A Guide to Protecting Your Wireless Network

One of the best things about a wireless network, whether you are at home or at work is that you no longer have to watch out for trailing cables wherever you go. However this does come with its own associated risks, not least that a number of networks are completely unprotected, i.e. they don't need passwords or anything else for you to be able to hook up to that network.

Pubs and restaurants, even fast food places like MacDonald's, have what are known as wireless hotspots, that is to say they have a wireless network that anyone in the vicinity with a computer can log on to without any issues; this is because the network because it is not password protected. Although protecting a personal wireless network is not too difficult, in fact most providers will provide walkthrough guides with the installation drive they provide; however, when it comes to a business wireless network, you need professional support.

The two most important issues concerning wireless networks are how the network is configured and installed. Protecting your network is extremely important as it is too easy for hackers to get in and install a virus on an unprotected network, and that virus could cause considerable harm to your business and its associated data.

A professional internet security service will ensure that you have the right kind of computer protection program, for example MacAfee solutions. For a home computer something like AVG is perfectly adequate and identifies dangerous or suspicious sites before you enter them. Of course there are a huge number of other companies out there offering their own unique content, including Symantec and Norton, so home protection is remarkably straightforward and shouldn't cost you too much either.

If you intend to have a lot of computers on a network then the least problematic option is to have structured cabling installed as this helps communication and makes data available to all those employees who have clearance. Once the structured cabling is installed the routers and switches need to be configured and installed. The routers need to be in a central location so all machines are able to access it equally. The router is then connected to the power source and the internet source. Routers should have RS-232 serial ports in case dial up internet services are ever needed. You will also need to connect a wired router or hub. Modern computers have built in wireless adaptors.

Once you have sorted out the routers choose a name for the network the router transforms the data from the internet into a wireless form. The router manufacturer will already have set a generic name but you need to change that to one of your choice as it is safer - this is known as an SSID or service set identifier. These settings need to be the same for every computer on the network. Once that is done you need to install and configure the firewall and other security options such as a virus programme and a spam filter for the email. IP telephones (internet provider phones) need to be installed and configured.

Of course if your business does have its own IT or networking support, you can have them perform the full installation on your behalf. This will help ensure that it is done correctly and remove the risk of any future issues or breaches in security.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For information on Network Support Services, he recommends Network 24.

Change IP to Guard Your Privacy on the Internet

To change IP addresses has recently become quite common in households and businesses. Because of a lot of problems which usually root from the internet, keeping your privacy in the cyberspace is very important. Of course, everybody would want to keep their confidential and personal records private. However, with the continuously developing technology, even simple IP addresses can be a way for other people to steal your identity.

Identity theft, as we all know, is something that we should consider with utmost importance. It has been damaging a lot of people's lives over the past years, stealing not only their names, but also their lives. Most of these identity theft cases start from the internet, which only shows that people should be cautious in using the cyberspace. In this case, to change IP addresses is one solution to keep your privacy in the Internet.
Why change your IP address?

Aside from keeping your privacy, changing your IP address has a number of benefits.

• It keeps your real location be hidden from other people. Since IP addresses reveal a certain geographic area, a change in the IP address will show other people that you are from another country, city or continent, effectively protecting your private location.

• It keeps your identity anonymous, which makes hackers bump a dead end should they want to access your personal information through the Internet.

• It keeps you safe and protected whenever you shop online and make transactions over the internet. With this, all your personal and financial information are kept safe since hackers won't be able to trace the real you in the real world, keeping you safe from the dangers of identity theft and preventing you from losing millions of dollars through your lifetime.

• It keeps you safe from those annoying mailing lists and spam mails which flood your email accounts. By keeping your anonymity in the cyberspace, they would not have any way of tracing you and connecting your cyber information with real information.

Why surfing anonymously gives you peace of mind

To change IP addresses gives you the advantage of losing hackers and identity thieves away from you. As we all know, the Internet is now a repository of information all over the world. Although the chances of your identity being stolen by thieves, and your information being gotten by other people are slim, it is still better to be safe than to be sorry in the long run.

Identity theft has caused individuals and businesses lose millions of dollars each year, and it takes years to repair the damage that identity theft has caused to you. Surfing safely in the Internet gives you extra protection from causing lifetime damage from identity theft and other cyber crimes lurking nowadays. Moreover, you also get to protect not only your identity, but also your family's identities - just by simply changing your IP address. You get to have peace of mind knowing that your children won't have problems in the future because their personal information was stolen by somebody who has tracked down your IP address.

In order to learn more about Change IP and learn how you could try out a unique software solution free go to blog post http://www.change-ip-proxy.com/blog/change-ip/change-ip-and-protect-your-online-identity/

For Virus Removal Virus Protection is Essential

There are many subtle signs of a computer virus that a casual computer user may not even notice at first. Some of those subtle signs can be like the computer starting to freeze up for no apparent reason or the screen appearing to blink all of a sudden. For many computer users these small clues can go undiscovered and the next thing they know the computer has locked up on them or is doing bizarre things. Programs closing without being prompted, screens popping up stating a specific removal virus program must be purchased to remove the virus they are saying the computer has and other bizarre and unspecified problems are just a few examples that may happen when a virus truly is infecting the computer. Some viruses are able to take control of the desktop locking the user out and taking away the control. Viruses of this nature can be very difficult to identify and even harder to remove.

Removal virus programs are available that can alert the user the virus has found its way on the computer and in addition to removal virus protection programs are recommended to prevent them getting on in the first place. Much of the time a new or refurbished computer when purchased will have a trial period for a computer security protection program giving the purchaser an opportunity to try out the software program and to realize the importance of having one.

Leaving a computer vulnerable to the internet and its capacity to pass viruses on to other computers undetected can destroy the computer and leave the owner wondering what happened. Protect your interest when getting a computer and make sure it has the same assurance of protection one would want for their automobile especially if running a business.

For more information on viruses and removing them, visit RemovalVirusHelp.wordpress.com

From J. Pal, a freelance writer on a wide variety of topics.

While Surfing the Internet, Don't Send Your Personal Data Out to Sea

You're reading this article on the Internet, right? Probably been surfing for a while, checking a few blogs, maybe doing some online shopping. Fun stuff. Just keep in mind that while you're surfing the 'net, don't toss your personal data out to sea where it's available for anyone to view, or worse, use.

