RegCure Blog

Understanding Spyware And How To Deal With It

2008-07-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

Are you worried about viruses harming your computer? Are you worried that some people will steal your information? Does the pop up advertisements appear in your computer for no apparent reason? If you are worried about viruses, you need to be worried about spyware as well. If you do not want people stealing your information and you hate pop up advertisements that appear in your computer, you must hate spyware.

However, spyware enters your computer without you intending to install it. To help you avoid the damages spyware can do for you, you will need to read on. In this article, we will help you understand spyware and will help you deal with it.

What is spyware?

Spyware is computer software that installs in your computer without you knowing it. It may affect and intercept your interactions with your computer. It may also direct you to advertisements that you do not intend to go to. Pop up advertisements may also irritate you, as it will continually pop up without you doing anything.

Spyware is spying in your computer. It may send your profile and credit card information to third parties. It may intercept your interaction with your computer. It is not a virus but it can harm you more than a computer virus can. What do you think will people do with your credit card number?

Where does spyware come from?

Spyware takes a ride in freeware or shareware. Thus, if you install a freeware or a shareware, you may be installing with it a spyware. You may be agreeing to the installation by agreeing on the online agreement to install a freeware.

Spyware may also hide behind websites that you visit. By clicking a pop up advertisement, spyware may install in your computer automatically.

This is specially so if you do not have firewall or if your computer setting is not set to high.

You will also be unable to detect spyware if you do not have anti-spyware software in your computer.

How to remove spyware?

If you notice toolbar changes or that you receive many pop up advertisements in your computer, chances are you have a spyware working behind your computer.

To remove spyware, you will need anti-spyware software. Check out reputable software developers and get from them anti-spyware software. One of this developers is Paretologic who also develops other quality security softwares like registry cleaner, spam filters etc. Reputable software developers will have a safeguard that spyware is not in its set up. You will need this to ensure that you will be able to avoid the damages spyware can do to your computer.

Some anti-spyware software are actually spyware installation program, do not fall trap in this by only buying your software from reputable developers.

How to avoid spyware installation?

Avoid downloading shareware or freeware. As spyware may be riding on them.
Do not open email attachments from people you do not know. Mere opening these spam mails may install spyware in your computer.
Install a firewall in your computer to protect it from spyware auto-installation.
Install anti-spyware software, it will detect spyware and avoid its installation to your computer.

Spyware may harm you by slowing down your computer, it may also cause offensive pop ups in your computer. Worse, it can steal your information including your credit card number.

Avoid this by ensuring that your computer is free of spyware. You may also set your browser's internet setting to high. This will help avoid auto-installation of unwanted software.

How Adware works and why people hate it?

2008-06-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

Are you an advertiser? Do you want to reach as many targeted customers as possible? Do you want to ride in the Adware-free software bundle? If you do, we will not judge you. However, it may help you to know that many people hate Adware because of the existence of illegal, disturbing, and unacceptable softwares otherwise known as Malware.

Before you decide if Adware will benefit you as a seller or as a customer, let us first understand what Adware is and why Adware needs to run in your computer. This may also help you understand if there are benefits of having Adware in your computer or Adware is entirely unacceptable.

There is always a positive and negative side in everything and thus, before you embark on taking a ride in Adware, understand what you are getting yourself into. This will ensure that you will avoid bad perception or distrust from your customers.

What is an Adware?

An Adware is software that helps your computers read advertisements. Often, people do not need to install an Adware but free softwares have an Adware in its background. This endeavor provides consumers with free software and some useful and targeted advertisements, which help customers and sellers to meet.

Adware is riding on free software. Thus, when you install your free software, and you agree to the terms and conditions of use, you are actually agreeing to the installation of the free software and the Adware as well.

What is Malware?

Malware is an Adware that does not take a ride on free software but instead illegally installs in your computer enabling its advertisements, mostly unwelcome advertisements. Malware likewise steals your profile and sells it to third party. Some Malwares may be blocked by your computer’s firewall. However, because many developers are experienced enough, some Malwares can disguise themselves and thus makes its illegal way into your computer.

What does Adware do?

Adware monitors your internet activity. It also reads your profile to ensure that the advertisements Adware will show is targeted to your need. Adware will therefore provide you with popup or pop-under advertisement of products and services that may interest you.

Technology savvy developers design Adware to monitor your internet activity. It will be able to differentiate similar keywords with targeted niche. You are therefore going to see advertisements that may interest you coming from the knowledge of your internet activity and your profile.

Good Adware needs to be installed with a software. Bad Adware or Malware on the other hand easily gets into your computer without you doing anything about it.

Good Adware is easy to uninstall or there is uninstallation software to cleanup your computer if you do not want to see advertisements.

Bad Adware or Malware on the other hand may be troublesome to uninstall and may possibly never uninstall.

They will cause your computer to slowdown and may present unwelcome advertisements.

Many people hate Adware but love free software. Do not feel bad and consider the Adware unscrupulous if you use freeware. Freewares do not go without cost. Someone has to pay for the freeware, and these are the advertisers. That is way you see adware fallow along with some free registry cleaner and anti spyware softwares.

If however you want software but do not want advertisements popping up in your computer, you may buy the software you need to use.

