Computer viruses are potentially as debilitating for the Pc as deadly viruses are to the human body. The best way to protect yourself against these problems is to become informed about the issues that tech experts will term ‘what you need to know about computer viruses’.

Basic Virus Operations

Viruses tend to try to change the contents of  a file or make the file adjust itself by a kind of reprogramming. Their main source of transportation is the host. There are times however that they travel through peripheral devices such as a floppy disk, a pen drive or CD/DVDs. Another mode of transportation for computer viruses is a private network or the internet.

Differentiating Viruses and Malware

Pretty often we hear the names viruses and malware being used interchangeably. This is slightly misleading though. While both are potential harms or the computer the term malware refers to malicious software while a worm does not rely on a host to transport itself from system to system. Often times too, a virus is mistakenly referred to as a Trojan Horse. The distinction lies in the fact that a Trojan Horse is pretty much a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It poses as a harmless program and has the potential to inflict serious damage to the system by way of secretly hidden commands.

Signs of a Computer Virus

The infected computer system will display certain signs.One symptom of a virus infection is the system refuses to start. Some viruses cripple the start up process leaving the system unresponsive. Your system may be infected by a virus if it suddenly starts to run very slowly especially after a new software or program has been downloaded. If the system shuts down and restarts itself without being prompted to do so then this may signal a virus infection.  Documents that have been recently opened that have a double extensions are often signals that a virus has attached itself to the system. The extension is usually in the form of .jpg, .vbs, .gif, or .exe.

Other signals of virus problems include: printing difficulties,distorted menus and dialogue boxes, the speakers start to play strange music unexpectedly.

PC Protection

It is important to know how to protect the computer system from harmful viruses. This protection can come in a number of forms. One method of protection is using anti-virus software. Additionally you should ensure that the anti-virus is updated frequently. This will help to ensure that the system is prepared to stave of attacks from newly developed viruses.

Exercise caution on the web or on a networked system. Emails and shared documents are sometimes carriers of viruses. Scan all documents before opening them. Additionally avoid and delete email messages from strange contacts. This is especially important when there is an attachment. Emails are often vehicles for viruses, which are usually contained in the attachments.

Reese Weller provides an assortment of article services pertaining to trojan virus and combofix

Some Important links:

• How to remove Virus from USB drives

• Viruses : Different types and Examples

• 10 Ways to Protect Yourself From Dangerous Computer Viruses

• 15 Tips To Staying Safe On The Internet

• Microsoft Security Essentials : Virus, Spyware and Malware Protection Software

• Panda USB Vaccine : Block Viruses Spreading Through USB Drives

What You need To Know About Computer Viruses is a post from: Snakebytez

Purchase an Anti-Virus Software

Anti-virus software are designed to prevent virus attacks on your pc. There are many anti-virus softwares available that wil assist in detecting and resolving virus issues as the emerge. In order to determine the best anti-virus software it is important to visit the web sites of providers. Be on the lookout for those websites that offer knowledge of the latest viruses. Many of these web pages will also allow you to sign up for email updates on the latest PC threat. This is an easy and convenient way to keep abreast of the dangers that exist. When you are on the ball you are less likely to become a victim.

Download Free Anti-Virus Software

Free anti-virus software is a great inexpensive alternative. Free anti-virus software can be used in collaboration with the purchased anti virus software to ensure greater coverage.

Ensure That Your PC is Automatically Scanned Monthly

Automatic scans are extremely important in pc protection. You may find that manually selected scans are neglected due to the busy nature of daily life. Automatic scans are there to ‘pick up the slack’ so to speak.

Stay Away From Certain Sites

Some web sites are hazardous to the health of your PC; avoid them. Some anti-virus software and firewalls will help by putting up a red flag when such a page is visited. Once this signal is seen, navigate away from the page immediate. If the signal emerges before you actually visit the page, avoid the page.

Use a Firewall

Firewalls are important because they prevent sites from forcing applications on your system. This helps to keep some viruses at bay since this is a favorite route for viruses.

