Knowing How to Maintain Your Computer

We need to check our personal computer for maintenance at some point or another. Computer maintenance tasks can be performed by any novice user though most of the time it is best to let a professional handle them. Maintenance has to be done periodically. It can involve using simple tools on the computer like disk cleanup, defragmenter, and installing the best antivirus for protection against threats. Hardware maintenance, on the other hand, is a little complicated because it requires opening the CPU case. For example, a simple problem of dust build-up can wreak havoc on the unit if not checked early. It prevents proper ventilation, decreases the efficiency of operation and can even damage computer components permanently.

Companies that offer repair and maintenance calculate costs differently. Costs also depend on the specific needs of a unit. Some companies charge a service fee by the hour. Normally, the service fee is about $75 an hour and there is an additional charge for every fifteen minutes beyond that. Others collect a fixed amount of $100 regardless of the number of hours it takes to finish the repair or maintenance. There are also companies that try to lure potential customers by offering discounts.

Computer maintenance ranges from simple tasks of running disk clean-ups or installing updates on the best antivirus program to buying and installing software and component upgrades. Depending on the needs, a computer user may eventually decide to increase the unit's memory, add more hard disk space, replace an old video card or upgrade to the latest processor. These things usually take less than an hour or two and only require minimal fees if taken to a professional service.

Some computer repairs, on the other hand, can rack up charges of up to $300 depending on how serious the problem is. Extensive system upgrade sometimes requires re-installation of the unit's operating system. Performance complaints such as system crashes, network connectivity and problems with the peripherals (printers, audio, and video) often require professional help. If the computer has a severe virus infection, even the best antivirus program may not be enough and a complete reformat of the unit is needed. These problems can take from about an hour to half a day to be resolved. Computer repair and maintenance, however, should not be as expensive as it sounds. Save money by arming yourself with simple knowledge on troubleshooting. Visit this site to learn more.

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Computer Viruses: What Are They?

Computer Viruses are the Definition of trouble

All over the world, computers and other devices that are connected to the internet are at risk of becoming infected by a computer virus. But what is a computer virus, anyways? Like with humans, a virus can make your computer "sick", and can be spread from computer to computer. A computer virus is described as a program that infiltrates your computer's defenses, disrupting normal computer functions, and can even delete programs, files, and can even wipe your hard drive clean. Some viruses simply make things frustrating, and are intended as pranks. Others, though, have a more destructive purpose, and can make things very difficult, and can even wind up costing you money for repairs.

Different Types of Viruses

Today, there are several different types of viruses. Most of them infect your computer through attachments in emails, or by clicking on popup ads, or even simply visiting a website. Some viruses are harmful, and others malicious, but not a real threat, as stated previously. Sometimes, all that happens is that you get spyware dumped in to your system. Every week, a new, stronger virus is being created, making antivirus companies stay on their toes. But what are the different types of viruses out there?

• Trojan Viruses - This type of virus is probably the kind that is most often encountered. They lie in wait on websites, popup ads, and emails, and don't make themselves out to be threats. Some get caught right away by antivirus software, and are easily taken care of. Others, though, can be a bit sneakier. Trojans can be disguised to look like a legitimate file. But the second you open that file, you've infected your computer. Some Trojans are destructive, and others dump spyware in to your system.

• Worm Viruses - A worm is a very serious risk to your computer, and others. Worms are defined as a sub-class of viruses, and can spread without any interaction from users. When a worm infects your system, it uses file and information transfers to carry itself in to your system. Email is the preferred choice of travel, but really, you can pick them up just about anywhere, at any time, and they don't always make themselves known to your antivirus. The most dangerous part about a worm is that it can make replications of itself, and if it is in your email, it will infect every single person you have listed as email contacts. They are destructive, and can wipe out hard drives.

• Blended Threats - These are probably the most sophisticated form of a virus attack. Blended threats combine some of the worst attributes of malware, viruses, worms, and Trojans in to a single, but very serious threat. They aren't encountered very often, but when they are, watch out. They use vulnerabilities within your system to infiltrate, infect, and spread. They are also capable of spreading to other computers, like a worm does. But they don't attack just one part of your computer. In fact, they are capable of launching multiple attacks to.exe files, HTML files, and so on all at the same time.

Computer Virus Removal and Future Protection

Now, this should be obvious to most. The best way to remove viruses and protect your computer is by investing in antivirus software. Sure, you can download some antivirus programs for free, but they don't offer the full protection plan like the programs you purchase. Depending on what you do while on the internet will determine what kind of antivirus program you need. If you just play games, and surf the web for leisure, then you don't need anything overly fancy. But if you run your business on the web, like web designing and other such occupations, then you might want to spend a little extra and get the more advanced programs. Of course, these are just opinions and suggestions. In the end, it's personal preference on what you get.

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The Secret of Online Security Protection

People these days are faced with a wide variety of choices when it comes to protection from viruses and other online threats. There are companies that have developed 100% free antivirus programs that offer basic protection, while some say they provide Internet security and protection from other threats like malware and spyware.

