An Overview of Norton Antivirus

Computers have become valuable to the lives of millions around the world. Every aspect of our daily routine is reliant to computer processes. Every sector of society is run by computer generated system.

Despite the many good benefits we derived from computers, there are people who are trying to destroy these productive processes by creating computer programs aimed at destroying the computer system. They create viruses that harm computers when victims accidentally open them.

The advances in computer operating systems are continuing. Experts are trying to improve further these computer systems for personal and commercial usage. There are also efforts to counter the worst of effects of computer viruses. One of the software to combat these viruses is the Norton AntiVirus or the NAV.

The NAV was developed by Symantec Corporation. It detects and removes viruses, spyware, adware, and other possible risks to computers.

The Norton AntiVirus is offered for sale as a product by itself. It means that it can be installed in computers as a program. This product is also sold as a component of other Norton software program. Norton Internet Security and Norton SystemWorks includes the antivirus program as one of their programs.

NAV was first released in 1990. The NAV was incorporated with its main competitor in 1994. The era rival was the Central Point Anti-Virus or the CPAV. Likewise, CPAV was licensed as the Microsoft Anti-Virus utility.

The Norton AntiVirus is no different with other standard programs of this kind. Viruses, spyware, worms, keyloggers, rootkits and malwares are the main focus of the Norton AntiVirus. The present time protection against the said malicious programs is the foremost feature. Actual time scanning is also included in the software.

The Norton AntiVirus prevents viruses and similar programs from penetrating the computer system. The NAV does its job on the sidelines. It works without disrupting the regular use of the personal computer. It does not interfere with internet surfing, software or music download and some other online services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1737485

Read More

Computers Hacking - Information

PC hacking entails the exploitation or method of cracking network and human vulnerabilities to gain access to otherwise safety protected information and facts. These methods of gathering information and facts have already been around for a really long time and go effectively beyond just a machine. Infiltrating a target also includes utilizing phone systems, wireless networks, closed networks, or fundamentally anything which will shop info. Computers will be the most typical of targets for intrusion on today's planet due to the vast amounts of variables involved which can be taken advantage. Each and every machine has its personal uniqueness primarily based on the human user.

A hacker is really quite a broad based term to describe a person that might use a bunch of unique varieties of technological specialties. You can find several distinctions in the world of network safety that differentiate a script kiddie from a white hat. There have also been loads of media consideration paid to the subculture of hackers. Modern movies portray gothic or emo looking teenagers applying overly elaborate graphical interfaces to take down an entire country's infrastructure from a few easy keystrokes. While that is fine for making drama, it's not actually reflective of true life. Actual hackers tend to be effectively educated computer system specialists or hobbyists that conduct their activities utilizing many personal computer code tests. A hacker looks at the puzzle in front of them and thrives on getting the loophole within the code to resolve the problem from within. They're seeking that bit of data that nobody else has paid consideration to before.

Nowadays hackers are utilized by just about each and every government in the world. Modern warfare has finally grasped the value of organizing and coaching computer specialists and technophiles. Main government agencies now openly recruit women and men which have shown capabilities in computer system safety and spying using any device available. It has become quite common to determine agency representatives at significant safety conventions and events across the world seeking out the creators and developers of newer technologies.

It can be argued that code breakers in the earlier World Wars have been the genuine very first hackers because of challenges like the Enigma machine. Contemporary computer system hacking is often connected with groups just like the Yippies from the 1960's that took advantage of phone lines by recording tones and tapping into actual infrastructures; they may be known as phone phreaks. You could still hear about this type of hacking within the modern day world especially in Europe and Asia.

Right now you may be able to develop into a hacker by incredibly legitimate terms. There was a time when earning your hacking badge meant taking over a major program, generating some sort of on-line credibility. Now most major colleges supply full courses in network security or on the web to teach yourself about computer systems. Massive online open courses (MOOC's) about PC programming and safety analysis have turned out to be the rage being provided by significant colleges like Harvard and Stanford. It has become the norm to go from a computer degree to specializing in some form of network or online safety.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7628407

Read More

Tips: Save Your Wireless Network From Hackers

Creating a wireless network at your house is an excellent idea, it's really easy to do plus it enables you to surf the net conveniently from anywhere at your house.The problem is that lots of people are unaware of the danger that's added when using the home Wireless in an insecure manner.

If you want to protect your WiFi in order to prevent your neighbors from using up your bandwidth, then sure that's a sound cause to protect your WiFi, however it mustn't be your primary worry. The greatest problem with insecure WiFis happens when a hacker is able to connect to your WiFi, if he succeeds on doing that then he can easily read the information that's sent between you and the router and reveal your usernames, passwords or everything else that's sent between your devices, regardless of whether you are using SSL. This attack is known as "Man In The Middle" or MITM and it can easily be performed by even a rookie hacker rather quickly. Securing your Wireless will greatly lessen the chance of this occurring. Almost all hackers that try to get into WiFi's will quickly give up attempting to hack a secure wireless network as there are countless insecure networks out there which provide a considerably simpler target.

All of the approaches that are going to be explained here require that you log in to your access point's user interface and change a few of its options. If you don't know how to do that then go over to your access point manufacturer's web site and look for the guide for your particular model. Try to find information about how to gain access to that router's web interface.

