internet user guide towards preventing identity theft online

Ways to Prevent Identity Theft
By Max Fischer

In today's high-tech world, where everything from banking to communications to shopping happens electronically, identity theft has become a growing concern. Although everyone is at some degree of risk, there are some simple but important steps you can take to protect yourself and avoid problems in the future.

Read Our Cybersecurity and Cybersafety Guides Here.

What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is a general term that comprises any unauthorized use of your personal information. This can mean theft and use of a credit card, or the unlawful use of your name, address, birth date, social security number, and personal passwords to access your bank account, rent or purchase an apartment or vehicle, or even to get a job.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 161,819 identity theft complaints in 2002 - five times the number reported in 2000. And this number continues to grow. The FTC believes there were roughly 10 million identity theft victims in 2004, with total losses of $54 billion.

Some forms of identity theft directly involve money - namely, a thief who accesses your credit card or bank account - but others affect victims in more subtle ways that are more difficult to detect. For example, an offender might use your name and credit score (or other aspects of your personal history) to obtain a job, rent an apartment, or even secure a mortgage. This kind of identity theft can often go unnoticed for years, and is sometimes only detected after extensive damage has been done to the victim's name or credit rating.

Take Steps to Prevent Identity Theft
Even if you're careful about disclosing credit card numbers and other personal information, your identity can be perpetrated by low-tech tactics, such as:

An employee in a store or restaurant watching over a customer's shoulder as they enter the access code for a debit or credit card
A thief slipping into a neighborhood and stealing a credit card bill, phone bill, bank statement, or other financial documents from mailboxes or garbage cans
A telephone caller posing as a representative from your bank or phone service provider, requesting personal information "to confirm your identity"

Be sure to take the necessary precautions to protect your personal information - especially when it's on paper! Below are some recommended safety measures:

Keep sensitive personal documents, like your birth certificate, passport, Social Security cards, and credit cards, in a home safe or safety deposit box when you aren't using them.

Avoid sharing personal information online. Even innocuous details, like posting your full name and birth date on social networking sites such as Facebook or giving out your home or business telephone number, can be dangerous in the hands of an identity thief.

Avoid giving personal information to anyone who claims to be calling from your phone provider or banking institution - instead, ask if you can take down their number and call them back, after verifying that the call is valid.
Shred or tear up credit card bills and other receipts before putting them in the garbage or recycling bin.
Do not respond directly to emails that ask for personal information. If the sender claims to be your bank or another institution, contact the company directly to ask them about the email first.
Check your credit card and debit card accounts regularly for unusual charges, especially small ones (like a dollar or less) that may be thieves testing the waters.

When traveling, cut up hotel key cards when you check out - these cards may contain financial and personal information that can be accessed after you leave.
Check your credit report on an annual basis. You can obtain a credit report for free once a year from annualcreditreport.com

Consider using an identity theft service to help monitor the use of your information, especially if you have lost your wallet or have been the victim of home theft. The long-term effectiveness of these fee-based programs is yet to be determined, but may give you added- if not bullet-proof- protection.

If You Are a Victim of Identity Theft
Even the most careful consumers can find themselves targeted by cunning perpetrators. If you discover that you have been the victim of identity theft, there are three steps you should take right away:

Immediately inform your bank or credit card company if you have had checks stolen or if you see charges that you didn't make.

Report any theft of money or use of your identity to the police. Even if your local police will not be the ones to investigate the theft, documenting the crime right away will create a "data trail" that can protect you in the long run.

Report the problem to the government agencies responsible for helping victims of identity theft. These agencies can assist you in tracking down the perpetrator and reclaiming your stolen identity. In the U.S., begin by submitting a claim to the Federal Trade using the form on the FTC identity theft website.

Read Our Cybersecurity and Cybersafety Guides Here.

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how to download norton antivirus software program

Norton Antivirus software is a product developed by Symantec Corporation. It can detect and eliminate almost all types of computer viruses. It comes in different packages according to needs of the users. You can get it installed on your computer for different subscription periods. You have to renew its subscription every time when it expires so that your computer will remain safe.

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

Antivirus program works on the Signature-based detection which involves searching for known patterns of data within executable code. If you don't update antivirus software timely, your computer might get infected with new malware for which no signature is yet known. This Antivirus software runs on Microsoft Windows operating system and Mac OS X. You can take Norton Antivirus support to troubleshoot problems with its functioning.

