Block Spyware With These Three Habits!

July 26, 2009 · Filed Under Data Recovery · Comment 

Above all else, it is the change in the user’s mindset and behaviour, which can help achieve effective levels of protection. The purpose of this article is to demistify spyware and outline three simple yet powerful habits for spyware protection.

 

Adware Vs Spyware - The definition of adware is simply that of any type of software package that automatically plays, displays or download advertisements on your computer. Some adware are also known as spyware (privacy-invasive software), that obtain and share information from computer users without their knowledge or consent. The main reason for learning about blocking spyware is that they can help third parties steal key information. Click on how to remove adware for more information. 

Habit No 1 - Avoid Freeware. Free content (song, movies, document etc) will always be tempting for many users who see them as a bargain. Freeware and peer to peer software often end up giving you more problems than you bargained for in the long run. Frequently, downloading these software also installs dangerous software on computers as well.

Prudence always work to the users advantage in the long run and with this in mind, users should only download freeware from trusted sources only. 

Habit No 2 - Ignore Pop Ups. Like most computer users, you may have experienced popup ads, clicked on their links and accidentally downloaded spyware and adware threats, which now undermine the integrity of your system. The Google and MSN toolbars are free software from trustworthy sources, which can also keep popups at bay. The downside of these free programs however, is that they do not deal spyware already installed on your computer, and that they create a false sense of security for many users. Click on block spyware for more information. 

Habit No 3 - Be sure of what you install -You may be wondering also how you even exposed your computer to spyware threats in the first place. The answer may be surprising to you: Often minor tasks which are routinely performed can jeopardise the integrity of your system. A common scenario is that you may be on line and a dialogue box appears unexpectedly asking you to download a program. You may be enclined to accept any download provided that they are free and unkowingly install spyware and adware on you computer. It is a sad fact of the internet today that some programs or files cannot be downloaded unless spyware end up on your hard disk as well. We hope that the next time you think of your options on how to block spyware, you will consciously avoid any suspicious downloads. Do not download programs unless you understand their purpose. Be particularly cautious when you are visiting unfamiliar sites and are instructed to download something.

Click on how do I get rid of spyware for more information

Popups and Spyware Protection Need Better Tools Than Google and MSN Toolbars !

June 16, 2009 · Filed Under IT Support Services · Comment 

This article exposes the limitations of the most common and often free ways to prevent and eliminate popups in the wider context of adware and spyware protection.

A common definition for adware is that of any software which runs, displays or downloads ads on computers. Some adware are also known as spyware because they invade the users’ privacy by obtaining then sharing some of their personal information without their knowledge. 

Adware popups have become a common irritation for most users and many are now looking for free ways to disable them. For many users, using free popup blockers such as the Google and MSN toolbars is the preferred solution. Most users do not think beyond blocking popups, very few know about the relationship between popups and spyware. Only a minority of users take the right steps to protect themselves. Yet experience shows that both the removal of adware and spyware, as well their prevention are necessary steps to protect users privacy, preserve the integrity of their systems and enable a pleasant on line experience. By contrast, simply blocking popups whilst browsing creates a false sense of security. This is the consequence of the most serious problem with popups: Popups are not just “irritating”, they are symptomatic of spyware infection. This is also evidenced by popups appearing when users are not even on line.

Changing the browser settings is free and a step in the right direction

Blocking adware popups whilst browsing is easy enough. Changing the privacy settings so that popups can no longer appear on screen can be done as follows:

·      Select Control Panel in your computer 

·      Click on the Internet Options icon 

·      Click on the Privacy tab. 

·      There is a box next to “Turn on Pop Up Blocker”. 

·      Tick this box and you will block adware popups. 

Once the settings have been changed, users should adjust the privacy levels on their computer. Another option is to download the MSN and Google toolbars. Both toolbars will improve security when users browse the Internet. For more information, click on free popup blockers.

But, what about achieving full protection? Are most users missing the bigger picture?

Unfortunately, most users simply focus on blocking popups then forget that their computer is probably infected with adware and spyware. Popup blocker software, like those which user can access with the Google and MSN toolbars, are undoubtedly useful, however they only deal with one aspect of protection against privacy invasion, and threats to computer integrity. For more information click on block spyware.

It is highly advisable, to think more broadly about the methods to safeguard the users privacy, and the integrity of their computers against the threat of adware and spyware attacks. Users should also remove spyware and adware from their computer using appropriate tools, then run an up to date anti-virus software. Frequently users download adware and spyware unknowingly.

The removal of adware and spyware can be achieved easily using popular anti adware and spyware programs, which usually also offer the functionality to block popups. The most popular adware and spyware removal programs rely on research teams to detect and review the latest known threats. These software are frequently updated. Using adware and spyware removal programs deals with the root causes of adware and spyware infections by removing undesirable software then blocking adware and spyware. This method is therefore far superior than just relying on free popup blocker programs. For more information click on adware spyware removal.

Popups and Spyware Protection? Why Users Should Not Just Rely on the Google and MSN Toolbars!

June 12, 2009 · Filed Under Computer Training · Comment 

This article describes the disadvantages of relying on freeware to block popups, in the wider context of adware and spyware protection.

A common definition for adware is that of any software which runs, displays or downloads ads on computers. Some adware are known as spyware due to their function, which consists of collecting then sharing some personal information about the users without their knowledge or consent. 

