Some Computer Viruses In History

Computer viruses generally trick hosts or other types of computers into reproducing copies of the invading organism. They spread from computer to computer through electronic bulletin boards, telecommunication systems and shared floppy disks. Viruses are created by human programmers, for fun or malice, but once they begin to spread they take on a life of their own, creating disruption, dismay and paranoia in their wake.

If the virus is found in any of the PC's that PC shoul...


Computer viruses generally trick hosts or other types of computers into reproducing copies of the invading organism. They spread from computer to computer through electronic bulletin boards, telecommunication systems and shared floppy disks. Viruses are created by human programmers, for fun or malice, but once they begin to spread they take on a life of their own, creating disruption, dismay and paranoia in their wake.

If the virus is found in any of the PC's that PC should immediately be isolated. The virus can be removed by giving an antidote by studying the virus. The machine should be put into use only after the virus is eliminated.
Viruses and such

A Virus is defined as a program inserted into another program. It gets activated by its host program. It replicates itself and spreads to others through floppy transfer. A virus infects data or program every time the user runs the infected program and the virus takes advantages and replicates itself.

There are two types of computer viruses 'parasitic' and 'boot' virus.

A Parasitic virus attaches itself to other programs and is activated when the host program is executed. It tries to get attached to more programs so that chances of getting activated is more. It spreads to other computers when the affected programs are copied. 'Jerusalem' and 'Datacrime' are parasitic viruses.

A Boot virus is designed to enter the boot sector of a floppy disc. It works by replacing the first sector on the disc with part of itself. It hides the rest of itself elsewhere on the disc, with a copy of the first sector. The virus is loaded by the computers built-in start-up program when the machine is switched on. The virus loads, installs itself, hides the rest of itself and then loads the original program. On a hard disc, virus can occupy DOS boot sector or master boot sector.
Some Reported Viruses

C-Brain: Amjad and Basit, two pakistani brothers, developed this software in January 1986 to discourage people from buying illegal software at throwaway prices. This was the most famous virus ever found and has a record of damaging few millions of personal computers. This is designed to stay in the boot sector of the disc or near zero sector. The virus enters the machine memory once the PC is booted with the infected floppy.

Macmag: This virus attacked Apple Macintosh computers only. Not much damage is reported because of this virus. This was not noticed on any IBM compatible PCs. It displayed a message of peace on the monitor and killed itself.

Cascade: This virus attacked IBM PCs and compatibles. The letters on the screen could be seen dropping vertically down to the bottom of screen after the virus picked them off in alphabetical order. This is a sort of parasitic virus. It attaches itself to other programs and gets activated when the host program is executed. It gets copied to other PCs when the programs are copied.

Jerusalem: Found in 1987 at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, this virus was designed to activate only on Friday, January 13 and delete all the files executed on that day. This infects the COM and EXE files. This is similar to Cascade virus in that it is parasitic in nature. This virus attaches itself to COM and EXE files to damage the data.

Daracrime/Columbus or October the 13th virus: This virus is similar to Jerusalem and was programmed to attack on October 13, 1989. Track zero of computer hard disk is destroyed and the contents of discs are rendered unreadable. This virus enters COM and EXE files and damages the hard disk. An antidote called 'Vchecker' was developed by the American Computer Society. Fortunately the virus was located in March 1989 itself and the damage reported after October 13 was minimal.

Bomb: This is also know as 'Logic Bomb' and 'Time Bomb'. An event triggered routine in a program that causes a program to crash is defined as a 'bomb'. Generally, 'bomb' is a software inserted in a program by a person working in the company.

Several Common Ways That Viruses Spread

In addition to the common methods of spreading through email attachments, boot infections and program infectors, there are other ways by which viruses spread to your computer. These include:

Infection by Disk(Floppy, Zip, CD's, Tapes, etc.)

Floppy disks, though not as commonly used as in the past, are still a very common way viruses being spread from machine to machine. Anyone with an infected machine, using a floppy disk to copy and save files, can also copy and transf...


In addition to the common methods of spreading through email attachments, boot infections and program infectors, there are other ways by which viruses spread to your computer. These include:

Infection by Disk(Floppy, Zip, CD's, Tapes, etc.)

Floppy disks, though not as commonly used as in the past, are still a very common way viruses being spread from machine to machine. Anyone with an infected machine, using a floppy disk to copy and save files, can also copy and transfer the virus. Any use of that same removable disk, by any user, at any time in the future, will most likely contaminate, or re-contaminate the any computer it is used with. The only way to properly clean an infected floppy disk is to perform a low-level format. The normal Windows(tm) "format disk" is often not enough.

With CD's, all the above holds true with the exception that an infected CD can never be cleaned. To get rid of an infected CD, you need to put it in the trash and never use it again.

Infection from Networks

Peer-to-Peer network, Local Area Networks (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), Wireless Networks, and the Internet, are all computer networks. They all have the same basic purpose; to share software, and information resources between two or more computers. As with anything else that is shared between computers, networks let users share files, and wherever files are shared, viruses can be shared and spread.

