best mac small business antivirus software

Best Anti-virus for Mac and Small Business Antivirus Software

Mac generally doesn't have as many risks as PC, mainly because there are more people using Ms windows than Mac pc techniques, making it more profitable for viruses creators to focus on Ms windows operating-system. Mac gadgets also come standard with their own protection measure that has proven to be pretty effective against many online risks. However, it is still a wise idea to invest in third-party antivirus application to close any holes in the Mac program.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

Test Results
The best antiviruses for Mac gadgets don't restrict the efficiency of your pc while they check out for and protect against online risks. As aspect of our assessment of Mac antivirus application, we seemed at the latest outcomes of the AV-Test assessments of protection packages for Mac operating-system. These tests included looking at how much efficiency is missing while the antivirus program runs, such as lag time while you access popular sites, open and use applications such as e-mail and word document applications, and transfer details.

The other big analyze AV-Test performs is one to see how well each antivirus defends against both known and unidentified risks. Over the course of four weeks, AV-Test presents hundreds of known viruses risks and allows the introduction of countless numbers more newly appeared risks to determine how each antivirus protection performs on a Mac os.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

Features
As with PC protection applications, it is essential to make sure the Mac antivirus recognition program you select tests your e-mail and external drives for any risks that may effort to go through your program in ways not necessarily typical of viruses. Additionally, with more and more PC risks changing to add Mac gadgets, it is essential to know the remedy you select can identify Ms windows risks and stop them before they contaminate your Mac.

We used the AV-Test outcomes and the rich selection of functions available to evaluate the best antivirus application for Mac. Overall, we found that Bitdefender, Intego and ESET Cyber Security are perfect alternatives to protect your Mac from viruses attacks.
 

Small Organization Antivirus

Most companies know that keeping work stations safe is essential to the daily functions of the organization, and often vital to the success of the organization. It is a way to make sure online hackers don't get through to affect production or effort to run private zazzle corporation. While the antivirus you use at house may offer some protection, it is better to use a remedy specially tailored to business pcs. Little enterprise antiviruses can consist of added rights for risks that are more typical in workplace settings, while still providing the best malware-blocking abilities of house antivirus alternatives.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

Test Results
AV-Test, an independent lab that analyse the most typical antivirus alternatives, reviews antiviruses designed for business Ms windows clients. It looks at how well business antivirus applications identify and block both known and unidentified viruses by presenting a large number of different risks and tracking each program's effectiveness against them.

AV-Test also analyse how running an antivirus program affects the efficiency of your business pc techniques. It looks at how much more slowly your program will run while obtaining sites, shifting details and performing tasks within needed business applications.

Features
After efficiency, we seemed at the plethora of functions available as aspect of economic antivirus alternatives, such as strong fire walls, remote system recognition and e-mail protection. A couple of essential functions to have that not all business alternatives consist of are anti-theft protection, which allows you to slightly lock and remove essential details and knowledge in case your system is missing or thieved, and a file shredders that ensures any risk is completely wiped from your pc rather than separated and saved in a inactive state after being recognized.

Taking into consideration the AV-Test outcomes and the many functions available with these applications, we determined that Kaspersky, Panda and Sophos are the best antivirus alternatives for small business pc techniques.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

computer virus and how to remove and prevent virus on your pc

What is a computer virus:

A computer virus is a software program which is able to replicate itself and spread from one infected computer to another. The infected objects can be system, program or document files. After infecting your computer, it might slow it down, damage the contents of the infected files, mislay the data or defect your computer systems normal operation.

Top-Best Antivirus Software for total online and Offline Computer Security.

The virus can also use your computer to propagate illegal adverts and send spam emails that exploit security (adWare), steal your personal information such as bank account number, credit card number etc. (SpyWare). Some types of viruses might use your computer to create a bot net (virtual computer network) to attack other server systems and websites etc.

Type of viruses on Windows based computers:
There are a number of computer viruses that can impede the functioning of your computer. Here are some of the different types of viruses:

Trojan Horse: It is an email virus that is created by a file attached to the email. If opened, it may scour your hard drive for any personal and financial information such as your social security, account and PIN numbers. Once it has collected your info, it is sent via the internet to a hacker or thief.
Macro Virus: It is a computer virus that infects the Visual Basic language documents for applications such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel etc. This type of virus can cause damage (such as removing data on the hard disk for example).

Top-Best Antivirus Software for total online and Offline Computer Security.

Worms: It is a program that has the ability to self-replicate itself. It can move from one computer to another and replicate itself in your computer system then spread hundreds of its copies to other computers that might cause wide spread damage.

Rootkit Virus: It is a program that is possible to cover the processes, files and data in the computer Registry (a database which is used to save Windows's system and program settings). Rootkit is usually used to hide the activities of viruses and processes which harm your computer. It is to help a hacker to control the system.

Bootsector Virus: A virus which attaches itself to the first part of the hard disk that is read by the computer upon bootup. These are normally spread by floppy disks.
Logic Bombs: It is a program that is used to send many data to the same email address and overwhelm the system or block the server connection. It is also used to threaten others (for example mail bomb etc.).

