MS Windows Vista Compatible Software

Windows Phone 7 Series emulator “unlocked”

Long Zheng — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:09:13 +0000

It was not a question of if, but when. The Windows Phone 7 Series emulator ROM has been completely unlocked revealing more of the preproduction mobile operating system Microsoft didn’t want you to see.

Dan Ardelean who has been tinkering with the ROM for some time now has published a modified version of the “BIN” file which removes the locks Microsoft’s put in place to hide other components of the ROM.

Although there is definitely a lot to explore, to be devil’s advocate I must remind everyone that Windows Phone 7 Series and this ROM in particular is still a very early piece of work and the components in this emulator demo is not representative of what the final product will be. Play with it, have fun with it, but don’t build expectations on it.

How to remove “User Protection” fake program (Free removal)

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:27:00 +0000

User Protection is a fake anti-virus program from the same family as Dr. Guard and Paladin Antivirus. This fake program reports false threats on your computer and displays fake warnings to make you think that your computer is infected with worms, trojans, spyware, adware and etc. User Protection usually comes from fake online scanners, malicious sites (usually infected online video sites) or through the use of other malicious software.

The rogue program may be also distributed on popular social networks such as Facebook, MySpace or even Twitter. Very often, it comes bundled with rootkits (mainly TDSS rootkit) that's why you should run a full system scan with legitimate and powerful anti-malware program. It's possible to remove User Protection manually too, but manual removal is not recommended.

As a typical rogue anti-virus program, User Protection may block legitimate programs and especially antivirus and anti-malware applications. It also attempts to uninstall legitimate anti-virus software if it founds one on the compromised computer. It tries to uninstall MalwareBytes anti-malware, NOD32 Antivirus, AVG, Avast!, Avira and other better known security programs. The reason is obvious - to protect itself from being uninstalled.

It also uses browser hijacking and disables certain Windows system tools (usually task manager and registry editor). That's a usual behavior. UserProtection impersonates Windows Security Center and states that you should purchase the program in order to protect yourself. The most important thing to remember is that User Protection is a scam, absolutely needless program. It will prompt you to pay for a full version of the program numerous times. Don't buy it! If you have already purchased it, then you should contact your credit card company and dispute the charges while is not too late.

The most important question is of course how to get rid of this infection? Thankfully, there is a way to remove User Protection from a computer for free using legitimate anti-malware programs. Please follow the removal instructions below. If you have any questions, don't hesitate and ask or leave a comment. Good luck and be safe!

User Protection removal instructions:

1. Download the file TDSSKiller.zip and extract it into a folder
2. Execute the file TDSSKiller.exe (NOTE: you may have to rename TDSSKiller.exe to explorer.com yourself or download already renamed explorer.com file in order to run it)
3. Follow the prompts and wait for the scan and disinfection process to be over. Close all programs and press “Y” key to restart your computer.
More detail TDSSKiller tutorial: http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280684
4. Download one of the following anti-malware software and run a full system scan:

5. New threats appear every day. In order to protect your PC from such (new) infections we strongly recommend you to use ESET Smart Security.

User Protection associated files and registry values:

Files:

C:\Documents and Settings\[User]\Start Menu\Programs\User Protection
C:\Program Files\User Protection

Registry:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\SimpleShlExt
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\SimpleShlExt
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\User Protection
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\User Protection
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "User Protection"
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved "{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr" = "1"

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How to remove Security Guard fake program (Free removal)

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:33:00 +0000

Security Guard is a fake antivirus program from the same family as CleanUP Antivirus. Basically, Security Guard is a rename of CleanUP Antivirus with several partial modifications. If you are reading this article then your computer is probably infected with Security Guard virus. Thankfully, you can use free anti-malware applications to remove this infection from your computer for free. Please note, this fake program may block anti-malware applications. That's why you may have to complete several additional steps before installing and running anti-malware software.

You probably already know what Security Guard and where it usually comes from? In short, it's fake antivirus program. Most of the time, it's promoted through the use of trojans or come bundled with other malicious software. Trojans enter a computer through software vulnerabilities without user's consent. That's why you may find comments from other people saying that this fake program just came up like from nowhere. Security Guard is also distributed via fake online scanners, malicious online video sites or even on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and etc.

Once installed, the rogue program simulates a system scan and reports numerous false system security threats to make you think that your computer is infected when actually it's not. It also displays fake warnings about serious security and privacy problems. It may claim that your computer is under attack from a remote computer or that your data might be deleted. Furthermore, Security Guard hijacks Internet Explorer and displays fake warnings about insecure Internet connection. As you can see, it's nothing more but a scam. It goes without saying that you should remove Security Guard from your computer upon detection. Please follow the removal instructions bellow. If you have any questions just leave a comment. Good luck and be safe!

Security Guard removal instructions (method #1):

Download one of the following legitimate anti-malware applications and run a quick system scan. Don’t forget to update it first. All programs a free.

NOTE1: if you can't run any of the above programs you must rename the installer of selected program before saving it on your PC. For example: if you choose MalwareBytes then you have to rename mbam-setup.exe to iexplore.exe, explorer.exe or any random name like test123.exe before saving it.

NOTE2: if you still can't run the renamed file then you need to change file extension too not only the name.
1. Go to "My Computer".
2. Select "Tools" from menu and click "Folder Options".
3. Select "View" tab and uncheck the checkbox labeled "Hide file extensions for known file types". Click OK.
4. Rename mbam-setup.exe to either test123.com or test123.pif
5. Double-click to run renamed file.