This software can give many advantages if used in proper manner otherwise it can impair a computer's performance. Some users feel trouble in understanding the prompts and decisions that it presents them with. If this is the case with you, an incorrect decision may lead to a security breach and ultimately give fatal results. Norton Antivirus will work well if you use it in the right way. You should take technical support from an expert to make sure that your computer will remain secured from viruses through this software. Norton Antivirus support is available on the Internet as there are many vendors who provide technical support to troubleshoot problems related with its functioning.

A technical expert can provide support for:
• Proper configuration settings of your computer
• Achieving the right balance between false positives and false negatives
• Audit security settings for your computer
• E-mail filtering and message filtering
• Scheduling of regular scan and other safety features
• Increased level of security from hijackers and safeguard of sensitive and personal information
• Full use of all the features of software

Norton Antivirus software can be downloaded from the Internet or you can subscribe its box copy from the market and get it installed on your computer. You can get it as OEM software with your PC. Norton Antivirus support can also be taken for making a choice of security pack according to the requirements of the user. Norton 360 is an 'all in one' security pack with solutions for all types of viruses. This security pack is included with a personal firewall, phishing protection. The Gaming edition can provide finer control over when Norton downloads updates and allows components of the suite to be disabled either manually or automatically when the computer enters full-screen mode.

Herry Willson is a content writer working with SupportMart to scatter his purpose and valuable thoughts for computer users across the country. SupportMart ensures availability of online technical support 24/7, which is just at a click of a mouse and provides all sort of supports for your PC. To know more about anti virus installation or anti virus software call SupportMart at 1 800 793 7521 Or log on to http://www.supportmart.net

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norton antivirus software, protect your digital world with best antivirus online

Antivirus software is an absolute must if you plan to use your computer on the internet. Online viruses, malware, worms, spyware and other emerging threats are on the rise.; do not risk exposing your computer to their damaging effects. Antivirus protection for the life of your computer. Why pay every year? AntiVirusKit (AVK) provides a double layer of protection, bundling two of the best antivirus engines - Kaspersky and BitDefender - under a single, easy-to-use console.

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

Norton antivirus and McAfee VirusScan are most probably two of the best known antivirus vendors around with some fairly good products but there are others out there that do the job just as well if not better. Purchasers of these products tend to look for different things in antivirus software so it usually boils down to taste at the end of the day. Norton Antivirus software is one of the best antivirus software companies out there. The Norton Antivirus 2006 software automatically detects viruses, trojan horses and worms. Norton uses more memory and slows down the system. Nod32 detects trojan which are not detected by norton also.

Norton AntiVirusT provides fast, responsive defense against all types of malicious software including viruses, spyware, worms, and other malicious threats. It protects your system without slowing it down. Norton AntiVirus provides fast, responsive defense against all types of malicious software including viruses, spyware, worms, and other software threats. It protects your system without slowing it down. Norton Antivirus 2009 has a tool called Live Update which will make sure that it is constantly protecting against all known infections.

Norton AntiVirus automatically detects and removes viruses, spyware and other security risks. It delivers extensive security features to protect your PC from viruses and trojan horses. Norton Antivirus stays out of your way while you work or play. It automatically suspends all non critical tasks and alerts when you're enjoying games and movies. Norton Anti-Virus protects your computer thoroughly and is able to detect the viruses before they can affect your computer . This is done by providing you with: 1 ) Email protection 2) Web Protection 3) Live Updates Email Protection. This is the easiest way for a virus to penetrate your computer and usually it is only after the virus has .

Antivirus 2009 has the ability to recreate itself after reboot and its "System scan" messages may continue to pop up on your task manager. It is advised to run a scan with a reliable anti-spyware program to check for the presence of Antivirus 2009 on your computer. Antivirus 2009 may use its system scanner to display false positives which work as an incentive to make unsuspecting users purchase Antivirus 2009's commercial version. Antivirus 2009 is a new rogue anti-spyware program. It is also a clone of Antivirus 2008 - also a rogue, and one that's produced more clones than any other recently.

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Faster and more efficient than other solutions on the market, Panda Antivirus Platinum 7.0 monitors CPU load, preventing overloads that could interfere with other system operations. The new Panda Antivirus Platinum 7.0 engine includes an innovative script blocking system for preventing potentially dangerous e-mail attachments from running and an anti-dialer. Fast scanning the 2009 version is even better, fastest in the industry after the first scan. One the best Antivirus suites on the market closest competitor?

AVG software is among the best antivirus on the market as far as the Dungeon Keeper is concerned. AVG prob comes in around second. AVG7 can also be set to retrieve free updates via the Grisoft website. AVG7 constantly comes at or near the top of many polls and reviews.

