Ebusiness Security
Security is as much a social issue as a practical or technical one. Some security problems are a direct result of business hostilities. Information that is valuable to a business may also be valuable to competitors or disgruntled employees. The removal or sabotage of that information may also be valuable to a competitor. Other problems are caused by the electronic equivalent of joyriding, a random sort of malice, which is nonetheless annoying and perhaps fatal for a business.
More serious security issues include spam and other kinds of unsolicited mail. While only an annoyance to individuals, spam can become a serious drain on resources once it starts infiltrating a business. The unwanted mail has to be forwarded along the company network, where it can take up disk space and use computer power that could be put to more constructive uses.
Another concern is the use of company resources for illegal activities. Chief among these is reading or distributing Internet porn and advertising pyramid schemes. Companies with permanent Internet connections are particularly vulnerable to these kinds of activities. Without adequate security, computer-literate users may find it easy to create non-existent user accounts, which can be used to abet illegal activities with relative impunity.
Then there is threat of hacking attacks from outside. Hackers may decide to joyride into a commercial system just to prove they can. Less often, they will target a company or organization if the organization has annoyed them in the some way. In either case, solid security is essential. More worrying, hackers can use a company’s computers as a warehouse for illegal information and make it look as if the company, not the hacker, is responsible for the appearance of the information. Computer-savvy employees may sometimes be able to intercept private email and disgruntled ex-employees may hold a company hostage, threatening to destroy all their records if their demands are not met.
Phone, Internet, TV, Wireless…Comparing Bundled Services
This article will allow consumers to educate themselves on the best deals possible for bundled services. In the ever changing and ultra competitive world of telecom many consumers can be confused with the many different bundled plans and services most phone companies now offer. With the implementation of bundled services consumers can now have most all telecom products (phone, tv, internet, wireless) and services provided by the same company at a lower rate than having multiple service providers. This article will categorically break down plans provided by most major telecom service providers available in th US. Each provider will be rated based on blanket availability, services offered, and cost effectiveness. These are comprehensive reviews based on research and not personal experience. Phone Companies Beware this article is designed to educate consumers and provide the best possible options for telecom services.
First up AT&T The monopolizing entity of the Big 3 phone companies few can compete with the blanket availability of AT&T’s products and services worldwide. Being one of only three telecom companies that also offer wireless phone service as a part of its residential bundle which also includes its unlimited calling plan phone service, satellite TV Through Dish Network and of course the world famous ATT Yahoo DSL. Few companies can compete, but there are cheaper bundled service plans out there especially for the consumer that is not interested in cellular phone service. Here is an example of the services offered and billing for the AT&T Residential bundled services plan.
Phone Service- Order AT&T All Distance Online Select(SM) online and get unlimited local and domestic direct-dialed long distance plus great calling features.
TV Service- AT&T | DISH Network entertainment package with over 60 of America’s favorite channels. Includes local channels Plus Free DVR.
High Speed Internet- Yahoo DSL ATT,Plus, order Express online and receive 1 month FREE! (New residential DSL customers only. Bill credit applied after three months paid service. See offer details.)
Wireless Cell Phone- Cingular Nation 450 anytime minutes Cingular Wireless® plan with Rollover® Minutes, unlimited Mobile to Mobile minutes, and more. Plus get a $5/mo. discount
with qualifying AT&T services.
Bundled Plan Total Cost $130.94/mo or less!
Well Old Ma Bell Does Have A Cost Effective Money Saving Bundle With The Most Availability!
4.5/5 Stars
Next we have Qwest Communications One of the Big 3 Telecom service providers its coverage area is limited to the Western half of the states mainly the Pacific Northwest but as far as price and overall services this company by far has the best bundled package including wireless cell phone service on the market. One Negative though No free DVR here but more channels with Direct TV as opposed to ATT Dish Network, Here are the details.
Phone Service- Digital Voice: Unlimited local and long-distance calls from your home phone to anywhere in the U.S. and now Canada, anytime. PLUS, choose up to three of your favorite calling features.
TV Service- The DIRECTV® package offers 185+ channels in 100% digital quality.
High Speed Internet- Qwest Choice DSL Deluxe with MSN. Unlimited Internet access that’s up to 25 times faster than 56Kbps dial-up.
Wireless Cell Phone- 500-minute plan, free UT Starcom 7025 phone (after $10 credit on 2nd or 3rd bill, with a two-year agreement), free headset and charger, free shipping, free activation and free Unlimited Nights and Weekends Starting at 9 p.m. WHOO HOOO a FREE PHONE!