Removing Security Guard in Safe Mode with Networking (method #2):

1. Reboot your computer is "Safe Mode with Networking". As the computer is booting tap the "F8 key" continuously which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" as shown below. Use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode with Networking" and press Enter key. Read more detailed instructions here: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm

NOTE: Login as the same user you were previously logged in with in the normal Windows mode.
If you can't reboot your PC in Safe Mode with Networking, download SafeBootKeyRepair and run it. If the rogue program blocks it then download and run this file RenamedSBKRepair. Follow the prompts. Then reboot your PC in Safe Mode with Networking.

2.Download one of the following legitimate anti-malware applications and run a quick system scan. Don’t forget to update it first. All programs a free.

CleanUp Antivirus files and registry values:

Folders and files:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\24.mof
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\mozcrt19.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\SG345d.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\SGD.ico
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SGZIQYEXRD
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SGZIQYEXRD\SGWNLED.cfg
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Security Guard
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\searchplugins\search.xml

Registry values:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\3
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SG345d.DocHostUIHandler
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes "URL" = "http://findgala.com/?&uid=1002&q={searchTerms}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes "URL" = "http://findgala.com/?&uid=1002&q={searchTerms}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer "PRS" = "http://127.0.0.1:27777/?inj=%ORIGINAL%"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download "RunInvalidSignatures" = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent\Post Platform "layout/2.01002"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Security Guard"
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes "URL" = "http://findgala.com/?&uid=1002&q={searchTerms}"

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Windows Phone 7 Series will have copy & paste, eventually

Long Zheng — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:54:55 +0000

Contrary to the controversial report out of Microsoft MIX10 this week that Windows Phone 7 Series will not feature copy & paste functionality, a person close to the den explained that copy & paste is definitely a scenario and feature that the team is putting a lot of thought about and hope to bring to the platform soon after initial release.

Let’s not forget Microsoft already knows at least one way to do copy & paste from Windows Mobile, but this was one of many scenarios they want to refine to fit in the context of their new user experience which already has a lot of “smarts” for automatically connecting data between applications – for example, detecting and hotlinking addresses in emails to Bing Maps.

As it turns out, the development team actually knows exactly how they will be implementing copy & paste in WP7S but did not believe it could be implemented without affecting the release schedule they’ve committed to and therefore will be including it in an update down the road.

I’m sure they can deliver it sooner than Apple did it (2 years).

Earlier concepts of Metro in Windows Phone 7 Series

Long Zheng — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:23:36 +0000

A number of concept screenshots of early Metro concepts for Windows Phone 7 Series was published in the slides of the “Windows Phone UI and Design Language” session at Microsoft MIX10 this week giving us a rare peek into what Metro could have been.

If one thing’s for sure, large fonts and a text-driven layout was a sure-thing since the beginning. It appears they experimented with a much larger time display and diagonal-placed controls which look kind of cool but one could imagine to be a usability nightmare. Take a look for yourself.

New Windows Phone 7 Series promo from MIX10

Long Zheng — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:34:54 +0000

[See post to watch Flash video]

If a woman walking down a street didn’t do it for you, then a new Windows Phone 7 Series promotional video with a stronger emphasis on end-to-end scenarios was shown off at a Microsoft MIX10 session this week.

This Star Trek-inspired video takes you in to the lives of Anna and Miles, two made-up “life maximizer” personalities that the WP7S team uses to craft their product for. Scenarios demonstrated in the video includes taking and sharing a photo, playing games, messaging, social networking, searching and navigation. These guys obviously have a lot of free time.

Remove Total XP Security - TotalXPSecurity Removal Instructions

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:16:00 +0000

Total XP Security is fake security application that is considered to be more annoying then dangerous. Though, you do not want to relax and should try to remove this without doubt nasty application from your PC, and here is why. Well, from the very beginning, Total XP Security becomes absolutely helpless, but interesting thing about it, that you would not notice it is not profitable. Total XP Security will run the fake scan of your Operating System, and will surely find various infections there. It goes with no saying that such results are just a globule that doesn’t help at all. It only forces us to think so, but indeed is not beneficial. What is more, during its existence on your PC Total XP Security is going to send nag security warning recently and pop them up all over your computer. Does not matter whether you choose to ignore them, or to follow theirs’ instruction you would feel the great impact of their nasty work. The best way to get rid of many troubles is to get rid of Total XP Security and to draw a boundary line between your computers and such abominable infection as Total XP Security. Be careful, and do not listen to Total XP Security’s advises and promises as they are doubtfully serviceable or consequential. As you can see Total XP Security is not the protection you need and moreover is not a shield that will help. For these reasons we advise to remove Total XP Security immediately.

Type: Rogue Anti-Spyware
Malware Author: Unknown
Threat Level: Critical

Total XP Security Automatical Removal Tool

How to remove Total XP Security manually:

It's possible to remove Total XP Security manually, but you have to be very experienced in dealing with registry entries, program files and .dll files.

The files to be deleted:

av.exe

Remove registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “%1? %*
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “%1? %*
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “%1? %*
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “%1? %*
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “firefox.exe”
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “firefox.exe” -safe-mode
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “iexplore.exe”
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center “AntiVirusOverride” = “1?
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center “FirewallOverride” = “1?

