What Next?

We have covered the basics of how to get started with protecting your computer from malware. This second part will help you level up and make sure that you don't just stay updated and fix any vulnerabilities in your computer; it will teach you how to put in a security system that will help detect these things and prevent them from being installed into your computer.

Installing an Anti-Virus Software

Viruses come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so it is important that you have something to help you identify these. You will find a good number of free Anti-Virus Software that you can download online. These are easy to put in and most will have guides to help you with the process. You need to make sure that you install just one kind (it will be enough to protect your system). Contrary to what others think, putting in more than one anti-virus software will not give your computer added protection; it may actually compromise the safety of the system and prevent the detection of these viruses. In more severe cases the entire operating system may have to be reinstalled.

Installing an Anti-Malware Software

Since Malware is not limited to just viruses, you need to put in extra protection. Spyware, Trojan horses, rootkits, adware and keyloggers can all easily get in. Again, you will be able to find a good amount of free malware software that you can download for free online. In the same way as anti-virus software, these are easy to install and you only need to put in one kind to safeguard your computer.

Putting in a Firewall

Your computer is a like a home that needs fence around it to keep all the bad things out. A firewall acts like a barrier to make sure that malware and hackers cannot get through when you connect to the internet. Basically it works by filtering the connections and allowing safe ones from trusted sources to push through while blocking out harmful ones. Some computers come with hardware firewalls built into the routers. If you do not have one of these you can install a software firewall. In fact you can use this even if you do have a hardware firewall, but make sure you only put in one software firewall. Like all the other software you will be able to get free downloadable firewall software online.

Staying Away From Malicious Sites

Lastly, aside from making sure that your computer is equipped with software to keep out malware, you also have to avoid websites that may contain these. If you have trouble telling malicious sites from legitimate ones, a Site Advisor can be installed to help warn you when you are about to open a potential attack site. You can also use Google Crome (Google's new internet browser) which stops you from going to sites that have malware installed or have been malware infected.

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I think it is safe to assume that the places you visit on the Internet will determine which programs are installed on your PC. Let me put it this way, the software installed on your computer will have some relevance to the sites you often visit. Lets take a few examples, when you are using Gmail, chances are good that you will have Gmail Notifier or GoogleTalk installed on your PC. When you often visit Yahoo.com or take part in their social networks, chances are good that you will have Yahoo! Toolbar or Yahoo! Messenger installed on your PC. Lets take a more practical example, users visiting Microsoft.com most probably have packages like Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows XP installed on their computers. It is likely for supporters of the Open Source Initiative to hang out on sites like OpenSource.org, OpenOffice.com, Linux.org or SpreadFirefox.com. So your software preferences play a huge role in the type of web sites you visit and vice versa.

But what has this to do with malware infections? To be honest, everything! Let me show you what the top culprits of malware infections are and it will soon be clear to you what the connection is between the web sites you visit and the malware found on your PC.

Top culprit number 1: Pornographic web sites

Download Spyware Blaster by JavaCool Software and have a look at all the porn related web sites blocked by this program. It is also remarkable to see how many computers with traces of pornographic web sites in their browser history, are often infected with spyware and trojan horses. Unfortunately you will have innocent victims of malware infections, also with traces of pornographic web sites in their browser history, but only because the malware redirected them to these sites. However, people with pornographic material on their computers are not that innocent in this case, pornography does not go out looking for people, people go out looking for pornography.

Top culprit number 2: Illegal music (MP3) and movie downloading sites

These sites normally force you to install special downloading software on your computer so that you can download files from them. These download managers are often bundled with spyware and are trojan horses themselves, downloading tons of other spyware programs while you cheerfully download your illegal MP3's. They sometimes place tracking cookies on your PC to monitor your browsing habits and hijack your browser to make sure you return to their site or a site of a partner.

Top culprit number 3: Software Piracy web sites

If you love using illegal software, cracks, serial numbers or license key generators (keygens) then you most probably had to remove some malware infections in the past after visiting one of these sites. Most of the people using these cracks are normally technical wizards and know how to disinfect their computers. Many of these sites do not only contain harmful scripts but also fake cracks and key generators, which are nothing else but malware. Some crack developers create a working crack but distribute it with spyware or a trojan horse to make your PC their slave.

Top culprit number 4: Peer-to-peer file sharing programs and networks

The file sharing community is loaded with pornography, pirated software, music and movies. Is it not amazing that everywhere these guys make their appearance you also find spyware, viruses, trojan horses and all kinds of malware? The client software is also often bundled with spyware (or adware as they call it).

