The Importance of Good Anti-Virus Software

Any malicious program or the negative impact such a program causes is called a virus. Once infected with a virus, cleaning the computer is not easy. Some viruses can be cleared manually but it is a laborious and difficult task. You can purchase anti-virus software available in the market to do the cleaning of your computer. You should update the anti-virus software before using it to clean the computer.

If you fail to clear the virus infection from your system, as a last resort, you can perform the “system restore” function using the CD-ROM that comes with the system. It will clean the entire hard drive and make it as good as new. But that will also clear all the settings, files, preferences, etc that were there previously on your computer. Anti-virus software is computer software created for identifying and removing computer viruses or any other harmful software. Modern anti-virus software can protect the system from a range of viruses like worms, Trojans, rootkits and so on.

Software developed exclusively for cleaning the computers infected by certain specific viruses is called virus removal software. They are more effective than the ordinary anti-virus, but they cannot detect and clear many other viruses other than the one they are intended to clean. Many virus removal tools can be downloaded free from the Internet. But the need for good anti-virus software is growing day by day.

Amateurs wrote and created earlier viruses and the infection was very obvious in most cases, which made the detection and removal easier. But now, those who want to create viruses even go to the lengths of hiring professional software developers and the new viruses are worse and more harmful and very difficult to detect and remove entirely. Even if you have a good anti-virus installed on your computer, if you do not update it at least once every week, your definition file will be out of date and your anti-virus will not be strong enough to find a possible virus infection on your system.

Whether you use the system for business or pleasure, you will definitely understand the necessity for a good anti-virus software in your computer once it is infected. Prevention is always better than cure. So if you have not yet installed the anti-virus software, do it as early as possible to avoid infections.

Many criminal groups use viruses to exclusively steal your data. Those viruses will not show their destructive behavior or display alert screen messages. These criminals want the viruses to stay undetected on your system to keep stealing information as long as they can. Detecting such viruses can be a problem if your anti-virus is not good or updated regularly. Once the virus is detected, you should use virus removal software to clean the system before using it again.

There are some websites that offer virus scanning without installing any specific software. The web-based program can check your hard disks for viruses and remove them if you say so. This is an effective method but you will never know if they are also spreading viruses. It is wise to purchase a good anti-virus software from the market. Anti-virus software will protect your system from virus threats, trace them out, destroy them and alert you of any possible incoming threats to your computer.

All anti-virus companies update their database and release the definition files for new viruses so that you can update your anti-virus software on your system. Good anti-virus software and virus removal software are always in great demand. The risk of losing priceless data is too much for anyone to bear.

RJBM/Admin…

Things To Remember About Anti Virus

Identity theft is a problem that has grown in intensity over the past couple of years. Indeed, large credit card companies and banks have had their systems invaded and millions of people have been put at risk. The thing that you should really keep in mind is that if companies are vulnerable to hackers, then why isn’t your computer? After all, the best hackers invade the best systems.

But there is a lot of money to be made attacking computers just like yours and stealing all of your financial and personal information and it is happening to people like you and I every single day.
Have you thought about computer security at all? Most likely not. Many unsuspecting individuals believe that computer hackers only hack into corporations and rich people. This is far from the truth.

Spyware roots around your hard drive and absorbs any personal information. Spyware tends to bog down your system and put your personal information up for anyone to take advantage of. You can purchase anti-spyware of download it for free from browers and software providers. It is great idea to add anti-spyware software to your computer security plan. Anti virus programs are available in many different types and prices as well, so make sure that you first do your homework to determine which type would be best for you.

So beware. Computer security does not involve just warding off bad hackers. Every day your computer is susceptible to threats regarding your computer system and the information you store on your computer. Don’t care about identity theft? Why not? What about the amount of time and money you have put into your computer? If your computer has a virus it can destroy your memory and hard drive causing you to lose all your information.

