How to Protect Your Computer From Viruses

With millions of computer users browsing the web at any given time, there are plenty of targets for malicious coders. While computer experts don’t always know why coders choose to build harmful computer programs, the fact is that it happens all the time. Computer viruses can steal personal information, interfere with normal operations, attract spam and even shut down your computer’s hard drive. Protecting your computer is critical for browsing success.

Start With the Basics

Most computer systems come with security features already in place. For example, the Windows operating system is packaged with Microsoft Windows Security Center. When you first open, boot up and register a new computer, you should make sure that this program is functioning. It will give basic protection against spyware, viruses and malware. In addition, a basic firewall is built into this program, providing additional protection and stops for potentially harmful programs. Upon activation, don’t be surprised if your security system needs immediate updating. Software that protects your computer needs regular and consistent updating to stay useful. Viruses are constantly being generated and the several-month lag between when your computer was made and when you first started using it can mean that the database the security system is loaded with is severely out-of-date.

Upgrade to Meet Your Needs

Many people operate computers for a long time with only basic protection in place. However, heavy computer users or those who have risky browsing habits can sometimes benefit from upgrading their virus, spyware and malware protection, as well as using a fuller-featured firewall; this is especially important if you use a networked computer system. Basic or free virus protection will still scan and update for viruses. Paid programs, however, offer more features, including ease-of-use and convenience features. The most important thing is to verify the publisher and make sure you are getting what is promised. Most well-known virus protection programs, such as AVG and Norton Security, have reviews available to help you make your choice.

Learn About Spyware Risks

Spyware creates risks that many computer users are not aware of. If you are only protecting against viruses, you could be leaving your computer open to damage. Most people are familiar with spyware that initiates and attracts annoying ad programs. Spyware, however, can be much more malicious as well. Your shopping habits can be tracked by spyware. While not exactly harmful, some people consider this a breach of privacy. The worst spyware programs interfere with normal operations and can even track what you type, sending personal information to people who want to steal your identity. Some spyware redirects your browser to different web addresses, increasing your risks of virus infection and fraud.

How Viruses Work

The main difference between spyware and viruses is how they are spread. A virus reproduces itself and attaches to any document that the computer sends, while spyware can be stored as a cookie or tracking code. A virus is most often found traveling with a piece of computer software, such as a document, picture or piece of music. When dealing with email, it is necessary to open an attachment to become infected, indicating that, in most cases, the computer user must somehow invite the malicious software to replicate on their system. Of course, most people have no idea it is there or what is happening. Some of the sneakiest and most harmful viruses actually masquerade as virus protection software, making them extremely hard to detect. Because of this, it’s crucial to be familiar with your particular virus protection program and know what it looks like and what the normal scripts and prompts are during operation. Viruses do some of the same things that spyware does; they just accomplish it differently. An active virus can steal personal information, generate ads or shut down your system, including the very virus protection programs that can fix the issue.

Take Steps For Protection

Like anything, the best way to protect against viruses is to be educated. Become familiar with what malicious software may look like. If you get an email or are asked to download a file that you don’t recognize or looks suspicious, do your homework. Research virus protection, spyware, malware and firewall programs and use them to their fullest capacity. Set the software to update and scan automatically to make sure that the system is constantly monitored. In addition, regularly check on the databases published by various virus protection services; many will provide lists of symptoms and risks, as well as the standard way the file gains access for no cost to the public.
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How to Improve Your Computer’s Performance

 Tips for Speeding Up Your PC

Few things are as frustrating as dealing with a slow, sluggish computer. When a computer is brand new, it works wonderfully well. Over time, though, its performance can slowly begin to worsen. This happens for a number of reasons, but the biggest culprits are things like spyware, adware and other computer threats that are unwittingly downloaded along with other content while online. You don’t have to download thousands of MP3s, movies or other items to experience these problems, either – nobody is immune to them. Instead of accepting the situation, there are plenty of techniques and strategies that you can use to make it better – a few of the best ones are outlined below.

