Another Day With My PC

It’s Christmas Eve. The last thing that I should be doing is discussing PC problems with you guys. However, I can’t contain my excitement in sharing with you the gifts that I think I would be receiving.

On top of my list is a Mac notebook. Although many consider a Mac as a novelty rather than as a real functioning computer, I’m still excited with the thought of owning one. I’ve never had a Mac desktop or notebook before. My first PC was a 386SX clone. My mom almost bought me a Mac, but unfortunately (or fortunately), it was the Intel-based unit that was on sale.

While the PC and the Mac are starting to blend or morph into something that could seamlessly work together, differences still abound. This makes file sharing very difficult. And since 95% of the computers in the office are PC-based, the chances of successfully or productively using a Mac at the office are as slim as the latter’s new notebook.

Another present that I think I would be getting is a copy of Vista Ultimate. What I have in my new notebook is just a registered copy of Vista Home Basic. While the copy has already satisfied my curiosity as to how the new Microsoft OS looks and feels, it hasn’t allayed my fears with regard to dependability. If just for my peace of mind, I want the full (licensed, of course) copy Vista.

The license of my other system and security suites are already expiring, so I guess a good present for myself would be a new set of PC defenders. I’m thinking of trying a new antivirus for a change. Norton has already been my companion for almost a decade. While many regard it as the most reliable antivirus in the market, many are complaining that it’s making their system slow. I might try McAfee’s. Hmm maybe I’ll even try the freeware available in www.cnet.com or www.pcworld.com.

All of these might just be wishful thinking, though. I haven’t seen any box under our tree yet. Who knows, I might just be receiving gift checks or coffee mugs (again). I guess I’ll just be getting software license renewals (from me!!). While I may be contemplating on changing my antivirus, I will definitely be retaining my registry cleaner. RegCure has effectively kept my PC free from unwanted instructions brought about by malware attack or incomplete uninstall procedures.

My friends at the office usually wonder as to why their unit runs slower than mine considering that we’re using the same type of laptop. Even the applications that we have are also the same, except for the registry cleaner. The antivirus came in free when our boss gave the laptops to us. However, that was the only sentinel that came with the unit. My officemates were already contented in having a lone antivirus to protect their unit. I wasn’t. Judging by the way our units are running, I could definitely conclude that an antivirus is not enough in keeping and protecting a computer from things that could slow it down.

Many hesitate to invest in antivirus and system tool programs because they cost money. They contend and complain that they have already spent a fortune on important and indispensable applications, such as the operating system, spreadsheet, and word-processing software. However, the misconception as to the dispensability of security suites and other applications that keep your PC in tip top shape has rudely awakened many who fell victim to malware.

Sure, some may contend that they could easily reformat their hard drive and just reinstall all their applications. This would save you from spending a few bucks on security apps, but it will definitely not save you from headaches and from wasting precious time in bringing back everything you’ve previously got in your PC. You might be able to install the programs back, but what about the more important ones – the paper that that you’ve worked on for weeks, or those pictures of your family that you cherish.

Sooner or later, you’ll forget to back up your important files. And when lady luck turns on you, you might end up facing a malware attack without any kind of protection during that time when you forgot to make a copy of all the valuables that you have inside your hard drive. Don’t wait for this to happen. What’s a few bucks for an antivirus or for a registry cleaner. Those few dollars could go a very long way in securing your priceless possessions that are stored inside your computer.

It seems that anything that could access the Internet or has a computer processor could be used to hack or crack passwords.

A research study conducted by Nick Breese revealed that a seemingly harmless electronic gadget such as the PlayStation 3 could be used to crack passwords. The project has also shown that breaking into sites or accounts padlocked by passwords could be done faster in Sony’s gaming console.

Some might question the use of the study. There are people in the IT industry which deplores the release of such reports as it might encourage others to try the pernicious act or trade. Their fears may seem founded, especially since many curious minds are just in their early 20s. It should be noted that a good number of those who own gaming consoles belong to the said age bracket.

While security freaks like me abhor the publication of such studies, many also treat it as a challenge to put more cement on their PCs’ defenses. There’s really no excuse anymore to dispense with critical security suites and system tools, such as McAfee’s Virus Scan and RegCure. Your PC won’t last long, or at least you’re sanity won’t, when dozens of unwanted malware starts taking control of your system.