This article lists a few precautionary tips for keeping your private data private while using the Internet:

• When you register for an email account, don't use your home address, private phone number, or other personal information. Instead, use a personal mailbox address, a work phone number, etc. Keep in mind there are online services that sell people's registration information to anyone.
• It's a good idea to have a "throw-away" email address that you use for online shopping, forms that require an email address, etc. You can set up such email addresses at Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, others (although you're required to register your data at these sites, you can sign up as Mickey Mouse at 1234 Big Ears Circle for all they care). Hushmail is another option (check out hushmail.com).
• Choose an e-mail account that does not reveal unnecessary information about you, such as where you attend school. For example, an e-mail address from a free Webmail service might be preferable to one with a .edu domain.
• Choose unusual passwords and change them regularly. Make passwords at least 7 letters long and include numbers mixed with meta-characters when possible (for example, s*72wt#8%). Never share your passwords with anyone.
• Don't open unsolicited or unknown email messages, and especially don't open any attachments from unknown users.
• Consider using an anonymous web browser. This will make it impossible for your web-surfing to be logged by websites, thus preventing others to pick up any information on you. Information on this service is located at http://www.anonymizer.com.
• When you register for a domain (your website address), don't use your home address or other personal information. Anyone can look up the owner of a domain name by using a service such as http://www.checkdomain.com or simply typing "whois" and the domain name. For example, use your personal mailbox instead of your home address. Better yet, for a small fee you can select an option to make all registration information private.
• Use anti-virus software, a firewall, and anti-spyware software to keep your computer safe and secure.
• Set your privacy settings on social networking communities (such as MySpace, Facebook, etc.) so your photos and personal data aren't viewable by the public. Set options that filter who can be added as a friend, etc., to your account. Remember, if you choose to be public on these sites, anybody can read anything you write.
• Discuss your safety and privacy requirements with your Internet service provider (ISP) and enlist their help and advice. You're paying them to use their service, and you have a right to assistance.

By taking such steps to safeguard your personal data, you'll ensure your private data stays private. Now grab your virtual surfboard and hit the Internet waves!

Colleen Collins-Kaufman is a professional private investigator and multi-published author. She and her business partner run a Colorado-based private detective agency, Highlands Investigations & Legal Services, Inc., that specializes in asset/background searches, criminal/civil investigations, domestic relations, legal research/writing, financial fraud, personal injury, skiptracing, and surveillance. To read more about their services, go to http://www.highlandsinvestigations.com

Remove Soft Soldier - Perform a Soft Soldier Removal in Minutes

Look out for Soft Soldier. Looks can be deceiving, it "pretends" to be an antivirus program but it is not. In fact it does the opposite. The rogue program will install a bunch of viruses and infections throughout your system.

Don't let it stay on your computer. Not only will it slow down your system and mess with your settings, it can also steal private information right off your hard drive.

Before learning to remove the virus you should know how it infiltrates your system. Knowing the source, will help you avert future problems.

The most common methods of infection are:

• You installed a fake "video codec" from a multimedia file downloaded off the web or P2P network. Never install codecs from files downloaded off the net.

• Downloading shareware or freeware programs. Be careful you only download things from trusted providers.

• Checking out a malicious website that hijacked your web browser and snuck the virus into your computer. This can happen pretty often without active antivirus protection.

Soft Soldier Removal

To get rid of the virus you need to access various directories and and do the following

1. Delete EXE, BAT, or other process files (example Soft Soldier.exe)
2. Delete DLL and LNK files that are silently operating in the background
3. Delete registry entries that have been infected.

Make sure you delete the entire virus at once. Otherwise these sneaky infections will just regenerate themselves when you reboot.

I only recommend manual removal for folks who have are computer experts. It can be quite challenging and dangerous to remove Soft Soldier if you do not know precisely what you are doing. Remove the wrong files from the registry and you can cause further damage to your system.

What you need is a Soft Soldier removal software. A program that can eliminate the infection automatically with a few clicks of the mouse. Not only have I found software that can remove Soft Soldier, it also offers real time defense against potential threats. You can try a free scan below and see what it comes up with.

Tired of viruses infecting your computer? Want to surf the web with the peace of mind that your computer is safe and secure? Get your free scan from the top virus protection and remove Soft Soldier.

Jim Marshall is an expert computer technician with fifteen years of experience in the industry. Since his own computer was destroyed by malicious software, he has been studying antispyware, adware, and malware systems for years. His website details the comprehensive results of this research, ranking the best antispyware and antivirus programs available.

http://www.spyware-fix.net

How to Protect Personal Information on Your Computer

With more people using the internet everyday, there has been a significant increase in the threats of online criminals attempting to steal personal information. When you use email, surf the net, and provide financial information to retailers, you have to make sure no one can steal your information. Fortunately, technological improvements in computer security and implementing safety precautions can drastically reduce the chances of having your information stolen.

The following tips are designed to help you protect personal information on your computer:

• Acquire Security Software: It is important that you have the appropriate security software to protect your computer from viruses, hackers, worms, spyware, spam, identity theft, and Adware. A quality and renowned security software program will protect your computer from a variety of security risks. Some software provides a combination of protection methods while others provide just one security function.

• Implement Wireless Security Protection: If you access the internet through a Wi-Fi network, make sure you have the appropriate protection from hackers. With wireless networks, the radio waves travel in the surrounding area, so a hacker sitting nearby can access your connection and hack into your computer.

• Use a Firewall: A firewall adds a security obstruction between a personal computer and the internet. It helps prevents hackers from accessing your computer. It will block any suspicious and unauthorized entry into a computer system.

• Email Encryption: When you use email encryption, it reduces the chances of someone intercepting and accessing your information.

• Beware of Phishing Scams: Many online criminals will send fraudulent emails and use fraudulent websites to gather a person's personal information. Never provide personal information to unknown businesses. Confirm the site is legitimate by either checking with the Better Business Bureau or online sites that expose fraudulent sites and emails. Purchase products from sites that encrypt transaction payments. Encrypting payment information will code your personal and financial data after you submit the payment.

