Another Day With My PC

Programming is not that esoteric. While applications are made up of ones and zeroes, modern programming tools or languages already allow us to create software using words that do not compete with Morse codes as far as understandability is concerned.

Many of today’s viruses or spyware infect programs by inserting seemingly meaningless words or series of characters into the lines that make up the application. If you want a hands-on experience in removing malicious codes, then you could do so by opening up the program into its bare essentials. All you have to do thereafter is to look for the line that is not included in the original make up of the software. This may seem easy if the lines or codes are just a page long. However, most applications nowadays contain kilometers of programming sentences.

Malware that strikes Windows registries also perform their pernicious act in similar fashion. You may remove the malicious line or instruction by yourself without the aid of any tool, but this is very dangerous as any erroneous alteration could lead to a system crash. This is the reason why you should leave Windows registry cleaning to RegCure. RegCure eliminates unwanted instructions inside your system’s registry, thereby enhancing your PC’s performance and ensuring the integrity of your operating system.

Do you know what endorphins are?

Endorphins are euphoria-inducing neurotransmitters that act as natural anesthetics. They’re also considered as happy hormones or chemicals produced by the brain that make us feel good. So whenever we smile and feel good about something, chances are is that endorphins are being mixed in our system.

So what do endorphins have to do with computers?

Feeling Good

We all want to feel good and safe whenever we turn our PCs power button on. We definitely want to double that sense of security whenever we hit the power button of our modem. There are hundreds of ways by which our PC could get mangled when it’s running, so it could be surmised that our endorphin levels are dipping dangerously to the bottom whenever we’re using it, especially when we’re connected on the Internet.

Whether you’re PCs holding sensitive information or just plain old games that you could easily install if it gets corrupted, you would definitely want your system to be able to fend off attacks from malware. I know, we’ve all heard of back ups, but reinstalling data back into a freshly reformatted hard drive consumes time. And even if data back up is already as common or popular as sliced bread, not everybody eats bread.

Additional Troops

An average PC user usually just depends on an antivirus and his operating system’s firewall for security. Ordinarily, this may already be enough. However, we’re all aware of the growing threat both on software and hardware. Viruses and spyware are being manufactured everyday from different points of the globe. Hence, one might say that it’s only a matter of time before an infiltration becomes successful.

I’m fully aware of the possibility that my system would eventually succumb to an attack. However, I also know that I could beat or go against the odds or predictions by encircling my PC with barbed wire. There’s this unexplainable feeling of joy, pride, and relief whenever I could tell myself that my PC is somewhat impregnable. I usually boast to my officemates that my laptop can withstand malware attacks, even some harsh ones, considering the sentinels that I’ve installed in my system. Aside from my antivirus and the built-in firewall in my OS, I also have RegCure since many malware targets system registries.

e-endorphins

The one thing that many of us value is peace of mind. I hate worries. I always want to do things with the assurance that when something goes wrong, I could still recover what have been lost. Or better yet, I want to do things with the thought that I won’t be disrupted therefrom. This goes double whenever I’m using my PC. I relish at the assurance that I’ll be able to recover what I would lose in case my system crashes. But the very thing that makes me feel secured is the thought that my computer would be able to withstand any attack against it.

Life is stressful enough to make room for a couple of more worries. Insurance companies often make this point in order to sell their products. And believe me, they do have a point. In the same manner, makers of security software and system tools assure people a considerable degree of confidence and assurance whenever they put their life in the hands of their PCs.

Inject a good amount of endorphins in your system by injecting a registry cleaner and an antivirus in your PC. These applications are not just mere placebos. They are up to the task of ensuring that the smile plastered on your face whenever you venture into cyberspace is justified.

Talk about one-upping malware authors.

Microsoft recently blew two bombs on its face that were originally intended for its enemies. The patches that it recently released to bolster the security of its latest Web browser turned out to be the more dangerous threat to its customers’ systems. The first killer pill that it released was supposed to be its answer to threats from Web pages that have infected COM objects. Users who log on or browse through these infected sites could inadvertently allow other people to take control of their PC. The second one deals with Internet Explorer 7’s property method.

Freeze!

