Ever wonder how toolbars seem to just sprout on your Web browser?

Don’t blame malware on this one. This is one of the very few instances where a worm is not the sower of the problem. In fact, that annoying add-on which shrinks your browser’s viewing space may have probably been caused by you.

A good number of us harbor the habit of just blindly clicking on “Yes” and “OK” whenever we’re installing something in our computer. As a consequence, we overlook some queries or prompts by installation wizards regarding the inclusion of toolbars. We could always say no to toolbar offers. But since we’re too busy tinkering with our Facebook account during the installation process, we unintentionally gave our imprimatur to that annoying add-on.

Toolbar offers can usually be encountered when downloading and installing essential Web programs such as Instant Messengers, Web browsers, plug-ins, and even office suites. Many of these browser attachments can be helpful. The Yahoo! toolbar, for example, features pop-up blockers. Google’s toolbar makes it convenient for you to quickly search for something by plastering a search box on top of your browser.

However, toolbars do clutter your browser and reduce viewing space. Some of its features may already be a superfluity such as pop-up and spyware fenders since this is already a staple function of almost all antivirus software.

Be careful whenever installing something that you’ve downloaded on the Internet. Chances are, they’re bundled with toolbars and other offers or features that you don’t need.

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In case you haven’t noticed, CRT monitors are slowly marching their way to the Smithsonian. With LCD and plasma production costs going down, PC makers are bundling their CPU’s with visuals that could fit even the most cluttered desk in the office.

The situation was different just two years ago when LCDs were just testing the market. CRTs still dominated the scene as they still provide the best graphics. These bulky monitors might be heavy on the scale, but they’re definitely lighter on the pocket.

One thing that initially turned off potential LCD buyers was the product’s pixel flaw. Many buyers reported dead pixels that litter their screen, producing tiny black spots that cannot be brushed back into color. In case you don’t know, dead pixels cannot be resurrected anymore.

Another thing that drove away many from plasma is its picture quality. While recent models have considerably improved display vibrancy, it still hasn’t totally answered problems regarding viewing angles. I’m sure you’ve noticed that LCD pictures are crisp when viewed straight on, but fade on other angles. HD LCDs may have already solved this dilemma, but they’re still too expensive.

Whatever your doubts or misgivings on LCDs, they’ll inevitably phase out CRT monitors. You may not be too happy on their picture quality (yet), but at the rate that manufactures are improving the technology, you might find yourself swapping that bulky contraption on top of your CPU with a thinner one next year.

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One of the most practical and cost-effective ways to speed up your PC is by gradually upgrading its parts. The first thing that usually goes whenever your computer slows down is the motherboard. Storage issues also pop up after a year, forcing you to add another one that’s bigger and faster.

Whenever you upgrade, always make sure that you use everything that’s included in the package. Many commit the mistake of using their old peripheral’s wires and cables whenever installing a new component. While there may seem to be nothing wrong with this, especially if the old cables are still functioning well, a considerable number of PC parts now use specialized connectors.

Take for example a hard drive upgrade. Many PC users junk their old hard drive with new ones that support UDMA. While they totally discard their old storage device, they usually retain and use its old cable. This may seem practical. But take note that old hard drives use IDE cable. Using an IDE cable on a hard drive that supports UDMA will create a bottleneck. Using a DMA cable would definitely allow you to take advantage of the new technology’s speed and benefits.

Don’t take cables and connectors for granted whenever you’re upgrading hardware components. They can make a huge difference in your system’s performance.

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Scared that you might get fooled by a worm on April Fool’s Day?

Security alerts have been blinking since last week, warning users of another strike by a new strain of the Conficker worm on the first day of April. The C-strain is expected to be more resilient than the previous ones, making it hard to detect or remove. An infection will most probably be fatal as it would require you to reformat your hard drive in order to completely eradicate the bug.

While antivirus and anti spyware makers are sounding the alarm, all you need to do in order to avoid being a victim is to be extra vigilant in checking the files that you download, the Web sites that you visit, and the portable storage devices that you attach to your computer via USB or Bluetooth.

Microsoft has already released patches and updates that could ward off a Conficker attack. If your OS is receiving automatic updates from its maker, then chances are is that you’re already protected. Of course, Windows cannot stave off an attack alone. A good and reputable antivirus software would be an excellent (and indispensable) complement to the built-in defenses of your operating system.

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Should you get excited over the impending release of Internet Explorer 8?

Microsoft says that you should. For one thing, it claims that IE 8 outpaces and outshines the other browsers in terms of security. Redmond also boasts that it’s definitely faster than its predecessor, IE 7.

Of course, we all know that Microsoft will say anything to catapult their new browser to the top of the chain. Bill Gates’ guys will be harking hallelujah today until next week over the birth of their new creation. However, it’s very likely that they’ll tone down by the end of the month when bugs begin to surface. By April, tech bloggers might start to encourage people to go back to IE 7.

I’m not saying that IE 8’s edge over IE 7 is only skin-deep. Indeed, the guys working for Bill didn’t spend years mulling over 0s and 1s just to come up with new cosmetics for Internet Explorer. There is definitely an improvement in security and speed.

While many of you may have apprehensions on upgrading to IE 8, a greater number of Web surfers are eager and curious to give the new browser a try. I’m one of them. We might end up complaining to Microsoft about crashes and slow browsing speeds, but in the end, giving IE 8’s maker a daily piece of our mind will eventually benefit us in the long run as patches will surely be released to appease us.

