Harmful objects can be obtained from the web. We are all aware that Malware and Trojans are rampant objects that have been wandering of anywhere on the Internet, especially websites that are often visited by people for reference and information. Such sites would get hijacked and also contaminate visiting users as well, something that can be done through Internet cookies stored on the web folder in the machines.
While developers and security administrators have religiously searched for ways to find such solutions, the ever changing development of new threats coming from the Internet has been far from over. To date, even the well-protected workstations can still be penetrated by objects that are not immediately visible.
Internet fences in the form of firewalls and software protection templates have tried to stop such intrusions but need to be updated frequently to answer the related threats. Without such temporary fences that are up, workstations are sitting ducks waiting to be shot, and if web administrators are not up to date with the new threats, the fences used are good as gone once they occur.
Tags: firewall, Malware, Spyware, trojans
Categories: IT Security Basics, Malware, Network Security, Physical Security, Security Policies, Spyware
Viruses and malware issues are far from being a thing of the past. On the contrary, they seem to grow large by numbers as each day passes. Thus the works of security software companies have their work cut out for them. There is not definite date to which such threats and intrusions would wholly be resolved.
For the time being, it would be advisable for people to scan third party storage devices such as diskettes, USB drives and mobile storages to be safe and sound. These wandering viruses can attack at any time and this is a fact anywhere computer related materials are concerned.
Files can go as far as infecting the executable files, hence document, excel and compiled scripts are baits for immediate infection and malicious intrusions. Software applications also have their limits as their development teams cater only to a specific genre for known harmful files. But it is better to lower the risk of intrusion than not having protection at all.
[tags]scan, spyware, virus, infections, spyware, malware, trojans[/tags]
Tags: infections, Malware, scan, Spyware, trojans, virus
Categories: Backups, IT Security Basics, Malware, Network Security, Operating Systems, Programming, Real-World Issues, Security Policies, Spyware, Storage, Tips, Wireless Security
One click is all it takes to be infected and for the avid PC user, it would be wise to make sure that you look before you click. Malware issues can come in different forms like:
1. Emails
2. Popups
3. Links via Instant Messaging
In fact, even if you know the person who sent you the link, you cannot entirely rely on your relationship and trust with them as the main reason for clicking on the link. This was done before but today, people have to be aware that there are some accounts that can be easily hacked or even impersonated.
Much of these issues have plagued us through the years. Some have had their share of problems dealing with Malware and Trojans. They are different from viruses but sometimes, they can do more harm compared to the traditional viruses.
Even having anti-virus or anti-spyware protection is not guarantee from being contaminated with them. Remember, a click is all that it takes and all hell will break loose. For most, it is easy to remedy since they can reformat their computer. But think about the files you may lose from the moment you click on these links.
It may be hard to save these files since chances are they have already been infected. With that said, your files and PC are practically good as dead. So the moral of the lesson is, don’t be trigger happy with clicking. You are just raisin the stakes of being infected by doing so.
Tags: Malware, security, Spyware, trojans
Categories: Malware, Spyware
For each PC owner, there will be a preferred setting and software to use. It may depend on the impact and addition of processes or how they protect your computer from malicious intent stemming from viruses and spyware that are spread all over the web. But in the end, you may ask yourself which is the best among these anti-virus software solutions and which can really protect my computer from potent intrusion?
Seriously, there is no definite answer for this. We may see a lot of reviews and best ranked anti-virus software on the web but none of them guarantee 100% protection. Viruses and malware will always find a way and the degree of infection can start from minimal to dangerous at times.
While you can always rely on brand recall, depending on how you understand reviews and features that each software could give, trying them out one by one via their trialware options when you download and evaluation copy would be great. However, beware of some marketing gimmicks such as warning you of infections that may be dangerous to them yet minimal to others.
Anti-virus software selling is still a business and to get the nod of consumers, you have to impress them by showing them something. This is not to say that software companies are actually turning to these low way of marketing their product but why would you purchase an anti-virus software if you have nothing better to show than the price?
