steal their identity in a larger way. Your first line of defense against the theft from your various online accounts is the passwords that you use. It is not only important to maintain excellent passwords but to consider changing them on a regular basis.

To create an excellent password it is important to use something that is unusual to you. First of all it is good to use a variety of character types. An excellent password will have lower and upper case letters as well as numbers and symbols. This type of password can be harder to remember and that is what stops many people from using an excellent password. Passwords should be difficult especially if they connect to accounts that include money or personal identification information. An example of a good password that uses all of the character types above is “Bird$doG839″. Notice that all four character types are present and that capitalization does not follow the rules of grammar.

In addition to choosing a good password there is another extremely important rule. Do not use the same password for every account that you own. There is no easier way to take over someones accounts than when a theif gets one password, such as your email and then instantly has access to every other account you own. Be diverse in your passwords.

Finally, change your passwords. It is good to consistently change your passwords in order to be safe. If any activity has started then you will end it by regularly changing the password.

Filed Under: Hacking Ethics Tagged With: Bank account, Password, Security

The Dangers and Annoyance of Mal-ware

February 23, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

There are many malicious sources online that pose potential dangers to a computer. Whether an unsuspecting email account holder inadvertently opens an attached file and installs it on their computer without knowing it is a virus, or someone stumbles upon a web site that presents a barrage of pop-ups containing viruses; there are many things that can wreak havoc on your computer. However, one of the more common associations with dangers and overall annoyance pertains to mal-ware programs. These programs are becoming more prevalent in the modern Internet, and are infecting more and more people on a daily basis.

Mal-ware programs are programs designed to infect a computer, then run silently in the background for any known period of time. As it is running in the background, it tracks the users of that computers search habits and other aspects that give an indication of their interests. It then transmits these algorithms back to the source of the virus. Once that source has collected enough information, the mal-ware begins sending ads and other annoying pop-ups to the computer in which it is infecting with theoretical relevant ads. When people click on these ads, the source of the mal-ware then begins making money. The ads while annoying in their most natural form, also have detrimental effects on the system resources, and can greatly increase the amount of time in which a web page loads.

Fortunately, there are some simple ways to check for mal-ware if you believe your computer has been compromised with a virus. Simply pull up the task manager and analyze the various processes that are running on your system at the current time. For the most part, many of them should be recognizable. If you do come across one that looks suspicious, look it up and determine if you can shut it down, or get rid of it without hurting anything on your machine.

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: Anti-Virus, Computer virus, Infection, Security, Spyware

Simple Ways to Protect Your Computer While Connected to the Internet

February 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Windows Security Center (not antivirus softwar...

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The Internet is a very popular place in today’s modern world. From the wide assortment of various activities that can be performed online; to the increasing ease of use and overall access, the Internet is quickly becoming a basis of our culture and lives. However, with the positivity that the Internet presents, there are also dangers that people who regularly utilize the Internet, and particularly those who newer to the online world, need to know prior to utilizing it. Among one of the most commonly associated issues that consistently pops up pertaining to online dangers is the prospect of getting a computer virus. Computer viruses can be caught in a number of different ways, and can do a wide range of different things to your computer.

Fortunately, there are some quick and simple things a new computer user can do to ensure their computer remains safe from the majority of dangers lurking online. The first of these items pertains to the use of a viable anti-virus software. Anti-virus software is generally a program that runs in the background of the computer, utilizing few system resources, and acts a barrier of safety, catching any potential threats that occur in real-time. Additionally, most anti-virus developers utilize automation processes within the software so that regular scans are run at scheduled times to ensure the user does not have to worry about forgetting to do so.

Secondly, and something that is commonly overlooked, is to ensure your operating system is adequately updated. Timeframes vary in terms of when updates or patches are released, but it is vital to ensure you download and install these patches as soon as possible. Not only do they fix known bugs, but they also repair any known security risks that were not known prior to the patch implementation.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: antivirus, Computer virus, Security

Errors After Installing A New Program – Here Is How You Should Resolve The Issue

January 30, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

What options should you use to resolve problems and error messages in your computer after installation of a new program? Well, you have the option of removing the program and installing it again. In some cases, the installation process may be flawed and may not have been executed properly.

You can try and configure the firewall to allow changes to your system beforehand. In some cases, legitimate changes will be made to the operating system before the software application will be installed properly. The firewall is usually configured to block all such items irrespective of whether the change is being implemented by a legitimate program or by a virus.

You can create a window for a few minutes that will help you complete the installation process. Ideally, this should solve your problem. If the problem persists even after you have completed the second installation, you should focus on identifying why the problem is occurring.

The step is to log on to the internet and find out whether other persons are facing the same problem as you are. If yes, then you should find out how they have tackled the problem. There are many instances where certain websites do not open when one is using a router.