Unless you’re living in Tibet, it’s very obvious that the society we’re living in is highly commercialized. Just look around and you’ll see that almost every square inch of space in your town is littered with advertisements. Don’t be surprised if one day your mailbox might already be sponsored by Marlboro or McDonald’s.

Surprisingly though, there are more freebies today than there were several decades ago. However, costless products or services always have a catch. The drawbacks are sometimes negligible, but they should be a cause for concern just the same.

Dangerously Free

I’m sure you’re all aware by now of the efforts by businesses and governments in providing free wireless Internet access to citizens, patrons, or any person who might sojourn in their area. This costly (and costless) advertisement is a hit among those who treat their laptop as their office. Many coffee shops that banner “free wi-fi” signs on their doors are always full to the brim. It would thus seem that it’s a win-win situation for both the shop owner and the customer. But is it?

The cost of maintaining or providing free wireless Internet access is not cheap. Business establishments spend a lot in subscribing for the service, as well as for the maintenance of the transmitters in their area. Naturally, they would do whatever it takes to bring the operating costs down. Guess what’s the first one on their list that they’ll cross out in order to keep subscription and maintenance expenses down?

Not Secured

When network analysts first exposed the vulnerable condition of wireless networks as far as security is concerned, many weren’t that surprised anymore. It’s already common knowledge that adding and maintaining security features on networks cost money. Hence, it could be fairly expected that free Wi-Fi access is not bulletproof. If stringent measures would be provided to keep the network safe from hackers, then offering the access for free may not be feasible anymore.

It’s Not Only About the Money

Don’t think that Starbucks is that hesitant in shelling out a few hundred or thousands of bucks just so that you’ll be able to check your e-mail without ending up exposing it to someone who shouldn’t be looking at or reading it in the first place. I’m sure business establishments have the means or extra resources in order to enhance the security of their wireless Internet access system. However, doing so might actually turn off customers than entice them to have a cup while enjoying the free service.

Setting up a secured network would mean putting up too many checkpoints for the user. Barbed-wired Internet access systems require users to submit to numerous verification procedures. By the time they’re through with the process, they’re coffee might already need some reheating.

Free Wi-Fi access is great. However, as with all things that are free, there are certainly some hitches. A security lapse is certainly not a negligible trade off. However, this shouldn’t deter you from enjoying the free offer. Just make sure that you have a fairly good security suite and system tools installed in your PC, such as a registry cleaner. Avoid processing sensitive data while connected on an unsecured network, too. By undertaking these precautionary measures, there’s no reason why you should not be able to enjoy your cup of coffee while opening your e-mail or browsing through the latest NBA or NFL scores on the Internet.

After spending a fortune on Windows Vista, you might think that your wallet may not be able to churn out a few bucks for other applications anymore. You may brag all you like on having the latest operating system, but it would practically mean nothing if you don’t have other programs. PCs can’t live on OS alone, you know?

While it may seem unlikely to others, there are many Vista freebies on the Internet. While the quantity and quality may not be as good as those available for XP, Vista apps are fast catching up with software made for its predecessor.

While many of you might be rummaging through the Web for free Vista games or media players, bespectacled techie persons, such as yours truly, are usually scouring for system tools and other utilities that could help us go around the new OS.

One such application that almost made me shout, Eureka!, is TweakVista. This free (trial) software allows you to go through and around Vista without a sweat. This tool from Stardock allows you to do a myriad of things, such as monitor system resources, optimize memory usage and CPU performance, and conduct benchmarking tasks.

While it may not be as sophisticated as Norton’s Systemworks, it has enough features that could help you get out of the forest if you ever (and you most probably will) get lost navigating around Vista. Of course, as PCs don’t live on Vista alone, it could not function reliably and efficiently without other system maintenance tools, such as registry cleaners. Security suites are also must-haves, too.

There are other free system tools available for Vista on the Web. Finding them might be tricky, but it will get a lot easier over time as software makers are doubling their efforts in complementing the new OS with their products.

What does it take to create your very own computer virus?

Back in the 80s when the PC was just starting to make its way into ordinary people’s homes, computer viruses were often mistaken as also the ones that make us sneeze or induce us to cough. Some were not even aware of its existence. If a program crashes due to a virus infection, many just thought that the software expired or just naturally got corrupted. Needless to say, antivirus programs were also not fashionable during the time when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were the reigning kings of the NBA.

