If you use the Internet and/or store valuable or personal information on your computer; you must defend against a multitude of threats in today’s computing environment. We are constantly bombarded with viruses, bots, worms, and hackers that want to break into our computers and obtain information which can be used to make money for the cyber criminals who own them. The cyber nuts who do these things have shifted from introverted techie hackers who want to make a name for themselves at a Black Hat Convention (an annual conference for hackers), to organized groups of hackers whose purpose in life is to steal personal information for profit (think Russian Mafia).

The tools they use are bots, virus-like programs that infiltrate your computer, store themselves on your disk, and collect information such as your social security number, name, address, and credit card numbers. This information is used to charge directly to your credit card accounts and to commit other identity theft in order to open new accounts in your name. And many still use the tried and true method of hacking (gaining access) your computer and searching your files, etc. until they find something of value.

In many cases having a good, strong password is the last line of defense against these thieves. Because the stronger the password, the longer it will take a hacker to find out what yours is. And like most thieves, hackers want to get in, get the goods, and get out as quickly as possible. Therefore, just like a house burglar will go to the next house if he sees a dog or an alarm system, so will a hacker move on to a computer with a weak password upon encountering one that is taking a while to discover.

So…why do we need passwords? Because without them you’re unprotected against crooks…much akin to not locking the doors to your house, period. Look for my companion article: Passwords Part II: What Are Strong Passwords Anyway? which addresses strong passwords and how to create them.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/passwords-part-i-why-do-we-need-them-1296223.html

About the Author:

Paul Lubic is a seasoned IT guy who’s used computers at home for more years than he’d care to say. His objective is to use this article and his blog site to pass on lots of valuable information that you can use in your home computing endeavors. Check back often to see what he’s up to at Paul’s Home Computing Blog at http://www.paulshomecomputingblog.wordpress.com.

Remember, home computing is a blast…keep it productive and enjoyable.
Paul E. Lubic, Jr.
paulshomecomputing@yahoo.com

It surprises me how many users don’t take computer security seriously.

With hackers, spammers, and viruses lurking around every corner, you can’t afford not to follow some basic steps in protecting your PC and your personal information.

Here are the 10 ways to keep your computer safe.

1. Update your OS
2. Install anti-virus and update
3. Use anti-spyware/adware
4. Secure your home network
5. Use a firewall
6. Don’t use IE
7. Watch out for email attachments
8. OpenDNS
9. Be careful with dangerous websites
10. Keep your personal information safe

1. Update Your Operating System (Windows Update)

The first thing you should do, after getting a new PC or reformatting, is to run Windows Update.

In my household, I have 4 computers running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Ubuntu 9.04, Xubuntu 9.04. Some dual-boot while one triple-boots etc.

Whichever operating system you are using, make sure to update them frequently. Especially if you’re running Windows, I recommend that you turn on the auto-update in ‘Windows Update’ if not already done so. Microsoft releases frequent vulnerability and security fixes.

Keeping your operating system up to date is the first step in keeping your computer safe. To check if you’re covered (in Windows), open up your control panel and click on Windows Update. If you see the automatic update option selected, you’re all set. If not, either choose the full auto update or the option that gives you the chance to choose which updates to install yourself. Just don’t turn it off. If you must turn it off for whatever reason, manually check the Windows Update website at least once a week.

Recommended: Try out Ubuntu, the most popular Linux distro. Using a Linux OS may sound too nerdy for some, but the level of user-friendliness has gotten a lot better over the years. It has all the pretty GUI, too. And, if you’re having problems, a huge online community is waiting to help you. It’s FREE and SAFE.

2. Install Anti-Virus and Keep the Virus Definitions Up-to-Date

An anti-virus software is a MUST. If you don’t have one, you are almost guaranteed to get infected; it’s only a matter of time.

It is amazing how many people don’t have an updated anti-virus running on their computers. Especially if you bought a pre-assembled PC from Dell or HP or Acer etc., your computer may come with a free trial period of 30 days to 1 year. Be mindful of this when you purchase a new PC.

When your subscription period runs out, you will need to either pay to continue using the anti-virus you currently have or get a different anti-virus software. Shop around.