1. Make use of a secure encryption
Using a secure encryption is an essential course of action, this makes certain that you can only connect by using a password. Choosing this options is generally done from the security tab in the Wireless setup menu. You may generally pick from three or four options: Disabled, WEP, WPA, WPA2. You'll want to choose WPA2 or WPA - and absolutely under no circumstances choose disabled or WEP! WEP encryption is an extremely broken encryption algorithm that can be broken in a few minutes by a completely inexperienced hacker. If your router only supports WEP encryption but not WPA then you should replace that router ASAP.

2. Utilize a strong encryption password
I'm certain you hear this phrase a lot "Use a strong password" and numerous people are thinking to themselves that on WiFis it's not too important, new flash - On WiFis it's extremely important to use strong passwords. Its a piece of cake for a hacker to use a program that scans the WiFi for millions of password combinations in mere minutes and crack it. Use at least eight to ten characters and a mixture of numbers, special symbols and letters. Avoid using dates, names or phones numbers - This is the very first thing hackers try.

3. Alter the SSID name
The SSID is the name of your wireless network, it's that name you choose from the list of nearby networks when you try to join. It's recommended that you alter that name and not use the default name. Modify it to a name that doesn't completely reveal who is the one who owns this wireless network, such as your surname - this is especially essential if you're living in a dense population area for instance an apartment building.

4. Restrict the Wifi's range
Restricting the transmit range will decrease the possibility of someone looking to hack your network. In many homes the Wireless may be detected from outside of it and there's generally no reason for this. Limit the transmission range, go outside your property and look to find out if it could be discovered from there. When possible you may relocate your router towards the center of the household to gain optimum coverage without creating blind spots caused by the restricted Wireless network range.

5. Alter the router's interface security password
The router's password is the password you need to type whenever logging in to the web interface. Technically if the hacker can connect to the access point's web interface then it's already too late and the hacker has gained access to the wireless network already, but nonetheless, this is a good precaution step to take and it will limit the control that the hacker has over your wireless network. Modify the password to a one that's difficult to guess and is different than the one used for the encryption.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7613065

Read More

Secure Passwords Tips and Tricks

Source: songbirdblog.com via Kelly on Pinterest

I saw an amusing video from Ellen DeGeneres recently, and it started me thinking about the issue of password security. The video shows an infomercial for a really stupid solution, but there are several real steps we can all take to safeguard our passwords.

Use Different Passwords
The infomercial is based on the idea that we use different passwords everywhere. This is an important first step, since if a hacker gets access to one password it limits the damage that can cause. The problem with this, of course, is how to remember all those multiple passwords.
You can save the passwords in a text file or spreadsheet, or you can use a password manager. Be sure to protect your master list with a password that is easy for you to remember but difficult for anyone else to guess. If you accidentally (or deliberately) attach this master list to an email, nobody can read it without the master password.
I use a password manager (Roboform) for most of my passwords, but keep a spreadsheet for my websites, since for those I need to keep a lot more information than just the password.

Use Strong Passwords
It's amazing how many people choose "password", "123456", or their name as their password. A strong password comprises 6 or more characters and includes numbers and upper and lower case letters. If the application allows you to use special characters as well, by all means use them.
For example, if you use "password" (not recommended!), you can write it as "9@$$w0Rd". It looks close enough to the original word that you can remember it without too much effort, but is much harder for hackers and their programs to crack.
Better still, use a password generator, such as that included with your password manager. to generate really strong passwords.

Change Passwords Frequently
Yes, I know changing passwords is a pain, but it's a lot more of a pain if you get hacked! I make a point of changing the critical passwords, such as banks and credit cards, every month or two, but I must admit that I often forget. Some applications - banks, for example - require frequent changes: this is where a good password manager eases the chore.
If you choose to use Roboform, you will find the free version is only useful to see how it works: you will need to pay a small annual fee for real application. (By the way, I am not affiliated with Roboform in any way - it's just what I use.)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7660640

Read More

How to Download & Install Norton Antivirus

Read More

Malware - An Introduction

Source: shaanhaider.com via Surendra on Pinterest

Derived from the words "malicious" and "software", malware is a type of program designed to steal information or cause internal damage to a computer. A lot of people confuse malware as a type of virus, when in fact malware is any kind of software that is intended by the developer to cause harm within another system or exploit other people's personal information. On the other hand, a computer virus is a small software that is purposely designed to spread from one computer to another and interfere with various computer operations. In other words, harmful software such as viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, and worms are categorized as malware and are generally harmful to any computer unit or even to the user if not taken cared of once malware infection signs are evident.

The threats of computer virus infections have increased in parallel to the number of internet users all over the world today. Unlike in the '90s where malware were only regarded as the result of experimentations and pranks by curious developers trying to expand their skills, malware today keeps evolving as a medium to wreak havoc and cause crimes in the cyber world. Compared to over a century ago where computers were yet to be introduced to households and access to the internet was limited, the spread of computer viruses today have become instantaneously rampant due to quick technological evolution - more and more tasks now require the use of technology while the internet has played a significantly important role in information sharing. 

Through the amplification of data and information sharing provided by the internet, the transmission of harmful software is now made more rampant all over the globe. Almost anyone from any part of the world can become a victim of malware; no one - not even your computer system - is exempted from the risk of a virus infection. Symptoms of a virus infection usually surface in the form of slow start-ups, slow programs, disabled hardware, and cause error messages to appear. Moreover, the damages a computer virus is capable of can range from minor computer problems like slowing down your e-mail, corrupting system files, and damaging or deleting data; to major dilemmas like identity theft, enabling other users to hijack your computer, and even cause you embarrassment or damage your credibility as an individual.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7597960

Read More

Use Only One antivirus in Your PC

Running two antivirus programs simultaneously is a bit like mixing a fine, vintage Cabernet with breakfast cereal. Each is good on its own right, but the combination may have unpleasant effects.

