Category Archives: Software

How Adware & Spyware & Malware Effect Your Computer

We all know that computer viruses exist and have heard the many horror tales of how they can take out thousands of computers in one shot. Unfortunately for those whose computer has been damaged by a computer virus, these tales are not only true, but very destructive and time-consuming. However, even if you know how to protect your computer from one of these malicious viruses, there are other malware programs that can be almost as damaging and is far more common. The culprits are called spyware and adware.

These irritating programs can interfere with your computer every time you jump online. Adware is more or less harmless when settled onto your computer by itself. Mostly it simply generates a lot of spam (unsolicited and unwanted email) for products that bring advertising directly to your email. Adware can also produce “popup” ads on your computer.

Spyware, however, is much more threatening and dangerous to your computer. Spyware not only floods you with advertisements, but it also accesses information on your computer and delivers it to other companies and potentially dangerous people. Additionally, spyware can change your entire computer through PC configurations which open you up to a world of trouble. Spyware is utilized by unscrupulous people as one of the main means of identity theft because it fishes information from your computer and can “learn” about almost anything you do on the Internet, then report back to the originator.

There are numerous methods for ridding your computer of spyware, but the most effective is learning to avoid it in the first place. You can begin this process by adjusting your computer settings appropriately. Depending on your operating system, you may need to do some informal reading of your system’s help files. You should find your Internet connectivity options and then look for a tab that refers to the security of your computer system. You should always adjust this to at least Medium security, or Medium-High. If you change it to High security, that setting might actually prevent you from accessing web sites that you need; so Medium is normally recommended.

You also need to ensure you have a firewall in place on your computer. A firewall is sofrware that can be configured to automatically block out unidentified programs which attempt to gain uninvited access to your computer. The parameters of your firewall are easy to set, and by doing so you allow certain programs in while keeping harmful (or questionable) ones out. Given most people’s lack of knowledge about programs that need to run on a computer, a firewall will sometimes try to block program resources that are indeed harmless. That, however, it is a small inconvenience for keeping your computer and information safe from intruders.

Lastly you certainly will need an anti-spyware program running on your computer’s background. This helpful software can be downloaded from an Internet merchant or purchased at any store selling computer software. You need a program that can detect and intercept spyware as it attempts to invade your computer; it should also have the ability to scan your computer for existing spyware and isolate it. Make sure to keep your anti-spyware program up-to-date with new daily or weekly “definition” files so that it works effectively. You never want to leave your computer unprotected and open to spyware or adware.

This article is distributed by MDofPC LLC MDofPC Custom Computers and Download Software

Protecting Your Computer From Spyware, Viruses, Malware And Other Threats

Most of us rely on our personal computers and those in our office to complete multiple tasks each day. If that data is lost or compromised it can create numerous problems for us. Protecting computers against viruses and spyware is something you should do before you start using any program on it. The information you prevent from being accessed could be your credit card accounts and bank accounts. If they are compromised you can end up becoming a victim of identity theft.

One way that people accidentally end up with viruses or spyware on their computer is by not paying attention to the sites they use. Dont get into the habit of giving out your personal information online just because a site asks for it. To opt in, you should only have to give them a first name and an email address.

Always check the address in the URL to make sure you are accessing a secure site. It should start with https as this will let you know it is very secure. If it only starts with http then the site is not secure and you can end up compromising the security of your computer if you continue entering information on the site.

Viruses can spread very rapidly so if you think your computer may be infected, you should take care not to pass it to any other area of your computer or to others via email. By disconnecting your computer from the network you have a good chance of isolating the damages.

Always be on the alert for various types of emails known as phishing. This is a scam to get you to provide personal information. Once you do, spyware can be attached to your computer. Never respond to emails asking you for personal information as most credible companies wont contact you for such information.

Make sure you purchase a virus and spyware protection program that is very easy to install. Most of them offer step by step instructions for you to follow. You can find out how easy such software programs are to install before you buy them just by reading some independent reviews online.

You need to choose the program for your computer protection very carefully. While they are designed to give you the very best security, you can be sure those trying to pass viruses or get spyware into your system are very smart. They have learned elaborate tricks to be able to gain access to your information.

