Tag: Spyware

Mount an ISO image in Windows Vista

July 17, 2007 by Jason

The freeware utility from Microsoft to mount ISO Images doesn’t work in Windows Vista. Thankfully there’s another utility that does.

The utility that we will use is called Virtual Clone Drive. This utility will let you mount .ISO, .CCD, .DVD, .IMG, .UDF and .BIN files. Download the utility and start the setup process.

Select Yes or OK at the hardware prompt and continue. You might have to restart your computer. Now you should be able to mount any ISO image by just double-clicking on the file. Read More»

Scan for spyware and other potentially unwanted software

April 11, 2007 by Jason

In Windows Defender, you can choose to run a quick scan of your computer or a full system scan. If you suspect spyware has infected a specific area of your computer, you can customize a scan by selecting only the drives and folders that you want to check.

A quick scan checks the places on your computer’s hard disk that spyware is most likely to infect. A full scan will check all files on your hard disk and all currently running programs, but it might cause your computer to run slowly until the scan is complete. We recommend that you schedule a daily quick scan. At any time, if you suspect that spyware has infected your computer, run a full scan. Read More»

Speed Up Windows XP

February 16, 2007 by Jason

Does it ever seem as if the little squirrels inside your computer aren’t racing fast enough on their conveyor belt? Yeah, we’ve been there, too. Memory-hogging start-up programs, a hard drive that has not been defragged since a Democrat was in the White House, and that one nasty spyware appâ€â€all of them can really bog down Microsoft Windows XP. These days, even novices know about tweaking MSConfig, defragging, and installing Ad-Aware. Short of a complete reinstall or upgrading to Windows Vista, I have a few unusual methods that help give my PC a new zest for life.

We’ll start by killing memory-hungry processes; they’re the major speed-sucking culprit in Windows XP. Processes include applications, network services, and DLL (dynamic link library) files that control file access. Sysinternals’ free Process Explorer utility helps you see what is running on your system and lets you kill any processes that are slowing Windows XP to a crawl.
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User Account Protection for vista

February 13, 2007 by Jason

It can be used to prevent a beginner computer user from making changes to their computer by restricting them from accessing or even saving any changes to critical areas. UAP is also helpful against Spyware and other malicious software because it will require the user to consent to the action, before any system changes are made.

UAP is a good feature but sometimes it is necessary to tweak it a little so that it is less annoying for more experienced users. For example, an advanced user may be overwhelmed by the number of pop up authorization they receive. By tweaking the settings they can reduce the number of those they see as well as completely disable UAP. Although I do not recommend you completely disable UAP, you can fine tune it to be easier to get along with.
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Windows Vista: An FAQ for Nonprofits

February 10, 2007 by Jason

Windows Vista, Microsoft’s first new major operating system (OS) since the launch of the Windows XP line in 2001, is due to hit stores on January 30. Vista’s launch has already generated some questions about upgrading, new features, tech support, and whether now is a good time to migrate your computers to this new OS.

To help you make an informed decision about Vista, we’ve answered a handful of questions that we think nonprofits will be most concerned with. You may even want to use our answers to assess the potential pros and cons of upgrading to Vista at your nonprofit. Read More»

How BitTorrent Works: Protocols and Structure

February 05, 2007 by Jason

BitTorrent is a protocol that enables fast downloading of large files using minimum Internet bandwidth. It costs nothing to use and includes no spyware or pop-up advertising.

BitTorrent maximizes transfer speed by gathering pieces of the file you want and downloading these pieces simultaneously from people who already have them. This process makes popular and very large files, such as videos and television programs, download much faster than is possible with other protocols. Read More»

How to Speed up a Windows XP Computer

February 05, 2007 by Jason

If not properly maintained, the performance of all Windows XP systems will eventually degrade. To counteract this slow-down, scheduling a computer shop visit isn’t your only option; you can correct performance issues yourself. Save money and squeeze more speed out of Windows XP! Read More»

Scan Your Computer For Free

February 03, 2007 by Jason

Here I am listing all of the free online scans for your computer, spyware, virus, registry, process and some great utilities at the end. I’m also listing some of the free tools, like SpyBot, Ad-Aware, etc.
Free Online Spyware Scan This scan is free and will remove what it finds, although, it doesn’t try to find the more complicated stuff as it could not remove it without installing software on your computer.
Housecall Free Online Virus Scanner from Trend Micro.
CSShredder CoolWebSearch is notorious for keeping you from removing their crap from your computer, download this special tool just for removing all of the 100’s of different versions of CoolWebSearch.
CoolWebSearch installs dozens of bookmarks–mostly to porn Web sites–on your desktop, changes your home page without asking, and continually changes it back if you attempt to correct it. Furthermore, it significantly slows down the performance of your PC, and introduces modifications which cause Microsoft Windows to freeze, crash or randomly reboot. Read More»

30 Free Windows Applications

February 03, 2007 by Jason

Windows Vista and Office 2007 are just over the horizon and are probably going to take a significant chunk out of most people is bank balances. If after buying these apps you find yourself a bit short of cash, then you should check out some of the great free software available for Windows.

The Simple Dollar have created a list of 30 Essential Free Programs For Windows. Listed are great programs like Firefox and Thunderbird that many people have heard of. But, did you know that Mozilla also offer Sunbird, which is a free calendaring application? Read More»

Different types of Spyware

February 01, 2007 by Jason

ParasiteWare
ParasiteWare is the term for any Adware that by default overwrites certain affiliate tracking links. These tracking links are used by webmasters to sell products and to help fund websites. The controversy is centered on companies like WhenU, eBates, and Top Moxie, a popular maker of Adware applications. These companies have release their software to assist users in getting credit for rebates, cash back shopping, or contributions to funds. To the end user ParasiteWare represents little in the way of a security threat.

Adware
Adware, also known as an Adbot, can do a number of things from profile your online surfing and spending habits to popping up annoying ad windows as you surf. In some cases Adware has been bundled (i.e. peer-to-peer file swapping products) with other software without the user’s knowledge or slipped in the fine print of a EULA (End User License Agreement). Not all Adware is bad, but often users are annoyed by adware’s intrusive behavior. Keep in mind that by removing Adware sometimes the program it came bundled with for free may stop functioning. Some Adware, dubbed a “BackDoor Santa” may not perform any activity other then profile a user’s surfing activity for study.
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