Safeguarding Information Security and Technology

Undoubtedly, Information technology has become increasingly important. It has become a part of the day-to-day operations of businesses, companies, government and non-government organizations. Daily living of an average individual involves computer and technology: communication, e-commerce, online banking transactions and other financial and work-related activities. Companies, entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises have become more reliant on information systems to support and deliver diverse and complicated business processes which include accounting, inventory, marketing, payroll, research, sales tracking and even remote business operations that involve real-time surveillance.

There have been fair, satisfactory and even excellent results brought by information technology. The general public has been clinging to what one might consider as the perfect solution to an ever-increasing demand of complex processes of problem solving that delivers fast and reliant results. Indeed. But the jubilation is not absolute. As information technology has become prominent in its importance, so does the threat that comes with it. Despite the advancement of information technology, security and privacy have become an increasing pain in the ass. While superior information technology system has been built by the experts, maintaining its security has become harder for administrators and end-users. Today's users have become increasingly wider- ranging from vast majority of employees in many companies and organizations and a huge fraction of households all of which are exposed to security and privacy threats.

Majority of the security features are a hassle and awkward to use and can present a great obstacle to use in getting work done in such a desired pace. As a result, internet security measures have been bypassed, disabled or ignored too often. Subsequently, when security gets in the way of functionality, end-users tend to disable the very security features that protect them from cyber threats. The result is that they often engage in actions, consciously or unconsciously, that expose them to these cyber threats while compromising system security and exposing sensitive and confidential or personal information.

Privacy tools and software have become increasingly difficult to use. Over the course of time, as cyber threats have become increasingly vast and complex in operation, the very core of the tools that are designed to protect end-users have become user-unfriendly, difficult to understand by an average user and a bit expensive to avail. These factors have contributed greatly in the end-users decision of ignoring protection tools that puts them at risk to cyber threats.

Computer technology must be geared towards protecting its users. Privacy and security software developers must come up with a protection model and features that do not interfere with system usability. They must come up with tools that are efficient and cost-effective. Web designers and developers for banking and e-commerce must triple their standard in making these websites secure and infallible of threats.

It is of utmost importance that creators of information technology and end-users work hand in hand to protect the system that we depend on for our day-to-day cyber activities.

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Network Security: 4 Common Breaching Methods And The People That Use Them

VPNs still remain the single best way to insure that your business network is safe from prying eyes and thieves. But in spite of being one of the best methods there has been a few high profile cases that have given cause for us to question their effectiveness. Studies have shown that in most instances of security breaches, the breach could have been averted if the administrator would have known of the 4 most common methods used, and who the threat could have potentially come from.

4 Perpetrator Types

Often, knowing where your potential hackers could come from enables you to avert the situation long before it becomes damaging. These are the 4 most common types of people that could potentially hack your network:

Script-Kids - These hackers only want the bragging rights, but don't underestimate their power. Even though they won't steal everything that isn't nailed down, they will brag about the fact that they did it, and how they did it.
Political Maniacs - These guys want to either destroy your reputation, or possibly use your network to further their goals.
Monetary Thieves - These guys will want every credit card, bank accounts, and any other financial data. They will spend like madmen until you discover their hack.
Revenge Seekers - This category includes current and former disgruntled employees that want to get revenge on you and your company for whatever reason.

The 4 Common Hack Types

Security breaches can be avoided if you know how thieves gain access to your network, before they get started, according to experts. It has been reported that the 4 most common methods of gaining entry is:

Man-In-The-Middle Attacks - This hack requires the hacker to listen, (also called snooping or sniffing), for a client to log into the network. The hacker will then use the authentication packet gained to glean the log-in credentials.
Physically Accessed - When a device or machine is stolen that is network enabled. The device may have the passwords stored in a file, or even have the automatic log-in enabled. Even if the auto-log isn't enabled, hackers can decrypt the password files to get access.
Passing Information - Getting access to a specific network often happens due to an employee talking... in many instances this is a disgruntled employee. In the last few years this has become more prevalent.
System Exploits - Almost every hacker keeps up with system bugs and flaws in OSes, and security clients. This is because updating and upgrading systems can be a hassle, and often time consuming. Firmware, software, and security certificates are the mainstay of this category, and once a flaw is found, it is quickly passed around to the community.

It's Up To You

It's easy to see how these types of breaches and hackers can easily be thwarted, once you know the who and how. Security experts all agree that updating systems at least once per month, and if an employee is released, immediately eliminate log-in to your network, will eliminate most of thee threats. They also recommend changing passwords on a regular basis, and in the event a device is lost or stolen, change log-ins for that account.

Fields Marshall specializes in internet security, and advising people on VPN's, security technologies, and related services. He writes informational and educational articles for VPNReviewz, to learn more, visit http://vpnreviewz.com/best-vpn-service-providers/

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Improving Your Cyber Security - A Beginner's Guide

A recent Eurobarometer poll revealed some relatively alarming statistics. Firstly, that around 10% of all European internet users had experienced online fraud and/or identity theft in some form, and that 74% of those quizzed believed cyber-crime to be an 'increasing risk'. Secondly, that only just over 50% had some form of anti-virus software installed on their computers, and that 57% would open emails from addresses they did not recognize.

McAffe, in a separate study, has recently published a list of what it considers to be the foremost online threats in the coming year. Amongst the risks, it mentions employees of companies being targeted as 'doorways' past security and more advanced viruses designed to steal banking information. This, coupled with the findings of the Eurbarometer poll, presents a worrying risk to European citizens. If those quizzed were aware of the inherent risks posed by the internet, and yet did not take moves to protect themselves, then there are only a small number of possible reasons why. Firstly, that they did not feel threatened by cyber-crime, however, given the 10% that had been victims of said crimes, it is unlikely that this is a universal principle. The second possibility is that there is a widespread lack of awareness when it comes to protection. The study found that even the most basic of security protocols were being ignored, so we shall therefore examine some security tips for the beginner.

