01/31/12 - A-Fast Antivirus is a rogue anti-spyware program that uses misleading methods to

scare users into thinking that their computers are infected with malware. This scareware is

promoted through the use of Trojans and various malicious websites such as fake online

scanners. Once installed, A-Fast Antivirus will simulate a system scan and report numerous

infections. Then it will prompt you to pay for a full version of the program to remove the infections

which don't even exist. Furthermore, A-Fast Antivirus will display fake security alerts and pop-ups

from Windows taskbar stating that your computer is not protected or under attack from a remote

computer. Some of those fake security alerts read:

           System Warning!
           To Continue working in unprotected mode is very dangerous. Viruses can damage your
           confidential data and work on your computer. Click here to protect your computer.

           Critical System Warning!
           Your system is probably infected with a version of Trojan-Spy.HTML.Visafraud.a. This may
           result in website access passwords being stolen from Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox,
           Outlook etc. Click Yes to scan and remove threats (recommended).

The rogue program also blocks legitimate anti-malware programs and system tools such as task

manager stating that it's infected. A-Fast Antivirus is a scam. Don't buy this bogus program.

Instead, please use the removal instructions below to remove A-Fast Antivirus from your computer

as soon as possible. You can also use one of the automatic removal tools listed below to

eradicate his parasite from your system as soon as possible. 

Removal guide for A-Fast Antivirus:

When removing A-Fast Antivirus, reboot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking at first

(Just reboot a machine and before Windows is launched start tapping F8 button. You will see a

table with this option). Then, login as the same user you were previously using in the normal

Windows mode, download Spyware Doctor anti-spyware and save it on your desktop. Make sure

you nstall it and update the program before performing a scan. Now you will have to choose

performing full system scan, the program will list and offer to remove all the detected malware.

If the A-Fast Antivirus still blocks legitimate anti-malware programs, please use of the the

following erials to activate A-Fast Antivirus. Then you will be able to use an anti-malware program

to emove the infection.

B0B302F772
C197C46C46
B20C1467B7
041E4B235A
25CCCC7329
9926220EED
A58EC19D33
C15F2FF276
F61E370D62
DDAD6A7A2C
9F8122FE00
3754DD9DA6
3DC52EA100
EE73BBFFA6
7E61C9C7DF
EE34D2E8A7
AA61971AA1
9D2510E3E8



              

A-Fast Antivirus properties:
• Changes browser settings
• Shows commercial adverts
• Connects itself to the internet
• Stays resident in background
                 
     

                 
Experience has shown me that tape backup is expensive, difficult, slow to recover files From,
and must be administered centrally (onsite). The tape media must be carried Offsite and it is
subject to failure. How do I know this…I was a contract Storage Area Network Administrator
(Backup and Recovery) in a DoD Disaster Recovery Center for over 7 years. We recovered 90%
of Unix and about 60% of Windows platform data  (on all affected entities) after Hurricane Katrina.
                                                    

                    
-   15% of all tape backups fail

-   10 – 50% of all subsequent restores from tape fail

-   Restoring dat from tape older than 5 years fails 40 – 50% of the time

-   34% of companies never test a restore from tape

-   Of the companies that do test a restore from tape, 77% experienced failure

-   7 out of 10 small firms that experience a major data loss are out of business in one year

-   A 10 degree temperature change can reduce the life of a tape by 10 or more years.
                          

                         
Unlike many technology services, everyone needs data backup. Your business and consumer
clients may not all need other services like Exchange hosting (Email hosting), web applications,
and the like. However, every single computer requires an effective backup solution.
                   

   

                     
Whether you’ve learned from experience or by hearing of someone else’s misfortune, You know
how important it is to back up your data. Although hardware storage devices (such as portable
hard drives) can create an extra copy of files, they are susceptible to physical damage and can
be easily lost. When your files are backed up using a cloud-based service, you can be sure they
won’t be misplaced or lost in a fire or flood. They are particularly useful for small offices that need
offsite storage for backups.

Cloud services use the Web to transfer your files to a data center in a different Geographic
location. An Internet connection and a computer are all you need to retrieve Your data. Accounts
are available at a variety of price points, and generally the rates are Tied to how much capacity is
offered by the service. Many will offer a small amount Of space free, however. For example, SOS
Online Backup offers a 14 day trial and charges $79.95 to buy for 50 - 100GB of data you upload
annually. SOS Online also offers typical online backup features, such as automatic backup
scheduling and the ability to share files with others.
                       

SOS recently added support for backing up a variety of mobile and handheld devices, including
iPhones, iPads and Android devices, for an additional monthly fee.
                          

SOS protects the privacy of your data in triplicate, encrypting your information on your computer,
in transit and when received. You can also add a private password that no one has access to
except you so your files are 100 percent protected. This feature is called SOS UltraSafe and it
restricts the access to your password – even to SOS employees.
                           

The company has 11 Data Centers worldwide that uses 256-bit AES and 128-bit  encryption
methods across a SSL link, providing redundant storage in multiple physical locations during file
transmission.. With this added protection, your data is safe even if something happens to one of
the company's servers; your information is still secure and accessible from another SOS server.
SOS provides more than adequate security and surpasses many services with its encryption
protocols.

To give you a better idea of how online services work, we’ll show you how to set up an account,
back up your data, and use other features available to you in SOS Online.
                              

-    Right click on the SOS installation file, and choose “Run as Administrator”.
                  

-    Double click on the SOS installation file.
                         

                      
When the installation is complete prepare to Run SOS Online Now. Select Finish. The program is
now on your computer.

Once the program is installed, the setup process will begin. Begin Your Backup
                                      

-   Run through the wizard selecting only a couple of small files and run the backup with

-   Once the backup completes, go to ‘Advanced’ menu on the top right side of the user

-   In the ‘Backup History’ view, you will be able to view the backup activity to verify

    that a backup has taken place.
                                 

-   Wait for the software to collect account data (ie. what has been uploaded to the SOS

-   Press ‘Next’ and you should see the file(s) you have uploaded
    you can select what you wish to recover.
-   Run through the remainder of the Wizard to recover your selections. 
                      
Share a File Share a Folder  
                                  

If you want to back up multiple computers (or a hardware storage device, such as a Portable hard
drive), SOS Online can sync your data so all your files are accounted for And there are no
duplicates. It also supports multiple operating systems (in case you Have a Windows computer
at work and a Mac at home for example.) Note you don’t Have to download the SOS Online
program on each computer you want to sync, but you Will use the same account information. All
you need is your username and password and  any Web enabled device….Windows, Mac,
Facebook, iphone, android…Just enter your current account information when prompted.
                       

To share a file/folder, you can use MyAccount facility which is available from our website
(https://myaccount.sosonlinebackup.com ). Log in to your account using your username and
password and then select the “Online Recovery” link. There will be a list of machines from which
you have done your backup so far, drill down to which files/folders you want to share and then
select the “SHARE/RECOVER” link on the right of the table.
                            

                        
SOS online can not directly back up SQL, Exchange, SAGE, Intrit, QuickBooks & Quicken and
MYOB files if they are open.
                                                         
Bandwidth is dependent upon the internet speed of the user. Some ISP’s high speed internet is
shared, reducing the actual bandwidth available to the user affecting transfer speeds. A high
speed network of 100mbps may only have a throughput of 39mbps if the bandwidth is shared
(based on the number of your housemates or neighbors that are online and their activities).
Security scans use lots of bandwidth which will degrande throughput if they are run during
transfers. Business class networks usually do not experience these problems but they can if the
Systems Admins schedule scans during backup. Check your ISP’s speed.

Whether you need to find a single file or restore all your files to a new computer, You can access
your collection of backed up data from the SOS Online Web site. From the home page, select
My Login link and then enter your username and password. From here you will be able to view
the files you have backed up and stored in your SOS Online account.

            If you need to restore files or folders to your computer, follow the instructions for the data
you want to download to your computer.

            SOS Online is one of many cloud based backup solutions. Be proactive and find a cloud
Based backup solution that will work for you, because if you wait until you need a
backup of your files it’s already too late.

                   
01/25/12 - Macs have a reputation for reliability. They are complicated machines that still
encounter problems. Presented here are a batch of routine problems that Mac users face and
what you can do about Them.
           

