Whether you are downloading a trialware or files from Bittorrent, the chances of cracking or using the full version has severely dwindled in the past months. For one, other than possibly downloading infected software with Trojans and malware, unlocking these supposed protection software has taken a bad hit by the advanced efforts of private software companies to crack down on piracy.

Take for example Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 which has cracked the whip on licenses by blocking them once you start updating the software. While you can install and crack them, they are rendered useless in the end since once you hit that update option, your key is automatically blocked. Worst, malware and Trojans start coming in (a scenario which I don’t understand if it was made on purpose by the vendor in sending malware) infecting the systems folder where Windows is installed.

Before you know it, dozens of files in the form of dll’s start showing and mind you, they are dangerous. So if that was the case, it makes you think if you were better off not using an anti-virus software at all.

But such is the price to pay for trying to pull a fast one. Everyone loves free things and free software is surely to be an eye-catcher. But if the return is tons of viruses and malicious programs that can wreck your computer, you better think twice before downloading them again.

Tags: cracked, kasperksy, Malware, software, trojans, viruses

Categories: Operating Systems, Spyware

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The last thing you would hate is being taken for a ride as far as antivirus software is concerned. Antivirus protection is an important need in the world of computing and the last thing you would want to find out is that there are strings attached such as Malware.

MACS are known to be less prone to viruses. But that does not mean that MAC owners are taking viruses lightly. At the rate that viruses are being developed to invade various technology gadgets and software, it is just a matter of time before a virus infects a MAC.

There is software that is being marketed as a MAC antivirus software. However, there is something that more to it. In fact, you may even do harm to your computer by installing it and it goes by the name of MacGuard.

Actually, the MacGuard is just a clone to that fake Windows Security Software called Winiguard. WiniGuard is known for tricking users into buying it by serving up fake spyware alerts, and there’s no real reason to think that MacGuard does anything different or useful.

MacGuard also has the potential to bring other malware on to your system, so I’d recommend taking a pass on it and sticking with some well-known antivirus software (Norton, McAfee) if you’re concerned about the security of your system.

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Tags: antivirus, macguard, macs, software, winiguard

Categories: Real-World Issues, Spyware, Tips

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Perhaps the leading software companies of Kaspersky and AVG have finally gotten sick of being ripped off. If you will notice today, they have tightened their main flagship carrier, the virus definition updates and unless you have a truly certified copy, you will be blocked from enjoying the actual usefulness of the software for full-protection against viruses and Trojans online.

Apparently, some online users have used other mediums to be able to download and wisely crack full versions of anti-virus software. But while the program is easily downloadable, unless you have proper virus definitions, you are not really that protected. In fact, they are just additions to your system to which you may eventually be better off without them due to the load that they carry.

Download agents like file-sharing online has become a good source for most. Torrents are famous for this but this includes being susceptible to malware and Trojans, files familiar if you are fond of getting them free. These said files come complete with cracks and serial code generators, initially making users believe that they saved a lot of money from the official and licensed versions.

But today, you may see that certain updates are monitored and while you may have more than one serial for full version capability, you will be eventually blocked by their network, showing you that your serial has been blacklisted and place you in the trial version state.

Anti-virus protection is important. But to get supreme protection, you have to pay for it. So if you want to worry free protection, it would be best to get the licensed version. Say goodbye to the freebies and of course the Trojans.

Tags: anti-virus, security, software, updates, virus definition files

Categories: IT Security Basics, Network Security, Spyware

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One of the common problems that PC owners have these days is finding out that they have a virus residing in their PC. Don’t be comforted by the fact that you have an anti-virus software running. Viruses will always find a way. Also, if you do have one, are you sure it is licensed?

Apparently, most people fail to realize the value of a good anti-virus software when it comes enabled with all the features included. Some are fine with the trial version as long as they are protected. At least that is what they think. But the real value of a good anti-virus software comes out when you get the full version that comes with the actual cleaning tool when you get one officially.

For most trial versions, you may be surprised to note that once they are able to detect a certain virus, you can only discover them but not clean them. If you do try to clean them, it will tell you to get the full version at a certain price of course.

There are some software that clean certain viruses but these are mostly low in threat. But the graver ones are the issues you have to content with. If you really want a fully protected PC, chances are you better consider an investment that can really protect you from such virus issues, most of which can really hurt you as far as computer files and documents are concerned.

Tags: anti-virus, freeware, protection, software, trialware

Categories: IT Security Basics, Operating Systems

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Here should be a piece of good news to WiFi networks. Apparently, finding a solution to how hackers are able to use wireless access to do their dirty work has been a growing concern. For some reason, they are able to access vital information and computers and then create havoc as they wish. Apparently they have a modus operandi to which do-gooders often have something malicious in mind, mostly to do something foolish such as injecting viruses or even accessing another computer and perhaps deleting some files without them knowing it.