• Beware of Certain Free Download Programs: Some free download software can contain harmful programs. They can allow the person who sent it access to your computer. Security software can prevent these programs from installing. Adware and Spyware are software that can contain these malicious programs.

• Backup Information: Back up and store your information in case your security barrier is breached so you will not lose important information. Store it on a CD or an external hard drive.

• System Security Configuration: Configure your browser or operating system to manage pop-ups, delete cookies, and block specific web sites.

• Change Passwords Regularly: Change your passwords at least every 30 days to reduce the chance of a hacker accessing your online personal and financial information.

• Monitor your Credit Report: You should regularly check your credit report history. This will let you know if anyone has been using your financial information.

When you use the internet for shopping, banking, emailing, and sending instant messages, there are shady people who may try to access your computer to steal your information. Using the latest security software and practicing safe security practices, will reduce the chance of having your personal information stolen and used for illegal purposes.

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Internet meltdown threat: Conficker worm refuses to turn

The brightest minds in technology and government are finding it "almost impossible" to defeat the Conficker worm, which has infected more than 5 million computers and, experts say, could be used to knock down the internet in entire countries.

The worm, first detected in November last year, spreads rapidly to computers through a flaw in the Windows operating system.

Infected machines are co-opted into a "botnet" army, which can be controlled and used by the hackers to launch unprecedented cyber attacks.

"The general agreement in the security world is that Conficker is the largest threat facing us from a cyber crime point of view ... it has proven to be extremely resilient. It's almost impossible to remove," said Rodney Joffe, a director of the Conficker Working Group formed to defeat the worm.

"The best minds in the world have not managed to crack the code behind this yet."

The scale of the threat has forced the world's largest computer security companies to join together with government around the world in an unusual alliance to pool their resources and solve the problem.

Microsoft has offered a $US250,000 ($290,000) reward for information leading to the identification of the individuals - or rogue governments - behind Conficker.

Those behind the worm can do anything they want with the infected machines including stealing users' banking details or flooding government servers to knock them offline.

"This could be used to launch the mother of all DDoS [distributed denial of service] attacks, it could be used as the basis of major financial fraud, it could be used for major spam runs," Joffe said.

"Even a small portion of the infected machines from Conficker have the ability to actually take away the usability of the internet in an entire country like Australia."

So far the international effort to find a solution has yielded few results, and the number of infected machines has remained fairly stable at 5 million. They include home, business and Government computers.

Joffe, who is also a senior technologist at US communications company Neustar, explained that the remarkable resilience was because Conficker had built-in mechanisms to prevent people from scanning their computers with anti-virus software. Even for those who wipe their computers clean and start fresh, if they back up any important data on a portable hard drive, the clean machine is reinfected when the drive is connected to the computer.

The worm also spreads automatically between computers on a network and infects machines without the user having to do anything other than switch their computers on.

"If you've been able to disinfect 99 machines out of 100 and one is still infected, it will begin to try to reinfect the others," Joffe said.

Most other botnets can be destroyed by disabling the server used to issue commands to infected machines, but with Conficker the location of this sever changes every day and state-of-the-art cryptography means it's almost impossible to crack.

Every time the security gurus feel they are on to a solution, the hackers send a new version of Conficker to the infected machines that stops them in their tracks.

"Conficker has proven to be the gold standard for botnets. It's rock solid, it's steady and it has mechanisms built in that have made it impossible for us to actually crack," Joffe said.

"As of today we have not been able to crack the cryptography behind it in order to disrupt it by authenticating ourselves as the command and control."

So far the "botnet masters" have been biding their time as the media buzz around Conficker dies down, but they have already sent malicious code to infected machines that co-opts them to send spam emails. Users of infected computers have also been conned with offers to buy fake anti-virus software.

In July, Manchester City Council in Britain was prevented from issuing hundreds of fines after Conficker knocked out parts of its IT system. The infection cost the council £1.5 million in total.

In January, the French Navy had to quarantine its computer network after it was infected with Conficker, forcing aircraft at several air bases to be grounded.

Joffe said that people who are not yet infected and have installed the latest Windows patches and anti-virus software should be safe, as long as yet another version of Conficker is not released.

But he said it was rare for people to have all the relevant patches installed on their computers, and anti-virus software would be of little use to those already infected.

"We're some ways away from being able to take any action, which is what is really concerning us," Joffe said.

Source: http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/security/internet-meltdown-threat-conficker-worm-refuses-to-turn-20090922-fzlh.html

I Haven't Done Anything to Be Infected With Spyware! Why is This Happening to Me?

It wasn't many years ago that hardly anyone had heard of spyware. They vaguely knew that there were computer viruses out there, and that they could wreck your computer, but most people thought that it would never happen to them; as for spyware - the word hadn't entered their vocabulary. People would get very defensive if you suggested that their computer was 'infected'! It was as though it was a personal insult, or a suggestion that they had been doing something 'dodgy'!

One of my first customers when I started helping people with their computer problems was a lovely couple who ran a local church. Their computer was absolutely stuffed with viruses and spyware, and worst of all - for a church computer - they kept getting pop-ups of busty ladies with little or no clothing! They were in a terrible panic and felt that they would be blamed for this happening. They had teenage sons and were worried that their sons had been looking at adult content sites to cause this to happen. It was very hard to calm them down and explain that spyware can affect ANYONE who browses the internet or receives email. The only 100% guaranteed way to keep your computer clean is to never browse the internet, never send or receive email, never use a flash drive (or - as was more usual in those days - a floppy disk) or install software other than supplied by a reputable dealer in a sealed box! That would really limit your computing experience, wouldn't it!

It is absolutely vital to have an up to date virus detection/removal software - these are very good, and can also detect and remove some spyware infections. If you want to be really safe, though, you MUST also have spyware remover software. this will not only detect and remove existing instances of spyware, but will go a long way to preventing future infections.

Click Here Now for more information and advice on keeping your computer safe.

How to Prevent Computer Viruses from Attacking Your PC?

Do you want to know how to prevent computer viruses attacking your PC? The first thing that you will want to do is to be careful when you use the Internet to surf various websites and download media files. The best prevention method would be to download and install an antivirus and antispyware software to run frequent scans on your system. It really is not as difficult to protect a computer from virus attacks as what most users would make it out to be.

