Security News Planet

Archive for December, 2009

When you think that the computer’s performance is decreasing significantly, then you surely need to find out what the best computer registry repair method is. There comes a day when you have so many programs that you’ve already forgotten about still running each time you turn on the computer that its performance becomes a problem causer. And maybe there also are some programs you’ve never seen before in your life, because they belong to malicious viruses or software websites and they installed themselves onto your computer and registered their own registry keys. No matter what your problem might be, it can be easily fixed with a computer registry repair software.

To get rid of persistent registry errors that either come from improper installment of programs or from malicious software you need to do a computer registry repair task. If you don’t you will end up having a slow computer when you need it the most, and even encounter the annoying screen freezes right when you are in the middle of an important project and unfortunately you forgot to save the progress.

The simplest way to do a computer registry repair is to leave the task in the able hands of a established registry repair software. Such programs make sure your registry stays clean and error free, and when you have a fully functional registry you will have a fast computer. There’s no need to worry about errors, blue screens and windows system problems anymore, because the computer registry repair is the solution to most computer related problems, and it’s far better than reinstalled the operating system altogether.

The alternative to a automatic computer registry repair is a manual one. But when you do a manual one you risk deleting the wrong keys and missing important malicious keys that should’ve been deleted. The problem is often more complicated than it appears to the human eye, so a software that is specialized in computer registry repair jobs appears to be the most proficient solution.

Viruses:

Spyware: Spyware is defined as any software that covertly gathers user information through the user’s Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet; however, it should be noted that the majority of shareware and freeware applications do not come with spyware. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers. Spyware often causes “pop-up” advertisements to appear on the user’s screen, without the user’s knowledge or consent. These pop-ups can be quite a headache, and spyware itself often slows down computers to a slow crawl.

Because spyware exists as independent executable programs, they have the ability to monitor keystrokes, scan files on the hard drive, snoop other applications, such as chat programs or word processors, install other spyware programs, read cookies, change the default home page on the Web browser, consistently relaying this information back to the spyware author who will either use it for advertising/marketing purposes or sell the information to another party. When the home page of your web browser changes without your knowledge or consent, this is referred to a home-page hijacking. Sometimes, a computer is so badly infected with viruses and spyware that the harmful software cannot be removed without completely formatting the hard drive (deleting all files) and reinstalling the operating system. Now is when you contact your computer repair store.  Ask for the computer virus repair technician.  The tech will offer a data backup solution and note which programs you had installed, and then perform a BFR (Backup, Format, Reinstall, Restore) on your system. When the virus and spyware removal is completed, ask for instructions on how to run the programs that were installed to prevent viruses and spyware from compromising your system in the future.

This article was prepared and written by Jeff Atto of Concise Computer Consulting, LLC, located at 2150 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI. Please contact us for any question about your home computer or laptop. 248-745-8255 My email address is info@concisePC.com and our website is http://www.concisePC.com This article was submitted by Right Now Marketing Group, LLC

Your data can be backed up in an automated fashion so that you don’t have to worry about it.  Look for a computer repair center with a computer repair technician that offers secure, offsite date backup systems to their clients!

Having offsite data protection allows you to have another measure of data security in case of hardware failure, fire, theft, or any other terrible thing that could happen to your technology.

Even if you already back-up your data, it is always best to have a redundant backup disaster recovery system. When dealing with the important data that you generate with your business, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

You should be able to find an on site computer service with a very affordable monthly fee.  It should be able to back up your data through the internet each night to a secure server. Back-up logs should be automatically e-mailed to both you and your service daily which will be used to monitor the status of each backup.

Computers are used for an ever-increasing amount of functions today, including storing our personal photographs, e-mails, documents, and other information that is near and dear to us all.

There are several different types of in-office or in-home backups that should help set you up, including (but not limited to):

Contact Jeff Atto of Concise Computer Consulting, LLC, located at 2150 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI.  Please contact us for any question about your home computer or laptop.  248-745-8255

My email address is info@concisePC.com and our website is http://www.concisePC.com

Concise Computer Repair services these Zip Codes and beyond:

48007, 48009, 48012, 48017, 48025, 48030, 48033, 48034, 48037, 48067, 48068, 48069,  48072, 48070, 48071, 48075, 48076, 48083, 48084, 48085, 48098, 48099, 48178, 48220, 48237, 48301, 48302, 48303, 48304, 48306, 48307, 48308, 48309, 48320, 48321, 48322, 48323, 48324, 48325, 48326, 48327, 48328, 48329, 48330, 48331, 48332, 48333, 48334, 48335, 48336, 48340, 48341, 48342, 48343, 48346, 48347, 48348, 48350, 48359, 48360, 48362, 48363, 48366, 48367, 48370, 48371, 48374, 48375, 48376, 48377, 48382, 48387, 48390, 48393

This article was submitted by Right Now Marketing Group, LLC

Thanks to wireless routers, setting up a home or small business network is easier than ever. No running cables, no drilling through walls, just plug in, configure, and go. However, it’s also easier than ever to hack into someone’s network, thanks to wireless routers.