Most network virus/worm/Trojan activity is like what we described earlier, although more and more examples of automatic mass mailing attacks, system resource attacks are being found.

Recently many attacks are designed to specifically target major corporate interests (Microsoft, eBay, Amazon, major Banks etc.) in an attempt to disrupt their online services. Very generally these are called DOS (denial of service) attacks. The way they most commonly work is by secretly infecting thousands of local user computers (like the one you are using right now), and then at a specific time, launching a combined attack from all the infected machines against the primary target.

As you can see, your computer can be hijacked without your knowledge and then used in a major attack against an unsuspecting company. However with up-to-date virus/firewall protection, your computer will be immune to such hijacking.

Other ways by which virus spreads

Other sources of viruses have been found to be the result of software downloads available over the Internet. Software patches, drivers, demonstration software, from reputable companies, generally carries little risk. However, the Internet is also filled with "unofficial" software, pirated programs, and low-budget software from questionable sources that may be intentionally or unintentionally infected with viruses. Files downloaded directly from the Internet (either through file-sharing programs or direct download from websites), are among the fastest growing sources of computer virus infections.

Email, with its nearly universal availability and ease of use; chat rooms and messenger systems, not only make communication simple and quick, also make the transmission and re-transmission of infection simple and alarmingly fast. Creators of newer viruses, and internet worms specifically target these systems because they are widely used, and are often built right into the operating system and used with default settings making them much easier to attack and exploit.

As a point of reference, Internet Explorer, and Outlook/Outlook express email clients are two of the applications most targeted by Internet viruses and worms. Why? Because they are installed on more computers around the world than any other software, and they are installed 99% of the time with default settings (which means virus programmers have an easy blueprint to follow).

If you use an email system or instant message system that is installed automatically with your computer's operating system you need to install and use current antivirus software. You also need to learn how to turn off certain default settings that can leave your system open to very easy attack.

How to protect your Computer. Wery useful Tips

Computer Security Ethics and Privacy
Today, many people rely on computers to do homework, work, and create or store useful information. Therefore, it is important for the information on the computer to be stored and kept properly. It is also extremely important for people on computers to protect their computer from data loss, misuse, and abuse.  For example, it is crucial for businesses to keep information they have secure so that hackers can’t access the information. Home users also need to take means to make sure that their credit card numbers are secure when they are participating in online transactions.  A computer security risk is any action that could cause lost of information, software, data, processing incompatibilities, or cause damage to computer hardware,   a lot of these are planned to do damage. An intentional breach in computer security is known as a computer crime which is slightly different from a cypercrime. A cybercrime is known as illegal acts based on the internet and is one of the FBI’s top priorities.  There are several distinct categories for people that cause cybercrimes, and they are refereed as hacker, cracker, cyberterrorist, cyberextortionist, unethical employee, script kiddie and corporate spy.  The term hacker was actually known as a good word but now it has a very negative view. A hacker is defined as someone who accesses a computer or computer network unlawfully.  They often claim that they do this to find leaks in the security of a network. The term cracker has never been associated with something positive this refers to someone how intentionally access a computer or computer network for evil reasons. It’s basically an evil hacker.  They access it with the intent of destroying, or stealing information. Both crackers and hackers are very advanced with network skills.  A cyberterrorist is someone who uses a computer network or the internet to destroy computers for political reasons.  It’s just like a regular terrorist attack because it requires highly skilled individuals, millions of dollars to implement, and years of planning. The term cyperextortionist is someone who uses emails as an offensive force. They would usually send a company a very threatening email stating that they will release some confidential information, exploit a security leak, or launch an attack that will harm a company’s network. They will request a paid amount to not proceed sort of like black mailing in a since. An unethical employee is an employee that illegally accesses their company’s network for numerous reasons. One could be the money they can get from selling top secret information, or some may be bitter and want revenge. A script kiddie is someone who is like a cracker because they may have the intentions of doing harm, but they usually lack the technical skills. They are usually silly teenagers that use prewritten hacking and cracking programs. A corporate spy has extremely high computer and network skills and is hired to break into a specific computer or computer network to steal or delete data and information. Shady companies hire these type people in a practice known as corporate espionage. They do this to gain an advantage over their competition an illegal practice. Business and home users must do their best to protect or safeguard their computers from security risks. The next part of this article will give some pointers to help protect your computer. However, one must remember that there is no one hundred percent guarantee way to protect your computer so becoming more knowledgeable about them is a must during these days. When you transfer information over a network it has a high security risk compared to information transmitted in a business network because the administrators usually take some extreme measures to help protect against security risks. Over the internet there is no powerful administrator which makes the risk a lot higher. If your not sure if your computer is vulnerable to a computer risk than you can always use some-type of online security service which is a website that checks your computer for email and Internet vulnerabilities. The company will then give some pointers on how to correct these vulnerabilities.  The Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center is a place that can do this. The typical network attacks that puts computers at risk includes viruses, worms, spoofing, Trojan horses, and denial of service attacks.  Every unprotected computer is vulnerable to a computer virus which is a potentially harming computer program that infects a computer negatively and altering the way the computer operates without the user’s consent. Once the virus is in the computer it can spread throughout infecting other files and potentially damaging the operating system itself. It’s similar to a bacteria virus that infects humans because it gets into the body through small openings and can spread to other parts of the body and can cause some damage. The similarity is, the best way to avoid is preparation.  A computer worm is a program that repeatedly copies itself and is very similar to a computer virus. However the difference is that a virus needs o attach itself to an executable file and become a part of it. A computer worm doesn’t need to do that I seems copies to itself and to other networks and eats up a lot of bandwidth. A Trojan Horse named after the famous Greek myth and is used to describe a program that secretly hides and actually looks like a legitimate program but is a fake.  A certain action usually triggers the Trojan horse, and unlike viruses and worms they don’t replicate itself. Computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are all classifies as malicious-logic programs which are just programs that deliberately harms a computer.  Although these are the common three there are many more variations and it would be almost impossible to list them. You know when a computer is infected by a virus, worm, or Trojan horse if one or more of these acts happen:

?    Screen shots of weird messages or pictures appear.
?    You have less available memory then you expected
?    Music or sounds plays randomly.
?    Files get corrupted
?    Programs are files don’t work properly
?    Unknown files or programs randomly appear
?    System properties fluctuate

Computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses deliver their payload or instructions through four common ways. One, when an individual runs an infected program so if you download a lot of things you should always scan the files before executing, especially executable files. Second, is when an individual runs an infected program. Third, is when an individual bots a computer with an infected drive, so that’s why it’s important to not leave media files in your computer when you shut it down.  Fourth is when it connects an unprotected computer to a network. Today, a very common way that people get a computer virus, worm, or Trojan horse is when they open up an infected file through an email attachment. There are literally thousands of computer malicious logic programs and new one comes out by the numbers so that’s why it’s important to keep up to date with new ones that come out each day. Many websites keep track of this. There is no known method for completely protecting a computer or computer network from computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses, but people can take several precautions to significantly reduce their chances of being infected by one of those malicious programs.  Whenever you start a computer you should have no removable media in he drives. This goes for CD, DVD, and floppy disks. When the computer starts up it tries to execute a bot sector on the drives and even if it’s unsuccessful any given various on the bot sector can infect the computer’s hard disk. If you must start the computer for a particular reason, such as the hard disk fails and you are trying to reformat the drive make sure that the disk is not infected.

Does Internet security software really work?

In the recent years there has been many Internet securtity tools to hit the consumer market that claim to be providing excellent protection against online threats such as phishing sites, Trojan horses and viruses. Amongst Internet security packages there are Norton Internet Security, Webroot Spy Sweeper, McAfee Antivirus and many more. Are those products really so efficient in fighting threats and safeguarding our personal information from being stolen?
In the recent years there has been many Internet securtity tools to hit the consumer market that claim to be providing excellent protection against online threats such as phishing sites, Trojan horses and viruses. Amongst Internet security packages there are Norton Internet Security, Webroot Spy Sweeper, McAfee Antivirus and many more. Are those products really so efficient in fighting threats and safeguarding our personal information from being stolen?

With the introduction of the Norton Internet Security 2007 that comes with a new interface and a lower price the private user may expect they get a comprehensive online protection and personal information safety whilst banking or shopping online.

These Internet security tools, and Norton Internet Security in particular, come with a bunch of smart features that can give you an additional protection against even unknown, or unrecognized threats by using behavior monitoring algorithms. But, many average users who never stray far from mainstream Web sites will find most of features of the internet security software available today unnecessary - it's like purchasing a BMW to drive it only to church on Sundays.

For example McAfee internet security tools still feel heavy and clumsy even if its new version, failing to find the happy medium between features, ease-of-use and performance.

On top of that, many applications do not play well with other security software you might already have installed on your PC. These are third-party anti-virus, antispyware and anti-adware software you purchased from other vendors that apps that may have been serving you well so far and there's no reason why you should stop using them.

Therefore, I recommend to have a look at the features first, before any purchasing decision is made – if you decide you don't need a BMW to drive to church once a week, a lighter, much more user friendly internet security software, such as ZoneAlarm Internet Security 7, may be a better choice. 

Today, there are a few types of risks that may affect your PC's security while you surf the Web and install downloaded software: viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, worms and rootkits. Thes programs can install on your computer when you download software from untrusted sources or visit booby-trapped websites often referred as to phishing sites.

On top of that, malware often spreads itself by sending bogus e-mails to everyone in your address book. But not only pirate copies of software can contain dangerous code - viruses often come from unsuspecting sources; even some Sony music CDs inadvertently inflicted viruses.

All antivirus software packages available today is especially to deal with these threats by scanning downloaded files, running applications, scanning incoming e-mails, attachments and some of them can even scan instant messages blocking and deleting incoming malware. Security researchers say antivirus software has become essential, but it's no longer enough because you come across dangerous sites every day you surf the Web that can use smart techniques to launch an attack on your PC.

Some of the malicious software is designed to steal sensitive information such as login credentials, passwords, personal information and even credit card numbers. Hackers keep inventing new ways of stealing information penetrating your computer or hijacking keystrokes you type while you shop or bank online.