Memory Resident Virus: This type of virus dwells in the RAM. From there it can overcome and interrupt the operations executed by the system. It can corrupt files and programs that are opened, closed, copied, renamed etc.
Multipartite Virus: These viruses spread in multiple ways. It might vary in its action depending upon where it's installed and the presence of certain files.

How do you get a virus and Prevention:
These are 3 common ways that your computer may get infected by viruses:
Email: You get an email from a person that contains one or more viruses. If the attachment is opened, the viruses may infect files in the computer. The viruses might also send emails to people from your email address book or email folders automatically. So, you should not open unknown attachments in emails or do a virus scanning after opening them.

Internet: If you download an exe file or a data file from the Internet or other shared networks, viruses might be transferred to your computer. Sometimes the free software programs on the Internet have viruses especially if downloading from sources such as Torrent or Usenet news groups. Therefore, if necessary, you should download files from trusted resources.
Peripheral devices: The devices such as MP3 player, USB thumb drive, Memory card or CD Rom are also means for spreading viruses. So, remember to do a virus scan for them after they are connected to your computer.

Top-Best Antivirus Software for total online and Offline Computer Security.

Symptoms of virus infection:
These are some of symptoms which may indicate virus activity:
• Your computer has unusual activity (e.g. programs crashing a lot or running slowly).
• Messages or images (unrelated to your current task) come up unexpectedly.
• A program may start up unexpectedly.
• Your firewall informs that a certain application is trying to connect to the Internet (unrelated to what you are working on).
• Your friends say that they get emails from you but you did not send any to them.
• You receive many system error announcements. (Note: This may also come from another activity such as a hardware problem or genuine system error)
• Windows does not run when you start up your computer. (Note: This may also come from a hard disk problem)
• You realise that folders and files are removed or changed.
• You find that there's an access to your hard disk (one of the small light is blinking) even though there are no programs running.
• Your web browser has abnormal indications, for example it opens an unknown web page or you cannot close the browser tabs.
• Advertising pages pop up, desktop wallpaper changes.
• Exe files occur and have the same names as the folders.
• On the right corner of your computer, there is a small symbol written "Your computer is infected" or "Virus Alert" etc.
• When you open an USB thumb drive, unknown files such as Autorun.inf, New Folder.exe etc. appear.
• Cannot press Control + Alt + Delete (Task Manager) and you are warned that Administrator banned it.
• Folder Options disappears.
• Your computer keeps restarting when you try to shut it down.
• You cannot log in your Windows account with the right logon details.

What to do when infected:

• Make sure that your Antivirus software is the latest update. If necessary, download the update from another computer and update it manually.
• Disconnect from the Internet or Local Area Network (LAN).

• If Windows is not running, start it in Safe Mode (when turning on your computer, keep pressing F8 as soon as the computer starts running, then choose 'Safe Mode' from the Menu).
• Run a full Anti-Virus scan.

• If your computer is quite infected but you have important files or documents on it, do a full scan with your updated Antivirus software. If it finds viruses, delete all of them then open each ancillary disk (USB, Thumb drive etc.) and look for Autorun.inf files and remove them. Afterward, restart your computer.

• If you have any difficulties with finding a way to remove bad programs, refer to your Internet Security Software Supplier to look for an essential dedicated tool to remove them.

• If you find a bad program, follow the instructions of your Internet Security Software Supplier. Good Security software will provide with options such as disabling infected files, isolating possibly infected files, Worms and Trojans removal.

• If you do not have any important files on your computer disks, format the disk and then re-install your Windows and applications. This is quite an extreme and lengthy process and it's recommended to back up your computer settings prior to commencing. When finished, do not open on any ancillary disks (USB, Thumb drives etc.) yet, install the Antivirus software, do a full scan, find Autorun.inf files and remove them. Restart your computer after that.

• If the Anti-Virus software does not find anything, your computer is possibly not infected. Check your hardware and software that is installed on your computer meets the hardware specifications of the Operating System. Delete unnecessary or unwanted programs to save resources and ensure you have updated your Windows OS via Windows Update.

Lily Tran
http://www.computhai.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lily_Thi_Tran/1222539

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best antivirus software for microsoft windows xp

Best Anti-virus for Microsoft windows Operating System (OS) XP

Windows XP was an excellent os for Microsoft that generated overwhelming popularity from the public and businesses alike. XP proved to be user-friendly, highly able and the most popular os from Microsoft for about 10 decades, even after the release of Microsoft Operating System (OS) windows Vista and 7. Now that Microsoft Operating System (OS) has stopped upgrading support and protection up-dates to Microsoft Operating System (OS) windows XP, protection against viruses is vital if you want your XP pc to keep operating nicely. Without Microsoft Operating System (OS) windows XP antivirus application, you are at greater risk than most users, and your pc can become completely useless in a few months.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

Test Results
The first thing to consider for any antivirus application applications are its capability to identify and eliminate viruses. Not all applications are reasonable quality, and some application applications are better at protecting your body against potential risks. AV-Test, an independent application analyze lab, analyse antivirus application for Microsoft Operating System (OS) windows XP on the effectiveness or, in some cases, inadequacy of its malware protection.