Choosing an antivirus software can be pretty daunting for most ordinary computer users. Many of them don't even know what kind of security they need and tend to get creative in choosing a program over another. Some people are thrown off by complicated software interface and end up settling with a user-friendly but ineffective free antivirus program. Some are fooled into thinking that the expensive programs are the most effective and end up paying too much for a software with features they don't even need.

Many security products allow people to subscribe to protection for a certain period of time. The danger here is that you end up renewing a subscription unknowingly and unwillingly, and shelling out money without intending to.

An antivirus company, for example, may require you to unsubscribe from their service one month before your current subscription expires. While they do send you a reminder of such a rule, they do so very discreetly that you end up ignoring it. Your credit card is then charged with a renewal of the subscription and you are forced to face a bill you are not prepared to pay.

Another problem with these antivirus programs is that their effectiveness in wiping out threats is simply on a decline. Some studies have shown that security software products are about half as effective now as they were the previous year and the percentage continues to decline the following year.

The explanation for this is that viruses and all forms of malware are simply more dangerous today than they were ever before. The people developing these viruses are getting smarter and are learning from their mistakes. Some threats are designed and disguised as simple ads online that fool even the most cautious of users. Other threats are created by well-funded professionals and are designed to bypass any security tool.

One product that can be a solution to your dilemma is using an online free antivirus scanner that has an unprecedented percentage in detecting suspicious files on your infected computer. There are tons of antivirus programs to choose from these days, but this Free Online Computer Virus Scanner is highly recommended.

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Computers Performing Poorly: Possible Non-Hardware Causes And Solutions

Why did my computer become so slow? is a question almost every regular owner of a desktop computer or a laptop computer will sooner or later ask. It may puzzle you how your computer used to be lightning fast and then suddenly, it is already performing poorly. Some people might relate this to a hardware problem and take their computers to a technician only to be told that nothing is wrong with the hardware.

This is because the slowing down of a computer's performance is more often related to software and/or system problems. And most of the time, such problems can easily be fixed at home using simple and sometimes, dumb-proof solutions.

Crowded hard disk

Just because you have a sweet 500 GB hard disk capacity does not mean you can just fill it up until only a few megabytes or gigabytes are left. The more crowded you hard disk gets, the slower your computer will be. Opening files and retrieving date will be especially slower.

So what should you do? Do these simple steps: 1) empty your recycle bin (deleting a file does not remove it from your storage dude), 2) remove unnecessary files, 3) uninstall programs you do not really use, and 4) considering saving large files you do not regularly use to a separate storage device such as an external hard drive.

Fragmented hard disk

Nope, not even emptying your recycle bin will permanently delete a file. Essentially, you are only removing the recall data (this is why deleted files can be restored using a special software). So the more you perform the save and delete action, the more you are fragmenting your disk. The more fragmented a disk, the slower its performance will be. SO what do you do?

It is simple really. You just need to defragment your disk, a process available to all. So where do you find this function? Well, let us makes things easier and skip the difficult part. Just use the search files and programs function in the windows button and type defrag and you should find the function. You just activate it and it will do everything. The only let down is that it takes hours and hours to finish. Do this only 2 or 3 times a year.

Too many startup programs

These are programs that are set to open and activate upon turning your computer on. One good example is Yahoo Messenger. You can set it up to run and even automatically login the moment you turn on your computer. However, many startup programs are not necessary. Simply go to the settings of these programs and disable their run at startup function.

Virus infection

A computer virus can affect your computer in many adverse ways. One is that it can cripple your computer from running to crawling. This can easily be remedied by installing an up-to-date computer virus. But if the virus has already done a lot of damage, it is advisable that you reformat your computer or run windows repair before installing an antivirus.

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Host Intrusion Detection Systems

Network Security incidents are becoming a bigger and bigger problem for businesses of all sizes. Recent attacks on large entities such as NASA, Lockheed Martin, RSA, and Google have shown us that no company is completely safe. Managers need to figure out ways to mitigate risks and develop contingency plans for the inevitable break in. There are a variety of tools and systems available, but the one we want to talk about today is the Intrusion Detection System, otherwise known as IDS. The intrusion detection system focuses on detecting malicious activity. By using these tools to recognize when an incident has occurred, administrators are able to respond quickly to take corrective measures.

Malicious users or hackers can get access to an organization's internal systems in various ways, including

Software bugs called vulnerabilitiesLapses in administrationLeaving systems to default configuration

An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) complements firewall security. While the firewall protects an organization from malicious attacks from the Internet, the IDS detects attempts on breaking through a firewall. If someone attempts or manages to break through the firewall security, the system springs into action. It alerts a system administrator, functioning much like a burglar alarm.

