Recognizing and Avoiding Rogue Security Software

January 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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There are plenty of great things about using the Internet, but there are a few things you have to watch out for. One of them is hacking. Hackers will try to get into your computer and cause you problems in just about any way they can find. They even create fake antivirus software, often called rogue security software, in an effort to get you to spend money on something that isn’t even going to help or protect your computer in any way. Don’t fall for that kind of scam – and don’t give hackers the chance to get it onto your computer. Instead, make sure that you’re using good, legitimate virus protection.

If you’re not sure what to get, there are several things to consider. You don’t want to pay too much, but you want quality and security. To get what you’re looking for, you should download PC Tools Free Antivirus. You don’t need to put in personal information or credit card information to use it, so you won’t feel like any of your information is being compromised or put at risk because it’s on the Internet. You also don’t have to worry about paying for a subscription to something that you have to keep renewing. Forgetting could put you at risk, so it’s nice not to have that concern.

It can sometimes be hard to tell whether an antivirus program is a fake or whether it’s something legitimate. A recent fake is System Tool. It pops up and insists that there are viruses on your computer. It ‘scans,’ and then tells you it can remove them for a fee. Many people don’t realize it’s a fake, so they pay the fee and assume that they’re protected. In reality, the company has their money and they still have no virus protection at all.

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Why You Need To Have Anti-Virus And Anti-Spyware Programs

December 16, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Running anti-virus software on your computer is an absolute necessity, especially if you are accessing the internet. These programs will prevent your computer from being infected by viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malware that can do a wide range of damage. These viruses exist almost everywhere in cyberspace, and without protection, you are always at risk from picking them up through email, popup ads or by visiting a malicious website.

Some damage is not that serious, but the most notorious viruses can access your address book, use your computer to send viruses to others, and do damage to your computer. There are viruses that cause your PC to shut down or to perform all sorts of illegal actions. Others can access your documents and steal your information. In the worst case, they can render your machine unusable.

Most Antivirus programs also include anti-spyware as well. Spyware applications can install programs that track keystrokes in an attempt to collect credit cards numbers, bank account numbers and passwords. Others can do damage by corrupting files and documents, or installing programs that perform a destructive action, for example, shutting down a computer whenever a word document is opened.

Even if you do not access the internet, it’s still possible to be infected. Documents can be infected with viruses or harmful macros. If you access these documents from an external drive, the viruses can replicate when they document is opened. You do not even need to be online for this to happen.

If you are fond of watching online movies and web streams, then you must use the media players and video codecs that are packed with security features.  Codecs like xvid and divx are constantly updated with security related fixes and are bug free.

While the source of most viruses can be traced to an email, many people suddenly find they have a virus and have no idea where it came from. Virus creators are increasingly creative in developing ways to spread infections, usually without you ever knowing. A reliable antivirus program is a must for every computer user. The cost of the program far outweighs the cost of professional virus removal.

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Why Your Computer Anti-Virus Software Constantly Updates

December 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment

If you are running a reliable anti-virus program on your computer, you may be annoyed by how many updates you have to download and how often it scans your system. While it may seem inconvenient, the fact is that frequent updates are actually a sign of an effective anti-virus program.

Because the people who create viruses are constant thinking up new ways to harm the rest of us, antivirus developers have to work twice as hard to keep up with new viruses and malicious programs. Because they can’t know what the bad guys will think up next, they can only work in response to viruses that are already out there.

Unfortunately, they bad guys are constantly at work. Anti-virus programs have to be constantly revised, added to and improved in order to keep up with the number of viruses that are created and discovered on a daily basis.

When you purchase an anti-virus product, you are not just buying a license for software, you are buying protection for a period of time, usually a year. This means that you are entitled to all the upgrades and improvements that are needed to keep your computer safe. As soon as viruses are discovered, the anti-virus company creates a fix, which is then passed on to you.

Anti-virus software is not static: it is constantly changing and improving. The updates are there to provide you with the latest fixes and to keep your computer safe from new discoveries. It is also designed to scan your system frequently to detect new viruses. This keeps your computer safe, and prevents the virus from spreading to others.

While it may seem inconvenient, it’s important to remember that frequent updates are a sign of an effective anti-virus tool. It means you are getting your money’s worth from the product and that it is actively trying to provide you with the best protective measures.

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Internet Safety

December 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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More than 90% of the world’s population uses the Internet in some capacity. The internet is such a great place to find Phoenix apartments at great rates.  Even if you don’t spend hours searching the Internet, you probably have an email account or have used a search engine to look up some information on Phoenix apartments. As with anything that becomes popular, there are crooks and cons that try to take advantage of this popular technology and use it to get personal information from unsuspecting users. 

To make sure that you don’t fall victim to these crooks and cons it is a good idea to take extra Internet security measures to make sure that you are not falling a victim to these types of crimes. Here are some Internet security tips that you can do to make sure that you are practicing good Internet habits. 

Clear Internet Cache. Clearing the cookies and cache on your Internet will get rid of any type of software or tracking cookies that can track your habits. This way no one will be able to know if you look at video games or Phoenix apartments, everything appears blank to them. 

Spyware. Everyone knows that running a virus scan on a computer is important. However, they do not know the importance of running a spyware check on their computer. Spyware can track typing, passwords and slow the computer down. Running a check for spyware will help you keep your Internet habits safe and secure. 

Check URLS. A lot of information is stolen by people going to sites they assume are legitimate and they are phishing sites. Always check the URL of the site you are heading to as many phishing sites are not the actual URL but a variation of it. 

Encrypt Information. Always make sure that all information you are sending is encrypted. This will scramble up the information and make it much more difficult for hackers to intercept personal information.

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