If you still want the free software then use free software from reputation developers. This way, you are sure that you will benefit from Adware that is bundled with the free software.

It may also help to use firewall to make sure that you minimize Adware issues in your computer. This is not foolproof but this will minimize the Adware issues you may encounter.

Stylish fox receive top ratings - so good is Mozilla's Firefox 3

2008-06-20T03:18:00.000-07:00

15000 improvement says new version of Firefox contain. We do not even try us on that list, or for that matter test all. Of course, the vast majority of the improvements are also hidden under the surface, but some are very noticeable.

The first thing ever faced by users is that the browser "vistafierats" with the larger and rounder buttons. That's because we test with Windows Vista and Firefox 3 customize their appearance depending on the operating system. Purely functional perhaps it may seem silly and superficial, but the fact is that we realize that such a simple thing as the back button significantly feels extremely comfortable.

Another handy new feature of the interface is that there is now a small star in the edge of the address bar. One click and you have added to the current page to your bookmarks. Small things, but it facilitates the daily surfing.

Easier
The bookmark tool has also become more easy to use, and you can now make its own Search Folders. With these, you can, for example, have special subfolders with the most-visited bookmarks, the most recently visited, and so on.

You can also write in its own "tags", that is, descriptions on the websites to categorize the judgement further.. A grateful function for all of us who surf and add too many bookmarks. The tags also adds another dimension that you can type such as "news" in the address and receive proposals directly to all the bookmarks that have that tag. We like the feature alot!

Another nice new feature is the additions that can be downloaded. Even here, there have been a lot of search functions and ability to find just the supplement you want. Something that works much easier than in previous Firefox.

Faster
During the shell hiding a lot of news in the form of enhanced security, which includes protection against phishing, integration with your anti-virus software, registry cleaner and so on. In fact, no more than what you can count on. Something, however, is welcome, and no more than noticeable, is that Firefox has become significantly faster to work in.

The program has previously suffered from a problem with memory as a result, many have tough and slow computers after one use tags. The first impression is that this is who disappeared in version 3, and although we only tested the sharp version today, it has seen promising in the beta versions, we had installed earlier.

Ten out of ten
The final is that Firefox 3 become more attractive, faster and easier to work with. The manufacturer, Mozilla's own slogan reads faster, safer and smarter and although we have not tested the safety, it is true the other descriptions in to the dot. The maximum rating is the only thing we can put on this first glance at the new browser!

The Web's 10 Most Dangerous Virus Threats

2008-06-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

Kaspersky lists the most dangerous threats on the network. Here are the 10 worst right now.

The security company Kaspersky publishes a monthly list of the most common viruses. For the month of May is unusually short list, compared to most of the year, but the fact is that the summer months tend to be quieter in terms of viruses and other threats. Virus makers seems to take a summer vacation and thus make the Internet a little safer place. And that's the reason also why the buying of antispyware, antivirus and registry cleaner softwares falls in this months.

If you look among the viruses that are found in the e-mail is different variants of the Netsky virus, the most common, but overall, it would thus be unusually few virus attacks. Kaspersky however maintains that phishing and spam continue to pose major threats to users and to always be on their guard.

Kaspersky list of the most dangerous internet treats in May:

1. Trojan that targets banks
Trojan-Spy.Win32.Banker.mrj topped the list for the Trojans, which was directed against the banks in May, after attacking customers to 103 banks at the same time.

2. Trojan, which focuses on payment systems
PSW.Win32.Staem top the list for the Trojans, who are attacking payment systems, although it only attacked three payment systems.

3. Trojan, which is aiming to using the debit card
The most malicious program to attack debit card was in May, a new modification of the Trojan-Spy.Win32.Banker.tq - having been targeted attacks on five payment card at once.

4. The secret programme
The winning modification of Backdoor.Win32.Hupigon.bxbu has also been on the march and have done well after being packed with nine compring programs to be hidden.

5. The minimum programme (through size)
Trojan.Bat.KillWin.dg took up to the top among the least harmful programs that have been successful. Despite the small size in just 15 bytes, it can destroy the Windows operating system on the user's hard drive.

6. The largest programme
The largest programme, which ended up in the peak in May is the Trojan-Spy.Win32.Banker.fgw, with a size of 30MB, but it does not change any record size in this category.

7. The most vicious programme
A new modification of Backdoor.Win32.Agobot.pgj top the list of most malicious software in May, as it strikes down anti-virus software by erasing the security software in the attacked computers.

8. The most vicious email virus
The most vicious email virus who have been most successful are email worm Win32.Netsky.q. It has done 23.12% of all malicious e-mail traffic in May.

9. The most common Trojan family
The Trojan family that emerged as most of May is also an old acquaintance. The entire of 3,301 new variants of Backdoor.Win32.Hupigon family appeared in May.

10. The most common virus / worm family
The most prevalent virus-worm family in May is different from the past two months top. This category is topped by Net-Worm.Win32.Kolab.c, with its 276 modifications.

The 10 most downloaded Free Program

2008-06-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

RegistryHeal.com has investigated the most downloaded free program on the Internet this week. Antivirus and file sharing is high on the list. Forbidden fruit tastes best "the old saying goes". That need not be the case with handy programs to your computer. There are a lot of really good programs to download which is completely free.