Antivirus software - While your operating system of choice may have built-in software for dealing with certain threats, without a full, dedicated antivirus program installed, it can be hard to get frequently-updated protection against the ever-changing world of viruses. Many such programs can be bought cheaply, and charge an annual fee, but if you cannot afford them, then there are plenty of reliable providers with a free version of their product. Any protection is better than no protection.

Common sense - As a general rule-of-thumb, do not open emails that you either were not expecting, or that are from addresses that you do not recognise. However, be cautious using email, regardless of source. Some viruses are able to access your friends' email accounts, and use them to forward virus-riddled spam messages to everyone in that address' directory. If you receive a message out-of-the-blue from a friend, perhaps just quickly check that it is a genuine one.

Caution in security - Many websites and online services require users to register an account and provide a password, which is a good thing: they are being protective of your details (and whatever else you keep there). However be cautious about having one 'universal' password. If a hacker were to get hold of it, then they would have access to everything, and could even use it to change your details, and lock you out of your accounts. Repairing such damage would be very time-consuming.

Be wary of 'Cloud Storage' - Cloud Storage is a form of data-storage conducted solely online. It offers users either free or cheap use of its servers, and many people use it to 'file' documents and the like. It is an innovative and useful service. However, be wary of storing anything containing personal or confidential information in 'The Cloud', as it has gained a reputation for not being totally secure.

For more online security tips, as well as technology and search engine news, visit http://www.searchengineoptimisationcompany.co/. Their dedicated team of writers is always updating the site with the latest news and advice.

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Overhauling Your PC With Next Generation Security Defence

You know there is something wrong with your computer when it suddenly runs slower than how it usually is. A PC that used to be responsive and robust when it comes to performing the most basic tasks becomes slow and sluggish.

Bogging down your system is a nuisance and in some cases, can actually cause more trouble than you can expect. The problem lies in your system and the best solution is installing a dynamic anti malware software. If your concern lies in protecting important documents, files and your business in general, you can take the proper initiative to prevent future loses. With a next generation antivirus program, which can be easily installed, you will receive the ideal security needed to protect yourself against malicious invasions that will wreak havoc on crucial data.

Anti malware software incorporates protection against the latest and harmful security technology, which ensures that your business is not vulnerable to cybercrime. Here are few benefits of installing virus protection software:

1. Whenever you are online, browse and check your emails, whenever your antivirus software gets active. An antivirus is tasked to keep a check on outgoing and incoming information from unknown sources and email attachments. Few antivirus programs get integrated with web browsers to ensure they are available whenever you are online.

2. A full- fledged antivirus program provides a very strong protection against malicious threats such as Trojans, key-loggers, adware, root kits, worms and viruses to name some few. You can anytime adjust the sensitivity of your antivirus program in order to get good virus scan for your system.

3. Phishing has become the major approach of hackers online as one can see the widespread of threats all around. A cloud antivirus program can be easily installed on your PC in order to keep distance from phishing. The best program integrates itself with the web browser to provide a link scanner easily.

4. According to hackers it's their goal to breach your system's security and access various files, which tend to deem necessary for their benefits. It's important to block access to your personal information as antivirus program tends to offer it completely.

5. Irrespective of any attack from spam emails to Trojans, one should be assured of having frontline of protection.

6. With increase in utilization of cloud base softwares, it's important to protect your gadgets and computers from any unknown access.

It's not necessary to possess an expensive antivirus protection but it should assure you of privacy. Say goodbye to various online threats and virus programs and malware infections and let the right antivirus do its job.

Get windows free antivirus software and protect your system from virus attacks. Always use official or reliable websites to antivirus software download.

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Some Tips on Protecting Your Password Security

All your many accounts you use everyday online are open to threats, whether that be your email accounts or social media security. And the most common and easy way to hack your account is by accessing or guessing your password. So we would like to offer a few recommendations to protect your privacy, date and online security.

Firstly, it is strongly recommended to use a mix of upper and lower case letters in your passwords. Also be sure to make use of spaces, numbers and symbols. You would be surprised how many people do not bother with this first and easiest way to personalise your access to your online accounts. Do try to make your chosen password longer than eight characters too. Longer words mixed with a variety of characters that only make sense to you will greatly increase the security of your online actions. It may sound obvious but you will be surprised how many people do it: do not spell your name, address or spouse's name backwards as an attempt to be cryptic.

We understand it is easier to remember if you have one or a few default passwords. But do be careful with this. Once your cookies or online history and most visited sites or social media platforms have been accessed, cracking one password can make it too easy to violate other accounts. It is therefore a good idea to change your default password when you sign up to a new site so as to create higher protection for your other accounts.

Many sites and email providers offer an option to store answers to security questions, should you have a problem recalling your password or if further checks of identity are necessary. These can be a common place to make a fatal mistake in terms of your online security. Providing easy answers that are linked to your private information or personal identity date is one such mistake. If someone has managed to break into your account then there is a good chance that they could also easily find out and pertain access to other personal information about you. So do not use your birthday, birth date, or information about your spouse or family members. Even you mother's maiden name is said to be high risk information so is therefore best avoided too.

Hackers are very clever at breaking into data and computer systems so it is important to be vigilant and take easy precautions to protect your online and social media security. With a little know how you can guard yourself and your business from cyber hacking and other forms of social media abuse.