Please be careful because manual removal of Total XP Security may seriously damage operational system and sensitive data. Also there is a big possibility of incomplete removal, because some files could be hidden and program could re-install itself after you delete files and registry entries. So we strongly recommend you to use automatical removal tool.

New “delights” in Windows Phone 7 Series

Long Zheng — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:56:34 +0000

As a great example Microsoft is still tweaking and crafting the Windows Phone 7 Series experience, a couple of new subtle yet “delightful” UI features was actually added to the build of the OS they’re showing off this week at the MIX10 conference.

The first of which in case some people are not very good at “spot the difference” and haven’t noticed what you’re suppose to be looking at is the new “Messaging” tile which has an emoticon that appears when you receive a new message. If that wasn’t delightful enough, it also changes as you receive more text messages – from a smile to a wink to a gasp.

Of course this demo build changes the emoticon with quite a small margin and this will be padded out in the final release, although I’m sure heavy SMS users will trigger all of the emoticons without a sweat.

The other change that has been implemented is “tile flipping”. Best illustrated with an example, tiles like a contact pinned to the Start screen will at times flip on its back like a card to reveal messages which in this demo is a Facebook status update.

I think this is a great idea to bring even more “life” into the already “live tiles” that exposes highly contextual information from services like a social network without any input or effort from the user. Delightful indeed.

Microsoft’s applications on Windows Phone 7 Series not Silverlight-based

Long Zheng — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:51:07 +0000

Following a lead from a xda-developers.com forum thread whose users have analyzed the Windows Phone 7 Series emulator ROM with CSI-like forensics, a question that is now obvious in retrospect was raised, “are Microsoft’s own applications on Windows Phone 7 Series based on the same development platform it exposes to third parties, Silverlight?”

As I found out today at MIX10 the short answer is no, but having said, there is a legitimate explanation.

The reason the “default” applications on Windows Phone 7 Series are not built on Silverlight is actually a very straightforward technical problem, the applications were simultaneously developed with the platform and tools when they committed to building the operating system from scratch.

Having said that, neither users or developers should be concerned as Microsoft assures this will be no disadvantage to third parties.

In terms of performance, they state there is no discernible difference in the processing or rendering speed of third party applications. On the other hand, the breadth of APIs could have some differences but developers of other smartphone platforms like the iPhone face this too. Microsoft vows to surface additional APIs if developers voiced their needs.

Microsoft wasn’t able to confirm or deny the use of the “Iris” or UIX framework, but references to UIX in the ROM dump would strongly suggest so. Appropriately, Rafael Rivera is starting a series of posts that dives into the technicalities of Iris.

How to remove “Attention! 22 threats found!” warning (Free removal)

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:31:00 +0000

"Attention! 22 threats found!" is a fake warning that comes from the rogue anti-virus program called Antivirus 7. The fake program may report more or less threats, but don't worry about that because all reported threats are false. Fake security alert is the first sign of malware infection. In this case, if you see Attention! 22 threats found! fake alert then your computer is infected with Antivirus 7 scareware (it's actually a trojan virus that pretends to be a legitimate antivirus program).

So, what you should do next? Well, first of all you should read Antivirus 7 removal instructions. Please note that stopping "Attention! 22 threats found!" fake alert alone won't solve your problem. Fake alert is a part of malware infection. Besides, there might be additionally installed malware on your computer that may come bundled with Antrivirus 7. If Antivirus 7 removal instructions fails then you will have to perform additional steps in order to clean your PC. If you have any questions, don't hesitate ans ask or just post a comment. Good luck and be safe!

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How to Remove Trojan without Installation of any Antivirus Software?

magakos — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:57:00 +0000

Trojan is basically a software program that can perform enviable functions on your computer. In addition to this, it offers the facility to intruders to easily access your system. Trojans can get entry into your system from many methods, such as e-mail attachments, software downloads, etc.
Once any Trojan gets entry into your system, it allows remote access of your system to hacker. After getting access to your system, hacker can perform various tasks like, stealing your confidential information, installation of software, deletion or modification of files, keystroke logging, etc.
You can scan your system with Windows Live OneCare safety scanner in order to get information about malicious programs installed on your system. This scanner consists of various scan types and you can select any scan for your system. Its protection scan will check your system for Trojans viruses and other malicious software.
In addition to this, it will check for the open ports of your computer, which can make your system more vulnerable to online threats. After scanning, it will produce a report, which contains the number of files scanned, the number of infected files found, the type of infection and virus name, the number of common open ports, etc.
Another scan type of Windows Live OneCare safety scanner is clean up scan, which will find out the redundant temporary files of your system. Tune up scan will provide you the information about your hard disk drive. After scanning your system with Windows Live OneCare safety scanner, you can remove Trojans with Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool.
This tool can check the systems running Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 for infections and can also remove these infections. When its detection and removal process gets complete, it will display a report, which will contain information about all the malicious software detected and removed.

Internet Explorer 9 takes the lead, again, for now

Long Zheng — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:40:27 +0000

About six months ago at Microsoft PDC09, Dean Hachamovitch revealed Internet Explorer 9 for the first time and teased a relatively new browser rendering technique based on Direct2D, at the time. Barely weeks after, Mozilla also showed off their implementation of Direct2D rendering in a nightly build of Firefox.

Now at MIX10 Microsoft once again showed off a bunch of groundbreaking new (performance) features but I’m now skeptical second time coming if they’ll be as innovative when it eventually ships. Remember, even Internet Explorer 8 took the lead in terms of performance, when it was announced too.

