Computer Virus Protection Software Reviews - Antivirus Software to Remove Spyware

Choosing an antivirus software is one of the biggest steps that can be taken to help protect your computer. In helping to choose a list of computer virus protection software, reviews will go really far in helping to decide what is needed and what each product will offer. In the end it is up to the user to find the software that will help most to protect from the unknown threats of cyberspace.

One of the higher end products on the market comes from No Adware. They have created an antivirus that will hold its value throughout and has so far made a great impression on the computing community. The price of the product reflects the features and ease of use that is associated with the product. No Adware holds its own against malware, viruses and many other forms of threats that seep in from the internet.

Kaspersky has been rising on the list lately trying to keep with the growing trend of BitDefender. They offer another good antivirus program that houses many of the same features as others but the company has found its shortcoming with the price tag they have given the product. Kaspersky does alleviate the price though by providing excellent support and a great reputation.

Computer Viruses are Bad Luck

OK, so you caught a computer virus and your system is all screwed up and you're frustrated and angry and upset. Bad luck.

Here's something that might make you feel better ...

The universe has true balance. And if a computer virus causes bad luck for the user it can also cause bad luck for the person who launched it.

Computer virus creators are usually very young and do not realize, or care, that they are causing harm to others. They just think it's cool. What they don't realize is that when a virus is launched it also unleashes a mystical power into the world, a malevolent thing that does bad things and makes victims of other people.

Remove Trojan Virus Easily

If you want to remove trojan virus infections completely from your computer system you are not going to have much luck if you don't make use of some form of a paid or free trojan remover application. Every day many hundreds of people search the web for guides which can show them how to remove trojan virus related infections from their systems and regardless of how much you read, the end conclusion is that you are going to need a trojan remover tool.These infections are like viruses, worms and malware in the sense that each one is a form of the other and they can only be eliminated with specialized tools.

Who's Watching What You Type?

If someone entered your home, uninvited and installed numerous cameras and listening devices in order to monitor your activities, you would quite rightly be outraged. While such a situation, unless you are living in the Big Brother House, would be considered ridiculous, the same cannot be said for the humble home computer.

Recently released research alarmingly shows that home PC’s are increasingly likely to host software which can watch each and every keystroke the user inputs. According to the research compiled from an audit conducted jointly by the software firm, WebRoot and services provider, EarthLink, the average home PC hosts 28 so-called spyware programs.

Whilst the worst examples of spyware are written by virus writers to steal passwords and hijack computers to launch “denial of service” attacks against web-servers, the vast majority are used to collate marketing information and then target advertising according to the end-users web surfing habits.

The WebRoot/EarthLink audit surveyed more than 1.5 million PC’s during the last 12 months and discovered an amazing 41 million incidents of spyware; adware, Trojans, tracking cookies and other undesirable programs.

Most of these programs are loaded into the computer memory when the PC is started up. From here, the program will work silently, often giving no clues as to its existence. However, unexplained browser window pop-up’s, often advertising adult services and mysterious alterations to the browsers homepage setting are more often than not an indication that spyware is present and active on a computer. One particular piece of spyware, which is proving to be very expensive for many home users, is that of Trojan Diallers. Diallers, often without any warning to the end-user, hangs up the current net connection and then automatically reconnects using a Premium Rate telephone number, thus running up huge telephone bills. The activities of companies using this technology as a revenue stream are currently under investigation in the UK by government watchdogs.

A hard-disk and memory overflowing with spyware used to be one of the unfortunate consequences of visiting sex and adult orientated sites; a kind of eSTD. Like most Internet marketing technologies, from the pop-up to the pop-under and the first snowball of Spam, spyware began life serving the adult industry. Then, just like pop-up, spyware filtered through all aspects of ecommerce. In an interview to the BBC, David Moll, CEO of WebRoot, said that spyware has now become so common across the whole of the Internet, that it can be contracted from nearly anywhere.

