AntiSpyware and AntiVirus products

AntiSpyware and AntiVirus products

by: Victor Caballero

Using a computer security will definitely be a good investment to stop the proliferation of computer viruses and ensure integrity. While there are several types of anti virus that exist in various degrees, “virulence” and severity of damage, installing one is a must and should be basic for anyone who’s concerned about care and maintenance. Just as there are pathologic viruses in human beings that cause certain diseases and have deadly and fatal complications, also with different degrees of virulence or the pathogenicity, it carries the same idea as with computers having viruses. Both men and machines, believe it or not, can suffer from viruses too. But they differ in some degree and aspects.

It is of utmost important then that an antivirus should be installed into your computer as it will serve as the computer’s defense for any invading computer virus threatening the entire computer system. These antivirus software is a combination of computer programs which are accustomed to identify and sort out viruses and malicious software or what they call as “malware”. It is the antivirus software’s job in your computer to attack these unscrupulous software and help eliminate them entirely out from the system.

As antivirus software programs are available in several ways, it would also be possible to purchase a computer set that has been installed with antivirus software program already. You can buy computer antivirus software installers and immediately install your choice of antivirus software.

There are viruses called “invaders” for they attack the inner processes of the computer and the computer must be protected from the damages that these viruses can cause. Aside form this danger there are other potential dangers viruses present. Would you want your most precious files deleted by the virus? Many of the viruses out there will do just that. They attack and delete files and programs on your computer hard drive. So those reports and other pertinent files that you have worked for several weeks are at great risk of becoming lost or inaccessible because of a virus. There also viruses that can cause severe damage in your computer through the use of the platform of the computer and gain unauthorized access to your personal data.

How does an antivirus work? There are two main ways. First, it will scan files for viruses, very much like screening the computer for attackers. If it identifies a virus, it will refer it to the virus dictionaries to match it as an identified virus noting the infection in the computer. Secondly it looks for any program displaying suspicious behavior and seeks to find out if it is because of a virus infecting the entire computer system.

Antivirus products in the marketplace are plenty and some of the best antivirus software are for free and can be installed with no hassle or frills. Ensuring that the antivirus has excellent technical capabilities and efficient degree of accuracy during virus dictionary matching process is the basic way of knowing if the software is good or bad. Regrettably, anti-spywares are becoming a fad nowadays and it is more hassle than comfort to see you computer being congested by adware and spyware.

Addressing these concerns would initially require you to free yourself from much concern of eradicating spyware in your system by understanding first the importance of these spywares. A good ample working knowledge regarding spyware will help in combat them. Spyware activities in your computer can also be detected and minimized through an anti-spyware that will work to identify, sort, isolate, remove and prevent occurrence of spyware.

Spyware is actually a coined word used as an internet jargon to mean an advertising supported software or what we call Adware. It is a thriving business move of some authors in turn selling it to the users as with banner ads that are usually offered by large advertising and media companies. Spywares, on the other hand are not an illegal type of software though but they can be really irritating at times. Why? Spywares are software installed in the computer without the owners or primary users consent and which tracks and records the user’s activity. They often include malwares, adwares, and some spywares include data miners as well as browser parasite and a lot more than is known at this time. Many spywares usually attack browsers such as Internet Explorer and system applications and have found ways to crash the system including being disguised Trojan horses, dialers and homepage hijackers. It’s never a happy moment with these spywares for they can ultimately slow down your computer system.

The following product summaries will be helpful in identifying some of the best anti-virus and anti-spyware in the market,

1. Norton antivirus by Symantec - one of the leading antivirus solutions in the world. A user-friendly software that works with Windows and Macintosh, it defends the computer from viruses downloaded in files through email. Norton has also efficient ways to watch out for suspicious PC activity and automatically check downloaded materials for presence of virus. The software was created handle E-mail virus scanning for incoming and outgoing electronic mails.

2. Stopzilla, antivirus and antispam software, protects, blocks and detect the existence of spyware and adware by aborting pop-ups and erasing cookies.

3. Pandas Antivirus is also user-friendly software that has no rivals and is very affordable. Is easily installed and with the Panda antivirus, scanning time is similar to other antivirus software. The software is also equipped with automatic update function and a full service scheduler is also provided to allow the user to define how often and when scans would occur.

4. Anonymizer Anti-Spyware detects spyware and tracking programs that other antivirus software won't discover if they are disguised as real and existing programs. The software allows efficient cleaning up from bothersome adwares and spywares which might bring harmful effects to your system.