Strategy #1: Clean Your Computer’s Windows Registry

The biggest cause of slow, sluggish PC performance is errors and problems within its Windows registry. Adware, spyware and other threats usually target the registry, damaging or misplacing important files within it. When it comes to PC cleaning, a daily Windows registry cleaning should be at the top of your list of priorities. However, this should never be done manually – there are too many opportunities for major errors that could seriously damage your PC’s operating system. Instead, invest in a high-quality Windows registry cleanup program and configure it to run once per day – you won’t believe the difference that it makes.

Strategy #2: Remove Unneeded Files

Every time you log on to the Internet or otherwise use your computer, temporary files are generated. They are usually only needed once; however, they don’t disappear on their own. Instead, they accumulate over time until they are cluttering up your computer’s file system and affecting its performance. While it’s possible to remove these files one-by-one, it’s much easier and quicker to use a PC cleaning tool that’s designed for the purpose. Try to do so about one time per week to keep your computer humming along with ease.

Strategy #3: Remove Unneeded Programs

Like many people, you probably download and try out many different programs each month. How many of them do you actually end up using on a regular basis? Chances are, not very many of them. By getting into the habit of uninstalling unused and unneeded programs, you can keep your computer’s file system a lot less cluttered. In turn, your PC’s performance will improve dramatically. You can optimize your computer in this way by using its Add/Remove Programs feature. Its location varies by operating system, but you should be able to find it somewhere in the Control Panel.

Strategy #4: Empty the Recycle Bin

When you click “delete” on a file or a program, it doesn’t go away for good – not immediately, anyway. Instead, it sits in a kind of purgatory in your computer’s Recycle Bin. As things pile up in the Recycle Bin, your computer can start exhibiting some very annoying problems. If sluggish startups and frequent crashes are occurring with increasing frequency – and your computer’s recycle bin is very full – go ahead and empty it. From then on, get into the habit of doing so about one time per week. This small but important strategy can make a huge difference.

Strategy #5: Perform a Disk Defragmentation

Windows isn’t very efficient when it comes to storing files. It actually splits them up, depositing them into whatever spaces are available. The more spaced apart the pieces of a file are, the harder your computer has to work to make them run. The Windows disk defragmentation system tune-up utility works to piece all of those files back together again. The process is a long one, though, and only needs to be done about four times per year. Set it up to run automatically once every three months. By doing so, you’ll be able to keep your computer running in tiptop shape.
When it comes to keeping your computer running optimally, small but regular maintenance is the best way to go. Protecting your PC only does so much; even the most careful Internet users in the world unintentionally download malicious software from time to time. By using basic system tune-up tools, cleaning your computer’s Windows registry regularly, performing regular file-cleaning maintenance and otherwise optimizing your PC, you should be able to keep it in like-new condition for a lot longer. Even if your computer has been performing slowly for some time, beginning this regimen is sure to produce results. In the end, you’ll be able to enjoy a computer that flies along – instead of one that spins its wheels.
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How to detect that a keylogger

How does  keyloggers enters your computer ?

There are several ways in which a key logger can get into your computer either it is directly installed or it is indirectly transferred to your computer. Most of the time, this malicious file enters a computer when the user downloads an infected application like movies, music or other software applications.

