Seems everybody is out for cheap deals on just about everything and who wouldn’t be in this recession where cash is hard to come by and jobs are being shed by the thousands. Now, there are truly some honest cell phone deals out there but you have to be sure you’re getting the right stuff. Having the latest phone gadget might be one thing but keeping that new phone secure from hacks is another. Sure you can get it cheap from the internet but how sure are you you’re getting the real stuff.
Criminals are becoming craftier than ever and they have even managed to copy branded products complete with all the security stickers and holographic security seals with them. They can also be pre-loaded with malware for the amount of computing power they pack is enough to emulate an ultraportable, in function that is. Just how dangerous are these hacking attempts, for mobile devices using Windows very dangerous for there is a group bent on exacting damage on the software giant.
ensuring you have the latest updates to your operating system is vital to maintaining your ability to fend off attacks. Having intrusion prevention systems installed is also a good thing for like your PC, they also need protection. Given the power of these gadgets and their ability to connect to the internet, they are not immune to attack. Let’s set this as an example, an unprotected PC connected to the internet for the first time will last an average of 15 minutes before it is hacked and compromised. Now you do the math for your mobile!
Protect Yourself Against The Conficker Worm
There are worms and there are worms. This worm, dear friends, seems to be making more noise than usual. In fact, since the Conficker worm was detected in October of 2008, it has affected more than 9 millions computers worldwide. In fact, Christopher Null over at Yahoo Tech says that the situation has gotten so bad that the numbers might have reached 15 to 20 million by now!
So how do you make sure you are protected? Here are some ways by which you can make sure that the Conficker worm will not get into your system.
First, it is important to understand that this worm takes advantage of security holes in Microsoft Windows – so what’s new? What you should make sure of is that your Windows is updated. Go to Microsoft and make sure that you have an updated patch that will resolve this issue.
Another thing that you can do is to disable autorun for CDs and USBs. The Conficker worm is a self-replication program and can spread through a network or removable disks. As such, when plugging in any removable device, you can take on the added protection by NOT having autorun on.
The good news is that home networks are relatively safe from the worm. This is due to the fact that firewalls and similar protection are often set in place. Do not be complacent, however, especially if you use your laptop outside of your home.
Good luck protecting your PC against this worm!
Scan your Computer Online
If you are apprehensive regarding the competence of your current anti-virus software, do not fret. You can replace it with another one as long as you want but eventually you will grow tired of choosing which is really reliable. With that said, what would be a good alternative?
Online scanning has been around and while many don’t trust them, at least there is a separate device that can thoroughly check your computer and see if there are issues as far as viruses and malware is concerned. For sure, you will be getting reports on which files may need scrutiny. There will be definitely some high risk files, normally found in the cookies or temporary Internet folder, that can be detected.
Now comes the hard part. When they detect these malicious files, they can clean it as well. But before that happens, you have to pay them a hefty sum to do it. The scanning part is the freebie, it is the cleaning that will really cost you.
It is a familiar site we see from trialware software. Before you can enjoy the full protection, you have to register and pay for it. The same is the concept of online scanning services. Panda Software, McAfee and so on have been offering this service and they are surely better and safer.
Accuracy is not a problem. You can even see for yourself by basing the performance after it has been cleaned. You may be surprised to find that your computer operates faster than before. Perhaps because the malicious files are gone which are slowing your computer? You Bet!
MacGuard Posing as Malware for MACS
The last thing you would hate is being taken for a ride as far as antivirus software is concerned. Antivirus protection is an important need in the world of computing and the last thing you would want to find out is that there are strings attached such as Malware.
MACS are known to be less prone to viruses. But that does not mean that MAC owners are taking viruses lightly. At the rate that viruses are being developed to invade various technology gadgets and software, it is just a matter of time before a virus infects a MAC.
There is software that is being marketed as a MAC antivirus software. However, there is something that more to it. In fact, you may even do harm to your computer by installing it and it goes by the name of MacGuard.
Actually, the MacGuard is just a clone to that fake Windows Security Software called Winiguard. WiniGuard is known for tricking users into buying it by serving up fake spyware alerts, and there’s no real reason to think that MacGuard does anything different or useful.
MacGuard also has the potential to bring other malware on to your system, so I’d recommend taking a pass on it and sticking with some well-known antivirus software (Norton, McAfee) if you’re concerned about the security of your system.
Controlled Entry: Are they Worth the Discomfort?
For many people, adding technology is not always like a bed of roses. In fact, heightened security measures like eye scanners and thumb print access do not sit that well with them. Apparently there are people who want to be on time for appointments or simply by their desk at record time. With these new gadgets, they have to consider some time constraints since verification must be done before they are granted entry.
But much of this is not really to make lives hard. It is meant for sectional security. Any part of an office today is really important. These measures were normally restricted to the computer rooms where servers have to be heavily safeguarded. These days, it goes as far as the main entrance of a building.
While many consider them as discomforts, there are for safety measures not only for the company but for personal interests as well. When something goes wrong these days, suspects and culprits are enumerated. Through this added security, the list goes down and may even exclude innocent people who were not even around during occurrence.
A little bit of consideration is in order though. Personal access also includes the diligence to ensure that you don’t go out sharing the same with other people your access codes or passwords. That is a cardinal sin. If through this effort an authorized user is unable to safeguard his access, then it can only lead to trouble and perhaps put him in a deeper hole.
Users Should Set their Passwords Independently
As far as security when it comes to computer or network access is concerned, does the real beef in being safe and secure really lie in passwords? There are about billions of potential combinations before a hacker can be able to find out your password but just the same, there are other ways to get it like phishing or probably common passwords that some take for granted these days.
Unless you have been among the many victims of being hacked for access on certain programs or events, chances are you may not even care if and when another person would suddenly gather interest in hacking your account. Surely, not all people may have something interesting to go all through the trouble of but just the same, the bragging rights and distinction of being able to crack the access granted to a certain program, site or email is still vulnerable.
Passwords are slowly losing their use. They are indeed security precautions but perhaps the best person to make sure that they still serve their purpose would be the person who is given access. It is not all about making it hard to guess but making sure that you are the only one who knows it by heart and mind.
Also, do not be content with being assigned one. You should have the freedom to set your own password without anyone knowing it. This is one thing about security administration these days. Administrators should not be the only one to set passwords but the actual users themselves.