October 2006
You are currently browsing the articles from Safe Computer written in the month of October 2006.
Due to the extensive craftiness of spyware intruders, new methods have allowed spyware applications to load even while the computer is in safe mode. This stubborn quality of spyware makes the program even harder to remove because it cannot be eliminated while it is running.
As a result of these new intruding methods users have found that when switching to safe mode to remove a spyware application some are overbearing and run even in safe mode, where they should not, because the spy programs installed themselves as critical objects.
The CoolWebSearch bar, Huntbar and VX2 spyware programs developed this technique, leaving users at a loss of how to remove them. For Windows 98 and Windows ME computers you can boot to DOS and run a command line scanner that will search your hard drive and you can eliminate the files. For Windows XP users you cannot read the file from DOS but you can us Barts PE.
Barts PE is described as a stripped version of XP and it runs from a CD. The user interface of Barts PE has graphics with options to scan the entire computer with the security that the stubborn spyware is not running.
About the author:
Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.1st-in-spyware.com/, a site that focuses exclusively on spyware removal software, as well as tips on how to prevent spyware from popping up on your computer. This site articles on has spyware guard, http://www.easy-spyware-killer.info/as well as spyware scanner, http://www.easy-remove-spyware.info/
Written by mellow on October 31st, 2006 with no comments.
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The stark reality is that network security in this Internet age is a race. This race starts every time a new virus, worm or vulnerability is discovered; and only finishes when either an organization’s network is protected or compromised.
These are the only two possible outcomes; you win or you lose, there are no silver medals. And the IT departments around the world are finding themselves increasingly under pressure, as new viruses and worms such as Klez.h, Netsky.q, MyDoom.a, Bagle.z, Slammer, Sasser and the current plague of Zafi.b, seemingly breach networks with ease.
The “arms race” is currently being lost because most of the IT world is still looking to out-of-date technology to protect themselves. The vast majority of the anti-virus systems out there, use “PULL” technology, in order to obtain the latest anti-virus signatures. The simple fact is that even if network security is updated once a day like clockwork, because there are new viruses, worms and vulnerabilities appearing all of the time, within just moments of that daily update, the system can (and most likely will) be vulnerable once more.
There is simply no way that an IT manager, or even two or three skilled people working in an IT department, can provide this type of 24/7 update service for their organization.
Most anti-virus vendors still use this ineffective “once a day,” or even “once a week” update model, despite their marketing claims of so called “live,” or “active,” or “automatic,” updates.
There are already nearly one hundred thousand known computer viruses, and each month over a thousand new viruses, worms and “Trojans” are added to the mix.
Of course, not every one of these viruses and worms is destined to be as “successful” as Klez.h, Netsky.q, MyDoom.a, Bagle.z or the current plague of Zafi.b; but at the moment a new virus or worm is first discovered, it is almost impossible to know for sure which will be a major problem, and which will be no more than a mere curiosity.
A variety of factors will come into play that governs the success of the virus, worm or trojan.
The virus writer needs to get his or her virus to “critical-mass” before the major anti-virus companies can get a virus signature out, installed on their customers’ computer systems, and protecting them. To achieve this, many virus writers are turning to Spamming techniques, ensuring critical mass within moments of launch. “Blended” technology is also being used to further improve the virus’ or worm’s chance of success. Rather than depend on just mass mailing emails, for example, certain worms (such as variants of Netsky) may well attack users via certain open and unprotected network ports, to exploit known vulnerabilities in popular operating system software.
If a worm is able to reach critical mass quickly, and takes advantage of a wide spread vulnerability, the result is often hundreds of thousands of computer systems around the world, being infected in just moments.
A classic example of the speed with which viruses spread is the SQL Slammer worm. On 25th January 2003, at 05:29:36GMT, we detected and blocked the first probe to UDP port 1434 in Korea. In Japan, Thailand, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, England, Saudi Arabia, similar probes were being reported worldwide in a matter of seconds. Within three minutes, we had detected and blocked probes to that port throughout the world.
This means that effectively within three minutes of its release, the worm had probed every single active Internet host, and detected and infected every single active and vulnerable server. Probe rates were as high as one probe per IP address per second in Korea and Australia.
