Interested in getting your kids into the alternative operating system Linux at an early age? Then Qimo might be the answer, built on Ubuntu, Qimo is aimed squarely at the little ones, just be aware though that it is a LARGE download (698MB!).
Keeping a computer running at its peak is a tricky business, especially when there are hackers and phishers and creators of Adware lurking behind the scenes waiting for their chance to cause damage to your machines inner workings or even worse, steal your private information.
It is vitally important to be as knowledgeable as possible on the various threats that exist on the Internet and take the relevant precautions for those dangers. The Internet is a wonderful tool, and many hours of enjoyment can be had from this remarkable invention of the twentieth century but it is always safest to be prepared.
Here is a basic rundown of what to be aware of:
Spyware
Spyware is number one threat on the Internet. Basically Spyware is computer software designed to spy on your computer browsing habits without your knowledge. Also known as Privacy-invasive software, Spyware collects your private information and sends it off to a third party.
How to combat this threat: Anti-spyware software like XoftSpySE
Adware
Adware is similar to its cousin, Spyware, as it can also be classified as Privacy-invasive software. Adware is essentially advertisements or pop-ups that automatically download on to your computer without your knowledge after you have downloaded software.
How to combat this threat: Anti-spyware software like XoftSpySE
Viruses
Computer viruses are designed by hackers to cause as much damage as they can. You get various types of viruses according to their function. Trojan Horse viruses are usually bundled with another program or disguised as something else. Once you download them on to your computer they can act as a portal for hackers to take over your computer and steal information.
How to combat this threat: Anti-virus software
Phishing
Phishing is an incredibly dangerous criminal activity that targets e-mail accounts. Mass e-mails are sent out pretending to be from legitimate financial institutions asking account holders to verify their login details by following a link. Once users do this, the creator behind the false website can use the login details to access credit card details, bank accounts and steal identities.
How to combat this threat: Anti-spam software like Spam Controls and awareness.
In todays society where the majority of business is conducted online it is essential that computer users practice safe surfing. Do not let the black sheep of Internet society spoil your wonderful web 2.0 experience.
Everybody loves a good gimmick (or as seasoned Internet surfers like to say, a meme) but when it comes to Internet security its best not to take any chances.
There are countless products being advertised on the Internet like animated mouse cursors, web toolbars and cartoon character menu icons that computer users can download for free. Many kids and people who do not know the dangers often associated with downloading unofficial applications see these gimmicks as fun extras to add personality to their computers.
In reality, many of these fun little extras use up valuable memory, slow down your computer quite considerably and more often than not contain hidden payloads of Adware, Malware or Trojan viruses which can cause considerable damage to your PC.
Some products use the gimmick approach just to sell a product that does not even adequately provide the service they advertise. As an example, if you were looking to download a virus or Spyware protection package, never trust a product that does not offer any form of guarantee, especially if that product has your childs favourite cartoon character on the box and was manufactured by a company that specializes in plastic toys usually found in Taiwanese Lucky Packets.
What to look for in an anti-virus and anti-Spyware product is the following; you need a product manufactured by a reliable company that offers a guarantee on the product you are downloading, preferably one that offers a free trial. Characteristics must include ease-of-use, dependability and noticeable results after the initial use. An excellent product that meets all these requirements is XoftSpySE, which has one of the largest definition lists in the industry that updates automatically to ensure that your computer is always protected from Spyware, Malware and Viruses.
At the end of the day, having a flashing wand as your mouse cursor is only going to slow your computer down and if you were unlucky enough to download it from the wrong source, then a slow PC is the very least of your worries. These threats are very real which is why having thorough protection is vitally important.
Online gaming has become increasingly popular over the last few years, especially with games like Second Life, Guild Wars and World of Warcraft emerging as the top role playing systems. Computer users spend hours playing these games as a means to unwind, de-stress and just escape from the burdens of everyday life.
But with all good things on the Internet there are always hackers lurking in the shadows and online gaming is no different. A nasty Trojan by the name of W32/OnlineGames!tr has emerged with the sole intent of stealing passwords from World of Warcraft users.
The tricky thing about Trojans is that you usually do not know you have one until its too late. What the W32/OnlineGames!tr does is copy itself to the Windows folder using a random filename and then drops a DLL file with a random filename in the System folder. Before you even know what hit you, your passwords are on their way to China.
