Your Expert Guide to Desktop Security Software

The logic of most internet users would be to find a free antivirus software before buying any antivirus software. Of course! Why buy when you can have one with no cash out? However, you get what you ask for, so to make sure you get an antivirus that will work well, and also be free to use, here are some of the necessary features you should look for in the free antivirus software.

Does it have real time scanning?

This means as you work or play on your computer while being online, will the antivirus program work as well? Will it be able to detect incoming files or applications that contain dangerous viruses?

Does it have on-demand access and scanning? Can you pre-schedule scans?

For instance, when you open an email from a person who sounds like someone you met, but you are not sure, will the antivirus be able to detect a malware as you open the file? Also, can you schedule scans when you want, or do you follow its schedule?

Does it have a Heuristic scanning feature?

This means your antivirus should be able to figure out new threats based on what it knows, even before the updates are installed?

Can it go through your compressed files and find viruses sneakily hiding there? Often you will find out, a lot of malware tend to effectively bury themselves under a pile of files, making it extremely difficult for manual detection. Many times, the only way to find these threats is through a good antivirus program.

How well can it protect when you are online?

Can the software check the websites prior to your visiting them, and can it detect danger from instant messaging?

Article Source: http://goo.gl/FmnBY

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Die-Hard Norton Antivirus User No Longer

Actually, it started a few days ago. Nothing definitive, but definitely something "not quite right" as I used one program or another or surfed online. Of course the first thing I did was scan my hard drives. Nothing wrong (according to the 2006 version of Norton's Antivirus program).

But still the lagging and odd this and that persisted. Running out of virtual memory at the drop of a hat, on and on, problem after problem. Scan, scan, update, scan, scan. Never one little thing did 2006 find.

In reverse, I also ran my spyware sweeper from my Zone Alarm Pro (and before you think that was my problem, it's not - these two programs had been working quite harmoniously on my computer for years, the problems only started AFTER I upgraded to Norton's 2006 version!). And... each time Zone Alarm found spyware and typically things that Norton, if working correctly, SHOULD HAVE ALSO FOUND.

Hmmmm... So, having spent the extra bucks and also had Symantec ship me a backup disk, I started the (now) unthinkable. I uninstalled everything - both Norton and Zone Alarm for good measure.

At around 8:30 p.m. last night the fun began.

By 3:00 in the MORNING, after repeatedly trying in vain to get Norton to fully install on my computer, and with only my lowly Zone Alarm Pro to protect me against the bitter outside world - in total disgust and RAGING ANGER I turned everything off and went to bed.

Five hours later, I was at it again.

Only this time, I was SO smart! I headed straight to ZoneLabs never giving Norton another backwards look.

I called the wonderful folks at ZoneAlarm, received some OUTSTANDING support, help (and sympathy which I sorely needed by then), and upgraded to ZoneAlarm Security Suite 6.5.

I did my homework. I read around. C/Net has actually moved Norton way down the list (it might even be past McAfee at this point), and clearly proclaimed ZA's Antivirus program superior.

As a current customer, it's an easy upgrade to the ZA Security Suite - and a financial savings to boot.

Fully installed on my computer SURE ENOUGH there was a big bad bundle of trouble that ZA caught - the first time around (!) - and fixed and eliminated. Since spyware checking also comes with this suite, along with a bunch of other things, I ran that, too. A total of six spyware sneaks eliminated.

I am a paranoid individual when it comes to me and my computer. I don't want you to get the idea that I wasn't updating or wasn't scanning or using Norton's Antivirus 2006 properly. I was. The rotten part is I THOUGHT it was protecting me. It wasn't. Glitchy, nasty, stinking rotten program - and it takes a lot for me to say that... I've been using Norton for years. However, if you currently have 2004 or 2005 on your computer my advice is DO NOT upgrade it to 2006. It's like a bad beta program that should never have left the shelves without a lot more research.

Article Source: http://goo.gl/Xcnfw

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Install Antivirus Security Software

A lot of people in the antivirus industry were afraid that Microsoft was going to kill the antivirus market. This hasn't happened yet, despite the fact that Microsoft is performing OK in independent antivirus tests.

But Microsoft's is but one free antivirus product; there are many other brands as well. What are the free antivirus products and can we trust them?

Initially, free software was always associated with Open Source Software: tools made by smart geeks; not very pretty, but working well.

Instructions

1. Choose an antivirus program. Popular programs available for purchase on disc include McNorton and McAfee. Online programs include Trend Micro and AVG. These are are available from their websites (see Resources) as free or charged editions.

2. Check for viruses. If your computer is already infected by viruses it may block the installation of the software. Use an online virus scan, such as that from Trend Micro (see Resources), to check for the existence of such viruses before you begin installation.

3. Remove any other antivirus software from your computer's hard drive. To do this, enter the Control Panel menu and open the "Add/remove programs" window. Scroll through the list and delete any remnants of previous antivirus software.