If you are connected to the Internet, you are at risk, pure and simple. And if you think that having a firewall and an anti-virus program installed is enough to protect you, then you need to think again – and fast.
The speed of the Internet has made “friction of distance” evaporate.
In the face of the onslaught from malware, protection needs to move with the times. Firstly, networks require blended protection, which includes firewall, VPN (Virtual Private Networking), IDP (Intrusion Detection and Prevention), anti-virus, anti-SPAM, content filtering and company policy management; just having parts of the jigsaw is not enough. Secondly, these systems need to work seamlessly, with zero-latency between the intrusion detection and the firewall. Thirdly, all of these systems need to be updated in real-time, using state-of-the-art PUSH technology, not the PULL technology of yesteryear.
Last but not least, systems need to include the latest heuristic technology, and not rely too heavily on pattern recognition alone, as we see more and more zero-day high speed attacks across the Internet. A high quality anti-virus heuristic engine, such as the one from Kaspersky, can actually block up to 92% of known viruses, even without have any signatures installed.
About the Author
Simon Heron, technical director at Network Box (www.network-box.co.uk)
Written by mellow on October 31st, 2006 with no comments.
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Just like cancer, a computer virus program, whether Trojan, adware, or spyware can be deemed as any executing program that can infect your computer by recreating a copy of itself onto your system. Just like with cancerous cells in the human body, if not detected in time or found to be in the wrong place, any of these infectious programs can find themselves replicating and creating havoc throughout other parts of the machine.
When spyware was first discovered, just as was the case with cancer in the human body, it perplexed those who were infected by it because until something becomes known to the general public, there can be no reason for cure for that certain disease. For example, there was no cure for polio until the vaccine was created by Dr. Salk, and there was no cure for Trojan horse programs until they were discovered to have caused mass havoc. So if there is knowledge about what types of adware, Trojan, and spyware programs are infecting millions of people across the planet each and every day, why is there no cure for such programs?
There is a simple answer to this question, because economically, it doesnt make since to have one solid end all be all type cures for these infectious programs. The reason for this is because countless numbers of suppliers of virus protection and detection programs would be remiss to find a cure for these things because it would subsequently put them out of business. This is not to say that they are out there putting these programs into circulation just to drum up business for their companies, or are they? It has been a conspiracy theory among countless numbers of people that the pharmaceutical industry in the United States finds themselves not wanting to find a cure for cancer because it would dampen their profits from having to buy treatment medicine by the carload.
Every time there is a new virus of infectious program that comes out, just like with diseases where you have to get a shot to prevent yourself from catching it, you have to update your detection programs to check for this before your computer gets infected with it. In all seriousness, spyware and virus detection programs are great because they can make you feel a lot more secure in your day to day computer life. Although you might grip and complain for having to download updates and security patches to your system through various programs every night before you go to bed, it will only take one of those programs that you are being protected from for you to have your world turned upside down. Until there is a cure found to stop all virus program infections, the only way to protect yourself is kill or be killed and that is what these programs can do for you. Regular checkups are the key to staying healthy.
About the author:
When not on his soapbox, Andrew Wroblewski is doing battle with the thousands of spyware programs that can affect you via his ant-spyware and spyware removal website: http://spyware.pcwash.comwhere you can get a free spyware scan of your computer system.
Written by mellow on October 30th, 2006 with no comments.
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Arming your computer against spyware is an important move to make to protect your personal security and private information. Statistics on the number of identity theft victims continue to rise as do the number of computers being infected with spyware. Some numbers have shown nine out of ten computers are affected by spyware, many on computer whose users are unaware of the infection. Identity theft and spyware are connected in that spyware has become a common method for intruders to gather your personal information and bank numbers so they can commit identity theft.
Spyware installs itself or comes installed with freeware and shareware programs. Once embedded in your computer it tracks your internet and software usages, records sent and received email and instant messages and logs keystrokes to identify passwords and credit card numbers. The information is sent out to advertisers or other intruders who will use it to bombard your computer with ads or at worst steal and use your accounts.
