Security Articles

Computers » Security | By Kevin Sinclair @ Wednesday, 12th December 2007 @ 1:51 AM

If you're connected to the Internet (especially with an "always on" connection such as cable or DSL), you're at risk for intrusion from hackers or with infection from a virus or spyware. This can happen without your knowledge. You can be browsing, logging on and off various web sites, etc., and be compromised. However, you can protect yourself from this type of intrusion by following a few simple steps. Using Routers and Firewalls If you don't already have on... more...

Computers » Security | By Andres Berger @ Thursday, 6th December 2007 @ 4:43 PM

A good browser should: * Have security features to protect users from common threats of the Internet. The infamous Internet Explorer from Microsoft included an extremely dangerous feature into the software back in 1,996 called "Active-X", which is a specification to enable the execution of software inside the browser. This made it possible for Microsoft to run applications like Excel inside the browser, which gave them an incredible advantage comparing to other browsers. Th... more...

Computers » Security | By Andres Berger @ Thursday, 6th December 2007 @ 4:33 PM

Scumware is one of the coined words used to represent parasites such as Adware and Spyware with attached Malware, a malicious virus or piece of spyware. This scum gets into computers often through open ports in the computer system. Open ports allow messenger service ads (in a gray box trimmed in light blue) to pop-up on the screen. An open port is like a hole in your sock, the longer you wait to repair the hole, the larger the hole will become. In the case of the open port, until you block the p... more...

Computers » Security | By Andres Berger @ Thursday, 6th December 2007 @ 2:18 PM

Pop-Ups fall into three categories: * The browser pop-ups * The messenger service advertisements * Adware and spyware pop-ups. A pop-up is any information, which appears on your screen on top of a page you are viewing. A pop-under occurs under the page you are viewing, so watch your tabs for these guys and close them. In the past, pop-up blockers were a feature in the browser or you added these to your search bar to prevent adware and spyware pop-ups. Pages you visited with... more...

Computers » Security | By Andres Berger @ Thursday, 6th December 2007 @ 1:45 AM

One of the Bad Guys is Spyware and among the very bad Spyware we find "malicious phishing". People who create Phishing sites are skilled computer technicians and basically, talented people. They choose to act in a cowardly manner and like a thief in the night, attack computers in order to obtain personal information from the users. Rather than use their talent to improve and make the Internet more secure for everyone, they hide behind web forgeries and create havoc for others. People who... more...

Computers » Security | By Andres Berger @ Thursday, 6th December 2007 @ 1:39 AM

Scams, such as "Cross-Site Referral Forgery", "One Click Attack" or "Session Riding", can succeed in getting your browser to authorize withdrawals from your bank account. For example, you are part of a forum and in sharing information back and forth with others you unwittingly insert a piece of your private, personal information. Someone in the forum, perhaps the person who is asking personal questions, can and will harvest your personal information from your forum entrie... more...

Computers » Security | By Andres Berger @ Wednesday, 5th December 2007 @ 12:17 AM

Among the oldest scams I can remember is the story of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain and yet I do not recall anyone calling Huck a scammer. However, he is a perfect of example of a person who succeeds in getting the willing and the vulnerable to do something they would not have done without his cunning ways. Remember, he convinced his little friends that painting the fence was a lot of fun and they did it while he sat under the shade tree. Only his grandmother intervened and he received... more...

Computers » Security | By Andres Berger @ Thursday, 29th November 2007 @ 9:26 PM

The Firefox Browser is a hot topic among computer professionals because they know that this browser has many features than his counterpart, Internet Explorer from Microsoft, don't have. Microsoft has been very busy updating his software recently, although they haven't touched it for 6 years after they wiped out Netscape from the market in 2,001, but Microsoft normally acts this way, they only fix their software when things go wrong. First of all, Firefox is a better-designed bro... more...

Computers » Security | By Tyler James Ellison @ Wednesday, 28th November 2007 @ 8:07 PM

Many times in church offices, a malicious virus will be sent by email. The church secretary will often times open the email, not knowing it may put the system at risk. Eight times out of ten, the system has no anti virus software running, and the system gets damaged, and valuable information can be lost, or even stolen. To help improve your church virus protection, here are ten preventative measures you can take. Use a high quality anti virus software. This point can not be stressed enou... more...

Computers » Security | By Jonathon Hardcastle @ Thursday, 15th November 2007 @ 10:32 PM

With the staggering proliferation of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) in recent years, a wide range of computer users have found themselves owning one or more of those "miracle" portable electronic systems that contain important files as well as personal information. Belonging to the same category, desktops and laptops -also known as notebooks- have been used extensively by people around the globe as mobility has recently become another major concern for computer users. Existin... more...

