Protecting Yourself From Online Computer Virus Attack and Personal Identity Credit Card Data Hacking

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Showing posts with label virus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label virus. Show all posts

understanding computer virus and how you can protect yourself

A computer virus is malicious software designed to spread to other computers by inserting herself into legitimate programs called "guests." It can more or less seriously damage the functions of the infected computer. It can spread through any medium of exchange of digital data such as computer networks and CD-ROMs, USB keys, etc.

Its name comes from an analogy with biological viruses because it has similarities in the way it is spread using the reproductive capability of the host cell. It assigns the term "computer virus" in computer and molecular biologist Leonard Adleman (Fred Cohen, Experiments with Computer Viruses, 1984). Computer viruses are not to be confused with computer worms, which are programs that can spread and replicate on their own without contaminating the host program. In a broad sense, is often used and misused the word virus to designate any form of malware.

Read and share our guide review on top-best antivirus software for your complete online protection on https://onlinevirusprotection.blogspot.com.ng/2016/03/top-three-best-computer-antivirus.html 

The total number of malicious programs known to be about 95 000 according to Sophos (all types of malware combined). However, the actual number of viruses in circulation would not exceed a few thousand depending on the WildList Organization, every antivirus vendor with an interest in "inflating" the number of viruses it detects. The vast majority affects the Windows platform. Although they are extremely few, there are also virus-like systems Unix / Linux, but no outbreaks similar to that of the Windows virus has been detected in 2010. The rest is mainly aimed at operating systems that are distributed over the past few years, as the 27 viruses - none being dangerous - imposed Mac OS 9 and its predecessors (recorded by John Norstad, author of the antivirus Disinfectant ). Systems are least affected FreeBSD that focuses its development on security, as well as Netware and OS / 2 too few to provide a developer known viruses. Viruses are often subject to false alarms that the rumor spread, bulky freight.

Some of them, playing on the ignorance of computer users, they sometimes destroy parts of the operating system completely healthy. The first autonomous software had no purpose they have today. The very first software of this type were mere entertainment, a game between three data of Bell, Core War, created in 1970 in the laboratories of the company. For this game, each player writes a program, then loaded into RAM. The operating system, which has just been multitasking, in turn executes an instruction for each software. The goal of the game is to destroy the opposing programs while ensuring its own proliferation. The players do not obviously opposing the location of the program. The software is capable of copying itself, repair itself, to move themselves into different areas of memory and "attacking" the software by writing random opponent in other memory areas. The game ends after a set time or when a player sees all its programs inactive or destroyed. The winner is the one that has the largest number of active copies. This is exactly the principles of programming viruses.

In 1984, the magazine Scientific American presented a computer game design consisting of small programs that come into s'autoreproduisant fight and trying to inflict damage on opponents, thus setting the stage for future viruses. In 1986, the ARPANET was infected by Brain, virus renaming all boot disks system (C) Brain. The creators of this virus gave them their name, address and phone number because it was an advertisement for them.

The virus is a classic piece of program, often written in assembler, which fits into a normal program, most often at the end but also at the beginning or the middle. Each time the user runs the program "infected", it activates the virus the opportunity to get integrated into other executable programs. Moreover, when it contains a payload, it may, after a certain time (which can be very long) or a special event, perform a predetermined action. This action can range from a simple message harmless to the deterioration of some functions of the operating system or damage to files or even complete destruction of all data on the computer. One speaks in this case "logic bomb".A boot virus installs a boot sector of a boot device: hard drive (the main boot sector, the "master boot record, or that of a partition), floppy or whatever. It replaces a boot loader (or boot program or "bootloader") entered (by copying the original elsewhere) or created (on a disc or there was none) but does not modify a program like a normal virus, when it replaces an existing startup program, it acts like a virus "prepend" (which is inserted at the beginning), but the fact of infecting a virgin device of any software startup differs from classical virus, which never attacks to "nothing."

Macro viruses that attack software macros in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc..) Through VBA Microsoft. For example, adhering to the normal.dot template in Word, a virus can be activated every time the user runs the program. Viruses, worms, appeared around 2003, having experienced a rapid development in the years that followed, are classic viruses because they have a host program. But similar to the worms (in English "worm") because:
Their mode of propagation is linked to the network, like worms, usually via the exploitation of security vulnerabilities.