A constant question that many ask themselves how they can be free, just for free. There is no sensible person who wants to spend a lot of time to develop and maintain a program that you can not make money from?

The fact is that there are indeed a few non-profit souls who burn to develop good programs and do not care if they earn a penny at work. These are very rare and a dying species.

The new business model is to create two versions of a program. A version that is free and have limited functionality. Then there is usually a more advanced version with more features that users have to pay to download. There are many security programs like antivirus, antispyware and registry cleaner who uses this model.

RegistryHeal gives you a list of the free program downloaded most of the past week according to the web service Download.com.

1. AVG Anti-Virus
AVG Anti-virus has been involved for many years and is a really good anti-virus software. The program is located, and monitors your computer in the background and updated automatically to be able to find new viruses. The program has no limits as long as you are a home user.

2. Ad-Aware 2008
Malware is the English name of the program that only pretending to be an innocuous little programs that you can download at any site. The program is often a Trojan horse that collects information about your computer use and sell the information on to a third party. These programs are often poorly programmed and slows down your computer, or can even get it to crash. Ad-aware is a very good program to detect and stop these programs from invading your computer.

3. Limewire
Limewire is one of the most popular fildelningsprogrammen. We need enough not to make any deeper analysis of how these programs are used most often. Limewire is fast and easy to use. In addition, there are several different platforms such as Windows and Mac.

4. Avira Antivir Personal
Avira is just as the AVG anti-virus software. The interface is a little easier but the functions are basically the same. Which program that suits you is a matter of taste.

5 Avastar Home Edition
Avastar is also an anti-virus program like AVG and Avira above. The only difference is that the program looks a bit cooler and you can change the "skins" if you feel like it.

6. ICQ
Icq was the first and still is the highest among the independent chattprogrammen. Microsoft MSN has now taken a large share of the cake. Icq hold the fort well and offers a variety of functions such as videochat and other goodies. Unlike MSN, you can in Icq easily search for new friends all over the world.

7. Bitcomet
Bitcomet is one of the most popular programs for downloading and uploading a bittorrent files. Bitcomet is just like Limewire a file-sharing for the sharing of files to other users.

8. Frostwire
Frostwire is just like Bitcomet above a program to download bittorrent files. Which program is best is a matter of taste.

9. Mirc
Mirc is a client for chattprotocol irc. Irc used most of the really advanced desktop user, and perhaps none of the street. However, there are thousands of groups in various interest on irc where you can find like-minded.

10. Spybot
Spybot is just like Ad-Aware above a program to find spyware and other evil that can hide themselves on your hard drive. Spybot is anything less in their size, but has essentially the same functions as Ad-Aware.

The world's fastest computer built by Playstation 3-parts

2008-06-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

We speek alot about how to speed up your computer with a registry cleaner, here is a interesting news for you. The latest supercomputer from IBM manages more than a thousand trillioner calculations per second, which is more than twice as fast as today's fastest supercomputer Blue Gene / L, which is also designed by IBM, writes BBC News.

In total, use Blue Gene / L 212 992 processors, while the new supercomputer - which goes under the name Roadrunner - will contain about 20 000 fewer processors. The fact that it is possible due to the new computer is a so-called hybrid, using both traditional processors and the powerful Cell processors used in the Sony Playstation 3.

Cell processors consists of eight grains and can work at speeds more than four gigahertz. They were developed in a collaboration between including IBM, Sony and Toshiba. Processus have been modified to fit the new supercomputer and to increase the amount of information that can be processed. Here comes the hybrid technology into its own. The usual processors handle regular data, while the Cell processors will handle the more difficult and more unstructured calculations.

We can soon, simulate the world

The new supercomputer will be installed in a laboratory in the United States later this year to among other things, keep track of the U.S. stocks of nuclear fuel. The computer will also be used for research in astronomy, genetics and climate change.
-We will further be able to simulate the world, "said a spokesman from IBM to BBC News.

The fastest computer in Sweden called Cluster Platform 3000 BL460c, working in a tenth of what the new supercomputer will be able to deal with.

Clean the Paging file For Your Security And Move It For Better Performance

2008-06-06T02:07:00.000-07:00

The paging file (Pagefile.sys) is a hidden file on your computer's hard disk that Windows XP uses as if it were random access memory (RAM). The paging file and physical memory make up virtual memory. It can also be said that the paging file in Windows is used to help when the memory is not sufficient. But it also means that the data you had in mind could end up on the hard disk where others may find the information with a little detective work.

In order to increase security, you can ensure that the paging file automatically emptied of all information when Windows is terminated. Use the Windows Registry or a registry cleaner and locate the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager \ Memory Management. Double-click the value ClearPageFileAtShutdown in the right panel and the way to 1.

If the value is missing, create it by right clicking and selecting from the menu.

How Move The Paging File

By default, Windows stores this file on the same partition as the Windows system files. You can increase the performance of Windows, and increase free space on the boot partition, by moving this file to a different partition.

Log on to the computer as Administrator.

Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.

Click the Advanced tab, and then under Performance, click Settings.

Click the Advanced tab, and then under Virtual memory, click Change.

In the Drive [Volume Label] list, click a drive other than the one on which Windows is installed. Under Total paging file size for all drives, note the value that is displayed next to Recommended.