The very best antivirus application applications can discovering and removing Completely of the risks sent its way. Many applications perform reasonably, catching 96 or 97 % of the viruses AV-Test sends its way. Regardless, ensure that the antivirus application you buy for Microsoft Operating System (OS) windows XP can catch and eliminate a significant number of risks so you know your product secure.

System Usage
The next great differentiator between Microsof company windows XP malware protection applications comes down to how system-intensive the application is on your pc. If you still run Microsoft Operating System (OS)windows XP, a significant component in your decision should be the ability of your processor. If you have a relatively new pc with decent specifications, you can buy every antivirus application on the market without having to worry about your body performance. However, if you are looking for antivirus application for a more mature machine, the handling energy required to run antimalware applications effectively can be a concern. If you have limited RAM or handling speed, consider an antivirus system that doesn't take a large toll on your body.

Regardless of whether your Microsoft Operating System (OS) windows XP hardware is relatively new or rather old, it's still a wise decision to look for applications that are not as resource-intensive during up-dates, tests or viruses removal, just to be secure. Generally, the mature your pc gets, the less effective it is at operating new application, such as antivirus application, which is constantly upgrading.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

Features
Every system on our collection can identify numerous types of viruses, including spyware, rootkits and basic viruses. What distinguishes the best antivirus application from the others are extra functions that provide more protective techniques to combat viruses attacks. For example, many applications provide you with the capability to create a backup recovery disk so that you can recover your pc after it has been infected.

Other applications can performing weeknesses tests, in which the antimalware application searches for outdated applications on your pc to see if it can find any weaknesses for viruses to pass through. Finally, the best antivirus application for Microsoft Operating System (OS) windows XP can launch a virtual browser, helping you to run websites separate from your pc to check it for weaknesses. You may not need all of these functions for your personal use; just ensure that the application you buy can handle all of your needs.

Windows XP was an excellent os when it first became available, and its strengths have remained present throughout the decades. With the right tools, you can using XP even though it no longer receives up-dates from Microsoft Operating System (OS). Virus protection application for Microsoft company windows XP is designed to be lighter than other protection systems, helping you to use it with mature processor chips. With XP antivirus application installed, you can surf the internet, view media and run extra applications without worrying about viruses breaking down the system and making your pc almost useless.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

runtime trojans how to avoid trojan computer virus

A growing danger all PC users are facing these days is the runtime packed Trojan. These malware programs are designed to infect your PC and keep it from working properly. To avoid them, it's best to have an understanding of what they are and how they operate so you will be more equipped to avoid them.

Top-Best Antivirus Software for total online and Offline Computer Security.

What is a Trojan?
Let's start at the beginning. A "Trojan" is a program that appears to be something helpful (i.e. anti-spyware, essential download) when in reality it is actually a harmful program that can open up unauthorized access to your PC and its settings. Runtime refers to a Trojan that continues to actively "run." So, rather than just being downloaded and dropping its nasty little package, the Trojan runs continuously in the background of your PC. The reason for this is that usually the Tojan is designed to open up a port and keep it open, letting some hacker or malicious server have access to your PC. A packed runtime Trojan is a program that contains something inside it, generally a hunk of malware. The Trojan "packs" its contents and makes it smaller in hopes of the malware going undetected.

What sorts of malware are "packed"? Anything that can do a job secretly and that is small. This usually means spyware, so little keylogging programs, web-monitors and even simple tracking cookies can all be part of a Trojan's payload.

How are Runtime Packed Trojans Disguised?
More often than not, a runtime packed Trojan makes its appearance as something benign or something essential to the functionality of your PC. Clever advertising and disguises make it difficult to determine potential threats from necessary updates.
As a general rule, always be cautious when downloading:

1) An attachment in an e-mail Many Trojans can be spread by worms. These worms will hijack email addresses of people you know and trust. If the email is vague and points you to a link that you don't recognize, be suspicious. If it came from a friend, call and ask if they sent it.

2) A codec your PC doesn't have that is needed to access a multimedia file Codecs are programs that tell your browser how to interpret/display media, like videos. Some are legit and well known, like codecs for Adobe Flash or Microsoft Silverlight. The key here is that - if most videos already work for you and a website says theirs won't - be suspicious.

3) A plug-in for your browser Is it useful? Is it reviewed? Is it from a reputable source?

4) A free, downloadable security scanner or an "anti-spyware" program of some sort There are lots of good, legitimate free scanners our there, but there are also some scams. These are called "rogues," and work by using exaggerated or false reports of malware to scare you into buying a license. If a security program shows up on your computer and you didn't install it, it likely came from a Trojan.

When you do download files, make sure you always scan files for infection before you download or open them; and, of course, it's always a good idea to check up on any program before you install it. Reliable download sites like http://www.download.com have customer reviews and expos on hundreds of programs.

What Do these Trojans Do?
There are thousands of these little Trojans out there and each one can carry out a particular malicious function. But in general, most runtime packed Trojans will have the same effect on your PC.
1) Monitor and log your online activity without your permission.
2) Download files without your permission.
3) Slow down your downloads and operating system speed.
4) Disable antivirus software and firewalls.
These are just a few examples of what these Trojans are capable of. But if you are noticing the above symptoms, it's possible your PC could be infected.