Treble9 group offer a range of services and training courses on managing your online security and using social media safely.

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Steps to Secure Home Computer Security

Implementing a computer security on your home system plays a great role in protecting your PC from various online threats like spyware, malware, virus, worms and many more. Everyday, new and more aggressive viruses get launched on the Internet, and while you do your best to diligently update your anti-virus, do not ever underestimate the kind of havoc it will wreak on your system. Bottom line is, whether you use the Internet or not, you will still need an efficient antivirus software that will detect each and every virus infecting your system.

How can you maintain a good antivirus program?

First you need to buy or download an antivirus protection for your system from the huge range of antivirus software available so as to ensure that your PC is little protected. Then it completely depends on you what all benefits you are using out of it for protecting your system. You should always scan your programs, files, and folder once a day to detect the entire virus, but most of the antivirus comes with Auto generated scan so that whenever you start your computer it will automatically start scanning your each and every folder and throw the detrimental viruses out of your system.

Avoid opening a wary and unknown folder

Be aware of the folders or emails which can put your Personal Computer in trouble by just opening it. This might sound tricky, but it is true. Many hackers endeavor to hoax you by fetching the sensitive date in the middle before reaching to the desired position. The best thing you can do is delete the email which is not being sent by the known recipient and always try to read the information sent by known person before clicking on the attached files. If you face any doubts regarding opening up any attached file then you must contact the person who sent that file to you at that moment only for betterment of your system.

How can you boost the security of home computer?

If you are using windows in your computer system then you must be thinking of getting windows updates for your Personal Computer. Many developers create patches for the windows to make it run efficiently without any intrusion. You can also twirl the option of automatic updates so that your computer starts downloading and establishing whenever you indicate it. You can even check their website for the most up-to-date program updates.

Protect your home computer with best cloud antivirus protection software. There are many websites available on Internet that offers best free antivirus protection download services safely.

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Overall View About Malware And a Few Facts About The Security Of Mac Computers

Malware is the abbreviation for malicious software. All of these malicious programs have a same characteristic that damages user's computers. Depending on different behaviours, they can classify malware into various types including worms, trojan horses or viruses.

Viruses are software programmed to infect computers and to cause damages to the system. Computer viruses have become more and more dangerous.

The history of virus started in 1987 when one of the first viruses called Lehigh appeared to attack command.com file. At the same time, another virus which existed was IBM Christmas that spread at a rapid speed. Later, more and more malicious viruses have appeared on the Internet.

The next type of malware is trojan horse. Its name comes from a famous story that the Grecian seized Troy city. Luckily, trojan horses are not infectious. People who create trojans disguise this kind of malware as legit software, useful tools or applications that easily attract Internet users to download them. Once trojans enter your computer, they will stay there to wait for proper time to steal personal data such as password or credit card number.

Worms are also another nightmare for Internet users. Worms combine the devastating nature of viruses and silent danger of trojans. Moreover, worms can infect computers in the world at a frightening speed. The typical worms are Mellisa or Love Letter. They spread through computers by sending themselves through email addresses found in infected computers. These emails often contain attractive content to trap receivers to open attached files.

A rootkit is a tool created to hide its existence, process, data and file in registry on the computer system. Users cannot detect these files or process if they only use common tools such as Task Manager or Find Files in Windows. Furthermore, rootkit can record what keyboards users press.

Nowadays, many people still think Mac OS X of Apple is safe and immune from malicious programs so Mac users do not care much about installing anti-virus software on their computers. In fact, similar to Windows, malware still infects Mac OS X but because the amount of Mac users is much less than that of Windows users, infected Mac computers are not mentioned frequently.

According to statistics, a virus called Flashback have infected more than 550.000 computers using Mac OS X. About 57% of infected computers are in the US, 20% in Canada and the rest stretch over the world. Obviously, the cyber threats are major problems to any Internet users.

So, equipping your computers with effective anti-malware software is very essential to deal with potential threats in the Internet. Spyhunter 4 is a powerful anti-malware program. You will learn a lot more how Spyhunter 4 helps to protect your computer and removes threats here:
Spyhunter Software

Or you can access spyhunter4.com to get more information.

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Live Security Platinum - One More Member of WinWebSec Family

Live Security Platinum is a fake antivirus program that has been noticed to infect more and more computer systems lately. For those who are not aware of it, this program is classified as a fake antivirus program that was designed by computer hackers in order to steal money from random computer users. The program belongs to WinWebSec family of rogues which is responsible for a bunch of fake anti viruses, such as Security Tool, Smart Fortress 2012 and others. Basically, it's a program that imitates actions of an antivirus and attempts to convince random computer users into purchasing it. This way computer hackers earn money.

Live Security Platinum uses a fake scanner, fake pop up messages and other security notifications in order to trick computer users into thinking that their systems are badly infected. The program runs its fake scanner with each system reboot. Once it finishes, the program generates a list of infections which is clearly falsified. Basically, the application will display files that do not exist at all or your legitimate files which are necessary for normal functioning of your system. Your system can be completely clear of infections but the scan results will claim the opposite.

What is more, Live Security Platinum does not allow running your executables. Instead it displays another notification warning that the program is infected and cannot be run. In order to fix that you will be offered to get a full version of a program. Basically, it will try to swindle your money away one more time. Since it becomes practically impossible to use any of the programs, many computer users do not find any other solution and they pay for this scam.

Other messages will warn that about spyware infections detected on your machine. Beware that as longs as the warning leads to an offer to purchase a license of Live Security Platinum. As you see, the creators of it are ready for everything.