If you are lucky, your Firewall would have detected an executable file on your computer was trying to connect to the Internet and you can take preventative action. The best defense against Trojans, Viruses and Malware is protective software like XoftSpySE. What this product does is effectively scan your entire computer for Malware and Spyware and then quarantine the infected files before they can do any damage.
If you spend considerable amounts of time on the Internet, especially online gaming, its essential that you keep your computer well protected from Malware threats.
Any Internet user knows the hazards of browsing web pages littered with advertising boxes that try to lure you to click them with flashy images and misleading slogans like ‘You are a winner’ and ‘You have two messages waiting for you’. If you fall into the trap and click on one of the ads then what is more than likely to happen is a pop-up box will appear on your screen and if you are unlucky, Adware will download on to your computer.
The best way to protect your computer from Adware is by having anti-spyware software like XoftSpySE installed on your PC. Anti-spyware software will detect and remove harmful applications that seek to install on your computer with the aim of monitoring your browsing habits. This is your best defense against Adware, Spyware and Malware.
Another precautionary measure you can take is simply switching your browser. This simple action can dramatically reduce the risk of Adware infection on your computer.
Mozilla Firefox has a list of add-on applications designed to improve your web browsing experience. One of these add-ons is called Ad-block Plus. By simply installing the Ad-Block Plus Add-On to your Firefox browser you can block all those irritating advertisements that appear on the web pages you visit. Once you have tagged an ad to be blocked, it remains blocked to till you have selected otherwise.
Now you can enjoy the freedom of ad-free browsing without the worry of accidentally clicking on something that might darken your doorstep with Adware.
You can never be too protected from Malware.
If you have had your computer for more than four years then chances are that it’s running at a slightly slower pace than it used to.
Before you jump ahead and upgrade to a newer model, there are certain steps you can take to speed up the one you already have. If done correctly, you can get a few more years out of your old faithful and save a lot of money in the process.
Before you begin, back up everything that needs to be backed up. It’s always better to be safer than sorry when it comes to safeguarding your information.
The first thing you need to do is clean out all the dust in your tower. This may seem trivial but dust can accumulate over the years and actually cause problems if not addressed. Besides, a good spring clean won’t cost a thing and will be beneficial for the health of your computer, especially if you choose to sell it.
Make sure that your computer is running and installing regular updates. Also check to ensure that your computer has sufficient disk space and memory. All of these factors can dramatically slow down your computer.
Every time you uninstall a program, it leaves a tiny fragment of itself behind. Empty registry keys and errors can build up over time and clog up your Windows Registry. Conducting a sweep of your Registry with a registry cleaner is a good way to speed up your PC and add a few more miles to the clock. A good product for the job is RegCure, which is quick and simple to use and delivers good results without the risk of damaging your computer.
It is important to conduct regular virus scans on your computer with trusted anti-virus software as well to install anti-spyware. This is vitally important as Spyware is one of the major causes of computer crashes worldwide. XoftSpySE is a reliable product that comes recommended by experts that will completely scan your computer for Adware, Spyware, Pop-Up’s, Trojans, and Malware.
Lastly, have a look at how fragmented your hard drive is. If your hard drive is too full, it can adversely affect the working of your PC. If you decide to defrag your computer, first empty your recycle bin. Next, start Windows in Safe Mode. This will simplify the process. The third step is to uninstall any programs you no longer want or use. Then cancel any programs that are scheduled to run. Delete any temporary files by running Disk Cleanup. Finally, run the Disk Fragmenter in System Tools. It’s best to do this overnight.
By now your computer should be running slighter faster. Keep repeating the above steps every few months and you will be able to enjoy the use of your computer for a while to come. If all else fails and you think its time to throw the old girl out, always remember to clean out the hard drive before you do. You don’t want to run the risk of identity theft.
Like the giant wooden horse of legend, Trojan’s are nasty little problems that are designed to fool computer users into thinking they are something that they are not. Trojans are usually disguised as other programs, and the unfortunate part is that you don’t know you have one until its too late.
Trojans do not strictly fall under the category of viruses, which attach themselves to as many programs as they can, but are rather computer programs designed to cause damage to your computer, deliver a payload of Malware or act as backdoors. In the initial stages of infection, Trojans do spread in the same way as viruses, but differ in that they only infect a program once.
Trojans are very dangerous. In the same way that the Trojan Horse in Greek Mythology allowed the Greek armies to sack the city of Troy, so a Trojan backdoor allows its creator to invade your computer. Once the program has been installed on to your computer, and if that particular Trojan was designed to act as a port to allow its designer to enter your machine, he or she can access all your files, without you ever knowing.