As mentioned above, a new trend in packed Trojans is to appear disguised as free anti-spyware. By downloading this type of Trojan, your PC will experience dozens of pop-up windows of "threats" found by the malware. The malware usually recommends buying a specific product to "fix" the fake security issues. Once the PC user purchases the fake security software, the fake threats disappear; however your PC is also left unprotected and you shelled out good money for a fake fix. Vundo and Zlob Trojans are examples of these prolific anti-spyware rogues.

How Do I Get Rid of It?
If it's too late to prevent getting a Trojan, this sequence for troubleshooting should help with most uninvited Trojans that have taken over your system.

1) First thing's first, make sure you have a reliable anti-spyware scanner and anti-virus scanner before you get any infections. You don't have to keep them running all the time, but you should routinely update their definitions.

2) Disconnect your PC from the Internet. This way you can prevent further interference from outside sources. You can disable a network adapter or simply disconnect the ethernet cable and/or turn off the modem.

3) Restart your PC in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key as it reboots.

4) Pressing F8 brings up a menu on a black screen with one option being safe mode. Once you can access safe mode, you can log into your computer with only the minimal number of functions running. This cuts off a maliciously installed software that doesn't operate as "essential" to the system. Open your (up-to-date) antivirus software.

5) Run a deep scan on your PC from your antivirus software first. You want to make sure that it removes all occurrences of the malware from your computer.

You will want to make sure that your antivirus is looking for and finding the specific kind of malware files you have on your PC. You may have to run the scan several times or use multiple kinds of antivirus and anti-spyware utilities. Remember the two are different and work in different ways. Run the antivirus first and then the anti-spyware, one will likely find the Trojan and the other will likely find the spyware it left behind.

If your scanner(s) don't initially succeed try others. A reputable download site will have various options, and all of the major brands have free versions that will provide what you need in an emergency: Microsoft Security Essentials, McAfee, Symantec, Panda, Trend-Micro, Avast AntiVirus, Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, etc.

For more information on Optimizing your PC, visit our extensive information blog at http://www.fixcleaner.com/blog Here, you can find easy access to articles on fixing errors and optimizing all sorts of Windows functions. You can even get tips and tricks on how to navigate your way across the new frontier of Internet Social Media.

Julie Dreese is a freelance writer and editor who attempts to perform her own tech support through thorough research and anyone-can-do-it solutions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Julie_Dreese/757616

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best microsoft windows vista antivrus software

Best Anti-virus for Microsoft windows Vista

The primary goal behind the creation of Microsoft windows Windows vista was to improve the security of the Microsoft windows based pc after criticisms of its predecessor's weaknesses. Despite the security improvements developed specifically for Microsoft windows vista, advanced viruses was created to break or circumnavigate the security systems in position.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

Even though Microsoft designed Microsoft windows vista to be naturally secure, third-party anti-spyware application applications are the best measure against strikes from viruses. The best Microsoft windows Windows vista antivirus application allows you to relax, knowing that your body is secure from potential risks. However, finding the right Microsoft windows vista antivirus system can be a tricky and difficult process. We analyzed and refined the top choices through the following requirements to help you keep your body secure.

Performance
All Microsoft windows Windows vista security applications have the capability of discovering different types of viruses, including basic viruses and competitive rootkits. The real difference among these products is not if they can find and remove viruses, but how good they are at discovering these risks. AV-Test, an independent analyze lab, analyse the best antivirus applications on the market, running them through extensive tests to determine each program's ability to identify both brand-new and older viruses. So, while you're looking for the best Microsoft windows vista antivirus application, check out the efficiency a lot of each system to makes it able to catching brand-new risks as well as established viruses. The best application ratings 99 or even 100 percent in security, so pay special attention to these applications.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

Features
All the antivirus application we analyzed for Microsoft windows Windows vista offers email security, instantly clears contaminated information, tests messages and quarantines dangerous information so they can't spread to other information. However, only some of these applications can create bootable save drives that allow you to recover an contaminated computer, which can be incredibly helpful. Additionally, not every system defends against strikes via USB storage devices or has antiphishing investments in position. Ensure that to look for applications that meet all of your needs before making your choice.

Another element to consider when looking for antivirus application applications are how influential this method is on the host os. The top antivirus applications have no impact on your body efficiency, meaning you can visit websites, download information, use different applications and so on without any efficiency disturbance from the antimalware system. However, most applications have at least some effect on the human body's efficiency, generally a recession of around three seconds, which isn't terrible but is still noticeable.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

Even with enhanced peace of mind in position with Microsoft windows Windows vista, antivirus application allows you to relax. Many can give you all the security you need. As new viruses appears every day, antivirus application advances to stay on top of these growing risks. Anti-virus application for Microsoft windows Windows vista helps your body remain secure against these continuous and ever-changing risks.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

guide on how to prevent online identity theft fraud and scam

Prevent identity theft this holiday season by simply being smarter than your assailants. There is no better identity theft protection than education on the subject, and knowledge of the ways to keep you protected. Whether you're cruising Facebook or Twitter, or doing some holiday shopping online, it's always important to be aware of how to prevent identity theft.