Please do not fall for this trick of cyber criminals. You are strongly recommended to remove Live Security Platinum using a reputable antispyware program. Please make sure, you upgrade your security tools to their newest versions. New infections are created every single day, so it is crucial to have your security tools up to date. If you have paid for a license of Live Security Platinum already, contact your credit card company and dispute the charges as soon as you can. Do not give your money to computer hackers this easily.

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How to Set Microsoft Security Essentials to Customize a Restore Point Before Applying Malware Action

As you know that Microsoft Security Essentials helps you run virus scans and remove virus, malware etc. to keep your computer safe, but do you know that it can also help you undo and redo the changes to your system settings. You can set Microsoft Security Essentials to create or not to create a restore point before applying malware actions. This Microsoft Security Essentials support tutorial discusses how you customize the Microsoft antivirus program.

Step 1

Look for the Microsoft Security Essentials icon in the system tray and click to open it. If you cannot see the icon in the system tray, click the Start button and navigate to All Programs> Microsoft Security Essentials. When in the Microsoft Security Essentials window, click the Settings tab.

Step 2

Under the Settings tab, click Advanced in the left hand side panel. You will see a list of advanced options in the right hand side. Uncheck the box beside Create a system restore point. Review other settings if you want, otherwise click the Save Changes button and you are done. You can now start running a virus scan and removing malware.

Step 3

You can also configure Microsoft Security Essentials to create a restore point before it applies action to malware by checking the Create a system restore point box again. It will help you save and recover your system settings before the malware breaks into your computer.

Step 4

Click the Save Changes button when you are done. You can now start running a full or custom virus scan of your computer. When done, prompt MSE to remove the virus- or malware-infected files found during the scan. When done, exit the window.

Step 5

You can configure your MSE to scan archive files, removable drives like pen drive, CD etc., or particular files and locations in your computer. Besides, you can set and run automatic scheduled virus scans periodically for the enhanced protection of your computer.

Additional Tips:

It is recommended that you regularly update Microsoft Security Essentials with the latest malware, virus definitions. Updates help your antivirus program know about the ever growing threats and prevent them from taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of your computer.

It is also recommended that you run a full virus scan at least every fortnight or month for the maximum protection of your entire computer data. Also, run custom scans for downloaded files or the removable media drives as these may contain objectionable, susceptible contents. Also make sure that whenever you download something, download it from a trusted website and not from a torrent one.

The Author of this article is associated with V tech-squad Inc, V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. if you have any problem while performing the above steps and need technical assistance for Microsoft support, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201.

About V tech-squad Inc.

V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based online technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. V tech-squad provides support to users for issues with their PCs, Mac's, Tablets, Phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and devices such as MP3 players, Printers, Scanners, Fax, Wireless networking gear, Netflix, Roku boxes and TVs. With an obsessive focus on quality and building technical expertise, V tech-squad continues to maintain an issue resolution rate of more than 90%. V tech-squad's credibility has been tested by more than 10,000 customers. Currently V tech-squad provides support services to consumers and small businesses in United States. For more information on V tech-squad, Inc. visit vtechsquad.com.

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Get Rid of Security Shield

Security Shield has gone through dozens of mutations over the last year. This virus does not seem to be dying off. Users have a hard time removing this virus than others but the method is still the same. You should focus on stopping this malware from running. After this is done the remaining process is easy.

Preventing this malware from running is going to be hard. Put your computer in safe mode with networking so you can install an antivirus program. Update the program and start a full scan. This may not work in each case but it often works. A good free client to use is Malwarebytes. You can download the software on the internet with ease.

Like most other malware clients this threat does not do a huge amount of damage. It will block programs from running. It will also make installing software very hard. A lot of the times Internet Explorer will be easy to run still. The malware still might re-direct the things you search for online.

At this point you'll need to try to start your PC in safe mode with networking to install an antivirus software to remove the virus. At this point use it to full scan the computer. There are many clients that will work in safe mode, most will not.

You can use the browsing option to search the paths in Security Shield and delete the file if you need to. This is the fastest way and the quickest to erase it. View the above sites we mentioned for the latest folder and file paths. They change all the time so looking there is your best bet. Doing a System Restore seems to work very well for some people. This option will undo all the latest changes including installing the virus.

Getting a computer infection is never easy. Not for people who use their computer every day. I love free antivirus options but they don't have all the protection that's necessary to stay safe. Most free protective programs have a paid version as well. The paid programs work the best. You'll get live protection up front. There will also be updates and real time support for you. It's better to invest the 40 dollars per year to protect your computer than use the free antivirus.

Make sure you are able to keep your computer safe as you browse the net. The safer you are the less you have to worry about your personal information online.

Here's a video tutorial about how to remove security shield here.

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IT Security Topics Of Importance and Interest - Scary Stuff Indeed

Not long ago, there was an interesting article in Smithsonian Magazine "Cassandra Syndrome" in the April 2012 issue. No it was nothing you hadn't heard before, but it did shed some philosophical light on a very serious topic - cyberwar, privacy, computer viruses, and proprietary information loss amongst other things. Indeed, all leaks in the dam or great wall seems to lead to our largest Asian trading partner. Okay so let's talk.

The other day, I was talking to an IT professional, and I asked a simple question; "Do you agree that one of the biggest challenges right now is the lackadaisical attitude of employees downloading "apps" for their personal tech devices which they also use to log into the corporate IT system? Judging by the news and the uptick of hacking attacks as Apple for instance was allowing 1000s of new apps to be loaded into their catalog daily - well that seemed to be too much for coincidence.