And it could be worse. The two programs may conflict with each other--remember that every time you download a file, both will try to scan it. Conflicts could result in other programs failing to work and Windows becoming less stable.

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2034141/one-antivirus-program-is-better-than-two.html

Read More

How to Uninstall Norton Antivirus

Do you want to uninstall Norton or Norton related programs from your computer completely without any residual components? Actually, it might be not so hard for you to uninstall Norton Antivirus. If you still feel frustrated to remove Norton you should read this article which is an available tutorial for you about how to uninstall Symantec programs instantly and completely.

How To Uninstall Norton Antivirus Products Manually

# For Windows XP:

1. Close all programs on your computer.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Add or Remove Programs.
4. In the list of currently installed applications, find and select Norton antivirus and click "Uninstall".
5. Confirm that you want to uninstall the program by clicking on "Remove".

# For Windows Vista:

1. Close all programs on your computer.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Uninstall a Program under the category
4. In the Tasks pane, click View installed updates.
5. In the list of installed updates, double-click it.

# For Windows 7

1. Click Start. and then click Control Panel.
2. Under Programs, click Uninstall a program.
3. In the tasks panel, click Turn Windows features on or off.
4. In the list of windows features, clear the check box next to Norton antivirus
5. Click Yes after you receive a warning message in a pop-up window.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4634348

Read More

Norton Antivirus - How To Remove Norton

If you're finding it difficult to permanently remove Norton antivirus from your computer system then continue to read. Nortons' software is designed to become your internet protection service and protect from known internet hazards. The software usually contains an antivirus tool, Adware remover, firewall amongst many others.

Norton is definitely one of the most well-known internet protection providers available. However it's not liked by all as it can be considered difficult to use and/or maintain. One problem that has been evident in my research of the product is many customers are being frustrated by the constant pop-ups, even when browsing safe websites. Furthermore the software is large and is known to slow down performance speeds upon smaller systems. The software also makes it very time consuming to remove fully, hence why this article has been put together. Follow the steps below to completely remove the program from your system.

Delete Norton Antivirus

Norton has many files and folders that come with it upon installation, especially if the program was preinstalled upon purchase. Thus the program can be removed using the Windows add/remove software, but this will only remove the program itself and the immediate programs surrounding it. Other files or folders may not be and could be left on your system, slowing it down. If you would like to know n exactly how to remove it permanently and completely follow the steps below:

1. Firstly make sure that Norton Antivirus is not running. To do this press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, select Task Manager and then locate the Processes area.
2. Scroll down the list and locate Norton and single click. Click End Processes.
3. Find the Start button, and then navigate to the Control Panel.
4. Click the Uninstall a program icon. If you are using XP or a lower OS then this will be labelled Add/Remove Programs.
5. Scroll to Norton Antivirus and click the Uninstall button.
6. The wizard should explain everything clearly, but just make sure you click remove all.
7. Follow the on screen instructions.
8. Repeat this process from step 5 onwards for any other Norton software that you are aware is installed on your system.
9. Restart your computer system.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6543507

Read More

Norton Antivirus Contact

When you purchased your new computer it probably came with a CD that automatically installed a program called Norton Antivirus. While the software does work effectively at protecting your PC from hazardous viruses (that could cause permanent damage to your hard drive/system), many experts in the field of antivirus and spyware seem to recommend other programs that may do a better job.

In fact, just recently when I was searching information on how to contact Norton antivirus, some interesting tips were posted in forums that I will share with you below:

Taking Up Too Much Of Your Computers Resources

When you look up Symantec's website on how to contact Norton antivirus, you will not find any precise information on how much of your computers resources will be used when running the program, only an average estimate. Tech experts have concluded that Norton may be somewhat of a "resource hog" in terms of running at full speed. This means that when the software is running you will see a significant drop in how your computer performs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1365706

Read More

How to Remove Norton Internet Security?

Removing a software program like Norton Internet Security from your PC may seem like the simplest thing to do. You simply go to the Control Panel and click on Add/Remove Programs in Windows and then locate Norton Internet Security. And with one click of the mouse it's gone! Sadly, it's not that simple. And anyone who's attempted to remove Norton Internet Security completely can attest to the fact that it doesn't go easily.

Norton has a nasty habit of leaving behind some of its files in the registry at uninstallation. And no ordinary Windows uninstall feature will remove some of these files. These files can disturb some of your other software programs and cause your PC to be sluggish during use, whether you install another internet security software program or not.

There are a few tools that can help you remove Norton Internet Security. And the instructions below will help you remove it with the help of one of these tools:

Steps to remove Norton Internet Security

1. Go to Control Panel on your PC by going to the Start menu. You'll then find the Add/Remove Programs menu which you should click on. When the window opens, you should scroll down to the Norton link on the list and then click on it to remove it.

2. An uninstallation menu will appear which will guide you through the removal process of Norton.

3. You will then be prompted to restart your computer to complete the removal process of Norton.

4. When your PC has restarted, check that all the Norton icons have been removed from your desktop and under the Program Files menu under your Start menu. Delete any programs that you find that are associated with Norton.

5. Now you'll need the Norton Product Removal Tool to remove all the remaining files.

6. Download the removal tool from the Symantec site. You can find the site by searching on Google for "Norton removal tool."

7. Double-click its icon on your desktop if that's where you've saved it and permit it to run on your computer. After it has stopped running, you should restart your PC and it will now be completely free of Norton.