One of the latest tactics that these criminals have been using is to sell software that is supposed to protect your computer from viruses and spyware. Unfortunately, what they are selling you is actually the very thing you are trying to protect yourself against. Always get such software from a company that has an excellent reputation, not just any one that you come across online for a good price.

In order to ensure your computer is well protected against viruses and spyware, you want a program that offers you instant updates. These will usually happen for one full year after you install the program. This ensures that your protective software is always the most current available and criminals will have a hard time infecting your computer system with viruses or spyware.

This article is distributed by MDofPC LLC MDofPC Custom Computers and Download Software

Uninstall Errors, And Ways To Repair Them

With the Windows operating system, uninstall errors may appear frequently. When you install a program on your PC and then remove it, unfortunately many times fragments of the program are left in the system registry. This may lead to many problems, including uninstall errors, a slow system, crashes, a frequent need for rebooting, and many more. There are some things you can do to prevent these uninstall errors, and these steps will also make your computer faster and more efficient at the same time.

Uninstall errors may occur if the program has already been removed, or if your system believes that it has. I have tried to uninstall a program just to have my PC tell me the program was missing, yet I could find the file with no problem. In this instance, manually remove the program instead of using the Add/Remove program interface. This step may leave file fragments in the registry as well, but the main portion of the program will be removed. Using the Add/Remove program function should be used if possible, however some errors make this option unavailable.

Uninstall errors And What You Can Do About Them

Use an anti virus program along with an anti spyware program, to keep your PC safe and secure. This step will also get rid of some of the error messages you may be seeing. Electronic infections can pose a serious threat to the security and stability of your system, and this can lead to more errors, including uninstall errors. Keep the software programs current with updates from the manufacturer, so that you are protected completely from the newest threats. Make sure to scan your computer regularly, preferably at least once a day.

Use care when downloading files online. Many files available on the Internet may be infected or contain corrupt areas, and they can harm your system and cause error messages to appear. Only download and run files that are verified and available from a site that is trusted. This will save you a lot of trouble and aggravation, and keep your PC secure. It is also advisable to limit the number of windows or applications open to one, because running multiple applications or having multiple windows open will slow down your system and may cause uninstall error messages to appear.

A registry cleaner will eliminate error messages from almost any source, including uninstall errors. The registry is crucial to your system, and it contains all the entries and keys for your operating system as well as all the programs installed. Sometimes fragments from removed programs may clutter up the registry, causing errors to happen, and cleaning the registry will prevent this problem. If you want to spend weeks manually editing the registry it can be done, but the time and risks involved make this a bad idea.

Using a registry cleaner will greatly improve the speed and performance of your system, while keeping the registry clean and the error messages from occurring. With these software programs, it takes just minutes usually to clean your registry and improve your system, and there are none of the serious risks involved. You can stop uninstall errors once and for all.

Brian Williams is a self-confessed PC fiddler dedicated to ‘spreading the word’ when it comes to fixing PC errors and helping people make the most use of their PCs. For FREE ACCESS to more PC tips n’ tricks, just visit Optimize-Your-PC.com.

Who Called for a Hard Drive Backup?

It never hurts to have a hard drive backup. A hard drive backup refers to making spare copies of various files and storing them separately from the originals. Backups come in handy when the primary files or docs go missing. With a hard drive backup, there is no need to worry about losing vital records forever.

Hard Drive Backup Additional Info

Backing up system files is an essential component of PC maintenance. PCs tend to “misbehave” every now and then. Hard drive data recovery backup minimizes the hassles encountered when a computer starts acting up. Although experiencing total hard drive failure is rare these days, they still do happen, which makes hard drive backup a good practice.

The more common PC threats include viruses. Serious malware attack the hard drive file system’s master boot record. If infected, the Fdisk utility has to be run. Here, there is a huge chance that the data located on the hard drive will get lost, or be extremely tough to recover. Bad program software installation and system failure can also aggravate the hard drive data recovery process.

How often a user backs up files will largely depend on their frequency of PC use as well as what they utilize it for. For average home PC users, a full hard drive backup once weekly or monthly is usually enough. PCs used at home office settings require more regular hard drive backup activities.