At a time when we are being ripped off blind by Chinese corporate espionage, Russian Spies, Israeli spies, etc, etc, it would seem that corporations, especially high-tech, or those with proprietary process knowledge in manufacturing, or substantial R&D investment would be wiser. Again, lots of finger pointing there, thus, I recommend that you read that article cited above, I am not saying anything I haven't read about in the mainstream media, none of this is secret, it's all a reality in the present period.

Now then, with this all known, shouldn't the IT system have layered barriers for those accessing through personal tech devices not issued by the company, and one-time temporary authentication passes with a quick scan for malware prior to access. And how can the Cloud guarantee safety if the users from the corporation are so loose with their rules? And lastly, with the advent of quantum'esque computing how can anything really be all that safe moving forward.

Further, the way I see it, well it gets rather serious for instance when the USAF decides that iPads are okay for logistics pilots in the cockpit as navigational aids, I mean what other apps also are loaded on those iPads? One landing and use at a foreign airport with unsecured internet access, other than on the secured military servers and the device has been compromised. If those devices are giving away operational intelligence, locations, flights, times, etc. that's uncool.

There's just too much information available to keep secrets or keep our team safe these days - meaning the other option is to overload the system with so much information (misdirection) that it becomes impossible to filter out the reality - still, too much misdirection all at once, that just raises eyebrows on the "chatter scale" thus, tipping off that something is up, and unfortunately thus, when it really matters to keep things mellow.

The article I mentioned does have an interesting quote in it; "America's counter terrorism Chief Richard Clarke says that the cyber war has already begun," and even suggest that; we might be losing. Well stated, I concur. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Internet Safety Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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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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The Lazy Users Guide to Hosted Email Security

Okay, so I'll admit it's a bit of a provocative title - don't you think? In fact, I explicitly chose the word "lazy" since we're all a little bit guilty when it comes to understanding the different technical things that make our e-mail system work. This can apply whether you're an e-mail junkie, or if you are a newbie in this field. And after all, why should we have to bear the extra burden of keeping our e-mail system safe and secure when solutions exist for minimizing this burden?

As a regular user, we will often decide to use a cloud-based e-mail system so that we don't have to worry about the technical implementation, right? We don't want to worry about the latest security update that need to be applied to our servers, nor should we have to worry about those worms and viruses that are spreading like wild fire on the internet: we want to go with a cloud-based solution provider that we think is trustworthy enough to manage it for us. So here's the reason behind the "lazy user's guide".

Indeed, in order to be confident enough so as to play it the "lazy" way, we should have done our homework first when choosing our cloud-based e-mail service provider. We all want life to be simple, correct? We all just want to be able to rely on something we can trust - so here are the things you should check while doing your homework.

Does the cloud e-mail provider provide an antivirus system?

Viruses are everywhere, and e-mail is one of the biggest vectors used to spread them. We all receive business or work e-mails, chain letters from our friends, mailing-lists subscriptions and all kind of e-mails from known and unknown senders. Techniques used by virus makers are improving everyday and there's not one day on earth where there's not a new virus (or its variant) that is spreading over the internet. Cloud based e-mail providers just can't expect their users to be aware of the latest news on the virus industry, then have them apply the required patches - that's the job of the cloud provider's antivirus system and their technical teams.

Does the offer come with an anti-spam system?

Spam - ah spam, we've all received at least one of them. What amazes me with spammers is that they're so creative that they always find a way for circumventing the anti-spam solutions that most e-mail providers put in place. It just blows my mind, especially when I know that very sharp anti-spam solution providers will even use artificial intelligence to learn the signatures of spammers - but yet, some spam still goes through. That's why, most e-mail systems (including cloud-based e-mail systems) include a feature that allows each e-mail user to tag e-mail as spam should it go through all the anti-spam features that have been setup. No one is 100% safe from spam since you can't always control who puts your e-mail address into a mailing list.

If there's one thing I want to emphasize for concluding this article, it's the fact that every cloud provider out there would claim that they have those features installed. So shop around, and go with the ones who have proven track records, experience in email security and who have been "certified" by serious third-party entities.

Cloud services such as hosted Exchange and hosted SharePoint are available from Giacom World Networks. For more information, visit http://www.giacom.com/.

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New Cyber Security Measures Threaten Small Enterprises

When you download something online, you need to give up some personal information. When you try a free antivirus, for example, you may need to fill out an online form that requires your name and email. That company now has a bit of your personal data. A breach sometimes happens and all of the data collected by the company can be compromised. Lawmakers are now creating measures to try and protect the security of people online. Online regulation in this country is now taking a different direction. That is quite alarming. New measures on cyber security are under deliberation in the U.S. Congress. While many can admire what these lawmakers are trying to do, many more simply know that these measures do not really go after the root of the problem. These can instead punish those small start-ups and enterprises that do not have the resources to comply with these kind of measures.

Some put forth the idea that bigger businesses are supporting certain bills and proposals in the Congress. Lawmakers now want companies to be fully responsible when there is security breach and when data are compromised. Companies do try to protect data at all costs. Bigger companies have no problem with this since they have the funds to access the latest technology. Smaller companies, however, may not be able to keep up. Going back to our earlier example, a company that previously offers a free antivirus may end up putting a price on their product and that is one free product less for users.

All software do have a certain amount of vulnerability. Hackers can take advantage of even the tiniest vulnerability in software. Some conspiracy theorists believe that even though software developers want to plug these holes they are limited to do by the government because they want some form of access, too.

If small companies are punished for not being able to protect data then they may decide not to collect data at all just to avoid prosecution. If they are limited to collect data, they may be further limited in doing business online. This may in turn put their business itself in danger. In the earlier years, the internet provided a tool for small companies to be able to catch up to larger competitors. Now small entrepreneurs may not be able to take advantage of the internet anymore.