Bundled Plan Total Cost 125.96/mo
Unbeatable 5/5 stars if its available in your are choose Qwest!
Well here it is last of the Big 3 Phone companies Verizon. I’m wondering which of these companies will be around for the next 20 years with AT&T having a strangle hold on our national market. Verizon Phone company does provide some pretty stiff competition for Old Ma Bell though, Here are the details.
Phone- Verizon’s Freedom Essentials provides unlimited calls to the US and Canada as well as the main basic calling features with voicemail being FREE 1 up on AT&T.
TV Service- Same Plan as Qwest with Direct TV more channels for the money as opposed to AT&T.
High Speed Internet- DSL the cable companies sure have 1 up on DSL consumers with faster speed available but in a bundle Verizon has a pretty good plan, Connection speeds up to 3.0 Mbps, More than 80 times faster than dial-up, Three installation steps
here is the one negative with their DSL service in the bundle One-year commitment required.
Wireless- Well We’ve all heard of the network on TV and the such and Verizon Phone Company does offer wireless services as part of its bundle with 450 anytime minutes and a standard wireless plan.
Bundled Plan Total Cost 134.99-144.99/mo depending on your area.
I would have to rate them #2 amongst the Big 3 as far as services and pricing but they do have the edge on Qwest based up blanket availability.
4.5/5.0 stars
Now we go on to the cable companies that have also submitted their bids for your telephone service as well first up we have Comcast Cable Company. Well if you are truly dedicated to cable TV and internet if available in your area Comcast Cable Company is the way to go all necessary equipment is Free after mail in rebates and services are exceptional based on consumer reviews online. Here are the details.
Phone- Unlimited local and long distance in the US (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) and Canada from one provider. One bill for local and long distance. Keep your current phone number (subject to some restrictions).
TV Service- Over a hundred channels, plus local channels. Digital quality picture and sound. Parental Controls and an Interactive Program Guide Movies and shows you can start on your schedule with Comcast OnDemand – many included at no cost.
High Speed Internet- Comcast Highspeed Cable Internet, Speeds up to 3Mbps and a reliable connection. Anti-virus and firewall software, spam filtering and parental controls included. Always connected, no dial-up required. Up to 10 email boxes and extra storage FREE MODEM NO LEASING FEE AFTER REBATE!
With no wireless service available as part of the bundle I still have to give the Cable edge to Comcast with So many cash back offers on signup!
Bundled Plan Total Cost 99.00/mo
Next Up Charter Communications, the reviews are in some good some bad and well some just plain indifferent. Charter Communication Cable…Cable TV’s answer to the Big 3 phone companies (AT&T, Qwest, Verizon) and satellite tv’s quest to crush cable have assembled their own bundled telecom services package as well. Though wireless cell phone services are not offered as part of the Charter Bundle. Charter does have a few advantages that may just sway a chunk of loyal wireless consumers back to the wired world. Here are the details.
Phone- Unlimited local and long distance in the US (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) and Canada from one provider. One bill for local and long distance. Keep your current phone number (subject to some restrictions).
TV Service- Over a hundred channels, plus local channels. Digital quality picture and sound. Parental Controls and an Interactive Program Guide Movies and shows you can start on your schedule with Charter OnDemand – many included at no cost.
High Speed Internet- Charter Highspeed Cable Internet, Speeds up to 3Mbps and a reliable connection. Anti-virus and firewall software, spam filtering and parental controls included. Always connected, no dial-up required. Up to 10 email boxes and extra storage
Wireless Cell Phone- NA
Bundled Plan Total Cost 99.97/mo
On Demand is Pretty Nice and no matter what DSL users say cable is faster than DSL but with no wireless service it means I still have to look at another bill month to month. Limited availability Though. 4.0/5 stars
Last but not least Time Warner Cable Company Well While Competing in huge markets such as New York, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio Time Warner has a bundled services package that seems to be the best for the loyal cable consumer. Still no wireless phone service but with high speed cable internet service through Road Runner and On Demand programming as well as a free DVR included in its digital Cable package it seems to be the service to outlast Charter and Comcast in the Cable Providers rank and file in our new telecom bundled services world.
Phone- It’s time for a better residential telephone service. It’s time for unlimited calling to anywhere in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, plus popular calling features for one low “monthly” price.