8. And you can remove the removal tool from the Control panel under the start menu.

Summary

Many people remove Norton Internet Security for a wide range of reasons. And one of the main reasons is that they want to install another program and no longer have need for it. And this is sometimes because they aren't satisfied with its capabilities and has been a resource hog, consuming memory and CPU resources.

Whatever reason has led you to remove it, make sure you replace it with another program to protect your PC. There are many to choose from and by reading reviews, you are sure to easily find the right one for your PC.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6696877

Read More

Norton Anti-Virus: Gift for Computer

Computer security has never been more important than it is today. Since I use my computer for paying bills and personal accounting, in addition to standard word processing, I was very concerned with protecting my information. I researched several anti-virus companies to determine the best solution for my security problems, and by far Symantec Norton Anti-Virus was heads and tails above the rest.

First, it works seamlessly with all forms of Windows, including XP, Vista and Windows 7, meaning that Norton is compatible with whichever PC operating system you own. Next, Norton is reasonably priced. While there are several free virus protection software programs available to download through the internet, none of them provide all the features offered by Norton. From AVG to McAfee, Norton was heads and shoulders above the competition. With everything from cybercriminal protection to fixing and removing viruses, Norton has it all.

Additionally, the fraud feature works great for warning me of potential hazards associated with some websites. Nowadays many websites have pop-ups that resemble Windows menus. Norton flashes a warning for me of this potential threat prior to me downloading a potential virus. Along with these great features, Norton keeps my family safe. I'm a father of one child who seems to spend most of her lives on the computer, so parental controls are essential. Norton's parental controls allow me to trace where my child has been on the internet so I can be up to date on her searching habits.

Finally, Norton works great at the home and the office. While I have Norton installed on my home computers, my office also uses a Norton product. This competitively priced small business solution is different from my home Norton product. Here, the protection also covers web security for the cloud, which is the future of computing. Additionally, it offers back up data files in conjunction with Windows Small Business Server.

Even though Norton has all of these benefits, no program is perfect, which is why Norton offers 24-hour a day 7 days a week technical support. I have only had to use this feature once, for an error on my part, and found their customer service to be friendly and quite capable. Customer service did not transfer me all over the world just to get answers.

Overall, my experience with Norton has been positive. The installation was easy, it doesn't slow down my computing or web browsing and I like the security and the reputation of using Symantec Norton products. I'm interested to see this company progresses and if they will continue to raise the bar for computer security products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6183136

Read More

Problems And Solutions: Norton Internet Security

The internet is fraught with lot of malicious code. Even a casual internet surfer can very easily lose an expensive hard drive of his unprotected computer. Norton Internet Security software which is made by Symantec Corporation is among the most popular security programs, it defends your computer from any host of internet dangers. However, every program has its own good points and bad points, even with the best program that you trust most for keeping your computer safe. Norton Internet Security comes with a secure firewall but there are some problems that you should watch out for. In this article you will get to know about some common problem that you face with Norton Firewall.

Mac Security Update

Norton's firewall with the Internet Security 3.0 has caused little problems with a specific update to Mac OS X in 2003. When the July 14, 2003, update was actually applied, some computers could not reboot, and thus the only way to salvage all those computers was to boot it from any other another device, such as the other operating system installation disc. Users with old versions of this software should be little cautious while updating their computer system.



Blocking Internet Access

The Norton firewall will sometimes block certain websites or JavaScript, thinking they are a threat. It can also block browsers. If you receive an error reading "Server not found," Norton may be blocking your browser. "Connect attempt failed" may indicate it is blocking the website you are trying to view. These errors and JavaScript problems can be fixed by adjusting settings inside Norton.

Flaw Requiring Patch

The older versions of the Norton Security program had some flaws which may allow hackers to actually infiltrate your computers. This also included the firewall program. Symantec Company issued a patch through its Live Update service later in the year 2004 in order to fix this issue. If you are also concerned about your version of Norton program then you can also apply the patch through LiveUpdate or even manually.

Solutions

If the Norton Internet Security is not allowing you to access some websites then you can adjust the privacy settings of your computer. You can also change the strength of Norton firewall or you can even disable it temporarily to get access. If Norton Internet Security still continues to give you problems even after being temporarily disabled, in that case you can set the Norton program to start manually. This prevents Windows of your system from loading the program whenever the computer is started.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7187577

Read More

Norton Antivirus: The Major in Antivirus Industry

Source: allinonetech.net via AllinOne on Pinterest

Selecting an antivirusprogram, such as Norton, isn't a process that you should take gently for your PC. Trojan malware, malware, and innovative malware technology designed by online hackers and criminals are regularly trying to get onto and take over your program. In this feeling, the internet can be a terrifying place as you never know what type of malware will be launched next. Norton is an antivirus program that not only works with the newest Ms operating-system, such as both 32- and 64-bit editions of Microsoft windows 7 and Microsoft windows vista, but also has many features that every PC should use for security. When we talk about antivirus support, Norton comes to the rescue in the best manner possible.

Basically, Norton is able to protect your software applications and prevent Trojan malware, and virus, three key items of malware that essentially all antivirus programs prevent. Norton also prevents malware, crawlers, and even rootkits, which are basically brilliant items of malware that covers from you the fact that your PC has been affected. Not all antivirus programs prevent rootkits, which is why Norton is different and more innovative.