4. Close all programs. Ensure programs are closed and not just minimized. If there are icons or items listed on the taskbar at the bottom of the computer, close them by right-clicking once on the item and then left-clicking once on the "Close" option on the drop-down menu that appears.

5. Insert the software disc or run the downloaded file for your antivirus program. Follow the onscreen prompts to install the software including selecting the file destination and agreeing with the licensing requirements.

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Provideing Security to Your PC Through Antivirus

As technology advanced, and computers got empowered from just computing devices, the threat also increased for corruption or theft of data. Many fraudulent and treacherous people using the ability of programming languages, developed malicious code which could perform a task harming your computer in one way or the other. Also that code was capable of replicating itself. These snaps of code came to be known as Computer viruses. Initially they were just programming errors but later on seeing the potential of damage they can create, people started making them deliberately. Thus totally a new breed of applications was developed to provide security to computers called Antivirus software applications.

The inception of anti-virus software applications goes back to 1971, where Bob Thompson of BBN Technologies developed an experimental self-replicating program called Creeper. Now, Creeper affected a lot of computers there to the extent that it had to develop another program called Reaper to delete it. So you can say that, not technically, but yes Reaper was the first anti-virus. Slowly and steadily as programmers got powerful, more and more deadlier and damaging viruses came into the market and with the flourishing of internet the infection of viruses spread like a tsunami. But simultaneously even the anti-virus applications got powerful enough to curb them down and provide security to the host computers.

Several big names came up in the market with their products as antivirus software applications. But products like AVG, McAfree, Kaspersky, Avast, Notron, Avira, BitDefender, etc. gained a considerable appreciation and worked very nicely against viruses and other malicious content. Even the technology of scanners used in antivirus applications saw a great deal of development. Today we have Quarantine technology to keep viruses in a secured vault rather than deleting it completely because if the virus has bonded itself with some crucial system file then it will delete that too along with it causing the system unwanted damage. We also have Sandbox approach to run unknown code. There were also viruses and malicious programs which decorated themselves as antivirus programs like WinFixer, MS Antivirus etc and infiltrated the systems. But they couldn't last long as all good anti-virus programs have a regular update system where they constantly update their virus definition files providing maximum security against even the freshly detected viruses.

Article Source: http://goo.gl/Haq0J

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How Anti Virus Software Will Keep Your Computer Healthy

For most people, they do not care how the internal workings of their computer works, as long as it gets the job done. They do not want to know about the memory, or how many bits and bytes is in something. They just want to be able to email their mother pictures of her grandchildren. So when it comes to securing the computer from outside threats, they tend to shy away from overly complicated solutions. They want a quick and easy fix or they will ignore the problem until it starts to affect the computer from doing its normal everyday operations. But making sure your computer is secure from black hat hackers does not have to be complicated. With a few software installations, you can have your computer run safe and secure in no time.

The first thing that you should know, is what you are protecting your computer from. This is pretty easy. In laymen terms, you are securing your computer from viruses and other malware that will seek to corrupt it. When we say corrupt it, what that means is that it will put some kind of program onto your system that will make your computer do things that you do not want it to do. Things such as read the data that you put into it and then send it to someone else. Or it might have data that the program comes with and turn your computer into a delivery system. The deliveries will be things such as spam or maybe even other viruses. They could also use your computer to attack other computers on the internet in what is called a DDOS attack. So for these reasons, you want to make sure that your computer is protected in the latest anti virus security.

You can download anti virus from several different venues. You can use a name brand such as Norton or Macaffe. Or you can use a free version such as AVG. No matter which one you pick, make sure that you get it from a reputable web site. There are a lot of web sites that will try to get you to download fake anti virus software. Make sure the site that you get it from is legitimate. Download.com is a good resource but there are others. So once you download the software, install it on your computer. After you finish the install, run a scan on your computer. You want to make sure that any malware that was on there before you installed the software is now gone. Now that is taken care of, just let the software run every time you turn on the computer. This will mean that you are pretty well protected.

Article Source: http://goo.gl/BxRdV

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How to Temporarily Disable the Norton AntiVirus

The process of temporarily disabling Norton Antivirus is quick and straightforward. If you wish to disable all Norton Antivirus components in your system, you might need to consider disabling other related programs like Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall, if applicable. Both of these contain a built-in Norton Antivirus component.

Instructions

Disable Norton AntiVirus

Launch Norton Antivirus. Double-click on the Norton Antivirus icon from the system tray, adjacent to the clock on the bottom-right corner. If this does not apply, locate the Norton Antivirus icon on your desktop.

Click on "Options" and select the "Auto-Protect'' tab. Locate the check box that corresponds to the "Load Auto-Protect at Startup" option. If the check box is checked, click on it to leave it empty (disabled). Click on the "OK" button to confirm the action.