Solution.  Your working on your Mac, when the screen suddenly goes dim, and a message

Appears in several languages. It says, “You need to restart your computer”. This is a rare

Occurrence but it is a particularly nasty problem. The immediate solution is to simply follow

The Instructions provided and restart your Mac. Most likely, this is a transient glitch in the

System that you will not see again.

If the crash occurs with great frequency, then you have a problem. The cause is the recent

Installation of faulty software. Applications can install items called kernel extensions, which

Add features to the core of the operating system. Check the Extensions folder for anything

That looks like it came from any software you installed recently. To find the folder, click Go

And Go to the folder. Then type ‘System/Library/Extensions’ and press ‘ENTER’. If you

Can identify the culprit, refer to that application’s developers site for an update or to file a

Bug report. Until you find a resolution, move the kernel extension to the trash and reboot

Your Mac.

        Programs quit unexpectedly

Solution.  An alarming occurrence with the Mac is the ‘Quit Unexpectedly’ message. While

Working with any program on the Mac, if it suffers an error, it can simply die, possibly

Taking any unsaved data along with it.

In the days prior to Mac OS X, such an event indicated a fundamental instability in the OS,

And experience would quickly teach you to reboot immediately to save further problems.

Thanks to Mac OS X‘s Unix foundation, applications run in their own protected memory

Space and have little chance of taking out the operating system when they crash. Like Unix,

Life goes on without the need to reboot.

You can file a report to Apple… This feature allows you to send general information about

Your system’s specifications, along with the ‘stack trace’ (a gibberish of text that only makes

Sense to programmers) of the crash to Apple. The company then makes that information

Available to the developer, who can determine the cause of the crash and fix it. If you don’t

Mind taking the time, filing a report can improve the quality of the software you use.

       You improperly ejected a drive

Solution.  Sometimes, when you have a lot going on with your Mac, you will unplug a hard

Drive or pull a USB key out without properly ejecting it. You will get a message saying ‘The

Disk was not ejected properly. Now, earlier versions of Mac OS X take a more stern tone,

Advising you of the risk of damage to the drive. The latest version of OS X takes a more

Reassuring tone, saying instead that any damage will be automatically repaired when the

Drive is reconnected.

The risk of  prematurely ejecting a hard drive is interrupting a write operation on that drive.

If you were in the midst of saving a file while you unplugged the drive, it is likely that the file

Will be corrupted. The operating system also performs various file management tasks in the

Background; interrupting these tasks could theoretically render the entire file system unusable.

If this happens, do not panic… you probably still have a perfectly safe drive on your hands.

Reconnect the drive and check any files you were attempting to save to the drive. The next

Time, eject the drive properly by holding the ‘CTRL’ key down while clicking the drive icon

And then choosing ‘EJECT”.  

       You can not play videos with a .AVI extension

Solution.  Certain video formats the Mac can not play outside of the box. Those videos with an

.AVI file extension are susceptible. AVI (Audio-Video Interleaved) is a file container format,

which usually contains video encoded with DivX or XviD. The Mac can not play these files.

There is an easy and free solution. Visit www.perian.org and download the free Quick Time

Plug-in. This software installs as a System Preference pane; once in place, your existing Quick

Time Player application can play a broad variety of video formats, including .AVI’s.

       The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in ‘<Filename>’ can’t
       Be read or written (Error code-36)

Explanation.  During a file, you suddenly run into thei error message… Error 36 is a common

Problem for the Mac OS, and a search on Google will yield multiple (possible) causes.

Essentially, the error stems from a problem either reading the file being copied or writing to

The file’s new location.

Solution.   To diagnose the cause of the problem, start with the source file. Is the drive on

Which the file is located still connected and available? You might see this message when a

Drive suddenly disappears from the network. Confirm as well that the destination drive is

Connected and available. You might also try duplicating the file (Command-D) to create

A new copy in the same location as the source file, then moving that new version to the

Ultimate destination.

Assuming all is well with your file locations, check the source file itself. In many cases, this

Error is triggered  by corruption in the file. Try opening it in the file’s default application and

confirm that everything works properly.

If all else fails,you may be dealing with a permissions or hard drive issue. Try opening the

“Disk Utility” application (find it by navigating to ‘Applications’ and then ‘Utilities’) and,

with the target disk selected, click ‘Repair Disk Permissions’. While you’re here, you can

also attempt a verification of the drive itself by clicking ‘Confirm Disk’.

       There is no default application specified to open the document <document name>.

Explanation.  You have received a file from a friend via e-mail. It has a generic icon, and

When you double-click it to view the contents, you receive this error message. The message

Will prompt you to locate the application that can work with this type of file, but in my

Experience, if you are getting this message, you are unlikely to have such an application on

Your Mac.

Solution.    In many cases, there is little you can do, but respond to your friend, asking for

The file in a format that you can open. If you are unsure what applications belong to the

File, check an online resource such as FILExt (filext.com), where you can enter the file

Extension of the file and see a definition , as well as a list of applications known to work

With it.

       When sharing .ZIP files with PC users, you receive complaints about .DS_Store
       Files.

Solution.     If you have ever shared files with Windows using colleagues, you have probably

Exulted in the Mac’s built –in support for creating and opening .ZIP archives. A simple

‘Right’ click or ‘CTRL’ click on a group of files or a folder will reveal the option (Compress

or Archive) to create a single compressed file that you can readily email to others.

Those Windows users might complain if they receive a compressed folder from you, because

Alongside those handy files you’ve sent are files that you don’t see. They’re called .DS_Store,

And there is one in every folder.

You don’t see this file on the Mac because of that period preceding the file name; it’s a

Signal to the Finder that this is a hidden file (Linux and Unix users will recognize this practice).

The Desktop Services Store keeps track of positioning and other options for a particular

Folder. Suffice to say, this file has no value once it’s placed on a Windows user’s computer,

And it can be safely deleted.

You may wish to avoid the nuisance caused by seeing these files. There is a way to strip them

From directories before you create your .ZIP archive.

I.                    Open the ‘Terminal’ application via ‘Applications’ and ‘Utilities’.

II.                 On the newly opened command line, type the command ‘cd’ followed by the file

Path of the folder you are archiving. The tilde (~) represents your home directory,

So you don’t need to type that portion of the file path. For example, if your

Folder is on the desktop , type ‘cd’ ~/Desktop and press ‘ENTER’.

III.               Issue the following command, where <your_dir> is the name of the directory you

Wish to remove the .DS_Store files from: find <your _dir> -type f –name

.DS_Store –print0 | xargs -0 rm.

Continuing from our example above, if you’re working with a file named Photos –type f –name

.DS_Store –print0 | xargs -0 rm and press ‘ENTER’.

This command uses the ‘Find’ utility to do a search through the given folder for files named

.DS_Store. It then forwards the results of the find to another utility, which deletes the file.

(If this Terminal stuff is too scary, you can use a free little utility by IntraArts called DSWipe.

It’s available at www.intrarts.com/software.html). You can now safely zip up the files, and

Your Windows using friends should have little to complain about.

                   
Solution.   The Dock is a vital component of the Mac OS X. It serves as both the place to

View your currently running applications and to store both applications and files for easy

Retrieval. While this tool has its odd points, for the most part, the Dock serves its duties

With aplomb.

The Dock actually handles more than it appears. In addition to the strip that sits on the edge

Of your display, the Dock also runs the Dashboard, the Mac’s widget system, as well as the

Application Switcher, which activates with the Command-TAB keyboard shortcut.

These three apparently different systems can put a lot of burden on a little system utility.

From supposedly running applications in the Dock that aren’t actually open, to a frozen

Application Switcher, problems sometimes just pop up.

The good news is that a fix is really simple. Open up the ‘Terminal’ application again and

Issue this single command: ‘killall Dock’. This command force quits the Dock application,

Which automatically restarts. This usually fixes any problems you may have.

                               
01/23/12 - Installing Where’s My Droid and Password protecting your system is not The only type
of system security users should become familiar with. Rogue Wi-Fi networks and cracking as a
result of using one are a growing phenomena. Crackers will set up a network in a hotspot, such
as the book store, airport, library etc, and wait for nearby users to log in. Once connected, it’s
possible for the intruders to access everything on your device. The key for the user is to never
use unfamiliar networks; only use those that request a password, and avoid logging into personal
accounts (Bank, etc) while surfing in a hotspot. Try an app like Wi-Fi Buddy to map
out what’s out there.
                