TV Service- Time Warner Cable Over 250 Channels
With features like Digital Video Recorder (DVR), you can now record anything you like and watch it later, with all the control of a VCR or a DVD. You can even pause live TV. Plus On Demand
High Speed Internet- high speed cable via Road Runner. Hey Its Cable internet always on and faster than DSL.
Wireless Cell Phone- NA
Bundled Plan Total Cost 99.97/mo
Hey I had AT&T but DSL was too unreliable I now have Charter but wish I could have Time Warner
4.0/5 stars
In closing with the market as competitive as it has become for your telecom dollars finding the best bundled services package for your home or business is just a matter of educating yourself.
The Best Anti-Virus Software 2011: A Review
Every year different products are launched and a race is run among them to hold the number 1 crown. Well, this time we are talking about the best anti-virus software products of the year 2011. Who is going to take the lead? Read on to know more. Antivirus vendors usually have to face tough competition in their commercial full security suites. Their free antivirus versions have comparatively been less competitive due to the unavailability of full antivirus features that give high-value protection; unavailability of lab test results; and lack of customers’ awareness and acceptance towards them.
However, this competition for sometimes has seemed to be mounting up not because the companies have started giving full security features in their free antivirus products but for the reason that these have been improved a lot on security aspects. Free antivirus versions usually have an option to buy or upgrade to the full security suite by paying the price. These are generally developed for personal/home users who are unwilling to pay or can’t afford to pay high prices. Free versions always are light on security resources due to the inclusion of fewer features compared to the full security suites. Therefore, users only have access to the essentials but not the additional features as they have lesser amount of data to be protected than the businesses.
We all very well know that antivirus software is a must-have (at least in the high-technology time we are living in) to keep our PCs clean and protected from all the malicious viruses, Trojans, spyware, adware, or worms etc. whatever you may choose to call them.
Getting back to the race of best antivirus software 2011, we have a list of free antivirus software products that have gained top rankings in almost all the websites’ surveys. An interesting thing to tell you is that almost every antivirus vendor has begun to add ’2011′ in the names of their products since the early 2010. See some of the examples; AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011, Norton AntiVirus 2011, McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2011, Panda Antivirus Pro 2011, and BitDefender Antivirus Pro 2011 among others.
This indicates towards a fact that antivirus vendors had their products focused on the year 2011. Since the year has finally made its entry, we have to review what the antivirus vendors have in store for us. They have actually come up with latest additional features that enhance security by running 2 different antivirus engines. A good antivirus is supposed to protect a PC from all the malicious threats including viruses, scareware, Trojans, rootkits, and keyloggers etc. There have been a number of technology trends in free antivirus versions that stand them apart from each other in more or less the same way. See what they include:
Mini Suite Instead of Standalone Product
The year 2011 stands witness to a new trend that many of the products launched this year almost reduced the difference between a full security suite and standalone antivirus product. Look at some of the features that do so:
Firewall- Initially, the full security suites used to include a fully-functional personal firewall as one of its many defining elements. However, with the onset of the year 2011, several free AV versions such as eScan Anti-Virus 11, Panda Antivirus Pro 2011, and McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2011 among others embed a fully-functional personal firewall.
Norton AntiVirus 2011, however, does not integrate a fully-functional personal firewall. However, owing to its effective intrusion prevention feature, it provides effective protection against threats than most of the full security suites.
Spam Filtering- It is one among the common elements found in an antivirus software or security suite. BullGuard Antivirus 10 has inbuilt spam filter that accurately and effectively filters spams. eScan Anti-Virus 11 also features an inbuilt spam filter feature, however it is not effective compared to BullGuard Antivirus 10′s spam filter.
StopSign Internet Security 1.0 also has a spam filter integrated into an optional firewall. The independent test results are not available as none of the labs have tested it so far.
Installation Problem Acknowledgment- BitDefender Antivirus Pro 2011 has full remote management among other installation features to offer. McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2011 offers effective remote monitoring of installations and pushes back fixes to resolve the problems. Norton AntiVirus 2011 and Panda Antivirus Pro 2011, compared to BitDefender Antivirus Pro 2011 and McAfee, only provide basic information if installation has some problem and do not fix the problems automatically.
Phishing Protection- G Data AntiVirus 2011 and BitDefender Antivirus Pro 2011 embed a highly effective phishing protection tool. AVG antivirus Free Edition 2011 integrates LinkScanner that scans and marks all links posted on your Social Networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace etc. Similar to AVG antivirus Free Edition 2011, McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2011 has SiteAdvisor that does the same. Next in the line is Norton AntiVirus 2011 that also scans the links posted on your Social Networking sites.