Adware popups have become a common irritation for most users and many are now looking for free ways to disable them. The preferred solution for many users is to rely on the popup blocker function of either the Google or MSN toolbar. Unfortunately only a minority of users think about the relationship between popup ads and spyware, and even fewer think about spyware protection and prevention beyond blocking popups whilst browsing. The fact remains, that both the removal of adware and spyware as well as their prevention are necessary to protect the users privacy, safeguard the integrity of their computers and achieve a pleasant user experience on line. By contrast blocking popups simply creates a false sense of security. This is the consequence of the most serious problem with popups: Popups are not just “irritating”, they are symptomatic of spyware infection. This is also evidenced by popups appearing when users are not even on line.

Changing the browser settings is free and a step in the right direction

Blocking adware popups whilst browsing is easy enough. Changing the privacy settings so that popups can no longer appear on screen can be done as follows:

·      Select Control Panel in your computer 

·      Click on the Internet Options icon 

·      Click on the Privacy tab. 

·      There is a box next to “Turn on Pop Up Blocker”. 

·      Tick this box and you will block adware popups. 

Once the settings have been changed, users should adjust the privacy levels on their computer. Another solution is to use the Google or MSN toolbar. Security when browsing the Internet can be improved when using these toolbars. For more information, click on free popup blockers.

But, what about achieving full protection? What is the bigger picture for most users?

Users who seek to block adware popups, often forget that there is a high likelihood that their computer has already been infected with adware and spyware. Popup blocker software, like those which user can access with the Google and MSN toolbars, are undoubtedly useful, however they only deal with one aspect of protection against privacy invasion, and threats to computer integrity. For more information click on block spyware.

It is highly advisable, to think more broadly about the methods to safeguard the users privacy, and the integrity of their computers against the threat of adware and spyware attacks. In addition to running an anti-virus software that is up to date, users should remove the spyware and adware on their computer. Frequently users download adware and spyware unknowingly.

Getting rid of adware and spyware is easily achieved with the most popular adware and spyware removal programs, which can also block popup ads. The most popular adware and spyware removal programs are constantly being kept up to date as they rely on research teams to update the software in order to deal with the latest threats as they first occur. Adware and spyware removal programs can also block popups, and this deals with the root causes of adware and spyware infections. This method is therefore far superior than just relying on free popup blocker programs. For more information click on adware spyware removal.

How to optimise computer performance in 15 minutes or less?

June 2, 2009 · Filed Under Computer Training · Comment 

This article covers simple steps that any user can follow to rapidly make any computer faster. Implementing either of the first two steps in this article should take less than 15 minutes using a PC or Mac.

 

Step 1 -  Clean the computer registry

Slow computers often have errors in their registry. The registry is comparable to a nervous system. Its main function is to connect software hardware and computer files. Errors often lead to the corruption of the registry, and reduce the computer speed . A straightforward step is to locate any errors in the registry then repair them. Cleaning the registry manually is possible but not recommended, as this method requires specific knowledge of the registry structure and its functions. Registry repair software are usually fast and reliable and offer overall, a better alternative to correct errors, delete unused files, poor links and deal with ActiveX components. Click on compare registry fix software for more information.

 

Step 2 - Delete and block adware and spyware

Another common reason leading to computers slowing-down, is the large number of spyware and adware, which are downloaded from the Internet, often without the users knowledge. Often, this takes place when peer to peer (P2P) networks are used to download videos and music for example. An easy solution to improve the response time of any computer is to run an anti spyware or adware program which will scan, remove then block adware and spyware. Most anti spyware or adware software have a free trial version and it is worth using this first to try out the program. The overall effectiveness of the software is obviously the main feature to consider, however other features are also important such as Ease of Download and Simplicity of Use, Automatic Backup, Quality of Customer Service. The best software tend to be the simplest to use and rely on a research capability that constantly updates the software for new threats. Click on best adware spyware removal for more information.

 

Step 3 - Eliminate viruses

Unsurprisingly many computer viruses can slow down computers and drive down response times. Often viruses damage computer files and use excessive resources such as large amount RAM and disk space. By running the latest version of the best anti-virus programs, users should overcome these problems and be in a better position to improve their computer performance.

 

Step 4 - Simple housekeeping tasks

There are many simple housekeeping tasks which can be done to improve the speed of any computer, for example uninstalling any software that is not needed.  Another tip is to stop programs launching automatically, as this will also improve the speed of the computer. These simple tasks generally produce marginal improvements.

Step 5 - Optimise the Hard disk

For hard disks which are smaller than 2GB then at least 200MB of disk should be kept free and at least 500MB for larger hard disks. This free space is an important contributor of your computer speed as it is used by temporary files placed there by computer programs. This is also used for swapping files when the operating system needs to use virtual memory as it runs out of RAM. The system can slow down significantly in that event, if space on the hard disk is insufficient. Disk scanning programs such as Scandisk for Windows can help check for errors on the hard disk. For instance the hard disk may be too fragmented and some of its sectors may be damaged, and this can create problems even if the hard drive is large enough. Defragmenting the hard disk is another action, which will improve the response time of any computer. 

 

Step 6 - Optimising the RAM

Some programs are poorly designed and do not release RAM resources after they are closed. This reduces the amount of memory available for other programs. Computers frequently run out of RAM after a while. In order to overcome this, ugrading the RAM is probably necessary. An alternative free option is simply to not run some computer programs at the same time as each other.

 

Step 7 - Stop the computer from overheating

Faulty fans are a common cause leading to the computer overheating, slowing down then freezing as a result. To overcome this problem, replacing the fan is the most pragmatic solution. The effect should be immediate as this will increase the flow of air through the computer, thereby reducing the computer’s temperature and increasing its speed as a result.

For more information click on how make my computer faster.