Recommended: There are tons of options out there. But Avast and AVG are two of the best. Why? Because they’re free and very effective. Now, if you want more features and protection, you can move up to a paid anti-virus software. I know Symantec and Mcafee are two of the dominant players, but I don’t recommend them as they take more resources to run and there are others with better detection rates. Full list of recommended antivirus

3. Anti-Spyware / Adware

Many times when a PC user complains about a sluggish computer or a slow startup, it is due to a presence of ad/spyware. Most common ones are mostly cookies from your browser as you surf the web and are not very dangerous, while some spywares are very malicious in nature. One example is a key-logger that can log your key strokes to steal your credit card numbers and passwords.

There are also adwares that hijack your browser’s homepage to display their content every time you load up your browser and toolbars that won’t go away.

These days, a lot of anti-virus softwares are able to protect your PC from spy/ad-wares, too. But if you want to be extra safe, install a couple of anti-spyware programs that will more aggressively block various malwares.

Recommended: Free: Spyware Blaster, Windows Defender, SuperAntiSpyware

You can get started with just a couple of those. If you have Windows Vista or 7, you will have Windows Defender by default. So, you might as well use it. I recommend Spyware Blaster in all cases. You simply run it, update, and protect. It doesn’t need to run in the background. It adds black lists to your browsers, and provides an effective prevention. SuperAntiSpyware is a complete suite with real-time protection.

4. Secure Your Home Network

In today’s typical household, multiple computers share a single internet connection. Usually, a router is used to share that connection.

What many people forget is that router is not only an internet sharing device, but a firewall to protect your whole network as well.

Setting up your router’s firewall is the first thing you need to do when setting up a network. Make sure that the firewall feature is turned on in the router settings.

What’s more concerning is that, with the gaining popularity of wireless (WiFi) networks, people are leaving the door wide open to potential hackers and your neighbors (who’s accessing your wireless network right now). You need to protect your computers not just from threats on the internet but also from threats close to your house.

If you have a wireless network enabled in your router, please look at your security settings. If you’ve never touched it, it is very likely that your neighbors had a peek inside your network a few times.

Set it up so that you are using WPA or (preferably WPA2 if supported) with AES encryption (or TKIP if your device doesn’t support AES). WEP is no good. It can be cracked within a couple of minutes. Even WPA is not all that safe these days, but you might not have the option to use WPA2.Create a shared key (password) that’s impossible to guess.

My key is 60+ characters long with numbers and lower/upper case letters randomly generated by the router.

5. Use a Firewall

A firewall prevents intruders from getting in. If you have a router, you already have a firewall. Just confirm that it is up and running. A software firewall can increase the level of security, and especially if you don’t have a router, you need a software firewall. Windows has a built-in firewall, and should be enabled by default. There are other popular firewalls like Zone Alarm.

What I’d recommend, if you want to keep things simple, is to use a security suite that has both anti-virus and firewall included. Full list of recommended firewall

6. Try Something Other than Internet Explorer

If you are still using Internet Explorer as your main browser, you really need to switch. IE is the most vulnerable and is also the least efficient browser on the market.

Browsers such as Firefox, Opera, and Chrome are much faster and safer. At the moment, Firefox is the most popular alternative. But I encourage you to try out all the browsers and see which one you like the best.

I highly recommend Opera. Opera is faster than Firefox. It has built-in email client, bittorrent client, widgets, mouse gestures and more. Opera has all these features built-in, yet, it is smaller than Firefox. With the new release of Opera 10 with Turbo (speeds up browsing for slower connections), I predict it will gain more market share. I personally use Firefox, Opera, and IE. Firefox is my main browser; Opera is number two. IE is only used when testing website changes and visiting Korean websites. Lots of Korean websites are only compatible with IE, which I really hate.

7. Careful Opening Email Attachments

Even if you receive an email from one of your friends, don’t assume it’s safe to open file attachments. Some viruses take control of a person’s email account and sends viruses to all his contacts.

If an email is from a stranger, most likely the attachment is a virus. Having an anti-virus should protect you from email threats, but still be careful.

Now, if you experience harm because you had replied to a Nigerian email saying you won a $10 million lottery, there’s nothing that can help for you other than your common sense.

8. Try OpenDNS

OpenDNS is a free DNS service that can help your browsing experience to be faster and safer. DNS (Domain Name System) “translates domain names meaningful to humans into the numerical (binary) identifiers associated with networking equipment for the purpose of locating and addressing these devices worldwide.

An often used analogy to explain the Domain Name System is that it serves as the “phone book” for the Internet by translating human-friendly computer hostnames into IP addresses. For example, www.example.com translates to 208.77.188.166.” – Wikipedia

OpenDNS keeps track of and blocks harmful websites and also has a parental control feature and more.