How to Be Secured Online Here: CyberSecurity and CyberSafety Guide 

Here are a few little tips to help you prevent identity theft during this busy holiday shopping season:
Watch out for that keen eye that is just waiting to catch a glimpse of your pin number. Whether you are purchasing something with your debit card and entering your pin, or taking out cash to be a more responsible shopper, always be aware of your surroundings. This is the time of year when identity theft occurs nearly every minute around the nation, and if you can stay aware of your surroundings you will be one step ahead of the game.

Problem: Identity thieves glancing over your shoulder to see your pin.
Solution: Always cover or attempt to hide your pin number when entering it. It might look a little silly to some, and feel a little silly to others, but if you are in a sea of holiday shoppers waiting in line to take out cash or make a payment, you can never be too careful.

If you are using your debit and credit cards this holiday season, don't sign the back of the card. Yep, you heard me, don't sign the back of your card. To prevent identity theft you should write "please see ID" on the back of all of your cards. This will insure, hopefully, that as you checkout you will be asked for your driver's license. If they don't ask for your ID, be sure to tell management that there is sure to be an identity theft issue at their store.

Problem: Using debit and credit cards.
Solution: Always write 'please see ID' on the back of all of your cards.
Many of us take for granted the system of garbage pick-up that occurs throughout the nation. To prevent identity theft, it is crucial that you are aware of what you are throwing away, or recycling. Sure, it might make you feel wonderful to be helping out the environment by recycling all of your paperwork, invoices, and receipts. You should feel that way, however, you should also be shredding it all first. Many local areas will have shred-a-thons to help you get rid of all of that confidential information that absolutely anyone can see by digging through your trash. It may seem like a dirty job, but it is one of the most common ways that identity thieves will steal your information.

Problem: Tossing out receipts.
Solution: Use a shredder...always!
Everything is done over the internet these days. We'd rather talk to each other on Facebook and Twitter than meet face-to-face for some coffee. Complete strangers know more about us through our social updates than our own families do. Times certainly have changed, which is why you have to change your habits online. While we've talked about protecting your identity on social networks many times here, we also need to point out that it's imperative that you don't store absolutely everything on your computer.

If your computer is infected with a virus that was created by hackers and identity thieves, they can easily read your confidential information and use it to their advantage. In order to prevent identity theft on your computer, back up all of your personal information onto another hard drive that you can unplug. You can either purchase another small hard drive to use, or you may use a flash drive.
Problem: Computer viruses that can read your confidential information.
Solution: Store your personal information on another drive.

Lastly, and most importantly, check your bank statements and your credit reports frequently, especially during and just after the holiday season. This is prime time for identity thieves, and to prevent identity theft it's always best to stay on top of it. Know where you've spent your money, and know exactly how much you've spent. If there is something that doesn't look right or match up on your bank statement, don't hesitate to call them and discuss the problem. In most cases, they will be willing to work with you to figure out how that charge on your account came to be.
Problem: Reckless spending.

Solution: Always stay on top of your bank statements, and keep all receipts until the statement and charge has cleared.

While these are just a few was to prevent identity theft, I hope that we've brought to attention the multitude of ways that identity thieves attempt to steal your personal information. This list could go on and on, and the only way to stay protected is to stay informed. If you want more information on how to prevent identity theft, visit http://www.idsafeusa.com for more information.

Kandice Day is the founder of http://www.LinwrightDesign.com, a content marketer and web designer.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kandice_Day/478758

VoIP phone call tricks about virus on your pc home office computer online

The phone rings, you answer, and someone says they are from Microsoft or your Internet provider and have detected a virus on your PC. What next?

Well, it depends on how much time you have on your hands and your sense of humour, but before we get to that let's just explain what is going on here.

I've been plagued with these calls, often once or twice a week. Someone, usually with a heavy Indian accent, calls and reports that they are calling from 'Microsoft Security Centre', stating that they have 'detected viruses on my machine over the internet'.

Myth buster number one: This is not possible! Firstly, Microsoft never phones people to tell them that their PC is infected (assuming it actually is). Secondly, how would a company get your phone number based on your PC?

Top-Best Antivirus Software for total online and Offline Computer Security.

I had one such call recently and had a bit of time so I thought I'd a) waste their time so that they weren't conning some unsuspecting old lady, and b) find out exactly what they were doing in order to 'prove' to people that there were problems with their PCs. I had what is known as a 'virtual machine' installed - this is like Windows running as an app in Windows. It is totally ring-fenced, and to the outside world they could not tell any difference. By letting them run in a sand-boxed system I knew that my main system was completely safe.

Step 1 - they gain access to your PC
After you've admitted that you have a PC they'll start saying things like 'have you noticed it going slow recently'. Let's face it, all Windows PCs get slower over time, especially without a little bit of house-keeping, and they are never as fast as we want them to be. They will then ask you to go to a website and run an app. This part is actually legitimate as they are using a third party product that allows for remote support. You run an app, it displays a set of numbers which you then read out to the person on the phone, and they enter it into the software at their end - they can then see your desktop and control your keyboard/mouse as if they were in front of the PC. Note that at this stage your PC is not infected with anything - you've simply allowed remote control so that they can prove that your PC is compromised.