Data Blocking- Only BitDefender Antivirus Pro 2011 and Outpost Antivirus Pro 7.0 block a user’s private data from being transmitted to any attacker/hacker. Such type of feature is only found in full security suites. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2011, Ad-Aware Pro Internet Security 9.0, AVG antivirus Free Edition 2011, and McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2011 tune-up a PC and remove all the data traces attached to computer or internet use.
Fine-tuning PC- Almost all the free antivirus software optimize your PC for enhanced security and performance.
Dual-Engine Protection
Antivirus vendors have started to come up with more enhanced security technologies in their free antivirus products. One of them is dual-engine protection that utilizes 2 antivirus engines for enhanced detection results. Double Anti-Spy Professional v2 runs 2 scans one by one and also needs 2 separate updates. Though, it runs very slow but is effective enough to be waiting for. G Data AntiVirus 2011 runs fast dual scans with its 2 antivirus engines and provides outstanding phishing protection. Next in the line is TrustPort Antivirus 2011 that features 2 AV engines for double-layer protection. However, it runs little slower than G Data AntiVirus 2011.
Customized Interfaces
Most of the AV vendors have redesigned and improved the interface of their free AV products just to make them more user-friendly and uncluttered. Some of them include Webroot AntiVirus with Spy Sweeper 2011, McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2011, Norton AntiVirus 2011, Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus + 2011, and AVG antivirus Free Edition 2011 among others. Now there are several users who are always interested in knowing about every tiny-winy event or trend in security products. However, some of them may be more interested in having an AV that just works excellently without any flaws.
Ad-Aware Pro 2011 is designed to catch the interest of both types of users with an option of advanced and simple mode. There is BitDefender Antivirus Pro 2011 also that exceeds users’ expectations by including 3 modes namely basic, intermediate, and advanced. The users can also archive their most used tools in a personal archival.
The improved interface of AVG antivirus Free Edition 2011 allows easy interaction and automatic updation. The AV has Smart Scanning feature that prioritizes scans to optimally utilize power resources.
Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus + 2011 embeds a thin vertical panel, which occupies minimum space on the screen and does not prohibit a user from viewing the screen.
Webroot AntiVirus with Spy Sweeper 2011 automatically updates and scans when the PC is not in use besides sweeping viruses, spyware, Trojans, keylogger, or worms etc.
Inbuilt Support
Almost all the free AVs come with integrated support featuring many easy-to-use tools that help users to find out information about different topics or how to contact a technical agent among other things. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2011 embeds an inbuilt support tool that automatically diagnoses different possible attacks that a PC comes into contact with, sends their reports, and launches purposeful scripts to remove them and clean the PC.
BitDefender Antivirus Pro 2011 features a search box that allows users to search for help information. It includes an inbuilt support also that collects system information and sends it to a technical rep for chat-based support. BullGuard Antivirus 10 integrates live chat and email support options with a message center that manages a user’s support interaction with a technical rep(s).
Panda Antivirus Pro 2011 embeds PSCAN that allows remote technicians to collect problem samples and send back automatic fixes to your PC without needing full chat-based interaction. Norton AntiVirus 2011 offers one-click access to chat-based support or relevant frequently asked questions (FAQs). eScan Anti-Virus 11 offers integrated online support live chat options.
Block Porn and Adult Content with Vista’s Parental Controls
Children can find just about anything on the Internet. However, do they really need to exposed to wealth of adult content on the net? If you are a parent the answers is probably no. One of the biggest concerns for many parents is how to block porn and adult content on the home computer. Before Vista introduced new ways to block porn and adult content. The ability to filter on line content was only moderately effective in Windows. However, Windows’ Vista operating system has introduced a successful version of parental control features. The new features allows the administrator or parent the ability of restrict areas, websites, usage time and block porn sites from popping up in your browser. This article will give you a quick and easy crash course on how to use the parental control features and effectively block porn.
A web filter is a software option that allows you to categorically choose what online content can be accessed on your computer. The software works by prohibiting access to sites with adult content such as specific keywords, images, files and IP addresses. The features also prohibits these sites from being loaded into your web browser via pop up or invite. Vista has a java script reader which can block porn spam and block porn ads from automatically being loaded while online. Recent features like this gives parents more control of their children are exposed to online.