Your computer will be an simple target if you dont’ have a security system. Your unprotected computer will eventually fall prey to a computer virus. A computer virus can be catastrophic. To avoid the hassels and crippling effects of a computer virus, you need to set up a security system on your computer. Make sure that you have a firewall installed.

A firewall can screen information from the Internet and check to make sure it is not harmful to your computer. If the firewall determines that the information is harmful then it will block it. A firewall should be the first component of your computer security plan. The next thing to do is to set up anti-virus software on your computer system. The Internet is home to dishonest people that will rob you of your information and use it for their own gain. Protect yourself against these hackers and conartists by having an effective, robust computer security system. Do it now.

Anti-virus software provides tools that will thwart anything that accidently passed your firewall. Hackers have been known to break into the computers and use them as a clone computer. Don’t let this happen to you or your friends.
It is imperative that you have a secure computer, especially in this highly technical computer age.

RJBM/Admin…

Information That Can Save Your Computers Life-Importance Of Anti Virus

You keep hearing there are all these scary things to avoid while being online. There are so many confusing topics and just a lot of noise out there about what you should be doing and shouldn’t be doing. You get to the point where it’s easier to just not go online! You ask yourself, what sites should I go on, which ones to I avoid, what e-mails can I open, and can I download anything or not? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself and become aware of.
Why is this important?

The bottom line is the Internet is an amazing utility to use in your daily life to connect with friends and family, do some shopping, and get work done much faster. Just as there are scams you need to be aware of in your daily life, you need to be aware online. Unfortunately when you are online you can’t see what sites and programs you can trust or not trust. It’s not as easy as your wallet was stolen so you can easily call and cancel your credit cards. But if you are going to use the online world (which it’s a great tool and you should!) like everything else, you need to protect your information.

You don’t leave your personal information out for anyone to see and pick up in your daily life, and you need to learn how to not do that while you are online! With these few steps you can be relatively safe. Just as when you are in the real world you need to always be aware and cautious. Never give out your passwords or PIN numbers: No matter who asks for it, do not give it out.

Almost all legitimate sites will never ask you for that information. If you loose your password there are ways for you to change it yourself. If someone offers to change it for you, say no. A good tip is to change your password periodically and don’t use your home address or birthdates as that information may be easily obtainable by predators. You can be confidant that you are the only one that’s knows it.
Unfortunately over the past few years it’s become increasingly dangerous to download anything online. Once a malicious program gets onto your computer it can be a great annoyance factor and harmful to your personal information.

Companies that offer a free download of their product you should be wary of; do a gut check as to whether you can trust them. Also have common sense; most things in life are never completely free!
At the end of the day you should act online how you act in your daily life; always use common sense! If something looks odd to you, then take an extra minute to check it out. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Anti Virus protects your computer, there is no doubt about that. Online scammers prey on people who are not aware, often in a rush, and most of all gullible.

RJBM/Admin…

Get The Help You Need-Use An Anti Virus On Your Computer

We are living in an Information age and today more and more people use computers to help them reach information or to do some work. Every computer in order to operate uses an operation system and one of the most frequently used operation systems today is called Microsoft Windows. It has many versions but when it comes down to repair there are some fundamental things that people should know to easily help themselves and to know exactly when a help from a specialist is necessary. Anti virus is what you all need to know about.

It is done by simple copy of your important data into one or more locations or you can use more sophisticated methods like partition backups or system backup. I will not give any details because the goal of this article is only to give you the basics to enable anyone who want to begin from there. Now I will tell you about some basic operations you need to learn to perform on a regular basis.

The first one is called backup. It is done by simple copy of your important data into one or more locations or you can use more sophisticated methods like partition backups or system backup. When making backup keep in mind that the keeper of it is very important. If you store the backup on your hard drive the chances for it to be damaged are big.One good way could be a fast ftp access or on other Internet location that is secured, big enough and fast enough for your needs.