Scan Your PC Regularly

Regular scans help to mitigate the many and sporadic attacks that your system will face.

Scan Peripheral Devices Before Use

Some peripheral devices (thumb drives for example) should be scanned before they are used. This allows the system to detect and arrest viruses before they have attached themselves to the system. Many systems crash as a result of a virus from a thumb drive.

Email Control

Ignore and delete emails from questionable sources. Many dangerous viruses are transferred through email. Often, it is the attachment of the email that carries the virus, and it launches into the system once it is opened or downloaded. A red flag should go up when emails arrive from unknown or strange contacts. Be wary of email from known contacts too, as sometimes a contact’s email account may be compromised and the virus is sent through these sources.

Store Backup Information on Permanent Removable Devices

This is one of the most secure plan Bs that can be implemented for PC protection. Since dangerous viruses are unavoidable even with the best efforts it is key that back up is available. This means your data is protected by a back up storage device. These devices include CDs and external drives.

Back Up Information Regularly

This ensures that your latest data is virus-proofed.

This is a guest blog post by Belle Mutchler who blogs about what is a trojan virus and how to get rid of trojan viruses for free.

10 Ways to Protect Yourself From Dangerous Computer Viruses is a post from: Snakebytez

1. GIMP

 
The Paint application that comes with Windows 7 has gone through a tremendous improvement; however, it is still not good enough to cater to a professional’s requirement. And to consider it as a replacement of Photoshop would be nothing but an overstatement.
GIMP is one such free graphics editor that can be described in a single word – remarkable. From splendid render effects to 3D perspective tools, GIMP is one software that impresses throughout.

2. VLC Media Player

The developers of VLC Media Player have paid great attention to the core aspects of a media player and you can play virtually any audio or video format using this application. Thus we see that there are more reasons to have VLC Media Player on your system than just the cool menu colours or the glowing play button.

3. Google Quick Search Box

Although a very useful feature, it has not been so publicized. Google quick search box adds a Google button on your taskbar, and you can then have the advantage of performing a variety of searches without having to open the browser window. This feature is a part of the Google Toolbar package for IE8.

4. Picasa

Picasa is a product of Google. It gathers as well as organizes all your pictures and make it easy for you to access them. In just few clicks of mouse, you can fix your photos and post them online.  Included is another great feature called Picasa Photo Viewer, which allows you to preview the photos in Windows explorer folders.

5. Auto Login and Lock

It is no less than an annoyance to wait for Windows processes and Startup programs to load once you log on to your PC. Especially when you start your PC and go for a cup of coffee, you still have to enter your login and password when you come back and wait for the processes to load till you can start to work. Auto Login and Lock automatically login to Windows on startup and then immediately lock windows. Now when you return you can enter the password and start working instantly, as the Auto Login and Lock would have already taken care of the startup and load processes.

6.  Fences

Windows 7 has brought a brand new taskbar, but nothing much has changed as far as actual Windows desktop is concerned. With the application called Fences, you can organize your desktop in a beautiful manner. Using this application, you can arrange and sort the icons into different “fences”. Fences would certainly serve to make your life more organized and easier.

7. Monitor ES – A lot in one

You can use this small portable tool called Monitor ES to turn off display, notify contacts and pause media when you lock your Windows desktop. Yes, this very handy application pauses your media playback, sets the IM status to away and turns off your monitor in one single action of locking your system.

8. Ditto

Ditto can be rightly called an extension to copy paste utility provided by Windows 7 OS. With Ditto, you have a universal clipboard that stores every single object you copy and you can then use any of the text and paste in any order you require.

9. Recuva

Recuva is a completely free application that lets you recover files that were permanently deleted (even from Recycle Bin) by mistake. The program can also help to recover files that were accidently deleted from memory cards, MP3 Players or flash drives.

10. Keep your Desktop Clean With Zum

Zum is an amazing application launcher that combines ease of use, minimalist features and an artistic design. It is a must-have if you prefer to keep your desktop clutter-free.