How to Block Porn Websites with Vista’s Web Filter
1. Click the Windows button and the click the “Control Panel”.
2. Under “User accounts and Family Safety”, click the “Parental Controls”.
3. Choose account you would would like to restrict.
4. Select the option labeled “On” for “enforce current settings” under “Parental Controls”
5. Click Windows Vista Web Filter link.
6. Select the option “Block some websites and content”.
7. You can set up a list of “allowed” websites and use custom restrictions.
This options allows you to specifically choose which sites are accessed. You can also increase the global settings by blocking content categorically. You can do so by raising the web restrictions.
1. Load the Parental controls window by following step 1-3 above.
2. On the left hand side under the user account name, click the options next to “Web Restrictions”.
3. You can raise or lower the restriction settings.
4.Choose custom to select which categories you would like to block automatically.
Not only can Vista’s options block porn, they can help you to control your child’s surfing time and monitor activity. You can generate a report from the Parental Control screen by simply clicking the “view activity” link. This feature will give you a breakdown of the user’s net activity. It can be very difficult to set time limits on your children’s Internet usage. Vista makes this job a bit easier by offering the administrator the ability to set net time limits. After the set time period is up, the user will no longer be able to access the net.
1. After loading the Parental Control window, click “Time Limits”.
2. In the grid, click on any of the white “time squares” you wish to restrict.
3. Turn all the white “time squares” to blue in order to deactivate the Internet for those times.
Is Vista’s Parental Control a hundred percent effective tool to block porn and filter adult content? The answer is no. However, parents’ fears can be alleviated by using these features effectively to block porn and adult content, monitor usage, and set time limits. There are third party filters that also do this job more effectively. The new advanced features offered by other monitoring software are emergency email notification if the computer restrictions are broken, remote control of the home computer from anywhere, video playback of usage time, and key stroke recording. These are handy for outsmarting teenagers who are usually tech savvy or if you need to monitor your child’s email and chatting. But, for the younger kids, you may not need these options. If you want to read about advanced monitoring software options check out internet security page. Overall, configuring Vista’s parental controls to filter content and block porn is a breeze. The system allows you the ability to ensure that their net surfing time is safe and under your supervision.
The Obstacles Facing Cyber Law Enforcement
The online community is cruel and ruthless leaving no margin of error for anyone. Once you make a bona fide mistake you get crucified immediately. It is because of this general attitude among many people in social communities, that people jump to unfair and unjustified conclusions. Most participants of these communities are used to this behaviour and are not bothered by it too much. Most of these unjustified remarks often cause embarrassment for the comment maker, which is well deserved, because you should take the consequences of your actions for speaking out loud without thinking. Where am I going with this? What does this have to do with fighting cyber crime?
Let me explain with an example: When a big company like Microsoft cause a security risk for users of Internet Explorer out of negligence, you can be sure that the press (including the online community) will throw some big stones at them. This response is justified because the safety of innocent users is put at risk because of the negligence of a respectful organisation. But when Microsoft makes a remark that is misunderstood by some people, without causing any security threats because of this ill formulated remark, why should they be crucified? Microsoft is run by people and people make mistakes. If the community wants to rant and rave about something, then find something that deserves some ranting and raving and stop wasting time on things that can be excused. The company has to waste valuable resources to put out the fires caused by this overreaction instead of using those resources to improve the security of their products. No, I am not a Microsoft prophet, I am simply using them as an example.
Investigating spam and determining the origin of a scam letter is not as simple as tracking an IP address. Most people think so, but that is because they never really tried to locate a spammer on their own after being spammed. It is very easy to forge an e-mail header and that makes it almost impossible to locate the real sender of the e-mail. Even if the header is not forged, you never know whether it is a case of identity theft. Computer criminals hack into e-mail accounts, they hijack web sites and use it to their advantage under the identity of an innocent victim. This enables them to operate undetectable by moving from one account to another. Jurisdictional constraints makes it is hard for federal organisations of one country to prosecute crimes committed in another crime, not even to speak of locating the criminal.
Abuse departments of hosting companies and service providers are so swamped with so many daily reports of spam and network abuse that it is impossible for them to respond to each and every spam report individually. It obviously creates the impression that they do not really take action against the guilty parties. Of course, some companies appear to have an abuse department, but it is only a front to make people believe that they take action against spammers. This discourages people from reporting cyber crime and it effectively allows cyber criminals to operate in the open without the risk of getting caught.