Computers » Security | By Jonathon Hardcastle @ Friday, 9th November 2007 @ 6:36 PM

It is in fact a horrifying moment the one when a computer user realizes that a virus has managed to penetrate his or her CPU system and destroyed years of data and hard work. In an effort to minimize the probability of having to experience such a stressful moment, most computer users have now installed in their computer's memory, software programs that act as shields against such malicious threats. These system defenders, generally known as antivirus software programs are designed to... more...

Computers » Security | By Andrew Kasch @ Monday, 5th November 2007 @ 4:25 PM

The Trojan horse is something out of ancient history that we still use in conversation today. For example, when we call something a Trojan horse we really mean that it is something that is good looking but has an evil intent. A Trojan horse virus is also something that looks good on the outside but has a very evil intent on the inside. Although they have only been around for a short period of time, they have earned a more prominent place in our lives than the wooden Trojan horse from the dist... more...

Computers » Security | By Marc Menninger @ Wednesday, 31st October 2007 @ 10:37 AM

So you think you've got a computer virus. Well, if your computer's acting funny all of the sudden, chances are pretty good you've got a virus or some other malware causing the trouble. This can be a very disturbing feeling and if you're like me, you'll want to do whatever it takes to get your computer back to normal again. Luckily, in almost all cases, dealing with a virus situation is pretty straight forward. In fact, there are really only three steps: ... more...

Computers » Security | By Andres Berger @ Wednesday, 31st October 2007 @ 6:56 AM

An active antivirus program needs be on every computer for protection against the many emails that contain a virus or Spyware, and this program will check your emails before you open them. One way a virus can strike your computer is through chain letters, prayers or solicitation requests. The chain has come to you through many computers and someone along the way could have a computer virus. Unknowingly, the person is spreading the virus to the computers of other people. If you open the a... more...

Computers » Security | By Gregg Hall @ Saturday, 27th October 2007 @ 11:36 PM

We live in an era of computers and information technology and there is a direct relationship between information technology and home security. Computers allow us to automate many different aspects of out business activities and personal life. Personal computers and other technological systems can also help in various home security activities and can increase the amount of protection that you can create for your house. In addition to all of the benefits above, a computerized system will save you ... more...

Computers » Security | By neil parnham @ Friday, 26th October 2007 @ 6:08 AM

Spyware and Adware are not only an ever-increasing nuisance for computer users everywhere, but also a booming industry. According to Webroot Software, Inc., the distribution of online advertisements through spyware and adware has become a whopping $2 billion industry. The aggressive advertising and spying tactics demonstrated by some of these programs, require an equally aggressive response from a seasoned eradicator. Sunbelt Software is such a company. A leader in Anti-Spyware, An... more...

Computers » Security | By Wolfgang Jaegel @ Friday, 12th October 2007 @ 10:29 PM

With the advances of technology and the media hype surrounding security risks, one would assume that security would always remain at the top of Organizations' priority lists. Security assessments are conducted for our clients to provide them with a snapshot of their security postures, assessing their overall information security programme and corporate governance. The trends identified security specialists include the following: Technology is not enough Organization... more...

Computers » Security | By Kerry Graylor @ Friday, 12th October 2007 @ 12:15 PM

What are computer viruses? Many computer users would find it hard to answer that question. In fact the definition of a virus has nothing to do with what terrible damage it may inflict on your computer. It is just a question of how it spreads. A virus is a program (usually a file ending in .exe) that has the ability to clone itself and transmit its clones to other computers. This system of 'infection', resembling the spread of viral diseases, is why it is called a virus. Of cours... more...

Computers » Security | By Andres Berger @ Friday, 24th August 2007 @ 8:30 PM

Those who use Microsoft Windows are very familiar with Automatic Updates from Microsoft and know how easy it is to set this up and just respond to any directions Microsoft may give you. Often this will be a warning saying, the computer needs to shut down. This is the same procedure used by Mozilla, to keep your Firefox browser up to date. All day everyday technicians are checking Firefox making certain it will do the work it meant to do. The update system checks your Firefox making certa... more...

Computers » Security | By Denise Nuttall @ Wednesday, 22nd August 2007 @ 7:19 PM

The need for computer security systems is becoming ever greater in the modern world. As a society, we are more mobile than ever. Increasing globalization means that no matter where we are in the world, we will have the need to contact others in different corners of the globe. Consequently, more of us than ever are traveling with laptop computers. Even for those who are generally tied to an office, the computer has become almost an extension of the self. Theft of an office computer would be at be... more...