People need to make sure that they have Microsoft’s backup available on the system. If this is not installed, users will have to load it using the setup CD that came with the PC. One thing about Windows backup programs: users should check that they support backup for the Windows version they are using. If it is not fully supported, they might wind up having bad backup systems.

There are three major backup devices that can be used to store backups. Each is briefly described below:

* CD writers – These are growing ever cheaper, which makes them perfect for creating backups of bulky data. A typical CDR disk can hold close to 800Mb of data. It is also fairly easy to use CD writers. The program software that accompanies them is pretty straightforward so making backups takes only minutes.
* ZIP drives – A ZIP drive remains a popular medium for backing up computer data. There are external and internal ZIP drives available. Some are capable of storing data amounting to up to 750MB. ZIP drives generally come with easy-to use special program software.
* Floppy disks – These are good for backing up smaller files. An average 3.5-inch floppy can store around 1.44Mb of data. This space is enough for keeping copies of letters or other vital text docs. Backing up using floppies is as easy as copying or saving files to the floppy drive. ZIP programs like Winzip are useful for compressing files that are too large to fit on standard floppies.

There are plenty of hard drive backup software program packages that are available. Most of them are priced reasonably so acquiring one will not be a financial hardship. Besides, having one can be a real lifesaver, especially if a user has a ton of important files.

Hard drive backup software programs make the task of backing up entire drives, including PC operating system files, a snap. With a few simple clicks, the hard drive backup is done. A hard drive backup program usually spells the difference between scrambling to recover various files and having the computer running again in minutes minus data loss.

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Optimize PC performance visit our site. We provide independent software reviews, daily PC news and various PC tips and tweaks to help you get the most out of your computer.

How to Backup Outlook Express Data

Outlook Express (OE) is a type of email and/or news client that came included with a number of Microsoft (MS) Windows versions. It was bundled with the web browser Internet Explorer. Outlook Express is different from the Microsoft Office Outlook email client application that ships with MS for Windows. People can do a lot of stuff with Outlook Express as it offers a wide range of features.

Outlook Express Backup Features And More

It is possible to back up the Outlook Express address book. This feature can be a godsend, especially in situations where the computer malfunctions. Outlook Express allows people to transfer their address book to a different computer or even an updated OE version.

Here is how users go about backing up their OE address book: Open the OE program and click File. Hover the computer mouse over Export and select Address book. This will display the Export dialogue window. Use Text the File (or comma-separated values) to export the address book and hit Export. From here, enter the path where to save the address book. The file can be saved anywhere so long as the filename has “.csv” added at the end.

One the filename and location are keyed in, hit Next. Users will be asked which fields they want exported. Tick the box beside the fields required by the user and then click Finish. If successful, a window will appear announcing the completion of the Address book export process.

Importing the backed up address book to a different OE is again easy. Click File and move to Import and hit Other Address book. Users will then be asked what kind of address book they want imported. Choose Text File and hit Import. The system will now ask for the address book’s location so click Browse and navigate where the backup file was saved and select it and click Next. From here, choose which fields to import by placing a tick mark next to them and hitting Finished.

To add new subfolders to the standard set of Outlook Express mail folders, follow these steps: Right-click the folder to be used as the parent. Choose New Folder and then key in the name of the new folder.

Backing up email account settings could also come in handy in case a PC gets problematic. Email account settings include SMTP server and pop settings, passwords (if this is enabled) and usernames.

Follow these steps to back up email account settings in Outlook Express: Open OE and click Tools and select Accounts from the dropdown menu. In the Internet Accounts box, users should select their Internet account and hit Export. In the Export Internet Account window, navigate toward the location the user wants the settings saved. Type a name in the filename field and click Save. Repeat the process to back up other accounts and just hit Close when done.

OE exports Net account files bearing the file extension suffix “.iaf.” To restore Internet account settings: Open the Outlook Express program where the files would be imported. Click Tools next and select Accounts from the dropdown menu. The dialogue box for Internet Accounts will show up. Click Import and the Import Internet Account window will appear. Move to the folder where the exported files were saved and left-click on the account the user would like to import. From here, click Open.

If the import was successful, it should show up in the Internet accounts dialogue box. When done importing accounts, click Close. The accounts ought to be ready to use from here.