1. Do You Really Need to Protect Yourself Against Virus and Spyware Attacks?

It is important that people know what these parasites are capable and how to protect against them. This is due to the fact that the majority of people today know how to use the web and their PC and personal information are constantly being exposed to the threats in the online world. Since research has shown that a majority of users who access the Internet have had their computers infected, it is crucial that you learn how to defend against them before it is too late.

2. What is a Computer Virus and What is It Capable of Doing?

A virus is a program that is capable of destroying folders, registries and files and finally aiming to wipe out the entire hard disk. It attacks and infiltrates the system without any knowledge from the user. Some viruses and spyware are also capable of deactivating any existing computer protection software installed to allow the hacker to use unauthorized means to access the system.

3. How to Prevent Computer Viruses from Attacking your PC?

The fastest and easiest way is to download virus removal software to run a scan and fix on your system. They are capable of reading signatures from all the files and registry entries in a system before finding all the erroneous and infected files. It is able to repair or remove them within minutes to leave your PC running like new again.

Want to learn How to Prevent Computer Viruses attacking your PC? Don't do it yet, because the author has found many bad spyware and virus cleaning software on the web. Read the author's review of the Top 5 Spyware & Virus Removal Software on the market now at http://www.review-best.com/spyware-virus-removal-software.htm first!

Learn to completely get rid of all the spyware and viruses on your computer in less than 5 minutes with a FREE PC Scan!

How to Remove Computer Virus Fast?

Do you want to learn how to remove computer virus fast? There are many different protection software available for download on the Internet today, but they can differ greatly in their capabilities. Therefore, it is important to research carefully first before committing yourself to using any antivirus and antispyware software. These programs are able to compare file definitions and detect signatures in order to find the potentially dangerous ones inside the system.

1. What is a Computer Virus and How Does It Affect Your System?

PC viruses are typically malicious software that is capable of stealing and destroying all the information in the entire system. It is capable of installing itself onto any Windows system without any knowledge of the user. The most common forms of infection are through online downloads of documents and other media files such as song, movie, games downloads etc. It can also get spread through visits to free download or other unauthorized websites that run malicious codes.

2. How to Remove Computer Virus from your System Fast?

The best solution that has been tested and proven to work would be to download a reliable piece of virus removal and protection from the web. A high quality program will ensure full PC protection that provides reliable scanning functions and also repair damaged or infected files quickly. The software that I have found has removed all viruses, spyware and adware from my PC system and made it run like new again.

3. How Do You Know if You Need to Download Anti Computer Virus Software?

Once you start seeing irritating pop up advertisements or slowing down of your computer processing speed, you most likely will need to download antispyware, antivirus software.

Are you looking to Remove Computer Virus from your PC? Don't do it yet, because the author has found many bad spyware and virus cleaning software on the web. Read the author's review of the Top 5 Spyware & Virus Removal Software on the market now at http://www.review-best.com/spyware-virus-removal-software.htm first!

Learn to completely get rid of all the spyware and viruses on your computer in less than 5 minutes with a FREE PC Scan!

Internet Security - Are We Ready For the Web?

Have you ever tried searching information about yourself on the Internet? You probably won't be disappointed. If you've been living online for a significant amount of time, this personal information will definitely be available. If you're wondering how or why, the answer is simple. With your personal information on your blogs, social networks, writing forums, and other publicly available databases, you won't be that hard to track.

Anybody who's ever had to substantially engage in Internet activity will have definitely made his online presence felt. In fact, companies and other organizations have been using this property of the Internet to turn up people's personal details easily for their legal ends. Once they get hold of job applicants' resumes, they may search these people up on the Internet as a way of narrowing down their choices on whom to hire. Landlords also benefit from this online feature which allows them to get to know their potential tenants before any contracts are signed.

There's actually more to these public databases than what might be beneficial to employers. To understand this means to be aware that public database searches base results on anything with the name of the person being searched. When this name makes a hit, the search will immediately display birth and death certificates, court records, vehicle accidents, criminal records and who knows what else it may bring for the searcher.

This particular ability of the Internet to reveal information about a person with such ease has drawn conflicting reactions from different sectors of society. For example, when people act as employers or landlords looking up information on their potential employees or tenants, this is viewed as an advantage. However, when these employers or tenants realize that they, too, could be the easy subjects of the same search, the idea is suddenly objectionable or even evil.

This double standard in digesting the realities of the Internet raises the question of whether people are, in fact, ready for it. The issue is further compounded by the existence of hackers and other types of Internet cons who relentlessly work at turning an otherwise innocent technology into a weapon for cyber warfare which the general surfing public will simply want out of.

The last thing that we all want to happen, though, is wake up one day and no longer be the person we always thought we were because somebody has stolen everything we were supposed to be. Identity theft is certainly no longer a fantastic idea that we only used to see in the movies. It has become real because of our IP address which serves as our trail that hackers can use to track back to us.

If the Internet is, at all, going to be a great place worth visiting, visit it with an IP changer to simply enjoy anonymous surfing.

Why Pressing 'Accept' Could Cost You Thousands of Dollars

We all know the dangers of malware, and we all try and avoid it with good protection and safe browsing practices. But what if in actual fact thousands of people every day -- people just like you -- were actually authorizing malware to be installed onto their computers, laying out the red carpet for spyware, keyloggers and adware to wreak havoc on your online and offline life?

Believe it. If you've ever had adware on your computer, chances are that you actually signed a disclaimer allowing this dangerous and annoying software to set up roost on your prized PC.

If you've ever downloaded software onto your computer -- or even signed up an account online -- you'll instantly recognise the End User License Agreement. That's that long, often capitalized and always boring panel of text that you have to accept before you can move to the next step in the installation process. Now that we know what the EULA is, let's have a reality check: can you honestly say that you've read every phrase in every EULA you've ever accepted? Maybe you've skimmed over the top of a few of them? Maybe you haven't read a single word before accepting?

If this sounds true, then don't feel too bad. Even though the EULA is in actual fact a legal document and by clicking 'Accept' you're basically inking your signature, the research tells us that very few people actually read the EULA in its entirety. Malware developers are keenly aware of this fact and a disturbing practice of actually stating the devious intent of the malware in the EULA has developed over recent history.