The system registry is another part of your system you should know about. It is made to keep almost every option that software and hardware use to work. Many programs could help you clean it up and tune up your system but you should know that sometimes this could be dangerous because if you damage a critical segment of your registry data the system may crush or some of your software could not work properly. Usually people reinstall the software that causes problems and most of the time this could fix things up but the system registry always needs to be taken seriously no matter what operations you want to perform on it.
The system checking is another opportunity to analyze possible problems with your software or hardware components.

Every Windows system has tools designed to help you on that matter. On the market you can find some more advanced software too provided from Symantec or other software corporations. Sometimes when you store important information you may even want to ask professionals to keep you safe because it is impossible for everyone to know even the main principals on how viruses works and how to keep yourself save from them.
There are many ways to contact a professional today or to install an anti virus program. This could save you not only time, nerves and money but it could help you design a new way to perform the operations you need and help you take your work to a new plane.

RJBM/Admin…

Finding the Security Suite that meets your needs

Before proceeding to read this article, it is important that we state something up front. It is essential for the reader to understand and appreciate that there is no such thing as a secure operating system or web browser. While the use of security suites and other complementing products can significantly reduce your risks, they are not magic wands that you can wave to eliminate 100% of your risk. Any product claiming they can do this should be viewed with great skepticism.

With that being said, let’s talk computer security and security suites. There are numerous ways in which the security of your computer can be breached. The most common threats come from worms, viruses, Trojans, phishing, hackers and crackers. Potential security breaches can come in the form of downloading unfamiliar email attachments, being monitored by spyware, maliciously attacked by malware, or probed through port scanning.

Dshield.org (www.dshield.org), a non-profit company, functions as a “dominating attach correlation engine with worldwide coverage”. In short, they work with people and companies to track, among other things, port scanning violations. Port scanning involves a person (referred to as a hacker or cracker) who attempts to break into you computer through the open ports in your system. Once an open port is located, the individual attempts to collect your personal data or install a malware program into you computer. On average, Dshield.org logs over 1.1 billion reported attempts of port scanning each month. What is even scarier is that this is just based on their program participants. You can imagine how many more incidents are occurring each month to the general population of computer users.

Dshield.org also reports on survival time. Survival time refers to how long it will take before an unpatched PC is attacked or infected. Below is a snapshot of their current operating system breakdown:

Current OS Breakdown
Category % Adjusted Survival Time
Windows 27.0000 128 min
Unix 0.5000 3648 min
Application 3.0000 1203 min
P2P 1.5000 1591 min
Backdoor 0.5000 5432 min
Source: Dshield.org – Survival Time History (11/8/05)

In short, if you have a Windows-based operating system and an unpatched PC, you will be attacked or infected in a little over 2 hours. When looked at in these terms, securing your computer becomes a mission.

Here are a few easy steps you can take to immediately protect your computer.

1. Don’t run unfamiliar programs on your computer.
It sounds like common sense, but many of the most prominent attacks have involved spyware and email attachment worms such as Bagle and Netsky. If you don’t recognize the sender, don’t download its attachments.
2. Don’t allow unrestricted physical access to your computer.
If you have sensitive or proprietary information on your computer, allowing other employees or family members to use your computer can lead to potential breaches in your computer’s security.
3. Don’t use weak passwords.
Use passwords which are difficult for someone to figure out. People frequently use the names of children, pets, anniversary dates, or birthdays. Because there seems to be a password needed for everything, it is not uncommon to see many people using the same password for everything. Big mistake! The use of only one password provides a hacker with easy access to a smorgasbord of personal information. If you have to write your passwords down, it is best not to leave them on a post-it, attached to the screen of your computer. You may chuckle at the absurdity, but it happens more than you think.
4. Don’t forget to regularly patch your operating system and other applications.
Many industry experts believe that most network security attacks would be stopped if computer users would just keep their computers updated with patches and security fixes. Too often, we forget to do this on a regular basis. Remember that every day, new viruses, worms and Trojans are being created and distributed. They are looking for the weaknesses in your computer system. Having outdated software is basically the same as holding the door open and inviting them in for a visit.
5. Don’t forget to make regular backups of important data
Always keep a copy of important files on removable media such as floppy/ZIP disks or recordable CD-ROM disks. Store the backups in a location separate from the computer.