5. For internet savvy individuals Acronis is an essential tool for those who are at greater risk in catching spy ware and virus. This spyware are hidden applications monitoring your activities and can feed information through the main processing center. It is also capable of system scanning, and monitoring

6. Iolo antivirus automatically scan and disinfects email messages both incoming and outgoing. And can fully provide an integrated email protection which saves time and effort from you in manually scanning the files. A very thorough and comprehensive inspection can be performed manually to remove viruses through this software and its fully integrated email protection works transparently in the background. Messages that are transmitted are automatically scanned and disinfected messages as they are transmitted and provide updates on an hourly-basis.

7. Trend Micro antispyware are efficient in faster scanning speed and serves as an active shield in sorting out of the spyware trying to invade your personal computer through its full features and well equipped programs that can detect all antivirus needs.

8. PC Tools AntiVirus is another world-leading virus protection for computers that has real time protection and has a systematic and wide-ranging ways in scanning your PC that is easy to use and navigate.

copyright 2008: Victor Caballero Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Cannot be copied without authorized written permission.

AntiSpyware and AntiVirus products

AntiSpyware and AntiVirus products
by: Victor Caballero

Using a computer security will definitely be a good investment to stop the proliferation of computer viruses and ensure integrity. While there are several types of anti virus that exist in various degrees, “virulence” and severity of damage, installing one is a must and should be basic for anyone who’s concerned about care and maintenance. Just as there are pathologic viruses in human beings that cause certain diseases and have deadly and fatal complications, also with different degrees of virulence or the pathogenicity, it carries the same idea as with computers having viruses. Both men and machines, believe it or not, can suffer from viruses too. But they differ in some degree and aspects.
It is of utmost important then that an antivirus should be installed into your computer as it will serve as the computer’s defense for any invading computer virus threatening the entire computer system. These antivirus software is a combination of computer programs which are accustomed to identify and sort out viruses and malicious software or what they call as “malware”. It is the antivirus software’s job in your computer to attack these unscrupulous software and help eliminate them entirely out from the system.
As antivirus software programs are available in several ways, it would also be possible to purchase a computer set that has been installed with antivirus software program already. You can buy computer antivirus software installers and immediately install your choice of antivirus software.
There are viruses called “invaders” for they attack the inner processes of the computer and the computer must be protected from the damages that these viruses can cause. Aside form this danger there are other potential dangers viruses present. Would you want your most precious files deleted by the virus? Many of the viruses out there will do just that. They attack and delete files and programs on your computer hard drive. So those reports and other pertinent files that you have worked for several weeks are at great risk of becoming lost or inaccessible because of a virus. There also viruses that can cause severe damage in your computer through the use of the platform of the computer and gain unauthorized access to your personal data.
How does an antivirus work? There are two main ways. First, it will scan files for viruses, very much like screening the computer for attackers. If it identifies a virus, it will refer it to the virus dictionaries to match it as an identified virus noting the infection in the computer. Secondly it looks for any program displaying suspicious behavior and seeks to find out if it is because of a virus infecting the entire computer system.
Antivirus products in the marketplace are plenty and some of the best antivirus software are for free and can be installed with no hassle or frills. Ensuring that the antivirus has excellent technical capabilities and efficient degree of accuracy during virus dictionary matching process is the basic way of knowing if the software is good or bad. Regrettably, anti-spywares are becoming a fad nowadays and it is more hassle than comfort to see you computer being congested by adware and spyware.
Addressing these concerns would initially require you to free yourself from much concern of eradicating spyware in your system by understanding first the importance of these spywares. A good ample working knowledge regarding spyware will help in combat them. Spyware activities in your computer can also be detected and minimized through an anti-spyware that will work to identify, sort, isolate, remove and prevent occurrence of spyware.
Spyware is actually a coined word used as an internet jargon to mean an advertising supported software or what we call Adware. It is a thriving business move of some authors in turn selling it to the users as with banner ads that are usually offered by large advertising and media companies. Spywares, on the other hand are not an illegal type of software though but they can be really irritating at times. Why? Spywares are software installed in the computer without the owners or primary users consent and which tracks and records the user’s activity. They often include malwares, adwares, and some spywares include data miners as well as browser parasite and a lot more than is known at this time. Many spywares usually attack browsers such as Internet Explorer and system applications and have found ways to crash the system including being disguised Trojan horses, dialers and homepage hijackers. It’s never a happy moment with these spywares for they can ultimately slow down your computer system.
The following product summaries will be helpful in identifying some of the best anti-virus and anti-spyware in the market,
1. Norton antivirus by Symantec - one of the leading antivirus solutions in the world. A user-friendly software that works with Windows and Macintosh, it defends the computer from viruses downloaded in files through email. Norton has also efficient ways to watch out for suspicious PC activity and automatically check downloaded materials for presence of virus. The software was created handle E-mail virus scanning for incoming and outgoing electronic mails.
2. Stopzilla, antivirus and antispam software, protects, blocks and detect the existence of spyware and adware by aborting pop-ups and erasing cookies.