You will often lose complete control over your computer once spyware has been installed. The spyware can cause browser crashes and other unauthorized changes in your computer. The unwanted pop up ads that result from spyware can cause the computer to work slower and possible destroy some programs from being able to run. Spyware specific tools are needed to rid of and protect against spyware because normal anti-virus software is not designed to detect spyware, as it is unique from viruses. Spyware programs should also be able to detect adware, a similar application that runs on your computer by sending a constant stream of pop ups. Adware can be dangerous to the proper functioning of your computer.
About the author:
Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/, a site that focuses exclusively on spyware removal software, as well as tips on how to prevent spyware from popping up on your computer. This site articles on has spyware guard, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_guard.htmas well as spyware scanner, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_scanner.htm
Written by mellow on October 30th, 2006 with no comments.
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The internet is a wonderful place; many of us use it on a regular basis for a multitude of functions. Email helps us to keep in touch with family, and friends all over the world and most people have at least one email account. The growing use of digital cameras and camera phones means that we can send pictures at the click of a mouse. MP3 players have become increasingly popular, and we can download songs to play on them with extreme ease. All of this is great, and the internet is becoming a big part of our everyday lives.
Unfortunately, there is a downside to all of this increased use of the internet. That is the growth of the spread of viruses and other so-called ?malware?. Originally, internet hackers were satisfied keeping their attentions focussed on government and business websites, and their viruses were intended to attack corporations. Most hackers saw this as a challenge. However, there is now an increasing trend towards home computer users being targeted by these attacks. The amount of damage that can be caused by a virus varies, but there are a number of easy steps that a person can take to help increase their internet security.
The first step to keeping your computer free from viruses is to have up-to-date antivirus software running on your computer. You need to make regular checks to ensure that your software is updated, and to scan your entire computer for viruses. There are a number of cheap, and free antivirus software programs available that provide excellent protection. You can find these by searching through your search engine for antivirus software.
The next step to maintain your internet security is to be extremely cautious about the type of files that you open, or download. The majority of viruses are actually spread through email attachments. Having these on your computer, in your inbox, is not the danger; the real danger is when you open the attachment. It may not be obvious that anything has happened when you first open the attachment containing the virus, quite often they appear blank. The damage is caused by the program that is activated within the attachment. If you do not know, and trust, the person who has sent you the attachment then delete the email.
About the Author:
John Rivers is owner of Security Profs. Introduction to Internet security using personal firewalls, anti-virus, anti-trojan.
Written by mellow on October 30th, 2006 with no comments.
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Surpassing viruses as the number one internet threat is spyware which can install itself in your computer and monitor your usage as well as record private information. Though the threats of spyware are endless, there are several measures you can take to guard your computer and personal information from being hijacked by spyware.
Spyware is able to get into your system by several methods, one being with downloads you select off the internet. Music, game and other file sharing programs commonly contain spyware that is downloaded in your computer upon your approval to download the main program. Many other types of freeware and screen saver or other image downloads are linked to spyware as well.
Reading the user license agreement will tell you if a particular download will have spyware tagging along. Many users do not read through the agreement, rather they check to agree to the terms and unknowingly have spyware installed. When downloading freeware, music and game programs cancel the installation if you notice any third party software, see ad supported material or are asked to agree to more than one license agreement as they are all signs that spyware and annoying pop ups will occur after the download is complete.
Checking for and performing updates from your software provider regularly will help a great deal in avoiding a privacy invasion. Continue running your anti-virus software but also invest in or use the free spyware tools. Free spyware tools scan your computer and rid of current infections, however those applications can usually re-infect shortly after being removed. For preventative protection purchase well proven spyware software or find free tools that will provide sufficient protection.
About the author:
Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/, a site that focuses exclusively on spyware removal software, as well as tips on how to prevent spyware from popping up on your computer. This site articles on has spyware guard, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_guard.htmas well as spyware scanner, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_scanner.htm
Written by mellow on October 29th, 2006 with no comments.
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Today,on most internet user’s computers, we have the
ability to employ software, along with our
intelligence, to prevent viruses and spyware.