One major attribute of Nortonis its advantage for the end user. Norton has an intelligence-driven checking technological innovation that the program uses. Instead of getting up your PC's time doing full tests at every function, Norton uses this special technological innovation to only check out information that may be at risk. While other programs may execute "quick scans" which only check out certain described segments of your hard drive, Norton Antivirus uses the information acquired from your program to find out which information must be examined and examined for risks. In addition, customers have complete control over the Norton scans. For best performance and getting the advice of computer experts, it's always best to set up your malware tests during initial program start-ups, something which the Norton program allows you to do.

Two new ideas and functions presented by Symantec and involved with Norton Antivirus are its Obtain, Computer file, and Risk Understanding rights. These functions give you inside information into recently downloaded information and applications before you set up, run, or start them. Norton informs you by taking up a small, discreet concept whether or not the system or program you've downloadable is safe. Moreover, the system functions a threat evaluation to help you figure out whether you want to continue in your download's set up or operating.

Norton.com Help

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Norton-The-Major-in-Antivirus-Industry/7534742/

Read More

Tips for Recover Files Deleted by McAfee

The article intends to describe how the files deleted by McAfee antivirus can be recovered. The methods described here is simple and correct until date. It is still advised that users follow the instructions accurately to avoid running into problems. This will also save them from spending time and money looking for McAfee product support.

Besides protecting your computer from nasty viruses, spyware etc., McAfee may remove important data files from it in its virus removal endeavor. If you have already experienced this, then you seriously need help to recover those deleted files. The below mentioned tips will help you perform the recovery on your own. This essentially means that you needn't contact your McAfee technical support for help.

Instructions:

• Since it is not possible to recover the deleted files manually, you would need to download and run a data recovery tool. You can choose from a wide range of available free or paid tools including DERESCUE data recovery master, Recuva, AusLogics BoostSpeed, Undelete Plus, Recover Deleted Files, and Drive Rescue.

• Once you have concluded on any of the abovementioned tools, download it from a trusted website. When prompted, save the file to a location in computer where it can be easily accessed from. When the file is saved, locate it and run to initiate the installation procedure. You may need admin rights to run the file. It is recommended to save the file on desktop for convenience.

• We'll discuss about the DERESCUE data recovery master tool here (it can be downloaded from its official website). Download, save, and install the program in the same abovementioned fashion. Double click on the icon of the DERESCUE program to open it. When prompted about the recovery operation, click on Deleted Recover.

• When given the list of all the existing drives in your computer, select the hard disk drive that needs to be recovered the files from and hit the OK button. Under the Folder view, check all the folders and locate the one that has the deleted files in it (it may be named anything like deleted files or, you must check it). Click this folder and highlight the files that need to be recovered in the File List View. Click on the OK button and you will have all your files recovered that were deleted by the McAfee antivirus.

Additional Tips:

If you want to stop McAfee antivirus from automatically removing files that are legitimate and not threats, you should drop an email. The email should contain the sample of the file integrated into a zipped folder with the header (subject) containing False. McAfee will eventually learn that this file should not be marked and deleted automatically.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6591297

Read More

Things Every Computer Geek Should Know

The term ‘geek’, once used to label a circus freak, has morphed in meaning over the years. What was once an unusual profession transferred into a word indicating social awkwardness. As time has gone on, the word has yet again morphed to indicate a new type of individual: someone who is obsessive over one (or more) particular subjects, whether it be science, photography, electronics, computers, media, or any other field. A geek is one who isn’t satisfied knowing only the surface facts, but instead has a visceral desire to learn everything possible about a particular subject. A techie geek is usually one who knows a little about everything, and is thus the person family and friends turn to whenever they have a question. If you’re that type of person and are looking for a few extra skills to pick up, or if you’re a newbie aiming to get a handhold on the honor that is geekhood, read on to find out what skills you need to know.

How to become a real computer Geek?

Little known to most, there are many benefits to being a computer geek. In our high-tech society, being a computer guru can be one of the most high paying jobs available and they are highly in demand, especially if you want to become a network administrator. By tapping into your inner geek, you can develop a most useful skill that will be sure to pay off later in life.
You may get the answer here: http://www.aagneyam.com/blog/?p=1059

The Meaning of Technical Acronyms

• USB – Universal Serial Bus
• GPU – Graphics Processing Unit
• CPU – Central Processing Unit
• ATA- AT Attachment (AT Attachment Packet Interface (ATAPI)
• SATA – Serial ATA
• HTML – Hyper-text Markup Language
• HTTP – Hypertext Transfer Protocol
• FTP – File Transfer Protocol
• P2P -  peer to peer

1. Default Password List

One of the best list of default passwords. http://www.searchlores.org/defpasslist1.htm 1A. Usability of passwords http://www.baekdal.com/tips/password-security-usability

2. A bit, about How to hack some common gadgets.

If you rolled your eyes here, that is a good thing. If not, you have many things to learn, young padawan. It’s amazing how few people know how to do this. If you’re unsure, hit up the link below to find out how: http://www.aagneyam.com/blog/?cat=708

3. Identify Keyloggers

Internet cafes are the most likely place you’ll find them, followed by library, perhaps, and maybe even you own house if you’ve some unscrupulous friends/family. Identity theft groups warn about keyloggers and advocate checking out the keyboard yourself before continuing. Can you identify a keylogger, however, if one is plugged into the back of the system? Here’s what one looks like: Hit up this link for excellent info on keyloggers on public computers and how to protect yourself: , http://www.ghacks.net/2007/06/28/how-to-defeat-most-keyloggers-on-public-computers/

4. Surf the Web Anonymously

We won’t make any assumptions about why you may need this particular skill, but the fact remains that every geek should know how to traverse the Internet with the highest amount of security possible. Aside from the safest method–which is using a connection that is not yours–you will need the ultimate in proxies…Tor. Tor is an onion-routing system which makes it ‘impossible’ for someone to find out who you actually are.