While online identity theft has become a growing problem, protecting your computer from these kind of threats is essential. Any chunk of information you keep on your computer or send over the Internet may be to cybercriminals. This is why you need strong Internet security protection – an anti virus, a firewall and an anti-spyware software.

Research show, that most security and privacy threats come from adware, spyware and phishing. Security engineers admit these types of threats are amongst the fastest-growing threats to PC and personal security on the Web today. The major problem is that these applications are tiny programs that can be transported over the Internet and installed on the victim's computer in seconds and can not be detected without a proper anti malware program working in the background.

Some spyware and adware can be moderately not harmful, gathering information about what sites you visit or what you do while you work on the PC, however, there are still very dangerous spyware out there that can be used for example to connect your computer to a world-wide network of infected machines – a botnet – that cybercriminals often use to launch DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks.

An article called "State of the net 2006," issued in the September 2006 by Consumer Reports cites alarming statistics showing the damage caused by viruses, spywae and advare to computers owned by individuals and businesses. The magazine reports that nearly a million people replaced their computers in the past six months because of spyware infections.


Charles Brooker is IT security advisor and software tester at Norton-Soft – Information Source about Norton Software

Avast Antivirus Home Edition

Prior to trying the Avast 4.6 Home Edition, I was very much a Norton user. I knew there were a lot of free antivirus software out there but I wanted to be on the safe side and use something tried and true. However, with the increase of spyware and virus attacks, my computer was not always spared and there were times I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. That’s when I thought that it was time to try something new – and free.

Installation is very easy. Just download ...
Prior to trying the Avast 4.6 Home Edition, I was very much a Norton user. I knew there were a lot of free antivirus software out there but I wanted to be on the safe side and use something tried and true. However, with the increase of spyware and virus attacks, my computer was not always spared and there were times I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. That’s when I thought that it was time to try something new – and free.

Installation is very easy. Just download the software from the Avast website, free of charge. The only catch – if you can consider it that – is that it is for personal, non-commercial use only. The installation process is mostly automatic. You can choose to register it after installation in order to access free updates for one year. If you do not choose to register it then you can use it for 60 days free. Since the registration is free as well, there is no reason not to do that.

The user interface is simple and easy to use. Some people might not find that it doesn’t suit their taste as it looks something like Winamp – it looks fun, not very serious. However, that doesn’t take away its functionality. It actually adds to the experience as you can change the skin if you want to.

It gives you the option to run 7 providers. You can choose which ones you want to run. I use the following shields: Instant Messaging, Internet Mail, Network Shield, P2P Shield, Standard Shield, and Web Shield. If you use Outlook then you can opt to use that provider as well. The above-mentioned shields pretty much cover everything you do on your computer, providing extensive protection. The Web Shield is by far the latest impressive addition to this release. It monitors all internet traffic including spyware. It is also compatible with most internet browsers. If you are worried about the effect on speed, your worries are unfounded.

A drawback of this software is that it takes too much time to load up when you first turn your computer on. It may take several minutes. In the meantime, it would be difficult for you to run applications.

I think that is a minor inconvenience you can put up with. For something that is free and works effectively, I wouldn’t mind waiting for a couple of minutes.

Anti-Virus Software Fighting Back Against Computer Infections

many computer users adopt the ‘it will never happen to me’ policy, but there are a number of computer viruses out there just waiting to infect and destroy the information contained on their hard-drive.  This is why companies invented anti-virus software, which is a program that automatically helps to detect the presence of
Many computer users adopt the ‘it will never happen to me’ policy, but there are a number of computer viruses out there just waiting to infect and destroy the information contained on their hard-drive.  This is why companies invented anti-virus software, which is a program that automatically helps to detect the presence of viruses on a computer or in a file before it is opened.

Anyone who spends a considerable amount of time surfing the internet, visiting unfamiliar websites or downloading photographs is at a higher risk for computer viruses than those who do not.  Computer viruses are typically attached to word processing documents, computer programs and images which, if downloaded, may instantly affect the computer’s performance.

If a computer virus infects a computer, the owner may immediately lose everything in their computer and may be forced to use the factory restore disk.  This CD, which is accompanied by most new computers, will restore the computer to it’s original factory settings.

Anti-virus software is quite affordable considering it’s wealth of use.  Without it, computer users are at constant risk for computer viruses.  Anti-virus software can generally be found at any computer manufacturer’s website, retail store’s electronic department or online at many retailers selling computers. 

Anyone who suspects that their computer may be infected with a virus should refrain from sending any e-mail messages or uploading photos to family or friends.  Otherwise, the virus may spread to infect their computers as well.

Anti-virus software is available most commonly on a CD-Rom, but may also be downloaded from some manufacturers.  By double clicking on the software, the anti-virus program will begin to perform a scan of your entire computer.  As it progresses, it will give you an update on any potential located viruses or files that may be of concern.  In addition, some anti-virus software will allow users to scan a single file before opening it.  For example, if a computer user were to download an image but wanted to run a virus scan on it prior to opening the file, he/she could click on the anti-virus software and direct it toward the file in question.  The anti-virus program would scan the file for potential viruses and will post the results immediately on the computer screen.  This will allow the computer user to know which files are safe and which are not. 