Like worms, their action is discreet and non-destructive to users of the infected machine.
Like worms, they continue to set broad goals, such as distributed denial of resources attack or DoS (Denial of Service) to a server with thousands of infected machines connecting simultaneously. [ref. necessary] The batch-type virus, which emerged in the days when MS-DOS operating system was in vogue, viruses are "primitive." Although able to reproduce and infect other batch files, they are slow and have very low infectivity. Some programmers have been up to create encrypted and polymorphic viruses Batch. This is a real technical feat Batch as the language is simple and primitive.

Other threats exist in IT, it often distinguished by the absence of reproductive system that characterizes the viruses and worms, the term "malicious software (" malware "in English) is more appropriate in this case. The term computer virus was created by analogy with the virus in biology: a computer virus uses its host (the computer it infects) to reproduce and spread to other computers. Like biological viruses, where the genetic diversity slows growth chances of a virus, computer systems and what are the most popular software that are most affected by viruses: Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Internet Information Server... Professional versions of Windows (NT/2000/XP Pro) to manage rights in a professional manner are not immunized against these stealthy invaders.

The commoditization of Internet access was a major factor in the rapid widespread dissemination of the latest viruses. This is mainly due to the ability of viruses to appropriate email addresses found on the infected machine (in the address book but also in the messages or archives visited web pages or messages to newsgroups ). Similarly, the interconnection of computers in local networks has amplified the ability to spread viruses that find this way more potential targets. However, systems with limited distribution are not affected proportionately. The majority of these systems, as variants of the architecture UNIX (BSD, Mac OS X or Linux), using standard management rights of each user allowing them to avoid the simplest attacks, the damage is so normally confined to areas accessible only to users, saving the base operating system. Legal viruses.

When discovered, the virus is assigned a name. This theory is consistent with the agreement signed in 1991 by members of Computer Best Antivirus Research Organization. This name is determined as follows:
- Prefix, mode of infection (macro viruses, trojan horses, worms...) or the operating system concerned;
- A word expressing its special or flaw that exploits (Swen is an anagram of News, an anagram of Admin Nimda, Sasser exploits a vulnerability LSASS );
- In a version number suffix (the viruses are often taken the form of variants with similarities to the original version). Unfortunately, the analytical laboratories of various antiviral publishers sometimes affect their own name to the virus they are working on, which makes it difficult to find information. Thus, for example, the Netsky virus in Alternative Q is called W32.Netsky.Q @ mm Symantec, Trend Micro WORM_NETSKY.Q, W32/Netsky.Q.worm at Panda and I-Worm.NetSky. r at Kaspersky. It is possible to search for a generic name given through specialized search engines, such as Virus Bulletin or Kevin Spicer. Virus on Linux. The Linux operating system, as well as the Unix operating systems and related, is usually fairly well protected against computer viruses. However, some viruses can potentially damage Linux systems are not secure.

Like other Unix systems, Linux implements a multi-user environment, in which users have rights corresponding to their specific needs. There is thus a system of access control to prevent a user to read or edit a file. Thus, viruses typically have less capacity to affect and infect a system running Linux or DOS on Windows files always having FAT32 (NTFS files have the same protection as files UNIX, Windows NT database also isolate the accounts between them). Therefore, no viruses written for Linux, including those listed below, could spread successfully. In addition, security vulnerabilities that are exploited by viruses are corrected in a few days for updates of the Linux kernel. Virus scanners are available for Linux systems to monitor the activity of active viruses on Windows. They are mainly used on proxy servers or mail servers that have Microsoft Windows client systems The antivirus software designed to identify, neutralize and eliminate malware (including viruses are just one example) that are based on the exploitation of security vulnerabilities. Antivirus checks the files and emails. Different methods are possible:
- The major antivirus market are focusing on signature files and then compare the signature of the virus to viral code to check.
-The heuristic method is the most powerful, seeking to discover malicious code by its behavior. She tries to detect it by analyzing the code of an unknown program. Sometimes false alarms may be caused.
- The shape analysis is based on filtering rules between regexp or other, put in a junk file. The latter method can be very effective for mail servers supporting postfix regexp type since it does not rely on a signature file. Antivirus programs can scan the contents of a hard drive, but also the computer memory. For the more modern they act upstream of the machine by scanning the file exchanges with the outside world, both in amount that flows downhill. Thus, emails are reviewed, but the files copied to or from removable media such as CDs, floppy disks, network connections, USB keys... Virus creators have previously identified and recorded information about the virus, like a dictionary, the antivirus can detect and locate the presence of a virus. When this occurs, the virus has three options, it may:
1. try to repair the corrupted files by removing viruses;
2. put the files in quarantine so they can be accessible to other files or spread and they can eventually be repaired later;
3. delete infected files. To maximize the yield of virus, it is essential to make frequent updates by downloading newer versions. Internet and conscientious with good computer skills can identify themselves from viruses and send their information to software developers so that their antivirus database is updated. Typically, antivirus review each file when it is created, opened, closed, or read. In this way, viruses can be identified immediately. It is possible to program the system of administration which conducts a regular review of all files on the storage space (hard disk, etc.). Although antivirus software are very reliable and regularly updated, virus writers are just as often be inventive. In particular, the virus "oligomorphiques", "polymorphic" and more recently "metamorphic" are harder to detect. Whitelist. The "white list" is a technique increasingly used to fight against malware.
Read and share our guide review on top-best antivirus software for your complete online protection on https://onlinevirusprotection.blogspot.com.ng/2016/03/top-three-best-computer-antivirus.html 