People take cyber crime lightly, cyber crime is being handled as crime committed in another dimension, a dimension not regulated by law. Cyber crime is just like any other crime committed in the normal world, the only difference comes in the methods of investigation. Cyber swindlers are real life criminals, they should never be underestimated. The fact that they operate behind a computer screen makes no difference. Law enforcement agencies do not really care about the person robbed from a couple of dollars, they only pursue the big fish. Unfortunately this is how most scammers operate. They steal a bit from one victim, they steal a bit from another victim, they steal a bit from hundreds of helpless victims and pocked thousands of dollars in the end. Law enforcement agencies will take this crime more serious if everyone starts to report it to their local police department. Sooner or later they will realise that something has to be done. Many police departments are also not equipped to handle digital evidence effectively and many police officers still do not have the skills to conduct proper cyber crime investigations.
Cyber crime is very volatile and cannot always be solved using conventional methods, so I appeal to the online community not to question the unconventional methods of cyber crime investigators. At least they are doing something about an epidemic that is ignored by many influential and powerful organisations.
How to Get Rid of Trojan Virus – 5 Easy Steps to Get Rid of Trojan Horse Virus
Before we can know how to get rid of trojan virus we need to specify exactly what it is and how it differs from a normal computer virus. A trojan horse virus is a form of malware (malicious software) that leaves your computer open to attack, and derives its name from the famous Greek legend of The Trojan Horse.
The Trojan Horse was used by the ancient Greeks to trick their way into the once impregnable city of the Trojans (Troy) and secretly send in soldiers to open the gates and allow the rest of the Greek army in to take over and conquer the city.
In the same way, computer trojan viruses disguise themselves as seemingly harmless pieces of software or desired files, but then “open the gates” to other forms of malicious software, spyware, keyloggers etc…leaving you open to anything from someone stealing your credit card information, to some basement-dwelling geek gaining remote access to your computer and files. So the trojan virus’ real damage is done in its ability to compromise your computer’s security and leave it open to other dangers.
So while a normal computer virus is lethal in itself and can “mutate” and infect other parts of your system, the trojan allows other digital nasties in through the back door. The good news is that this makes it easier to identify and get rid of trojan virus.
How did you get the trojan virus on your computer?
As mentioned above, the trojan virus is often disguised as a normal looking file, so maybe it was an mp3 music file, a patch for a game, an online video, or even a jpeg image file. Either way, it’s on your computer, so how do you get rid of trojan horse virus?
Here are the 5 things you need to do right now to get rid of trojan horse virus and avoid it returning:
1. Make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date and includes all the latest patches and virus, spyware definitions. This will be your first port of call when trying to get rid of trojan virus.
2. Run a system and registry scan to identify the evil trojan virus and then zap it into oblivion to get rid of it. Since it resides within an unimportant file you can easily delete it to get rid of trojan virus – whereas other computer viruses are more tricky to get rid of and need to be “quarantined” to stop them infecting other files on your system.
3. If you know the name of the trojan horse virus then you can check online for information on how to get rid of the trojan virus in question. Microsoft has regular updates on it’s site about trojan viruses that affect Windows machines. Online forums also provide you a wealth of information about how to get rid of a trojan horse virus.
4. You could also try to get rid of the trojan virus manually. Check your Task Manager (press Ctrl +Alt +Del on Windows) to identify any programs that may be running in the background that shouldn’t be – i.e. they started without your knowledge. If you see any such program, make a note of it’s name, click its name to highlight it and click End Task. Open your Control Panel (click the Start menu) and use the Add/Remove programs to find the nasty blighter in question and get rid of it. Be careful with this though as you may end up wrongly deleting a file that is important to your system.
5. Overall you should take a look at your online habits and see how certain actions may compromise the security of your computer and your personal information. If you use Peer-2-Peer (P2P) file-sharing networks then take extra care on what you download, and make sure everything is run through your anti-virus / spyware scanning software first, to get rid of trojan virus that may be attempting to access your system.
How many of your personal details do you enter on your computer on a regular basis? For instance, do you bank online, or pay bills or a credit card? Perhaps you buy gifts and other purchases online? According to CNN, if you use the internet there is a 90% chance that your computer is infected with spyware. How can you be sure that your information is not being viewed by a third party right now?
Microsoft MSN, Live and Hotmail Services Compromised
Days ago Microsoft learned that up to thirty thousand Windows Live Hotmail customer’s account details were exposed on a third party site on the Internet. Microsoft insists that this was neither an error nor an internal breach. The exposed customer information is believed to be the result of a phishing scheme.
