Happy Halloween, folks! I’m sure you look great in your costumes. It’s fun mirroring your favorite caped comic book heroes or their respective nemeses. In my case, I’m dressed as a zombie. Just a generic one, though. I can’t think of a specific and well known undead villain by DC or Marvel.

Speaking of zombies, do you know that malware could turn your PC into one? Zombies look alive from the outside, but they are actually rotting inside. People who are “undead” are not the same persons as they were before. Likewise, computers that got bitten by spyware or viruses are not what they used to be anymore. They are already slow, prone to crashes, and worse, they seem to be controlled by an unknown being.

Don’t let your PC get possessed by unwanted software. An infected computer slows down and functions as if it is being used by another person. This is because modern spyware not only corrupts data, but it also grants hackers access to your system so that they’ll be able to gather sensitive data. Hence, make sure that you have ghost-busting tools installed in your PC, such as an antivirus and a registry cleaner software.

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If you think that this is the ultimate insult to Vista Ultimate, then you need to think again. That joke has already been played even before the new Microsoft OS was released, so its scathing effect has already been blunted. Redmond was also expecting remarks to this effect, too. What it didn’t expect, though, is for PCs to be still running on XP long after Vista has been released.

Indeed, persisting consumer skepticism, along with claims that Vista Ultimate performs below par compared to its predecessor, is the ultimate slap to its authors. Snide remarks on Vista’s price tag are nothing compared to comments as to its real value.

I don’t know how long PC users would continue to doubt or question the need to shift to the new Microsoft OS. XP’s not getting any younger, though. Time will definitely come when all PCs will ultimately be under Vista Ultimate’s realm…that is if a new Microsoft OS won’t jump over it.

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How many times have Windows crashed on you? I bet it’s twice the digits of your favorite basketball player’s jersey number. While Microsoft futilely denies it, their operating systems are prone to seizures, leaving the user helpless and dumbfounded during attacks or glitches.

However, to its credit, Redmond is continuously trying to avoid painting your screen blue whenever its OS stumbles upon something that makes it cough. Patches are regularly issued, while malicious software removal tools are being shipped with the updates.

What Microsoft isn’t directly addressing, though, is its operating system’s inability to flush out the remains of outdated or deleted programs in the registry. The program’s ineptness to deal with the problem has caused it to sometimes carry bricks when the actual load should only be pebbles.

This is the reason why RegCure is essential. It fills in the holes left open by Microsoft. The fact that the registry is a very vital organ in your system makes a registry cleaner indispensable. With RegCure installed, you could ensure that the featured cartoon in this post remains funny.

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There used to be a time when OS X seemed too impregnable for viruses and other types of malware. Mac users used to pride their machines as something that doesn’t need an antivirus.

Things have changed since then. The Mac’s rapidly increasing popularity has made it the Apple of every hacker’s eyes. Indeed, the major reason why malicious programmers have focused on Windows is because it’s the most widely-used operating system.

It’s only a matter of time when OS X would become as troublesome and problematic as Redmond’s OS . I don’t know if Apple will be able to ward off attacks from all sides. Maybe it will. But this doesn’t mean that you should just lean on your OS X’s maker for security. Start building a wall on your Mac as early as now by installing the necessary security suites that commonly litter Windows-based PCs. Antivirus and registry cleaner software are must haves.

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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.

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As computer literacy continues to rise among kids ages 7 and below, I can’t help but wonder if we’ll still see kids playing out on the lawn this summer. Many children are now into online games, preferring to play with other kids on the Internet rather than on the streets.

I’m not sure if this trend could be immediately curbed. The fact that everything can be or is already being done on the Internet makes parents quite adamant in slowing down their children’s curiosity towards the PC. I agree.

While it is indeed wise to allow our kids to explore the Internet, we must ensure that their online time or experience is not hampered by bothersome pop ups or computer hiccups. Kids do have very short patience and a little glitch could make them shun the PC and hit the TV instead. Install PC safeguards, such as an antivirus program and a registry cleaner. This would definitely make their surfing time safe and seamless.

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Don’t you find it amazing that kids as young as 3 years old are already tapping their fragile fingers at keyboards? Let’s face it, generation X, Y, and the coming Zs will be exposed to computers as early as their first year outside the womb.

Time will come when kids at primary school will be more literate than us when it comes to computers. Whether or not their first experience with the PC will be pleasant or frustrating depends largely on us adults. We all know that malicious and pernicious materials abound in the Web, and we can’t monitor or filter everything that they read, see, or download in cyberspace.

One of the best ways by which we could ensure that they won’t stray to forbidden Web sites is by installing applications that restrict child movement in cyberspace. This also protects them from logging on to Web sites that disseminate files that are infected with malware.

Invest in programs that put virtual barb wire around your PC whenever it’s connected to the Internet. Antivirus and registry cleaners are must haves. As for Web site filters, there are various applications available in the market. Check your Web browser’s maker if they’re offering a free add-on or built-in filter. This could save you a few bucks. But don’t scrimp on security software, though. They are very good investments.

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While everybody’s worrying about spyware and viruses lurking around in cyberspace, many are overlooking or taking for granted another predator, one that’s more tangible.

Let’s face it, all the antivirus and anti-spyware programs on earth could never protect you from a colleague or a family member who tiptoes into your table and uses your PC for a few minutes. Those few minutes might seem inconsequential and harmless, but then again, it only takes one click and a few seconds for a malware that’s resting on an infected Web site or downloaded file to wreak everything inside your hard drive.

Always protect your computer from unauthorized users by activating and creating a password in your BIOS and OS. There are other programs that also offer gate-keeping services that you might want to consider. Passwords may not protect you from malicious programs, but it can certainly prevent malicious users from introducing unwanted programs into your PC.

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It’s Friday folks… have a laugh!

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It’s Friday folks… have a laugh!

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