Step 2 - the convincer
Now they have to prove to you that there is a problem. The person that connected to me did two things:
a. They ran the Windows Event Viewer. This is an app installed on all versions of Windows that logs any errors that happen on the system. Note that an error to Windows is not always what we would consider an error. For example, when Windows boots up it'll check to see what printers are available. If you have a printer driver installed, but the printer is switched off that will log an error. So our friendly 'Microsoft Technician' told me to go into the Event Viewer and proceeded to show me all of the errors on my PC. He told me on no account to click on any of the line items as he said that this would damage things further. In reality he was concerned that I would read the error log and see that it was telling me that my printer was not switched on...

b. Next he opened a Dos window by running 'CMD' from the Start/Run option. He typed TREE /S, which is a simple command that shows every single file and folder on the PC. As you can imagine on even a fresh install of Windows there are tens of thousands of files, so this takes a few seconds as they go whizzing up the screen. And while that is going on he's typing something in the background which is only displayed once the computer has finished listing all of the files and folders. So at the end of this I could see 'System Error: Antivirus software disabled'. Of course, this was not actually the case!

At this point he's now 'convinced' that my PC is heavily compromised and that I need upgraded antivirus software. Bearing in mind that up to this point it had taken about 15 minutes.

Step 3 - the closer
They use standard sales tactics here of offering 'either/or' options rather than yes/no. He didn't say 'we can provide protection - would you like it'. It was more a case of 'we can provide one year at £199 or three years at £299'. For that he would download and install some antivirus software for me. Most probably this software would be loaded with its own viruses or malware, or worst still it would silently log all of your keystrokes and pass it back to them, providing all of your passwords as you move around the Internet. £199 is a lot of money in anyone's book for antivirus software. I don't pay anything for mine - there are plenty of free antivirus apps which sit quietly in the background doing their thing without costing you anything.

Anyway, back to our friendly tech support guy, who is now pushing to see which of his two options that I want. At this point I'd seen enough and advised him that he was playing around with a virtual machine and that I was simply wasting his time so that he did not scam any innocent people. Strangely he hung up after that...

So in summary all he'd done was connected to my PC, opened the Windows Event Viewer and run a harmless command in a Dos window before I cut him off, but it is easy to see how people get suckered in.

Golden rules
These rules help against any scammers, not just those trying to sell you antivirus software:

• If someone calls about a virus on your PC it is 100% a scam. Microsoft do not have time to call the millions of people around the world that get viruses on their PCs every week.


• Never give out any personal information on the phone unless you are 100% sure that the person/company calling you is legitimate. For example, I had a call from my bank's security company the other day. They asked me to give them my date of birth to check that I was me. I was not prepared to do that because I had no way to confirm that they were indeed my bank. So I asked them for their number and called them back (after verifying on the Internet that the number was indeed correct). Also, call from a different phone, as often scammers will stay on the line, and when you go to dial out they'll pretend to answer the phone so you think that you've rung them back again...


• Do not respond to telephone surveys. These are 'phishing scams' - they are trying to collect enough information about you in order to use your identity fraudulently. Maybe they've already managed to get some details about you, such as your name, address and social security number, but perhaps they just ask you to confirm your date of birth or mother's maiden name, which on their own you may not be suspicious of. Note that they may call you a couple of times over a period of time and ask different questions to build a profile on you.


• If they are making you an offer that is too good to be true then it probably is e.g. iPad for £50 etc. With the Internet these days it is very easy to validate a company. A quick search on the company name or website will generally reveal if it is a scam site or not.


• If you get suckered once you most likely will go onto a hotlist where others will try to scam you again a different way.

If you have time to kill
Finally, when these people do call, and call they will, you can always have a little fun. I actually posted this story onto a business forum I frequent to warn others, and it was hilarious to see what others were doing. My favourites were:

• Passing the phone to a toddler, who would simply make random noises down the phone to them
• Keeping a football whistle by the phone and blowing it full blast down the receiver - my personal favourite and one that I may well use in the future!
• Asking them to call your mobile number as your home phone battery is about to die, and then giving them a premium rate gay sex line
• Simply saying 'can you wait a moment, the doorbell's gone' a few minutes into the call, then keep coming back to the phone every few minutes saying 'won't be a moment'. One guy kept them on the line for 35 minutes
• Of course, the old classic of screaming down the phone at them is always great for relieving tension

If at least one person is not scammed as a result of this article then I'll be happy. These people preying on others that are trying to make the best of technology that simply don't have the IT skills to know they are being duped and are putting their PC and identities at even more risk.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Martin_E_Bailey/240614

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best microsoft windows 7 antivirus software

Best Anti-virus Application for Microsoft company windows 7

Although the pc rights Microsoft company sets in place may entice you to avoid purchasing third-party antivirus software, you should know that these rights are best used as a place to begin. Even though Microsoft company continually improves upon its built-in security systems, with each installment of Windows' built-in security getting better, third-party applications simply outshine Microsoft company Security Requirements. These built-in rights are designed for users who either try to get by without extra security software or don't realize other software applications are needed. However, reducing down the best antivirus for Microsoft company windows seven and your needs can seem like a daunting process. We analyzed the top artists and rated them based on their pros and cons to help you figure out the right program for you.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

Test Results
The most essential aspect to consider when you search for the right security software applications are its capability to defend your pc against strikes. AV-Test, a well-respected independent analyze lab, tested every item we've analyzed and published its results. This lab analyzed the security abilities of each item by testing it against both brand-new risks and well-known, established viruses. By revealing hundreds of work stations networked to dozens of servers to ten million risks, AV-Test is able to determining which applications can keep your program safe quite accurately. Therefore, the performance of each Microsoft company windows seven antivirus program was the most significant element we used to find out our ratings.