The social networking industry has been taking personal information and selling them to third party companies. This practice has been done without any qualms and consideration for the privacy of individual users. The problem is a lot of people now rely on online companies to keep some of their files and personal data safe. Online companies do remind its users to be more responsible. But users have the notion that all responsibility lies on these companies.

The problem with these politicians and lawmakers is that they are so keen at looking at the end and have a complete disregard for the means to achieve such an end. If a boutique employs more than enough security measures and a robber still manages to get into the store and ends up endangering a customer, does the boutique owner get punished for the incident?

This country has more than enough and even more important problems that should concern our leaders and lawmakers. It is quite easy for them to look for likely scapegoats when what they should do is analyze the problem and look for a real solution to threats against cyber security. Whether it's a free antivirus, a place in the cloud to store your backup files, or a shop online, small companies provide consumers with choices on different products. They have to be protected, too, if we are to keep a healthy economy.

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The Security Shield Virus and How to Remove It

There are many programs going around on the Internet masquerading as an antivirus program but in reality they are viruses infecting millions of computers daily. This is why it's so important to read antivirus reviews before you download anything so you'll know what a legitimate program is and what isn't. Security Shield is one of these fake antivirus programs that will infect your computer and it's from the same group that spawned the Security Tool virus. Like the ones that came before it, this virus program does a fake scan of your computer and then gives you false alerts that are designed to pressure you into buying their software. Once you buy it, it will steal your information making identity and bank theft likely. It's important to remove this virus as soon as possible.

First, let me reiterate that everyone should have a good antivirus program installed on their computer. If you do not currently have antivirus protection, please read antivirus reviews and select the protection that is right for you. If this virus program is not removed right away it will just keep digging itself deeper into your system until you're getting constant error messages, pop-up's and other warnings that makes your computer pretty useless. It will perform scans of your system and tell you that your computer is full of viruses, spyware and Trojans when the truth is the program is the virus. This virus must be deleted and there are two different ways to do this.

You can remove this virus manually if you are an expert and know how to edit the registry. You just seek all registry keys that have anything to do with this virus program and remove them and all corresponding files and folders. This process can take time and it can also be quite dangerous because one mistake can really affect your computer negatively, thus requiring professional assistance to fix.

It is recommended that you automatically remove this virus by using a good antivirus software. Be sure to check antivirus reviews before selecting which antivirus is best for you. It is very easy and safe to remove this virus with a good antivirus software. It will clean it out with just a few clicks and make your computer run like it did before you where infected. Hackers make new viruses every day so it is important to have a good antivirus and that you always keep it up to date.

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The Security Shield Spyware and How to Remove It From Your System

Spyware such as Security Shield spreads quickly and is very fast moving. There is an ongoing trend now of viruses that are made to look like security software, and Security Shield is just the latest of these. This type of software will do a computer scan and will repeatedly ask you to buy the full version of the software, but you should never do this. These people will steal anything and everything from your computer. While these programs will claim to be a free Antivirus (upgradable to a full paid version) that's capable of fixing computer errors on your computer, they will not. They will actually slow down your computer and put you in danger of losing your vital information. Software such as this is likely to take control of your browser, make some programs lock up, change the settings of your computer, drive you crazy with those pop-up ads, and steal your personal information. So we need to protect ourselves, our identity, our privacy and our money. It is vitally important to rid Security Shield Virus immediately!!

This threat will normally get on your system through spam, phishing sites, email attachments or flash video codecs. Security Shield sometimes combines with a legal program and once that program is installed, it can be very hard to get rid of. Things that your computer normally doesn't have any trouble with won't run correctly now. Performing searches will become difficult because they'll be re-routed and doing the simplest tasks takes a longer time. So how is this virus removed? Let's talk about it.

There are a couple of different ways to go about removing this. You can remove Security Shield manually which is only recommended for professionals because it involves editing the registry and one error could mean huge problems and a lot of money in repairs. Or you can remove it automatically. The manual way should only be attempted by experts. If you are one and are comfortable editing the registry, then follow these steps. Go in to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder. Find all related registry keys and delete them. Then locate related DLL files and unregister them and delete all folders and files related to the program. You can find the complete list of all files and folders related to this virus online.

I recommend the second option of removing the virus automatically. This can be removed by using a lightweight free antivirus. Most of these can clean up your computer fast and get it running like new in no time. Make sure that your free antivirus is from a reputable company and not another security virus. Also make sure that it does updates automatically and has an active scanning process that will keep you safe. If you take these steps you will no longer be at risk.

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Security Sphere 2012 And Its Dangers

These days, a threat to computers everywhere is the Security Sphere 2012, which has been discovered at an increasing rate on the World Wide Web. It disguises itself as a dependable antivirus software which can address your security problems but in reality, it has no worth at all. Security Sphere 2012 makes use of Trojans as a way to surreptitiously permeate any computer network totally and randomly.

The program copies all security tool functions. For example, it runs a scan in the computer system. However, it uses a false scanner that acts like it's searching for threats. When scanning is over, it delivers a fake scan report. The application declares that your computer is infected with a myriad of infections. Furthermore, it shows several pop ups and security alerts which gives you an impression that your computer is severely infected.

The application gives you a limited ability to utilize other computer applications. Most of the time, it brings out messages declaring that your computer had to abort the program you intend to start due to issues of security. Likewise, other messages would give you a warning about finding a spyware infection or any other harmful viruses. As a way to avoid losing data and having relevant information about you stolen, you'll be offered to buy a full Security Sphere 2012 version and be able to activate it as well.