This article is provided by Kevin Moor who writes for slow-computer-solutions.org, a site, which is seeking ways how to fix slow computer.

10 Windows 7 Free Apps Worth Downloading is a post from: Snakebytez

• More than 500 million active users.
• 50% of active users log on to Facebook in any given day.
• Average user has 130 friends.
• People spend over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook.

On Facebook usually you add more people through suggestions, buddies on Facebook games, lost school/college friends, new friends around you, etc. The number of friends in your list goes on increasing, but have you noticed friends list going down? You sure would like know who un-friend’s you? Who deactivated their account?

Twitter has an option to find out who is Un-following you. Facebook however has no such option yet. But you can still find out using a Script to know who secretly deleted you off their list.

Unfriend Finder is a simple script that provides all its users to know which one of their friends are unfaithful.
The script betrays the contacts that removed you, despite the Facebook’s transparency on these "Unfriend".
One the script added, you will be able to discover which of your contacts are your old "friends" virtual.
The script can show people who disappeared after installing it, it is NOT retroactive.

Let’s get started:

1. If you are a Google Chrome / Chromium user Simply download the Unfriend Finder extension here and start using.

Firefox users need to install the Greasemonkey Add-on. Install and restart browser.

2. Install Unfriend Finder script.

3. Once the script is installed. Login to Facebook. The Unfriend Finder settings window will pop up. Just go clicking NEXT, you can change the desired setting on step 5/6.

4. Now you can see a new “Unfriends” tab on the Facebook menu bar. You can edit the settings by clicking

Account > Unfriend Finder Settings.

5. You will be able to see who removed you off their list in notifications,left panel and menu bar.

Currently this script is available for 4 major browsers. I have already explained how to use in Chrome and Firefox, Safari and Opera users can download the script at www.unfriendfinder.com

How to know who Unfriended you in Facebook is a post from: Snakebytez

Well, here’s a solution. Even if you are not from U.S you still can register as an U.S user and continue with the registration skipping  the payment method page.

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Download and install iTunes from the Apple website http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ . Once done installing, launch iTunes and select the “iTunes Store” from the left side panel options (displays iTunes Store home page).

2. Now go to the bottom of the page and Click Change Country or the Flag and Select the United States flag on the next page.

3. Go to the top and select App Store > Great Free Apps.

4. Once you are at the Free Apps page click the FREE button near any app.

5. On clicking the Free button a window will pop asking you to create a new account, Click Create New Account.

6. Continue with the registration process like you usually do accepting all the terms of service, etc.

7. You will be directed to a page where you will be asked to enter the Payment method. Here, check the last bullet option NONE. Enter valid US postal address details and Continue.

8. A verification email will be sent on the given id and you are done registering for an Free iTunes Store Account.

9. Open your mailbox and click the verification link, iTunes will be launched and prompt you to enter the Apple ID and password you just created

On login you will get a message Your iTunes Store account has been  successfully created.

Note: If you try to create an account from the link on the iTunes Store homepage, you will be missing the option called "None" in the Payment Method page, and you end up compulsorily submitting your credit card details.

Create an iTunes Store Account without Credit Card is a post from: Snakebytez

Many users  have been receiving such fraudulent emails lately from alert@sbi.co.in or update@sbi.co.in

The HTML attachment contains the following text:

Dear Valued Customer, Your account has generated an Error code SB-907 in our new security system due to mis-match access. Please login via the security
link below to resolve this problem in order to enroll your SBI account in the new online System for mixmum security protection against online phishing.
For security reason all information should be match correctly to avoid account suspension,
including hint question and answer that you had set for the Profile password.  

CLICK HERE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM

---

Thank you for using STATE BANK OF INDIA
© SBI . All rights reserved.

the link on that page directs to a phishing site http://gymbrand.com/includes/js/tabs/sbi/indexx.html which has an interface similar to https://www.onlinesbi.com/ which is UNSAFE and intended to steal your login info and other details.