That is why you would be better of trying majority of these software programs. For sure you will know which are really needed and which are not.
Tags: Spyware, virus
Categories: IT Security Basics, Malware, Spyware
Getting hold of an anti-virus software these days is not as hard as before. Normally, you had to the nearest computer shop and ask around which best anti-virus software can keep your protected and then install it once you buy it outright. Through the years, software companies have allowed anyone to download their software, try it and then eventually be given the option to buy it. Some are even lucky enough when geniuses develop certain key generators to which they can crack the trialware into the full version. But all that seems checked now.
To date, there are still an abundant number of sites like forums that house such cracks and codes. Some of them work but not as plenty as before. Software companies have religiously sought to skim them one by one, blacklisting said codes to which makes freeloaders scratch their heads and continue to get a working key just to avoid a couple of dollars. Sadly, that is not as rampant as before.
If you think about it, this may only be the tip of the iceberg. Software companies may soon follow the cue of Microsoft in blacking out their screens if they are using pirated versions. If Microsoft can do it, then why not companies like McAfee or Norton? They are not small time companies and for sure, they have the funds to make it work like Bill Gates did.
Cheaters cannot complain and so do pirated users. So if that happens, it will all be due to the nature of being a cheapskate that did these people in.
Tags: freeware, protecion, Spyware, virus
Categories: IT Security Basics, Operating Systems, Spyware, Tips
For some people, seeing sudden pop-ups serving as warnings by protection software can be irritating. While it only shows that you were warned of a potential threat, some people do not really care that much as long as nothing goes wrong. There are some software options that allow you to turn it off. But for the sake of knowing what type of potential threat you may have had, it would be best to keep it on for a better understanding of what you are dealing with.
Most programs like BitDefender do this. Programs that combine anti-virus and anti-spyware protection can be sophisticated at times but the main issue here is that they are protecting you and not annoying you. So if you get a message telling you that they have blocked a potential threat to your computer is concerned, read it and then just discard it. It is the best way to understand what harmful objects are set out on the web today.
But once they are detected, what is a PC user supposed to do? In these cases it would be best to delete all the temporary files on your IE folder so that no trace of these harmful Trojans will remain.
Do not think that just because they were blocked, that is the end of it. They are still residing in your computer. So to ensure they are completely gone, delete all the temporary files at your control Panel by clicking on Internet options and deleting all cookies, temporary files and browsing histories.
Tags: antivirus, protection, Spyware, viruses
Categories: IT Security Basics, Network Security, Operating Systems, Spyware
If you have had problems with viruses and malware, one thing you will notice these days that some of them still manage to get through your anti-virus barriers. Just when you though that your PC is already fully protected, you will notice at some point some abnormal behavior such as blue screens or sudden shutdowns occurring.
At this point, many would attribute it to hardware or faulty software. But if you have the chance, do some research or access online scanning services from leading anti-virus software companies. Scan all your hard drives and leave it for a couple of hours. For sure you will be surprised at the various viruses present in your computer and immediately check if you can update the virus definition files to keep your software up to date.
While that would be a good recourse, chances are the viruses will still not be detected. One thing about software manufacturers in the anti-virus category, most of them differ in terms of identifying security risks and viruses that make their way into your computer. Whether they come from careless opening files from storage devices or from online access using your browser, there will always be files that will get through.
If there is one consolation from it all is that not all files are dangerous. Some of them may be cookies or adware and would normally be categorized. This is what separates software these days. They have their own level of threats to which some may be exaggerated.
Tags: adware, anti-virus, cookies, Malware, Spyware
Categories: IT Security Basics, Malware, Operating Systems, Spyware
Viacom, the company that owns MTV has confirmed the fact that there was indeed a leakage of information from their system that has resulted in personal information such as Social Security numbers, Birth dates and other employment related data. They confirmed the fact that the said information was taken from an employee workstation which may have been infected by malware that sent the said information to the outside without the management knowing about it. These types of problems are now becoming more common as people go on the web and as this case shows, the workstation in question was said to have entered a social networking site through which may have been the path the malware took. The said information was contained in password protected files and the company has said that it has launched an internal investigation as to why the employee in question may have been able to access the said site from the office workstation.
