Best Ways to Protect Your Computer from Viruses and Spyware

Is your computer malfunctioning due to viruses? Most of the computer users experience the save quite often. To protect your PC from a virus attack, you should understand exactly what a virus is. Computer virus is a software program which is designed with malicious intentions. It is not very difficult to keep your computer running like a brand new-one with the regular maintenance and updation of your anti virus software from time to time. It is basically spread via internet. In this article we have discussed about some of the best ways to protect your computer from viruses and spyware.

• For better computer protection, you should use an Internet firewall. Operating systems like Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP with SP2 comprise built-in firewall and this is turned on by default. Check whether it is on or not. If not, turn it on.

• You should also update the operating system regularly as Microsoft releases updates to protect the users from virus attack. Have you installed the most recent version of Microsoft Office? Your Microsoft Office programs will also be updated by Microsoft Update.

• It is a must to install an antivirus software program and update it regularly. AVG, Avast, Norton, Macafee, etc. are some of the most renowned names in this regard. You can start with the trial version and if you find it satisfactory, then go for the paid version.

• It is also suggested not to open an e-mail attachment from an unknown source. In most of the cases, these attachments contain viruses and spyware. You should also use strong passwords to protect your computer from unwanted access.

Source:- www.mytechsupportstore.com

Computer repair Scottsdale now assuring end to end technical support

The fact is, maintenance of the IT set up is indeed daunting and is often challenging for the non techs! It is exactly when you need the expert hand and the IT service provider ensures you of a holistic IT maintenance to protect, control and maintains your IT needs. With a pool of IT professionals and qualified engineers armed with their latest IT certification, the computer services thus provide a managed IT services to guarantee a protected environment for your IT infrastructure from the growing security threats and network failures.

With the mounting amount of interdependence on computers the major need today remains in interlinking these to make sure that the computers work efficiently and that is exactly what the term networking support does. In this typical scenario if you do not deploy the right IT consulting expert, at the day’s end you are putting your core business in jeopardy. Computer repair Scottsdale with an array of expert services like computer support services, computer repair services, computer networking, computer maintenance, and even computer hardware repair services offers a holistic approach in maintaining your IT setup.

As they say that “a stitch in time saves nine”, so to minimize your downtime it’s advisable to bank on the computer services Arizona for best computer services. Arizona computer support and repair services is now more like a life support system when trying for emergency troubleshooting. No matter, if you are trying to find out the solutions for your laptop, computer, or any other peripheral troubleshooting because now the experts are there for real time troubleshooting and routine maintenance of your IT.

Source: businessweek.com

How to Stay Secure on Web - Hackers Guide

You already know the basics of internet security, right?

You know to keep your antivirus program and patches up to date, to be careful where you go on the Internet, and to exercise online street-smarts to resist being tricked into visiting a phishing site or downloading a Trojan horse.

But when you've got the basics covered, but you still don't feel secure, what can you do? Here are a few advanced security tips to help you thwart some of today's most common attacks.

Remember, however, that security is all about trade-offs. With most of these tips, what you gain in security, you lose in convenience. But hey, it's your computer. Be as paranoid as you want to be.

Avoid Scripting

This may be the one piece of advice that will do most to keep you the safe on the Web: Steer clear of JavaScript, especially on sites you don't trust.

JavaScript is very popular, and for good reason. It works in almost all browsers, and it makes the Web a lot more dynamic. But it also enables bad guys to trick your browser more easily into doing something that it shouldn't. The deception could be something as simple as telling the browser to load an element from another Web page. Or it could involve something more complicated, like a cross-site scripting attack, which gives the attacker a way to impersonate the victim on a legitimate Web page.

JavaScipt attacks are everywhere. If you use Facebook, you may have seen one of the latest. Lately, scammers have set up illegitimate Facebook pages offering things like a free $500 gift card if you cut and paste some code into your browser's address bar. Code is JavaScript--and you should never add it to your browser. "Scammers use this technique to open up unwanted surveys, fill your social networking profiles with spam or even to send you to phishing pages," says Chris Boyd, a security researcher with Sunbelt Software.

But miscreants can add JavaScript to hacked or malicious Web pages, too. To avoid attacks there, you can use a free Firefox plugin called NoScript that lets you control which Websites can and cannot run JavaScript in the browser. NoScript goes a long way toward preventing rogue antivirus programs or online attacks from popping up when you visit a new Website.

Source: itbusiness.ca

AVG Brings LinkScanner Malware Detector to the Mac

A company that provides antivirus offerings for PC users is bringing a free link checker to the Mac.

AVG Technologies plans to unveil a Mac version of AVG LinkScanner, a free download that scans Website links for potential threats. AVG says its LinkScanner application checks Web pages in real-time, posting a warning to users if the software finds a Website that could pose potential problems.

"Every single time you click on a link, any time you're accessing information on the Internet, we scan it, looking for malware and phishing attempts," J.R. Smith, CEO of AVG, told Macworld.

AVG's software doesn't rely on blacklisted sites that have been flagged for potential harmful content. Rather, the application uses real-time checking to alert users to potentially problematic sites. The company relies heavily on a large user base--tens of millions of users, according to AVG--to ensure users are surfing to secure Web pages.