The Minimum Transmission Unit permissible through the router should be reduced so as to facilitate proper opening of the website. You may not be aware of the technical aspects on your own. However, using the internet smartly will help you get all the necessary details to rectify the problem.

If nothing else works, you can log onto the internet and support alternatives to the program that you have installed. You can download trial versions of such programs and find out whether it is working properly. Or, you can even going for an updated version of the existing program if you have a licensed copy.

Filed Under: Programs & Software Tagged With: Computer program, firewall, Installation art, Security

How to Protect Your Computer from Hackers While Playing Online Casino Games

January 28, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Playing online casino games is a fun way to pass the time and unwind. As with any activity on the computer, it is important that you protect yourself from hackers while playing. There are many people who have malicious intentions, and are looking to steal personal information from other computer users or spread viruses. Here are a few tips that will help protect your computer from hackers while you’re playing online.

Verify or Install Anti-Virus Software

The first thing that you should do is verify that you have some sort of ant-virus software installed on your computer. If you do not, you need get it. Actually, many people have two or three different kinds of anti-virus programs installed on their computer. There are many options available, from paid to free versions. It is usually best to stick with a popular brand so that you know it will work properly. AVG and Ad Vast are two of the most popular free anti-virus programs available. Do a search to locate a free download.

Play Online Casino Games on a Reputable Site

Make sure that the casino site is reputable by doing some research. Look for reviews from other players and see if they are positive or negative. You also want to make sure that the casino site has been tested or accredited by a business that does independent audits to be sure the company is playing fairly and by the rules. Casinos with good track records usually display this information on their website. All gambling websites must be licensed, so check out the site’s terms and conditions to verify that they are licensed.

Keep Your Personal Information Secure

Before playing online casino games, look at the casino website and find the security policy to make sure they are using encryption software to keep your information safe. If you can’t find this information, don’t hesitate to call up the company and ask!

Filed Under: Hacking Ethics Tagged With: antivirus, Casino, Gambling, Malicious Software, Online casino, Personally identifiable information, Security, Viruses

Protecting Your New Computer Against Computer Hackers

January 21, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Buying a new computer is exciting and using free software tools, such as PC Tools Free Antivirus, helps to keep your new computer running smoothly. Without antivirus software, your computer is at risk for malicious malware that can lead to costly repairs and loss of important files and data.

Reasons to Install Antivirus Software

Everyone has heard the horror stories of new computer owners whose machines were attacked by computer hackers and viruses. It’s relatively easy to be in this predicament if you are running your computer without antivirus software. An innocent and accidental visit to a malicious website can flood your computer with unwanted malware. Clicking on an email attachment from an unknown source can expose your computer to a virus. Downloading a file with a perfectly harmless title can be an attacker’s way of invading your computer. When you install antivirus software, you eliminate your computer’s risk of being attacked in this way.

Using PC Tools Free Antivirus Software

Given the large selection of antivirus software, many of which cost money, using free antivirus software from a trustworthy and well-known source is a good option. PC Tools Free Antivirus software protects your computer against all manners of malware, including viruses, Trojans and worms. When you surf the web, you also run the risk of your computer picking up intrusive spyware and adware that monitor your web activities.

When you use antivirus software, you no longer have to worry about these issues. You can work comfortably on your new computer, knowing that no one will steal your identity, send spam emails from your computer or have access to your computer files. With PC Tools Free Antivirus software, you get all of this protection at no charge. The program runs automatically and effectively while you work, keeping out all invaders and allowing you to enjoy your new computer.

Filed Under: Hacking Ethics Tagged With: antivirus, Computer file, Malicious Software, Malware, Security, Trojan Horses, Virus, Viruses

Protecting Your Computer

December 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Computers are very useful for one and all. Computers can be used according to the need of the user. It is, if a person wants to have some entertainment, then they can bring a movie CD or DVD and can start watching it. If one has to do any office work or has to prepare a document then they can do so with the help of a computer.
Computers also have some risk if the data used in computer is shared or transferred often. The risk is not with computer if the data used or transferred within the computer. If any external devices are connected to the computer which was connected to another computer just before this usage, then there are chances of computer getting infected.

Computers are vulnerable towards some harmful programs called virus, malwares, etc. if a computer gets infected by any one of the virus or malware or any other programs, then it is difficult to get it back to the original position, it is not like we cannot get it back to the normal position, but it is a long procedure for sure.

Now the primary question is to protect your computer from these harmful programs. One of the most common methods to secure the computer from any of these harmful programs is to install the system with antivirus software. Antivirus programs can search the whole computer for any kind of harmful programs and can delete it from the system for ever.

The only requirement after installing the antivirus into a computer is that, the antivirus software has to be updated from the internet properly. If this is followed then no virus can harm your computer by infecting it. Keeping your computer safe has to be one of the things to do, for all.

Filed Under: History Tagged With: antivirus, Security, Spyware