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Monday, 2 January 2012

computer security help, Useful information security tips to protect your PC

I have spent weeks to build this Computer security help and tutorial page and its sub pages. Computer security is a very important subject. It is also a part of general computer maintenance. Please read these pages carefully. I cannot express more how important these information are.


I will show you how to implement a good home computer security system in this Computer security help and tutorial. You will get a blueprint of a solid home computer security system at the end. If you want to go one step further then get a CISSP Certification to better understands computer security


Do you know you are exposed to the whole world as soon as you connect to the Internet? Then your PC become a paradise for hackers, people who spread Spyware and viruses, waiting for an opportunity.


Most people misunderstand that computer security is only about viruses, spyware or intrusion detection. But there are many other things falls under the computer security umbrella.


With my experience, the most common mistake most of the PC users are doing is installing lot of free utilities. If you are one of those, see how many of them are useful and you are actively using? Do you know most of the Spyware have been spreading through these free utilities? It does not mean that all of them are spyware. But try to avoid using them.


First step of computer security ? configure Windows to update automatically.


Microsoft updates all MS operating systems regularly to fix bugs as well as to apply security patches. You can configure Windows to download them automatically when you are online.


To do this, click START and move your mouse pointer to the top of the START MENU and click on WINDOWS UPDATE.


Lets see what are the major home computer security threats for today?s PC users and what can we do about that.


This is the number one threat in the modern world. Any home computer security system should first address this. There are a lot to talk about viruses and how to protect your PC from possible attacks.


If you want to read a very comprehensive guide on how to prevent from Computer viruses then visit Antivirus Help page.


Otherwise visit Computer Virus Protection Software page to read a short antivirus guide and take action. Then come back and continue reading this computer security help guide.


Computer Hackers are PC users who access other computers and take information such as credit card numbers, bank details etc. Not only that, they may crash your hard disk and destroy all your data. The worse thing is that you will never know whether somebody is hacking your computer unless you use good computer security software.


Is it secure to use my Credit card on the Internet?


We are in the 21st century and the Internet has become a part of everybody's life. Sooner or later we will have to uses our Credit or Debit cards for Internet transactions. Main credit card companies and Banks are working on more secured methods to use transactions over the Internet. You cannot avoid using Internet for financial transactions. The solution is to follow a good home computer security strategy.


So what is the solution for hackers?


The solution is to use a personal firewall. I have more information on firewalls in a separate page. Please visit Computer Firewall page, read and take action. Then come back and continue reading this computer security help and tutorial.


Spyware and Adware, also called "Malware", are files made by publishers that allow them to spy on you. I have built a separate page, which has everything you should know about Spyware. Please visit Fix Spyware page, read and take action. Then come back and continue reading this computer security help guide.


If you have a small network at home or a small to medium network at your office or business then you must know how to protect the network from security attacks. One method is to setup a virtual private network and use a VPN service from AT&T or another internet provider to ensure that no one outside of your network can access your system. Visit Computer network security software page for useful information.


This is an area that has less attention. But the results can be disastrous. How to secure your privacy while online or offline? I have built a separate page for this. Visit Internet privacy protection page to learn more.


This depends on each user. Visit Computer Security Products page to find the best solution for you.


Do not depend only on your security software. Use common sense.


Do not download ANYTHING from untrustworthy web sites.


Do not open unknown emails and attachments.


Do not install free computer utilities unless experienced people recommend them.


Avoid sharing your hard drive or folders. To check whether you are sharing, go to Windows Explorer > write-click the drive or the folder and click "sharing".


Take regular backups of important files and emails to an external media such as a USB stick.


Be careful when using CDs, diskettes and other external media. Use your virus scanner to scan them before using.

Computer security products and free antivirus software review

There are many computer security products available in the market. But how do you know which products are good and suitable to your circumstances? Welcome to the free antivirus software review


With my 12 years experience in IT, I have personally supported many PCs with different computer security products installed. Different products have different advantages and disadvantages.


The most important factor is that how up-to-date they are with the latest threats and how quickly a solution can be provided. Reputed suppliers have their own large research teams working 24/7 to identify and develop solutions for latest threats.


Check for the following


Features ? The software should have enough features to provide adequate security


Market reputation ? There is nothing like testimonials from actual customers who are using the product. Discussion forums, product reviews, blogs and are few places to find out user experience. Don?t worry I have already done this for you.


User friendliness.


Technical support


Price - It should not be overpriced.


PC resource usage ? Security software should not use lot of computer resources such as Memory, CPU and Hard disk space.