Mac users have lived largely free of malware and viruses, as malware creators have focused on attacking more widely used platforms. That figures to change as the Mac becomes a more widely used system, thanks to the growth of both OS X and Apple's mobile iOS. But the real threat is posed by the growth of social networking sites that increase the risk Web surfers could fall prey to phishing and other malicious attacks.

"We're not here screaming that Macs are vulnerable," said Smith, adding that like any platform the Mac OS has its vulnerabilities. Rather, Smith continues, the threats posed by attacks via social networks threaten users regardless of platform. "We're protecting people in some cases from themselves."

Look at the increasing prominence of shortened URLs, Smith said. Savvy Web surfers used to be able to look at a URL and spot a potential phishing attempt; condensed URLs make that harder to do. "You can't see [the full URL]," Smith added. "You can't be your own policeman."

The free download of AVG LinkScanner is designed for Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6; it runs on Mozilla Firefox 3.x and later as well as Safari 3.x and later, including the newly released version 5 of Apple's Web browser.

source: pcworld.com

Seagate claims world's fastest laptop drive

Seagate has officially announced its Momentus XT, a hybrid hard/solid state drive (SSD) that it claims is the world's fastest 2.5in drive for laptops.

The device is designed to offer performance comparable to a costly Flash SSD, but with the greater storage capacity and lower price associated with standard hard drive technology, according to Seagate.

The Momentus XT achieves this by combining a 7,200rpm drive with 4GB of SSD storage, and using built-in algorithms to put the SSD's speed to best effect. This is independent of the operating system or any applications used, the firm said.

Seagate's Adaptive Memory technology intelligently monitors application and file requests, and puts the most commonly accessed data in the SSD, where it can be accessed much faster than from the magnetic disk.

The Momentus XT is 80 per cent faster than a conventional 7,200rpm drive, according to Seagate, and a laptop will boot twice as fast as one with a typical 5,400rpm laptop drive.

The drive is shipping into the channel and to system vendors now, and Asus has announced that it will offer it as an option for its new Republic of Gamers G73Jh laptop.

The Momentus XT is available in 500GB, 320GB and 250GB capacities, with suggested retail prices of $156 (£108), $122 (£84) and $113 (£78) respectively.

Source: v3.co.uk

Symantec Launches Hosted Endpoint Protection

Symantec Corp. announced the launch of Symantec Hosted Endpoint Protection, a new cloud-based offering for small and medium sized organizations who wish to deploy comprehensive security for their computer systems without the need for additional hardware or management software. Customers will now be able to protect their Windows-based laptops, desktops, and file servers from the proliferation and growing sophistication of threats with the simplicity and convenience of a cloud-based service.

Harnessing more than eighteen years of experience developing award-winning technologies for anti-virus and endpoint protection, Symantec Hosted Endpoint Protection is designed to safeguard endpoint systems with a single solution managed from a Web-based console offering advanced protection from the endpoint to the gateway.

"As the hosted model for messaging security has become increasingly popular for its ease of management and deployment, organizations are similarly motivated by the reduced complexity that cloud-based services can offer while effectively protecting their endpoint systems," said Rowan Trollope, Senior Vice President, Symantec Hosted Services. "Symantec Hosted Endpoint Protection leverages our SaaS expertise to deliver advanced technologies that help protect customer systems without requiring additional hardware, management software, or dedicated IT staffing."

As threats become more complex and the global workforce increasingly more mobile, analysts have predicted that businesses will demand highly effective security solutions that are easy to set up and require minimal maintenance– features especially important to small and medium sized businesses that have limited resources to stay current with evolving security requirements while managing a myriad of additional IT responsibilities.

"Customers often experience pain when increased IT resources are required to stay abreast of evolving endpoint threats," said Christian Christiansen, VP of Security Products and Services, IDC. "To reduce these difficulties, customers want turn-key, endpoint solutions that provide the latest protection levels with easy set up, zero maintenance, and automatic upgrades. Security SaaS implementations can fully provide these solutions."

Symantec Hosted Endpoint Protection leverages the Symantec Global Intelligence Network, one of the largest security research networks in the world, and benefits from the network's rapid threat identification and response. With Symantec Hosted Endpoint Protection, automatic security updates occur transparently over an Internet connection keeping employee systems current whether workers are in the office or on the road.


Source: techarena.in/news

Fake anti-virus software a growing online threat

Google said Tuesday that fake software security programs rigged to infect computers are a growing online threat with hackers tricking people into installing nefarious code on machines.

An analysis of 240 million Web pages by the Internet search giant during the past 13 months revealed that fake anti-virus programs accounted for 15 percent of malicious software it detected.

"The Fake AV threat is rising in prevalence, both absolutely and relative to other forms of Web-based malware," Google said in its findings.

"Clearly, there is a definitive upward trend in the number of new Fake AV domains that we encounter each week."

Fake anti-virus (AV) peddlers rig websites to frighten visitors with pop-up messages warning that supposed scans have found dangerous malicious software on machines.

The scam goes on by selling victims programs that hackers claim will fix the purported problems but which in fact usually plant nefarious computer code on machines.

Such transactions can also leave credit card information in the hands of cyber crooks.

"Surprisingly, many users fall victim to these attacks and pay to register the Fake AV," Google said.

"To add insult to injury, Fake AVs often are bundled with other malware, which remains on a victim’s computer regardless of whether a payment is made."

Google has refined tools to filter out booby-trapped Websites and hackers have evidently responded by flitting from one domain name to another.


Source: ca.news.yahoo.com