Click Custom size, and then type the recommended value in the Initial size (MB) box. Type the maximum size that you want to allow for paging in the Maximum size (MB) box, and then click Set.

In the Drive box, click the drive on which Windows is installed, and then use one of the following steps:

If you do not want a paging file on the drive, click No paging file, and then click Set. A message similar to the following message appears:

If the pagefile on volume C: has an initial size of less than 126 megabytes, then the system may not be able to create a debugging information file if a STOP error occurs.

Continue anyway?

Click Yes.

If you want to keep the minimum size of the paging file on the drive, click Custom size, and then type a value that is equal to or greater than the amount of RAM in the computer in the Initial size (MB) box. Type that same value in the Maximum size (MB) box, and then click Set.

The following message appears:

The changes you have made require you to restart your computer before they can take effect.
Click OK, click OK, click OK, and then click Yes when you are prompted to restart the computer.

Here is the Freeware That Makes Your Email Spyware Secure

2008-06-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a free security tool. No it is not a registry cleaner. Flexcrypt Free encrypt your e-mail. Here, load it home for free.

If you want to be really sure that no one can read your important emails, but feel that a commercial encryption programs are too expensive, then Flexcrypt Free may be worth a look. The program is free and works with any e-mail as long as they run locally. So for those who run their email through the web with Gmail or Hotmail, Flexcrypt do not work, but if you are having it with Outlook, Thunderbird and similar it will work.

When the program is installed, then it is just to put in the e-mail addresses of the effort to send encrypted messages to, and it is also to receive encrypted messages from them.

For each address you have a password is created, which acts as the encryption key. Anyone who wants to read the encrypted message must also have access to the password so it must be notified in person, by post or over the phone. When it's done Flexcrypt Free manages all encryption and decryption automatically.

That is really secure right? I think this is what most of us people need when internet becomes more and more dangerous and security is a must.

Flexcrypt Free work with Windows XP / Vista and can be downloaded from www.flexcrypt.com.

Don't Defragment!

2008-06-03T06:52:00.000-07:00

When you read about how you could make your computer faster and do it without a registry cleaner, you get sometimes advice and "good councils" about that you should defragment, not only hard drives, but also memorycard and usb-memory in order to improve performance.

This is entirely crazy, do not do it! That defragmenting fastens up a hard drive depends on that it works with a movable head that must move around in order to read various parts of a file. Of course the more the file is scattered, the more the head must go back and forward, which slows down the process to read.

Flash memories function entirely different. They work entirely electronicly and have no movable parts. They can read one fragmented file precise equal fast as that one that is cohesive.

Instead, it is of course so that every flashmemory has a finite length of life. Your memorycard or your usb-stick copes with only a certain number written tests, afterwards the memory cells becomes "burnt out".

This applies to all sorts of such memories. Admittedly, it is about quite many thousand times that you can save to an individual cell, but before or latter it dies out.

One defragmention means a mass of written test and movement of data and abbreviates therefore the length of life on your memory considerable.

Two Usb or Not Two Usb, That Is The Question

2008-06-01T04:41:00.000-07:00

Apologize for the poor Hamlet-title , but I think that it fits the article exactly. I wanted to give you a tip about something, apart from registry cleaner, that many people are wondering about.

Usb 2.0 has been around in a number years and is in all modern computers. But for a computer that has some years on the neck the question turns up in the head sometimes - can I to draw benefit of this fast gadget, do I have usb 2.0 or not?

If you put an usb 2.0-gadget in an usb 1.1-port Window presents most directly a warning message about that it will not function with full speed. But it is of course pity if you already have bought the gadget.

You can check directly which type of usb you have. Open the system drive (fastest through holding down the keys Window+Pause/Break, choose system drive on the tab firmware. ). Look under USB-drives. If you see some row that contains” Enhanced USB controller”,” USB” Enhanced Host controller” or some similar words you have usb 2.0.

Would you be without it, you could get a cheap expansion card to set in a free-and-easy pci-card holder - fits all computers.

(The tips concerns also Window Vista, but is not needed there – A Vista-computer should not lack usb 2.0.)

Protect Your Identity With Spyware removal Programs

2008-05-30T06:13:00.000-07:00

Spyware is a type of malware that can enter a computer surreptitiously. They can then remain in the computer, attacking the computer's registry, slow down your computer, track your online activities, and corrupt files on your hard drive. before the computer user gets any type of warning.

Free

A few of the best spyware removal programs are absolutly at no cost, free. Get rid of the spyware by going to the programs website, download them, install them. Some of the best programs for spyware removal have limited trial offers, were you can search if there is spyware in your computer. They tell you that but they won't remove the spyware until you buy the lince.

Best programs for spyware removal contains two of the most popular ones, Spybot - Search & Destroy and Lavasoft's Ad-Aware. Both are for free actually. For the Ad-Aware there is as well a version which costs money but has advanced features such as automatic scanning on a schedule and more user customization. Spybot also has the benefit of adding a forward shield of protection by denying computer access to a wide range of spyware in its "immunization" feature. Many people prefer to use both programs as they both have their own benefits and sets of "definitions," or identification code to search out spyware.