Go to Windows system tray, located on the bottom-right corner of your screen, adjacent to the clock. Right-click on Norton's small icon. A drop-down menu displays. Select "Disable Auto-Protect."

Select the duration, from the list of options, that you wish to keep Norton Antivirus disabled. Confirm the dialog box as necessary. A bubble message will display in the Windows system tray, alerting you the antivirus has been disabled.

Read more: http://goo.gl/foWHg

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The Best Internet Antivirus Security Software

There are a number of anti-virus solutions on the market, and choosing the best one for your needs is essential. The best anti-virus security software offers enhanced technology to block unwanted viruses, spyware and other malicious programs, while also offering privacy and parental control options. Although many opt for the free anti-virus software available online, it is important to know that they do not offer the same level of protections as the paid applications do.

BitDefender Antivirus

BitDefender, rated a top choice by PC Magazine, is one the most effective anti-virus software solutions available. BitDefender offers real-time protection against viruses and other malware programs. Additionally, it blocks websites from trying to steal your credit card information and other personal information. What makes this product even better is its optimized scanning capability that scans your files in half the time than previous versions and other anti-virus solutions. BitDefender also gives parents stronger parental control by allowing them to view all websites their children visit. This anti-virus software offers free technical support.

Kaspersky Antivirus

Kaspersky Antivirus offers in advanced level of protection against viruses, spam and spyware. Kaspersky also fights against identity theft and phishing scams, while providing advanced parental controls and privacy protection. Kaspersky works quickly by scanning only files that have been changed since your previous scan. It also has a plug-in that is compatible with both Internet Explorer and Firefox that lets users know if a website has any links to sites with adware or other security risks. It also offers free technical support in the United States.

Norton Antivirus

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Norton Antivirus is one of the most recognized names when it comes to anti-virus solutions. As a leader in anti-virus solutions, Norton protects against Trojans, viruses, spyware and more. Its advanced technology looks for threats not recognized by average anti-virus scans. Like many other anti-virus solutions, Norton protects against identity theft and optimizes performance. What is unique about Norton is it uses technology that determines the threat level of files by looking at several factors including the source, age, popularity and digital signature.

Webroot Antivirus with Spy Sweeper

Webroot Antivirus with Spy Sweeper fights viruses, Trojans, spyware, adware and rootkits. The software is the PC Magazine Editors Choice for stand-alone anti-spyware in 2008. It has become recognized as one of the best anti-virus solutions available. Webroot is easy to use and can be customized to have a minimal effect on your computer. The multi-layered approach of combining the anti-virus and spyware programs is necessary to keep your computer safe. What is unique about Webroot is its ability to detect before it has a chance to impact your computer.


Read more: http://goo.gl/niZ1R

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AV Security Suite Removal Tips

Antivirus Security Suite (or AV security suite for short) is a fake antivirus that is now on the loose. It systematically shuts important windows services down so you can not download removers on infected PC. The single website you will be able to see is AV Security suite's one. However, this parasite is not that hard if you know couple of removal tricks. First of all, one needs to re-enable internet connection. AV security suite uses couple of tricks, but the most often the proxy server is changed to its own process. However, it might change hosts file or DNS servers as well.

Thus the first step is to disable proxy server, clean up hosts file and clean up dns settings. This will allow you to connect to internet and download software you need.

Second step is to stop AV Security suite processes, so you can download and execute software. Press ctrl+shift+esc and stop all processes with garbage names that are launched from your user account. For example, processes called sdhfdhdqw should be stopped. When unsure, consult internet if the process name is known to be good. After that you are good to download proper remover software Like Spyware doctor, Malwarebytes Anti-malware or Stopzilla. If you can't launch the programs, just open task manager again and enter full path to them after picking New Process from menu. You can search on disk for the files with the same name as stopped processes and delete them.

Lastly, you should launch Msconfig and stop the files you have stopped and deleted from execution on the booth. We still recommend having a good antimalware solution with real time protection on your PC, as this is the best defense from similar scams in the future.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4567811

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Microsoft Security Essentials Antivirus Software (Codename: Morro) Available on June 23rd

Microsoft has supplied details on its plans for Microsoft Security Essentials (formerly referred to as Morro)—a free antivirus service for Windows. Do Symantec and McAfee really have anything to worry about?

Here are some of the main features users can expect from Morro:

•Real-time protection. Microsoft Security Essentials uses real-time protection to help address potential threats before they ever have an opportunity to become a problem.

•Dynamic Signature Service. In addition to taking advantage of daily signature downloads, Microsoft Security Essentials is able to validate suspicious files against newly identified malware in near-real time by querying the Dynamic Signature Service. Actions from unknown sources such as unexpected network connections, attempting to modify privileged parts of the system or downloading known malicious content all trigger requests for updates from the Dynamic Signature Service.