The culprits discussed so far are those connected with illegal and indecent activities. People visiting these sites and using these services deserve getting infected with malware. These culprits are also some of the biggest sources of malware epidemics. What flows from the mouth, comes from within the heart. The same rule applies to your computer, those nasty little programs crawling inside your computer is, in the case of culprits 1 to 4, the direct result of your own sinful actions and activities.

The next couple of culprits are caused by negligence and a lack of knowledge about how malware are distributed.

Top culprit number 5: Pop-up and pop-under advertisements

Another culprit that wants to caught you off guard. A pop-up window may appear out of the blue or a concealed pop-under window my load in the background without you even knowing it. These windows can start downloading malicious programs and install them on your computer. They can appear on any web site, not just illegal and other bad web sites. You can prevent these windows from opening by using a secure browser like Firefox with a built-in pop-up blocker.

Top culprit number 6: Fake anti-virus and anti-spyware tools

You visit a legitimate looking web site and suddenly a banner appears telling you that your computer is infected with spyware. You can scan your computer with all the anti-spyware software in the world, over and over again until you are blue in the face, but that banner will keep telling you that your computer is infected with spyware. This is because it is a plain image banner. The site never does a scan of your computer, it is a fixed message that will display on any computer, no matter how clean it is. Simply put, it is a blatant lie! They want you to believe that your computer is infected and that only their software can remove this spyware. If you download and install their software you will only find that it is spyware itself. You may end up infecting a completely clean system with a dirty program, trying to remove the so-called spyware.

A system scan is not a three second process, it takes time, so no scanner can tell you instantaneously that your system is infected with spyware. I do not believe in online scanners, rather use software with a good reputation, a local scan is much more faster. Most online scanners are no online scanners at all, you actually download the whole scanning engine and end up doing a local scan anyway. A real scanner will tell you the name of the malware and its location on your hard drive, if it does not give you this information, then it is fake. Even if it gives you this information, it still does not mean that the software is legitimate. Do not trust everything you see online and stick to well known anti-malware brands.

Top culprit number 7: Free games, screen savers, media players, etc.

No, not every free program comes bundled with spyware, but spyware (once again the developers prefer to call it adware, but it is still the same thing) is often the price you have to pay for the free software. It is normally a ploy to monitor your use of the program, to send the creators statistical data or to collect data about your online behaviour in order to send you targeted ads. If you try to remove the spyware you normally render the main application useless. Read the EULA (End User Licence Agreement) very carefully before installing the application. But everyone knows that nobody reads those tedious, long licence agreements, so use EULAlyzer by JavaCool Software to check for specific keywords and phrases that might reveal any spyware programs being installed or privacy breaching practices that may occur if you install the free software.

Top culprit number 8: Malicious web pages with harmful scripts

But you already mentioned this one in culprits 1 to 3. No, culprits 1 to 3 often have harmless web sites and it is the content you download from the sites that is harmful. But you also get web pages containing malicious scripts, totally innocent looking web sites, like a site donating money for cancer. You go to their homepage and suddenly a script virus strikes your computer. This is what an anti-virus shield was made for, that unexpected attack. Firefox is also designed to prevent harmful scripts and browser hijackers from accessing the system and taking advantage of flaws and weak spots in your operating system.

Top culprit number 9: E-mail

Virus worms spread themselves by forwarding a copy of the virus to all the contacts in your address book. Those contacts that are unaware of these worms will most likely open the e-mail and the file attached to it. But when you open a strange infected e-mail from an unknown sender, then you are guilty of double negligence. For the virus to be activated you need to open the e-mail and in most cases you need to deliberately open the file attachment too. By using a little common sense you will know that strange e-mails from unknown senders are dangerous, especially when they have executable attachments with file names ending with the "exe", "com", "bat" or "scr" extensions. Even dangerous e-mails from known, trustworthy contacts can easily be identified if the contents of the e-mail seems strange and out of character. By being careful and responsible when opening your e-mails, you will not only prevent your own computer from getting infected, but you will also prevent the worm from spreading any further.

Top culprit number 10: You the Internet user

What? Me? How on earth can I be a culprit? Well, you are an accomplice in the spread of malware if you do not have an active and updated anti-virus package installed on your computer, if you do not scan your computer for viruses and spyware on a regular basis, if you do not use shields like the TeaTimer tool from SpyBot (which is free by the way), the Ad-Watch shield of Ad-Aware or the resident shield of AVG Anti-spyware (all of which you have to pay for, unfortunately), if you spend your time browsing pornographic and illegal web sites and take part in the sharing of pirated software and copyrighted material (culprits 1 to 4), if you fail to be responsible with the software you install on your PC and the e-mails you open (culprits 6, 7 and 9) and if you refuse to use a secure web browser (like Firefox) built to prevent malware infections (culprits 5 and 8). Yes, I will go so far to say, that if you stay away from culprits 1 to 7 and 9, you probably won't need any virus and spyware protection at all. Culprit 8 is the only reason why you should have anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, for those unexpected attacks, over which you have no control.