All you have to do is put these two numbers “208.67.222.222″, “208.67.220.220″ into your router settings or your computer’s network settings.

Instructions for various routers and computers are available on the website.

9. Be Careful about Which Sites You Visit

If you got OpenDNS all set up, you can worry about this a little less. But OpenDNS cannot protect you 100% as news malicious sites keep on popping up.

Warez, crack, and adult sites are the most dangerous categories of websites. Don’t visit them unless you know it’s safe.

Again, an anti-virus will protect you from this kind of threats as well. See how important an anti-virus is?

10. Keep Your Personal Information Safe

Many of these threats are aimed at getting your personal information. So, keep them safe!

Don’t easily give away your name, email, phone, and address to any website.

Don’t store credit card and other sensitive information on your computer. Sometimes, you have to store them on your computer. If so, don’t save an Excel file with your credit card numbers as “credit card numbers.xls” and put it in a shared folder.

Your neighbor who was sharing your internet connection might be tempted. Playing with files will be of little help. You should encrypt your files with a password, too, if it stores sensitive information.

Overall, be mindful of protecting your personal data.

I hope you learned some ways to protect your computer and your personal data. Web is a dangerous place. You must always be on the lookout and have protection. Click here fore the full article with all the recommended software.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/10-ways-to-keep-your-computer-safe-1246514.html

About the Author:

Scam Free Internet – News, alerts, and tech tips on avoiding internet scams and rip-offs.

SpyShredder is an extremely dangerous rogue security program that is designed to look like an authentic spyware removal tool to the user. This application advertises aggressively to the user through non-stop pop-up threat alerts and advertisements. The hacker’s main intention is to make the user believe that threats and parasites exist on their PC, so that they will buy the full product. These programs are a threat to the health of your computer, as well as your personal information.

This fake is a parasite that is capable of placing even more malware on your computer. SpyShredder may disable system files that are necessary for proper functioning, which will cause your computer to become unstable or slow. Information about your online activities may be collected and sold to third parties. Your personal passwords and business data may be at risk, and your PC could crash. If you notice that you are receiving an unusual amount of pop-up ads or that your browser redirects to unknown websites, you may have malware.

These programs often get installed without your knowledge or permission. They often get placed due to insufficient security settings, loopholes in your browser, or piggyback on other programs you download like music, videos and games. You may also get this rogue by clicking on links in spam emails. Practice safe surfing habits, but if you do become a victim, remove it immediately once detected.

SpyShredder, like most other fake antispyware programs, starts on every Windows start up and runs undetected by you in the background. It takes up a good amount of your system resources, which accounts for the slowness or “freezing up” of your computer. In worse case scenarios, your PC may crash. You may be tempted to remove this parasite manually, but this is not advised. All related files and values must be located and deleted, which is not an easy process. Your computer is at risk of damage as well when you do this.

If you get security alerts warning you of infections, do not download the free scan. By doing so, you are actually placing SpyShredder on your PC. However, if you do contract it some other way, you need to remove it at once to avoid further damage or problems. The best action you can take is to get a reputable antispyware tool that guarantees 100% removal of all infections, security threats and other parasites. Your computer, as well as your personal information, will be secure once again!

To scan your pc for free and find out if you have SpyShredder click here.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/spyshredder-dont-depend-on-it-for-security-1194527.html

About the Author:

Carl runs a site devoted to helping you rid your computer from all sorts of spyware and malware at http://www.spyzooka.com/

Dr. Protection is yet another rogue security program that has unleashed itself on the internet world, supposedly as a legitimate antispyware tool. This application is a fake, and the main intention of the hackers who invented it is to alarm the user that security threats exist on their PC, so that they will buy the product to remove these threats. Be aware of this, and do not waste your money!

Like most other fake antispyware tools, Dr. Protection advertises aggressively to the user through misleading pop-up security warnings. This is an attempt to frighten you, so that you will download the scan that is offered to detect the infected files. The results displayed are completely false, and should not be believed. This program cannot detect threats, so of course it is unable to remove them.

This application will cause the usual symptoms if it becomes installed on your PC. A slow running computer, constant pop-up ads, and browser redirection are some of the common signs that you may be infected. Most rogue security programs like this one have the ability to collect information about what you do when you are online, as well as private data such as passwords and credit card numbers. These programs are dangerous, and should be removed as soon as detected.