Some Trojans are designed solely to cause damage, or to deliver viruses or Spyware on to your computer. Having a firewall installed on your PC is a good defense against Trojans, as is having reliable anti-virus software and anti-spyware software installed. An excellent product is XoftSpySE which regularly updates its definition lists to ensure that you are protected from as many threats as possible.
Many computer programmers send out Trojans just because they can. It really is better to be safe than sorry. Protect your PC by installing pre-emptive software before you fall victim to something.
In the age of Web 2.0 it seems that everyone is online. If you don’t have a blog, a Facebook and Twitter account or all of the above then at the very least you have e-mail and an Internet connection.
Your computer has become your gateway to keeping in constant contact with the rest of the world. In fact, because of the Internet, the world seems to have shrunk to such an extent that you can speak to almost anyone.
The negative side of this is that the Internet also acts as a gateway to all sorts of threats that have the capability of causing serious damage to your computer. Spam, Malware, Adware, Spyware and Viruses are just some of the dangers that can invade your computer if you don’t take precautionary actions to avoid attack.
Recent reports have shown that one web page is infected every five seconds with some form of threat. To give you an example of that as a percentage; that’s 90% of all e-mails falling under the heading of spam.
It’s never been more important to be educated about Internet security. Software can be downloaded for free from the Internet that will not jeopardize your security any further. All you need to protect your computer from threats is no more than a click away.
Right off the bat, you can turn your Windows Firewall ON. Now at least you have some basic protection. Next, download free anti-virus software and if you have e-mail, anti-spam software as well. Spam Controls is an excellent spam filter that also reduces the risk of phishing.
XoftSpySE is anti-Spyware software that will also protect your computer from Adware and Malware. The software regularly automatically updates its definition lists so as soon as a new threat emerges, you’re protected.
If you’re going to spend hours on the Internet you have to ensure that your computer is protected.
The Windows Registry is one of the most important components of your computer. It is the directory of all the information that travels through your computer and it stores the settings and options for the entire Windows operating system. That’s pretty big stuff!
Over time the registry gets clogged up with debris and empty registry keys that get left behind. These errors are the major cause of slow booting-up times and system crashes.
If you want to keep the windows registry in top condition, you need to sweep out these registry errors regularly.
Because of the size of the registry database, manually cleaning up the junk and invalid entries yourself would be just plain impractical. Now you can understand how important a registry cleaner is for your PC.
You can understand why using a registry cleaner is important for the continued operation of your computer but did you know that a registry cleaner will aid you in combating the threat of Spyware as well?
Using anti-spyware software will effectively protect your computer from Spyware and will remove existing Spyware. The sneaky thing about Spyware and Adware is that just like other programs, they leave registry entries as well. A registry cleaner will delete these registry entries from the Windows Registry thus ending the reign of Spyware on your computer.
RegCure and Registry Mechanic are great registry cleaners to use that are 100% Spyware free.
XoftSpySE is highly recommended anti-spyware software that is 100% safe to use against Spyware.
Spyware is a computer program that gains access to your computer without your permission which operates in the background without your knowledge. Spyware is designed to track your Internet habits which it then sends to third party advertisers.
Spyware doesn’t necessarily damage your computer, but it does use up processing power and take over your browser to try and make you click on certain advertisements or direct your attention to certain websites.
More than two-thirds of all personal computers worldwide are infected with some kind of Spyware.
At present, only Linux users are safe as most Spyware targets only the Windows operating system.
Spyware usually gets onto your machine through your own actions, even though you are unaware of it at the time. The likeliest suspects are pop-up boxes that offer you something for free, or tell you that you have won some sort of prize. Spyware relies on trickery in order to get you to install them.
Common ways that Spyware may gain access to your computer:
Not only does Spyware compromise your personal information and privacy but it can also generate endless pop-up ads that make your Web browser so slow it becomes unusable. Spyware can also reset your web browser’s home page to display an ad every time you open it.
Anti-Spyware software and a pop-up blocker are essential. Modzilla Firefox has an add-on which can block pop-ups which is a very useful tool. XoftSpySE and Anti-Spyware are excellent products that will protect your computer from the threat of Spyware.
I cannot emphasise enough how important good anti-Spyware software is for the continued wellbeing of your computer. After all, it’s your investment you’re protecting.
Lastly, always be mindful when installing new software and always read the fine print.
You never know who’s watching.
You are currently browsing the archives for the Spyware category.