There are two main types of Intrusion Detection systems: host based IDS and network based IDS. The host-based sensor is software that runs on the host being protected, monitoring system audit and event logs. When any of these files change, the IDS sensor compares the new log entry with attack signatures to see if there is a match. In case a match is found, the sensor notifies the management console. These sensors do not do any packet level analysis. Instead, they monitor system level activities. For example, the system would detect events such as an unauthorized user (not an administrator) changing registry files in a Windows NT system, changing /etc/password or /etc/shadow file in a Unix system, or a user trying to login late at night when only authorized for normal business hours. These indications are useful for detecting suspicious activities that may indicate a compromise.

The host-based sensors monitor these kinds of activities, responding with administrator alerts when anomalies occur. Host based IDS have grown over the years. Some systems checks key system files and executables via checksums at regular intervals for unexpected changes. Other products listen to port based activity and alert administrators when specific ports are accessed. Each system solution has its own advantages and disadvantages. What is important is that managers determine which solution is correct for their companies.

To learn more, please visit Host-Based IDS

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Choosing the Right Virus Protection

The computer crashes all of a sudden. It reboots automatically every few minutes. Your homepage changed and you cannot change it back. You observe some unrecognizable files in your documents folder. These situations sound familiar because they are tell-tale signs that your computer is infected with a malicious file. Because of the internet's ready accessibility, it is quite easy for viruses to sneak into a computer. Your unit can be infected when you simply go to a website, check an email, chat, or share files over a network. The best way to protect your unit from malicious threats is to block them before they enter your computer. Some people think that a free antivirus download can give as much protection as any program that costs a good amount of money.

A malicious file wreaks havoc on a hard drive by changing some important files. Some viruses are designed to prevent programs from executing properly. Others are designed to allow access to a remote user to confidential files like passwords, bank and credit card information. These threats can attack any time. And the only way to protect your computer from these threats is by installing software that can give you the proper protection.

Many programs are now available to prevent any malicious attacks on computers. It is important to choose software that is right for your needs and internet browsing activity.

Whether it's a free antivirus download or expensive software, your privacy is safe if it gives you the right protection. Research is important. Each program works differently and has unique features to offer. Comparing different programs also helps.

If independent research is not enough, you can seek help directly from representatives of security companies. You need to get information on the software's features, how they work, what hardware you need to support it and its price.

Once you've decided on a particular product, you can now install it yourself or have someone install it for you. Once it's on your computer, a full system scan should be done. This takes a while and mostly depends on how large your file system is.

If a malicious file is detected, the program can either remove or quarantine it. This prevents the virus from spreading any more damage on your computer.

Having the proper virus protection on your computer is the best defense against online threats. Keep important documents, bank and credit information safe from hackers. Protect your identity and privacy. Get a free antivirus download or any other protection software.

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Protect Your Network From Malware Using Anti Spam Services

Studies show 90% of the 200 billion emails sent out and received each day are spam messages. These spam messages are often harmless, but some may include malicious software (commonly known as malware) that compromise your security. You need reliable email filtering or anti spam services to protect your business.

There are two types of malware that are serious threats to businesses: spyware and Trojan horses. Spyware collects information about your network's users without your knowledge, while Trojan horses conceal other malicious programs that can do everything from keystroke logging to stealing passwords and credit card information. These malware aren't just threats to you, but to your business associates, customers, and anyone else you send emails to. This is why you need to find an email filtering service that has both inbound and outbound filtering.

Inbound Filtering

When talking about spam protection for email, inbound filtering is what usually comes to mind. This type of filtering scans all emails you receive for threats, and alerts you about them or automatically put the infected emails into a designated spam folder. Inbound filtering is usually included in most email hosting services, such as Gmail and Yahoo Mail. Certain anti spam services may keep records of the email or IP addresses sending you spam messages, which makes it easier for you to block them.

Outbound Filtering

Instead of scanning messages you receive through your email, an outbound email filtering service scans the messages sent from within your email system. Some hackers are able to gain access to your computer network without being detected, and could be using your own servers to send out malicious emails. Outbound filtering prevents this from happening by monitoring any potential threats in the messages you send, and detecting any suspicious activity such as sending out massive amounts of emails. This allows you to determine exactly where the spam or security threats come from, and enables you or your IT team to come up with an immediate solution.

Finding a Good Email Filtering Service

The tricky thing about security software is striking a balance between eliminating threats and making sure you still receive all your legitimate emails. Some filtering systems go over the top with their security measures, and may block messages from your business partners or customers. You want to stay protected but not risk losing any business relationships or opportunities because of your email's anti-spam protection.

There are many companies and software developers offering filtering services for businesses. When looking for reliable service providers, look for those who have years of experience and proven results under their belt. Doing a quick search on Google should reveal which among the available spam protection services are the most popular and effective, but you need to do more in-depth research than that. Find customer reviews and testimonials that talk about the software you are looking into, or ask your IT team for their recommendations.

Do not forget to keep your budget in mind as you search for filtering software. Some of the more effective packages are often pricey, but it is easy to find alternatives you can use until you manage to build up the funds for the best filtering services.

Mae O'Connell is a software developer who helped create an effective email filtering service and anti spam service.

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