Instead of seeking software known as malware, it prevents execution of any program except those that are considered reliable by the system administrator. By adopting this method of blocking by default, it avoids the problems inherent in the updating of virus signature file. In addition, it helps prevent the execution of unwanted programs. Given that modern enterprises have many applications are considered reliable, the efficiency of this technique depends on the ability of the administrator to establish and update the whitelist. This task can be facilitated by the use of tools for process automation and inventory maintenance. Another approach to localize the virus is to detect suspicious behavior programs. For example, if a program tries to write data to a program run, the antivirus will detect this suspicious behavior and notify the user that will indicate the steps to follow.

Unlike the previous approach, the method used to identify suspicious behavior very recent viruses that are not yet known in the dictionary of the virus. However, the fact that users are constantly warned of false alarms can make them insensitive to the real threats. If users answer "Agree" to all of these alerts, antivirus offered them no protection. This problem has worsened since 1997, since many programs have changed some harmless executable files without observing these false alarms. Therefore, most modern antivirus software use less this method. The heuristic analysis is used by some viruses. For example, the antivirus can scan the beginning of each code of all new applications before transferring control to the user. If the program seems to be a virus, then the user is notified. However, this method can also lead to false alarms. The heuristic method can detect virus variants, and automatically communicating the results of the analysis to the editor, it can verify the accuracy and updating its database of virus definitions.

The method of the sandbox (sandbox in English) is to emulate the operating system and run the file during the simulation. Once the program is terminated, software analyzes the results of the sandbox to detect changes that may contain viruses. Because of performance problems, such detection usually takes place during the scanning on demand. This method may fail as viruses can be nondeterministic and result in different actions or perhaps even no action when executed. It is impossible to detect from a single execution. Many companies claim the title of creator of the first antivirus software. The first public announcement of a neutralization of a virus for PC was made by European Bernt Fix (or Bernd) in early 1987, the Vienna virus. Following this virus, several other viruses have surfaced such as ping pong, Lehigh and Survive-3, also known as Jerusalem.

Since 1988, several companies with the objective of further research in the field of antivirus software came together. The first breakthroughs in anti-virus occurred in March 1988 with the release of Den Zuk, created by Indonesian Denny Yanuar Ramdhani. Den Zuk virus could neutralize the Brain. In April 1988, the Virus-L forum has been created on Usenet, and mid-1988 saw the design of a search engine can detect viruses and Trojans that were known to the public. In autumn 1988 appeared antivirus software Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit designed by Briton Alan Solomon. At the end of December 1990, the market has come to the point of offering the consumer products related to 19 different anti-virus, among them, Norton Antivirus and McAfee VirusScan. Peter Tippett was extensively involved in the emerging field of detection of computer viruses. It was an emergency occupation and also had his software company. He read an article about the Lehigh virus, which was the first to be developed, but it's actually on Lehigh himself that Tippett was the most knowledgeable.