To put this article into proper perspective, we’ll use
Medieval defense tactics.
This is accomplished by 3 methods. First, a firewall…
‘The Castle Moat’ so to speak. A firewall can’t see
inside your computer beforehand though, so if any viruses
or spyware were present before the firewall was installed
then its of no use. Of course, its extremely good at preventing new
attacks.
Second, a anti-virus program…. ‘The Castle Drawbridge!
They will not provide much help with spyware, but good
virus protection is as desirable as one of Avaris’s
dreams! One drawback can be the updates, of course.If
you’ve just updated Wednesday night and a virus hits the
next day, then you may not be protected till next
Wednesday night, and by then it may be too late. If you’re
smart, you will have signed up for email alerts with
the provider, or even better, you’ll have a anti-virus
program that has a real time update feature. I get the
tingles when I see that little pop-up saying a update
is available and click here. Its downloaded ,installed,
and updated in about 20 seconds! A new virus or Trojan or
God forbid, a new keylogger can hit the internet and spread
in a matter of days, and I’m sure this must make the definition
writers lives a living hell. I have great admiration for
them as they could have been wealthy doctors, but they have
chosen to help us… the end users. (moment of silence here)
Last, we have anti-spyware programs,’The Flaming oil’! (my favorite).
Their update features are like the anti-virus programs,
so you have to be as vigilant with this method of defense
too as you would be with the others. I’ve heard there are
people out there that don’t even know when their
updates run, or even if its configured to do so! I
refuse to believe this sordid rumor!
So you’ve got your defenses set up, you’re looking good.
But the best defense is a good offense, attack!
That’s what some organizations do. They prowl the net
looking for websites that harbor drive-by downloads,
URL Re-Directing and such. When they find them, they
shut them down, or report them so effective protection
can be manufactured. These people have my sincere
thanks for what they do. With identity theft on the
rise and Websense reporting that the average computer
has 28 items of Spyware on it, we need all the help we
can get. Oh sure, you’re saying not my computer !
Well, lets discuss those little boxes that you click
“I Agree” to when you download something. Do you read
the entire statement? This is one way spyware has
become so rampant, because so many downloads have extra
software included in them. These can be harmful to
your computers well being. KeyLoggers, popups, adware, malware…
Need I go on?
So my idea is that we need these shining knights from the
castle to journey forth on a quest. They will be
little robots or spiders like the search engines use.
They will be given absolute power over harmful
programs they find. They will be like Gort in the
movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still”.
Dell recently reported that 12% of their calls were
for spyware damage, Microsoft says half of their
reports of system crashes are caused by spyware. These
calls cost these companies millions of dollars in
revenue, which they then pass the costs of onto us,
the consumers.
Who knows, if viruses and spyware ever get controlled,
the average computer may only cost a dollar!
About the author:
About the Author: Doug Woodall has a web site at http://www.spywarebiz.com
There he provides free information and recommended products to combat Spyware.
His Website is recognized by Learning Fountain and ISafe
Doug’s Articles have earned him Trusted Author Status at ImpactArticles.com
He is a member of the IWA (International Webmasters Association)
Article edited for proper content by Wendy McCallum
Permission to copy ok as long as about author info remains with article.
Copyright 2005 SpywareBiz
Written by mellow on October 28th, 2006 with no comments.
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Computer Viruses are Bad Luck
by: Maya Pinion
OK, so you caught a computer virus and your system is all screwed up and you’re frustrated and angry and upset. Bad luck.
Here’s something that might make you feel better …
The universe has true balance. And if a computer virus causes bad luck for the user it can also cause bad luck for the person who launched it.
Computer virus creators are usually very young and do not realize, or care, that they are causing harm to others. They just think it’s cool. What they don’t realize is that when a virus is launched it also unleashes a mystical power into the world, a malevolent thing that does bad things and makes victims of other people.