In a press briefing I asked Dean if they fear the new features they showed off today could be implemented by other browsers that ship sooner, he responded “the Windows API is very rich” and he supports other applications who take advantage of them.

Of course this shouldn’t take away the fact that when Internet Explorer 9 will be great for end-users and the web as a whole when it finally ships, but by that time, it might be back right where it started – catching up to what is easily the fastest evolving industry in the world with an update cycle that doesn’t match.

CONSUMER CHAMPION

magakos — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:17:00 +0000

Be wary when using PayPal abroad

One of PayPal’s (www.paypal.co.uk) security checks when account holders make an online payment is to monitor unusual activity or use of the account. If PayPal spots suspicious activity, it sometimes temporarily freezes the account, leaving legitimate users frustrated. PayPal account holders need to be especially wary when using the service abroad. Some people have complained that after using PayPal while on holiday, they’ve returned home to find their account suspended and the payment reversed – because they made the payment from an IP address they’ve not used before. PayPal can capture the IP address of account logins and can build a pattern of behaviour if an account tends to log in from the same IP or group of IPs. Web User spoke to PayPal, which confirmed that using its service abroad can trigger the temporary freezing of an account. “If a user logs in or tries to send money from a location around the world that is unusual for the account – for example, if they were a British account holder and have transacted with PayPal for three years from a British IP only – then they try to log in from a holiday hotel room in Bali to buy a digital camera, this might prompt a security check for suspicious behaviour,” said a PayPal spokeswoman. Although this type of scenario can lead to an account being frozen, the spokeswoman said: “In most cases a user will be asked a few short security questions in order to ‘unfreeze’ the account so they can continue with their login.” These questions appear on-screen during the login process when the customer tries to make a purchase. Further advice on how to stay safe online when using PayPal for buying or selling on the internet can be found at www.paypal.co.uk/securitycentre.

Source of Information : WebUser February 11 2010

Live from Microsoft MIX10 Day 2 Keynote liveblog

Long Zheng — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:25:08 +0000

We’ve survived Las Vegas and it’s day 2 of Microsoft’s MIX10 conference. The word of the day is “Internet Explorer” and the number is 9.

To bring you the event live, join Ed Bott, Mary Jo Foley, Kip Kniskern, Benjamin Rubenstein, Paul Thurrott and myself in our hallmark group liveblog. Audience participation will be enabled by default so feel free to ask questions and provide your thoughts on the announcements live.

How to Make your Computer Fit and Healthy?

magakos — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:47:00 +0000

At times your computer behaves strangely like, taking much time in launching applications, automatically shutting down, hard disk becomes inaccessible, etc. Under such circumstances, it is required that you should go for proper computer repair services.
In past some days, I was in need of taking technical support from a service provider. Then one of my friends suggested me to subscribe to iYogi’s computer repair services. . After accessing their exceptional tech support services, All I got was a fast performing computer running as fast as the first time I bought it.
Features
You will receive a lot of services while accessing online support for computer repair. Some of them are enlisted as:
• Installation, re-installation, and un-installation of software
• Diagnostic & repair of the hardware issues
• Troubleshooting software errors
• Optimizing your PC’s speed and performance
• Resolving driver conflicts
• Resolving Internet browsing problems
After accessing online support for your computer, it will become fit and healthy once again.
Usability
When you will subscribe to remote support for repairing your computer, then you just have to give your permission to access your system to its tech expert. After accessing your system, tech expert will diagnose your technical issues; and will carry out the necessary steps, in order to resolve your technical issues.
Limitation
If you opt for remote support for computer repair, then you do not have to take pain of transportation. But in on-site support, you either have to carry your system to any service centre or you have to call any technician at your premises.
At last, I suggest you to take remote support from iYogi Technical Services, because it offers unlimited support in a fixed price.

Microsoft says Windows Phone 7 Series Marketplace will be “objective”

Long Zheng — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:21:40 +0000

As news came out of Microsoft MIX10 that application deployment on Windows Phone 7 Series will be limited to only the Marketplace, question marks started lighting up on what side-effects this might have on third-party application developments on the platform. I took the chance to clear up some of those concerns in a meeting with a Microsoft representative today.

An obvious point of concern that stems from this announcement is the fact that Microsoft will inherit more “control” over what applications can be deployed to end-users and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to draw a comparison to the Apple App Store who also inherit a similar “power”.

To avoid falling into the same trap Apple is now continuously drawing criticism for “banning” applications, Microsoft insists its Marketplace is already and will be more “objective”. Like today, Microsoft will be publish criteria for WP7S developers that they claim will not only guide developers on what’s “allowed” but also allow them to test themselves if they will pass the certification process.

Furthermore Microsoft states if applications “meet the criteria” they won’t deny any applications on subjective grounds. For example, even though WP7S has a strong emphasis on good application design and Microsoft will publish style guides for developers, the Marketplace certification process will not have any power to stop applications that don’t meet the guideline or, frankly, look ugly. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” as they put it.

Finally, developers who are looking to beta test their applications to a wider audience than themselves and enterprises can look forward to changes to the Marketplace “later this spring” that will allow private distributions of applications to support both beta and enterprise scenarios. The Microsoft representative hinted at a method to “unlock” Windows Phone 7 Series devices, although not easily, but presumed will allow loading applications using a USB cable.