When it comes to email programs to use, Outlook Express is one option. The Internet has more info on OE so be sure to give it a look-see. Outlook Express boasts of similar features as other email clients – and then some. Learn more about Outlook Express by consulting various available web resources.

For the latest tips to
Optimize PC performance visit our site. We provide independent software reviews, daily PC news and various PC tips and tweaks to help you get the most out of your computer.

9 Free Fixes for Faster Computer Performance

Poor computer performance by your Windows-based machine can sneak up on you gradually. You may find its performance deteriorating increasingly until one day you realize you must fix it or buy a new one. Signs of poor performance can include applications running very slowly, programs closing or freezing up suddenly, and a generally slower response time to OS (operating system)-related commands. I have compiled 9 fixes for you here that you can leverage right now to greatly improve your computer’s performance.

Fix #1: Support and run MS Service Pack 2: Every operating system requires patches and upgrades by its maker from time-to-time, with Microsoft XP being no exception. While Service Pack 2 was released in 2002, some people with older systems are still not running it: make sure your computer is. You can download it FREE from Microsoft’s Web site.

Fix #2: Run the Disk Cleanup utility: Your computer likely has a number of unused and unneeded files that take up valuable space on your hard drive and slow performance. Run your FREE, built-in Disk Cleanup utility to automatically remove these files. Find it by going to: Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Cleanup and following the prompts.

Fix #3: Defragment your hard drive: Over time, your computer will store files in an increasingly inefficient manner on your hard drive, affecting file retrieval times and other performance factors. To fix this, you need to defragment your hard disk drive. To do this for FREE, just go to: Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Defragmenter. First, highlight the drive you want to clean up (e.g., C drive) and choose Analyze. Once complete, choose Defragment. Note that the defragmentation process could take up to an hour or more, so do this during a time when you can step away from your computer.

Fix #4: Run an anti-virus tool: Computer viruses are malicious programs that drastically affect your computer’s performance, either all at once or insidiously over time. You can stop a virus attack by installing and running anti-virus software which performs regular scans, locates the offending viruses and quarantines them.

Fix #5: Clean your registry: Your computer’s registry is a tool that most non-computer specialists never see but which is vitally important to computer operations. Your registry stores settings and options for your hardware, operating system, and other software. Unfortunately, given its fundamental role in the performance of your system, your registry is often the target of attack or infection. To thoroughly and automatically clean your registry, run a regular registry scan using a registry cleaning tool. I recommend RegCure, which recently found 1,626 problems with my registry (ugh!), is cheap and easy to use.

Fix #6: Run anti-spyware software: Spyware is computer software that installs itself in your computer and performs a number of unwanted functions, including monitoring your computer usage and interfere with your control. It represents a real threat and has become a significant problem in recent years. Fortunately, fixes are easy to find and include a number of free and inexpensive anti-spyware programs. Try SpyBot Search & Destroy. Get it FREE online.

Fix #7: Increase your computer’s memory: Today’s applications require more and more memory (RAM) to run. If your computer is more than two years old or if you selected the minimal memory option upon purchase, you might benefit from adding another 1 GB or more to your computer. Check online or at your local computer dealer for pricing.

Fix #8: Clean your hard drive: More comprehensive than the Disk Utility tool introduced above, cleaning your hard drive with professional cleaning software is a great way to improve performance. Try CCleaner for FREE by doing an online search.

Fix #9: As a last resort, re-format your hard drive: If after trying all of the above items and your computer still performs poorly, a last resort is to completely reformat your hard drive. Warning: proceed with caution since this action will erase your entire hard drive, including your operating system (OS)! If you decide to take this route, consult an online tutorial for how-to steps. At minimum, remember two things: be sure to back up all of your files and applications and retain a copy of your OS on CD so that you can re-install it later.

This article is distributed by MDofPC LLC MDofPC Custom Computers and Download Software

What are Svchost Errors and How Can You Prevent Them?

Why do Svchost.exe errors occur? Svchost.exe is a process which runs constantly, and this process is critical and should not be disabled. This process is used to help host services on your system, and more than one may be running at a time, depending on how many services your system is hosting. A service as it relates to the Windows operating system is a program embedded in the operating system which runs in the background constantly and is responsible for a specific job. This happens regardless of whether you are logged in or not.