Full Internet Access
               

Many apps require internet access. But how like is it that a Soduku app will really need full
internet access to the web? Security sense will help you avoid some rogue apps if you use a
little common sense.
                     

Video calling apps like Skype (securely) allows you to call and message any of your friends on
Skype for free from your device wherever you are. There are also search apps (such as Google
search app for Android) that enable instant contact with search results… requiring this
permission is understandable. However, malicious apps might use this to dial premium-rate
numbers. Beware.
                 

Modify or delete SD card contents
                       

This permission option allows the app to modify data on your SD memory card. While this can be
malicious in some instances, a lot of apps do require it to function. Some quick background
checks on the app, such as looking at reviews and checking the developer's website can help
you establish whether or not it is friendly.
                       

Find (GPS) Location Coarse (Network Based) Location
                             

This option effeectively allows the app to track your location, and is therefore probably more of a
privacy issue rather than a security one. Enabling this is fine when used as part of a GPS related
app, but otherwise there is not really a legitimate reason for an app to be able to track you.
                    

Read Contact Data, Read Calendar Data
                                

This is fine for social networking apps such as Facebook and WhatsApp, but otherwise you
should beware. Do you really want to give a game access to your contacts and your calendar?
                        

How To Spot Malicious Apps
                 

With all the information and personal data we can now store on our phones they are valuable
targets for data theft and cracking and one of the simple ways this can be done is by disguising
such activity within an app. Spotting such apps can be quite easy though. Look out for what the
app tries to use when its open. is your 3G suddenly becoming active when you use an app that
requires neither? These could be early signs that the app in question is trying to have a peek at
your data.
                                        

App Store Safety
                        

Only download from trusted sources (Droid Market, Original Vendor (AVG)). The filtering and
approval process offers users great protection and usually weeds out any apps that cause harm
to systems. Before You download check out the developers site. If it doesn't look professional,
do not download.
                                 

Read The Reviews
                      

Look at the most recent reviews and see what other consumers think.

                           
01/22/12 - Microsoft’s Windows 7’s knack for running without problems is a testament to it’s
stability. Even Though it has a good reputation, problems do occur. Solving common
Win7 problems requires Some basic troubleshooting, but most of these problems have
relatively easy solutions that can Get you back to your regular computing activities
in no time.

     1.   The screen is black when you start Win7
     

Solution.  This panic inducing problem is often attributed to minor problems with your graphics
Card or the cable that connects it to the monitor. First, check that your monitor is plugged into
A power socket and that the monitor cable (either Video Graphics Array (VGA) or Digital Visual
Interface (DVI)) is firmly connected to both the monitor and your computer’s graphics Port. If the
monitor flickers when moving the cable itself , so try a replacement cable if you have one.
                

Another possibility is that your graphics card’s drivers need to be updated (this is particularly
Likely if you just installed Win7 and are booting into the operating system for the first time).
Restart your computer and press the ‘F8’ key during the boot process. When the ‘Advanced
Boot Options’ screen appears, use the arrow keys to highlight ‘Enable Low Resolution Video
(640x480)’, press ‘Enter’, and wait for Win7 to start. When it does, visit your graphics Card
manufacturer’s Web site and download the latest drivers for your card. Install the drivers And
restart Win7. If your computer has integrated graphics instead of a discrete graphics Card, use
‘Windows Update’ (click ‘Start’, click ‘All Programs’, and click ‘Windows Update’) to obtain the
most recent drivers.
                      

     2. When upgrading from Vista, the Win7 installation process stops at 62%
                   

Solution.   Win7 can hang at various points during the installation process for different reasons,
But one problem occurs more often than others. If your installation stops at precisely 62%, it’s
Likely because a service has stopped responding. To fix the problem, restart your computer And
let it roll back to Vista. Once you’re back in Vista, click ‘START’, right click ‘COMPUTER’ And
click ‘PROPERTIES’, Select ‘Advanced System Settings on the left menu. Choose the
‘Advanced’ tab, click ‘Environment Variables’, and click the ‘New’ button under ‘System
Variables’.
                          

Next, type ‘MIG_UPGRADE_IGNORE_PLUGINS’ in the ‘Variable Name’ field, type
‘IphlpsvcMigPlugin.dll’ in the ‘Varible Value’ field, and then click ‘OK’. Click ‘OK’ to close the
‘Environment Variables box, click ‘OK’ to close the ‘System Properties’ box, and then shut
down your computer. Repeat the Win7 upgrade process.
                       

     3.   You’re unable to join a homegroup     
                           

Solution.   Win7 has eased the home networking process through its use of homegroups, which
Help automate network creation. However, if you’re unable to join a homegroup on your Network,
first make sure that a homegroup actually exists. If the homegroup was created On another
computer, check to make sure the homegroup has been created on that computer And that it is
turned on. After verifying that the homegroup does exist, check that you’re Connected to the
network by clicking the Network icon in your Taskbar. If you’re not, click ‘Start’. Open the
‘Control Panel’, click ‘Network’ and ‘Internet’, and open the ‘Network and Sharing Center’. Click
‘Connect To A Network’ and follow the instructions to connect to your Local network.
                       

If you’re still unable to connect to the homegroup, make sure your network location is set to
‘Home’ by opening the ‘Network And Sharing Center’, clicking ‘Public Network’ (or ‘Work
Network’), and then clicking ‘Home Network’. You can also check to see if ‘Network Discovery’
is turned off, which would prevent you from accessing the home network. In the Left panel of the
‘Network And Sharing Center’, click ‘Change Advanced Sharing Settings’,Click the ‘Down’ arrow
button to expand the ‘Home Or Work’ profile, and select the ‘Turn On Network Discovery’ radio
button. Click ‘Save Changes’ when finished.
                           

If you’re still having problems, make sure the required homegroup-related services are Running.
Click ‘Start’, open the ‘Control Panel’, select ‘System And Security’, select ‘Administrative
Tools’, and double click ‘Services’ (You may be prompted for an Admin password here, so make
sure you have it handy before trying this step). Scroll to the ‘Homegroup Provider’ service under
the ‘Name’ column and make sure “Started” appears under the ‘Status’ column. If it doesn’t,
double click the ‘Homegroup Provider’ entry, click the ‘Start’ button, and click ’OK’. Repeat this
process for the ‘Peer Networking Grouping’ service.
                         

     4. Windows is unable to install important updates
                                 

Solution.  In most cases, the Win7 update process is seamless as it downloads and installs
Important updates in the background. However, the OS occasionally encounters problems With
the update process and cannot install certain updates. If this happens, try manually Updating by
clicking ‘Start’, clicking ‘All Programs’, and clicking ‘Windows Update’. In the left pane, click
‘Check For Updates’, and then click ‘Install Updates’ after Windows Finds the important update
(or updates) it was previously unable to install. Note that some Updates require you to accept
the Microsoft Software License Terms, so be sure to Accept the terms to ensure a successful
update installation.
                             

Some updates can require a hefty amount of hard drive capacity, so Windows might have
Problems if your primary hard drive is running low on space. If you have 500MB or less Of drive
space left, run ‘Disk Cleanup’ in the ‘Search’ box, and press ‘Enter’. Select Your primary drive
(usually C:) in the dropdown menu and click ‘OK’. Follow the Instructions to delete unnecessary
files.
                                   

     5. Win7 returns a message that access is denied when you try to open a file 
     or folder
                         

Solution.  If Windows prevents you from opening a file or folder, check that you have Permission
to open it. ‘Right click’ the file or folder, click ‘Properties’, choose the ‘Security’ tab, and click
‘Users’ under ‘Group Or User Names’. Under ‘Permissions’, you’ll see the permissions for
‘Users’ (as opposed to Administrators) for that particular file or folder. If ‘Read’ and/or ‘Write’ are
not selected under ‘Allow’, you’ll need to log in with an administrator account to access the file or
folder or have the administrator of that computer change the permissions for the file or folder. If
you have an admin account, you can choose to change the permissions yourself for your user
account. To do so, choose ‘Users’, click ‘Edit’ on the ‘Security’ tab, click to select the
appropriate permissions, and click ‘OK’.
                             