Windows Update-like service coming to Windows Phone 7 Series

Long Zheng — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:22:40 +0000

In a meeting today with Todd Brix, Senior Director for Windows Phone Product Management at Microsoft MIX10 he revealed that Microsoft will be delivering a Windows Update-like service for all Windows Phone 7 Series phones. As many Windows Mobile users would agree in saying, “about time”.

The update service in WP7S is designed to give users improvements to the operating system quickly and reliably. It will be prioritized first on delivering performance, stability and performance improvements and when appropriate, both in terms of new software trends and hardware capabilities, the update service will also be pushing out new features and additional functionality.

Microsoft will reveal what users should expect in terms of update schedules closer to retail availability but there will be a combination of both small and large updates as well as structured and out-of-band updates.

Coming from a mobile operating system which requires flashing the “ROM”, this is a big investment and improvement for Microsoft who seems to have all the right cards to the best hand in the mobile industry.

How to remove Worm.Win32.Netsky (Free removal)

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:46:00 +0000

Worm.Win32.Netsky is a fake infection, false system security threat. Another commonly reported fake infection is Win32.Netsky.Q. You may find some references of infections called W32.Netsky or Email-Worm.Win32.NetSky on the Internet. These infections are real, but please note that "Worm.Win32.Netsky" is not related to them. It's fake infection that appears on fake security warnings that usually come from fake (rogue) anti-virus programs.

This fake alert may come in various forms. It is used by newly created malware, so there are many new fake alerts every day that reports Worm.Win32.Netsky infection in compromised infections. Usually, fake security warning appears with the following title:

"Security alert
Security Warning!
Worm.Win32.Netsky detected on your machine"

And it may look like this fake warning in the image below.

If you area reading this article, then your computer is probably infected with trojans or rogue program that display fake Worm.Win32.Netsky infection. Thankfully, there is a way to remove this infection from your computer for free using legitimate anti-malware programs.

Also note that trojan viruses that display this fake infection my also change your desktop background and disable Windows system tools such as Task Manager and Registry Editor or even block antivirus programs. That's why you will have to end malicious process related to Worm.Win32.Netsky first. That would be: winlogon86.exe and winupdate86.exe. Of course, there might be other malicious processes too, but these are most common ones. Now, please follow the removal instructions below. If you have any questions, don't hesitate and ask or leave a comment if you have something valuable to add. Good luck and be safe!

Worm.Win32.Netsky removal instructions:

1. Download iexplore.exe (NOTE: iexplore.exe file is renamed HijackThis tool from TrendMicro).
Launch the iexplore.exe and click "Do a system scan only" button.
If you can't open iexplore.exe file then download explorer.scr and run it.

2. Search for such entries in the scan results:
F2 – REG:system.ini: Shell=Explorer.exe logon.exe
F2 – REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon86.exe
O4 – HKLM\..\Run: [winupdate86.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\winupdate86.exe
Select all such entries and click once on the "Fix checked" button. Close HijackThis tool.

3. Download the file LSPFix.zip and extract it into a folder on your PC.
Launch LSPFix. Place a tick in the "I know what I'm doing".
In the KEEP box select winhelper86.dll and press ">>" button.
Press Finish>> button. Wait while LSPFix removes winhelper86.dll and displays a summary. Press OK.

4. Download one of the following legitimate anti-malware applications and run a quick system scan. Don’t forget to update it first. All programs a free.

Worm.Win32.Netsky files and registry values:

Files:

C:\windows\system32\winhelper86.dll
C:\windows\system32\winupdate86.exe
C:\windows\system32\winlogon86.exe
C:\windows\system32\AVR10.exe
C:\windows\system32\critical_warning.html

Registry keys and values:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\winupdate86.exe

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Going with Google Sites

magakos — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:01:00 +0000

Many clubs and organisations find it difficult to find the funds and expertise to put their communities on the web. I have started using Google Sites (http://sites.google.com) to build websites for various sports leagues and clubs associated with Crown Green Bowls. The sites I’ve made include www.scgba.co.uk, www.midshropbowls.com and www.albrightonbowls.co.uk.Google Sites offers the same benefits that many professional sites with secure pages enjoy, such as to allow officials of the organisation to enter and maintain their own pages. It also lets individual members of the organisation access competition entry forms, minutes of meetings and that kind of thing. This vastly reduces the admin cost of the organisation concerned and increases the efficiency of communication. There is no specialist software or skills required and it is all absolutely free. Google allows the addition of a domain name to give the site a professional feel. And, unlike similar sites, you don’t have to host its adverts, though you can optionally allow Google AdSense adverts, which will bring in revenue for the organisation. Madmax58, via Webuser.co.uk/

Source of Information : WebUser February 11 2010

PC Build Recommendations

jaysonrowe — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:47:53 +0000

I am often asked by friends and colleagues to make hardware recommendations for a new PC. PC Building has long been a hobby of mine, and something I think I will always love. I love keeping up with the latest that the hardware manufacturers have to offer, even if I’m not in the market to build a machine.

Even though I’m no AanandTech or Tom’s Hardware with hardware manufacturers sending me awesome gadgets to benchmark and make build recommendations off of, I decided to put together a few recommended builds for my readers. I will “spec out” 7 different machines for you:

Intel Power Build

AMD Power Build

Intel Mainstream Build

AMD Mainstream Build

Intel Budget Build

AMD Budget Build

The “Bare-bones Budget” Build

All of the entries should be fairly self explanatory, however I want to explain that the “Bare-Bones Budget” build will be just that – what I feel is the cheapest possible, usable, modern computer one could get away with at the time of writing.