Information leakage such as this case is now so common that they happen even without anybody knowing about it. Even with installed security and intrusion prevention systems, programs that piggy-back onto legal programs have found and exploited ways to circumvent them exposing themselves to protection systems as legitimate programs. Social networks have been targeted as with the problems with Goggle’s Orkut, Myspace and the many other social networking sites which have fallen to hackers who use them as launch/propagation platforms to unload their payloads of Trojans, key-loggers and many other forms malicious code.
The Web transforming into the social network may be the best thing that has happened to many but it remains to be a thorn in IT Security People from all over. Many have fallen victim to such instances that have resulted in credit card fraud and full-blown identity theft cases which are a real-world issue everybody has take notice of. The threat is real and we must all make it a point to do our best. Install the proper intrusion prevention systems and establish systems usage security protocol which will minimize exposure to such threats which are sure to invade more of our daily lives as we go on living a second life in the internet of today, the Social net.
Tags: MTV, Social Networking, Spyware
Categories: General, IT Security Basics, Malware, Network Security, News, Privacy & Anonymity, Real-World Issues, Security Policies, Spyware
As if we haven’t gotten enough warning about free stuff of the web, here’s a classic case of such malware found by an unsuspecting programmer who just happened to casually do a de-compilation of a popular utility used on Google Mail that allows archiving of all your email. As the story goes, A programmer was on the hunt for a way to back-up his email from GMail which he submitted a request to CodingHorror.com for such a utility from fellow programmers. He was referred to a commercial program called G-Archiver which was distributed by an American firm Mate Media. As all freeware usually do (which is not as much as their advertising says) it disappoints him quite to the extent that he decides to reverse engineer(in the fashion of true hacking) the said utility only to find the email address and passowrd of the program’s creator within the code that raised red flags as to the reason behind the said suspicious details. As it turns out, the said program was sending private data with respect to the users who have downloaded and used the said utility to archive their Gmail accounts.
The program contained the said information (email address and password) of the programmer so the said utility can send information to him without the users knowing about it from any platform and location it may have been used.
Most of the sites which offered the program for download have removed them from their software offerings and the authors at ZDnet Asia where this was first reported have not been able to get a reply from the firm which distributes the said utility as to an explanation to the said event. This is a classic case of complacency wherein people rely on big names for their needs sometimes even sacrificing common sense in the process as sad as it may seem. The reluctance of the developers to reply to the said allegations. The programmer took the email address and the pasword using it to log-on to Gmail where he finds 1,777 email from all the people who have used the software including their passowrds and other vital information. So, be wary of free and sometimes harmless stuff, they are the ones who can do most harm.
Tags: G-Archiver Utility, Gmail, Spyware
Categories: General, IT Security Basics, Malware, News, Real-World Issues, Security Policies, Spyware
Anyone will receive different kinds of offline and online messages from friends and acquaintances. Some would be links to other websites they have done, pictures or news feeds. But while these would be helpful in most cases, it would be best to first query the person and ask what the site is all about.
Cases of rapidly increasing links that creep into the instant messaging service create havoc and spread to the entire contact list of people endorsing the various instant messaging services available over the web today. The most popular of which is perhaps Yahoo Messenger and Instant Messaging. These are the widely used modes of communication today since aside from saving on cost, they hold a wider coverage, thanks to the Internet which is available all throughout the world today.
Hence, such coverage offers a tempting way of making lives miserable and the computers a living hell. The discomforts that it would have would drive a person crazy since the need to remedy the situation may take some time. However, for some people there is always the option to format the whole system, something that is not needed by people who need to access their files regularly and have no backup copies.
[tags]yahoo messenger virus, spyware, instant messaging, hyperlinks, bad links[/tags]
Tags: bad-links, hyperlinks, Instant Messaging, Spyware, yahoo-messenger-virus
Categories: Backups, IM, IT Security Basics, Instant Messaging, Malware, Spyware, Tips