5. Bypass a Computer Password on All Major Operating Systems

Obviously you shouldn’t use this to gain unlawful access to a computer. If you’re a geek, however, you’ll eventually end up in a situation where someone forgets their password, you acquire a machine with an operating system you cannot access, or similar situation. See this tutorial for info on how to bypass the password on the three major operating systems: Windows, Mac, and Linux. http://www.joetech.com/2009/01/29/how-to-crack-the-account-password-on-any-operating-system/

6. Find a Users IP Address on AIM

Knowing someones IP address is actually pretty useless in this case, but most people don’t realize that. If someone is harassing you via AIM and you can’t get them to stop, discovering their IP and sending it to them–with a nicely worded threat of law enforcement involvement should they not stop–is likely enough to send them scamping away with tail between legs. http://www.ehow.com/how_5529416_someones-ip-address-aim-chat.html

7. Hide a File Behind a JPEG

So you need a nice spot to hide your blackmail personal files. You could, of course, bury them deeply within a series of random, useless folders, but there’s always the chance of them being discovered. A password protected RAR is the best choice, but it’s a bit obvious despite the most boring title you could give it. A sneaky person would hide the important file behind a completely random and boring family reunion photo, where no person in their right mind would shift through. http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/hide-file-in-picture/

Read more: http://www.aagneyam.com/blog/?p=466

Read More

Install McAfee Antivirus from CD

Source: allinonetech.net via AllinOne on Pinterest

McAfee antivirus offers users a worry-free solution for their security needs whether browsing, email, and website protection besides blocking online threats like viruses, Trojans, worms, and other malware infections. There are two ways to install McAfee antivirus software on your computer. One is from the software CD that we have described here and other is from the internet.

Before we begin with the installation procedure, we hereby assume that you already have a McAfee antivirus CD handy. If you don't have one, you can call McAfee product support to ship you one. You can also go to a McAfee-authorized computer center to get the installation disk. Keep the McAfee antivirus software manual or documentation handy as it would have the product key printed on it somewhere.

Besides, if you are installing McAfee for the first time on your computer, do a few more things to make sure that McAfee installs properly. If you previously had other antivirus software installed, remove it completely from your computer before installing the McAfee software. Two antivirus programs always have a tendency to conflict with each other, resulting in common and frequent malfunctioning of either one besides showing error messages. Insert the McAfee setup disk into the CD drive of your computer. Wait for the automatic prompt. The McAfee Security Setup window will come up.

Hit the Next button to proceed. If no automatic prompt pops up, click on the Start menu and navigate to My Computer (Computer if it is Windows 7 or Vista). Double-click on the removable CD drive icon like E: or D: etc. It will fire up the McAfee setup disk. Hit the Next button on the McAfee Setup window. Click to accept the license agreement and hit the OK or Next (whichever you see there) button to proceed to next screen. If prompted to choose the installation type, choose Custom or Typical.

If you any other option, click it and hit the Next button. Choose the level of protection if prompted otherwise follow the on-screen instructions and hit Next. When prompted, hit the Install button. If you want the latest virus and malware updates to be downloaded and installed automatically and right now, hit the Update Now button. Hit the Finish button. It will go checking for updates, download and install them automatically, and finish the process. When finished, reboot your computer.

Source: bestcomputersoftwares.com via AllinOne on Pinterest

Your computer will automatically prompt you to reboot it. However, if it does not, reboot yourself after the installation has finished. When done, you will find a McAfee shortcut on your desktop screen. There will also be an M icon in your system tray. If you do not find the shortcut icon on the desktop, click on the Start menu and go to All Programs. You will find McAfee Security Center listed there, right click on it and choose Send To and then point to Desktop (create shortcut). Your desktop will have a McAfee shortcut.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6948215

Read More

What Small Businesses Should Know About Virtualization Security

Source: visual.ly via AllinOne on Pinterest

Read More

Health and Safety Tips for Computer Users

Source: fitsugar.com via AllinOne on Pinterest

With computer use increasing more and more and encompassing our lives from every aspect, it's no wonder the number of headaches, eye strain, and RSI cases caused by computer use are increasing annually. Most people use a computer all day long while at work and the first thing they do when they get home is press that power button on their PC. And then put their eyes on OT for another 4-6 hours. We hardly get outside and focus on objects in the distance. Another problem of focusing on objects for long periods of time is that our muscles get weak to QUICKLY focus on objects. Unless you are an athletic person where you have to focus on moving objects and continually cause your eye muscle to focus and refocus, your eyes probably are not getting the healthy workout they need.

This write-up is to help remind you that your eyes are a precious part of your body and you only get one set of them. But not only does this write-up talk about how to make sure you give your eyes a rest from time to time, but also how to protect yourself from muscle strains in your neck, fingers, and arms. You of course, don't need to treat this guide as the solution for all, but being aware and conscious about what you are doing while using your PC should help to keep you body healthy.

HOW TO REMIND YOURSELF TO TAKE A BREAK

The hardest part is remembering when to take a break, especially when we get consumed by our work and we have deadlines. For IT engineers, we are usually under high levels of stress and have deadlines to meet, which usually leads to not taking breaks. We need to be cautious of this and make sure to take breaks from time to time.