This practise is most commonly associated with advertisment supported freeware, from everything from game sites to browser add-on packs to adult orientated subscription-based websites. The trade is simple: we give you the software that you want, and you give us permission to serve you countless annoying popup ads that will test your sanity and suck the performance right out of your PC. Oh, and by the way: we'll also monitor your browsing history and send it back to a ex-Soviet bloc IP address.

Sounds like a fair trade?

The remedy to this is simple. Read every EULA before you click 'Accept'!

If the thought of reading every phrase in every EULA sends you to sleep, I don't blame you. That's why I want to give you access to a great free tool that analyzes every phrase in any EULA at a click of a button.

I'll share this tool with you, along with four other great security tools that you've never heard of before just by signing up to the Malware Threat HQ mailing list. Best thing is that these tools are completely free! You can sign up to the mailing list by clicking here.

Once you're signed up, you'll also receive great articles, free tools and the tips that the pros use to keep their online identities safe.

Malware infection is incredibly wide spread. Whether or not you think you may have been infected with malware, it is best practise to scan your computer regularly for malware threats. At Malware Threat HQ you can download the best malware scanner available on the Internet today -- for free.

To learn everything that you need to know about keeping you and your family safe from malware, please visit us at Malware Threat HQ.

Cheers, and Safe Surfing!

http://www.idthefthq.com

Chris Brown

What Happened to the Conficker Virus?

Many of us were wondering that after all the hype generated from the media over the Conficker virus. For most of us, it was the exact same thing as new years day in January of 2000, lots of media attention with little to show for it. The truth is, Microsoft issued a patch for the Conficker virus back in January before the virus was even activated. The trouble is, many people ignore the updates or simply have no idea how to get them. Reports from Microsoft state that as much as 30% of users have not updated their systems yet.

The Conficker threat is still very real. The virus is estimated to be lying dormant on over 10 million computers and that's a very conservative estimate according to some sources. The biggest problem with this virus is that it has not activated yet. Some believe it is waiting for stage two commands to be given to allow it to do terrible things such as copying the personal information from your computer or holding your computer hostage and locking it up unless you purchase special software.

The most reported sign that you have been infected with Conficker, or many other viruses, is that your computer runs noticeably slower or if you can no longer update your operating system or your anti-virus software. Most of these programs target your antivirus software first to prevent them from being detected. Once they disable your antivirus program, they are free to run amuck on your system and spread throughout your entire system.

How do you know if you are protected from this virus? The first thing you should do is make sure your operating system is updated. On most Microsoft systems you can click on the START button in the bottom left side of the screen and then select the ALL PROGRAMS option to display a list of all the applications on your computer. Search through the list and look for the WINDOWS UPDATE or MICROSOFT UPDATE option and select it. You may have to do this several times to make sure you get all the updates. Some updates are dependent on others and will not show up unless the first update is installed.

Once you have your system updates it is time to make sure your anti-virus software is updated. If you do not have anti-virus software on your computer then I recommend you look at my website below for some good FREE anti-virus solutions and answers to your antivirus software questions. After you update your anti-virus program be sure to run a manual scan of your entire system. If you have updated your system from the Microsoft site and your antivirus software is up to date then you should be protected from most of the bad things going around the internet today. The trick is to keep your systems updated and schedule a scan several times per month just to be sure nothing slipped through.

Check out my website for a Free Virus Scan and Removal. It contains links to free antivirus programs as well as reviews of what is available and tons of other FREE help for your issues.

Use a Free Malware Remover Online to Keep Your Computer Safe, Fast & Clean!

I'm pretty confident my computer is safe. I run an anti-virus program, and I really don't go to many strange places on the internet. Most of the sites I go to are perfectly safe. But sometimes, I still worry. What if I type an address wrong and I end up on a bad site that infects my computer. Or what happens if I am not paying attention, and download an attachment that is from a friend and it really wasn't sent from your friend, but something that is in their computer. There is cause for concern, the amount of malware, spyware, and other viruses are on the rise. Sometimes, it isn't too bad, and is more of a nuisance. But some programs are designed specifically to log every stroke you make on your keyboard, or even worse steal all your private information.

Even as sure as I am, that my computer is safe, I still take precautions. I have gone online, and found a few programs that help keep my computer clean. Some programs you can download will run in the background and work by keeping the malware off your computer in the first place. Other programs are meant to be run by the computer user and will find the infected files on your computer. Then it is as simple as checking the boxes, and deleting the files.

I run two preventative programs in the background all the time. I have an anti-virus program that is constantly scanning my computer. These programs use minimal resources, and will let me know the second something is suspicious. I also have three other programs that I use to scan my computer every few days. All of these programs were free online. Some programs say they will scan your computer for free, but in order to get anything fixed, you have to buy their software. In any case, you can do a basic internet search and read reviews of the different products that are available. The more you research, the better the chances that you will find what you need to keep your computer safe.

The best software I have found for removing malware is:

MalwareRemovalBot!

Internet Fraud and How to Avoid It

Fraud on the internet is increasing, and in my line of business, I am shocked to discover the amount of people who do not know the basic things to look out for. They are hypnotized by colorful looking sites, the products they feature and the price. Fast delivery is important too.

So when you surf the net for a product, what are are you thinking? You browse a dozen sites, comparing the quality, the price and fast delivery. You think of nothing else. By now, you could be tiring of checking this site against another. All you want now, is to make your purchase. So you place your order in the shopping cart and make payment. Job Done !

Or is it?

You were totally focused on sourcing the website that best suited your needs in terms of quality, price and delivery. You never thought about the payment. It was just an action you completed. In most cases you never bought from a well known or branded retailer.

So who did you really buy from?

Here's some tips to check out:

1. Do they display an easy to find trading address? 2. Is there an easy to find contact number? 3. Is that phone number at a premium rate? 4. Are they based in your own country? 5. Do they have a returns policy? 6. Do they accept credit cards?

Here in the UK, for purchases in value of £100.00 or more, always use a credit card. You have buyer protection from your credit card company. I cannot comment for credit card holders in other countries. If you use a debit card or any other method, you will have no recourse.

So if your purchase is under £100.00, what should you do?

