Entries Tagged ‘adware’

16 Oct
2009

What Are Active X Errors and How to Repair Them

Posted by Kat

Active X, or rather, ActiveX is a trademark technology created by Microsoft in which codes are automatically downloaded from web pages visited on the PC to view something or execute a function on the site.

Understanding Active X Errors
ActiveX downloads are called ActiveX controls and, as soon as they are downloaded, it becomes part of your operating system.  Errors with ActiveX are fairly uncommon, occurring not nearly as often as DLL, EXE, or Windows errors.  Here are a few examples of ActiveX errors and how to fix them:

Causes of Active X Errors
ActiveX errors occur from a number of different things.

  • Botched downloads
  • Adware/spyware integration
  • Website corruption
  • Browser errors can also affect ActiveX controls.
  • If the ActiveX control downloaded from a website crashes, it can cause an error.
  • Likewise, ActiveX controls that are downloaded along with spyware/adware and other malicious objects will infiltrate your system.  Obviously, this causes problems because nobody wants surprise malicious programs on their PC.

Prevent and Repair Active X Problems
The best and most efficient way to deal with ActiveX errors accompanied by spyware/adware is to make sure your computer is virus protected.  A good virus scan is highly suggested as well as making sure your firewall is turned on.

Repair Active X errors with the most effective tool available.  A registry cleaner will find and fix registry errors on your computer’s hard drive, including ActiveX errors.  This will help optimize PC performance and keep your computer running smoothly.


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9 Apr
2008

Adobe Releases Critical Flash Update

Posted by Kat

If you have a Flash Player plugged in to your browser, then you’d better read this.

Adobe has recently announced the release of an upgrade/patch for its graphics and video player. The company advises all Flash users to immediately shift to the latest version, 9.0.124.0, in order to avert possible malware attacks.

The patches plug the security gaps that make the player vulnerable to banner advertisements that are infected with spyware or adware. A PC that gets infected with this type of malware through the Adoble player defect could be susceptible to control by unauthorized third parties.

There have been increasing reports of bogus ad banners that are exploiting Flash’s security lapse. Infection immediately takes place once the user clicks on the malicious advertisement.

Download the upgrade immediately. Don’t be too complacent or confident simply because you have a wide range of security tools or software in your arsenal. It’s definitely better if all your bases are covered.

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7 Apr
2008

Pop Ups: Distinguishing the Good From the Bad

Posted by Ruel

It’s difficult having an obsessive-compulsive disorder. People who have this tend to repeat things needlessly or be overly cautious about something. One of the things that you’ll immediately notice in a person who has this is his penchant to always clean things. Now imagine what suspicious looking pop ups or notices could do to that person.

It’s not only obsessive-compulsive or OC persons who always feel the need to meticulously check his computer for unwanted applications. I won’t be surprised if you run your antivirus or registry cleaner once or twice daily, especially if your PC’s hard drive practically holds everything that is dear to you.

Already Taken Cared Of

Although I’m quite particular about PC cleanliness, both in and out, I don’t feel the compulsion of having to scan through my whole system everyday for viruses. For one thing, antivirus programs already do this, albeit silently in the background. Every activity in your computer is already being monitored by your security suite. You’ll most likely be prompted if the software detects any attempt to change the entries in your Windows registry or modify your other system files.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not saying that you don’t need to get directly involved in keeping your PC safe from unwanted software. All I’m saying is that you don’t need to get jumpy everytime something suspicious transpires in your computer.

Good and Bad Bacteria

Not all pop ups are caused by spyware. Although pop ups are the necessary consequence of spyware or adware infection, this is not always the case. There are some who come from legitimate applications or Web sites. It may be that the manufacturer of your operating system or other program is reminding you to update or renew its license. Reminders are often in the form of pop ups, especially if they’re urgent.

Before you press the panic button, carefully scrutinize the pop up first. Check if it’s a notice for an update. If it is, then see if you really have the software that is stated in the message. If you have that program installed, then the pop up is a legitimate notice. You don’t need to run an antivirus for that as it will most likely go away after a few appearances.

The Sign

If the notice or pop ups get too annoying for comfort, such as when it appears every minute or every hour without telling you what to do, then chances are is that your PC is infected with a spyware or adware. This is especially true of the pop up is advertising something. In this case, you’d better run a full system scan.

While PC users need to be very careful and vigilant against malicious programs, they need not be too OC about it. Running an antivirus to check on every pop up is overkill, especially if the notice is not persistent or appears to be coming from a legitimate source. Check the pop up first. A minute of scrutiny could save you from hours of needless scanning.

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24 Jan
2007

E-Diet

Posted by Kat

I’ve been looking for a healthy, but more daring chicken recipe on the Internet. Although my doctor counts chicken as a personal foul on my diet (I’m sometimes allergic to it), I can’t resist inserting one fowl dish on my daily menu. To exaggerate a bit, I think my body simply won’t function without a piece of chicken. It’s my very own operating system :)

Just as the human body can’t function without food, so does a computer without software. While you may store virtually almost anything on your hard drive, keep in mind that the files or applications that your computer runs on should be cholesterol-free. System registries, actual and virtual memories get clogged when fed with programs that are poorly written, or worse, laced with spyware or adware.

When people get sick, they take in medicine. It’s quite the same in the case of computers. If your unit gets infected with electronic worms or diseases, all you have to do is find a cure for it. Sometimes, all it takes for a PC to be up and running again is to rid its registry of needless instructions coming from parasitical files or programs.

 

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