Where might Dr. Protection have come from? This one usually comes by manually downloading the free scan. However, most malware has the ability to modify or delete system files that are crucial for the performance of your PC, and can cause severe damage to your computer. Any malware should be removed so that your system does not become unstable or even crash. Many of these infections install when you download other files, open spam emails and visit questionable websites.

Manual removal of this rogue requires killing all associated running processes, then detecting and deleting all related files and values in the Windows registry and other various locations. Manual removal will likely cause severe damage to your PC unless you are an expert in this complex task. To remove Dr. Protection automatically, it is advised that you use a reputable antispyware application that guarantees 100% removal of all malware, parasites, trojans and other security threats.

To scan your pc for free and find out if you have Dr. Protection click here.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/dont-be-fooled-by-dr-protection-1228388.html

About the Author:

Carl runs a site devoted to helping you rid your computer from all sorts of spyware and malware at http://www.spyzooka.com/

Have you heard or perhaps been infected by VirusShield2009? This rogue security program is designed by hackers, and looks like a legitimate antispyware tool to the average user. Through aggressive and frequent security alerts, this malicious application tries to convince that security threats exist on their computer, so that they will purchase the product to get rid of the parasites.

Fake programs like these are numerous, and can really cause problems. You may notice that your PC is just not performing up to speed. It may become slow, and you may also notice that you are getting frequent pop-up ads and threat alerts. Your browser may send you to websites that you did not try to visit. In some cases, your computer may even crash. VirusShield2009 is spyware, and should be removed from your PC as soon as you detect its existence.

The reason that your PC behaves strangely is that these applications have the ability to modify or delete system files and install additional malware. They run constantly in the background every time you start your computer, although you probably don’t know it. This means that they use a large amount of your system resources and memory. Often, malware like this collects private information and data concerning what you do when you are online. This information may be sold to third parties.

VirusShield2009 may be placed on your PC by actually downloading the scan they offer, or by downloading other files that you like. You may also get it from visiting malicious websites or through links in spam emails. Most do have the ability to damage your computer, and the longer they are left the more trouble they can cause. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned earlier, you may have been infected.

Although most of these rogue security programs may be removed manually, this action is not advised due to the risk of severe damage to your PC. Manual removal requires killing all associated running processes. You must then locate all files and values that are related to VirusShield2009, so that you can delete them. Deleting the wrong files can make your system inoperable, which is why it is not recommended. If you have malware on your PC, it is highly recommended that you use a reputable antispyware application that guarantees 100% removal of all parasites, infections and other security threats.

To scan your pc for free and find out if you have VirusShield2009 click here.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/virusshield2009-shields-nothing-at-all-1208224.html

About the Author:

Carl runs a site devoted to helping you rid your computer from all sorts of spyware and malware at http://www.spyzooka.com/

SpywareStormer is a rogue security program designed by hackers so that it appears to be a legitimate spyware removal tool. This fake advertises incessantly through pop-up security alerts, informing the user that malware and other parasites exist on their PC. This software can cause poor computer performance, and also collect private information about you. Before you spend your money on this rogue, here is some information you need to know.

Most of these fake antispyware programs advertise non-stop to the user, so that they may alarm you enough to download the scan they offer to detect these supposed threats. Once you do this, the results they display of infected files are usually made up. They do this in order to convince you to purchase their product, which is not capable of scanning your PC to start with, and it certainly cannot detect or remove any threat or infection.

SpywareStormer is potentially dangerous, and may cause your computer to crash. Most of these applications have the ability to modify network settings, disable or delete necessary system files, and place more malware on your PC. This will cause your system to become slow, and you may be bombarded with pop-up ads as well. Hackers can often use these programs to send out spam emails that look as if they were sent by you. Your browser may redirect to unknown websites as well, and private information such as your passwords and credit card data may be accessed.

Where do these rogue security programs come from? Most of the time, you don’t know when it is installing. It may be placed on your PC if you visit an unsecure website, or download programs like music, games, or freeware. You may also get it by clicking on links in spam emails. This software remains resident and runs constantly in the background, so it uses a large portion of your system resources and memory. When you believe that you have become a victim, you should remove this malware at once, to prevent damage to your computer.

Manual removal of SpywareStormer is not recommended, because it is a complex process that has the potential to damage your computer. Related files and values must be deleted from the Windows registry and other locations, which is risky. To get rid of any type of malware, it is advised that you use a legitimate antispyware tool that offers a 100% guarantee, and removes all parasites and infections automatically.