If, when setting up your router, you didn’t change the administrator name and password, or if you’re still broadcasting your SSID, (or if you don’t understand what all this means) then it’s possible someone else might leach onto your network and leverage your broadband connection for their own nefarious means.

So, let’s take a minute and look at various ways you can “lock down” your wireless internet connection and assure that the only people able to access it are the ones you specifically allow.

First of all, go to your router’s configuration screen. This is done through an internet browser. Go ahead and open your favorite internet browser. In the address bar, type the home address for your router. Most routers use either 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 for their default address. Your router’s instruction manual will tell you that address. When you enter the correct address, you’ll see a user name/password screen. Enter the correct values here and you’ll be at the configuration screen. The following steps will not be specific to your router, as each manufacturer will have different layouts for their controls. Instead, this guide will tell you general steps – refer to your instruction manual for specifics.

If you implement all of these steps, you can rest assured that only you and the people you specifically authorize will access your wireless connection. There will be no way the bad guys will be able to get into it.

Two more things: If you’ve changed the network name, encryption type, or pass phrase, you’ll probably have to re-enter the security key before reconnecting any computers to the wireless network. Which brings us to the second thing…

After setting all of the values above take a moment to write them in a Notepad document and then print it out and put it someplace safe. That way if you need to connect another computer to the wireless network, you have values easily accessible. Here’s an example of the values to save:

Wireless address: 192.168.1.0 Administrator Name: BlueHouse Password: #$thISISmypAss@ SSID: OurNetwork Security Key: 3VT8dXqj5+-z9BSVAWW7

Follow the steps outlined above, and you can rest assured that no bad guys will be able to get onto your wireless network.

Exterior Security Make sure garage, shed and property gates and fully secured after every use. Purchase more secure locks if necessary. Expensive gardening equipment should be security locked away such as lawn mowers. Be sure all garage doors are locked when leaving the house If you have a door connecting the garage to the house it should be solid wood or metal and secured with a strong lock and dead bolt.

Your garage door should be fitted with a strong security lock which is preferably secured to the floor. Get into the habit of always locking your car door when you come home at night. Bicycles and motorbikes should be secured or locked away safe. If you own ladders make you these are all secured or locked away.

Don’t allow drain pipes to be used to gain access to upper floors. Shrubs, trees and bushes should all be pruned so the burglar cannot hide. Install exterior security floodlighting that works with a motion sensor. Be sure any outdoor lighting is switched on in the evening.

So an emergency service can find your house in an emergency, make sure your house number or name is clearly visible Imagine you have locked yourself out – how easy could you break in? Fix any weaknesses that can allow an easy entry for the burglar.

Exterior Door Security Your external doors should be of solid hardwood or metal construction. Glass panels should be reinforced. Fit a peep hole for viewing visitors. Fit a deadbolt lock into the frame of the door. Always make sure exterior doors are locked, even if you go out for a couple of minutes and especially at night. Give extra keys to a neighbor you can trust and never hide them under the front doormat or in a flower pot.

Window Security Check for rotting window frames and replace if necessary. Secure every window in the house with a high security window lock. Consider security window bars if you think your windows could be smashed in order to gain entry.

General Security Around The Home Use interior timers for your lamps. This will give the impression someone is at home. Use a security safe for all your valuables or deposit them in a bank. Keep firearms security locked in an appropriate firearms cupboard. This should be fitted with a trigger guard lock. Keep an up to date inventory of all of your possessions.

Take digital photos of your possessions and valuables and burn the photos to DVD. Put the DVD in a bank safety deposit box. Have emergency telephone numbers next to your telephone. Make sure your whole family is aware of an evacuation procedure in the event of an emergency such as a fire. Let trusted neighbour know that you are going on vacation so they can watch over your property.

Security mark all valuable items such as your computer, TV, Hi-Fi etc… with an appropriate identification mark as recognized by your local police. Cancel deliveries and papers when on vacation And of course, activate your alarm system when leaving your property.