You are taking a gamble. Make sure you know who you are dealing with. You can go to WhoIs lookup and enter the website address to inquire who registered the site. This should give you their name and address, contact phone number and more details. If the information states the registrant is "by proxy" and no other details, they are hiding behind a smoke screen. Avoid this site.

A typical fraudster will not display their trading address, or if they do, it is either fictitious, or they do not trade from that address. In the UK, it is illegal to display a website without a trading address. There will be no contact number, only email. If there is a number, it may be at a premium rate. Avoid this site

A reputable trader will publish their address and phone number in an appropriate place for you to find easily. Remember: For purchases of £100.00 or more - Always use a Credit Card.

I hope this article will assist you for your internet shopping.

Free legal advice and legal representation at the fraction of the price a solicitor would charge you. You can contact me: http://www.smallclaims.uk.com

How to Protect the Investment You've Made in Your Website

One night about two months ago I was on the phone with a client, discussing the content of a fundraising letter we were planning, when she glanced at her e-mail and saw a message telling her that her website was down.

She thought it must be a faulty connection on the part of her writer's ISP - of course her website wasn't down!

But it was. We both went immediately to check and found that it just wasn't there.

OK - she decided to take a deep breath and contact her "web guy." She hung up, telling me she'd call back in a few minutes.

When she called back the news was not good. Her web guy had decided he didn't want to work for her any more. The idea that she planned to solicit donations to help with the animal rescue work she was doing offended him.

And, since she had trusted him to "take care" of everything, he was able to take down her site, leaving her with nothing - not even control of her own domain name.

That happened 2 months ago, and she's still struggling to re-create her website.

Something similar, yet less drastic, happened to a friend of mine who let one of her trusted employees set up their web account. He was listed as the account administrator, because he was the one in the organization who knew how to take care of the site. All was well - until he passed away. She went through months of proving who she was in order to gain control of her own site.

So what can you do to protect your website?

First, and most important: own your own domain name. Do the work of purchasing it yourself and list yourself as the responsible party. You can give someone working for you access to your user name and password - and you'll have the ability to change those names should you and your web builder part company.

If you're thinking of buying into a "template site" check first to see that you'll be able to make changes to your title tags and other meta tags - and that you'll be able to add alt tags to your photo images. These can make a huge difference in your search engine optimization, so don't let anyone tell you it doesn't matter.

Next, even if you have hired a "web guy" to do all the work, learn how to access your site to make changes. Then set up a FTP program on your own computer, and download all your files for safekeeping. In addition, put them on a back up disk or an external hard drive, to protect against disaster should your own computer crash.

This is not only a smart move for protection - it will allow you to make small changes immediately without the expense (or the wait time) of calling in the web expert.

Host your site with a well-known, solid company rather than an off-shoot that may or may not be around next year. And before you choose, make sure that they offer solid customer support. I happen to love GoDaddy because I'm hopelessly non-techie. Their support people are on duty 24 hours a day and always willing to walk me through any problems I create or show me how to do something new.

Make sure the company you choose offers support for programs such as WordPress, so you're not limited in what you can do with your site. You may not want a blog today, but you could change your mind in 6 months. Keep your options open.

When you do choose that web expert, make sure he or she is willing to use copy you provide from any source. If he insists that only he or "his friend" can produce your copy, or if the price quoted includes all your copy, move on to another expert. Copywriting and website development are two different specialties, and one person is not necessarily going to be expert at both.

The bottom line: Maintain control of your site. If a programmer you interview has a problem with that, choose someone different.

Marte Cliff is a Freelance Copywriter who specializes in making people feel good about buying products or services, or donating to worthy causes.

She has extensive experience in writing search engine optimized web copy, direct sales letters, postcards, space ad copy, press releases, and more. She is also available for marketing plan creation and editing services.

You can visit her at http://www.marte-cliff.com. While you're there, sign up for one of her marketing ezines. She promises to gently nag you about ways to make your own marketing efforts more productive - whether you're selling a product or service, or promoting a non-profit organization.

How to Prevent Fraud While Shopping Online

Internet has greatly changed the shopping habits of the people precisely because of the convenience it provides in terms of saving time and money. You do not have to travel from one shop to the other; you can simply sit in the comfort of your home and browse through the various websites, do a comparison shopping and buy the goods online using your credit card. That said, there is a catch and that is online frauds. Today, making money online is very easy and there are lots of opportunities available on internet. Online retailers have to provide safety measures to build consumer confidence. If you have an e-commerce business you must ensure that it is 100 percent secure and the sensitive information they provide is completely protected. Keep in mind the following points to prevent your E-commerce website against fraud.

Fraud Detection Service

There is a fraud detection service you can avail of to prevent fraudulent activities. The fraud detection service asks the consumer to verify an address and compares it to what is one file with the credit card issuer. It the address matches, the customer is given permission to go ahead with making a purchase.

Credit Card Verification Codes

The credit card verification code is the three important numbers found on the back of a credit card. As a consumer, you would be asked to insert those numbers when you shop on a site. In order for someone to place website fraud, they most acquire the credit card numbers and the credit card as well. So if you have the verification system is place, you can decrease the risks of fraud significantly.

Site Design

You website design can also help to reduce online frauds. For this, your website should be designed with the latest versions of scripting languages and programs to fight off hackers and protect the integrity of your business. You may have to shell out extra money to make sure fraud is not occurring, but it is well worth it in the long run. Having a secure site will save you money and protect your customers, which is perhaps the most important aspect of online business.

Go for a trusted web design company to ensure that your website is protected against frauds. ITRIX Technologies, http://www.itrixtechnologies.com is one such company providing neat, clear-cut secure web design services customized to their customers' unique requirements. Their certified web designers have extensive experience in web site design and graphic art. The company understands that your website represents your brand and can help design a solution that not only strengthens and creates brand awareness but also fulfils your business objectives. ITRIX Technologies can take care of your web needs from web hosting to web page design to online marketing.

Mark Alter, the author of this article, writes about the benefits of a trusted web design to ensure that your website is protected against frauds. Want to know more about ITRIX Technologies and web design? Still lots of things remain to explore.

