Another Day With My PC

One of the ways by which malware could get in to your system without strict passport or visa filtering is via e-mail. Indeed, hackers don’t need to cut their way through firewalls by using this point of entry. They don’t even need to hope and pray for a security software glitch to get their creation inside one’s PC. All they have to do is cross their fingers and wish that the user is either gullible or careless.

There’s no hard and fast rule in detecting infected or malicious e-mails. Having the attachment scanned by an antivirus is the best way by which you could determine if the e-mail file is infected. However, an e-mail may have no attachment but it could still do damage. Some malicious e-mails contain links purporting to lead to clean and legitimate Web sites. Of course, the user would be lead to a bogus page where he could either be phished for information or be infected with various types of viruses or spyware through harmful ActiveX controls.

Putting a scarlet letter on filenames that are reported to be infected won’t do you too much good, either. No self-respecting hacker would give their creations on a silver platter to virus hunters. Malicious files mimic chameleons and change names all the time to escape detection.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t open your mails and resort back to your local post office like the good old days. What I’m stressing is that you shouldn’t rely on just one single malware-detection method. A combination of two or more of the means mentioned above would ensure that your computer won’t be possessed by unwanted applications through malicious e-mail attachments or links.

While faster PCs are not just about multi-core processors or RAMs the size of which rivals that of hard drives, there is no question that hardware specs are crucial in bringing out the cheetah in your system. Indeed, no matter how streamlined your programs or internal processes are, they won’t function in satisfactory speeds if the components that are running them lack stamina.

It’s already a rule of thumb that you shouldn’t scrimp on money when it comes to your PC’s processor and memory. Doing so would eventually make you feel that you bought an old unit. However, if you’re really on a very tight budget, then the hardware that you could be thrifty on is the processor. You cannot cut down on RAM. Your quad-core CPU would perform like a Celeron if it doesn’t have enough memory to carry out instructions or algorithms.

Of course, a multi-core PC that flaunts 10GB of memory would look like it’s running on old Cyrix chips if it’s laden with malware. You’ll be very surprised at how 500-KB applications could slow down monster PCs. Hence, you shouldn’t also sew your wallet when it comes to antivirus and registry cleaner programs. Believe me, you’ll eventually wish that you should’ve spent more when your PC drags you down with disappointing performance due to malware infection or hardware deficiencies.

Believe it or not, the number of people that are starting to think that malware attacks are loosing steam is growing. Many cite the fact that the incidence of hard drive wipe outs are diving to their lowest levels since the PC became a common household appliance.

While it is true that data wipe outs are not that rampant anymore, this doesn’t mean that malware infection is going down, too. Gone are the days when all hackers do is try to wreak havoc to your system by offering to reformat or clean your storage device for free. Aside from the fact that it isn’t fun to make somebody’s life miserable anymore, such deed also nets zero profit.

What hackers are trying to do right now is to get data rather than eradicate them. Indeed, information-gathering is a very profitable undertaking, especially if such data involves sensitive ones, such as bank account or credit card numbers.

So don’t be deceived by the seeming lack of hard drive wipe outs during the past few years. The danger hasn’t passed, and we’re not experiencing the calm before the storm either. The calm is the storm! The malware of old is very different from the ones that are trying to get into our PC at present. The unwanted applications that we’re fending off right now work discreetly, looking for data that could turn zeroes and ones to $1s with 0s.

If the claims and ads of antivirus software makers are to be believed, then all that separates us from a Trojan-free PC is $19.99 + VAT. Indeed, almost all security suites claim that they could prevent malware infection by up to 99.9%. However, as many of you might have already noticed, that .01% that’s unaccounted for almost always stands out.

I guess I’ve already told you a couple of times already that the battle against malicious programs should not be left to security suites alone. They can’t ward off all attacks, especially if the user is careless and gullible enough to click on every pop up or ad that tickles his fancy.

Every program must be conscripted in the fight against computer viruses. I’m not saying that Microsoft should include a virus-scanning feature on Excel or Powerpoint. That would be absurd (but somewhat cool, don’t you think?). Each application could contribute to the fight by keeping their fences intact, meaning that every hole or weak spot in their algorithms should be patched.