Internet surfing is also affected by the program. When your system has a Security Sphere 2012 infection, it will show you security alarms saying that the site you are going to visit has been virally affected and it may cause your system to crash. Several reasons will be cited such as: virus information discovered at this page trying to put its components, unknown and malicious processes in the network are analyzed, a virus attack is imminent, negative references gathered from other people concerning this webpage, your backdoor and system ports have been scrutinized by visited page designed for external system access. The same message will ask you to get hold of a "Security Sphere 2012" license to give your PC the protection it needs to safely browse web pages, launch scanning process on malware, virus and spyware or continue surfing. Acquiring "Security Sphere 2012" will be given as a favorable recommendation.

Since all these statements are not true, you should never pay attention to them. Upon discovering such malware on your system, you must dispose Security Sphere 2012 by all means. If you have already purchased this malware, please advise the concerned credit card provider and argue about the charges.

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Time For Security Software Mac

Time to Take Security Seriously

The malware-free times of Mac users are behind us permanently. Mac OS X Trojan, MacDefender, Mac Security, Mac Protector (and the biggest of all) Flashback (is back). Although Apple has a small segment of the computer market, its owners are a richer demographic. "If you can spend (US)$2,000 for a MacBook, you've got money". "Cybercriminals are smart... These bad guys want to get a look at the 'Mac' user's bank accounts now.

Target Acquisition

First, with the release of Windows 7, it's time to stop making fun of Windows for having swiss cheese for security. Microsoft made security a major focus for this operating system, and it did make some solid progress in the job of plugging the old leaks that plagued Windows users for years.

Second, Macs are apparently not much more or less secure than Windows machines. That's right, all that "Macs can't get viruses" and "OS X is such a secure operating system" bravado is not completely accurate. Remember, Man makeable is Man breakable.

Most security experts agree that although Windows computers are more likely to experience an attack than Macs, They are not less secure.

This is essentially a market share issue. It makes economic sense for cybercriminals to use a piece of malware to attack the greatest number of machines possible; if you're an entrepreneur (criminal or legitimate), you want to get the most bang for your buck. Attacking Windows machines is more lucrative because there are so many more of them. (Granted, older and unpatched Windows machines are easy targets regardless of market share, but that's beside the point.)

In other words, the reason your Mac has never been infected with anything has less to do with your operating system and much, much more to do with the fact that most criminals simply haven't bothered to create very many malware attacks for Macs. But, as you can see, this is no longer the case.

The Attack of Flashback

The Flashback Trojan is the biggest infection experienced by Mac users to date. Malware programs are designed to harvest user information that can be sold to third parties, or used for fraudulent activities. Flashback was initially detected by Russian Antivirus firm Dr Webb (and confirmed by security giant Kaspersky on April 9, 2012) to be quietly running on upwards of 700,000 Macs. Users are lured to infected Web pages that send a malware downloader to their computers as soon as they land on the page. Once the Trojan is installed it sends a message to the intruder's control server with a unique ID to identify the infected machine. By introducing the code criminals are potentially able to control the machine. To see if your infected you can Download FlashbackChecker from Github.

Interestingly, Flashback Trojan is a Java vulnerability, and the actual exploit is OS independent, so (malware writers) don't have to know how to write an OS X exploit. The result is that 98% of infected systems are Macs. Infections are not just resident to operating systems, the mitigating issue is increasingly the 'browser'. Browsers do not care what OS you're using.

The Macs have outpaced the PC industry for 23 straight quarters. As more people buy Macs we will see more Mac OS X targeting (malware). The weak point In this particular instance; the malware writers were targeting Java (a runtime which is used for anything from enterprise applications to popular 3D games). HTML5--a Web standard in progress that Apple, Microsoft, and other browser makers are helping to build--holds the same type of threat for future attacks.

How To Stay Safe

Today, the argument about which OS (operating system) is better is more or less moot. This is because although viruses and other "classic" types of malware still exist and are threats, you're more likely to be hit with a social engineering attacks such as phishing which depend on tricking users into giving up personal information, visiting a poisonous Web site, or clicking a bad link. If you don't fall for the traps, you'll significantly reduce your chances of a malicious attack. Additionally, many attacks come through vulnerabilities in Web browsers and software, which has nothing significant to do with which operating system they're running on.

To protect our computers from threats, we have to be wise about the places we visit, how we act there, and where things come from. Be aware of clicking suspicious links or downloading suspect software. Always keep your security (virus) signatures, applications and operating system patched and up-to-date.

Time For Security Software

There doesn't yet appear to be a general consensus on which security application you should use to keep your Mac safe (if any). Mac OS X has some security measures built in, such as a firewall and timely security updates, but those are minimal measures at best. There are several third-party options available, including products from Kaspersky, ESET, Panda, Trend Micro and Norton.

No matter what security measures you take, the best ones will always include you being smart about your computing habits. In computing as in the real world, using common sense and good judgement is the best way to stay safe.

Cee Simpson is a Security Systems Analyst with http://ezmobilepc.com/. He has over 20 years experience as an active duty and contract Network Administrator with the DoD.

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How to Install McAfee Internet Security 2012

McAfee Internet Security 2012, as the name suggest is an internet security-based antivirus program. It is an answer to all your digital security worries when shopping online, checking monthly bank statement, or paying a credit card bill among other things. To help make your digital life safe, you must install McAfee Internet Security 2012 on your computer. Below mentioned is your free McAfee antivirus support guide. It will help you easily install McAfee protection on your computer

Instructions:

Open your web browser and visit the McAfee website. Navigate to the Products section under For Home Users. Look for McAfee Internet Security 2012 and click the Buy Now button. Now do the needful to complete the purchase. Create an account, fill in the required details, and advance to the Download link. Do not forget to make a note of your username and password for the McAfee account. Click the Download Now button and save the file when prompted. If prompted, choose a location to save the downloaded file. If not prompted, the file will automatically go to the Downloads folder.