The Best Web Hosting For Your Business is Easy to Find

There's a massive amount of data out there on the Internet concerning how to choose the best web hosting. The really helpful thing is that there's really only a handful of absolutely crucial points that you genuinely have to have an awareness of. In this piece I will promptly run through a few of the the most important aspects that you should watch your step with.

Checking into the good reputation of the hosting service provider is a vitally key detail to make an effort to remember. Starting a business on the web is relatively straightforward. More or less anyone can have a go. In the context of these elements it is relatively easy to grasp why there are several shoddy companies around the Net. The quickest and best tactic for judging the dependability of the web hosting firm is to check how long they have been in business.

Make sure not to place too much focus on the headline figures. Some of the adverts you are going to see to do with web hosting are going to contain attractive headline numbers. What you're going to want is a sound and reliable hosting firm. These headline numbers will probably not expose a rounded picture of the offer. It's essential that you dig around a little deeper to locate the solid info that you will want before you make any commitments.

Please appreciate that what you're actually in need of is the best value. The-low-cost option will not necessarily produce very good value. The thing you actually need from a hosting service supplier is a superior mixture of various different components that ultimately, can give you excellent value.

As I mentioned during the opening of this article, this has been a brief appraisal of a few of the key details about the issue of how to choose the best web hosting. There is just a few other absolutely critical issues that you have to fully appreciate.

To learn about those other things right now please go to web hosting advice now. For the best tips http://info.answertrain.com/WebHostingAdvice.html

Can Google Chrome Help Secure Web Browsing?

If you have to share a computer either at home, work or school then you'll soon realise that you leave a trace of your web history on the computer each time you use it - it's not exactly secure web browsing. This can be quite annoying at times, if you're trying to arrange a surprise, buy a gift then leaving a trail of web sites behind you can slightly give the surprise away.

There is of course even more serious side when so many of use the internet for lots of private stuff like banking, investments or research. Using a shared computer has alot of risks to it so most of the browsers are introducing features to deal with this.

Google's Chrome browser has probably the most advanced of these features at the moment although there isn't a lot in it with IE and Firefox both offering similar features. The privacy mode in Chrome is called Incognito mode and it can help your web browsing become a little more secure.

To enable Chrome's Incognito mode just select a new incognito window from the file menu. Then all your web browsing is slightly more secure , no cookies are stored, no logons cached and history maintained on the PC you are using.

If you want to start this mode automatically follow this procedure.

1) Right Click on the Chrome Shortcut on the desktop
2) Click on Properties
3) On the Shortcut - just add the following to the target line -incognito

(make sure you leave a space and add outside the inverted commas)

Then every time you start Chrome using this shortcut it will run in incognito mode. This will prevent any details of your browsing being left behind on your computer and all the cookies will be automatically removed. There are unfortunately many other traces of your web history so this is not totally secure web browsing but it is an important step.

Of course, it's a long, long way from real secure web surfing, we still use HTTP which means your browsing is in clear text. Your browsing history and IP address are also stored on the web site you visit, on the ISP logs. But it is a start and at least can keep your PC holding a huge list of your web browsing.

If you want the ultimate secure browsing, have a look here - Secure Surfing Protection

Try the new free demo of Identity Cloaker on the link below.

Anonymous Surfing Program

Take care and stay safe.
Jim

Where Does 50,000 Malicious Software (Malware) Come From Each Day?

What is Malware, what is being done about it and why should you care? Malware is actually a combination of terms, malicious and software. Malware is software that is specifically designed to cause harm to your computer systems. There are different types of malware, which include Trojans, Spyware and Viruses.

Recent research shows that, "Anti-virus vendors are getting more than 50,000 submissions of new malware per day now," according to Larry Seltzer at eweek.com.

How is it that anti-virus provider's are getting so many submissions each day? Are there that many forms of malware out there or is more being "created" or written each day? Are all of them effective at harming our computer?

An Inside Look at Creating Malware with Computer Expert Larry Seltzer:

First, it is important to understand that this software is being created every day in an attempt to circumvent any existing security systems you have in place. In order to quickly and easily generate malware, it can either be written (in computer language) or you can purchase a malcode generator. Next malware troublemakers submit this code to a public malware scanning service, like VirusTotal, however there are others available. This is done in an effort to "test drive" the newly designed malware programs and to determine exactly how much undetectable damage this software can do.

If the malware is a good one, it can take some time before it is detected or protection can be designed for it. The effective versions of malware programs are eventually reported and distributed among the many anti virus service providers so the window of opportunity is very small for use and distribution of malicious software.

Why are so many malware programs produced each day? Basically this is because you will catch more fish with a big net. The more malware programs that are submitted and found to be "effective" the more they can generate as well as the more damage that can be done. Many of the ones tested are ineffective, which is great news for consumers, but then malware designers are just back at the keyboard. The turnover is tremendous but yet identity thieves and scammers are vigilant in producing malware hoping to take advantage of uninformed consumers and hit pay dirt.

How can consumers protect themselves from malware? Security Center Editor Larry Seltzer recommends: "Anti-malware needs to be combined with other forms of defense, like a firewall, an intrusion prevention product, running your system with least privileged access and not clicking on links in e-mails (or at least being very careful about doing so)." There's no doubt that today there is more spam and more malware and consumers need to be both more educated and more protected.

Lisa Carey is a contributing author for Identity Theft Secrets - prevention and protection. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity Theft Secrets blog.

Expert in Email Tracing Can Use IP Trace to Stop Internet Scams

Internet scams...we've all heard of them happening, and some of us have even been had by one or two. The simple fact remains that they do exist, and it seems that the masterminds behind them aren't getting tired nor are they slowing down anytime soon. So, we have to rely on the experts to catch them, the ones who specialize in email tracing.

A private investigator who is an expert in email tracing is able to use an IP trace to pinpoint the source of an internet scam. All that is needed is one single email that was sent from the internet scam site. The email will be stripped and the header extracted for thorough investigation.

Normally, an email trace will be performed to pull any personal details about the sender of the email, such as the full name, address and phone number when available. The ISP of the culprit is also determined, and can be used immediately to file an abuse report and at least temporarily stop the internet scam from continuing.