Features
The next factor we considered for Microsoft company windows seven antivirus security was the applications feature set. Generally, the more functions an antivirus program has, the more you can customize the security level of your pc. All antivirus applications for Microsoft company windows seven have the capability of discovering the different types of viruses, such as Trojan viruses, spyware, viruses and rootkits, and they can all automatically clean infected information, check out compacted information and isolate risks. Differences between these products emerge in the form of more advanced functions, such as the capability to secure your pc from strikes that occur when you turn the pc on (registry startup), create bootable rescue disks and check out USB storage devices. While you hunt for the right Microsoft company windows seven virus security, look for software that includes a number of extra functions that can help you secure your program from nasty viruses.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

Although Microsoft company Security Requirements offers some security for your Microsoft company windows seven pc, it is best used as a temporary line of defense while you find the antivirus software that will serve your needs best. We found that Bitdefender, Kaspersky and Norton are the best options for Microsoft company windows seven antivirus security.

Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies 

online cybersecurity ways to prevent online identity theft

Identity theft is a big crime in America. In 2003, the federal government passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act. This created a new crime called "Aggravated Identity Theft" and empowered the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with the authority to track the number of incidents and dollar value of losses due to identity theft.

These FTC studies have shown that pure identity theft (taking over someone's identity) have steadily been declining but that fraud complaints (partial identity theft) are on the rise. This means that the criminal element behind ID theft has switched from assuming someone's identity entirely to merely using enough of it to perpetrate fraudulent thefts through consumer credit and similar frauds.

It's estimated that identity theft is the fastest-growing white collar crime in the U.S. and that more than 8.5 million Americans fall victim to it every year. So, are there ways to prevent identity theft?
Yes, there are lots of ways to prevent identity theft. We'll look at the "big 3" that are most recommended as minimum safeguards against becoming a victim of this crime. Most ID theft experts list these three things as the bare minimum every American should be doing to protect themselves.

#1: Watch Those Websites
The first of our top 3 ways to prevent identity theft is learning what you should and shouldn't put into a website and what to look for to make sure it's safe. Most victims of credit card fraud and identity theft are initially targeted through Internet scams and websites. While shopping online is relatively safe, there are certain things you should always look for before you enter any information into an online consumer site.

First, know what site you're dealing with. If the site is a large, reputable company like Amazon or Sears, then you're on the way to verifying it's okay. Make sure that the URL (site address) begins with what you know is the company's real address. So if you're shopping on Amazon.com, make sure the website address is something like "http://www.amazon.com" or "https://www.amazon.com" so you know that you're really on Amazon's website and not a fake.

Next, look for the security seal on the site before you enter any information. When the site asks you for a credit card, checking account, or other information for payment (or personal information about you such as your social security number or driver's license info), make sure the transmission to the site is secure.

Do this in two ways: look for the "https" at the beginning of the site URL in your address bar-that "s" denotes "secure." Then look in the corner of your browser-usually to the bottom right-for a padlock that is closed, or "locked." This is the universal symbol for a secure connection.
Finally, if you have any doubts whatsoever about the website or its security, DO NOT give it any information. When in doubt, don't buy. Simple as that.

#2: Keep It Off the Phone
If you don't know who you're talking to, don't give out any useful information about your identity. That seems pretty simple, but it's amazing how many people will give out their mother's maiden name (a common "security question" for credit cards) or even Social Security number without much question.

"Fishing" is a form of building a profile for identity theft in which a criminal who has basic information (like a credit card number) will call to get enough information to take over the card and even take out new credit in the victim's name. The criminal will make phone calls pretending to be someone from the card company, one of the utilities, a bank, etc. and ask for information they need as if it were part of a customer service call. Many fall for this.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from a credit card, bank, or other company and they need identifying information from you, tell them you'll call them back through their recognized corporate number (which you will get yourself from a bill or the phone book). Tell them you don't give out personal information on the phone if you can't be sure who you're talking to. They should understand and wait for you to call them back.

This simple precaution can almost totally prevent your private information from being stolen. Simply because a criminal with a stolen credit card number only has one avenue to steal from you. A criminal with a stolen credit card and your personal information can wreak havoc on your entire credit profile and empty your bank accounts faster than you might think.

#3: Keep Them Safe
When you're at the store, in the mall, or when you park your car, keep your credit cards, identification, and other valuables safe. If you carry a wallet, keep it in a wallet near your body where you can feel it rather than in a purse. This makes it harder to steal. When you use a card, cover your hand while you enter the PIN number or make sure to give ID to the clerk (whether they ask or not) to remind them that the card could be stolen.