The most important application that should be patched well is the Web browser. We all know that browsers serve as our PCs gate to cyberspace, and we all know, too, that cyberspace has lots of tiny programs that bear crossbones tattoos.

Hence, when choosing a browser, pick the one that has an extra layer of cement on their wall. Mozilla and Opera have already acknowledged their products’ role and responsibility in the fight against malware by incorporating antiphishing functions, as well as anti-pop up features. Microsoft would also be photocopying the same features in the final version of Internet Explorer 8.

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.

Once in a while, some of us install old applications to bring back a part of the good old days. I’m sometimes guilty of clearing a few megabytes in my hard drive for circa 1990 software, some of them even DOS-based.

Nostalgia isn’t the only reason why some people are resurrecting old programs. For those who abhor the clutter of options that software-makers litter in their creations, it is indeed not surprising why a good number of PC users are missing the old applications that are simpler and easier to use.

While it would seem that breathing life back to your outdated programs may be harmless, analysts are discouraging using old software. For one thing, installing them might just induce migraine as new operating systems don’t support obsolete applications anymore.

But the real reason why experts advise users not to reinstall old programs is because they could chisel a hole in your computer’s wall. Malware could easily exploit the security gaps that unpatched software creates. Although program makers regularly releases security patches or updates, they usually do so only to products that have been recently released. Very few would even bother putting a band aid on apps that were issued more than 10 years ago.

Be very careful then when reinstalling or running programs that are not supported by their makers anymore. If you’re bent on using old software again, try to look first on the Internet for patches or updates. If there are none, then don’t connect to the Internet whenever you’re using them as malware in cyberspace could smell unpatched software from thousands of virtual miles away.

One of the wonderful things that wireless technology has brought us is Bluetooth. I’m sure many of you have already heard of this innovation. Bluetooth is a wireless protocol which allows devices to communicate or connect with each other. While signal coverage is generally limited, it’s versatile enough to handle a variety of devices. It works similarly with infrared technology, albeit the former features a broader range and could handle greater volumes of data.

Cutting the Tentacles

Bluetooth has freed computers and other devices from the tentacles of wires and cables that normally accompany them.  You could now attach devices to your PC without tripping on their long and ugly appendages.  It makes desktops less cluttered and enables laptops to be truly mobile. Mobile phone users also owe a great deal of comfort and freedom to this innovation as hands-free devices, such as earphones, connects to your cellphone without requiring anything in between them

Not Perfect

Of course, no innovation is free from limitations. As had been said earlier, Bluetooth devices could only be united up to a certain distance. Old versions can only tie both gadgets up to a meter. The latest ones, though, could put an invisible extension cord of up to a hundred meters.

Bluetooth was built to build personal networks, not to host wide areas and a multitude of devices. This limitation is what differs it from Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi has the capacity and is primarily meant to blanket large areas. It can host and serve numerous devices that need access to the Internet. Bluetooth was never meant to serve this need.

Security Concerns

As Bluetooth bridges computers to other devices, hackers could exploit this invisible highway by letting malicious data traverse it. Indeed, introducing malware through Bluetooth connection is a no-brainer. There is no need for the user to define access points or provide IP addresses. Bluetooth devices are already programmed to detect similar apparatuses. Connection could be immediately established by just a touch of a button. Sometimes, mere proximity is what all it takes for a road between the contraptions to be built.

Fortifications

This doesn’t mean that Bluetooth is a very unsafe communication tool. As with any other network, Bluetooth connection could be made restrictive. Make sure that you alter the settings of your device in such a way that you would always be prompted whenever another Bluetooth appratus tries to connect with yours. Don’t just accept any file or data that is being sent to you via this connection unless you’re absolutely sure about the integrity of the source. Create pass codes or passwords. This wall will be your first line of defense.

Breach

Even the most vigilant person could not prevent every attempt by hackers to get a hold of his Bluetooth device. Therefore, antivirus and registry cleaner software are indispensable. These programs complement your other filters and will ensure that your device’s fortification is strong and that even in case of breach, damage could be prevented or at least be controlled.

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.

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.

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.