What these teen and pre-teen computer terrorists also don’t realize is what goes around comes around. The universe will get them. Sooner or later. Payback time. They cause you bad luck, bad luck will befall them. What goes around comes around. If they launch a virus, causing bad luck for millions of people, in return, that can unleash and focus millions of bad vibes, BIG bad luck, back at them. That could mean serious bad luck for the launcher of a virus. Perhaps their mother will finally become totally disgusted with their attitude and behavior and cease to love them. Maybe they’ll end up in a foster home, too old for adoption. Or maybe they’ll have to run away and live on the streets, with no place to hook up their computer. Or maybe they won’t run away but will get a weird but temporary brain disease that prevents them from using a computer until they’re old enough to use it responsibly. Bad luck for them.
The computer virus. Bad luck for you, worse luck for the one who launches it.
About The Author
Maya Pinion is a New Age writer, contributing editor at News4Net and, for those who wish to discover their true destiny, highly recommends DestinyFinders.com
Written by mellow on October 28th, 2006 with no comments.
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Have you ever tried to remove Spyware off your PC only to
find out it never left or it came back? Tired of all those
annoying Popups, Viruses, and Ads on your system day in and
day out? Well, listen closely because the day has come to
remove Spyware programs and Viruses – forever!
I will give you some very useful tricks and tips to remove
Spyware and Viruses for good! Follow closely:
Steps to Remove Spyware, Viruses, and Adware
1. There are many types of software available today that
claim to remove spyware off our system, but which one REALLY
does the job? What you need is software that not only will
remove spyware, but TOTALLY removes it for good and keeps it
off. After searching for the best of the best, here is THE
BEST: Panda Online Scan. Why? It does not constantly run
on your system, slowing it down and using bunches of memory!
In other words, it runs from Panda on the web, then searches
your whole system, will remove spyware and other bugs, then
gives detailed info on the bug and tells you how to keep it
off your system! Here is the address to get started:
http://www.stopspywareforfree.com/scan.html
It only installs a few plug-ins to run on your system, and
no full installation!
2. Check your system services and systray items! The
biggest mistake people make is never checking what programs
are running in the background or memory of the system. A key
step to remove spyware from your system is knowing this.
Without knowing these things, you probably have bugs running
on your system, and never know it! Why? They like to hide!
Download and install a program called HIJACK THIS. It tells
you exactly what is running and what is not running so you
know exactly what might be hiding behind closed doors! Here
is the address for this:
http://www.stopspywareforfree.com/hijackthis.html
3. Shutdown the SYSTEM RESTORE! (Windows XP)
Spyware and Viruses attach themselves to your system’s
restore files. This is an easy way for them to hide, even
after you reinstall Windows! Right click on ‘MY COMPUTER’,
then click on ‘Properties’. Look for a tab on top called
‘System Restore’, and click there. Check the box that says
‘Turn off system restore on all drives’. Click ‘APPLY’,
then ‘OK’. That’s it!
4. Use an Anonymous IP address when surfing the web!
This is a huge step in keeping bugs off your system forever!
Bugs get onto your system and retrieve info about you by
capturing your IP address. Your IP address tells everyone
who you are, where you’re located, your system info, what
kind of Windows you use, your browser, etc. An anonymous IP
hides your IP by using an Anonymous address and makes you
invisible to everyone, including Spyware and Ads! Here is an
address to a good proxy list:
http://www.stopspywareforfree.com/proxylist.html
Please follow these instructions carefully for Microsoft
Internet Explorer:
a) Scroll down on the page from the above link. On the
list, look at the numbers listed under IP:Port Host name.
Make sure the uptime on the right is at least 97 to 99 %.
b) Go to the Control Panel in Windows.
c) Open up ‘ Internet Options’.
d) Click on the ‘Connections’ tab on top.
e) Click on ‘LAN Settings’.
f) Put a check-mark where it says PROXY SERVER.
g) In the Address box, copy and paste the IP address listed
on the proxy list (for example: 148.244.150.58 – These are
the numbers shown BEFORE the ‘:’ (semi-colon).
h) Copy and paste the port number into the PORT box (for
example: ‘80′ – the number immediately after the
semi-colon).
i) Click OK, and OK again to close, and close everything.
j) Go ahead and open up your browser and try surfing the
internet to test.
Thats it! You are now surfing invisibly!