So-called “drive-by downloads” are now responsible for most infections of spyware. The term “drive-by” refers to the casualness of the infection. By simply visiting an ordinary webpage a user can unwittingly initiate an automatic download of spyware onto their computer. There are no clues and no warnings.

In a recent, carefully controlled and closed demonstration, it took me less than 20 minutes to create a spyware program and embed it into a webpage. Using colleagues who had previously been made aware of the nature of the experiment, I invited them to take a look at this “special” but very ordinary looking webpage. Within seconds of visiting this webpage, the spyware went to work taking a snapshot of their hard disk, a snapshot of their Favourites folder and a copy of their browsing history. Before they had even finished reading the webpage, the spyware was already transferring their information to my server. It’s as easy as that! Equally that same code could be manipulated to perform a total trash of the hard disk or some other equally miserable and criminal act.

Speaking to the BBC, David Moll explained.

"Some (spyware programs) lurk on misspelled URLs and strike those that type faster than their fingers can carry them. As a result you do not end up where you expect to be."

Alarmingly, users do not even need to visit a website to contract spyware. The preview window in Microsoft’s Outlook Express allows emails containing HTML and any other code which can be placed on a normal webpage, to be loaded, without warning. Companies looking to implant spyware using the “drive-by” principal are regularly exploiting this glaringly obvious flaw in the design of Outlook Express.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/16154

How to Prevent a Computer Virus

When your computer is performing suspiciously slower than usual, automatically shuts down, or is popping error messages, it could be infected with a virus. A virus could hamper the performance of your computer and put all your files at risk. Over the years, viruses have become more advanced and more difficult to detect and kill. Here are some ways to prevent a computer virus and stop putting your PC at risk.

Prevent a PC virus with reliable anti-virus software.

It is a lot easier to protect a computer from virus than fix it when it has already been attacked. The best form of action when dealing with viruses is protection. There are so many brands of anti-virus software available in the market. Invest in a business grade anti-virus and don't settle for the free or pre-installed kinds.

Avoid computer virus by browsing securely.

Whenever you go online, don't let down your guard. Be wary of suspicious sites and don't give out sensitive information at a drop of a hat. There are plenty of sneaks on the web and one innocent form can cost you all your relevant data and important files.

Always create a backup.

Viruses are usually created to mess up with your PC by erasing or altering relevant computer data. While there is no fool-proof way of preventing a computer virus, you can protect your files by creating a backup. It also won't hurt to have a remote backup online just in case your flash disks get messed up too.

Be wary of suspicious emails.

Most viruses are transmitted through emails. It is so very easy to open an attachment without scanning it. Next thing you know, you can no longer use your PC. Scanning email attachments first before opening them is a good way to avoid PC virus. Scanning files could take a while but every second is worth it. It doesn't matter who the email is from. Make it a general rule to scan and save. Another important reminder about emails---don't be trigger happy when it comes to website links. These links often contain all kinds of malware and virus that could make it into your PC without your knowledge. If you want to open a website, the best way is to type the address manually.

Prevent PC virus by avoiding plug-ins.

These innocent applications that claim to do a number of stuffs are often embedded with virus. Once you install them, it can slow down your PC and expose your computer to a spyware of some kind. Prevent computer virus attacks by saying no to plug-ins.

Fix errors.

Errors can make your PC vulnerable to virus attacks. A good program to invest in is Smart PC Fixer. This program scans and repair errors in minutes. It is also an effective anti-virus application. It scans your PC for virus, malware, and spyware. This is a very neat way of keeping your PC healthy and preventing all kinds of computer virus.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7673890

Find, Remove, and Prevent Viruses, For Free

1. Install A Reliable Anti-Virus Program.

This is the core of your computer protection. Without standard virus protection software, nothing you do will keep viruses from flooding your system. We've had clients bring in computers that wouldn't even turn on because they had ZERO virus protection in place. The way these people were using their computers was pretty normal: surfing the web, sending email, maybe a game of solitaire, but because they didn't have at least one virus protection program, they rolled out the "digital welcome mat".