There are a few free software programs available online that will help remind you to take breaks from time to time and keep you from overworking your hands and eyes. I recommend Break Install or Workrave for the PC. Both are free and full of features. Workrave is my favorite as it displays sample exercises while the break time screen is activated - something that is educational and will keep you entertained. There are some programs for the Mac as well, for example, Timeout and AntiRSI. These programs force you to take a break from working which not only give your eyes time to relax but also your fingers, wrists, neck, and other muscles that are used to type, read, and move your mouse.

Source: bottomlinepublications.com via AllinOne on Pinterest

These programs will also display usage statistics, and allow you to customize the break times and durations. You can also skip the required breaks when necessary, for example, when you are in the middle of doing something critical. Most of the software will give you an option to skip your break or postpone it. Although, if you find yourself constantly hitting postpone or skip, you might want to consider disabling this feature.

THE LONG BREAK

Although short breaks (also known as micro-pauses) are the key, longer breaks away from the computer are also important. You should also try to make sure you take breaks before you actually need them. How often you take breaks and when you take them is actually more important than how long you take breaks for. Taking 2 breaks over 8 hours for 30 minutes each is not going to help as much as 8 breaks for 5 minutes at a time.

Recent research studies have shown that taking breaks are proven to help reduce fatigue and prevent soreness.

Micro-pauses are just as important. You should remember to take time away from the computer occasionally to stretch and re-focus your eyes to distant objects. If you have been working intensely at your computer for an hour or more, more than likely you have not blinked as much as you should have and a break is needed.

So if you are working intensely at your computer, in order to reduce fatigue and prevent soreness, the following breaks need to be incorporated into your daily working practice:
* Breaks every hour or so
* Micro-pauses every 4-10 minutes
* Remember to blink frequently as when you use a PC you tend to lower your overall blink rate.

Micro-pauses

At about 4-10 minute intervals, let go of your mouse and look away from the screen. Drop your arms down to your sides, lean back and allow your shoulders to relax. A micro-pauses should take roughly 5-10 seconds.

Breaks

After an hour or so of working continuously at your computer, you should take a short break away from you workstation. You should do some non-computer work, for example, make a telephone call, talk to a colleague, or file documents. You want to try to do something away from your computer for at least 2-3 minutes.

Blinking

Blinking your eyes is also very important. When we use computers we tend to lower are overall blink rate, which causes our eyes to dry out and results in scratched corneas which then causes blurry or impaired vision temporary. We develop bad habits of staring at our computers for long periods of time and forgetting to blink, try to keep a mental note to constantly blink.

Exercises

During a break it is also good to do stretches and exercises to rejuvenate your muscles:

* Shoulder stretch - stretch your arms above and behind your head while clasping your hands tightly together.
* Upper arm Stretch - place one arm across your chest and grab your elbow with your other hand and pull lightly stretching your shoulder. Repeat it again with your other arm.
* Sitting trunk twist - extend your arms out in front of your body, clasp your hands while in a seated position and gently twist from side to side, stretching the upper and lower back.
* Elbow stretch - extend one arm out in front of you. Grab the hand of the extended arm with your free hand and bend your hand gently downward stretching your forearm muscles.
* Power blinks - So a series of quick blinks, roughly 2-3 blinks per second for roughly 1 minute. Now to bring blood flow to your eyes you will want to shut your eyes and close them tight for 5 seconds, then open your eyes and leave at a relaxed state for 5 seconds, repeat this 6 times.

What you may be surprised to learn is that even low levels of muscle tension can cause RSI if sustained over a long period. If you are stressed you will notice muscle tension even faster, so remember to remain relaxed.

Another interest fact is that just 18% of maximum force is enough to reduce blood flow to the muscle by 80%!

Source: simoneye.com via AllinOne on Pinterest

If you have muscle fatigue or tension and continue to work intensely at your computer, you are likely to experience pain and discomfort and could develop repetitive strain injury (RSI).

The term repetitive strain injury is a confusing one and as a result, there are many misunderstandings. Let us take a few moments to look at the true cause of RSI in computer use.

For computer users it is actually static muscle tension, not repetition that causes most of the problems. This means that you do not have to be the fastest typist to get RSI. Just spending too many hours at your computer can be enough. This definitely applies to those of us that use a computer to do their job all day and then go home to continue to use your computer for personal use. You are at highest risk, so you should make sure to take plenty of breaks and make sure to give your eyes and muscles a chance to take a break.

WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?

Breaks are a proven way to allow your mind and muscles to recover from fatigue. Stretches and exercise also rejuvenates your muscles. Breaks help you to improve your overall health and efficiency.

Do you find that you more often than not, you get caught up in your work and remembering to take a break is the last thing on your mind? It's difficult as we have built in these habits of working strait through our tasks and not thinking about anything else. You'll typically not take a break until you are far past the point at which you should have taken a break, which is why software to remind you is key.

Achieving the right amount of muscle recovery at the right times is more complicated than you might think. Muscles recover very quickly from low levels of fatigue but quite slowly from high levels. Once your muscles become tired and sore, recovery takes a long time. For those of you that workout at the gym, recall what you feel like after a workout from a long break from the gym. You feel extremely sore the next couple of days and your recovery takes about double what you usually expect when you are in the middle of your normal workout routine. This is because 1.) you just shocked your body from not working out for a good amount of time and 2. ) your muscles are highly fatigued, so recovery takes longer.

Recovery at frequent periods from low-level fatigue will take only around ten seconds whereas high levels of fatigue will take much longer - even up to several hours. One solution to muscle fatigue is to take micro-pauses, very short breaks of 5-10 seconds every 4-10 minutes. This relaxes your muscles and restores a healthy blood flow.