How to avoid being victim of such phishing scam?

Always look for the Green Security seal in the address bar. Websites protected by SSL Security will have security certificate which will be shown in Green by Firefox. Chrome and IE would be showing it differently. In this case the address bar will appear as shown in the images below:

Firefox

Chrome

Internet Explorer

Avoid online transactions on websites which don’t have security certificates, information entered like you password or your credit card details can be easily grabbed and misused. Moreover, always keep an eye on the address bar while logging in every site whether its Facebook or Gmail, etc. always check the spelling in the address bar.

How to report a Phishing Website?

Best way to report a phishing site is through Google.

Visit the Report Phishing Page http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/report_phish/ 

Enter the Website address, Fill the captcha text, comment(optional) and Submit Report.

Alternately, you can visit http://www.us-cert.gov/nav/report_phishing.html and follow the instructions on the page.

Hope you find this post informative. Beware of increasing Online Scams and Phishing attacks.

Beware: SBI Fraudulent email to Steal Personal and Financial Information is a post from: Snakebytez

GWatchman is a tiny, portable freeware which sits in your taskbar and  periodically checks for new mail or feed in your Gmail and Google Reader. If Unread messages or feeds are found it notifies with a pop up on desktop with he number of items. GWatchman is open source, you can customize the alerts by changing the colors, opacity, background, position, text color or the way it alerts you. You can select the checking interval from 30 seconds to 3 hours.

The only problem is it will only show the number of unread items and not item details(subject and body) like Gtalk alerts.

Download GWatchman : Click Here (276 KB)

Get Gmail and Google Reader notifications on desktop with GWatchman is a post from: Snakebytez

IE Restorator is a small utility for troubleshooting common Internet Explorer issues.

It can Flush DNS cache, Re-register concern dlls for Internet Explorer (3 different types 64-Bit, 32 Bit on 64-Bit OS and 32-Bit) Reset IE to Default settings, Reset Winsock.

It Works only on IE8 and 7. Will work only if you have .NET Frameworks 3.5 installed.

Download IE Restorator : Click Here (126 KB)

Fix common Internet Explorer problems with IE Restorator is a post from: Snakebytez

Defense of the Ancient which is commonly known as DotA is a custom map made for Warcraft III through Blizzard Map Editor. It was originally authored for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos which was later unofficial remake for Warcraft 3 expansion pack, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne (TFT). Today’s version of DotA map is the DotA AllStars, currently being maintained by IceFrog and his fellow development team.

Dota-Allstars 6.68b Official Map has just released! This map is a quick patch to fix the major bug with Techies on Dota 6.68

Dota 6.68b Changelogs

* Fixed a major bug with Techies Remote Mines

* Fixed Geomancer clones restoring mana with Arcane Boots
* Wisp can no longer teleport to the enemy fountain
* Fixed a small bug with Flak Cannon against buildings when gyro has very low damage
* Fixed a bug when casting tether from outside of range limit while being moved with Relocate
* Fixed an issue with illusions and flak cannon
* Fixed a few other minor things

Dota 6.68b Download Link
Dota 6.68b Download – GameWebZ Mirror
Dota 6.68b Download – MegaUpload Mirror
Dota 6.68b Download – GetDota Mirror

DotA Allstars 6.66b Download and Changelog is a post from: Snakebytez

First, click on the Start Button and type in regedit and hit Enter.

Then, navigate through HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, SYSTEM, CurrentControlSet, services, TCPIP6 and Parameters. Right click on Parameters and select New and then DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the new value DisabledComponents and hit Enter. Now right click on the new DisabledComponents value you just created and select Modify. Set the value of DisabledComponents to FFFFFFFF and click OK.

After a reboot IPv6 will be disabled on all interfaces.

Note:

In Windows XP IPv6 is not installed by default so if you manually enabled it you can uninstall it by opening up a command prompt, type in and run:

netsh interface ipv6 uninstall

How To Properly Disable IPv6 in Windows is a post from: Snakebytez