The new windows version, like XP and Vista has actually on of the best programs for spyware removal. Many people don't realize that have the built in program called Windows Defender. This will work in conjunction with Windows Security Center (also included in XP Service Pack 2 and above and Vista) to get automatic updates and automatic scanning. You can take very simple and easy steps to protect your computer, but many people are unaware about these simple steps because removing spyware has never been faster or more efficient.

You are never 100% protected against spyware and whether you like it or not it will find a way into your computer. However if you use one of these best programs for spyware removal you can be certain that your identity will be protected and the slowdown of your computer will not be caused by spyware. It can be some dll crashes or error in the registry. You can scan your computer with a registry cleaner to see.

You should also remember that if you have not scanned for spyware in months, your computer can havoc as the processor is affected by spyware, which puts additional strain on your processor by having it execute code.

Some Useful Security Tips

2008-05-29T04:16:00.000-07:00

Here are som useful security tips for you from our registry cleaner team.

Get Yourself a Secure Password

Do you want to have a guaranteed (well, not 100%) safe passwords in Window? You can actually generate it automatically. Open up the CMD window and type

net user username /random

Instead of the username, type the name of the current account. A new password is created and is set in operation! The password will be shown only one time, so remember that you must write it down (to remember it will not be possible) if you want to start Windows again!

A easy job, but nothing for the doubtful – why you should choose difficulty level average.

Be Careful With The Tiny Url's

Do you have tried http://www.tinyurl.com some time? It is a excellent method that shortens down an infinite long internet address to manageable formats, for example if you will send it to someone with e-mail. Really long links tend of course to be row broken and becomes unusable in many e-mail programmes.

The method can also be used in order to hide how one url (Internet address) actually looks like. When you click on the link you will be redirected to the actually url.

And it is here you have to be a little vigilant. If you get an email with one Tinyurl in your e-mail perhaps you will not click on it if you do not trust entirely and entirely on the sender - it is exceptional that spammers and phishers also uses Tinyurl in order to hide their shady aims.

Travelling Skype-demonstration

2008-05-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

Rebecca Campbell from Australia will visit 15 countries during 33 days long skype -trip around the world.

Skype initiates an ambitious project that goes out on demonstrating how Skype can be used anywhere and on travelling foot.

One "nomad", by name Rebecca Campbell, an Australian writer, will visit 15 countries during a 33 days long travel around the world. The snag is that Rebecca must move herself during the entire travel - even when she sleeps.

Another criterion is that the nomad must use itself of so many different types of transportation that is possible during the travel, from aeroplanes, processions and automotive to balloon, dog sleigh and rubber ship.

During the travel's time will the nomad be able to hold the contact with her nearest and dearest through using herself of Skype-certified products like 3Skypephone and Nokia N810 Internet Tablet.

It is only when she is on a plane that she will not be reachable.

The travel will be documented on Rebeccas blogg http://www.skype.com/go/nomad. In order to give Rebecca advice about the country she visits, she can be reached on Skype with the username "theskypenomad"

Skype is well-known in order to have tempted to itself 309 millions users without using itself of traditional advertising. The project is a new way to show up the product. Throughout the travel the nomad will become the world's longest produktdemo to a fraction of the cost for traditional TV advertising.

Maybe nothing to do with security and registry cleaner but I thought that this was a very interesting project and a new and interesting way of advertising, so I wanted to share it with you RegCure Blog readers.

Have You Discovered The Breadcrumbs In Vista?

2008-05-25T04:05:00.000-07:00

Do you miss the old "up-button" in the explorer tools? Do not do it - Vista has much better navigation possibilities.

The Up-button has been existed in the explorer since window 95. Majority of people has without doubt becomed used to it, and so suddenly it is out of the game… But you have surely detected that Vista has a deputy in the form of so-called "breadcrumbs"?

In the address field on the uppercase of the explorer window you can see the entire current search way in the form of clickable "breadcrumbs". It can look like this:

Mehmet Onatli > Document > Word > Articles

All of them are clickable. In this case, it means that the window presently shows the content in the folder articles. Instead of the up button it is only to click on the folder above, i.e. Word. Or also you can go several levels up simultaneously through clicking further up in the searchway. You save several mouse clicks.

But the most clever thing is that you can go down in the structure also. Try to click on the small arrows between the folder names. And immediately a list fells out with all folders under this and it is only to choose. This can also be very useful when you try to fix the windows registry manually and don't have a registry cleaner.

You don't need the the up button anymore!

Test Your Router and Other Useful Vista Tips

2008-05-23T02:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some other tools then registry cleaner you can use to make your computer to work better.

Do you want to know if your router has enough capacity and the functions that is required for a fast and effective connection to the internet and for the new fast functions that is in Vista? It is simple to find out about it with one online-test.

This test is provided by Microsoft on the address:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/using/tools/igd/d

You must accept to install one ActiveX-control in order to drive the test. The test takes a few minutes and you get comprehensive information on the result, divided to six points.

The Task Manager

The Task Manager, that easily is reached with the three finger combination Ctrl-Skift-Esc, is an useful tool to see what happens and is driven in the computer.

The tab, processer, show as standard however only the processes that are driven under your own user account. In order to have control of all processes, both other members and the system's, mark for "show processer for every member" down to the left.