Culprits 1 to 8 are the main sources of malware. Infections caused by them led to the creation of culprits 9 and 10, which distribute the malware even further. Do not turn your computer into a malware paradise or a malware distribution centre. Take responsibility, protect your computer against these threats and prevent the spread of malware.

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There are many people that don't realize the importance of updated and current anti-virus software options, when it comes to the ability to remove malware, which can make your computer run slow or become non-functioning. "Malware" is short for malicious software, and it often comes in forms that appear to help your computer function better. Instead, it might include browser hijackers, spyware that steals your browsing patterns or Trojans that force you to purchase software to remedy the problem. For this reason, it is important that malware removal is executed properly and quickly, but it is best to protect your computer from malware to begin with.

Most of the popular anti-virus software programs will have the ability to remove malware during a full system scan, but it is important to note that you should never click on software download warnings, known as "scareware". They may offer a free scan and then show malware detection, with a software download offer to remove malware. This could be a way that a Trojan might be downloaded, which can render some anti-virus software programs ineffective in removing the Trojan or malware, forcing you to purchase a useless remedy.

There are some software programs that are specifically designed to remove malware, but the major anti-virus software programs have the ability to do this, assuming the virus definitions are updated. Every day, there are menaces that create malware software programs, so updated definitions are required, whether it is your current anti-virus software or it is a specific spyware and malware removal tool. Most of the major anti-virus software developers stay just a few days behind these developments, so even software scans might not pick them up, unless you have the most current virus and malware definitions to protect your computer.

There are free online scans that can check your computer for malicious software and the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool is one of the safe and secure ways to remove malware. There are many of the spyware and malware removal software programs that offer free online scans, but make sure you are dealing with a reputable malware removal vendor, because they could be part of the "scareware" scams that are on the Internet. Many of them will offer a free online scan for spyware or malware and then offer a program you can purchase to protect your computer. Reputable malware removal software vendors offer free online scans, however.

Unfortunately, there might be some cases where you have no choice but to call an expert in virus and malware removal. Malware or Spyware can render your computer useless in some cases and attack your registry files. Even a registry cleaner might not be able to remedy the problem, but onsite computer repair service experts are knowledgeable in the best ways to remove malware and they can save you money in the long run and advise you on the best software to remove malware. If you are unsure about the malware removal scans or software you are considering, it is best to speak with your onsite computer repair service expert.

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Is your PC infected with the latest Vundo Trojan Virus known as Malware Doctor? Beware this program isn't actually a legitimate spyware removal tool, instead it is a nasty virus belonging to the rouge antispyware family and if you're infected then you are in some serious trouble. If your PC has Malware Doctor installed then you must learn How to remove Malware Doctor asap, continue reading below as I will show you the easiest way to carry out an instant Malware Doctor Removal...

The sole purpose of this virus is to collect your valuable private information and to steal your money. It will use deceitful tactics to try scare you into purchasing the full version, which will only further corrupt your machine, so DO NOT under any circumstances purchase the full version of Malware doctor. All the threats and alerts that the program pops-up are fake and should be ignored. Now what you must do is get a hold of the right tools to remove this Trojan immediately before it causes any further damage.

There are always two ways to go about removing viruses, the manual way and the automatic way, both ways usually get the job done, however having the virus automatically removed by a legitimate anti-spyware tool is much more efficient and reliable.

Although manual methods of deletion can be pursued, in this case it is not advised. You see Vundo Trojan viruses have numerous dll files and registry files associated with them, and some of them will basically re-generate themselves upon re-boot, so even if you delete the virus manually it will just come back when you restart. I have outlined the procedure below and you could give it a shot if you like, however nothing is guaranteed and I do not recommend it to amateurs as you run the risk of ruining your entire system...

In order to remove the virus you need to delete all its parts at once. This can include but is not limited to:

1. Removing all Malware Doctor related processes (any malicious EXE files)
2. Removing any associated DLL files (Dynamic Link Library)
3. Removing any malicious .lnk files associated with the virus
4. Go into the registry, locate and remove dangerous files

If you don't know much about computers, then you probably don't even have a clue what the above info means. Therefore I strongly recommend removing Malware doctor automatically by using a proper spyware remover.

Also you probably got infected by the Trojan through downloading songs, videos, etc. or visiting a malicious site, and if you intend to continue surfing the web and downloading stuff in the same manner, without having to worry about getting infected again then you should seriously consider downloading proper spyware protection. It will offer you real-time protection and ensure you never encounter any form of ad-ware or spyware again.