There were no figures given as to how many users were affected by the poisoned patches. Vista users who have downloaded and installed it might experience a system freeze or crash. The problem is caused by IE 7’s inability to utilize or recognize the changes in the location of Window’s Temporary Internet Files folder.

Vista users are not the only ones affected by the problem. Reports say that Windows XP SP2, 2000 SP4, and Server 2003 users might not be able to access Windows or Microsoft Update after they’ve installed the defective patches.

Earnest Effort

We all know that Microsoft is always frantically plugging holes in its products, especially in its operating systems. Sometimes the Redmond company finishes first. Of course, that isn’t usually the case. Many of the tears in its applications are usually discovered after they’ve been exploited. Hence, they usually release patches or updates with a red face.

I pity the programmers at Microsoft for always being blamed for everything that goes wrong with XP and Vista. Sure, they’re the ones who have created it. However, bugs and glitches are already indelible facts of computing life. People shouldn’t be too harsh in condemning software authors for their PC mishaps.

I’m not saying that programmers should be exonerated for all the imperfections of their creations, though. As every product has a warranty that it’s free from defects, or at least that a solution would be provided for by the manufacturer should an inherent defect be found, it’s only right that software makers should continuously see to it that their products would be able to function despite the threats around it. Updates or patches are great ways by which application authors warrant the viability of their goods.

Goodwill

The task or responsibility of a manufacturer towards its product doesn’t end upon the ringing of the cash register. It’s not enough that it should see to it that its creation meets the expectations of the consumer. Many companies are investing on ways by which they would be able to make their old customers feel that they’ve made the right choice when they bought the product. Releasing patches or updates is one of the ways by which businesses, especially software companies, could assure their customers that the product that they’ve bought will be able to sail through any contingency that might not have been possible or perceived during the time the program was originally released.

YouTube isn’t rushing to filter out copyright-protected materials in its database, and I’m sure we all know why.

Copyright owners are crying foul over the popular video-sharing Web site’s refusal or lack of effort to install programs that would sort out protected contents from its catalog. They are accusing YouTube of willfully allowing Intellectual Property Rights infringement by turning a blind eye on the illegal downloading or showing of licensed materials.

The Google subsidiary is denying the accusations, saying that it cannot install the technology because it is partly defective. The search engine giant’s Google Video is also on the watch list of various entertainment and media groups for copyright infringement.

“Doable”

While the Herculean task of filtering YouTube’s database seems to be impossible, copyright owners insist that it is not. In fact, some video-sharing Web sites have already implemented a technology that could do just that. YouTube’s competitors, such as Dailymotion.com, Guba, and Eyespot have already incorporated the innovation into their systems. Microsoft’s own video-sharing service has also started to appease copyright owners by screening its database’s contents.

The technology that is being used by YouTube’s counterparts works by creating a digital ID of a video. The Web site’s database then looks for the video that matches the ID and removes or prohibits its download or display without the consent of the copyright owner.

Still on its Infancy

The filtering system is not fool-proof, though. In fact, it failed some tests. Newteevee.com said that the program failed to detect a number of illegal downloads that they have made. However, both YouTube’s competitors and copyright owners said that the technology is still a welcome development.

Despite the installation of the new filtering system on the databases of some video-sharing Web sites, Google is still hesitant in following its competitors’ footsteps. It cited the technology’s flaws and the difficulty of implementing it in its entire network.

I’ve always advocated for the free circulation or sharing of information on the Internet. However, this should be done within the parameters set by laws. However, the problem lies not on the implementation of the laws, but on the law themselves. May are questioning of the viability or applicability of copyright laws on the Internet. The video-sharing community might get an answer from judiciary soon. Google is currently facing a $1 billion copyright infringement law suit from Viacom.

Downloading Trouble

If you’re conscious about respecting protected contents, then be your own filter by refraining from downloading licensed videos. There are thousands of alternatives on the Internet. Be very careful when downloading them, though. There are many videos which are infected with various types of malware. It’s very difficult to detect which video files are corrupted. Victims often realize too late that their PC has already been taken over by unwanted applications after downloading and playing an infected file.

If you can’t help yourself from downloading different types of files on the Internet, then at least make it a point to conduct a regular registry and virus scan on your system. An early detection of malicious codes in your Windows registry could spare you from experiencing a system crash or slowdown.

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