     6. Win7 prevents you from logging in to your computer because your user 
     account Is locked out.
                       

Solution.  If someone tries to log in to your account too many times when using an Invalid
password, Win7 will lock the account. Assuming you have a separate admin Account (and it is
highly recommended that you do for security purposes), you can Log in to Windows using that
administrator account and unlock the user account. Click ‘Start’, type ‘lusrmgr.msc’ in the
‘Search’ box, and press ‘Enter’ to launch The ‘Local Users And Groups’ utility. Click to select
the ‘Users’ entry in the left pane, And double click the locked account in the right pane. On the
‘General’ tab, click To deselect ‘Account Is Locked Out’, click ‘OK’, close the ‘Local Users And
Group’ utility, and log out of Windows . Log back in using the user account.
                                  

     7. Win7 does not start after being in Sleep Mode
                                   

Solution.  Microsoft’s latest OS includes a wealth of power saving options, but they Don’t always
work as designed, especially when the OS is paired with certain Motherboards. If Win7 refuses
to start after being in Sleep Mode, you can tweak The power options to prevent Win7 from
sleeping. Reboot your computer and Open the ‘Control Panel’, select ‘System And Security’,
open ‘Power Options’. Next to your selected ‘Power Plan’ (for example, Balanced), click ‘Change
Plan Settings’, select ‘Never’ in the drop down menu beside ‘Put The Computer To Sleep’, and
then click ‘Change Advanced Power Settings’. Click to expand the ‘Sleep’ entry, click to expand
the ‘Allow Hybrid Sleep’ entry, click ‘On’, and change the setting in the drop down menu to ‘Off’.
Click ‘OK’.
                               

If you want your computer to go to sleep after a certain period, this solution will Serve only as a
work around. Because this problem is often related to outdated Motherboard software, check
your motherboard manufacturer’s Web site for A BIOS (Basic Input/Output) update.
                        

     8. You’re unable to print from a printer connected to your homegroup
               

Solution.  First, check that the printer is plugged in and turned on. Next, make Sure that the
person who connected the printer to the homegroup didn’t change The sharing settings, because
if the printer is no longer shared, you won’t have Access to it through the homegroup. If the
printer is active and being shared Through the homegroup, try printing directly to the printer from
the computer To which it is connected. If the printer doesn’t print from the host computer, You’ll
need to troubleshoot  the printer connection instead of the homegroup Issue. If none of these
steps work, try rebooting both the host computer and Your computer. You can also try leaving
the homegroup and rejoining.
                         

     9. You cannot open or copy files from the Web
                              

Solution.  Win7 is serious about security because plenty of threats exist on the Internet.
Traditionally, Microsoft has been the lowest flying fruit for crackers And cybercriminals. When
Win7 security controls are set too strictly, they Can prevent you from accessing files on the
Web. To fix this problem, click ‘Start’, type ‘Internet Options’ in the ‘Search’ box, and press
‘Enter’. Choose the ‘Security’ tab, select the ‘Internet’ zone, and move the slider under
‘Security Level For This Zone’ to a lower level. For example, if the slider is set to ‘High’, move it to
‘Medium High’. Click ‘OK when finished. If you’re still having problems opening or copying Web
files after changing this Level, move the security slider to a lower level. If this problem is
occurring Only with a particular site, return to the ‘Security’ tab in the ‘Internet Properties’ dialog
box and click the ‘Trusted Sites’ zone. Next, click the ‘Sites’ Button , copy the site’s URL to the
‘Add This Website To The Zone’ field, Click ‘Add’, click ‘Close’, and click ‘OK’.
                           

     10. More Win7 solutions
                         

Solution. Microsoft Fix It ( support.microsoft.com/fixit ) provides a wide range of Automated
wizards that run diagnostics on your computer to find and solve issues. So if your experiencing
system slow down, they have helpful wizards available.

Initially, this rogue will display alerts that your system is severely infected. It will suggest you run
a scan, during which Win 7 Total Security 2012 will display multiple infections that can not be
fixed without the user purchasing updates through this rogue. However, all the detection this
rogue provides are fake. The files are either not infected or harmless. You should remove Win 7
Total Security 2012 because it prevents your PC from performing normal operations.

Win 7 Total security 2012 will try to block your legitimate programs from launching. There are
 couple ways how to launch them:

 1. From another user account on Windows 7 system

 2. Launching as administrator by right-clicking on executable and choosing from menu
 3. Renaming the executable to something else, like iexplore.exe so Win 7 Total Security 2012
     will not block it.

 4. Launching anti-malware programs from safe mode with networking.

 5. Stopping Win 7 Total Security 2012 processes with task manager or other utility.
 6. Using codes like 3425-814615-3990 or 9443-077673-5028 to disable malware.

This will allow running legitimate anti-malware programs and completely clean your PC
from Win 7 Total Security 2012. 

You can also use one of the automatic removal tools below to eradicate this parasite.

     

            
01/19/12 - An unscrupulous Storage Facility in Ohio stole my life in 2008 (claiming I had not paid
my storage fees) I was in NC at the time. (They even have TV programs now which glorify this
unregulated form of piracy.) Family photo albums, my daughter's doll colection, my son's
baseball (football, basketball) card collection, his Hot Wheel car collection, my wife's Wedding
Dress, Ball Gowns, shoes and purses, love letters and my military awards, uniforms, medals,
memorabilia, papers (it's legalized home invasion)... My children were both on active duty in the
military... This was not a good time to be an American (Support The Troops). I served these
people for 21 years. The Attourney General of Ohio advised me to get a Lawyer. I was betrayed!
This is the danger we face in our digital life (Invasion). Protect Yourself.
       
     

                  

A 2010 report released from McAfee estimates that cybercriminals stole $1 trillion from users and
companies via the internet in 2008. Examples of major security breaches are numerous.
                   

Albert Gonzalez, ringleader of 'Operation Get Rich or Die Tryin' group of crackers (who breached
the Security of computer systems that TJX and Heartland Payment Systems operated in 2007
and 2008) stole credit and debit card numbers to the tune of $200 million dollars got 20 years in
prison. He stole credit card numbers and cash from ATM's. Gonzalez's prison sentence is the
longest stint a cracker has received in U.S. history and covers three seperate convictions.
                          

In 2011, hackers caused mayhem at banks, online gaming networks, universities and healthcare
insurers, stealing the personal data of millions of customers. Sometimes the hacks were
politically motivated. More often, cybercriminals were after data that could be used in phishing
and identity scams or credit-card fraud.
                        

Armed with viruses, Trojans and worms, crackers penetrated the defenses of Citigroup and
brought down Sony's PlayStation Network. And while money remained the number one motive,
ideology drove extremists to raise havoc with San Francisco's subway system.
                           

The Ponemon Institute calculates the average time for a corporation to restore its reputation
following a headline-grabbing security breach is one year, with the loss to the value of its brand
ranging from $184 million to $330 million. So lockdown those computers and keep a close eye
on network traffic, as hackers are unlikely to be less determined in 2012.
                            

In August, the Internet activist group Anonymous attacked the web site of San Francisco's
subway system, spilling on the web the contact information of hundreds of the site's users.
                                

The hack drew national attention because Anonymous was retaliating against BART shutting
down cell phone service during protest against police shootings. Critics accused the agency of
violating free speech, while BART officials claimed it was necessary to prevent protesters from
communicating police locations. The data stolen from the BART database included names,
addresses, phone numbers and e-mail accounts. Anonymous also inserted its own logo on the
agency's web site. BART officials said the web site was separate from the computer systems
that run the  subway. Those systems were not affected.
                          

In May, Health Net reported a security breach that compromised the personal information of more
than 2.7 million current and past policy holders. The problem was reported two months after IBM,
which manages the insurer's IT systems, told the company nine server drivers were missing from
its data center.
                        

At the time, the medical information breach was the third largest in the Privacy Rights
Clearinghouse database, which tracks breaches across the nation. The incident was the second
time since May 2009 the Woodland Hills, Calif.-based company could not account for customer
medical and financial information. In the prior case, a portable disk drive with medical and
financial data on 1.5 million customers went missing.
                              