He asked if there were similar characteristics between these viruses and those that attack humans. From a standpoint epidemic, he was able to determine how these viruses affect the same processor computer (the boot sector was affected by the Brain virus, the. Com with the Lehigh virus, while the Jerusalem virus attacked both files. com and. exe). Tippett's company, Certus International Corp.. was therefore involved in the creation of antivirus software. He sold the company to Symantec Corp. in 1992. Tippett and joined them by implementing the software developed on behalf of Symantec, Norton AntiVirus.

Author Brayden Alexander from http://www.free-antivirus.co
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Brayden_Alexander/801144

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how to get the best computer antivirus software

It is quite possible you are inundated on a daily basis with spam mail and unwanted pop-ups which advertise the latest in spy-ware and antivirus protection. As un-amusing and counterintuitive as it may be, competition and the effective differences between competing antivirus application developers is so tight, that even the manufactures of antivirus programs are willing to exploit your computers weaknesses to advertise their solutions.

The sheer size and efficiency of the internet as well its billion-plus users makes new computer viruses more dangerous and virulent than ever. Viruses can literally spread around the globe in only minutes, effecting thousands of unprotected and unprepared users and businesses virtually instantly and simultaneously. The need for antivirus protection is of paramount concern for virtually all PC users.

Read and share our guide review on top-best antivirus software for your complete online protection on https://onlinevirusprotection.blogspot.com.ng/2016/03/top-three-best-computer-antivirus.html 

First Things First: What IS a Computer Virus?
To be considered a true computer Virus, a program needs the ability to replicate itself and trigger its activity at specified events. A computer virus is just one of three types of programs known as "maliceware". "Maliceware" are applications designed to damage, delete or steal your information, hijack your computer and even damage or destroy your computers hardware. The three types of "maliceware" you need to concern yourself with are Viruses, Trojans and Worms. Most antivirus programs are designed to detect and defend your PC from all three threats.

What Does an Antivirus Program Do?
Antivirus programs take two common approaches to recognize threats to your computer.
1. Signature Detection: Via Signature Detection an antivirus application scans your computer, drives and storage devices for files that contain a code it recognizes as a virus variant.
2. Activity: An antivirus application will monitor the activity on your computer for suspicious behaviors i.e. modification of system files or folders and unauthorized connections to the internet to name two.
Signature detection generally requires the manufacturer of an antivirus application to obtain a copy of a specific virus and then reverse-engineer it to obtain markers relevant to its programming. These markers are then loaded into your antivirus software via updates. Signature detection is a sound methodology for detecting and protecting against computer viruses, however it can be rendered useless when faced with a virus for which is has no definition.

Antivirus applications that scan for potential computer virus activity can be more useful at detecting the latest threats than those reliant on signature detection. It is important to note that because many applications perform the same activities as a virus - writing and changing system files for example - a user can quickly become inundated with numerous and unnecessary warnings by antivirus applications that utilize this method for detection.
Most of today's "solid" antivirus programs utilize a combination of both signature detection and virus activity to protect your computer against threats.
Read and share our guide review on top-best antivirus software for your complete online protection on https://onlinevirusprotection.blogspot.com.ng/2016/03/top-three-best-computer-antivirus.html 

How to Choose the Antivirus Program that is Right for You.
If you try surfing the web for insight into what is the best antivirus program or manufacturer, you will quickly find yourself neck deep in a sea of advertisements which profess themselves to be legitimate and impartial evaluators of the available programs. The truth is, of the major manufacturers, no one solution can provide for all of your potential needs. They all have instances where they are not as effective as the competition at detecting or eliminating a specific infection or threat. There are many good Antivirus applications and manufacturers all vying for your business, be it for personal or business use, and choosing the correct application or manufacturer for your computer security can generally come down to a few simple questions.

How at Risk are You?
Asking yourself this question is perhaps the first and most important step toward choosing what degree of protection you need, and how much money you are willing to spend, on Antivirus protection. Risk generally equates to your computers exposure to outside applications, files or connections. If you were to operate a computer that would never come into contact with any program or file not manufactured by a secure source, then you have virtually no need for an Antivirus application. Simply put, if you never plan to connect your computer to the internet, download files with it or upload "at risk" files from outside data sources, you should have no need for Antivirus software.