When you park your car to go into a store or your home, DO NOT leave your personal identification and credit cards behind! Take them with you no matter what. Even a one minute into the Post Office to grab your mail can result in your wallet or purse being stolen. It takes just a couple of seconds to open the car door or break the window and take your things.

Last but not least, if you have children, protect their Social Security numbers as you do your own. Just because they're children doesn't mean their SS numbers can't be used to take out credit!

Hopefully these three ways to prevent identity theft are enough to keep you from becoming a victim. Our lives are complicated enough without having to deal with ruined credit and months of work to clear your name from stolen credit. A few simple precautions could be the ways to prevent identity theft that keep yours safe.

there are other ways to protect yourself online, for more information just click this link - Avoid Identity Theft [http://identity-theft-pro.com/]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Travis_Stone/251657

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understanding conficker computer worm and how to prevent it from happening

Back in 2008 when the Conficker worm first hit, I, like many other IT Professionals was caught unprepared. We all know how to take care of malware and things like malicious coding since we do that on a daily basis, both at home and at work. Having a good anti-virus and malware/spyware programs are essential so it's important that if you don't have an antivirus, that you read up on antivirus reviews and select a program that is right for you. 

However, these security programs should also be complemented by a strong backup plan. The Conficker worm was different in that it seemed to just keep coming. You couldn't really just remove it and that would be the end of it. I often had to use removal tools to get rid of viruses and other worms, but this one was unique. Conficker seemed to change and it ended up looking like a root kit infection even though it actually wasn't. So I will share some of my observations on the Conficker situation and if you take these steps outlined here, you really shouldn't have much trouble in the future should you get a similar worm.

Top-Best Antivirus Software for total online and Offline Computer Security.

Microsoft Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional were the two systems that were most targeted by the conficker worm. This is mainly because these two where the most widely used systems at the time. You see, what you have to understand is that Microsoft systems need to be updated regularly. This is because there are holes in the Operating system that people find and exploit. So Microsoft tries to find these flaws and patch them before they are exploited by a hacker. It's the same situation with your anti-virus, spyware/malware software. Having a program that protects you doesn't do you much good if it is not updated regularly. And don't ever think you don't need an antivirus, that way of thinking could be very dangerous. So check out antivirus reviews and get the best one you can find.

Keeping everything updated is one of the best approaches to avoiding a disaster. I know one big complaint from people is that running the updates is slow and very intrusive, and these complaints are valid. Updates do take time and do slow down computers. This is why a client-server model will use WSUS to update the systems locally instead of having each computer contact the Internet.

Another problem is people sometimes get so used to their computer running slow that they are clueless if they have been infected by the Conficker worm. This is because the major symptom of the Conficker is your computer running slow. So if you're used to your computer running slowly, it is likely you won't notice if you get infected by the Conficker. It's kind of a hit and miss when it comes to protection programs being able to spot the Conficker and remove it because as I said before, it just keeps coming back. But having a strong and updated antivirus will always help! If you need help selecting which antivirus is right for you, read antivirus reviews. While Conficker symptoms include a slow system, it also includes Pen drives failing to open, antivirus programs failing to update, and if you look more closely, you may notice some new files appearing. IT professionals will then start to get complaints that the user can no longer login.

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

So how do we cure this kind of infection? It actually depends on whether you're an ordinary Joe using your computer at home or you are the administrator. Different situations require different solutions and many of these solutions can be found online. The first thing you have to do is to download and run a tool to remove the Conficker. Remember that when you run the Conficker removal tool you'll have to be disconnected from the Internet and any other networks that you might be connected to. The next thing you should do is install all the latest patches from Microsoft. This can be a very difficult task for a business' technician because he/she has the task of keeping the entire system up and running smoothly.

In situations like this it's important to look back at how we reacted and responded to this threat to determine what was done right and what was done wrong. What it comes down to is that most of us don't have a good enough plan in place to first, keep everything up to date and second, to keep everything properly backed up so a disaster could be prevented. We should always be ready to answer any threat because our jobs may depend on it. I can't emphasize enough the importance of keeping Microsoft, anti-virus and antispyware/anti-malware software updated.

In addition, we should backup our data and make system restore points regularly. It's also important to note that you should never overwrite your data with infected data contained in a recent backup. Keep some older backups to prevent this from happening. My fix for this involves temporarily disconnecting from the server, going after the Conficker worm on that one server and then to use the images to restore the system. This might take around 2 hours, including the testing that needs to be done. The software should come from the image or it was installed through MSI and silent install scripts. This will be done by the server itself after it's been cleaned of the worm. Afterwards, check and make sure that all the computers on the network have been properly patched. Run the tool to remove the Conficker worm on each computer just to be safe. Since everything was accomplished by the script, it was a pretty easy process.

Home users might encounter more problems recovering their data if they haven't made enough backups. However, there are many good recovery programs available for free online that can be used to help in this task. The main thing to learn from a Conficker worm attack is that one must always be ready and prepared for the absolute worst case scenario. Being ready means having the best software installed to combat these kinds of worms, including a strong antivirus software. If you have questions or you don't know which antivirus software to use, simply read antivirus reviews to find your answers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rachy_A_Marifosque/1331781

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