Coke-Bottle Glasses a Prerequisite

Programmers or software authors were thought to be computer science majors or math geeks who have too much grudge on the world. Everything about the computer back then was esoteric. Many harbored the belief that one has to have an IQ of 500 in order to make one simple program. You might think that such a thought is an exaggeration, but in a way, they were partly right.

The programming language that software authors preferred at that time was the Assembly Language. Purists explain that it’s the language that computers speak since it mainly deals with numbers, the only characters that PCs understand. Only seasoned programmers could create applications using that language. This difficulty warded off many aspiring virus authors. While there are a significant number of people who wants to know what it’s like to wreak havoc to other people’s systems, only a few have the persistence and the talent to pursue such a pernicious goal.

Breeding Snakes

In a bid to spur interest in computer programming, software makers released programming languages that are more user-friendly. Since then, the number of persons who knows how to create applications has increased astronomically. While many of them are not that knowledgeable enough to create spyware, viruses, and other malicious applications, the few who does are enough to cause global headaches.

Most of the novices who attempt to create malicious applications end up seeing their creations crushed by antivirus and anti-spyware applications. Virus and spyware authors have to create a more cunning design in order to camouflage their malware from PC sentinels.

One Stop Shop

At present, one does not need to read programming books as thick as the white pages in order to create something that could make your hard drive spin like crazy. A programming kit is currently circulating around the Web that allows a person to exploit holes and weaknesses in Windows, WinZip, QuickTime, and Web pages. The destructive kit could easily be used by ordinary persons. Of course, this tool is not available on e-Bay or on any online store. It’s sold in cyberspace’s black market, with the price tag pegged at $400. The application works by identifying holes or weaknesses in Web sites. It then exploits gaps by allowing the user to control or take over the vulnerable pages. He could then modify the site so that it may control the PCs that log on or visit the page.

It would seem that every Web site could be a potential booby trap. Don’t allow your system to fall victim, or worse, be a host to malicious programs. Invest on an antivirus, registry cleaner, and other system tools. As the saying goes, a megabyte of prevention is better than a gigabyte of cure

Many PC users are now realizing the importance of system tools. There used to be a time when computer repair and maintenance were delegated to professionals or persons other than the owner of the unit. That might have been understandable several years ago due to the lack of or complexity of the programs that were written for the elimination of viruses or debugging of software.

Things have significantly changed as far as ease of use of system utilities is concerned. For example, cleaning the Windows registry is not as esoteric and dangerous as it previously was. Before the advent of registry cleaners, many PC users had to reload their back up system files or conduct a system-restore procedure in order to escape the disastrous effect of the unauthorized or erroneous changes in their registry. The method was obviously tedious, not to mention ineffective since the unwanted instructions might have already been in the registry long before the creation of the restore point.

System tools are a must for every user, even for those who think that they have no business in tinkering with the settings or files of their PC. Being your own PC technician is not as hard as it may seem, especially with the help of utility programs that fixes things in just a click of a button.

Now this is something Microsoft would love to gloat upon.

Apple has just revealed that it would be releasing patches for the MAC OS X. The affected versions include 10.3.9 and 10.4.9, covering both the standard and server editions for each version.

The patch reinforces the defenses of the Apple operating system by closing the doors on hackers which use PDF files to crash its host or make it execute malicious instructions. It also includes band aids from Fetchmail, Bind, and GNU Screen. The process involved in downloading and installing them is pretty much the same to that of Windows’.

Many wonder why the OS X doesn’t receive waves of patches unlike its more popular counterpart. If you’re an XP user, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Microsoft releases dozens of updates every week, mostly addressing security concerns. While it’s comforting to know that Microsoft is relentless in putting bricks and cement to its besieged product, you might also wonder if Windows is really or will ever be secured at all.

Downloading and installing patches are not enough as far as protecting your PC is concerned. You will definitely need the help of third-party system tools to keep your PC free from malware. Registry cleaners and Antivirus programs are must-haves. Hackers often target the registry since it controls or is the repository of all instructions that should be executed by the computer. Hence, make sure that you’re registry is not possessed by viruses or other malicious programs.

• Nov 21 : Microsoft Delays IE8 Release
• Nov 19 : Mac Fans are Just as Vulnerable as PC Users
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• Nov 17 : Geneva Sound Systems Releases a Funky iPod Speaker
• Nov 14 : BlackBerry Storm Comes in Nov. 21