I would like to recommend below products considering all those factors and my personal experience.


Please note that these links will take you directly to the manufacturer?s web site. No resellers or intermediate parties involved.


Because everyone cannot afford to buy high end products, I have divided products into three sections including FREE computer security products. So do not worry if you have a tight budget.


These are the major products that I recommend. They may be a bit expensive, but the reliability is very high.


Norton Products


Norton is the leader in the market. I highly recommend their antivirus software products. One of the below two are more than enough to protect your Computer


Norton All-in-one


Norton Internet Security (If you cannot afford to by the all in one package)


Trend Micro

Trend Micro is one of the oldest antivirus products in the world. Previously they called PCcillin. Check the features of Trend Micro Internet Security software. The price is also reasonable.

Zone Alarm is a very high quality Antispyware product from Zone Labs Inc. Click the banner to learn more about this product.


If your budget is bit tight and cannot spend much then below products are for you.


Panda Internet security software.


Panda has gained a considerably large market share and is reputed for the best priced security products. There Internet security package includes Antivirus, personal firewall and AntiSpyware. Click the banner to find more information about this fast growing product


The other low-end antivirus software we recommend is ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite


There are free low end computer security products if you cannot spend money at all. Visit free computer security software and free antivirus software review page for more details.

Basic Computer Software Terminology - Commonly used Computer Software Terms

Knowing Computer software terminology is important to learn more about Computers. Not only that, it will also help you to explain things better when working With PC Technicians.

Getting help with your computer software can be easier when you know the correct software terms to use. One of the biggest problems that new computer users have with technical support is not knowing how to correctly describe the problem that they're having. And it isn't fair to expect a tech support person to automatically know what a "thing-a-ma-jingy," or "whatcha-ma-call-it" is.


The following describes the correct names for common components of software so that when you experience a problem, you can effectively describe an issue that you're having and a technician can readily resolve it. Also you can check a solution online by typing correct words in search engines.


Button - buttons perform a command after a user clicks them with a mouse. Problems occur when the text of a button is grayed out or if it doesn't appear to sink into the screen when clicked.


Check box and radio button - a check box is a small box that allows a user to indicate several choices among many. When clicked, a small "x" displays inside a box. Similar to the check box, a radio button allows a user to indicate a single choice among many. Problems with radio buttons and check boxes occur when a user makes one choice, but the interface reacts as if the user made many choices (or none at all). When describing a problem to a technician, be sure to indicate whether the problem occurs with a check box or a radio box. Computer novices mistakenly interchange the names of both of these controls.


Context menu - like the menu bar, a context menu displays when a user right-clicks on something. It displays commands just like what you see on a File menu or a Help menu.


Desktop – This is a computer Software terminology used for the main display screen of your Computer. You can see icons, START button and wallpaper (background) in the desktop.


Dialog box (message box) – This is a small window (box), which is asking you a question or instructing you to take an action. Message box usually has buttons for the user to click. The most famous type of a dialog box is “Do you want to continue” with “Yes and No” buttons.


Input box - input boxes are usually small rectangles that allow you to type data into a simple interfaces like a webpage or browser window. If you find that you can't type information into one of these, you can effectively resolve the issue with a technician by calling it an input box, rather than a "white rectangle," or "place to put in text."


Menu bar - this part of a program displays menu items and menu options. Some of the most common parts of a menu bar grants access to File commands, Open commands, Save commands, and Print commands. An example of an error in this part of an interface would be if an option was missing or grayed out (lighter in color).


Minimize, Restore, and Exit buttons - these three buttons are usually located on the right-most upper part of a program's interface and each allow you to minimize a program's screen, restore it to its original size, or shut down the program completely.


Scroll bar - this convenient tool allows users to move data up and down the computer screen.


Status bar - this part of a program is located at the bottom-most part of its interface, and it usually displays small messages that indicate the progress of a command or task. If programmed incorrectly, an application might display the wrong information in this area.


Title bar - this is the top-most part of a program that displays its own name or it may describe the contents displayed in another part of the interface. If a program is incorrectly coded, you may see a wrong description in this part of its interface.


Tool bar - this part of a program displays small icons across the top which represent tools. Clicking an icon will open a tool or process a command that might also exist on a program's menu bar. Problems in this part of an interface are uncommon, however if you find yourself repeatedly clicking an icon with no results, you can correctly describe the problem by referring to the toolbar.


User interface - this is the visual design of a program. It may contain squares, boxes, words, icons, and buttons. If you're experiencing insufficient memory for example, you might see black rectangles across the user interface of your software programs.