•Rootkit protection. Microsoft Security Essentials includes a number of new and improved technologies to provide additional defense against rootkits and other aggressive threats. These technologies include live kernel behavior monitoring for monitoring the integrity of kernel structures, support for direct file-system parsing to help identify and remove malicious programs and drivers hidden from the file system, and improved live rootkit removal that dynamically loads a new kernel mode driver as part of the cleaning process so that it can help successfully remove some of the more advanced rootkits.

•Lightweight design. Because Microsoft Security Essentials is core anti-malware only, it doesn't carry the weight of the suite products and has a much smaller download size.

•CPU throttling. CPU throttling helps ensure that the user's system remains responsive to those tasks the user is likely to be performing such as opening files or browser windows, launching programs, editing documents, saving files, etc.

•Idle-time scanning. Scans and updates are scheduled to run when the PC is idle and use a low-priority thread.

•Smart caching and active memory swapping. Signatures not in use don't take up space in the available memory, making Microsoft Security Essentials friendlier toward older PCs as well as today's smaller, less powerful form factors.

Essentially, Security Essentials seems a little bit like a lite version of Live OneCare (though it's technically not related). Since this version is free, it is certainly worth a shot—and it definitely poses a threat to Symantec and McAfee. Plus, they note that there will be no registrations or renewals and the software will be updated automatically. As far as availability is concerned, Morro will can be downloaded directly from Microsoft starting on June 23rd in a limited public beta for XP, Vista and Windows 7 users.

Microsoft Security Essentials
Fact Sheet
June 2009

As threats to the safety and security of today's PC users continue to evolve, Microsoft Corp. is actively working to help keep PC users protected so that they have a safer and enjoyable Windows experience. From building products that are more resilient to attack to delivering solutions designed to help secure the platform, Microsoft is committed to being a leader in providing consumers and enterprise customers worldwide with ongoing protection from new and existing threats.

In addition to taking advantage of the security designed and built into its products, Microsoft also encourages consumers to use real-time anti-malware protection to help protect their PCs from new and evolving threats. There are many quality security products to choose from (both free and subscription-based); however cost and performance barriers prevent many consumers from using up-to-date security software to protect their PCs.

To address consumer demand for quality anti-malware protection that's easy to get and doesn't slow down system performance, Microsoft is introducing Microsoft Security Essentials, a no-cost anti-malware solution that provides consumers with quality protection from threats including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. And because Microsoft Security Essentials is offered directly from Microsoft, consumers can have confidence that the software they download is legitimate and not rogue security software that can actually cause a PC to become infected with malware.

Available to genuine Windows users, Microsoft Security Essentials has been designed to be hassle-free and is focused on addressing consumer demand for a security product that delivers the following:
Quality protection
An easy-to-use experience
Unobtrusive performance
Quality Anti-Malware Protection
With malware attacks increasing in both number and severity and the increasing incidence of rogue security software, quality anti-malware protection delivered from a trusted source is a must-have for today's PC users. With Microsoft Security Essentials, consumers can feel safer knowing that their PCs are being protected against viruses, spyware and other malicious software by the same core technology that is the basis for Microsoft's other award-winning security products and that is backed by Microsoft's world-class Security Response Center. Security features in Microsoft Security Essentials include the following:

Real-time protection. Microsoft Security Essentials uses real-time protection to help address potential threats before they ever have an opportunity to become a problem.

Dynamic Signature Service. In addition to taking advantage of daily signature downloads, Microsoft Security Essentials is able to validate suspicious files against newly identified malware in near-real time by querying the Dynamic Signature Service. Actions from unknown sources such as unexpected network connections, attempting to modify privileged parts of the system or downloading known malicious content all trigger requests for updates from the Dynamic Signature Service.

Rootkit protection. Microsoft Security Essentials includes a number of new and improved technologies to provide additional defense against rootkits and other aggressive threats. These technologies include live kernel behavior monitoring for monitoring the integrity of kernel structures, support for direct file-system parsing to help identify and remove malicious programs and drivers hidden from the file system, and improved live rootkit removal that dynamically loads a new kernel mode driver as part of the cleaning process so that it can help successfully remove some of the more advanced rootkits.

Easy to get, easy to use

While there are many security solutions on the market today, the paid subscription model for consumer security does not meet the needs of many consumers, including those in emerging markets where cost, limited availability of payment instruments such as credit cards and hardware constraints can limit adoption of core security protection. To address the need for quality protection without the hassle of annual renewals or the cost and payment barriers associated with many suite products, Microsoft makes obtaining Microsoft Security Essentials and staying up to date with the latest technical and security protection advancements easy:

Available at no cost. Because Microsoft Security Essentials is available at no cost, there is no need to go through a lengthy registration process or provide billing information.