The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, reported in August that a computer virus may have
exposed the names and social security numbers of 75,000 students and staff. The university's IT
staff discovered the malware in May. University officials said the virus was most likely planted in
an attempt to steal research documents, not personal information that could be used in identity
scams. The infected server ran software for managing confidential information for several
departments. The system was shut down immediately after the discovery and local and federal
police were called. The university says it has put additional security measures in place as a
result of the hack.
                         

As if being unemployed wasn't bad enough, up to 210,000 Massachusetts jobless also had to
contend with having their personal data exposed. The state's Executive Office of Labor and
Workforce Development reported in May that a virus had been discovered in the department's
computers, exposing names, addresses and social security numbers to thieves. State officials
acknowledged that although the virus was discovered shortly after it entered the department's
computer systems, engineers failed to completely eradicate the malware. The data breach also
affected about 1,200 Massachusetts employers who filed quarterly reports using the agency's
computers. The virus infected 1,500 computers in the agency's unemployment office.
                                    

In September, Vacationland Vendors, a Wisconsin Dells, Wis.-based supplier of arcade
equipment and vending machines, reported that a hacker stole credit and debit card numbers
from card-processing systems. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse said 40,000 people were
affected by the break-in. Vacationland said the hacker had gained access to credit and debit
card transactions from Dec. 12, 2008, to May 25, 2011, at Wilderness Resorts in Wisconsin and
Tennessee. The intrusion occurred through Vacationland's point-of-sale systems.
                      

The theft was not an inside job, according to Vacationland, which hired an outside consultant to
help prevent future hacks. Vacationland apologized for the security breach and advised people
affected by the hack to notify card issuers and call a major credit agency, such as Equifax,
Experian or TransUnion, to have a fraud alert placed on their files.
                        

In July, Kiplinger Washington Editors reported that a hacker had stolen the user names,
passwords and encrypted credit card numbers of as many as 142,000 subscribers of the
publishers various newsletters, including the Kiplinger Letter. The company acknowledged a two
-week delay in notifying customers, saying that it took that long to determine the extent of the
damage. The Washington, D.C.-based company said at the time that it wasn't sure whether
other data was stolen. While the credit-card numbers were encrypted, Kiplinger said the
protection wasn't foolproof and recommended subscribers request new cards. The company
believed the risk of identity theft was small because of the type of data available to the criminal.
                       

In June, a cyber-attack that compromised the personal information of 1.3 million subscribers of
Sega's online gaming network forced the Japanese video-game maker to shut down the service.
Thieves stole names, birth dates, e-mail addresses and encrypted  passwords before the
intrusion was detected. No credit card numbers or other payment data  were stolen, according to
Sega. The company said it was "deeply sorry" for failing to prevent the  breach of its Sega Pass
network and promised to strengthen security. Because video-game  companies hold a large
amount of financial and personal data from customers, they have  become a prime target for
hackers, experts say.
                      

Citigroup was one of several high-profile companies that failed to turn back a cyber-attack in
2011. The bank reported in June that 1 percent, or 210,000, of its 21 million card holders had
their personal data compromised by hackers. The stolen information included names, account
numbers and e-mail addresses. The banks said other identifying information, such as birth dates
and social security numbers, was untouched. While the data stolen was limited, security
experts said it was enough to be used in phishing attacks and other social-engineering schemes.
Citigroup did not release details on how the breach occurred. The attack brought increased
scrutiny from the FDIC and other federal regulators who were considering a systemic overhaul of
the banking industry's security and data protection systems.
                       

In May, Fidelity National Information Services reported that profits had taken a hit from a $13
million loss due to "unauthorized activities." While the prepaid debit card processor provided few
details, media reports said a group of criminals had hacked the company's network and gained
access to its central database where card balances are kept.
                      

The criminals then obtained 22 legitimate prepaid cards, and made copies that were shipped to
conspirators in Greece, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Having
penetrated Jacksonville, Fla.-based, Fidelity's systems, the crooks were able to increase the
balances of the cards, making it possible for their partners to withdraw cash from dozens of
ATMs during a 24-hour period. No arrests have been made in the sophisticated heist.
                         

Sony had the dishonor this year of topping CRN's list of Biggest Security Stories Of 2011, as well
as the list of top security breaches. In April, a massive cyber-attack on the entertainment Sony's
PlayStation Network and Qriocity services led to the compromise of 77 million user accounts. In
hacking the Japanese company's database, thieves made off with scads of personally identifying
user information, including date of birth, e-mail and home addresses and login credentials.
                      

While credit-card data appeared to be safe at first, the company later acknowledged that 12
million credit card numbers were unencrypted and could easily be read. After restoring the
services, Sony had to take down the PlayStation Network in May, because of a snafu in the
password reset system that hackers had started to exploit. Sony expected the breach to lower
operating profit by $178 million. Dozens of class-action lawsuits were filed against the company.
                       

In January 2012 Zappos' website was hacked, compromising the personal information
of millions of customers.
                        

          

Zappos.com has taken pains to assure customers that their credit card information is safe after a
data breach, which was reported over the weekend, compromised information of up to 24 million
customers, including names, mailing and billing addresses, phone numbers, truncated credit
card numbers and “cryptographically scrambled” passwords. Consumers shouldn’t be
complacent when it comes to how their online data is encrypted, stored and sometimes left
vulnerable. Crackers could do plenty of damage with the information they did grab.
                     

“Some of these details are what constitutes authentication at a call center or website. This
means a crook with access to, say, a person’s mailing address might be able to go online and
pretend to be that person — and then possibly find out their credit card information or other
details.
                 

Zappos sent customers an email over the weekend instructing them to change their passwords to
try and prevent further compromising of their personal information. The retailer, which is owned
by Amazon, also recommended that customers change their passwords if they used their
Zappos password on other sites.
                       

It appears that the hack might have been the work of “malicious code” that infected one or more
servers, as opposed to an all-out attack on the retailer’s main site. But the bad news, is that
reading between the lines leads him to suspect customers’ passwords could be exposed. “You
look for certain words,” how the company described the exposed information. In communication
with customers, Zappos didn’t say that the compromised passwords were encrypted, only
“cryptographically scrambled,” a virtually meaningless term that could indicate crackers might be
able to easily figure out the actual passwords.
                    

In an increasingly sophisticated criminal marketplace, crackers will keep files on victims,
accruing pieces of information a little bit at a time until they have a profile they can use to open
fraudulent accounts. “The thing people need to understand is the crime of identity theft isn’t just
about credit card data.
                         

The most important step consumers can take is to use a variety of passwords for their online
shopping. Reusing the same passwords for multiple accounts heightens your chances of having
your identity stolen. Another important, although easy, step is to create separate email accounts
for your online retail activity and online financial services communication. That way, even if
crackers gets into a retailer site, they won’t be able to trace that identity to your bank account
or credit card.
                      
This is the continuance of a very powerful Industry:
            
- Cyber crime is the fastest growing crime today according to the Federal Trade
  Commission.
   
- Cyber crime cost $67 billion dollars in 2009.
     
- Over 90% of all companies experience data breach in one form or another.
    
- Cyber thieves attack individuals, corporations and institutions, no one is safe.
     
- Social networking sites have become fertile playground for crackers and cyber
  criminals.
      
- More than 11 million Americans were victims of identity theft last year.
     
- In the UK one cyber crime is committed every 10 seconds.
      
- Protect your client?s electronic information, it?s the law.
      
- Sensitive laptops stolen from Fla. [a health insurance provider] exposes over
  200,000. Feb 2010.
     
- Payroll processing firm Ceridian Corp. hacked ? Feb 2010.
     
- Crackers access Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission database ? Feb 2010.
     
- Laptop containing UCSF medical school patient information stolen ? February 2010.
        
- Thief steals 57 hard drives from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee ? January
  2010.
     
- Financial services firm notifies 1.2 million of data breach ? January 2010.
      
- An external drive containing the sensitive data of thousands of patients was
  stolen from an employee of health insurance provider Kaiser Permanent - January
  2010.
     