If you are an MSN, hotmail or live.com e-mail customer, you are advised to change your password immediately. If you find that you cannot log in, it actually isn’t a direct result of the phishing scheme. Microsoft is attempting to protect accounts and verify information before opening them. It is a hassle for sure, but really is for your own protection.
Are other e-mails besides MSN being affected?
Neowin.net, a technology blog, is reporting that the phishing attack may have also included gmail, AOL, Comcast and earthlink. It sounds like it is a good time for everyone to create new passwords, regardless of your e-mail carrier.
How can I recognize a phishing scam?
A phishing scheme is an email scam that sends out e-mails and gets you to click on unsafe links or gets you to enter your personal information. You can pick up viruses and malware and you can become a victim of identity theft.
Phishing schemes often mimic institutions such as your bank to gain your trust and build up your curiosity. Tell tale signs include panic tactics like “There is a breach in your account. Please verify your password by entering it here,” or the tempting to believe good news that “you’ve won a prize” or “the lottery if only you’ll enter your account information here so you can claim it.” Phishing e-mails often contain misspellings or grammatical errors.
How can I avoid being the victim of a phishing scheme?
1. Install and regularly update security software and anti-virus software
The Microsoft Phishing Filter is a free part of Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 8, Windows Vista and as an add-on for the Windows Live Search Toolbar.
2. -Change ALL passwords at least every 90 days
3. Don’t open suspicious or unsolicited e-mails
4 Be wary of links, even when you know the sender
Where do I report a phishing scheme?
You can report any suspicious e-mails or phishing schemes to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. You can also use reportphishing@antiphishing.org to report it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group.
If your problem is with Microsoft, you can all the Microsoft PC hotline at 1-866-PCSAFETY
If you may have been a victim of a phishing scheme, you also need to:
-Change all passwords
-Update security software
-If you know you’ve leaked specific information, such as your credit card number, contact the company immediately to change account numbers and passwords.
-If a real institution was imitated, such as a bank, e-bay, the Better Business Bureau, the FBI or Pay Pal, all who have had their names used in phishing schemes, contact the institution directly to report the scam.
-Review you credit reports
-Check bank and other statements carefully
Facts & Figures about E-mail:
Microsoft’s most recent security report says that 97% of e-mail messages are unwanted.
Hotmail’s spam filter, SmartScreen, blocks more than 4.5 million spam e-mails per day.
Microsoft has assisted in 191 actions against phishers world wide including criminal and civil.
Phishing scams are increasing, getting more sophisticated and now it seems that an actual large scale exposure had resulted from phishing e-mails. Now is the time to change those passwords and update your security software.
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Are You A Spam Zombie?
Over the past few years you’ve all become familiar with the terms spam, spam filter, whitelists, blacklists and a whole myriad of other terminology associated with the problem of spam. You now have to add a new and extremely worrying phrase to that list – spam zombie.
With the net closing in around them spammers are looking for new and more inventive ways to send out their junk email. Spam filters and challenge response systems are becoming progressively more intelligent and blocking more spam each day. What was a spammer to do? The spammers took the next step – infiltrating your PC and using it as a spamming tool.
When most of you think of the word zombie you’re reminded of old B movies with groaning zombies chasing the terrified actress through a castle, swamp or whatever low cost setting the movie revolved around. Spam zombies are, however, far more real and far more dangerous.
A spam zombie is when your computer is taken over by a type of virus called a Trojan. Once this Trojan virus is on your computer it sets up an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) application which allows it to begin sending email directly from your PC to tens of thousands of victims. This all happens invisibly in the background and can be difficult to detect for even the experienced computer user.
How do these Trojans get onto your computer? As in most cases they come from porn, warez or similar sites. One of the first spam zombie trojans to appear became available via a link on sites promising viewers free access to a porno webcam. One click later and the Trojan is installed on your computer ready to send out spam. Phatbot and Proxy-Guzu are two of the more common Trojans used for the purpose of turning your computer into a spam zombie.
How can you check if your computer has become a spam zombie? Make absolutely certain that both your anti-virus and firewall software have current detection signatures and have been completely patched and updated. Working online without taking these necessary security precautions is simply asking for trouble.
Internet Service Providers are under huge pressure to quarantine the IP address of any computer which has been turned into a spam zombie. This is done on the basis that the ISP risks their entire IP range being blacklisted or banned by some spam filtering services or companies.
The very least you owe yourself is to run a full virus and spyware scan on your computer today. You might be unpleasantly surprised at what you’ll find lurking there.