Almost all the programs used by users run as an executable which can stand alone. Most services implement with the help of dynamic link libraries, and these libraries can not run without assistance. The Svchost will load the needed DLLs and run them, and this is why there may be more than one Svchost process running at the same time. There are some steps you can take to eliminate Svchost.exe error messages from this process, and increase the speed and performance of your system at the same time.

How To Prevent Svchost.exe Errors

Many Svchost.exe errors may be the result of an electronic infection. There is an abundance of harmful software programs on the Internet, and with the technology available to stay continuously connected it is important to protect your PC from these programs. An anti virus program should be installed. Set up a daily scan for a time when you are never using your system, such as late at night or in the early hours of the morning. Make sure you keep your updates current, and many Svchost.exe error messages will be stopped.

Eliminate any services and programs that you do not need or use regularly. Many of us keep games we no longer play, programs we have never used which came installed when we bought the system, and other assorted and unneeded clutter on our system. These can take up resources and cause error messages from a variety of sources, including Svchost.exe errors. When you remove all this clutter, the result is a faster more efficient system without all of the error messages popping up. This step should be done regularly, for optimal PC use and security.

Cleaning the registry of your PC can really help eliminate any errors or problems. A registry cleaner is the best way to do this. This software was developed to effectively clean the registry without the risks involved in manual editing. Because of the sheer size, as well as the critical files it contains, the registry should not be manually edited unless you know what you are doing. Manually performing this process can take days or weeks to do, but with a registry cleaner the job is done safely in minutes. There is also no risk of deleting the wrong keys or entries, and Svchost.exe errors will be prevented..

When your registry is clean and uncluttered, Svchost.exe errors will be a thing of the past. Your PC will run as fast as it did when you first bought it, and it will perform much more efficiently. This one step may prevent a large number of error messages, including those originating from the process Svchost.exe. You do not have to tolerate Svchost.exe errors a minute longer.

Brian Williams is a self-confessed PC fiddler dedicated to ‘spreading the word’ when it comes to fixing PC errors and helping people make the most use of their PCs. For FREE ACCESS to more PC tips n’ tricks, just visit Optimize-Your-PC.com.

Download Software Shopping Technology Standards

With the advent of modern technological science, Internet provides an important platform to download software instantly. Quite obviously, when you are going to run your business based on digital platform, you need a wide range of application support. Needless to say, it is much easier to find out different software over the Internet than from any software vendor. So, if you are planning to buy software for your business use, it is important that you can be able to test the software or at least provided with user review of the software in order to evaluate the quality of the required software.

A complete support site that facilitates software download includes a unique platform where users are able to get a wide variety of software coupled with neutral review of the different software. This site does not only facilitate a platform for buyers, but it also allows buyers to sell their products. With its highly advanced registration system, you can register yourself as either a merchant or a buyer. On the top of that this site also features updates of various applications. Needless to say, updates are really important to upgrade your system and you are getting them for free.

This site offers the maximum professional benefits to professionals and businessmen alike. When you choose this site, you can be rest assured that you will be able to download software in no time. You do not need to bother about paying extra costs associated with distribution, packaging, storage, shipping or handling. In fact, this site puts a special emphasis over instant downloaded software, so virtually you do not need to wait for your applications to be shipped, after you have placed your order.

This site strictly prohibits software piracy. Here you will be able to download the demo version of the software you would like to buy. When you download software demo and use it properly, you will be able to evaluate if this application is useful for your requirements or not. This site also informs the subscribers about the update release and allows them to download for free. By taking the benefit of this site, you can save your money and time that you usually spend over buying CD from the computer shop where you may not get any future updates.

Another important concern that makes this site unique and makes it apart from the rest is the secure transaction facility that ensures a secure and fast transaction in an appropriate manner. This makes this site so popular and reliable among users. When you are making transaction with this site, you can be rest assured that all your details are absolutely safe and secure. In fact, you do not even need to pay attention over the security aspect, but you can spend quality time by browsing the rich categories available on this site to download software you like or need the most.