Direct download. Microsoft Security Essentials is easy to obtain online direct from Microsoft, meaning consumers can have confidence knowing they are downloading quality anti-malware protection from a trusted source.

No registration, trials or renewals. Consumers can be confused by trials and annual renewals, in many cases believing they have up-to-date anti-virus protection when in fact they do not. With Microsoft Security Essentials, consumers can download the software without a cumbersome registration process and stay protected without the hassle of annual renewals.

Up to date. Microsoft Security Essentials is automatically updated to help ensure that signatures, the anti-malware engine and the application are always up to date. New malware signatures are downloaded daily with new signatures accessed in near-real time through the Dynamic Signature Service when suspicious behavior is detected.

Single-click fix. There is no guesswork required to keep the PC protected. When there is an issue requiring user attention, an action button appears in a prominent location on the notification with the suggested action, making it easy for the consumer to fix the issue with just one click.


Quiet Protection
Microsoft Security Essentials is designed to run quietly and efficiently in the background so that consumers can use their Windows-based PC the way they want - without worrying about interruptions, pop-ups or poor system performance. To help keep PCs protected without overburdening system resources, Microsoft Security Essentials includes the following features:

Lightweight design. Because Microsoft Security Essentials is core anti-malware only, it doesn't carry the weight of the suite products and has a much smaller download size.

CPU throttling. CPU throttling helps ensure that the user's system remains responsive to those tasks the user is likely to be performing such as opening files or browser windows, launching programs, editing documents, saving files, etc.

Idle-time scanning. Scans and updates are scheduled to run when the PC is idle and use a low-priority thread.

Smart caching and active memory swapping. Signatures not in use don't take up space in the available memory, making Microsoft Security Essentials friendlier toward older PCs as well as today's smaller, less powerful form factors.


Microsoft Security Essentials System Requirements

Operating System: Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3); Windows Vista; Windows 7 (Beta or Release Candidate)
For Windows XP, a PC with:
CPU with clock speed of 500 MHz or higher
Memory of 256 MB RAM or higher
For Windows Vista and Windows 7, a PC with:
CPU with clock speed of 1.0 GHz or higher
Memory of 1 GB RAM or higher
VGA (display): 800x600 or higher
Storage: 140 MB of available hard-disk space

An Internet connection is required for installation and to download the latest virus and spyware definitions for Microsoft Security Essentials Beta.

Pricing and Availability

Microsoft Security Essentials Beta will be available for limited public download beginning June 23, 2009, from http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials in the following geographies and languages:
Geographies: Brazil, Israel, U.S.
Languages: Brazilian Portuguese, English
Public beta testing for Simplified Chinese in China will be available later in 2009.

Source :-gizmodo.com

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What is an Ideal Antivirus Protection?

The ideal antivirus software is a tool that will protect your system without you even realizing that there is a protection active or that you will even start to wonder whether your system is protected at all. This article is not really about what is an ideal antivirus software but it is an idea that I would like to expound on. That the internet experience of the average surfer have been marred with the existence of viruses, malwares and Trojans.

To overcome these threats, we have installed many security software which have often lead to a slowdown of the system and sometimes, these efforts are also futile. The ideal antivirus is a protection that should exist in the cloud. It should be omnipresent in all web servers that can detect the existence of any threats so that they can be eliminated once found, before the average surfer chances upon them and start inadvertently helping to spread the viruses or malwares.

Setting the standard for antivirus within web server architecture will revolutionize the way our systems have been protected to date, which is a slow and ineffective way of protection. Viruses spread by leveraging on the Internet's ability to multiply speedily when innocent users start spreading the virus without knowing it. What the ideal antivirus should do is to do likewise. Establish the antivirus standards within the web server architecture and then have it update its virus definition whenever any single web servers detected a new virus.

This will provide the protection online which will eliminate the need for any personal users to even install an antivirus tool. That way, we will even not know that an antivirus security is actually working to protect all our system. For antivirus to be ideal in protecting all our system, it must become more like the viruses it is fighting against.

Source: http://goo.gl/m6zTy

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Antivirus Security - Protect Your System and Your Data

Prior to the introduction of the internet, the need for antivirus security was practically non-existent. Thanks to the fact that anyone can get in touch with anyone in the world that has a computer no matter where they are the transmission of viruses which can cause serious issues to your computer and cause not only problems with your software but also cause your hardware to become unusable has been on the rise. As a result, it has become increasingly necessary to make use of antivirus security applications in order to protect your data and your system from the damage that can be caused by the wide range of viruses.

Emails are one of the most common ways that viruses are transmitted. What makes a virus a virus is that it is a small program usually only a few lines of code that create a particular situation within the operating system. In other words, it tells the computer to do something when you do something on the computer. It could be when you open a certain type of file, when you go online, or it may just be written to attack a particular part of the computer as soon as it is activated, usually by opening. In order to protect against this antivirus security applications were created to scan emails and detect these viruses.