Computers And Consumers – Understanding & Avoid Identity Theft
The Internet has given over a billion people, worldwide, a way to instantly find information. The number of threats to a consumer’s security increases as the consumer connects with more computers, companies, and people online. The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says that all Internet users should understand the importance of online security and should take measures to protect themselves.
Why the Need for Security & How to Protect Yourself
The Computer: Part of a computers sophistication lies in its ability to connect with other computers over the Internet in order to bring you information. When it is connected with other computers, it opens itself up for the transmission of information, which can create vulnerability for the computer. Hackers can connect to the computer, scan it for open ports, and gain access to unauthorized information about the computer user.
Most computers have an Intrusion Detection System (“IDS”) that monitors the computer for suspicious activity. When suspicious activity is detected, the IDS sends an alert that an intrusion has occurred.
An IDS alone will not protect your computer from incoming hackers and viruses. Computer users also need to protect themselves with firewalls, which create a barrier between hackers and the computer and help to prevent access to unauthorized information.
The Computer User: The computer user can also accidentally open doors that will lead to a security breach, such as when the user is using the Internet to make purchases. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. e-commerce sales for the year 2007 were $136.4 billion. Although the Internet has made shopping a whole lot easier, it has also increased the number of instances of identity theft. A study conducted by the US Department of Justice reports that 6.4 million households experienced some kind of identity theft in 2005. Consumers also open themselves up to increased junk e-mail called SPAM when shopping online. Thankfully, there are ways to minimize your risk when shopping online.
Be careful where you post your personal email address. Consumers using the Internet increase their chances of receiving SPAM e-mail each time they provide their e-mail address to make a purchase. As mentioned earlier, hackers can access consumer information by scanning ports that are not secure. Consumers can help protect themselves by only providing information that is necessary when making the purchase. There are companies designed to help protect consumers from e-commerce identity theft and SPAM.
When providing payment information, consumers should always make sure the site is secure. An easy way to determine whether a site is secure is to look at the web address bar at the top of the screen. The http, which precedes the address, should change to https when checking out on a shopping site. The ‘s’ indicates that the consumer is shopping from a secure page.
Finally, a consumer should avoid using ATM/debit cards to make purchases, as the breach of this information could lead to unauthorized access of the consumer’s bank account information. Use a credit card instead. Most credit card companies will work on behalf of their client, should a hacker steal their credit card information. In many cases, the consumer will only be responsible for $50 of the transactions.
When a consumer shops wisely on the Internet and acts in conjunction with private Internet security sites and the FTC they will decrease the chances of being one of the six million households affected by identity theft.
Firewall spam – Get Rid of Those Malicious Spams!
Cyberspace today is attacked by viruses, spams, trogon, spy wares etc with the main purpose of causing trouble to the internet users. The internet users thus feel very insecure and are always in a fear against this software’s, which enters the operating system or the mailbox without the permission of the user. The need for updated and efficient spam blockers, firewall spam‘s, anti virus solutions and pop-up blockers are very important to ensure security and protection against these hawkers. Newer and powerful spam removers are programmed to keep the spam mails at bay, but still they only filter spam.
Just like the firewall setting in the computer blocks insecure and doubtful web sites a firewall spam is also discovered to completely block spam mails from reaching the users mailbox. Spam mails are sent mainly for commercial purposes. But they might also carry deadly viruses and spy wares, which might cause your system to breakdown, or help, transform highly secured information from your computer to someone outside who might misuse they personal information.
Spam‘s are sent to mass email ids which the hawkers receive from various means. Most of them are useless advertisements and irrelevant commercials. Whether they are relevant, or dangerous they need to be addressed in time with a firewall spam and should be kept off as it will save a lot of your precious time. Anti exchange server spam are also useful to firewall spam and protect and keep off spam. These anti spam application are available as free wares also. But if the utility is needed for a wider concern like a business environment then it’s always good to purchase professional software’s from expert companies who specifically deal with these software’s.
Firewall spam can protect and stop mails which do not belong to your contact list. They are also more efficient than general anti spam software’s which just filters the spam. But the firewall spam application is much more powerful as it blocks or stops spam mails and allow only real mails into the mail box. These applications might even pick up spam from the mails which you might have accidentally addressed as relevant. New updated firewall spam is definitely a safe and secured way to protect your computer and your mailbox from the irrelevant spams. So without wasting your more time, give your inbox a firewall spam protection by downloading it free from the internet. So get up and hurry!