So for anyone who has been unfortunate enough to fall victim to this deadly virus and is wondering how to remove malware doctor then go ahead and download a decent spyware remover and your problem should be solved within seconds. Personally I used spyware doctor 6 to carry out a Malware Doctor removal, it was quick and easy to use, and best of all it was Free to download, check it out by visiting the link below...

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Do you need to download a malware removal tool to get rid of all the malicious software on your PC? Such harmful programs can cause a lot of disruption to the user and the PC, such as slowdown of processing speeds, usage of memory and disk space unnecessarily and clogging up network bandwidth.

There may be more harmful effects like identity theft when spyware is able to steal sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers without the user's knowledge.

1. How To Get Rid Of Malware And Spyware?

Luckily, I managed to download a malware removal tool to get rid of all these nasty programs when my PC was infected before. After getting rid of the existing malware, this tool also ensures that malware and spyware do not enter my PC again. If you want to delete all the harmful pests from your computer, you will need to download a reliable spyware and malware removal software from the internet.

2. Other Harmful Potential Effects Of Malware And Spyware Attacks

There will be an increased number of popups appearing on your desktop, which will slow down the speed of your computer. You may also find your desktop and web browser homepage changing randomly. When the number of spyware and malware becomes too massive, the hard disk may eventually crash, so make sure you keep a backup of all your important files.

3. The Threat Of Identity Theft

Identity theft is the worst possible thing that can happen when spyware and malware are not cleaned up. The more malicious programs have the capability to record your keystrokes, meaning that anything you type on your keyboard may potentially be recorded and sent to another person. To download the software that I used to clean my PC successfully, check out the website link below.

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Cloud computing has huge potential, especially as the Internet’s infrastructure improves and becomes more affordable. Its main attraction is the economies of scale it can provide us.

These were two of the conclusions Kaspersky, a rising security company, reached during its Executive Roundtable held last month. However, there are still lingering questions: How safe is our data in the clouds? And who can guarantee our mission-critical information placed in the clouds won’t be misappropriated?

These are some of the paramount prerequisites that will become the key to success of cloud computing.

For those wondering what cloud computing is, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has defined it as “a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources [networks, servers, storage, applications, and services] that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management efforts or service provider interaction”.

In a now-conventional setting, we install an antivirus program on our PC or notebook. It may be AVG, Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton or any reliable program. We then pay to subscribe to updates, which we hope will come fast enough to shield us from the latest malware. However, with our computing activities increasingly moving to servers located in “clouds”, will this configuration still protect us from unwanted viruses?

The answer is, of course, a resounding “No”. Therefore, it is not surprising to see antivirus makers rushing into cloud computing. Some of them are collaborating with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer a safer and more secure universe in the clouds.

Parents with underage children would no doubt be very familiar with this problem. When their children are alone in their bedrooms, they will be tempted to surf all over the Internet, sometimes to sites not recommended for kids. Parents usually know about it, but tend to avoid direct confrontation with their children. With iControl, parents can easily restrict their children from visiting adult sites.

Or, parents worried their children are spending too much time on Facebook can limit the time they can access the site.

Of course, some of these services have been available for a while on intelligent routers. However, the flexibility offered by services such as CBN iControl makes it easier to implement in a household as well as in companies.

In the office, if companies are concerned that complete freedom to access the Internet during work hours is likely to negatively affect employees’ productivity, then IT managers can customize access rights, helping them manage bandwidth usage. IT deparments will be able to restrict the amount of pictures and videos downloaded at work, which are irrelevant to the business.

CBN iControl does not require additional hardware or software, and can be configured according to specific needs. At the moment, only the basic level of the service is available. iControl can help protect us from cyber crimes such as identity theft and credit card hacking.

Sugiharto Darmakusuma, CBN’s chief commercial officer, emphasized that the new service was also part of his company’s CSR program, which focuses on providing a clean pipe to the clouds. In addition to offering a constantly updated antivirus database, iControl has features such as URL filtering, web 2.0 control, data loss prevention, browser control and P2P protection.

CBN iControl exemplifies the type initiatives ISPs are implementing to integrate web security into their services.

The question remains: Is it possible to find a technology that will protect us from malicious threats once and for all?

The answer is unfortunately no, because as Joy Gosh, Zscaler‘s managing director for Asia Pacific said in the launch event, “The threat landscape continues to change.”

However, research continues. As reported by ScienceDaily on May 3, 2010, researchers from the North Carolina State University have come up with HyperSafe, software to safeguard virtualized computing resources in the clouds.

Virtualization is the essence of cloud computing, allowing multiple users to share the use of a pool of computing resources.

So, the future of cloud computing security is not so bleak after all.

Source: thejakartapost.com