In today’s world, anti-virus software is to computers as Tylenol is to headaches.  It’s both a preventative approach and a cure for certain ailments affecting a computer.  If a user does not have anti-virus software pre-installed into their computer, it is recommended that they purchase a program immediately before logging on to the internet.

Adware tale of the computer hijackers

Adwares are some of the most derided objects in the web alongside viruses, spyware and other malicious softwares and programs. Although adwares are alleged to be the most benign form of spyware they can in fact do damage and yes you can beat them.


When we think of adware, what comes to mind are those annoying and pesky ads that pop up out of nowhere whenever we are surfing the net. Anybody who has surfed through the net has encountered those irritating pop-up adwares advertising everything from computer software down to Viagra. Adwares are some of the most derided objects in the web alongside viruses, spyware and other malicious softwares and programs. Although adwares are alleged to be the most benign form of spyware, most web users hate the blatant and bothersome way of advertising. Most are often tricked into clicking on such adwares and end up unintentionally downloading something far more serious.

What are adwares, anyway? Adware or advertising-supported software is defined as any computer program or software package in which advertising and other marketing material are included with or automatically loaded by the software. Adwares are usually played back after installation. Some malicious adwares upload information about the computer or its user's activities even without the consent of its user. Adwares most often take the form of banner ads that appear on pop up windows or anywhere on the computer screen.

Software applications display these advertising banners whenever a program is opened or through some other triggering mechanism. Most adwares are integrated into a free application. This is a way for the developers to recover the costs of creating such software. A prominent example of this is the Opera browser software, which is a free application but comes with a banner ad. The adware can only be removed once the user purchases and registers his copy of the software. It is also a revenue-generating mechanism. A company can sponsor adwares to capture more visitors and potential customers. Adware as a marketing strategy is just one of the many techniques used by websites to attract more traffic.

However, some adwares are more than just pesky and garish ads. In many cases, adwares accompany a more malicious program, which uploads information about the user collected without permission. The users surfing habits are then tracked; in some cases, the browser home page is altered or redirected to the adware company's sponsoring site. These types of adwares are dangerous since they may jeopardize the computer system's health. Aside from installing malicious software, they may also become an avenue for viruses to invade the system.

Adwares have come under fire not only because of their annoying presence in the form of pop ups and banners but also in the way they invade the privacy of the user. Trackware and Spyware are just two of the "evil" forms that adware can take. That is why most computer users make an effort to get rid of these adwares. Because of the annoying nature of pop-up adware, most browsers now employ an adware blocking system through the form of a pop-up blocker or adware blocker. Browsers such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox all use pop-up blockers, which instantly block or close any window that is triggered by adware in the sites that the user visits. These steps have significantly reduced the number of irritating adware that pop up every time a site is opened.

Most antivirus programs and utilities now feature an adware search and removal system. These programs indexes known adwares and spywares in the internet universe and searches for it in the user's computers system then subsequently quarantines or deletes the malicious files. Nevertheless, despite the numerous efforts against adwares, they continue to plague web surfers with their showy ads and banners as well as the nasty programs they introduce into the computer system. As the sage of the annoying adware continues, web surfers are also equipped with the best tools and utilities to combat them.

Adware spyware both have nasty intensions

Adwares are some of the most derided objects in the web alongside viruses, spyware and other malicious softwares and programs. Although adwares are alleged to be the most benign form of spyware they can in fact do damage and yes you can beat them.
Adware removal is actually one of the most important aspects of keeping your computer running safely,securely and free from all outside intrusions. There are many people who think that adware and spyware does not indeed cause a great deal to worry about, this could not be further from the truth. The plain fact is that anything that infiltrates the inner workings of your computer must without fail be treated with the upmost distrust and caution.

Adware or spyware by its very nature will mainly be placed on a computer for reasons that are clearly financial. Nine times out of ten this is for tracking purposes in order to give the big companies as much consumer data as possible. They use it in order to gain information regarding your consumer activities and in what ways you carry out your online activities. At the other end of the scale there are those darker entities that have a far more sinister purpose and it is these folk that we truly need to be protected from and keep as far away from our personal computers as possible.

If you wondered just how these nasty adware parasites manage to infiltrate the inner sanctum or your computer then you may be surprised to learn that you yourself were probably the one that invited them in the first place. These hidden programs that are the plague of the internet community actually hide themselves in what most of us think to be some very innocent software's. From instant messengers to free software downloads you can be assured that you are downloading a little more than you first intended to invite.

One of the biggest sources of unwanted scumware are the numerous music download sites that are springing up all over the internet. Does anyone actually wonder why these folk are so kind and so willing to give away such a vast amount of free music programs and software's? Data is worth money and there are plenty of corporations in existence who are more than willing to purchase your data and dig to the inner most soul of your activities.

No matter if you suspect that you have been infected or not it is absolutely vital the regular system scanning is carried out. The cool thing is you do not even have to pay for such scans. Download a scan for free and if you are in the clear you will not have paid anything at all for the service. If however you are infected then you can rest assured that paying a small amount for computer cleansing by far outweighs the risks of having your computer carry a spy who is both watching,recording and submitting your private information for the bad guys to use.