Downloadable files and file sharing has also opened an entirely new realm of danger for those behind the development of antivirus security to consider. It is now possible to spread a virus along multiple routes. To assist with this antivirus security now offers the ability to scan files before the file is downloaded and shell scans, which allow you to scan a single folder or file rather than the entire computer.

This is to help prevent the spread of viruses, which can lay dormant within files and activate when the program is installed. Antivirus security is not foolproof in fact, there are many ways that a virus can still make it onto your computer bypassing your security and your attempts. However, it is considerably less likely if you have, your computer protected that you are going to miss a virus. Those that activate on installation are usually picked up during scheduled scans.

When using an antivirus security program it is important to make use of the routine scheduled scan feature. This will help to ensure that you can enjoy a worry free experience when it comes to your computer and viruses. This scan should be of your entire computer. Smaller scans of incoming emails, links you visit and any incoming file download, no matter what their source should also be scanned. These scans are usually separate and part of the spot scanning for the antivirus security application. Viruses come in all different sizes and types and can have an effect on a broad spectrum of functions in regards to your computer and no matter what the type or what effect it is suppose to have all viruses can have a negative and harmful effect on your computer.

Source: http://goo.gl/KcdVB

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How to Get Rid of Security Master AV ?

Security Master Av is the latest spyware infection that pretends to be a genuine antivirus and malware software but which actually corrupts and destroys your PC. This is a software which comes from a long line of spyware and malware software such as MySecurityEngine and CleanupVirus. It is designed in a way that it is hidden from legitimate antivirus systems in your computer.

Generally distributed by Trojans, it gets installed automatically as soon as the Trojan is started. It gets installed without your consent and knowledge and automatically starts every time you switch on Windows.

When the Security Master AV is started, it automatically starts to scan and lists a number of viruses that will not be fixed unless you buy the full version of this "antivirus software". In fact the only virus you have is this. With so many scans, the virus makes it difficult to work on your PC without hindrance. What's more is that it takes over your Internet explorer in a short time and displays messages such as "This site is harmful to your PC". This makes web browsing cumbersome and irritating.

To uninstall this malware, you can use both, a manual method or another program that automatically gets rid of it. Let's look at the manual method first.

If you are a PC expert and understand the registry, you will be able to find the manual task very easy. But, this method is not advised for beginners or those who are unsure of themselves as they may end up losing more than just the malware. For the advanced users, you will need to delete all related processes, such as sld.exe, dbole.exe, and sm345d.exe, and you will then have to get into your HKEY_CURRENT_USER and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT folders and delete all related files, which can be found online. Also remove related DLLs and block suspicious websites.

Other websites like reimage.com can also run scans and delete all the spyware immediately. Other anti-Malware software like Malware Bytes can easily remove this fake anti-spyware but it cannot fix the already damaged system files. It is a good idea to go to reimage.com as it deletes Adwares, Spywares, Trojans etc and also repairs all the system files to make your computer running as good as new. If you are unable to open your web browser, you can open your computer in the safe mode with networking or use a proxy server.

Source: http://goo.gl/oFGjg

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Rendering Security to Your PC Through Antivirus

As technology advanced, and computers got empowered from just computing devices, the threat also increased for corruption or theft of data. Many fraudulent and treacherous people using the ability of programming languages, developed malicious code which could perform a task harming your computer in one way or the other. Also that code was capable of replicating itself. These snaps of code came to be known as Computer viruses. Initially they were just programming errors but later on seeing the potential of damage they can create, people started making them deliberately. Thus totally a new breed of applications was developed to provide security to computers called Antivirus software applications.

The inception of anti-virus software applications goes back to 1971, where Bob Thompson of BBN Technologies developed an experimental self-replicating program called Creeper. Now, Creeper affected a lot of computers there to the extent that it had to develop another program called Reaper to delete it. So you can say that, not technically, but yes Reaper was the first anti-virus. Slowly and steadily as programmers got powerful, more and more deadlier and damaging viruses came into the market and with the flourishing of internet the infection of viruses spread like a tsunami. But simultaneously even the anti-virus applications got powerful enough to curb them down and provide security to the host computers.

Several big names came up in the market with their products as antivirus software applications. But products like AVG, McAfree, Kaspersky, Avast, Notron, Avira, BitDefender, etc. gained a considerable appreciation and worked very nicely against viruses and other malicious content. Even the technology of scanners used in antivirus applications saw a great deal of development. Today we have Quarantine technology to keep viruses in a secured vault rather than deleting it completely because if the virus has bonded itself with some crucial system file then it will delete that too along with it causing the system unwanted damage. We also have Sandbox approach to run unknown code. There were also viruses and malicious programs which decorated themselves as antivirus programs like WinFixer, MS Antivirus etc and infiltrated the systems. But they couldn't last long as all good anti-virus programs have a regular update system where they constantly update their virus definition files providing maximum security against even the freshly detected viruses.