Best Antivirus Software 2009

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Roger_Ramey/145652

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online practice to prevent identity theft

Identity theft is becoming an increasingly frequent problem among people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and nationalities, who are living in locations spread across the world. The theft of one's identity is non-discriminating, as clever criminals find new and improved ways of profiting off of another's loss and misfortune.

In the end, a complete invasion of privacy often takes place, where identity thieves are able to drain entire bank accounts, steal credit card numbers, use driver's licenses to commit crimes; and steal important information from computers. To prevent identity theft, it is highly recommended to follow a few simple procedures to boost your protection level against such a widespread crime.

Identity theft criminals use a wide-range of techniques to steal private information for their own personal use and gain. One of the most talked about forms of identity theft is executed across the Internet, as individuals trick others into downloading a wide range of spyware, which is then used to transmit information stored on a computer. This may include the usernames and passwords associated with online banking accounts. With this information, a thief is then able to intercept bank transactions and steal money from unsuspecting victims.

In order to efficiently prevent identity theft, it is important for people to recognize all of the techniques a criminal may use. Some individuals steal postal correspondences and fill out credit cards under another's name. A stolen wallet also serves as the perfect gateway for thieves, as driver's licenses, credit cards, birth certificates, Social Security cards, job identification, and other photo ID are common tools of identity theft. There are even criminals who dig in dumpsters and garbage cans for discarded bank statements, credit card bills, and other identifying pieces of information.
To prevent identity theft, it is highly recommended to follow some of the suggestions listed below:

1. Prevent identity theft by installing an effective anti-spyware program that creates barriers between your personal information kept on your computer and third party intrusions.
2. Changing your passwords is often a good way to prevent identity theft because it is less easy for thieves to lock onto or guess frequent changes. It is also suggested not to use the same passwords. Also, it is not advised to select passwords that can be directly connected to you, such as your last name. Use passwords that contain both upper and lower case letters, as well as 1 or 2 numbers.
3. It is important to quickly remove mail from the mailbox, as criminals are known to forge signatures on credit applications. If you find you have stopped receiving mail, call the post office because someone may have signed a release for the forwarding of your mail to another location.
4. Over the telephone, you never know who is calling you; therefore never give your credit card number, Social Security number, or other personal information to an unsolicited caller.
5. Once you are done with credit card receipts, unused loan applications, and other paperwork containing personal information, tear them up or use a shredder so thieves rummaging through the garbage are unable to retrieve personal details.
6. Make it a habit to review your credit report and check for false accounts and other information. When you spot an error, you should immediately report it to the credit bureau.
7. Do not delay in reporting stolen credit cards.
8. You may prevent identity theft by carefully analyzing your credit card and bank statements to make sure there are no mistakes on your bills.
9. When a relative passes away, it is important to properly shred unused checks and other personal documents because identity thieves also take advantage of the misfortune of the deceased. Entire accounts have been wiped out, loans taken out in their names, and new credit cards issued. 
10. It is important to exercise extreme caution when dealing with PIN numbers, especially those attached to ATM machines. When these numbers fall into the wrong hands, individuals are able to withdraw money without being detected. It is suggested to memorize your PIN number and when you must write it down - never choose your card or leave the reminder in your wallet or purse. And never use your birthdate as your PIN, as that will be the first one that the thief will try.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jon_Arnold/41272

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Computer bug malware, Viruses, Spyware, Worms,affecting Apple Mac operating system OS

Do Mac users need to start running extra security software to protect themselves from malicious software, aka malware?

The good news is that Macs will be unaffected by the Conficker worm you may have read about, which may be infecting Windows computers as you read this. However, Mac users can hardly afford to be complacent.

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What Is Malware?
"Malware" is the general term for viruses, spyware, worms, and other digital nasties which Windows users are perpetually defending themselves against. It is, broadly speaking, software you didn't intend to be placed on your computer. As with human diseases, symptoms may or may not be visible. But malware can steal your personal information, provide a conduit for spam distribution, attack websites in concert with other hijacked computers, or just simply wreak havoc on your computer while distributing itself to others. Do not want.