If you have a third-party antivirus program or a McAfee trial version installed on your computer, uninstall it from your computer before installing McAfee Internet Security 2012. If you don't remove it, McAfee Internet Security 2012 will detect and prompt you to remove it during the installation procedure. Thus, it's your choice whether to remove it before or during the installation procedure. Another antivirus program (third-party) or a McAfee trial version may conflict with the McAfee 2012 suite and cause it not to work properly.

Go to the Downloads folder, look for the McAfee file, and open it. Click Run to execute the installation procedure. Click the Next button on the installation wizard screen. When prompted, choose the features that you want to install on your computer. By default, you will see all the features selected for install. In case you don't plan on using all the listed features, you can uncheck the boxes next to them. When done, click the Next button. If prompted for McAfee Online Backup, a new cloud storage service feature in the suite, configure it. You can skip this feature in case you don't want to use it.

As discussed above, if McAfee Internet Security 2012 detects another security program, it will prompt you to remove it. Confirm the action by clicking I want to remove a program. Choose the program and let the McAfee program search for the files and folders of that security program and uninstall them. When done, continue following rest of the on-screen instructions. In case the McAfee program detects a potentially unwanted application, it will prompt you to remove it. Click the Remove button. In case you think that the application is not dangerous, click the Allow button.

Continue the installation. When finished, McAfee Internet Security 2012 will search for the latest updates and install them automatically. When done, you will see the new McAfee Internet Security interface showing the status of your computer like Your computer is secured (no action required). Besides, you will see Real-Time Scanning: On, Updates: Current, Firewall: On, and Subscription: Active with 5 different features under the heading Features on the interface. In case you want to customize your settings, pull down each drawer under Features. Configure the settings and save the changes. Now close all the windows and reboot your computer.

Additional Tidbits:

With McAfee Internet Security 2012, you can instruct a virus scan to run in the background. This way, you can continue working on your computer without being bothered about the interfering virus scan screen.

The Author of this article is associated with V tech-squad Inc, V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. if you have any problem while performing the above steps and need technical assistance for Mcafee technical support, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201.

About V tech-squad Inc.

V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based online technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. V tech-squad provides support to users for issues with their PCs, Mac's, Tablets, Phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and devices such as MP3 players, Printers, Scanners, Fax, Wireless networking gear, Netflix, Roku boxes and TVs. With an obsessive focus on quality and building technical expertise, V tech-squad continues to maintain an issue resolution rate of more than 90%. V tech-squad's credibility has been tested by more than 10,000 customers. Currently V tech-squad provides support services to consumers and small businesses in United States. For more information on V tech-squad, Inc. visit vtechsquad.com.

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Know More About the Free Android Security Software by Avast

Software security has long been the concern of users worldwide. With the technological advancement it is essential to take this factor into consideration. When the world is fast shrinking and the Smartphone has now become synonymous with computing it is important to create security software. Avast is an extremely popular name known for providing computer security. With its breakthrough in providing software security to Android software it has proved its innovation and credibility. This software by Avast is available for free and it provides security from virus, theft and comprises firewall components.

Let us find out what this software is all about and how it is capable of providing security to android phone users.

Antivirus feature- It provides real-time security and automatic updates. The users get free mobile security feature that provides protection against online threats and is integrated with the Android browser.

Call and SMS security feature- Another amazing feature about this software is the 'filtering' option for all calls and SMS. Now the user need not bother about annoying sms and calls that can be barred by specifying phone numbers in a well defined group.

Firewall component- The firewall component is only available to rooted devices to block specified applications. This enables in protecting the device against illegal access. It provides protection against USB bugs so that your device cannot be altered through computer software. It can also enable data connection and GPS module.

Anti- theft feature- An interesting feature that comes with Avast security is that of the anti-theft feature. The user is free to make changes to the anti-theft feature by changing its icon and renaming it in order to hide it from prying eyes. This feature is also capable of operating in a stealth mode for accessing via phone call. This feature enables wiping, tracking and locking of the device. For added security the users can define two numbers so as to receive notification in case of device theft. Later on this can be controlled via SMS.

Special features for rooted devices- The rooted phones are protected against factory resets. The device can be locked via SMS command when the SIM card is changed. The user can utilize the features that enable texting, initiating a call, setting off an alarm, GPS location tracking, data erasing, downloading contacts and even rebooting the phone. It comes packed with security features for rooted devices as well. It provides the users free of cost security for SIM-card change notifications, privacy reports, firewall, call and SMS filtering and application management.

Avast is a Free Mobile Security that is known to provide complete Android security. This security software is known to have surpassed all the other existing commercial products. What is especially attractive is the easy to use display function and its' capability to provide detailed instructions. It provides complete security to mobile and rooted devices and it is exactly what the user has been looking for.

She is a Technology writer who is keen on any new emerging technology updates. She is working with Qresolve as a Technical Support Engineer. Semeli Karen McPherson has been offering online tech support to global customers for issues related to laptops, desktops, Mac and devices including iPods, tablets, iPhones, computer support and more.She caters to the segment of core technology and provides viable solutions to any issues related to technology and software. Her expertise and skills in handling key technology issues is immaculate and quick result bearing. Through her articles and postings she aims to provide knowledge and solutions to common technology issues that a user faces.

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