- A cracker recently accessed a computer server hosting the online banking system
  of Long Island, N.Y.-based Suffolk County National Bank (SCNB), putting thousands
  of customer's login information at risk. ?January 2010.
      
- A cracker accessed the computer network of Eastern Washington University in
  Cheney, Wash., placing sensitive student information at risk like Social Security
  numbers and birth dates for 130,000.
        
- Protecting Customers? Personal Information Is Not An Option, But Legal Obligation.
    
- Study Puts Identity Theft Cost at $54B in 2009.
                       

- In December 2009, a cracker used a SQL (Structured Query Language) Injection flaw
  to break into a database the Rock You (www.rockyou.com), a maker of social
  networking applications, used to store user account information (in plain text
  no less), including email addresses and passwords for 32 million users. Of the
  32 million passwords, less than 1% of the passwords users created when creating
  their accounts were considered strong. The most popular password was 123456. Most
  users also used identical or similar passwords for all of their digital accounts.

            
- Days after the iPad debuted in 2009, a Group called Goate Security used a
  security flaw in AT&T's Web Site to expose about 114,000 email addresses of new
  iPad users...including celebrities, media and technology figures, and military
  and elected officials who signed up for AT&T wireless 3G service. They exploited
  the 'login' process.   

        

- FBI arrested 100 peolple in October 2009 in the United States and Egypt accused
  of scamming bank account numbers and other personal information from users as
  part of "Operation Phish Phry" with $1.5 million in stolen funds to fake
  accounts. 33 U.S. residents were charged with wire, bank, computer fraud,
  identity theft and international money laundering.
 
- Research firm Javelin estimates that more than 11 million Americans were victims
  of identity theft last year, a 12 percent increase that led to tens of billions
  of dollars in costs.
       
- Identity Theft Is No. 1 Consumer Complaint ? according to the Federal Trade
  Commission.
      
- Medical Identity Theft Could Mean Life or Death to Its Victims -
  HealthNewsDigest.com. The survey also stated that 50 percent of large hospitals
  experienced at least one data breach in 2009.
          
- Shell has been hit by a massive data breach - the contact database for 176,000
  staff and contractors at the firm has been copied and forwarded to lobbyists and
  activists opposed to the company. Feb 16, 2010.
          
- Firewalls are not enough?..According to Richard Kirk, UK Director for Fortify
  Software because a firewall provides a gateway for users to explore the outside
  world, it becomes the very doorway by which hackers gain entry.
              
- Crackers broke into computer systems at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts recently,
  stealing sensitive customer data.
               
- Medical identity theft is a rising problem in Nevada, and, once a thief gets
  enough information they can pretend to be you and get services in your name,
  even medical care.
                 
- Data security company Imperva warns that hackers have transformed and automated
  their attacks to make them more efficient and boost the profitability of their
  scams.
                   
- Imperva, the data security leader, today released a new report warning that
  crackers have become industrialized and represent an exponentially increased
  threat to individuals, organizations and Government.
              
- Symantec's 2010 Enterprise Security study found that 75% of organizations
  globally experienced cyber attacks in the past 12 months.
                
- Symantec says 42% of organizations now rate security as their top concern, more
  than natural disasters, terrorism and traditional crime combined.
                    
- Identity crime is on the rise as criminals become cyber savvy and fish around on
  social networking sites for personal information, experts say.
                    
- Lockheed Martin plans to find new methods to predict and prevent wide-scale
  cyber attacks carried out to compromise classified information and passwords.
                     
- HSBC was fined £3m by the Financial Services Authority for failing to properly
  look after its customers' information and private data, as such breaches led to
  at least two losses of customer data.
                      
- Crackers made off with at least 285 million electronic records in 2008. - A new
  study by Verizon Communications Inc.
              
- Crackers broke into computer systems at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts recently,
  stealing sensitive customer data in 2009 and 2010.
                   
- 500,000 members of BlueCross and BlueShield of Tennessee affected by data breach.
                 
- FBI finds 90% of firms hit by Cybercrime.
                  
- Cybercriminals still consider hotels easy targets for credit card info.
                      
***Protect Yourself with one of the automated security suites listed below.
                     

Whether you're across the room or across the globe, there are various methods of remotely
accessing your box. If you know how to use a web browser, then you already have the know-how
to log into your, say, office PC from anywhere.

You may not already know this, but before the creation of remote desktop applications that make
this sort of thing a piece of cake, users were already remotely logging into their boxes
           

One way of doing this is via FTP, which is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol. Put simply,
you'd install an FTP server on the computer you'd wish to log into and ensure that the FTP
port, usually port 21, is open so that you can access it remotely. Once your FTP server is up and
running on the host computer, you'd install and run an FTP client from a PC in a remote location,
10 feet way or 100 miles away, for example. The FTP client communicates with the FTP server,
effectively letting you log into a directory structure where you can transfer files to and fro. FTP is
not incredibly intuitive to use, but it's one of the first examples of remotely accessing your
computer.

Another more arcane example is called telnet. The process is basically the same as FTP: a
telnet server runs on the host computer while you'd log into it via a telnet client. Telnet is even
less intuitive than FTP since it's all text-based, so if you're not used to command-line tools, as
many *NIX users are, you may dislike telnet from the get-go if you're a Windows user.
Nowadays, it's recommended that you use the more secure SSH--secure shell--as it's less
prone to exploits than telnet and much safer to use from a security standpoint.
       

           


As technology inevitably marches on and improves upon itself evermore increasingly, the web
browser is becoming more and more the mother application to run all children applications
from, so to speak. Desktop apps are being elbowed aside to make room for more convenient,
web-based apps that execute inside your favorite browser fluidly and without a hitch, as web
browsers are becoming more powerful and more intelligent as processing power gets cheaper
and new coding techniques, not to mention standards, dictate the norm.

GoToMyPC is the number one remote PC program on the market and it works on Mac;s and
PC's. It comes with a free 30 day trial and it is touted as a way to access your home or
office computer from anywhere you please. You're not simply limited to a text-based shell
interface or a crude representation of a designated file structure from a remote location, but
you're given the full power to access all of your precious files and all your PC's resources,
graphically. Distantly log in from your home PC into your work PC and grab your e-mails,
documents and applications. As long as your remote PC is internet-capable and has a web
browser installed, then you can access your distant PC that's running GoToMyPC. Of course,
the issue of security and exploits pop up when anyone talks about opening up an Internet
gateway into your PC; for peace of mind, GoToMyPC uses 128-bit AES encryption, so you can
feel relatively secure using this remote desktop solution.

The beauty of GoToMyPC is that it installs over the web through a  simple and sound process.
You don't need to install or download any bloated applets to communicate with your host PC;
you can use any web browser to do this task! A lot of desktop solutions have issues running
behind a firewall or proxy server, but GoToMyPC doesn't have any problem running behind
most security software. One feature that comes in handy is the ability to allow guest access to
your remote PC, allowing you to set time limits for which guest access should expire for an
extra layer of security. Transferring files and printing from a remote location has not been this
easy, so if you're in the market for a remote desktop app, give GoToMyPC a test drive.

    
01/12/12 -  If your computer has a virus its security software can't detect of remove, it's time to
roll up your sleeves and go after the bug yourself. Each month, we show you how to root out
deeply entenched viruses.
 
Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.gen
   
Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.gen is that nasty piece of malware every computer user
fears. Although often classified as a Trojan, Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.gen has
been known to use backdoor security exploits to sneak its way onto a system.
Once there, Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.gen sits in the background, recording key-
strokes and, according to some, taking screenshots of your PC. Captured data
can include such sensitive information as credit card data, username and pass-
word combinations, and other highly sensitive information of a personal or
financial nature.
     

Is It On Your System
     
Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.gen is designed to run in the background and be as
unobtrusive as possible. As a result, symptoms can be extremely hard to spot.
Obviously, if you're having problems with identity theft, you should thoroughly
scan your system. If you have a lot of malware on your PC, this malware may
well be on your scanner's list of found problems.
      

Manual Removal
              
You should begin by searching for and removing the files created by
Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.gen. Some of the resident files may not appear on the
infected system.
                  