How does malware get on to your computer? It can arrive transparently, via specially constructed web sites designed to exploit security flaws -- aka bugs -- in browsers. It can be inadvertently agreed to by you when you don't read the fine print before clicking "Agree" when you install software. Most often, it is the result of a rogue email attachment, or a deceptive link to a web site that you click.
This is why it is absolutely necessary for Windows users to run security software products intended to protect their computer from these intruders. These require yearly subscriptions to stay up to date with the latest threats. The problem is that the medicine is sometimes as worse than the disease; most security packages make themselves all too visible, flashing incomprehensible warnings on a regular basis, slowing down your computer while they scan everything in sight, and generally keeping you in a constant state of alarm, which, of course, is intended to get you to resubscribe and upgrade. (And don't even get me started on the fraudulent "security" packages which are themseves malicious software.)

Malware and the Mac
But what does this have to do with the Mac? Well, once upon a time, before Mac OS X, when dogcows roamed the earth, there was in fact malware which targeted Macs, and many users did indeed use anti-virus software (which, it's worth noting, was annoying and intrusive even then). But for most of this decade, Mac users have had the luxury of living in a state of blissful obliviousness to the unpleasantries of malicious software and the crud needed to avoid it. The fact is that in the nine years of Mac OS X's existence there has simply not been any kind of major outbreak which has hurt Mac users. This was one of the #1 reasons to buy a Mac, even if you consider all other things being equal.

Lately, however, there's been a lot of reporting that Macs are vulnerable and will be targeted by rogue software, if they haven't been already. This year, pirated copies of Apple's iWork '09 infected a number of Macs, permitting them to be secretly controlled, under the hood, by unseen others across the internet. (This is an extreme example of getting what you pay for.) It's not a real virus, in that it doesn't spread or exploit a flaw in the system; it would never happen to you if you didn't, ahem, install software you didn't pay for. All the same, it means there are compromised Macs out there. Is it the tip of the iceberg?

Yes, it is, except that the iceberg will be more of a large popsicle. In other words, we really don't see the Mac universe teeming anytime soon with the level of byte disease that the Windowsphere unfortunately does. But that doesn't mean that Mac users can afford to be sanguine about their seemingly secure computers. Maybe Macs will never have the same quantity of evil software, but all it takes is one well-crafted piece of nasty code to cause a lot of users a lot of pain.

We've Changed Our Tune
Why have we changed our tune about this? Well, we believe Macs have remained off the bad guys' radar screen all this time for two reasons. The first is the comparatively tiny market share. If the point of your software is to spread itself, why target 5% when you can target 90%?
But the second reason is that in order to write any kind of software for a Mac, good or bad, you needed to, well, buy a Mac. That's means dropping real money just to be able to write some nasty software for it. You couldn't just download a free copy of the operating system on the internet and install it on your PC...except that that's no longer true. You can, in fact, find modified copies of Mac OS X which will install on ordinary PC's. This means that as Apple's brand visibility and market share grows, it is now much easier for malware creators in corners near and far to target their products.
Quite honestly, we still have a hard time telling Mac users that they absolutely have to have anti-malware software installed. The truth is that right now there is no genuine malware threat to mainstream Mac users. We're still in Eden. You can still open your email without fear. But in our gut, we feel the coming of age of Mac OS X, into the mature operating system that it now is, comes with a loss of innocence. Yes, a Mac user can do without extra security software. But I can't say with confidence that will be true in a year.

We hope we haven't alarmed you -- that isn't our intent (to the contrary, we hate the way the manufacturers of security products stoke the coals of users' technological fears). But we feel we wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't let you know what was out there. We feel sure Mac users will never have anything approaching the depth and variety of malware problems that Windows users have had. But at the same time, it's unlikely that Mac users will be able to live without anti-malware software indefinitely.

Software Solutions
If you have a Mac, and you are thinking that you want to start running security software, there are a few titles to choose from, and we don't endorse any one of them (at least not yet). With that said, Intego VirusBarrier is the leader in the space; it's been around for quite a while, is reasonably well received, and the company is exclusively focused on Macs. Some of the big guns from the PC world -- Norton, McAfee, and Sophos -- have also re-entered the Mac fray after dropping out for a bit. Finally, ClamXav is free, and performs basic scanning with quarantining of apparently infected files, though no actual file repair or virus removal.

A final word of warning to users who run Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion to run PC software on their Macs: you're just as vulnerable as you would be on a real PC, and even your Mac files are vulnerable if you make use of shared folders to access the "Mac side" from within the PC. You should run anti-virus software in your virtual machine. A decent free one is at http://free.avg.com.

Copyright 2009 Ivan Drucker.

Ivan Drucker
Mac Expert
IvanExpert Consulting http://www.ivanexpert.com

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Ways You Didn't Know You Could Get a Virus, Malware, or Your Social Account Hacked

Most tech-savvy folks are familiar with the standard forms of malware: phishing scams, adware, spyware, viruses, worms and the like. However, as technology advances, so do cybercriminals, and they are attempting to fly lower under the radar to get your information. As a result there are newly emerging forms of malware that you may not be aware of.

