Another Day With My PC

The Antivirus program has long been taking credit for malware-free PCs, and many say that it should rightly so. Indeed, as its very name suggests, it is the one tasked to filter or ferret out viruses in our computers. However, the claim and accolade cannot be solely attributed to the antivirus software anymore. Times have changed and threats have multiplied. It is not surprising then that the antivirus program’s monopoly on PC security has gradually been eroding.

One of the security tools that’s already considered as indispensable as the antivirus is the firewall. A firewall is program, system, or device that acts as a gate between your PC and cyberspace. It checks every data or packet that comes in and out of your PC, thus ensuring that nothing unwanted goes in and out of your unit.

Unheard Of

Firewalls were not considered as important a few decades ago when the Internet as we know it today was still being brewed. In fact, only bespectacled computer science majors may have known of its existence. Firewalls gradually started to become a household name when the Internet was made available commercially.

Today, firewalls are already integrated in almost all operating systems, thereby highlighting its importance in PC security. Antivirus makers also bundle firewalls in their merchandise, acknowledging the fact that an antivirus software cannot fend off malware alone when the computer is connected on the Internet.

Tag Team

Firewalls and antivirus programs complement each other. They cannot effectively defend our PCs without each other. While you may contend that an antivirus is already enough on a unit that is not connected on the Internet, the lure of cyberspace and the various ways by which you could easily connect thereto is too strong and too tempting. It should be noted that many programs already require an Internet connection for registration and updating purposes.

Registry Cleaners

There are other applications that complete the security tools line up of every PC. A registry cleaner, such as RegCure, is also a must-have. There are times when malware escape firewall and antivirus checkpoints. When this happens, the unwanted programs almost always turn their sights first on the operating system’s registry. No antivirus and firewall function or feature could save your unit in this situation. The complicated task of ridding your registry of unwanted alterations is within the competence and expertise of a registry cleaner alone.

Each security program has its own area of responsibility. Keeping your PC free from malware is a team effort between your system’s firewall, antivirus, and registry cleaner software. Make sure that you have all installed in your computer.

Viruses and spyware are often blamed for computer slowdowns. Analysts and experts would usually prescribe a full system scan whenever they’re being bugged (pun unintentionally intended ) about laggard PC performance. But is malware the sole guilty party when it comes to a slacking PC?

Unwanted and pernicious programs are not the only ones putting a sack on the back of computers. Sometimes, even legitimate programs could be the burden that slows down PC performance. Applications that demand CPU attention would definitely make your PC run in slow motion. Running multiple programs at the same time could also produce the same effect.

Aging hardware could also be the culprit. Current applications are either already too big or too demanding for old processors and peripherals to handle. Running Vista on a Pentium II processor is like asking a turtle to overtake a rabbit. Your system will either try in vain or just simply expire trying.

There are many other reasons why computers tend to be slowpokes. However, it is conceded that malware is the most likely cause of it. Hence, don’t think twice in getting your antivirus and registry cleaner to work whenever your PC seems to be slowing down. Check your hardware and other programs, too, while you’re at it so that every nook and cranny is swept.

Do you ever wonder why your computer seems to be doing something even if you’ve already finished using it?

While you may think that something’s fishy is going on when your hard drive or DSL light blinks on you even when you haven’t touched the keyboard for quite some time already, your PC may actually be doing something that’s completely legit albeit without your permission.

Legit?

Take for example auto updates. Many programs update themselves automatically whenever you’re connected to the Internet. Windows XP and Vista are well known for this. There are many other programs that update themselves without prompting the user for each download session. Hence, do not be surprised why the hard drive and DSL lamps on your PC keep on flashing.

This doesn’t mean that you should smile whenever your PC seems to be working overtime. We all know that malware works undercover. Hackers take time and effort to make sure that their creations are as invisible as the latest bomber of the US Air Force.

As the saying goes, though, no bad deed goes undetected and unpunished. There are many ways by which you could check if malware is slowly taking over your system. If you’re observant enough, you could detect the presence of unwanted programs even without an antivirus’ sirens.