As has been pointed out computer adware / spyware can have some extremely nasty purposes. Don't ignore the possible implications and ensure that you at least get a scan. For those of you who are extremely security conscious why not go all the way and purchase a full blown adware software protector, this way you will never need worry again.

Be safe, Not sorry.

Adware is a Pain but you Can Deal with Fast

Adware can do some pretty nasty damage if you let it, most people do not realize the dangers and do not know how to deal with it.
Adware is one of those things that many people simply do not worry about until the ghastly stuff actually does some damage. Yes it can cause damage and sometimes this is too late to fix. The plain facts are that adware or spyware can number one effect your computers functionality and two this can lead to system failure and ultimately data loss.

Now without putting the fear of god into you the data loss scenario is certainly a possibility but in the most extreme of cases. How does this happen? well quite simply if you allow certain spywares to gain access to your pc then over time these and the addition of others can seriously slow down the functions of your pc.

Now if your pc is functioning slow due to adware this means that any product you might purchase to cleanse it will also run at a slower pace. If the spyware or adware remover cannot faction properly due to this lack of efficiency then it may be that a reboot of your computer is the only way to solve the problem. This alas will result in the loss of your personal files and installed software's.

If you have safeguarded your data and made backups then there is really nothing to be concerned about as once you re-load your operating system software the adware will not be lurking inside your pc. Then you can safely re-add your files and add your programs at your leisure. This means the only loss you will incur is a few days of your time undergoing re-installation procedures.

The moral is that buying some adware or spyware protection is really something for the wise amongst us. If you value your files and programs then a small amount of money spent on a security program is nothing when compared to the misery that malware can cause.

Firstly to check to see if you have an adware or spyware problem them simply take advantage of a free scan. If it shows you are indeed infected then remove the problem immediately.

Once this is done and you have some kind of computer guard then regularly scan and put your mind at ease.

Adware scare you much? This gremlin can get anywhere

Adware is one of the scourges of the internet. Ignore it at your peril because it can have some truly sinister applications. Non of us are immune from it and for those that ignore it the outcome could be truly expensive.
Adware is on of those things that most internet users don't even think about until its too late. More often than not the majority of us do not even realise the existence of spyware until the damage has been done. Each and every day thousands of hidden applications are trying to gain access to computers all over the internet.

The amazing thing is that only a small percentage of people protect themselves from this kind of adware parasite and most only seek protection once the damage has been done. There are many ways that spyware and adware can take advantage of those of us who tend to be lacking in the area of computer security. Most times it is just our internet usage details that these nasties are after but at the other end of the scale there are some adware programs that are acting in a completely sinister manner.

If we all treated our computers like our bank accounts then you would not even be reading this article. The sad fact is we do not and every day there are thousands of people that are putting their private details at risk. None of us should have anything in our computers that we do not want and did not willingly invite but I would bet my last paycheque that anyone reading this article has a few unwanted extras lurking in the depths of their P.C's.

It is absolutely essential that you be very aware of the possibilities with the latest of today's scumware. If you are not willing to purchase some internet protection on the grounds that you might be infected then you should at least take advantage of an online scan. These scans are free and easily accessed so to be honest it would be sheer madness to ignore their existence and simply carry on regardless.

Run a free adware scan and the end result will be you are either spyware free or do in fact have a computer stowaway nestling inside your computer. If you are adware free then you can carry on without a care in the world, Your money will still be in your pocket and your computer will be running safely. If on the other hand you do find an intrusion then you can simply spend a little of your cash and rid the gremlin from your computer.

There are many free adware help sites all over the internet and it is very easy to get the latest news on all the recent adware outbreaks. Listen to the experts and weigh up what you have to lose.

If your computer is clean then a free scan will cost you nothing.

If it is infected then just how much do you stand to lose should your data be accessed?

A new unique MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product

NuWave Software announces the release of MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware, a revolutionary anti-virus product that integrates four anti-malware engines.

A new unique MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product reliably defends PC against computer malware and on-line threats at unsurpassed, highest security levels.

A MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product ( http://www.nuwavesoft.com ) effectively prevents, stops, and eliminates computer viruses and spyware.  The revolutionary underlying software technology enables multiple antivirus and antispyware scan-engines running on the same PC.  A MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product is truly unique, because it offers unprecedented security benefits of running multiple antivirus and spyware scan-engines simultaneously, in parallel, and without performance degradation!  No other computer security product for PC in the world is capable of or offering that to date.

What multi-core antivirus and antispyware solution means?  Comparatively speaking, you can imagine all the benefits of having computer processor with more than one CPU core.  The modern multi-core computer processors allow smoother performance and much increased speed of computer applications, which translates into better overall experience delivered to the end-users.