These builds are simply for the computer only. I’m not including Monitors or any peripherals such as Keyboards and Mice. I’m also not including the OS or any software. These are all very personal choices and thing you are all educated enough to choose what best meets your needs in these areas.

First things first, let’s start with the drool educing “Intel Power Build”

So, let’s get started with the Intel Power Build. This is not a collection of the higest end of the highest end parts available (if so, I’d have the new Hexacore chip on here). This is a machine that is as affordable as possible, and a machine that will provide excellent performance to a power user such as a Musician, Videographer, Photographer or Developer. This is a balanced machine that will not only be fast, quiet and stable as well.

CPU
Intel Core i7 930 (2.8GHz Stock Speed)
I chose the 930 simply because it’s a nice little speed bump above the very popular 920. It’s a fairly new CPU and will provide a touch better raw CPU performance for those who choose not to overclock. Also, be sure to pick up a XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler and it’s Core i5/i7 Bracket Kit for optimal cooling, and best Turbo Boost performance

Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD5
I have long been a fan of Gigabyte motherboards, although I’ve had good experiences with ASUS as well. Honestly, I tend to lean towards Gigabyte for Intel Builds, and ASUS for AMD builds. As for this board, it’s a solid board built on the 5th Generation Gigabyte Ultra-Durable design and has USB3.0 and SATA 3.0 (6Gbps).

Memory
Patriot Extreme Performance Viper Series 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
I really only included memory here for completeness – honestly, memory prices change so rapidly, please simply research and find yourself the best 12GB kit with 1.5V and a low CAS rating. This is CAS 7 at 1.5V and rated at DDR3 1333. I have had good experiences with Patriot memory in the past, and have no problems recommending this kit.

Boot Drive
WD SiliconEdge Blue 128GB
Honestly, I almost didn’t even include an SSD, simply because I still don’t quite feel that the technology has fully matured. Honestly, you could keep this off if you needed to save $450, and add one later as the technology matures more. SSD’s are a very complicated technology, and there are lots of variables that affect performance. I recently read a nice review on these WD devices on Anandtech (who has the best SSD articles on the web) and it seemed like a solid, and safe pick. Another good option would be one of the OCZ devices or the Intel drives. Your mileage may vary depending on your usage patterns. Option 2 for me would be a 300GB WD VelociRaptor 10,000RPM HDD.

Storage Drives
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb (x2/RAID-1)
This is the latest incarnation of Western Digital’s awesome Caviar Black series drives. You still get the awesome performance from the dual controllers, plus it’s been upgraded to SATA 3.0 and 64MB of Cache. For ultimate stability, substitute this drive with the Western Digital RE3 WD1002FBYS 1TB – slightly lower performance, but it’s designed for RAID use.

Optical Drive
LG Black 10X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Disc Combo Model UH10LS20
Any modern system at least needs the ability to read Blu-ray disks. This is an excellent LD drive with a 4MB cache buffer and also serves as DVD/R-RW drive. You may double for extra pleasure (some folks prefer 2 optical drives, although I would just go for one personally).

Graphics Adapter
GIGABYTE GV-R577UD-1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0
Although this isn’t a “gaming” system, it still needs a decent card – something that would handle casual gaming as well as excel in HD video playback. The ATI 5770 GPU gives everything you would need, and it’s Gigabyte since the Mobo was Gigabyte and I’m anal retentive about stuff like that

Power Supply
CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W Modular PSU
Corsair makes an Awesome PSU, however you can’t go wrong with Antec, PC Power & Cooling as well as several other brands. This guy has a peak output of 750W, a massive 60A 12V Rail (Single Rail) and is modular. Personally, I prefer a beefy single 12V rail over multiple rails. Just remember, this is often a rookie mistake, never skimp or cheap-out on your PSU.

Case
Antec P183
Computer cases are kind of a personal choice – everyone has different tastes. You can’t go wrong with almost anything from Antec, their enclosures are always of highest quality – across all price points. The P183 is a nice mainstream tower with is well designed, easy to work with, quiet and will provide ample cooling.

And there you have it. Priced out on NewEgg.com at the time of writing this, the machine above would run you $2259 before shipping. This would be an excellent development box, digital audio workstation, as well as a graphics or video workstation. Sure there are higher end parts available, however I feel the above is an excellent mix of price and performance without going completely overboard. My only hesitation would be on the SSD drive – I personally might would swap that out for a 300GB VelociRaptor 10K RPM drive and then add a SSD in later, but it’s up to you – it’s your build, enjoy!

TOP TIPS FOR USING THE WINDOWS CLIPBOARD

magakos — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:55:00 +0000

Clipboard enhancement
The Windows clipboard is a very useful tool for copying things (text, images, hyperlinks, files and much more) and pasting them elsewhere. The most obvious use for the clipboard is for copying and pasting text in a word processor like Word or WordPad, but the copy and paste function in almost every program makes use of the clipboard. It also works between programs, so you can copy text from a web browser and paste it into a spreadsheet. Of course, the program you are pasting into needs to be able to use the item you’re pasting – you can’t paste an image into Windows Notepad, for example.