Circumstantial Evidence

While flashing DSL and hard drive lamps on an idle PC is not a concrete sign of spyware or virus infection, you could reasonably presume that something quite smelly is going on inside your unit. Many types of malware need Internet access so that the hacker or other malicious programs could access the host unit. Every upload and download, then, would naturally trigger the DSL light. Data are also being transported in that process. Hence, your hard drive lamp would most likely be flickering signs of impending doom.

Blinking lights are not sure gauges malware activity. However, they could help you in detecting them. Hence, antivirus and registry cleaner programs are still indispensable. Even if you develop a very good nose for sniffing viruses out, you would definitely need help in eradicating them.

The Internet has definitely revolutionized the way files are being shared or transferred. Gone are the days when you have to rely on FedEx or DHL to send important files or programs to another person who’s residing on a different continent.

While the process has indeed become much simpler and easier, it has also become less secured. File repositories don’t usually check the data that are being sent to them for storage. The task of ensuring that they are clean, then, falls upon those who will be downloading them.

Don’t just download anything on the Web even if the link or file comes from a trusted friend. Who knows, that friend of yours might have gotten the file from somebody who has 10 for an IQ on PC security, or worse, has an IQ 150 for malware dissemination. Always scan the files or programs that you hoard from the Net. If the program that you’ve downloaded doesn’t do anything when you click on its icon but your hard drive lamp is flickering like crazy, then that’s a sign that something fishy is going on. Conduct a full system scan right away.

Are you unhappy with your current operating system?

Changing the program that calls the shots in your computer is not as simple as installing and uninstalling regular applications in your PC. Aside from the fact that an OS is probably the largest tenant in your hard drive, every program’s existence also depends on it. Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not discouraging you from changing OS. All I’m saying is that there are many things to consider before you decide to make an upgrade or make a switch.

Is Your Hardware Tough Enough?

The first thing that you have to consider is your hardware. If the unit you’re currently using is being powered by a Pentium II processor and is still running on Windows 95, then you should shelve your plans of installing Vista in it. Units that are more than two years old probably do not have the strength and stamina to carry Vista on their shoulders. Adding a few memory modules and overclocking your processor might do the trick, though. However, you may just be speeding up its demise by doing so as overclocking could fry or wear out the chip and the motherboard.

Will Your Old Apps Work?

The second thing that you have to consider is your existing applications. There are some programs that might not work with the new (or old) operating system. If you’re bent on keeping your old applications, make sure that there are drivers available for download that would make them compatible with the OS that you intend to install. You could check the Web site of your software’s manufacturer for drivers or patches. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of rummaging through links or pages for the driver that you need, then you may want to install or subscribe to a Web service that does this dirty job for you.

Oil and Water

Another thing to consider is compatibility. I guess by now you already know that Macs and PCs are like oil and water – they simply don’t mix. This is very important especially if you’re constantly trading files or collaborating with somebody on a particular application. It would be pointless to have an OS which would not allow you to do tasks with others. You’ll be a virtual untouchable in school or in the office if you use an OS that is incompatible with the one that the majority uses.

While an operating system is classified a program, it’s in a class that is separate and distinct from all the other applications. Your computer’s performance depends on the OS that it is running on. So choose wisely.

Talk about timing or coincidence. While I was giving a short discourse as to what ActiveX is and the possible dangers that it may bring, Symantec and Microsoft were already giving advisories on the recent spates of malware infection caused by the ActiveX control for the Snapshot Viewer made for Microsoft Access.

Symantec reported that the attacks are being perpetrated through a toolkit that could be used even by novices. The fact that this program is being disseminated on the Internet aggravates the problem.

Microsoft’s security advisory on the matter revealed that the ActiveX trap are set by creating bogus Web sites that seem harmless or legitimate. Upon accessing the infected page, the user would be prompted that an ActiveX control needs to be loaded in order for the site to be displayed properly. Once the malicious ActiveX control is allowed to run, the hacker would then be able to use or access the unsuspecting user’s PC to execute damaging codes or instructions.

Microsoft has yet to release the patch that would cover the problem. Until then, be wary of the Web sites that you visit. If you can’t stop yourself from checking the page, then at least refrain from acting on the ActiveX prompts that you get.