In most cases, Windows desktop and screen-saver passwords provides adequate protection for normal security concerns. However, if you feel more comfortable taking additional security measures consider obtaining a comprehensive security suite.

Selecting a Antivirus Software
The next question is how do you pick the best product for your needs? You start by asking yourself a series of questions. Do you need password protection for individual files, your desktop, a network, or to block someone’s access to the Internet? Is your computer used only by you or do multiple users have access to the computer? How many users in total do you expect on your computer? What are your system requirements? How much do you want to spend?

Once you are able to answer these questions, you can begin to research which security suite will best meet your needs. Product reviews and user statements provide a great starting point. PCMagaine (www.pcmag.com), Zdnet.com (www.zdnet.com), and Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org) are just a few informative sites that offer research on various computer software products.

There are numerous security suites available on the market. Take the time to choose the one that meets your specific needs.

RJBM Admin…

Fighting off Viruses:

Protecting your computer from a virus is getting harder and harder each day. While it may border on the paranoid, it goes without saying that you can’t leave your guard down for one second. Even corporate giant Microsoft has found its own systems compromised on more than one occasion.

Remember the “good old days”, before the advent of the Internet and downloadable programs? Life was simple then in terms of computer viruses. With the primary way in which a virus could be transmitted being limited to floppy disks, the ability to catch and eradicate the virus was a lot easier. By today’s standards, it used to take quite a while before a virus was able to infect a computer and slow down the system. The antivirus software of that time was typically able to identify and eradicate viruses before they caused too much damage. Additionally, computer users were pretty savvy on how to protect themselves in terms of scanning all floppy disks before copying them to our desktop.

The Internet helped change all that. The Internet provided a conduit by which viruses could move from host to host with lightening speed. No longer could a computer user just worry about floppy disks as points of entry, but they now had to worry about email, email attachments, peer-to-peer file sharing, instant messaging, and software downloads. Today’s viruses can attack through multiple entry points, spread without human intervention, and take full advantage of vulnerabilities within a system or program. With technology advancing everyday, and the convergence of computers with other mobile devices, the potential of new types of threats also increase.

Protecting Your Computer
Luckily, the advancement of antivirus software has kept pace with current virus threats. Antivirus software is essential to a computer’s ability to fend off viruses and other malicious programs. These products are designed to protect against the ability of a virus to enter a computer through email, web browsers, file servers and desktops. Additionally, these programs offer a centralized control feature that handle deployment, configuration and updating.
A computer user should remain diligent and follow a few simple steps to protect against the threat of a virus:

1. Evaluate your current computer security system.
With the threat of a new generation of viruses able to attack in a multitude of ways, the approach of having just one antivirus software version has become outdated. You need to be confident that you have protected all aspects of your computer system from the desktop to the network, and from the gateway to the server. Consider a more comprehensive security system which includes several features including antivirus, firewall, content filtering, and intrusion detection. This type of system will make it more difficult for the virus to penetrate your system.
2. Only install antivirus software created by a well-known, reputable company.
Because new viruses erupt daily, it is important that you regularly update your antivirus software. Become familiar with the software’s real-time scan feature and configure it to start automatically each time you boot your computer. This will protect your system by automatically checking your computer each time it is powered up.
3. Make it a habit to always scan all new programs or files no matter from where they originate.
4. Exercise caution when opening binary, Word, or Excel documents of unknown sources especially if they were received during an online chat or as an attachment to an email.
5. Perform regular backups in case your system is corrupted. It may be the only way to recover your data if infected.

RJBM Admin…