Add a clipboard gadget
The clipboard has one irritating limitation – you can only use it to copy one item at a time. If you copy another item, it will replace anything you’ve currently got in the clipboard. Wouldn’t it be useful to be able to copy several things and then select the one you want to paste? There’s a gadget for Windows 7 and Vista that does exactly this. Go to http://bit.ly/exptips1233 and install Clipboard Manager. If it doesn’t immediately appear, right-click the Desktop and select Gadgets (in Windows 7), or start the Sidebar (in Vista), and add it. Clipboard Manager shows the most recent items that were copied to the clipboard and you can click any of them to make it current – the one that’ll be pasted into a program. The size of the gadget limits the number of clipboard items that are visible but clicking the More link at the top shows all the items – 250 by default but up to 999 if you want to configure it.

Copy multiple items in Firefox
If you are browsing the web using Firefox and you want to copy some text, you can highlight it with the mouse and then press Ctrl+C. You can then switch to another program and press Ctrl+V to paste it in. If there are several items on the web page you want to copy, you could repeat the process or, better still, copy them all in one go. Click and drag over the first block of text to select it and then hold down the Ctrl key as you click and drag over other blocks of text on the page. When you’ve selected everything, press Ctrl+C and all the selected blocks are copied to the clipboard and can be pasted elsewhere.

Automatic copy in Chrome
If you copy a lot of text from web pages, you should use Google Chrome with the AutoCopy extension. Select any text on the page and it is automatically copied to the clipboard, without you having to click a menu or press a key. It’s even better when used with the Clipboard Manager gadget because you can browse the web, selecting text as you go, and each item will automatically be copied to the clipboard and stored. You can then browse through all the items and copy and paste them afterwards. To install extensions, you need Google Chrome Beta 4 (www.google.com/landing/chrome/beta). Then download the AutoCopy extension from www.chromeextensions.org/utilities/autocopy.

Take the clipboard with you
If you use more than one computer, either at home or between home and work, you might find it useful to have a single clipboard manager to use on both. Visual Clipboard (www.visualclipboard.com/download.html) does this, and comes in a portable version. Just unzip the file and put it on a USB memory drive. When the program is run, it restores all the items you copied to the clipboard, no matter which PC you copied them on. Hold down Ctrl and click the mouse or press Ctrl+Alt+V to display the Visual Clipboard window and then select the item you want to paste from a list. A small Desktop widget shows the current clipboard text and you can click the icon to display the clipboard history.

More clipboard tools
There are many more clipboard tools and they all have a slightly different set of features and functions. Some will be more suitable for your particular needs than others, so try them out and see which you like best. Here are just some of the tools you can try: Clipdiary (http://clipdiary.com/karpolan2.php), ClipMate Clipboard Exender (www.thornsoft.com), PasteCopy.NET (www.pastecopy.net) and xNeat Clipboard Manager (www.xneat.com/clipboardmanager).

Source of Information : WebUser February 11 2010

Green Nature Wallpaper Pack 2560×1600

silfiriel — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:45:00 +0000

Green Wallpapers 2560x1600

Click an image to download

Or download all wallpapers in one rar pack.

Improve your FIREWALL protection

magakos — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:49:00 +0000

Is your firewall giving your non system the strongest security possible? Petra Jones suggests 10 smart ways to make the most of firewall software

Get a free firewall
Firewall software is essential for keeping your PC safe from hackers, viruses and other malware, but you don’t necessarily have to pay for the protection. Several powerful firewalls are available for free, including Outpost Firewall Free (http://free.agnitum.com) and Online Armor Firewall (www.tallemu.com). If you’re not sure which is the best firewall for you, visit the Security Focus site (www.securityfocus.com) for an in-depth article about what to look for when choosing a firewall. You can also read our reviews of free and paid-for firewall software at http://bit.ly/fire233.

Turn on your built-in firewall
Most operating systems now come with a built-in firewall. If you use Windows XP, go to http://bit.ly/ xpfire233 and click the Fix It logo to activate the Windows Firewall using Microsoft’s wizard. Similar pages are available for Vista (http://bit.ly/vistafire233) and Windows 7 (http://bit.ly/win7fire233). However, we only recommend using the Windows Firewall as a temporary solution because it doesn’t offer the same level of security as third-party software and there are much better alternatives available for free. Mac OS X users also have a built-in firewall they can take advantage of. Download the free tool NoobProof (www.hanynet.com/noobproof) to set up and configure your Mac’s firewall.

Search for rootkits
Firewalls protect your PC from the moment you install them, but it’s worth checking whether any rootkits are already lurking on your system. These are hidden programs designed to provide someone with root (administrator) level access to your PC, usually for malicious purposes. Sophos Anti-Rootkit (http://bit.ly/sophos233) is a free tool that will detect and remove these nasties. Download the software to scan your Windows Registry, local hard disks and system processes.

Test your firewall
If you’re not sure whether your existing firewall is protecting you adequately, why not test it online for free? GRC Shields Up (http://bit.ly/grc233) checks whether your ports are adequately protected by scanning your PC for vulnerabilities. The website also offers some general firewall security advice. Another online firewall checker is SecurityMetrics (http://bit.ly/secure233). This also offers a port test and sends you recommendations for improving your firewall configuration via email. Finally, AuditMyPC (www.auditmypc.com/firewalltest.asp) offers a thorough test of either one or a range of ports to check your firewall’s effectiveness.

Optimise your firewall Configuration
Rather than testing your firewall’s ability to protect your PC, Firewall Auditor (www.fwauditor.com) checks that the software meets the 15 firewall-specific requirements of the PCI Security Standards Council (https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org). Firewall Auditor is free to download but is limited to Cisco, Check Point and Juniper firewalls. Alternatively, there’s Athena Firewall (www.athenasecurity.net), which has support for Netscreen firewalls. There are also commercial tools, such as Nipper (www.titania.co.uk), which audits network switches and routers as well as a wide range of firewalls.