For the Firefox browser:
a) Open up the browser and go to ‘TOOLS’ then ‘OPTIONS’.
b) Go to ‘GENERAL’ on the left, then click the ‘Connection
Settings’ button below.
c) Choose ‘Manual’ proxy config from the choices.
d) Check the ‘use the same proxy’ checkbox.
e) In the ‘HTTP Proxy’ box, copy and paste the anonymous IP,
and the PORT number in the PORT box (remove the zero first).
f) Click OK, then OK again to close.
g) Now test your browser by surfing the web.
You are now invisible.
**note – if your browsing gets super slow or has a problem,
look for another IP and Port number on the list and try
again. Most of the time the proxies from Mexico work best.
Happy surfing! The free proxy list can be found here:
http://www.stopspywareforfree.com/proxylist.html
5. Download and install the new FIREFOX browser!
Please get rid of Microsoft Internet Explorer on your
system! It is like a pipe that feeds Spyware, Ads and
Viruses onto your system. There are just too many holes
there letting everything in. Mozilla is a fairly new company
that introduced a new breed of browser that blocks popups,
and tries hard to keep these bugs off your system. It has
very few or even NO holes or pipes to let the bugs in! Many
people use it for this very reason, and it has a great look,
better speed, and lets you change the theme of it! Awesome!
Here is the address:
http://www.stopspywareforfree.com/firefox.html
Well that about sums up how to remove spyware in 5 steps.
Follow them CLOSELY and you will see how great it is to surf
virus free Forever! Guaranteed!
About the author:
For more tips, tricks, and secrets on protecting your PC and making it run faster and without problems, sign up on our mailing list at: http://www.stopspywareforfree.com
Written by mellow on October 28th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Spyware.
Internet users have a slim to none chance at avoiding spyware because of the countless threats possible. Also making spyware difficult to avoid is its ability to install itself in your computer from numerous angles which forces you to find protection for your computer in several ways, none of which will guarantee complete protection. Downloading freeware and clicking on pop up ads are the most common ways a computer becomes infected with spyware but even beyond that users are invaded unknowingly by spyware just by surfing through seemingly secure sites.
Problems arise with more malicious applications such as spyware, Trojans, keyloggers, dialers and adware. These invasive programs are designed to record your personal information such as passwords, email and instant messages, credit card numbers and more. A dialer can use your internet connection to link to long distance connections or premium services, all of which will in turn run up a large bill on your internet connection. Other malicious spyware applications can invade your personal information and record computer usage habits, resulting in advertising bombardment or identity theft.
You are close to guaranteed to have spyware if you have never run a spyware specific scan or taken other measure to prevent the infections. Signals that your computer has been infected with spyware are not noticeable immediately upon their invasion but after running a while and having other spyware application build up, your computer will begin to show signs. Changes not authorized by you, the computer administrator, in your internet favorites list or browser homepage are sure signs of spyware. A constant stream of pop ups hints greatly towards spyware as does the sudden appearance of internet toolbars on your web pages. Slow computer functioning, pro longed system start ups and browser crashers are also strong signals that your computer has spyware.
Instead of avoiding the internet users can take precautions against spyware infection. Start protecting yourself by going into your system and turning off the install on demand option so that programs are not automatically installed, along with spyware, while you are online. To continue the ability to download wanted programs you can go through a few extra steps. Insecure or improper internet settings make your computer much more vulnerable to spyware and its consequences.
Running one or more spyware tool scan will rid your system of most spyware threat and purchasing or finding a free program that provides active spyware protection will enhance your chances of avoiding future infections. Before performing any spyware scans go into your computer and remove the internet cookies as well as the offline content files so the scan will run faster.
Spybot Search and Destroy and AdAware SE Personal are the two most renowned free spyware tools because of their full service at no cost. Any spyware tool you chose should be used on a regular basis so that spyware applications do not have an opening for invasion.
About the author:
Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/, a site that focuses exclusively on spyware removal software, as well as tips on how to prevent spyware from popping up on your computer. This site articles on has spyware guard, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_guard.htmas well as spyware scanner, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_scanner.htm
Written by mellow on October 27th, 2006 with no comments.
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