The above are not the only Computer software terminology in use. There are hundreds of other software terms. But the above will help you to explain most of your common Computer tasks and problems.

Top 5 Free PC Maintenance Tools

We all love free stuff. However, in the Computer world you must be very careful of free stuff.

Why?


Because spyware and viruses are distributed as free Computer maintenance tools. You must be very careful of when you are downloading free software and utilities.


Having said that below are our top 5 free PC tools.


1. Spybot Search & Destroy


This is the best free anti spyware tool available today. This may be not as good as paid product. However, it can do the job for an average Computer user.


Visit http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html to download Spybot Search & Destroy.


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2. Easy Cleaner – the best free registry cleaner


Easy cleaner is an average registry cleaner that can repair damaged Windows registry entries. This tool also has the registry backup facility. This is an on-demand tool, which means you need to run it manually (cannot automate). Visit http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm to download Easy Cleaner.


3. Eraser – The best free tool to delete files permanently.


Your first thought may be that when you 'delete' the file, the data is gone. Not quite, when you delete a file, the operating system does not really remove the file from the disk; it only removes the reference of the file from the file system table. The file remains on the disk until another file is created over it.


This is a risk for sensitive information that you have deleted from your PC. Eraser can permanently delete the files from your Computer. Visit http://eraser.heidi.ie/ to download this free PC maintenance tool.


4. AVG – the best free antivirus program


AVG has been known as the best free antivirus for many years. However, this is not as good as premium products such as Norton. If you are using the Internet heavily then this is not for you.


Visit http://free.avg.com/au-en/get-basic-protection to download the AVG free edition.


5. CCleaner – the best hard disk cleaner.


CCleaner can clean your hard drive by deleting temporary Internet files, deleted files, deleted registry keys and many more. This free PC tool is much more powerful than Windows clean-up utilities.


Visit http://www.piriform.com/ to download CCleaner for free.



Top 5 Free Computer Maintenance Tools

We all love free stuff. However, in the Computer world you must be very careful of free Computer maintenance tools.

Why?

Because spyware and viruses are distributed as free Computer maintenance tools. You must be very careful of when you are downloading free software and utilities.

Having said that below are our top 5 free PC repair tools.

This is the best free anti spyware tool available today. This may be not as good as paid product. However, it can do the job for an average Computer user.

Visit http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html to download Spybot Search & Destroy.

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Easy cleaner is an average registry cleaner that can repair damaged Windows registry entries. This tool also has the registry backup facility. This is an on-demand tool, which means you need to run it manually (cannot automate)

Visit http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm to download Easy Cleaner.

Your first thought may be that when you 'delete' the file, the data is gone. Not quite, when you delete a file, the operating system does not really remove the file from the disk; it only removes the reference of the file from the file system table. The file remains on the disk until another file is created over it.

This is a risk for sensitive information that you have deleted from your PC. Eraser can permanently delete the files from your Computer.

Visit http://eraser.heidi.ie/ to download Eraser.

AVG has been known as the best free antivirus for many years. However, this is not as good as premium products such as Norton. If you are using the Internet heavily then this is not for you.

Visit http://free.avg.com/au-en/get-basic-protection to download the AVG free edition.

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CCleaner can clean your hard drive by deleting temporary Internet files, deleted files, deleted registry keys and many more. This free PC tool is much more powerful than Windows clean-up utilities.

Visit http://www.piriform.com/ to download CCleaner for free. Back to Computer Maintenance Newsletter main page

Back to Computer repair Home Page


View the original article here

Useful links of computer maintenance and repair

I have listed below some web sites which have useful information on Computer maintenance. They provide information on different categories such as computer maintenance and support, computer trouble shooting, data recovery etc. I will keep on adding links as and when I discover good web sites.


Free Laptop Scam Guide to free Laptop scams and how to find genuine free Laptop offers.


Refurbished HP Laser Printers Affordable HP Laserjets, Printers, Supplies, Parts and Accessories. Brought back to good as new and worked on by our HP factory trained and authorized technicians.


Lot of details about computer parts and building PCs


Useful information and tips from Computer Help Squad

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http://www.desktop-computer-hardware-guide.com - Learn to choose the best computer parts for your system. Never buy the wrong hardware again.


3D Screensavers, Animated Wallpaper and Software Tutorials


Download a selection of handpicked software from www.best-of-computing.com and also claim your free 3D screensaver when subscribing to our "New Tutorial Notification List".