Get a firewall for your mobile phone
Firewalls aren’t just for computers – they can now protect your phone and other mobile devices. MCleaner (www.mcleaner.com) offers a free trial of a firewall that filters incoming calls and text messages according to phone numbers and keywords. Designed to block junk texts and annoying callers, this compact 200KB firewall works on a wide range of mobiles, including the iPhone (see www.mcleaner.com/support .shtml). The full version costs $11.99 (around £7.37). Another option is ProtectStar Mobile Firewall (www.protectstar.com), which is aimed at Windows Pocket PCs and smartphones. Visit http://bit.ly/protect233 to get a 10-day free trial.

Get a USB firewall
If you frequently use PCs while away from home, why not get a firewall you can take with you wherever you go? Yoggie Firewall Pico (www.yoggie.com/Firewall-Pico) is a hardware firewall in the form of a small USB device that is capable of isolating a PC from public hotspots and internet connections. The Firewall Pico costs £60 but is limited to Windows Vista and XP. The same manufacturer also sells an all-in-one USB firewall, anti-virus and spyware stick for Mac users. This is called Gatekeeper Pico and is priced at £100.

Set up a VPN
To create a secure connection to an office PC or other network, you need a virtual private network (VPN) that protects your information from being intercepted while it’s in transit between firewall-protected PCs. It’s worth spending time evaluating VPN tools to get software that offers you the right level of encryption. In the meantime, you can download the free VPN client Ultra (https://www.ultravpn.fr). As with firewalls, VPNs are also available as USB sticks, such as the flash drive from SurfBouncer (www.surfbouncer.com). Remember to check that your firewall doesn’t already come with a VPN included.

Get wireless firewall protection
Mi-Fi (intelligent mobile) hotspots provide up to five wireless mobile devices with both an internet connection and firewall protection, whether they’re laptops, netbooks or mobile phones. To use them, ,buy a Mi-Fi router such as the Novatel 2532 (www.novatelwireless.com). Only slightly larger than a credit card, this comes with both a firewall and VPN installed. The 2532 is priced around £209.99 including VAT and is available on T-Mobile (www.t-mobile.co.uk). A cheaper option is 3’s Huawei E5830 Mi-Fi wireless modem (http://bit.ly/mifi233), which is available for £69.99 on pay-as-you-go with a 3GB data allowance and includes VPN and firewall support.

Monitor your traffic
Firewalls are great at protecting PCs but they’re often less effective at revealing the patterns of incoming and outgoing traffic between your PC and the internet. To find out which trusted programs are getting online through your firewall, download the free tool NetLimiter 2 Monitor (www.netlimiter.com). This analyses the web traffic on your PC and provides a list of all applications communicating with the internet, along with their connection and transfer rates, and any hidden apps.

Source of Information : WebUser February 11 2010

Remove “Identity theft attempt detected” fake warning (Free removal)

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:54:00 +0000

"Warning! Identity theft attempt detected" is a fake security warning from the rogue anti-virus program called Antivirus7. It's a typical fake security alert. In this case it claims that your Antivirus 7 has detected an identity theft attempt from a remote computer. Obviously that's not true. It just wants to make you think that your computer is under attack and that you need to purchase Antivirus 7 scareware in order to protect yourself. If you see this "Warning! Identity theft attempt detected" or similar warnings on your PC then you are infected with malware. Please read Antivirus 7 removal instructions and remove this infection from your computer for free as soon as possible. Good luck and be safe!

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Remove “WARNING WINDOWS SECURITY CENTER!” alert ransomware (Free removal)

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:52:00 +0000

"WARNING WINDOWS SECURITY CENTER ! DANGEROUS TROJANS, KEYLOGGERS AND SPYWARES DETECTED IN YOUR COMPUTER !!!" is a fake warning (ransomware) that is used to promote the rogue antivirus program called Security Tool. The main goal of this malware is obvious - to make you think that your computer is infected with trojans, keyloggers and other spyware. The fake warning reads:

"WARNING WINDOWS SECURITY CENTER ! DANGEROUS TROJANS, KEYLOGGERS AND SPYWARES DETECTED IN YOUR COMPUTER !!!

For Security of your data computer is locked... To unlock your computer buy the antispyware software below and remove all viruses as soon as possible. In case trojans are not removed from your computer in 3 hours, all data in the computer will deleted. Enter the serial number you are given after buying the antispyware below and unlock your computer and clean the spywares"

Security Tool ransomware video: (thanks to rogueamp)

As you can see, this fake warning claims that you will lost all your data if you won't remove trojan viruses with Security Tool. Of course, that's not true. This is nothing more but a scam. Don't buy Security Tool. Otherwise you will simply lose your money. If you already bought it then you should contact your credit card company and dispute the charges. Enter any serial number with 12 or more characters to remove this ransomware from your screen. Then you should run a full system scan with legitimate anti-malware software to remove the infection. Read removal recommendations below.

Thanks to S!Ri h for the information. Original article http://siri-urz.blogspot.com/2010/03/security-tool-ransomware.html

Removal recommendation:

Download one of the following legitimate anti-malware applications and run a quick system scan. Don’t forget to update it first. All programs a free.