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

Social Media Scams and Malware

Grayware is a form of malware that doesn’t really do any physical damage to your data as other malware can, and it presents itself in a more annoying matter, such as adware and spyware. It has a high prevalence in social media, usually in the form of “click bait”, where an enticing article will lead you to a website that asks that you fill out a quick survey before accessing the media. That information is then collected and sold to other cybercriminals and can be used in attempts to hack into your personal accounts. If you want to learn more about how to protect yourself against these kinds of scams, you can check out an article I previously wrote about Social Scams, when the fake Robin Williams “Goodbye” Video SCAM went viral.

In addition to grayware running rampant on these platforms, there are also high risks of encountering dangerous malware across social networks. When the television show, “Breaking Bad”, was in its heyday, there was a popular Twitter scam making the rounds. Links were posted luring users to download a leaked copy of the next unaired episode. Following the link led the user to a page where a file is downloaded. The page directed users to another link to install a program that would allow them to play the video. The link sent users to an affiliate program, which was how the spammers made money. Granted, this scam seemed fairly harmless to the user’s computer, however, there are other instances where what is downloaded can be a dangerous malware program. Always use caution when clicking on unknown links and attempting to download unknown files.

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

 
Exploit Kits

Exploit kits are generally what they sound like - a malicious toolkit that searches your computer for software that has not been updated. These kits look for security holes in software with the goal of implanting malware on the user’s machines. This can happen by visiting websites that have malvertising on them. Malvertising can be found on any website, trusted or unknown, and it uses online advertising by embedding malicious code in legitimate advertisements. Recently, Yahoo was a target (link is external) of this by hosting malicious ads that redirected users to websites hosting these kits.  Exploit kits are not always found in malvertising, however. The popular men’s website Askmen.com was recently compromised to redirect users to a site hosting an exploit kit. This is why it is very important to make sure all of your software is up to date.

Mobile Ransomware
Ransomware on computers isn’t a new threat, but recently it has started to migrate to popular mobile platforms. Ransomware is a program that will target important files such as photos and documents and encrypts them, blocking the user from accessing them. The user is then sent a message demanding payment to unlock the files. Earlier this year, the first versions of mobile ransomware were spotted in the wild. The ransomware is contracted by visiting an infected site and then is automatically downloaded to the phone, or by downloading a malicious app. If your device becomes infected, do not pay the fee! Instead, make sure you get in the habit of regular backups and restore your phone from the most recent backup. You can learn how to spot fake mobile apps by checking out “How to Spot a Fake Android App.”

Online Gaming Malware Attacks
There have been a few instances of gaming malware in the media lately. One that may not cost you money, but it can cost you the many hours you’ve spent building up your characters. Twitch.tv, a website used to stream live gameplay was recently infiltrated by a bot in their chat rooms that lured users using raffles. Upon clicking the link to enter the raffle, a Java form displays a phony raffle form. After filling out the form, the malware installs itself on the user’s computer, targets the user’s Steam account and then wipes out the entire Steam wallet and inventory. In turn, the cybercriminals will sell the user’s items on the Steam community for money. Similarly, there was an issue with a malicious trojan (link is external) in the popular World of Warcraft game, masquerading as a legitimate game add-on. Once installed, the trojan completely takes over the user’s account. It is highly recommended that users not disable their antivirus programs when playing online games.

Browser Extension Adware and Malware
Browser extensions are a very popular add-on used for a multitude of tasks while surfing the Internet. But I bet you’re not aware that some of them can be stealing your information! Some malicious extensions will either track every site you visit or inject adware into those sites. While this is not a huge concern as far as what this will do to the data on your computer, it is a pretty large privacy concern. Attackers can use these extensions to perform click fraud by adding rogue ads to websites and redirecting you to those sites. Although this is lower on the threat level, this newer form of malware is evolving into something much more invasive.  As a matter of fact, the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) has warned (link is external)that there has been an increase in malicious browser extensions that are aimed at taking over social network accounts. So while at the moment, they’re not at the top of the threat list, they’re definitely something to keep an eye on.

Internet threats can appear in all shapes and sizes, many of which you may not be aware of. Luckily, the new Norton is. We have your back so you don’t have to worry about every little thing you may come across, and you can go about your business and leave the complicated stuff to us.

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

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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.

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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).

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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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