How To Get Better Sound

If your computer is built on a motherboard with court sound loops from Intel you can take advantage of good little finesses in Vista in order to improve the sound.

Open sound in the control panel. Mark the speakers and click on the button properties. Go to the tab improvements, where you find the possibility to mark for both Bass, Virtuell Surround, Loudness and etc.

If you have other sound cards it is possible that you will find others clever and applicable adjustment possibilities.

How To Create A Recovery Disk

2008-05-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

In the early beta version off service Pack 1 to Window Vista was one excellent tool in order to create one handy repairdisk that could be used when having problems. For a reason that function has been taken away in the final SP1-version.

The funny thing is that the program actually still is there - the problem is that you can't start it… But this can be solved through using the program from the beta version instead.

The file I am talking about is called recdisc.exe and is in the file \ windows \ system32. In order to erase or to change the name of it, it is required that you first change the rights for it.

Right click on the file and choose properties. Go to the tab security, click on the button advanced and go to the tab owners. You see that the owner to the file is TrustedInstaller and you must change this to yourself.

Click on the button edit and then on "change users or groups". Click on advanced and later on "search now". Choose your own name and click on OK. Close with OK three times.

Click on the button edit. Mark your name, tick off then for complete authorization in the field downward. Close with OK twice.

Now, you have the right to handle the file and can change names on it (it is better than clearing it, so you have it left in reserve). Then get the replacementfile here if you have Vista 32 :

http://www.istartedsomething.com/uploads/recdisc_x

Or if you have Vista 64:

http://www.istartedsomething.com/uploads/recdisc_x

Pack up the zipfile and put the recdisc.exe in \windows\system32. Now you can click twice on it to run the program and it will make a recovery disc for you. Recovery disc is useful also when you use tools like registry cleaner if something goes wrong.

Problems With The Vision?

2008-05-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

This is not security solutions fix a spyware or windows registry problems. For that best to use your registry cleaner. But a solution to people who have some eyesight problems.

It is not always so easy to read the small print style, not on a monitor neither. Window can be difficult for everyone with little poorer sight. The solution is not to change the display's resolution. Flat screens are done for a certain resolution and gives poorer view if they are changed to another.

In Window Vista can you instead use the settings for character size. Right clicking on the desk and choose adapt. Click on "adjust character intersections (DPI)" at the left. You find two choices where you can to decide the scale on the display - more information or better legibility.

If this doesn’t suit you, you can click on "own DPI" right at the bottom and choose to set exactly how you want to have it pursue best legibility.

You do actually not need to have that smallest problem with the sight in order to have difficultly to see the small blinking dash that indicates where in a text you write - the so-called text indicator. It is actually annoyingly difficult to see sometimes.

But it is easy to fix the problem. Open accessibility options in control panel and click on "do the information on the display easier to see". Roll almost down to the bottom, until you find "give thickness".

Now, it is only to increase on the dash until it becomes easier to see.

Windows Has The Solution

2008-05-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

If you have had problems in the form of a crash or some similar in Vista like me, you have without doubt also been seeing that Window tries the fix problem for you. This requires however that you approve that one error report to be sent to Microsoft, what you self-evidently should do.

After an occurred error, windows almost all the time pop up a page with links to more information. Often you may get a very exact description of how the error can be solved or to be avoided. This is I love by vista. It helps a lot actually.

You can also afterwards look on those problems and solutions that have been occurred earlier by others. Just type only "problems" in search bar during the starter and then open "problem reports and - solutions".

You can afterwards look under "Show problem history" on the left. You can also choose "look for new solutions" in order to check is there is some new solutions to old problems.
I
think this shows how forward Microsoft has come with their operating system. You can fix almost all the problems by yourself. But for big problems like viruses and spyware and dll errors, the only and the best way is to use tools like antispyware, registry cleaner and other security softwares.

Spamming is Increasing According to Symantec

2008-05-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday May 3, that is 30 years ago when the first spam post was sent. One anniversary that we gladly had been without.

May 3, 1978 got 393 Arpanet-users an e-mail message that is counted as the world's first spam post.

Now, thirty years later, the spam has become a real pain. 1,3 billions internet user are hit daily of it.

Symantecs latest spam report shows that the spamming levels steady increases. During April month which was the last measure for the period, the amount amounted to 80 percents.

The Internet security company Symantecs April report about spam on internet shows that spam pain does not decrease . The amount spam during the month amounted to 80 percents of all e-mail traffic on the net.

The spammers continues to use well known trademarks. In April did Google again see their name used in the form of phishing messages where the sender showed him as the service Google AdWords. The recipient was urged to click on a link in order to update its user - or invoice information.

The spammers continues also to use the interest for social networks and digital networking between workers.

Among other thing Symantecs spam report shows new messages being created in order to tempt the recipient to fulfil in personal information. The recipient risks thereby to set itself pursue identity theft or continued spam attacks. So to use internet security tools like antispyware, registry cleaner, antispam etc. is very important.

It's Easier With Unknown Files

2008-05-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

This has happened you often right? You try to open an unknown file and get a really by Windows that the file cannot be opened because the system does not know which programmes that will be used.

At the same time you may get a question asking if you want to look for the right program on internet or to choose among the programmes that are installed on the computer. In 99,9 percents of the cases guaranteed you choose to use an existing programme in the computer. So the best thing would be to skip the middle square and go directly to the choice of programmes?

