security

SpywareStrike is the latest rogue anti-spyware application to hit the 'net. As early as last week, users began reporting popups, homepage redirects, and annoying taskbar popup security warnings indicating that there was "an intrusion" on their PC. ... SunbeltBlog reports that infected machines are being redirected to fake "online security" websites, including (among others): securitycaution.com, dnserror404.com, todaywarnings.com, updatesystempage.com, and yoursecuritysystem.com. [Sample screenshot here]. All of these sites are designed to dupe unsuspecting users into ... (view more)

Many security forums and security blogs are buzzing around the 'net with much talk about SpyAxe. Fact: Computer Associates Security Advisor page suggests that SpyAxe gets onto susceptible Windows machines through a vulnerability in Internet ... Explorer. Web sites with the hidden 'Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Zlob' pass on SpyAxe as its "payload." Fact: Anti-virus firm F-Secure reports that up to twenty-five hundred (2500!) new machines per hour are infected with SpyAxe. Fact: Lavasoft quickly discovered as many as five new SpyAxe variants per week are installed onto users' machines. (A ... (view more)

So many people have become enamored with home wireless internet access, and with good reason. It's simple, relatively cheap, and very convenient. Now you can watch TV in the family room while playing poker online. Yeah! It's so easy in fact, that ... all you have to do is run out and buy a wireless router, a wireless card, plug them up and then by basically using the default configuration for both, start surfing! Unfortunately, that is exactly what most people who don't know better do. What many people don't realize is, as easy as it is for you connect to your new wireless connection, it's ... (view more)

You've just come home with your new computer. How delightful! Now you're ready to surf the web and download some music -- legally of course -- and send out a few emails to family and friends. As you're about to plug in the networking cable you ... remember something the sales associate mentioned. "Be sure and get some anti-spyware and security stuff". "Bah," you figure. The guy is just trying to sell you more that you don't want or need, right? Onward you go, dismissing the comment and salivating as Google pulls up page after page of amazing information about things you never knew ... (view more)

Folder Iconizer An easy three steps wizard to change the computer folders identity, by adding icons or de-iconizing them according to the user's desire. http://users.spark.net.gr/~stamatb/freesoft/index.htm 6 Dumbest Ideas In Computer Security What ... are they? They're the anti-good ideas. They're the brain damage that makes your $100,000 ASIC-based turbo-stateful packet-mulching firewall transparent to hackers. Where do anti-good ideas come from? They come from misguided attempts to do the impossible -- which is another way of saying "trying to ignore reality." Frequently those misguided ... (view more)

The Control Panel is part of the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface (GUI) menu. It is accessible from the Start Menu, which allows users to view and manipulate basic system settings and controls, such as: adding hardware, adding/removing ... software, controlling user accounts, changing accessibility options, and more. The Control Panel is accessed by going into Start -> Settings -> Control Panel on Windows 95, 98, and Me and directly from Windows XP. Control Panel Categories in Windows XP In Windows XP, the following Control Panel options are present: Accessibility Options: allows ... (view more)

In today's world of Spyware threats and other Internet nasties, not knowing what is running silently in the background of your computer can be a serious problem. Unfortunately, Task Manager [CTRL + ALT + DEL] isn't helpful in reporting which ... processes are critical to your system, which ones can be terminated safely, and is horrible at troubleshooting problematic and suspect tasks. So how do you know "what's what"? Introducing WinTasks 5 Professional: the Ultimate Task Manager WinTasks 5 Professional is a state-of-the-art Task Manager replacement designed to enhance your computer's ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Kathy O. writes: " Dear Dennis, I am getting ready to build a new computer and plan to put Windows XP Home Edition with XP Service Pack 1, although I have already ordered the XP Service Pack 2 CD from Microsoft. As it stands now, ... I will be running both computers from my LinkSys router; however, I was told by a friend that I would need to turn off Windows XP's firewall from the Control Panel after I install Service Pack 2. Is this true? And also, is it necessary to apply XP Service Pack 2 since my router acts like a firewall? If so, should I disable the Windows Firewall ... (view more)

Today's issue of the Gazette marks the end of the special promotion for my Service Pack 2 Fail-Safe install guide . Reminder: you can save up to 54% off the guide if you purchase before midnight tonight. Before we move onto other topics of interest ... featured in our newsletter, I've decided to end this special promotion with a lightening round of SP2-related questions from our Readers. Answers are short-but-sweet and will address the most frequently asked questions I've received via email / from the newsletter over the last 2.5 months. Ready? Round 1 ... Begin! Q: " I have installed ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Polly B. writes: " Dear Dennis, I've downloaded and successfully installed Service Pack 2 onto my computer. The only complaint I have so far is that Outlook Express is so security tight, that a lot of the email messages I have put ... aside (with file attachments) now cannot be opened. I went in and took off the Outlook Express Security 'do not allow me to open potentially dangerous attachments' option, and now everything is OK. I felt safe in choosing to disable this 'security features' because I use Norton Security which blocks potentially malicious email attachments. My ... (view more)