So how to get rid of  keyloggers that is installed on a computer

1. Use updated antivirus and anti spyware
Some of the good anti viruses have capability to detect key loggers. So you should update your antiviruses regularly so that it gets updated for new keyloggers.
2. Use Anti keyloggers
There are anti keyloggers available that will make the task easy for you in finding a keyloggers. Use these softwares if you think there is a high possibility of keyloggers on a computer. The anti keyloggers that i will suggest you is Cyberhawk. Even  Kasperky does a good job in this area too. Also check anti-spy.info. More examples:
3. Search for keyloggers yourself
Keyloggers have the capability that they hide them self from the user but are active in the background. There are some shortcuts that are used to see them live on screen
For example : Ctrl + Alt + X or Ctrl + Alt + Wondows Key + X or desktopshark  etc.
4. Use special tools
KL-Detector
Freeware on demand keylogger scanner.
SnoopFree
Freeware antikeylogger that block hook based keyloggers as well as screen captures. For Windows XP.
PSMAntiKeyLogger
PSMAntiKeyLogger is a real-time protecting software which protects you against Keyloggers. No scanning is needed.
I Hate Keyloggers
Freeware antikeylogger that block hook based keyloggers. For Windows 2000 and XP.
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Great Registry Hacks

Today I am going to tell you about 5 great registry hacks which will help you improve your system features and performance.

1. Security:
USB Drives are one of the major tool through which data transfer takes place. In order to protect your data from getting stolen from you computer with the help of a USB drive you can make the USB drives read only.
Go to  ‘HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies‘ and   create a new DWORD value ‘WriteProtect‘ and set its value to 1. This will enable you to read from USB drives, but you won’t be able to copy data to it.

2. Sorting Files:
Quite often you want the files to appear according to their names in explorer. In order to restore the ASCII file ordering, perform the following hack :
Go to ‘HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Currentversion\Policies\Explorer’ and create a new DWORD value called as ‘NoStrCmpLogical’ and set its value to 1.

3. Speeding Up Menu loading time:
In order to make your menus load faster, perform the following tweak.
Go to ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Control Panel\Desktop‘ and right click ‘MenuShowDelay’ and click ‘Modify’. Change the string value to some nearby 100 value.

4. Reducing Folder Accessibility Time:
To speed up the access to any folder that is pinned to start menu, perform the following hack
Go to ‘HKCR\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers’ and right click ‘ContextMenuHandlers‘ and click ‘New|Key‘. Type ” (blank space and no quotation marks) and press Enter. Select any folder and right click on it to select ‘Pin to Start Menu’ while holding Shift key.

5. Multiple Logins in Messenger:
By default you are allowed only a single login at a time on Live Windows Messenger. You can override this by
Go to ‘HKLM\Software\Microsoft\WindowsLive\Messenger’ and create a new DWORD value ‘Multiple Instances’ and its values as 1.
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Check Whether Your PC is Male or Female

Today I am going to discuss about an amazing trick using which you can easily find out whether your pc is male or female. To find out whether your computer is male or female just follow the steps given below.
Step 1 : First of all open Notepad.
Step 2 : Now type the code given below in notepad:
CreateObject("SAPI.SpVoice").Speak"i love you"
Step 3 : Now save the file as computer_gender.vbs. (you can save the file with any name like anything.vbs)
Step 4 : Double click the file to run it.If you hear a male voice, your computer is a male and if you hear a female voice then your computer is a female. So what are you waiting for? Check now whether your computer is male or female.
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Get 1000 Twitter Followers in a Day

Twitter lies amongst the top position in the list of the most admired and heavily used social networking site. A Twitter user always want his/her tweet to reach the the eyes of as many people as possible. This tricky technique can do the work for them:
1). http://twittercounter.com/pages/100 is the URL where you will find the record of most followed twitters.
2). Target at least 10 such Twitters.
3). Open each of the profile in a separate tab and follow them one at a time.
4). Here comes the Tricky part, on following an individual your name will come at the top position in the catalog of followers. As a result, the person who follows that individual will also follow you as going after their followers will compel then to follow you.
5). Even if you quit to follow that individual after 5 minutes yet you succeeded in increasing your followers list within that 5 minutes span.
For the beginners, just by following these simple steps, you can surely make a good mark. Advertising today is solely a game in the industry, which results in the formula, the more the ads, the better sales you get. By increasing the twitter followers one may let other people read the updates that one has posted.
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