The first file you must locate is '1053.exe'
           
Windows XP
              
  Go to the 'Start' menu and click 'Search'
    
  Click 'All Files and Folders' on the left side of the 'Search Results' window
        
  In 'All or Part of the Filename' type '1053.exe'
         
  Click the arrow next to the 'More Advanced Options'
          
  Make sure there is a check next to 'Search System Folders' and Search
  Hidden Files and Folders.
           
  Click the 'Search' button to begin the search.
       

Windows Vista and Windows 7
         
  Type '1053.exe' in the 'Search Programs and Files' field in the 'Start' menu
  and press 'Enter'.
     
  *If you don't receive initial results, click the Computer button under 'Search
  Again' in.
               
Whether you're using WinXP, Vista or Win7, if you rerceive any results,
'Right-Click' the result and select 'Delete' while pressing the 'SHIFT' key to
permanently delete the file and skip the 'Recycle Bin'.
            
  Repeat the steps for each of the following files:
     
  Bana.execog.exe
  Chi45.sys
  Crypt_ldr.exe
  Demo.exe
  Dondom.exe
  Dropped.exe
  Eag1b.exe
       

Four additional files are located in the Windows System folder. The exact location
of this folder depends on the version of Windows you're running, but you can use
a variable consistent across all versions of Windows to quickly point you in the
right direction.
     
  Open 'My Computer'
   
  In the Address bar, type %SYSTEM% and press 'ENTER'.
     
  Search for and remove the following files:
    
  Ntos.exe
  Twext.exe
  Wsnpoem.exe
    
  To remove the last file, click the Drivers folder in your Windows System folder.
  Search for and delete:
   
  Wsnpoem.sys
        

Now you must remove a few Registry entries. In the left side of the Registry Editor
navigate to:
      
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
         
Right click the Network value on the right side of the Registry Editor and select
'Delete'. Next select the 'Winlogon=%System% subfolder and remove:
       
  Ntos.exe
  Userinit.exe
        

You have now eradicated this parasite from your system. This is just one trojan out
of the multitude that are floating around the net (each with its own character-
istics). You can attack them (one by one) or you can eliminate a trojan fast with
one of the automated removal tools listed below.

                 
01/07/11 - Most Web links are harmless. but some of them are designed to pose as normal
links to lure you into dangerous territory. This makes it difficult to predict whether your friend's
email links to the cute web video that's promised or to a malicious web site. To avoid becoming a
victim of a malicious link, some have turned to programs that inspect web sites and assign them
safety ratings.
         
Don't Fall Victim
        
According to the IBM X-Force 2011 Trend and Risk Report, malicious links grew by 345% in 2011
from the previous year, which means cybercriminals have found a profitable business model. For
example, phishing schemes (http://www.phishtrackers.com) found in messages include a link
that is similar to a legitimate company's URL (uniform resource locator) to track victims into
going to a malicious Web site. Once at the malicious web site (which often  looks much like the
company's site), victims share information , such as usernames and passwords. Cybercriminals
are also able to download malware onto your computer if you click a bad link.
         
These links appear in all types of messaging, including email, chat and social networking.
    
Programs such as McAfee's Site Advisor Plus (www.mcafee.com) can help thwart these
criminals through both Web site safety ratings and anti-phishing features. When you get an
email from what seems to be a legitimate source (such as your bank or your credit card
company), SiteAdvisor Plus lets you know whether the attached link will really take you to the
organizations site. SiteAdvisor Plus can also block connections to sites and downloads it deems
unsafe. That's particularly useful when you plan to give personal information to the site you are
visiting.
          
Know Before You Go
              
The Web safety ratings from SiteAdvisor Plus lets you see whether a Web site has
any risks before you click it. When your seach query nets results on popular
search engines, SiteAdvisor Plus adds an icon next to each of the results that
signals whether the site could be harmful.
            
If you get a green circle with a check mark in the middle, the Web site has been
verified and is safe. The yellow icon with an exclamation point indicates you
should proceed to the Web site with cauion. A red circle with an X means the
Web site is known to be malicious. The same icons are used for links that show
up in emails, instant messenger messages, and social networking messages. When
SiteAdvisor labels a Wev site, you can move the mouse cursor over the top of the
icon to find out more about the threats associated with that site.
         
SiteAdvisor Plus also adds a button to your browser's address bar to rate the
URL's you enter. The button's colot code is simple: Green indicates a safe,
legitimate site, yellow, cauions that the site may (or may not be) be legitimate:
and red denotes it is a malicious site.
           
Safety First
          
The Web has created new and easy ways to do everyday things, such as gather
information, shop and bank. However, it is important to make sure you're doing
these things safely and protection yourself from fraud or malware. You can best
protect yourself with Web safety programs that guide you toward safe sites and
help you steer clear of the malicious ones.
     
           

               
01/06/12 - Let Password Dragon do your heavy lifting
         

Most people now have a slew of passwords they must remember for email,
online-banking, social networking, and many sites and services. Some people
have dozens or even hundreds of online accounts.
                        

In these cases I have seen users applying the same password to multiple
accounts (give or take a digit or two). That makes it easy to remember but
it's very insecure. A cybercriminal can crack one website with weak security
to get your password and unlock your entire digital life.
                 

On the other hand, if you use a different password on each site everytime
you sign up for a new service or membership, you have a very slim chance at
remembering very many of them.


                          

There are a few tricks to get around the problem of remembering passwords,
but you can use a password manager such as Password Dragon (freeware
www.passworddragon.com) to do the remembering for you.
                      

You can download Password Dragon for free. During the installation you will
be prompted to create a Master Password. Choose this password wisely because
it will be the key to all of your personal data. It must be both very strong
(with a variety of letters, numbers and symbols) and also memorable, lest
you forget. Do not write it down as all of the information you enter into
Password Dragon is protected by this password.
                          

Once the program is installed, it can be launched from a usb drive.

Password Dragon is a free, easy and secure password manager that works on Windows,
Mac and Linux. View the screenshot.
                                 
First of all it’s free. No strings attached. Password Manager does not contain
any spyware or ad-ware.
          
The application is very intuitive, user friendly and easy to use. Password
Management has never been so secure and easy.
            
Files are encrypted with BlowfishJ algorithm. Remember only the master password.
               
Works on Windows, Mac and Unix as this is written in Java. Can be launched
directly from USB thumb drive.
               
Organize all your userid, password, url and notes information in one file
             
Store additional information using the 10 additional customizable attributes
               
Data files are encrypted with BlowfishJ algorithm
               
Command line extension. Ability to view records from the command line without
launching GUI.
                 
Available in Multi Language.
                    
Built-in random flexible password generator
              
Copy UserId and password to clipboard
               
Password Strength indicator
            
Data files are automatically backed up.
            
Application Inactive timeout. i.e Lock the aplication if not used for x minutes
             
File Locking Facility
              
Launch URL from the application
                 
Either Choose browser for URL launch or use system default browser.
                   
Records can be grouped using user defined categories. Very flexible category
management.
                   
Import records from text file
           
Export all/selected records to text,HTML and XML file
             
Search records on all/specific columns
            
Record sorting based on column names.
             
Password can be masked in the main table and in the record view.
                
Ability to specify the startup sort order and startup category
                     
Ability to choose the look and feel. (Kunststoff Look and Feel is the default.)
              

     Pro
    
     FREE: First of all it’s free. Password Manager is a freeware.
     EASY: The application is very intutive, user friendly and easy to use.
     SECURE: Files are encrypted with BlowfishJ algorithm. Remember only the master
     password.
     MULTI-PLATFORM: Works on Windows, Mac and Unix as this is written in Java. Can
     be launched directly from USB thumb drive.
     Store all your userid, password, url, notes, custom attributes etc. in an
     encrypted file
           

     Con
      
     Must be launched from a usb drive
             

     Conclusion
        
     Nice program. Simple and platform-independent. I have it on my USB-Stick

           
01/06/12 - Protect Your Files 
                
Medical records, tax documents and other files with personal information are often stored on
personal computers. If you don't encrypt files that include personal information, you risk making
yourself an easy target for cybercriminals. Encrypted folders, which are referred to as vaults, can
lock down your information, so it's unavailable to anyone without your password.