Well this goes to arrange with the registry editor or with a registry cleaner.

Use the registry editor and go to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer.

Observe that it is normal if the last downkey (explorer) doesn’t exist. If that is the case you have to create it.

You do that by marking the “policies” key and right click on the right panel. Choose to create a new key and give it the right name. In this case “explorer”.

Then create a new DWORD-value under this key. Give the value the name NoInternetOpenWith. Double-click on it afterwords och put the value to 1.

Your are done. When you close the registry editor it should work. Just test it.

Keep Your PC Running In New Condition

2008-05-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Malware problems can be pain in the neck. Actually all computer problems can be pain in the neck if you don't know what to do about it. And to keep your computer running smoothly is very important specially when you have the computer as working tool.

Here are some regular things can you do to keep your PC running in new condition:

Defragment your hard drive weekly.

Use ScanDisk to search for and fix hard drive problems.

Clean out your temporary files folder.
* Recommended Windows Cleaner: WinClear Free Download

Check the number of applications loading at startup, disable any unnecessary apps. Use a registry cleaner to control Windows Start-up programs.

Keep your computer fans clear of dust, hair and debris, make sure airflow is good so your hardware doesn't overheat causing errors.

Run a weekly spyware scan to ensure you haven't picked anything up while surfing or downloading.

Reboot at least once a week to clear any fragments of non-running programs.

Turn on Windows Automatic Updates to ensure you have the latest performance patches and hardware driver updates.

Clean your Internet Explorer cache and temp files.

Ensure there are no large files stored on your Windows desktop, these can slow performance dramatically.

Use Your Time Wisely, Ready Fire Aim!

2008-05-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

I was talking to one of my best friends, Alan, and this is so interesting.

We were talking about how to fix computer errors and why it takes ages for him to fix the errors.

Case and point. He had some strange problems the other day. When he was trying to restart his computer he first got an error message on a missing .dll file and then the damn computer refused to restart. It was stuck. He knows little bit about computers so he decided to fix the problem by himself through the registry editor.

At the evening I got an email from him telling me what had happened and he had been trying to fix the computer the hole day and not done any working. And he needed some advice because he couldn't fix it. I replied, "download this registry cleaner and your problems will be solved" and gave him the website link.

Then it took him only FIVE frigging minutes to fix damn thing.

Five minutes!
But, he was struggling with the whole thing for a day.

He is a bit skeptical to let other to do the work for him, especially if it is an computer program. His approach is more like

Ready-Ready-Ready-Ready-Aim-Aim-Aim-Aim-Fire-Ready-Again-Ready-Aim-Aim…

My approach is (and I am not saying this is the BEST approach) is more like Fire-Fire-Fire-Fire-Aim, a little bit-Fire Again-Fire-Fire- and fire some more.

I am very big on using my time wisely and productively. That doesn't mean I do not do things by myself. But, I do not lotus 123 to death.

Why?

Because I know time is so important.

And time can be used effectively instead of doing thing....

Do You Have A Clue About Botnets?

2008-05-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

"A botnet is comparable to compulsory military service for windows boxes" - Stromberg (http://project.honeynet.org/papers/bots/)

Botnets are networks of computers that hackers have infected and grouped together under their control to propagate viruses, send illegal spam, and carry out attacks that cause web sites to crash.

What makes botnets exceedingly bad is the difficulty in tracing them back to their creators as well as the ever-increasing use of them in extortion schemes. How are they used in extortion schemes? Imagine someone sending you messages to either pay up or see your web site crash. This scenario is starting to replay itself over and over again.

Botnets can consist of thousands of compromised machines. With such a large network, botnets can use Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) as a method to cause mayhem and chaos. For example a small botnet with only 500 bots can bring corporate web sites to there knees by using the combined bandwidth of all the computers to overwhelm corporate systems and thereby cause the web site to appear offline.

Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service on January 19, 2006, quotes Kevin Hogan, senior manager for Symantec Security Response, in his article "Botnets shrinking in size, harder to trace", Hogan says "extortion schemes have emerged backed by the muscle of botnets, and hackers are also renting the use of armadas of computers for illegal purposes through advertisements on the Web."

One well-known technique to combat botnets is a honeypot. Here will a registry cleaner not do much. Honeypots help discover how attackers infiltrate systems. A Honeypot is essentially a set of resources that one intends to be compromised in order to study how the hackers break the system. Unpatched Windows 2000 or XP machines make great honeypots given the ease with which one can take over such systems.

A great site to read up on this topic more is The Honeynet Project (http://project.honeynet.org) which describes its own site's objective as "To learn the tools, tactics and motives involved in computer and network attacks, and share the lessons learned."