There used to be a time when Web sites were as exciting as your newspaper’s business section. There were hardly any picture on the Web pages back then and interaction was limited to the e-mail address of the webmaster. Surfing the Web 10-15 years ago was like browsing through huge post its!

Web page design has come a long way since then. Text-only Web pages are already relics of the past. Nowadays, you could hardly find any site that has no pictures, videos, or graphical options or controls which allow you to interact with the page. All these would not have been possible if Microsoft had not created ActiveX.

What is ActiveX?

ActiveX is an innovation by Redmond which allows programs to be executed and/or loaded on the Web Site. The codes that ActiveX execute enable the surfer to interact with the page as it gives him a variety of options as to how he could wander about in the site. Take for example your favorite NBA team’s Web site. Whenever you visit their page, you’ll almost always be prompted if you would want ActiveX controls to be executed. Click “yes” and you’ll be presented with a wide array of features, such as being able to vote for your favorite player or view the highlights of last night’s game. Click “no” and you’ll be stuck with a page that doesn’t have much flare to keep you from leaving after 10 seconds.

Is it Dangerous?

While ActiveX controls make the waves we’re surfing on more interesting, it could also make them very perilous. Take note that ActiveX works by executing codes embedded on Web pages. If the codes contain malicious instructions, then you’ll probably be spending your next weekend reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling all your programs and files, that is if you were able to back up all of your precious data.

You should therefore be very cautious in clicking the links that you see. If the URL seems dubious, don’t click on it. If you have the curiosity of a cat, then at least don’t immediately run the ActiveX controls of the page when you’re prompted for it. Examine the index page first before you respond to prompts or queries.

Install Safeguards

While Internet Explorer prompts you if a Web page wants to execute or run an ActiveX control, thereby keeping you safe from malware infection, such feature doesn’t provide you with an adequate security or safeguard. Malicious codes usually target the Windows registry first. Hence, investing in a registry cleaner is imperative. Hackers have more than one ingenious method by which you could be tricked into running a malicious ActiveX control. If you do fall for those, your registry cleaner and antivirus would be there to catch you.

Do you involuntarily utter expletives whenever you encounter an error message by XP and Vista?

People’s reactions toward OS warnings vary, ranging from subliminal mental shocks to near out-of-the-body experiences reported by first time Windows users. While the reactions may seem a little bit exaggerated, you would definitely experience one or both when your computer holds precious files or data that could spell the difference between reading the morning paper for the headline and reading the dailies for job vacancies.

Do not mistake the panic button for the “ok” button plastered on the error message. Windows isn’t trying to scare the wits out of you whenever it coughs up messages that tell you that it isn’t feeling well. It’s not a notice or forecast that’s in the same category as that of Nostradamus’.

The proper attitude in dealing with Windows error messages is to calmly read (yes, error messages are meant to be read) the contents of the pop up. Note them down, especially the error message number, and go through your operating system’s manual for an explanation as to what it is and how it could be remedied.

No matter how many antivirus and anti-spyware programs you install in your system, there will definitely come a time when your OS would greet you with a not so pleasant message. Whether or not your system would recover from the problem that Windows just informed or warned you about would depend on how you initially react to it. A system crash might be inevitable if you panic. There’s no reason to call 911 in many of these cases. Answers and solutions abound. Browse your manuals for answers or type the error message and/or number in Google.

Hmmm I wonder what that does

While I’m definitely curious about that key, I don’t have the habit of pressing any or all the links that are pasted on the Web sites that I visit. We all know that bogus sites are rampant these days, and obliging to any of the come-ons on the pages that we view could be disastrous.

You may contend that your antivirus and other security tools allow you to press on any link with impunity. However, security programs are not absolutely impregnable. There are times when the user has to participate in manning the tower once in a while, especially when checking on links or opening programs that have dubious origins.

It’s true that everything has almost been taken from the hands of the user as far as PC maintenance is concerned. Almost. That tiny percent that has been left for us to do is by no means inconsequential. Sometimes, that ordinary prudence of checking or scrutinizing the page or file could very well be the thread that separates you from malware infection.