Conceptually similar, a multi-core antivirus and antispyware solution runs multiple antivirus and spyware scan-engines simultaneously and in parallel.  As result, it delivers exceptional performance while providing the strongest protection against malware and on-line threats.  With total four anti-malware scan-engines employed, MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product continuously scans PC at the same speed as traditional single-core solutions from competitors, while delivering unprecedented four times the protection!  Currently, MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product utilizes world’s leading two antivirus and two antispyware scan-engines: Frisk ( http://www.f-prot.com ), Norman ( http://www.norman.com ), Lavasoft (http://www.lavasoft.com ), and Sunbelt (http://www.sunbelt-software.com ).

Why end-users need a multi-core anti-malware solution?  Are traditional single-core computer security products not enough?  Well, the truth of the matter is that none of the traditional single-core computer security products can provide 100% protection alone.   There are at least seven major computer security vendors in the world who claim that precisely their brand is the world’ leading solution.  And yet multiple tests performed by credible and independent computer security certification institutions ( such as http://www.virusbtn.com , http://www.westcoastlabs.org , and so forth) do demonstrate year after year  that even the very best individual single-core computer security product can only deal with approximately 98% of the existing computer viruses and spyware.  Of course, there is no conscious end-user who wants to be unprotected and to face remaining 2% computer viruses and spyware and yet they all do, unfortunately.  A MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product eliminates this problem!  Each and every individual scan-engine differs from the other.  And all scan-engines have their own specific pros and cons in certain areas, such as heuristics, scanning speed, dealing with unknown malware, and so forth.  So, all end-users inherently tied up with those pros and cons of the underlying single-core scan-engines.  A MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product eliminates this problem too!  Also, concerned computer users sometimes install more than one computer security solution their PCs.  Little do they know that the different security products do not live well with each other on one PC - they constantly conflicting and causing instabilities and a sizeable performance hits too.  It is not uncommon for end-users to have PC crashes when the two or more antivirus or other security products start fighting for control over PC.  By engineering the four security cores together, MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product eliminates these problems completely!

A MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product is uniquely powerful, because by running multiple antivirus and spyware scan-engines simultaneously and in parallel – it creates unsurpassed synergy of combined strengths provided by each individual scan-engine!  The new integrated multi-core solution ensures smooth and problem-free operation of all four antivirus and antispyware scan-engines in real-time.  There are no conflicts, no compatibility problems and no fighting for control over PC among the cores.  The four engines are working in synergy continuously scanning and protecting your PC much better and even faster than many of the traditional anti-malware products with just one core!  And unlike many traditional PC security products, MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware works transparently and is compatible with third-party antivirus, antispyware and firewall applications.  And of course - all four security engines receive online updates in real-time, ensuring uninterrupted, the highest reliability, and up to date security measures.

A MultiCore AntiVirus & AntiSpyware product brings the PC security to a truly new height!

A Computer Firewall is Your Primary Defense against Virtual Attacks

If you have any personal information on your computer at all and access the Internet it is vitally important that you consider the benefits of a computer firewall. Many people lock their homes, lock their cars, keep a watchful eye on their children, and yet leave the bank accounts, personal information, and all kinds of other information vulnerable and exposed through their personal computers.

A virtual attack can be just as devastating financially and emotionally as someone breaking into your home. They are allowed access to secrets you may have shared in confidence with online friends or even offline friends that you correspond with online, they will have passwords for financial and banking accounts, they will know where you buy your coffee; they can learn where your children go to school. The information we have on our personal computers is staggering in terms of personal security nightmares and yet so many people take no steps to secure this information from prying eyes by investing in a simple computer firewall.

The amazing thing is that you can even find free computer firewalls available online if you know where to look. I highly recommend paying for a computer firewall though if you have little knowledge of the inner workings of your computer. If you’re going to secure your families secrets you may as well invest in a very good program with constant updates in order to do so.

A computer firewall isn’t just a nice thing to have on your computer; it is a vital line of defense for you and your family. Keep this in mind when choosing the best computer firewall for you. Remember you want to have a service that will provide updates and keep up with evolving technology that would harm your computer or steal your personal information.

10 Tips To Buying Software Online

Buying software online can be tricky, especially if you are new to shopping via the internet.  Whether you are upgrading an existing software package or looking for a specific program to install, the process will be a lot less complicated if you know what to look for.

Buying software online can be tricky, especially if you are new to shopping via the internet.  Whether you are upgrading an existing software package or looking for a specific program to install, the process will be a lot less complicated if you know what to look for.

Software Buying Tip # 1
Read customer reviews.  Many popular online stores, such as Amazon, allow users to leave their comments about a particular product.  Reading other customer reviews may help to make your decision easier because it gives you an idea of others who have experienced the product firsthand.

Software Buying Tip # 2
When considering any type of software, make sure that it is compatible with your computer.  Most software requires a specific processor type, such as Pentium or Celeron, and a certain amount of free hard drive space.  The reason is because, in order for software to function properly at quickly, the computer must be able to handle the application.  By being familiar with your computer’s configuration, you will be able to select the right software.

Software Buying Tip # 3
Become familiar with the software by reading it’s description and capabilities.  Before purchasing any type of software, you should make sure that it is exactly what you want or will enjoy learning.  Often times, after software is opened, there is no refund policy for buyer’s remorse.