Why are micro-pauses so important?

* They take very little time and can easily be developed to become a healthy habit
* They prevent fatigue build up
* The are taken before discomfort occurs
* They are perfect for reminding you to do some quick blinking exercises

Micro-pauses are the most effective and efficient breaks you can take but remembering to take them can be difficult.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5730814

Read More

McAfee Antivirus: General Problems

Source: allinonetech.net via AllinOne on Pinterest

Market is full of Antivirus suites to choose from according to need and choice. McAfee is one of the oldest of them. It is created by McAfee Inc, a leader in the Antivirus market developing and providing antivirus solutions to home computers as well as professional computers. McAfee was earlier known as Network Associates which now has a trail of computer security products developed and released periodically.

Main McAfee features of the McAfee Antivirus are:

• On boot scanner (McAfee OAS)

• Providing Inbound & outbound firewall protection

• Providing Spyware protection

• Self update

• Site adviser providing safety rating of the sites visited

• Active System Guard facility

• Active Protection

Most of these features make McAfee unique from its counterparts. But somewhere these unique features are also responsible for the problems arising to most of the users of this antivirus and creating functional problems with their computers largely because of the lack of knowledge on the part of users. The users try fixing them by their own and end up making the things more complex.

During last few years the popularity and use of McAfee antivirus is largely affected due to the problems associated with this once monarch, of the antivirus market. Of late, online McAfee Technical Support has come up to rescue the users

The list of the problems being generally faced by the users is relatively larger than those with other antivirus brands present in the market, which is driving the McAfee users to change their loyalties. McAfee Technical Support comes forth to rescue such customers who find themselves helpless dealing with this antivirus. The main problems surfacing with the use of this antivirus are discussed as under;

First of all this antivirus is a bulky package which occupies a large space on the hard disk of its user, naturally leaving less space for other software installed on the computer. The home computers which are generally having less hard disk space are greatly affected by this heavy antivirus suite.

Secondly, its resource usage is quite high which takes a large space of RAM resulting into slowing down the computer equivalent to hang.

Even being a heavy software Virus & malware detection rate of this antivirus is not more than those available for free on net.

Startup or booting time of the computers having McAfee security becomes significantly higher than those without it. It leaves the user clueless about the real problem who thinks that the computer has got some hardware issues.

The scanning time it takes is longer and sometimes it doesn't seek user's permission to start the scan which is irritating on the part of the user.

Finally it is also not among one of those easily removable antivirus software. It is the real headache to get rid of this antivirus if the customer wants to uninstall it as it has a tendency to stick down to the computer installed on.

Though all the above discussed problems are not serious and can easily be dealt by a professional, a simple user may find them impossible to deal all by oneself. Professional help like McAfee Technical Support can easily be availed by the customers facing any problems with McAfee software either online or on phone using McAfee Technical Support Number available 24x7.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6865676

Read More

Closing the Antivirus Protection Gap: A Comparative Study

Corporate economic concerns have put increased pressure on already limited IT resources in recent years as the onslaught of malware and sophistication of cyber attacks continues to grow at exponential rates. As a result, 50% of endpoint operating costs are directly attributable to malware, yet, corporate IT budgets are still focused on maintaining stand alone antivirus as the keystone in endpoint security.

Source: http://www.cio.com/white-paper/731044/Closing_the_Antivirus_Protection_Gap_A_Comparative_Study_on_Effective_Endpoint_Protection_Strategies

Read More

Problems And Solutions With Norton Internet Security

The internet is fraught with lot of malicious code. Even a casual internet surfer can very easily lose an expensive hard drive of his unprotected computer. Norton Internet Security software which is made by Symantec Corporation is among the most popular security programs, it defends your computer from any host of internet dangers. However, every program has its own good points and bad points, even with the best program that you trust most for keeping your computer safe. Norton Internet Security comes with a secure firewall but there are some problems that you should watch out for. In this article you will get to know about some common problem that you face with Norton Firewall.

Mac Security Update

Norton's firewall with the Internet Security 3.0 has caused little problems with a specific update to Mac OS X in 2003. When the July 14, 2003, update was actually applied, some computers could not reboot, and thus the only way to salvage all those computers was to boot it from any other another device, such as the other operating system installation disc. Users with old versions of this software should be little cautious while updating their computer system.

Blocking Internet Access

The Norton firewall will sometimes block certain websites or JavaScript, thinking they are a threat. It can also block browsers. If you receive an error reading "Server not found," Norton may be blocking your browser. "Connect attempt failed" may indicate it is blocking the website you are trying to view. These errors and JavaScript problems can be fixed by adjusting settings inside Norton.

Flaw Requiring Patch

The older versions of the Norton Security program had some flaws which may allow hackers to actually infiltrate your computers. This also included the firewall program. Symantec Company issued a patch through its Live Update service later in the year 2004 in order to fix this issue. If you are also concerned about your version of Norton program then you can also apply the patch through LiveUpdate or even manually.

Solutions

If the Norton Internet Security is not allowing you to access some websites then you can adjust the privacy settings of your computer. You can also change the strength of Norton firewall or you can even disable it temporarily to get access. If Norton Internet Security still continues to give you problems even after being temporarily disabled, in that case you can set the Norton program to start manually. This prevents Windows of your system from loading the program whenever the computer is started.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7187577

Read More

Panda Antivirus Support

Source: allinonetech.net viaAllinOne on Pinterest

Read More