There are lots of good anti-virus software applications available today. Some come at a price, some are free of cost. But first you need to check what sort of security you need for your PC. There are several types of anti-virus products available today, internet security, server security, home-basic security, etc. Once you get your type of product recognized you can choose a good brand or anti-virus and get maximum security and rest easy.

Source: http://goo.gl/U3H9V

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How to Gain Internet Security

Remember the infamous ILOVEYOU Phenomena? If not, then let me remind you, ILOVEYOU was a computer worm that spread in 2000 that affected over 50 million people, causing an estimated $5.5 Billion in damages. Said worm spread in just a day reaching countries like Hong Kong, Europe, and even the United States. What's even more absurd is that the ILOVEYOU worm was able to penetrate even the Pentagon, which was first known impenetrable.

When it comes to the growing trend of using the World Wide Web, security is always a concern. The scare the ILOVEYOU virus created made people more alert of what risks are involved when it comes to the Internet.

That's where Internet Security comes in. Internet Security basically means protecting your computer from intrusion from outside sources, may it be files, data's, or passwords. There are several methods in which you can protect you computer via Internet Security.

Anti-viruses are the most widely used form of Internet Security in which it functions by detecting and destroying viruses. Anti-virus software's can be downloaded through the Internet coming from different providers. In fact, there are a lot of choices in the market that offers free trials before purchasing. It's important to use careful selection when it comes to purchasing anti-virus software's because some may work well than others, and since there are a lot to choose from, careful selection is a must.

An antivirus protects your computer from malwares in general. Malwares are software's designed to corrupt, copy, infiltrate or destroy data's from a computer or any device that can be programmed. Viruses are those, which tend to replicate themselves and integrate themselves in existing data's on your computer. Trojans or Trojan Horses, as the name implies, act like that of the Trojan Horse, which appears to be something which it is not, it can appear like a totally harmless software that end up stealing information from your computer. A worm is also something that can replicate itself and can affect a whole community in just a matter of hours like the ILOVEYOU phenomena. While Bots are programs that uses the resources of your computer without consent, and can send information to other networks without permission. All in all, these are all considered Malwares.

An anti-spyware helps protect your computer from spywares & unwanted software's from pop-ups that can result to slow computer performances and security threats. Anti-spyware basically protects your computer from spyware's and adware's.

Email Security is also an important form of Internet Security, considering the growing number of email users. Email security uses software's like firewalls, encryption, and Spam filters, all designed to protect your email from being corrupted by web threats.

Source: http://goo.gl/leN7G

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Speed Up Your Computer

There are many ways that can make a slow computer such as a virus, spyware, registry problems, or hard drive fragmentation. There are some tips and guides to repair a slow running computer and tips on how to keep it running at maximum efficiency.

Below are some of the top tips increase speed of your computer:

1) Clean the Registry - Cleaning Your Registry is a best way to speed up a computer. You've probably noticed that your system gets slower and slower as time passes. Often times, this is caused by Registry problems, accumulated as a result of installing and uninstalling programs.

2) Defragment Your Hard Drive - A fragmented hard drive can really slow down your computer. Defragmenting is a pretty easy and painless operation and can really boost performance.

3) Remove Spyware and Viruses - One of the most common reasons for a slow computer is a virus or spyware. ComputerTooSlow.com offers tips and help on removing these from your PC.

4) Remove Unused Programs - Old and unused programs are taking up space and slowing down your overall PC performance. Removing these old programs can help speed up your pc.

5) Update PC Drivers - Old or ancient drivers may cause a number of problems, from diminished hardware functionality to conflicts and system crashes. Keeping your drivers up to date is necessary for optimal PC performance.

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Facebook Photoshop Virus Plagues Users

Nearly 600,000 Facebook users have fallen victim to a new Facebook application scam. Similar to previous attacks that notify the user that one of their friends has found a video with an “Oh, wow, is this you” message, the Photoshop scam is provocative users in the same way. This virus spreads through Facebook chat, instantly sending out similar messages to all of your friends, whether they are logged into chat or not.
The message tells users that a friend has made a Photoshop image of them and includes a link that prompts you to launch an application. The application is basically a phishing scam, prompting the user to grant access to their Facebook account (like most do), but also grants access to Facebook Chat. Once the application has been allowed, you have access to a gallery of people with their heads on animal bodies — none of which are you.
M86, who first reported the scam on their blog, says that it doesn’t seem like the virus is spreading malware, adware or spyware at this time, but the infectious virus is spreading quickly – at a rate of 90,000 clicks per hour.
The best thing to do is to neglect all applications of this kind, but if you have made the mistake of giving the application access to your Facebook data, you need to get rid of it. Notify your friends to let them know that it’s not a legit application so that they can ignore any messages from you. Go to your privacy settings page in Facebook and remove the application to prevent it from continuing to send out multiple messages or something more devious than a man-dog. You should also change the password to your Facebook account, just in case the application is storing the information to be used at a later date. This application may look benign in nature, there are very few of these things that spring up just to get a laugh.