Software Buying Tip # 4
Purchase software from a reputable company.  This will ensure customer service, reliability, quality products and timely shipment.  By purchasing software from a reliable source, you will also ensure that the title is authentic and not an illegal copy.  The best way to check out a business’s reputation is through the Better Business Bureau.

Software Buying Tip # 5
The best part of shopping for software online is the competition.  Because there are so many retailers, prices are more competitive than if only one store had the software that you want.  Shop around and compare prices before making a final decision.

Software Buying Tip # 6
When making a purchase online, consider using a credit card.  Most credit card companies provide a dispute resolution process, which is beneficial if the product is not delivered, is not as advertised or is damaged and the company will not stand behind the transaction.

Software Buying Tip # 7
If purchasing from another individual, such as often the case with online auctions, confirm that the software has all manuals and/or product keys to ensure proper installation.

Software Buying Tip # 8
Learn about the company’s return, refund and/or exchange policy.  In many cases, especially with software, the company may refuse to accept the product back for a refund.  However, there is always the possibility that a program is damaged or doesn’t function properly, in which case the store should honor the purchase with an exchange for the same title.  When buying software online, it’s best to purchase from a store that is reasonable when it comes to exchanges if not refunds.

Software Buying Tip # 9
When purchasing software online, take a moment to look at the company’s shipping costs, methods and availability of a way to track the package following shipment.

Software Buying Tip # 10
Common payment methods include credit cards, checks and/or money orders.  If you want to purchase software online, you will need to do so from a company that accepts a convenient payment method.  If you do not have a credit card, most companies will accept a mailed payment.  Most companies, however, recommend not sending cash.

Computer Virus And Internet Worms Explained

Is your computer sluggish? It won't open programs and you can't get into anything? Well, maybe you have a sick computer. Just as people get ill from viruses, so do computers. When this happens, you need to have a computer technician look at the computer to re-format and get rid of the virus. If you know something about computers, you might be able to do this yourself.

What is a Virus?

A virus is a parasitic program written to intentionally enter a computer without the u...

Is your computer sluggish? It won't open programs and you can't get into anything? Well, maybe you have a sick computer. Just as people get ill from viruses, so do computers. When this happens, you need to have a computer technician look at the computer to re-format and get rid of the virus. If you know something about computers, you might be able to do this yourself.

What is a Virus?

A virus is a parasitic program written to intentionally enter a computer without the user's  permission or knowledge. The word parasitic is used because a virus attaches to files or boot sectors and replicates itself, which allows it to spread. Though some viruses do little more than copy themselves, others can cause serious damage or affect program and system performance. A virus should never be assumed harmless or left on a system.

Types of viruses

Viruses are classified by the ways they infect computer systems:

1) Program: Executable program files such as those ending with the extensions .Com, .Exe, .Ovl, .Drv, .Sys, .Bin
2) Boot: Boot Record, Master Boot, FAT and Partition Table.
3) Multipartite: Both program and boot infector.

What is Trojan Horse?

Besides being a large wooden horse used in the Trojan war 2500 years ago (and more  recently by Brad Pitt), a Trojan Horse or Trojan is a computer program that seems innocuous or harmless, but conceals another more nasty function. Generally a Trojan is contained in a part of program brought into your computer from an outside source - (e.g. floppy disk, CD, internet download, infected email). Trojans can be dangerous sometimes. For example a program may appear to be a computer game demo, but while you enjoy the game, it may be happily formatting your hard disk or emailing porn sites to everyone in your email address book.

Trojans are also used as a 'back door' or 'trap door' to sneak into a computer's operating system's information. An example is a program that pretends to be the system log-in program (such as you find in Windows NT/XP or Linux). When an unsuspecting user tries to log-in, the Trojan program captures the user-name & password. Then it may indicate a failed log-in attempt and exit to the real log-in program. The user may successfully log into the system next time, but by that time Trojan has also got enough details to log into the system.

Example Trojans

Notroj. This Trojan horse pretends to be a program that guards against Trojans. It's actually a time bomb that wipes out the hard disk after it's more than 70 percent full.

PWSteal.Refest A Trojan Horse that installs itself as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) for  Internet Explorer and steals online banking information when it is submitted in web forms.

PWSteal.Likmet.A A Trojan horse that displays a fake MSN Messenger logon window and steals the password provided.

Run.me. This is a graphics program, which plays the Star Spangled Banner and displays the American Flag while it worms its way into the hard disk and erases the data on it.

What is Worm?

A Worm is a self-propagating program that works its way through a system or network (like the Internet), often causing damage. It does not require a host program to activate it. Someone has to insert a worm directly into network of interconnected computers where messages can be sent from one to another and data files and programs exchanged. An example is a local area network where each computer has its own files, programs operating systems and hard discs such as would be found in a university or corporate setting.

Example Worms

Alarm Clock Worm. A worm that reaches out through the network to an outgoing terminal (one equipped with a modem), and places wake-up calls to a list of users.

Worm Watcher. A special program which automatically takes steps to limit the size of a worm, or shut it down, it grows beyond a certain limit. The worm watcher also maintains a running log recording changes in the