This article is distributed by MDofPC LLC MDofPC Custom Computers and Download Software

How Antivirus Downloads Work

Different approaches are followed by different types of antivirus software downloads to identify and destroy the viruses in individual PCs. The two most popular approaches are the database or dictionary scanning and suspicious behavior scanning. In the first approach new files are matched with virus affected files installed. And in the second approach the program file is monitored for a pattern, which generally turns out to be a virus. I am going to discuss both in this article and then go on to describe some less obvious methods.

Database scanning

Database or dictionary scanning involves an antivirus application comparing files with already known viruses to find a code match. The antivirus software has a database of known viruses which should be updated on a regular basis to keep on to of virus changes. Any infected files are then either quarantined as the software tries to recover the infected file or they are deleted altogether. To keep up with the work of identifying newer viruses spread the antivirus download software should be updated one a day or at least one a week. It is imperative that the antivirus software is upgraded regularly to keep up with the newer and more malicious viruses that might attack the system. The database of known viruses is expanding rapidly and automatic communication between locally installed software and the database network means the global sharing of information.

The antivirus software assists the operating system and safeguards files when they opened, closed or mailed. Every attachment is checked before opening and every file is scanned before being uploaded or downloaded into the system. But this approach is only suitable for known viruses but it can not cope with polymorphic viruses which are capable of masking the code in a cryptic form. Hence is left undetected and the virus never shows up in a scan. However, another methodology used by good antivirus software may be able to detect it. This is described below.

Suspicious behavior scanning

As the name suggests this also involves the antivirus program monitoring every single file for viruses. However, unlike the previous method which matched viruses against those in a database, this process involves flagging files whose code or behavior has altered in some way. If it find any irregularities with any file it immediately gives out a warning message to the user. This approach can identify new viruses or any possible future virus attacks. But the program becomes desensitized to false warnings when the user starts clicking on every false positive message.

Sand box detection

In this approach the sand box mimics the operating system and running executable files within it. Files are then examined and any infections analyzed. Therefore, virus detection can take place in a controlled environment with infecting the operating system. This approach is used as on demand scans.

Carl Robinson is a software reviewer from the UK. He writes a series of antivirus software articles for Best Antivirus Downloads

Advantages of a Comprehensive Virus Scan

Think you don’t have virus on your PC? Are you sure? Many viruses are designed to work quietly in the background collecting valuable information about you. They are not designed to get noticed so it is imperative that you run regular virus scans on your PC.

If your work involves computers and particularly the use of the internet, computer viruses are part of your life unfortunately. They come unannounced and you or your software busy from time to time. The nuisance value and at times even the financial losses it causes are only well known by many people. There are several anti virus programs available from the internet.

Most users who need to access the internet on continuous basis would have installed some decent anti virus programs which run automated scanning at periodic intervals. The scanning process may take a few minutes but it is well worth the trouble. Every person who uses a computer on continuous basis will need short breaks. The ideal thing to do would be to schedule the scanning during these breaks so that you do not have to spend idle minutes before the monitor. Check the scan results and look at the prompts for action if needed. This measure when properly implemented will normally help you to maintain your computer in good health for a long time.

Even when you are able to go through several weeks without any virus problems and your computer is doing exactly what it is supposed to, it would be worth while to conduct a scan as many viruses and other forms of malware work quietly in the background collecting data. and corrupting files you may not use often.

Some measures for a healthy computer

A reliable antivirus must be installed and kept running at all times. If your license code need validation, do not delay the process and get it on the day you are notified. An active firewall should be in position every time you open the internet. Most of the reputed vendors of anti virus programs provide regular updates, but you should allow installation by clicking the relevant button. The browser security should be maintained at maximum levels at all times. If you are asked by the browser to permit installation or opening some content unfamiliar to you, deny permission.

To enhance protection levels choose an anti spyware program (either as a bundle with your antivirus software or as separate piece of software).

Be very careful about e-mail attachments, they are the major source of viruses.

Also be wary of search bars and browser bars which are often used by by several scam artists.

Look for the authenticity of the offer and check back with your provider if need be.

Use a different credit card for your online transactions to ensure financial security as well as computer security. Credit card details are one of the main targets for the creators of computer viruses.

Run a virus scan at least once every week.

Carl Robinson is a software reviewer from the UK. He writes a series of antivirus software articles for Best Antivirus Downloads