If you are a casual user who perhaps connects to the internet on occasion through a temporary or dial up connection and only download or upload files and programs from reasonably secure sources, your need for an antivirus program is clear, however, your risk may be minimal. In this situation the types and range of protective applications can be kept to a minimum; a basic antivirus program designed to regularly scan your hard drive for infections should offer you the protection that you need. There are many good antivirus programs that will fit this need available as shareware - a free download - throughout the internet.

Now, if you are like what I would consider to be the majority of today's computer users, you are a high risk user and need a wide variety of the most up to date antivirus programs available. If you have a broadband internet connection which keeps your computer connected to the internet 24/7. If you regularly upload and download files and applications from random and un-trusted sources, you need to invest in very thorough security for your computer. High risk users should invest in an antivirus program that offers real time scanning of all incoming and outgoing connections or files, a firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your PC via an open broadband connection, a pop-up blocker that prevents your computers web browser from being hijacked and adware scanners that detect pop-up, spy-ware, tracking and redirection software.

Are you Purchasing for Business or Home?
Antivirus software manufactured for business and home can be two very different applications both in cost and effectiveness. Home versions generally cost less and come with fewer options than business based antivirus programs. Generally the home user does not need the added functionality built into business versions and as such, I would not recommend that a home user invest in an antivirus solution designed for business.

Good antivirus software designed for business is focused on security, both from external and internal threats, as well as ease of maintenance. Most corporate versions of antivirus applications allow for a central point of control over entire networks. Protection can be divided between internet or application servers and individual PCs. New software updates are generally "pushed" from a central application server through the entire network, allowing for simplicity and assure-ity of a network's protection. Most times, corporate versions of antivirus applications do not allow individual users within a network to make changes to their protection settings; this is of key importance when considering overall network security and stability.

As a business purchasing a corporate class antivirus suite, it is important that your protection extends to each individual user that will access your network. Exchange/mail and internet server protection is a must, as well as protection for mission-critical file and application servers. It is a good rule of thumb for IT managers within corporate environments to assume that all their users will do everything within their power to infect corporate equipment with viruses and threats. Though this most certainly is not true, assuming that users know how to protect themselves or their corporate computer environment from infection is in most cases professional suicide for the IT manger in charge.

Antivirus software for business is generally loaded with more options than software built for home, and as such is often times much more expensive on a whole. Usually business antivirus programs come as a server based application. Clients, or additional licenses, are purchased for each computer or user that connects to the antivirus server.

With Regard to the Antivirus Program Itself:
Determining the true quality and effectiveness of an antivirus program can sometimes come down to how often the manufacturer releases updates to the program. New viruses are introduced to the web on most certainly a daily, if not hourly basis. The best antivirus manufacturers release updates on a daily basis and often offer updates to their programs on a real-time, as needed basis. The ability for an antivirus software manufacturer to release constant, and relevant, updates to their programs should be of great concern to the user. Not having the latest updates can almost be as dangerous as having no protection at all.

Other Important Factors to Consider:
1. The programs compatibility with your current set up and operating system? - If you are still using Windows 98 and you are purchasing an antivirus software manufactured in 2006, chances are it is not compatible with your computer.

2. How much in the way of system resources does the program use? - Just like all applications and operating systems, antivirus applications will use your computers processing power, memory and storage space to function. Keeping this use to a minimum will help to keep your computer operating at peak performance.

3. What kind of protection does the software offer? - Does the program offer protection against multiple threats such as Worms and Trojans? Will the program scan incoming and outgoing text messages and e-mails?

4. Cost - How much will the protection cost you over the life of your usage? - Most antivirus programs require that you subscribe to their service and then purchase updates on a yearly basis. The costs of these updates can vary widely between manufacturers and should be considered when making your final decision.

Answering these questions truthfully though an honest assessment of your PC usage will help to guarantee that you invest the proper amount of money and time into ensuring your PC and data are safe and secure.

Copyright 2006 www.hcditrading.com Brad Calli
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Brad_Calli/38317

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Two things to bear in Mind while we talk about Protecting yourself Online in order to Prevent Online Identity Theft and being Victim of Cyber-Criminals:

A. Keep in mind that antivirus software protects only your device, not your internet connection. It’s only Secured and Protected Virtual Private Network, VPN can securely protect your internet connection communications between your computer device, servers and websites.

B. A VPN is a must-have utility to protect your privacy and prevent hackers and snoopers from stealing your personal information.