But now, the Perspective System is being groomed as a low cost that will answer these issues. Apparently the biggest targets are the websites and online businesses and security in transactions is definitely in question. One this system is installed, security for various issues that include domain names system software will hopefully be covered.

“It’s very, very, very easy for someone to convince you to go through their computer” when making connections through public WiFi, said David Andersen, assistant professor of computer science. A user who thinks he is linked to an airport or coffee shop “hot spot,” for instance, might actually be linked to a laptop of someone just a few seats away. “A lot of people wouldn’t even know they’ve been attacked,” he added.

The Perspectives system is designed to aid in authenticating Web sites for financial services, online retailers and other transactions needing secure communications. By independently querying the desired site, the system can double check whether each is receiving the correct authentication information, called a digital certificate.

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Tags: domains, hackers, perspective system, software, wifi

Categories: Real-World Issues, Security Policies, Wireless Security

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Companies these days provide for mobile devices their employees use to ensure they’re available at all times. The downside of this is that their employees may also use these laptops and phones for personal use, all at the company’s expense, and the real risk of losing valuable data if they’re stolen. We’ve talked about data breaches caused by stolen laptops before. Companies should begin weighing the advantage of employee mobility with the disadvantages of possible data loss and decreased productivity.

It’s become much easier for employees to download movies, music, and watch video streaming while in the office and then load them to their mobile devices. Instead of working, they might be tempted to watch their downloads during company hours. Some pornography and gambling sites have begun to exploit this trend by offering their services for phones. These are the very same sites most hackers use to spread their viruses. This way confidential data on these devices can be breached and destroyed even without the user’s knowledge.

For the past few years companies have filtered e-mail and limited web access in the office, but similar control does not exist for mobile devices. Until the advent of similar filtering software, companies can opt to acquire and manage the distribution of their phones to their employees. In such a situation each employee is responsible for their usage. They can also create guidelines and policies to limit how the employees can and cannot use their phones, though they should be aware that their employees will resist stringent control.

[tags]mobility,productivity,mobile devices,filtering software,usage,software,employess[/tags]

Tags: employess, filtering-software, mobile-devices, mobility, productivity, Real-World Issues, Security Policies, software, usage

Categories: Real-World Issues, Security Policies

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Spyware is any software that covertly gathers user information through the user’s Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet; however, it should be noted that the majority of shareware and freeware applications do not come with spyware. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.

Spyware is similar to a Trojan horse in that users unwittingly install the product when they install something else. A common way to become a victim of spyware is to download certain peer-to-peer file swapping products that are available today.

Aside from the questions of ethics and privacy, spyware steals from the user by using the computer’s memory resources and also by eating bandwidth as it sends information back to the spyware’s home base via the user’s Internet connection. Because spyware is using memory and system resources, the applications running in the background can lead to system crashes or general system instability.

Because spyware exists as independent executable programs, they have the ability to monitor keystrokes, scan files on the hard drive, snoop other applications, such as chat programs or word processors, install other spyware programs, read cookies, change the default home page on the Web browser, consistently relaying this information back to the spyware author who will either use it for advertising/marketing purposes or sell the information to another party.

Licensing agreements that accompany software downloads sometimes warn the user that a spyware program will be installed along with the requested software, but the licensing agreements may not always be read completely because the notice of a spyware installation is often couched in obtuse, hard-to-read legal disclaimers.

[tags]spyware,licensing,downloads,software, it security[/tags]

Tags: downloads, IT Security Basics, it-security, licensing, software, Spyware, Tips

Categories: IT Security Basics, Spyware, Tips

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Fuzz testing may sound like a term far removed from the IT world, but fuzzing is a good way of discovering weaknesses in a network, application or server before others do. Fuzzing involves bombarding a program with randomly generated data to see if it’ll withstand the overload. If it fails, either by crashing or not executing a specific code, then there’s a defect you need to find and correct. Hackers can use fuzzing to find what bugs exist in an application, for example, a web browser, and then create specific code to exploit the application’s weaknesses. But if these bugs are discovered before they can be exploited then a way can be found to fix these exploitable bugs.

Testers can use fuzz testing to find out if the current software being used have easily exploitable vulnerabilities. It is probably the closest approximate to a real-world situation when data coming into a system or application doesn’t always follow validation rules. While fuzzing, testers keep a record of all the data they create, so it’s easy can keep track of what specifically caused any errors. It’s also relatively cheap to perform fuzz testing, and it can be used to compare the security of different programs and operating systems. Open source fuzzing tools and tests for different applications and systems are now available online. Though fuzzing doesn’t guarantee to find every error-producing event and bug that can occur on your system, it does give an idea of where intruders might try to attack. Errors like buffer overruns and attacks on cross-site scripting can be prevented by fuzz testing.

[tags]fuzzing,bugs,buffers,phishing,pharming,software,errors,intruders[/tags]

Tags: buffers, bugs, errors, fuzzing, intruders, IT Security Basics, pharming, phishing, software, Tips

Categories: IT Security Basics, Tips

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