To take things a step further, a private investigator will also do an IP trace to determine the location from which the email was sent. So, if the scam artist is operating out of his home or somewhere else, you should be able to find out. Also, most experts will perform a header comparison to check for signs of previous related incidents. With a list of possible suspects on hand, it should be fairly easy for a private investigator to close in on the persons responsible...they will either rule out names or single them out for further investigation.

Email tracing can be a great time saver, especially when you have a first encounter with an internet scam. Most of these scam artists hide themselves so well that it's nearly impossible for you to be able to give any information about them and it actually lead authorities to them. So, you get a private investigator to do a little digging first.

You could certainly take on the task of doing these things yourself, using the free tools online. But, you won't get the results you want or need. You can attempt to find the identity of the person sending you the scam emails with a free email lookup, but you're not likely to get their real name. You can also use the IP lookup tools available and trace the IP from which the email was sent. Chances are this is going to give you a dead end too, only turning up the ISP and the location from which the IP was issued. Neither of these results will do you any good in putting an end to internet scams, and these scam artists are well aware of the fact.

The are many private investigators available to lend their services to you, but you must be sure they are an expert. More importantly, they should be an expert in email tracing and have experience with internet scams.

Ed Opperman, President of Opperman Investigations, is an expert in IP address tracing and has over 10 years experience in online investigations. For more information, visit http://www.emailrevealer.com now!

How to Surf Securely With Anonymous Proxy Surfing

Any semblance of privacy we used to have on the internet is long gone, anonymous proxy surfing is becoming more common as people realise just how much of their personal data exists online. Do you have to be a technical wizard to protect your privacy online, well if you want to do it for free it definitely helps?

What are the Issues in Surfing Securely

The main areas of concern are usually the following:

• ISP Logs which contain your IP address and every web site you visit.
• Web Server Logs - which record your IP address
• HTTP Transport - unfortunately the majority of web traffic is in plain text so can be intercepted and read easily.

So whats the Solution and will it cost me?

You can protect yourself to varying extents by using paid or free technology. The easiest part to protect yourself against is the Web server logs, if you use anonymous proxy surfing your IP address will not be recorded in the web servers you visit. Setting up a proxy server manually is quite simple in IE you will find it in Tools/Internet Options/Connections/LAN Settings - just input the address of the anonymous proxy and that's it. The problem is finding a free proxy to use as the majority are hacked or misconfigured servers and are nearly always painfully slow.

You can also use an Open source program called TOR which is more secure than selecting a random anonymous proxy and hoping it's not run by a Russian Hacking Club! TOR has the potential to be extremely secure but it is fairly difficult to set up and again can be extremely slow browsing using it unless you stick to text only sites.

To deal with the other points you'll need to use some sort of encryption protocol, try looking at Stunnel which enables you to encrypt TCP connections inside SSL (Secure Socket Layer). Again it's free but you'll need to pretty technical to get it all working, it's quite fun experimenting though if you have the inclination and time.

If you want to read about some of my thoughts on using free anonymous proxies and how you can surf without being spied on, try the link below, from there you can also try out a demo of the most secure, sophisticated anonymous web browsing product available anywhere.

Try the new free demo of Identity Cloaker on the link below.

Anonymous Surfing Demo

Take care and stay safe.
Jim

Secure Surfing Using Free Anonymous Proxies

The credit crunch is hitting hard, the world financial institutions are in turmoil but one thing stays the same, people still delude themselves that they can protect themselves online using free anonymous proxies.

If you wanted to find a list of the most hacked, insecure and badly administered servers you'd find a pretty good candidate on the many free anonymous proxies lists that float around on the internet. It's true, a server usually gets on these lists by either being hacked, set up badly or deliberately set up to steal peoples personal information. Virtually none of these servers are set up on purpose to allow anonymous surfing, the only ones that are have identity thieves sitting on them running sniffers and installing various malware on the clients that connect.

You'd have to be crazy to send all your personal data, all your browsing via one of these servers unless you knew who was running it and why. Yet people do it all the time, find a list on the internet - read some line like -

{Ip Address } - Highly Secure Anonymous Proxy - Russia

Then send all their internet traffic via this one server, so just let me spell it out what that line probably really means

{Ip Address } - Insecure Hacked Server - Run by Russian Identity thieves

It's fantastic news for the hackers, instead of trying to intercept traffic, send phishing emails or bombard clients with malware to steal identities. All they have to do is load up a hacked server with a network sniffer, install lots of nasty trojans and viruses and perform the final act - install a simple proxy server and wait. Pretty soon network scans will pick up this open proxy server and it will appear in the lists, after that there will be a mad scramble as people send all their data down this 'anonymous proxy' . It's about as far from secure surfing as you can possibly get!

If you want to read about some of my thoughts on using free anonymous proxies and how you can surf without being spied on, try the link below, from there you can also try out a demo of the most secure, sophisticated web browsing product available anywhere.

Try the new trial of Identity Cloaker on the links below.

Online Surf Protection

Anonymous Surfing

Take care and stay safe.
Jim

How to Protect Your Kid's Email Accounts

Making sure that your kids' online communications are safe is not an entirely easy process. It takes patience, effort, and diligence. You need to begin by keeping your children educated regarding safe practices when communicating online whether via email or otherwise. But that is only the start. Even the most informed child is prone to making the wrong choices just from a lack of life experience and from innocence to the intentions of others. Children simply feel that they are invincible and no amount of warning will change that.

It's not that you want to instill a fear of the internet or of people into your children, but a serious level of caution is highly recommended. To backup this sense, it is advised that you always supervise the online activities of your children. It is something that should be taken very seriously, and at least until your child has reached into their teenage years, it is appropriate for you to limit the amount of time that your child is allowed online and that you should oversee any of his or her activities while there.

You will also likely want to invest in a parental guarding program to install into your computer that will block out sites that have a certain rating, and will let you have greater control over where your children can and cannot go on the world wide web, and will give you an accurate history of where they have gone and what they have done there.

Be sure that your child is well aware that he or she should never share any of his or her private and contact information with anyone or any site online unless you give your specific permission. You may want to look into any email addresses with which your child wishes to communicate, using a free email search. This lets you enter the address into a lookup field so that you can find out what other data has been registered to it such as a name and address or a company's info. This will help you to make your decision as to whether or not it is safe to use.