Useful web site on gaming computers, gaming laptops and building a computer


PC Repair, Diagnostics and Spyware Removal Directory


www.fullservice-broadband-provider.com - Residential and Business Broadband Services


Unbiased, informative information on broadband technology. Residential, business, VoIP and more. Free quotes available for all services!


Computing Source - Source for computer, gadget and gaming information & reviews.

Emergency Data Recovery Services
Leader in data recovery services for all operating systems, hard drive data recovery, raid data recovery, and storage media.


Spam Blocker Software Solutions
Anti Spam Exchange Servers, spam software filters, spam blocker software application reviews, and solutions proven effective at fighting spam.


Data Recovery
Data recovery articles, links and advice.


Cheap Laptop Guide - Cheap Laptop Guide to finding or buying cheap portable PC's.

Understand Technology
Information about the latest technology and how it is relevant to you. How you can apply technology in your daily life. Includes buying guides and advice on technology.


Parker Computer Guy your source for computer repair and services, computer tips and more.


www.thetechzone.com - Your online computer store.


http://www.vitaldata.ca Vital Data Recovery. Computer data recovery service from hard drives, CD/DVD, flash and digital memory recovery, Laptop data recovery Montreal, Quebec, Calgary,Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax.



Ink Refill - Study confirms HP inkjet cartridges outperform ink cartridge refills.


Wordpress Hosting
Host your Wordpress blog with Rochen Hosting, the leader in reliable hosting and customer service.


Drupal Support
Acquia is the number one provider of support for Drupal.


Austin Print Advertising
Glide Design, established in 2002, is based out of the beautiful hill country of Austin, Texas. Originally created with a strong core culture of hard work and integrity we have and continue to strive for excellence in our field.


Animation Studio
Create experiences with the Moujaes animation studio.


Windows Registry Cleaner
In need of a windows registry cleaner that actually works and speeds up your computer? Go to YourRegistryCleaner.com for a free trial!


SEO Company
Volacci is a SEO company that provides a wide range of marketing services to your website ranging from Search Engine Optimization, PPC Management, and SEO consultation.


NEC UX5000 Austin
For information on NEC UX5000 phone systems in Austin, Texas, contact Telco Data.


Cisco Flash Memory
Looking for the best prices on cisco flash memory? Visit ComputerPartsNow.com .


SEO Affiliate Program
Make some extra cash by joining Volacci's seo affiliate program and earn commission!


Cisco switches
For low prices on top quality cisco switches, count on the IT experts at Network Systems Resale.


Spyware Cyberlog X
Have spyware cyberlog x? Come download at spyware-blockers.com!


                              


 

Sunday, 1 January 2012

Why use antivirus software

Why use antivirus software? The answer is really simple. To protect your own computer, and to prevent your computer from being used to pass on infections to other machines without your knowledge.

Let’s look at the costs for a moment:


Computer $600-$2,000Monitor $150-$1000Software $500-$5000 (office package, games, multimedia etc.)Internet Connection $25+/monthPersonal Data Priceless


Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m guessing that you wouldn’t use a car that had all the locks removed and didn’t need a key to start it. You may as well paint “STEAL ME” on it too.


Having a computer that does not have up-to-date antivirus protection is absolutely the same. You are simply asking for trouble, and it WILL find you…because that is what viruses etc. are made to do, find unprotected computers and attack them.


The top antivirus software programs cost as little as 2 months internet connection. They all include constant and unlimited automatic updates that keep your system safe and clean.


If you can afford $750 + on a computer, $300+/year on internet connections, you can definitely afford another $50 once to make it safe (and prevent it from being used to spread viruses, hackers and spyware.


Some people have started to make claims that people not using antivirus software should be held legally responsible should their machine be used as part of an attack (even if they did not know about it).


There are so many free antivirus software that you can download from the Internet. But can you depend on them? My answer is no.


Here is the reason.


There are new viruses coming out every day. The antivirus software developers have to maintain highly experienced staff to work on their labs and develop solutions to detect and protect from these new viruses. This is a very high cost project. My common sense tells me that free antivirus software developers cannot cope up with the cost to maintain their free tools up to date.


We recommend following antivirus products.


Norton All-in-one


Norton Internet Security (If you cannot afford to by the all in one package)


Trend Micro Internet Security


Download ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite


If you install antivirus software by yourself then try to use default settings. You always can change the settings later. The following settings are a must. Configure your anti-virus software to boot automatically on start-up.Antivirus software must run in the background at all times.Configure to update the antivirus database automatically whenever you are online.Enable spyware protection.Enable firewall.