An Introduction To Intrusion Detection Systems

2008-05-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

Intrusion Detection System (IDS) are like registry cleaner a necessary part of any strategy for enterprise security. What are Intrusion Detection systems? CERIAS, The Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security, defines it this way:

"The purpose of an intrusion detection system (or IDS) is to detect unauthorized access or misuse of a computer system. Intrusion detection systems are kind of like burglar alarms for computers. They sound alarms and sometimes even take corrective action when an intruder or abuser is detected. Many different intrusion detection systems have been developed but the detection schemes generally fall into one of two categories, anomaly detection or misuse detection. Anomaly detectors look for behavior that deviates from normal system use. Misuse detectors look for behavior that matches a known attack scenario. A great deal of time and effort has been invested in intrusion detection, and this list provides links to many sites that discuss some of these efforts"(http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/about/history/coast_resources/intrusion_detection/)

There is a sub-category of intrusion detection systems called network intrusion detection systems (NIDS). These systems monitors packets on the network wire and looks for suspicious activity. Network intrusion detection systems can monitor many computers at a time over a network, while other intrusion detection systems may monitor only one.

Who is breaking into your system?

One common misconception of software hackers is that it is usually people outside your network who break into your systems and cause mayhem. The reality, especially for corporate workers, is that insiders can and usually do cause the majority of security breaches. Insiders often impersonate people with more privileges then themselves to gain access to sensitive information.

How do intruders break into your system?

The simplest and easiest way to break in is to let someone have physical access to a system. Despite the best of efforts, it is often impossible to stop someone once they have physical access to a machine. Also, if someone has an account on a system already, at a low permission level, another way to break in is to use tricks of the trade to be granted higher-level privileges through holes in your system. Finally, there are many ways to gain access to systems even if one is working remotely. Remote intrusion techniques have become harder and more complex to fight.

How does one stop intrusions?

There are several Freeware/shareware Intrusion Detection Systems as well as commercial intrusion detection systems.

Open Source Intrusion Detection Systems

Below are a few of the open source intrusion detection systems:

AIDE (http://sourceforge.net/projects/aide) Self-described as "AIDE (Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment) is a free replacement for Tripwire. It does the same things as the semi-free Tripwire and more. There are other free replacements available so why build a new one? All the other replacements do not achieve the level of Tripwire. And I wanted a program that would exceed the limitations of Tripwire."

File System Saint (http://sourceforge.net/projects/fss) - Self-described as, "File System Saint is a lightweight host-based intrusion detection system with primary focus on speed and ease of use."

Snort (www.snort.org) Self-described as "Snort® is an open source network intrusion prevention and detection system utilizing a rule-driven language, which combines the benefits of signature, protocol and anomaly based inspection methods. With millions of downloads to date, Snort is the most widely deployed intrusion detection and prevention technology worldwide and has become the de facto standard for the industry."

Commercial Intrusion Detection Systems

If you are looking for Commercial Intrusion Detection Systems, here are a few of these as well:

Tripwire
http://www.tripwire.com

Touch Technology Inc (POLYCENTER Security Intrusion Detector)
Http://www.ttinet.com

Internet Security Systems (Real Secure Server Sensor)
http://www.iss.net

eEye Digital Security (SecureIIS Web Server Protection)
http://www.eeye.com

10 Easy Security Steps When Doing Online Purchase

2008-05-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

In 2004, online consumer spending was at a record $65.1 billion. More and more people are attracted to the ease of online shopping and are spending higher amounts. Unfortunately, the chances of becoming a victim of Internet fraud are also increasing.

The Internet National Fraud Center Watch reported that the average loss to fraud victims for just the first six months of 2005 was $2,579. This is compared to the $895 average for all of 2004. Complaints relating to general merchandise purchases (goods never received or misrepresented) accounted for 30% of Internet fraud complaints, and auction purchases (goods never received or misrepresented) topped the list at 44%.

While many e-commerce Websites are reputable and have taken the necessary safety precautions to protect you, it never hurts to always proceed cautiously.

If you are making an online purchase consider these easy steps:

Use only one credit card, preferably with a low credit limit, when making online purchases. Avoid using an ATM or debit card.
Be wary of unsolicited offers by sellers. The Internet National Fraud Information Center Watch reported that email, as a method of contact by Internet scammers was up 22% in 2004.While the offer may be legitimate, spammers like to use this tactic to side-step reputable sites that provide consumer protection for online purchases.
Use only reputable e-commerce websites, eg. paretologic who sells registry cleaner etc, that list a street address and telephone number in case you need to contact them directly.
Read the website's privacy policy. Some websites may reserve the right to sell/give your information to a third party. Check the document to see if they allow an opportunity to "opt-out" of receiving special offers from third-party vendors or for permission to share your personal information.
Check for a lock symbol in the status bar at the bottom of your Web browser window. Also, do not provide your personal information if the website address doesn’t start with "https" (a sign that the site is using a secure server).
Choose only verified sellers. Check to see if the vendor is a verified member of a reputable third party such as the Better Business Bureau, VeriSign, or Guardian eCommerce. These third-party sites help to ensure online consumers will be protected when shopping or conducting e-commerce transactions.
Check that the delivery date posted is reasonable. If you have not dealt with the vendor on a regular basis, be wary of any Website that states the shipment will be delayed 20 or more days. Delivery dates of 7-10 days are more common.
Keep a paper trail of all online transactions. Print out a hard copy of the transaction and keep it in a file for future reference.
Be wary of website offers that just sound too good to be true. The Internet is littered with get rich quick scams and false advertising claims. Investigate all claims thoroughly before proceeding.
If you do not receive what you paid for, and the vendor will not return your emails or calls, contact your state's Department of Consumer Affairs for further assistance.