Having said that, you don't need to go out and purchase the top software for a high annual fee. There are plenty of free anti-virus programs out there, and even more "free trial versions". You can go with one of the more recognizable programs, but with the "big guys" there are very few truly "free" versions. You'll likely get a thirty-day trial, but at the end of that trial you'll have to toss them your credit card number or else they'll completely remove their protection, leaving your computer vulnerable until you can find that next "trial program" (which is all the time a virus needs to sneak in and start wreaking havoc). So if you want to go with popular software, but they don't have a free version, either pay up front or pay attention to your trial date so you don't leave your "computer door" open to infection. There are plenty of awesome free anti-virus programs out there and depending on what you use your desktop or laptop for, a paid version might not be necessary. I use my computer a lot and for a wide-range of activity, but I've kept my laptop squeaky-clean using only FREE anti-virus software. No virus program will catch everything, so it's a good idea to have backup (See #2).

2. Install An Anti-Malware or Anti-Spyware Program.

As good as the supposed "all-in-one" programs can be, they won't catch everything. Do your virus removal software a favor and back it up with anti-malware and anti-spyware software. These programs find and remove specific malicious content that's easy to miss. Like the all-in-one anti-virus software, you'll face the "free or paid" dilemma, but most programs offer plenty of protection whether you pay for them or use a free version. Depending on how much you use your laptop or desktop and what you use it for, you don't have to run these programs as often as your core virus program. For example, I only run my anti-malware program once a month (and my core anti-virus program once a week).

3. Set Up and Schedule Automatic Scanning for Your Laptop or Desktop.

Most anti-virus and anti-malware programs have the option to set up scheduled automatic scanning during downtime. Use this feature to ensure protection because yes, viruses can infect your computer even when you're not using it! Many people like to turn off their laptops or desktops before bed at night. If you're like them, you can schedule a scan for bedtime every night and enable the popular feature that automatically shuts down your machine after the scan is completed.

4. Use An Email Client That Scans Your Emails and Attachments Before Opening Them.

This is a big one because email is one of the easiest and most common ways hackers infect your system with malicious files. For the most part, email viruses come in the form of an attachment - pictures, documents, videos, downloads, etc. But with today's technological advances you can catch a virus just by opening the email, so make sure your email client provides email-scanning. Most of them do (this is how they distinguish which emails are spam and which aren't).

5. Know What To Look For.

Over time, computer users in general get a feel for what's legit and what is not when using the internet. However newer, slicker, and more convincing viruses and spyware are coming out every day so it's important to always be cautious when browsing, opening, downloading, etc. One of the most common virus attacks we see is the "Pop-up Virus". These are used to grab credit card numbers or other personal info from inexperienced computer users by claiming they've won something and the only way to claim the prize is to enter some kind of payment info. I'm sure you've seen them; a little window will pop up with big flashing letters and an empty space to enter your email or credit card number. Another common virus that we've been seeing more and more of is the "FBI Virus". This virus actually fills your whole screen and does not allow you out of it, no matter what you try. It appears to be a legit FBI document saying you're in trouble for some kind of illegal internet use and actually threatens to press criminal charges if you don't pay them a few hundred dollars. Don't fall for these. Remember, if you don't know exactly what you're looking at or downloading, or if something seems suspicious, stay away from it or call someone with more experience than you who might know what you're looking at.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7720125

Difference Between Computer Adware, Viruses And Trojans

In order to keep your computer clean and free from computer adware, viruses and Trojans it helps to know the difference between them. Many computer users mistakenly believe that their antivirus software isn't working, only to find out later that what their computer has become infected with isn't a virus at all, but a Trojan or adware software. Viruses, while still prevalent are by far the least common of the three.

A virus is something that spreads on its own across a network or by inserting an infected CD, DVD or floppy disk into the drive. Most antivirus software works fine to detect, clean and prevent virus infections on the PC. While it is true that Mac computers rarely ever get viruses, PC's don't get them very often either. What is more commonly seen today is known as adware and Trojans, both of which affect Mac computers and windows based PC's as well.