   

Encrypt-Stick is the most advanced portable security application available on the market today.
Encrypt-Stick software converts your USB flash drive  into a personal vault and the key to
access and secure your private files.  Encrypt-Stick requires a serial numbered USB flash drive
to run. It gives you the ability to create unlimited invisible encrypted vaults on an unlimited
number of computers, removable hard drives or networked drives. If a vault is burned to a
DVD/CD you can securely access it using the original USB used to create the vault. Encrypt
-Stick provides you with the highest level of protection from identity theft, hackers, phishers and
will never leave a footprint on the host computer.
     

With a USB drive in your pocket you can carry around personal notes, in-process documents
from work, or even top secret military communications.  But a hole in that pocket could quickly
become a major security leak. Encrypt Stick 5.0 ($39.99 direct) equips any USB drive with a
secure encrypted vault for safe data transport. It can also serve as the key for any number of
local vaults on home or work PCs, and it has a secure browser and password manager built in.
       

Note -  Once you've activated your software on a particular USB drive you can't move it to another
drive. Before you install Encrypt Stick, you'll want to select a high- quality USB drive with as
much storage capacity as you anticipate you'll ever need. Conveniently, you can install the Mac
and Windows versions of the software on the same USB drive and access your protected files
from either platform. Once you've downloaded Encrpt Stick (or using an installation CD/DVD)
your ready to create an encrypted vault.
       

Creating An Encrypted Vault
           

The setup wizard walks you through the steps necessary to install and activate Encrypt Stick on
your USB drive. During this process you'll create a strong master password, something that
you'll remember but that nobody would guess. The password-entry box has a built-in password
strength meter to help you make a good choice.
        

Your home system probably doesn't have a malicious keylogger running, but if you're worried you
can enter that strong password using Encrypt Stick's virtual keyboard. For added security
against monitoring software the virtual keyboard scrambles the location of the characters.
           

Encrypt Stick uses your password, along with device-specific information, to generate a unique
512-bit (polymorphic) encryption key. That means your files are protected by two-factor
authentication: something you have (the USB key), and something you know (the password).
Gaining access to protected data requires both.
                 

The wizard includes a recommended optional step that makes a local backup of the decryption
key. That way if you lose the USB drive containing Encrypt Stick, you can still recover encrypted
files stored on your computer. Files on the lost drive itself are gone, of course, but at least
nobody else will be able to read them.

          
Vaults for File Protection
                    

On initialization, Encrypt Stick creates an encrypted folder right on the USB drive. When you've
entered the master password, you can freely move files into and out of this folder or launch and
edit the files. Outside of the Encrypt Stick interface nothing is visible except encrypted filenames
and encrypted data.
                

You can also create any number of vaults on any PC or Mac to protect local files on that system.
Encrypt Stick acts as a key to open these locked vaults.  The product's main window displays
available vaults in its upper portion and offers a view of the unencrypted main file system in its
lower portion.

To encrypt one or more files you simply drag them onto a vault. When you copy files into a vault,
Encrypt Stick offers to securely erase the originals. The help videos call this "military wipe,"
implying a connection with the DoD standard for overwriting files before deletion. Basically, it
erases the data and writes over it 7 times for the minimum DoD standard.I It also definitely 
bypass' the Recycle Bin, which is sufficient to foil casual recovery of secure files.
               

For additional security you can set Encrypt Stick to automatically lock after a period of inactivity
(10 minutes by default) and require a periodic change of the main password (every 30 days by
default). This is near military grade encryption (in a commercial usb casing).
                 

Private Browser
                

Encrypt Stick includes a built-in private browser. When you're browsing from a "foreign" computer
your favorites, history, cached files, and all other browsing traces remain on the device. Once
you unplug the device nothing remains on the host computer.
                     

The private browser doesn't have every possible feature, but it does support  tabbed browsing, and
it can handle Flash and other popular content types. I was mildly annoyed to find that Ctrl+Enter
in the address bar doesn't complete an address by adding "www." and ".com", but I didn't find
any page that it couldn't display. I verified that no trace of surfing with the private browser
remains behind on a host system.
                        

Encrypt Stick lacks the ability to take private browsing to another level with the option to browse
using a fully encrypted secure session. This is what Intel Operators use when they are
connected through a compromised network in a shady Internet café (the bad guys won't be able
to sniff out private data from your network packets). 
                                     

Limited Password Management
                        

Encrypt Stick also includes a password management system linked to its private browser. You
can store any number of passwords and group them in a hierarchy of categories, but you'll do all
the work yourself—copying and pasting URLs from your browser and manually entering
username and password data (with an option to use the virtual keyboard for passwords).
                     

If you're setting up a new online account, you can use Encrypt Stick to generate a strong
password. However, there's no provision to adjust the password generator to match a site's
password policies. Key Safe's password generator lets you set the length and choose which
character types to use. It even includes an option to create passwords like "purrPler0ks"
that are easy to remember because you can pronounce them.
                  

Full-powered password managers automatically capture login data as you log in to a site
manually using a supported browser. I was surprised to find that Encrypt Stick doesn't offer
this level of automation, given that it has total control over the browser.
                       

Key Safe also lacks most features of full-featured password managers, but it does at least have
the ability to automatically launch IE, navigate to a saved page, and fill in the login credentials.
With Encrypt Stick you must click a link to open the URL in the private browser, then right-click
the username and password fields individually to paste in the saved credentials. For some sites
this right-click process didn't work; for others the "fill in" menu choices didn't appear.
                  

You can import existing passwords from a .CSV file, but it's not easy. To make use of a similar
feature in Key Safe I simply took a file exported from LastPass and rearranged the data columns
to the order expected by the import facility. Key Safe can also import directly from several other
data types.
                  

Getting my LastPass data into a form that Encrypt Stick would accept took half an hour of
manual editing. I did succeed in the end, but only after requesting a sample of the correct format
from ENC Security Systems' tech support.
                   

Why didn't I just export a sample and study that to learn the format? The export to .CSV feature
doesn't work. It produces a file, but the file is filled with gibberish. After some experimentation I
determined that the "gibberish" is actually an encrypted copy of the password data, not the
promised .CSV file. The password management feature could definitely use some work.
                         

I also checked the help system to see if it would explain the import process. Or rather, I tried.
There is in fact no help system, just a link to the product's online FAQ. To get help for anything
that is not covered in the FAQ you have to e-mail tech support.
                   

Working Out The Kinks
             

Encrypt Stick offers a good implementation of file protection by encryption. It uses two-factor
authentication, and it can protect portable files on the device itself as well as local files on any
number of other computers. The onboard private browser lets you surf the Web on a foreign PC
without any risk of leaving private data behind.
                 

The password management doesn't seem as polished as the rest of the product. It looks good,
but it lacks the automation that would make it actually useful. And its import/export system
doesn't work quite right. If you're looking for a portable password manager, look elsewhere. Still,
if you need encryption-based protection for local files and portable files, with private
browsing as a bonus, Encrypt Stick can be quite useful.

             
    Pros
            

    Turns any USB drive into secure portable storage. Can create local encrypted folders with two
    -factor authentication. Private browser allows surfing on foreign PCs leaving no traces behind.
    Includes password management. Virtual keyboard for safe password entry. Generates strong
    passwords. Version 4.2 is freeware.
             

    Cons
    

    Password manager requires manual entry of all data. Limited ability to automatically open
    Web sites using saved credentials. Password import/export facility not working correctly. Can't
    configure password generator to match specific password policies.
             

    In Conclusion
             

    Encrypt Stick 5.0 turns any USB drive into secure portable storage for your important files. It
    also serves as the key to unlock local encrypted folders. An onboard private browser lets you
    surf without leaving traces. Its weak point is the password manager, which doesn't
    seem quite finished. It's all good though... I have it on my USB stick. It is 'AWESOME' !!!

              
01/05/11 - Ardamax Keylogger is a commercial system surveillance tool that tracks user activity
and records all keystrokes. It sends the log to a configurable e-mail address or uploads it to a
predefined FTP server. Ardamax Keylogger is able to hide its running processes and therefore
avoid a detection. The threat must be manually installed. It runs on every Windows startup.  Use
one of the automatic removal tools listed below to eradicate this parasite.

Ardamax Keylogger properties:
• Sends out logs by FTP or email
• Logs keystrokes
• Hides from the user
• Stays resident in background