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When shopping for a wireless router, the first detail that you’ll most likely look for is its signal strength. Indeed, you wouldn’t want any dead spot ruining your 50-gigabyte download. The good news is many of today’s routers can easily blanket your house with Wi-Fi. They’re already so powerful and efficient that your next door neighbor could effortlessly pick up signals from your overzealous Wi-Fi distributor.

Unless your neighbors are as trustworthy as your dog, sharing wireless Internet with them may not be exactly a wise move. For one thing, having too many computers sipping through your router may slowdown your surfing speed. Some ISPs are also setting limits on monthly bandwidths, so you might end up hitting your quota in just a week if you continue to be a good Samaritan to them.

But the strongest argument against sharing Wi-Fi with neighbors is the possibility of data theft. The fact that they could access your router or wireless Internet means that they could also very possibly access your computer, too.

This doesn’t mean that you should buy routers that have weak signals. If you want to rival Starbuck’s Wi-Fi strength, then by all means buy the best router that your budget allows. Just make sure that you limit the number of persons who could have access to your personal network. You could easily do this by setting up a password for your router. Another method by which you could restrict or regulate access is by pre-defining the hardware which could access your network.

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As Microsoft is set to withdraw support for Windows XP, household and business users alike are starting to question the timing and propriety of the move.

Many companies are already reeling from the ongoing recession, and the last thing that they need is additional digits on their expenses sheet for OS replacement. Even sans the economic crunch, many deem a Vista shift would be needless and wasteful in view of the promising developments that Redmond is making on Windows 7.

At present, Microsoft is not blinking. If you’re still using XP and bent on sticking to it, then you have to do some serious thinking as to its feasibility. If you’re PC is like Cuba, then you’ll probably survive compatibility or support storms as you won’t be mixing much with other computers or data coming from them. But if you’re constantly interacting with PC users who have long migrated to Vista, then you really have to consider joining their club.

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If you think that the spam industry (I’m not talking about Hormel) is also experiencing a slowdown brought about by the global economic crunch, then you’ve guessed wrongly. A recent report from MessageLabs reveals that spam levels rose by 4.9 percent last month to 74.6 percent.

To give you a clue as to how significant the increase is, the Mega-D (Ozdoc) botnet sent billions of spam in January at an obnoxious rate of 26 million annoying and fraudulent emails per minute!

While e-mail service providers have hired security firms, such as Symantec, to scan mails and attachments, spammers are reinventing their pernicious creations in such a way that they could easily pass off as legitimate correspondences.

Many have complained in recent months that they’ve been fooled into signing up for stocks and other financial services by e-mails that purportedly come from banks and other known financial institutions. Distinguishing legitimate Web sites from fake ones have become more and more difficult in view of the cunning ways by which hackers make them.

Do not immediately trust the e-mails that you receive, especially if it’s an advertisement of some product or service. Scrutinize it thoroughly. If it contains an attachment, have it checked by your antivirus software first. If the source seems dubious, don’t even bother opening it. Delete it immediately.

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Have you ever tried using a public PC? Some of you might probably answer in the negative. Indeed, going to Internet cafés to surf the Web is starting to become unfashionable these days as portable computers continue to get cheaper.

But don’t expect net café’s to totally disappear soon. No matter how small PCs get, you won’t always find it convenient to carry it around with you. So there will definitely come a time when you’ll be forced to use a computer that’s not yours.

Using a public PC can be dangerous, so you’d better limit the things that you’ll do whenever you’re using one. Public computers are notorious for being a melting pot of viruses, just as public toilets are. Hundreds of people have already used it, so there’s a big chance that one of them might have introduced a worm in the system maliciously or inadvertently.

One of the things that you shouldn’t do when you’re using a computer that’s not yours is to engage in e-commerce. Whenever you buy things on the Internet, sensitive financial data will be asked of you, such as your credit card number. Many worms are embedded in public PCs that capture keystrokes, especially those that are keyed in on online stores. Unless you would want to give a virtual supplemental card to hackers, don’t conduct financial transactions on a PC that other people also use.

You should also think twice in accessing your e-mail or other accounts on a public computer. Again, malware that are designed to capture passwords are often injected into public PCs. Try to limit the things that you do in a public computer. Checking the latest NFL or NBA results is harmless. But checking your bank account balance on a net café can be suicidal.

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In case you haven’t heard yet, millions of PCs around the globe are fast succumbing to a worm that experts have yet to completely dissect.

According to F-Secure, a security software company based in the US, around 9 million computers are already playing host to the dreaded malware called “Conficker.” Millions more are expected to be infected by it in the next few days.

Little information has been unearthed as to what the virus could do. What is conclusively known, though, is that it exploits networks and servers that have not installed the latest security patches issued for Windows RPC Server Service. The fact that many antivirus programs cannot detect it also exacerbates the problem.

Conficker, which also goes by the name “Downadup,” spreads rapidly as it immediately copies itself into systems and storage devices. It’s very difficult to detect as it uses different extension names.

While security software makers appear to have been caught flatfooted, they are already laying out plans to curb the infection. Microsoft has recently announced that the latest update of its malware detection and removal tool would already be able to identify and eliminate Conficker.

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