To scan your pc for free and find out if you have SpywareStormer click here.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/spywarestormer-is-fake-dont-waste-your-money-1211355.html

About the Author:

Carl runs a site devoted to helping you rid your computer from all sorts of spyware and malware at http://www.spyzooka.com/

PCAntispyware2010 is another rogue security program that is designed mainly for the purpose of alarming the user so that they will buy the product. This malicious application is promoted through the trojan Braviax, and displays security alerts to the user constantly in an effort to make them believe that threats exist on their PC. The purpose is to convince the user to purchase the product so that these supposed threats and parasites may be removed.

This program is malware, and should be removed immediately once detected. Although it promotes itself as a legitimate antispyware tool, it is not. PCAntispyware2010 has no ability to scan your computer, so the results of the scan are totally false. It cannot detect threats, nor can it remove them. It is a scam that is designed by hackers, and can affect how your PC functions. Your computer may become slow or even crash. This is because malware often disables or deletes system files that are crucial for your system to operate normally.

You will probably also notice that you are getting constant pop-up ads and security alerts, and your browser may redirect you to websites advertising the product. Your home page may change as well, or you may have new shortcuts on your desk top that were not there before. PCAntispyware2010 is dangerous, and can collect private information about you as well, such as personal passwords, credit card information and other business data. This information may be sold to third parties.

How did you get this nasty parasite? There are several common ways this happens. It may have slipped through unknown to you when you downloaded another program such as freeware, music or videos. Shared networks are often the cause, or malicious websites you may have visited. You may also have gotten this malware placed on your PC by opening links in spam emails. Most of the time you do not know when it installs as it hides in the background.

To remove PCAntispyware2010 manually, you must kill all running processes and detect related files and values so that you may delete them. This is a difficult process that puts your PC at risk of damage, and is not advised. To remove this malicious application automatically, the best thing you can do is get a reputable antispyware tool that is designed for this purpose, and will remove 100% of parasites, trojans and other security threats that may exist.

To scan your pc for free and find out if you have PCAntispyware2010 click here.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/pcantispyware2010-this-rogue-is-not-antispyware-1219389.html

About the Author:

Carl runs a site devoted to helping you rid your computer from all sorts of spyware and malware at http://www.spyzooka.com/

Beware of FastAntivirus09! This rogue security program is created to look as though it is a legitimate tool to remove spyware, but it is actually malware. These applications advertise aggressively and without ceasing to the user, trying to convince them that their PC is infected with security threats and other parasites. Hackers design these fake programs, and use deceptive tactics to try to lure the user into purchasing the product.

This rogue will advertise to you through pop-up security alerts, warning that threat exist and inviting you to scan your computer so that the infected files can be detected. If you fall for the ruse, the results that are displayed to you are fabricated. FastAntivirus09 has no ability to scan your PC in the first place, so it absolutely cannot detect or remove any type of virus or other threat that may or may not exist. If you do believe the results of the scan, you will be informed that in order to remove these parasites, you must purchase the full product. It is a total waste of money.

Malware programs like these are capable of much harm, both to your PC and your personal information. Many rogue security programs will modify network settings, disable or delete files that are necessary for your computer to perform properly, track your online activities and collect private data. This means that your computer will most likely run slowly, and you may see other symptoms such as browser redirection, a changed home page or annoying pop-up ads continuously. Your PC runs slow (or even crashes) because these applications use a tremendous amount of system resources and memory. Your passwords and personal business information may be at risk as well.

Where does FastAntivirus09 come from? While you may inadvertently place it there yourself by downloading the free scan, it may also come through with other programs you download. Music, videos and freeware are common sources, as well as shared networks, malicious websites and spam emails. While you probably won’t know when it actually installs, you will no doubt notice the symptoms mentioned above shortly after it has been installed. These fake applications must be removed immediately, to avoid damage to your computer. Most will also place even more spyware on your PC.

Manual removal is not advised due to the difficult nature of the process, and the risk of damaging your computer severely. If you believe that this rogue or some other malware exists on your PC, it is recommended that you remove it automatically with a reputable antispyware tool designed for this purpose. Make certain you choose one that is guaranteed that it will remove all traces of parasites, trojans, and other security threats, restoring security.

To scan your pc for free and find out if you have FastAntivirus09 click here.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/fastantivirus09-will-deceive-you-1219299.html

About the Author:

Carl runs a site devoted to helping you rid your computer from all sorts of spyware and malware at http://www.spyzooka.com/