A Trojan is something that's taken its name from the mythological Greek Trojan horse because like the Trojan horse in the mythology a computer Trojan is a program that is designed to look like something innocent when the real function is to do something entirely different from what it appears to be. A prime example of a computer Trojan are the many variations of what's known as "fake antivirus" products. The fake antivirus Trojan infections commonly occur when the computer user is surfing the internet and sees an advertisement window pop up with an advertisement that doesn't state that it is an ad like it should, but instead has an image of what looks like an antivirus program telling the user that it has detected a virus infection on their machine and telling the computer user to click on it to remove the virus. Anyone who is not adept at spotting these type of ploys or scams may be tempted to follow the instructions that they are being given through the Trojan advertisement and when they are done they will have actually just installed the Trojan software onto their machine themselves and end up erroneously believing that their antivirus software has failed them.

Adware on the other hand is not as malicious as computer viruses or Trojans but can still have a harmful effect on the functionality of the computer. Many programs such as weather channel software, coupon printers and other seemingly useful applications are offered by the publisher in both free and paid versions. Weather reporting programs for example still have to be paid for somehow, so the publisher offers them in a free version to anyone that wants them however the free version also installs extra items onto the computer to display advertisements which they then receive a commission for displaying. These advertisements will usually slow down the computer, interrupt what you are doing to display ads and can cause conflicts with other programs if they have been poorly designed and tested as is often the case.

Knowing the difference between viruses, Trojans and adware is only the first step in keeping your computer free from them and running well. The second step which is often overlooked is to install the right security software in addition to your antivirus program to detect and remove the Trojans and adware should it find its way onto your computer. While there are many options available it is often advisable to consult your IT support staff or computer service center for recommendations as to which products to use and help you avoid installing an innocently appearing security product that is really a Trojan horse in disguise as something else.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7728829

Tips to Prevent a Computer Virus

When your computer is performing suspiciously slower than usual, automatically shuts down, or is popping error messages, it could be infected with a virus. A virus could hamper the performance of your computer and put all your files at risk. Over the years, viruses have become more advanced and more difficult to detect and kill. Here are some ways to prevent a computer virus and stop putting your PC at risk.

Prevent a PC virus with reliable anti-virus software.

It is a lot easier to protect a computer from virus than fix it when it has already been attacked. The best form of action when dealing with viruses is protection. There are so many brands of anti-virus software available in the market. Invest in a business grade anti-virus and don't settle for the free or pre-installed kinds.

Avoid computer virus by browsing securely.

Whenever you go online, don't let down your guard. Be wary of suspicious sites and don't give out sensitive information at a drop of a hat. There are plenty of sneaks on the web and one innocent form can cost you all your relevant data and important files.

Always create a backup.

Viruses are usually created to mess up with your PC by erasing or altering relevant computer data. While there is no fool-proof way of preventing a computer virus, you can protect your files by creating a backup. It also won't hurt to have a remote backup online just in case your flash disks get messed up too.

Be wary of suspicious emails.

Most viruses are transmitted through emails. It is so very easy to open an attachment without scanning it. Next thing you know, you can no longer use your PC. Scanning email attachments first before opening them is a good way to avoid PC virus. Scanning files could take a while but every second is worth it. It doesn't matter who the email is from. Make it a general rule to scan and save. Another important reminder about emails---don't be trigger happy when it comes to website links. These links often contain all kinds of malware and virus that could make it into your PC without your knowledge. If you want to open a website, the best way is to type the address manually.

Prevent PC virus by avoiding plug-ins.

These innocent applications that claim to do a number of stuffs are often embedded with virus. Once you install them, it can slow down your PC and expose your computer to a spyware of some kind. Prevent computer virus attacks by saying no to plug-ins.

Fix errors.

Errors can make your PC vulnerable to virus attacks. A good program to invest in is Smart PC Fixer. This program scans and repair errors in minutes. It is also an effective anti-virus application. It scans your PC for virus, malware, and spyware. This is a very neat way of keeping your PC healthy and preventing all kinds of computer virus.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7673890