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How To Remove Best Antivirus 2011?

(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Best Antivirus 2011 is useless and even dangerous application which is foolishly presented as a powerful security software, capable to protect your PC. However, in reality Best Antivirus 2011 software should be classified as rogue anti-spyware which will do its best to steal your money and infect your computer with more cyber threats like trojans, worms and others.

The Best Antivirus 2011 program is malicious and fraudulent. Best Antivirus 2011 is just another name for Fake Antivirus scam. Best Antivirus 2011 is distributed via deceptive websites and trojans. It may get onboard via system exploits. Remove Best Antivirus 2011 as early as possible.

How To Remove Best Antivirus 2011 In 6 Minutes from your computer Visit the below link to learn how to download Best Antivirus 2011 removal tool http://www.cleanpcguide.com/remove-best-antivirus-2011-h ... www.cleanpcguide.com We provide virus removal assistance. Our website is daily updated with latest virus removal instructions and removal tools.

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System Tool Virus Removal Issued by Microsoft

Microsoft has recently issued a security advisory to help ensure customers are aware that an update to the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine also addresses a security vulnerability reported to them.

According to user reports, when performing a virus scan, Microsoft’s Malware Protection Engine fails to process a specially crafted registry value correctly, enabling local attackers with restricted privileges to execute arbitrary code at system privilege level (privilege escalation). This attacker, in turn, could gain the same user rights as the LocalSystem account.

The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine is a part of several Microsoft anti-malware products that includes Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), Windows Live OneCare, Windows Defender, Forefront Client Security and Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 products as well as the Malicious Software Removal Tool.

Microsoft advises that if your version of the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine is equal to or greater than version 1.1.6603.0, then you are not affected by this vulnerability and do not need to take any further action. If you want to know how to verify the engine version number that your software is currently using, you can see the section, “Verifying Update Installation”.

Currently, a patch that is being deployed automatically via the virus and signature update mechanism will fix the issue. Typically, no action is required of enterprise administrators or end users to install this update, because the built-in mechanism for the automatic detection and deployment of this update will apply the update within the next 48 hours. However, the exact time frame will of course depend on the software used, Internet connection, and infrastructure configuration.

An updated version of the Malicious Software Removal Tool will become available on 8 March. The tool is only vulnerable when it is first executed by the system after having been downloaded via Windows Update. Attackers can’t exploit the hole by manually starting the tool.

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Microsoft fixes security flaw in malware protection engine

Microsoft has patched a flaw in its malware protection engine that could be exploited to gain control of victim's computer.
The Malware Protection Engine is used in Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft Security Essentials, Windows Defender, Forefront Client Security, Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010, and the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool.
The vulnerability could allow elevation of privilege if the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine scans a system after an attacker with valid logon credentials has created a specially crafted registry key, the company said in a security advisory.
The security update has been pushed out to users of Microsoft's security products via the company's automatic update to patch the elevation of privilege vulnerability.
Microsoft said the update would have been automatic for enterprises, providing administrators had ensured that definition and engine updates were approved in their update management software.
"Since the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine is a part of several Microsoft anti-malware products, the update to the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine is installed along with the updated malware definitions for the affected products," the company said.
Microsoft claims there have been no exploits of the flaw, which was reported to the company by an independent security researcher.
Version 1.1.6502.0 is the latest version of the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine affected by this vulnerability, which is fixed from version 1.1.6603.0.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2011/02/24/245564/Microsoft-fixes-security-flaw-in-malware-protection.htm

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Lavasoft Rogue Gallery puts fake antivirus and rogue applications on display

It is very difficult for less-savvy computer users to stay out of trouble on the Internet, and part of the problem is that they just don't know how to identify potential threats. Fortunately, there are plenty of great online resources you can use, or point your friends and family to. We've already covered the excellent Facecrooks, which helps users avoid trouble on Facebook, and today we're taking a look at the Lavasoft Rogue Gallery.

Lavasoft is the company behind Ad-Aware, the granddaddy of adware removal apps. Though its malware cleanup crown has been snatched away by Malwarebytes in recent years, Ad-Aware remains enormously popular -- and Lavasoft provides a nice public service by displaying the fake antivirus (fakeAV) and rogue applications it discovers for all to see.

Rogue applications are those nasty programs which appear to be useful utilities like antivirus or Windows tune-up tools. In reality, of course, they're some of the nastiest threats around. They're easy enough to spot if you know what to look for, so spending a few minutes going through the Lavasoft Rogue Gallery is highly recommend to anyone who needs a bit of help avoiding Internet dangers.

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