3. Pandas Antivirus is also user-friendly software that has no rivals and is very affordable. Is easily installed and with the Panda antivirus, scanning time is similar to other antivirus software. The software is also equipped with automatic update function and a full service scheduler is also provided to allow the user to define how often and when scans would occur.
4. Anonymizer Anti-Spyware detects spyware and tracking programs that other antivirus software won't discover if they are disguised as real and existing programs. The software allows efficient cleaning up from bothersome adwares and spywares which might bring harmful effects to your system.


5. For internet savvy individuals Acronis is an essential tool for those who are at greater risk in catching spy ware and virus. This spyware are hidden applications monitoring your activities and can feed information through the main processing center. It is also capable of system scanning, and monitoring
6. Iolo antivirus automatically scan and disinfects email messages both incoming and outgoing. And can fully provide an integrated email protection which saves time and effort from you in manually scanning the files. A very thorough and comprehensive inspection can be performed manually to remove viruses through this software and its fully integrated email protection works transparently in the background. Messages that are transmitted are automatically scanned and disinfected messages as they are transmitted and provide updates on an hourly-basis.
7. Trend Micro antispyware are efficient in faster scanning speed and serves as an active shield in sorting out of the spyware trying to invade your personal computer through its full features and well equipped programs that can detect all antivirus needs.
8. PC Tools AntiVirus is another world-leading virus protection for computers that has real time protection and has a systematic and wide-ranging ways in scanning your PC that is easy to use and navigate.

(c) Victor Caballero. 2008. All rights reserved. Any copies strictly prohibited.

Nasty Spyware

So I've been hit with a nasty spyware.

My IE browers wants to launch a new window usually an address of 67.201.36.14 will come up in the browser window. But I get all sorts of pops and the sites that come up range from search sites, to adult sites. I imagine that these people that created this somehow are getting backend revenue from the clicks?

These are some of the steps I am taking now to fix and prevent this from happening again. I thought I was protected against spyware, I guess not.

Thanks to the folks at SWI Forums.

Please download VundoFix.exe, and save it to your Desktop.
Double-click VundoFix.exe to run it.
Click the Scan for Vundo button.
Once it's done scanning, click the Remove Vundo button.
You will receive a prompt asking if you want to remove the files, click YES
Once you click yes, your desktop will go blank as it starts removing Vundo.
When completed, it will prompt that it will reboot your computer, click OK.
Please post the contents of C:\vundofix.txt and a new HiJackThis log.Note: It is possible that VundoFix encountered a file it could not remove.In this case, VundoFix will run on reboot, simply follow the above instructions starting from "Click the Scan for Vundo button." when VundoFix appears at reboot.Then, please download Combofix by sUBs.1. Save it to your Desktop.2. Double click combofix.exe & follow the prompts.3. When finished, it shall produce a log for you. Post that log, as well as a fresh HijackThis log, in your next reply


First, navigate to Start --> Run, and type Combofix /u in the box that appears. Click OK afterwards. Notice the space between the X and the /uNext, Please download OTMoveIt
Double click OTMoveIt.exe.
Click the CleanUp! button.
Select Yes when the "Begin cleanup Process?" prompt appears.
If you are prompted to Reboot during the cleanup, select Yes.
The tool will delete itself once it finishes.Note: If you receive a warning from your firewall or other security programs regarding OTMoveIt attempting to contact the internet, please allow it to do so.After that, please open HijackThis, and select Do a system scan only.Place a checkmark next to the following entries:R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blankO2 - BHO: (no name) - {BBB05D9E-0297-404D-A6BF-D8F2876B84A6} - (no file)O2 - BHO: (no name) - {F15BC6B6-0D55-4470-AC4F-2D14913FDD47} - (no file)Then, close all other open windows, leaving only HijackThis open, and select Fix checked.Now, restart your computer, post a fresh HijackThis, and let me know how things are running now.



Please open HijackThis, and select Do a system scan only.Place a checkmark next to the following entry:O20 - Winlogon Notify: iifdedb - iifdedb.dll (file missing)Then, close all other open windows, leaving only HijackThis open, and select Fix checked.Besides that, good work. Your log appears to be clean!Now that your computer seems to be in proper working order, please take the following steps to help prevent reinfection:1) Download and install Javacool's SpywareBlaster, which will prevent malware from being installed on your computer. A tutorial on it can be found here.2) Download and install IE-Spyad, which will place over 5000 'bad' sites on your Internet Explorer Restricted List. A tutorial on it can be found here.3) Go to Windows Update frequently to get all of the latest updates (security or otherwise) for Windows.4) Be sure to update your Antivirus and Antispyware programs often!Finally, please also take the time to read Tony Klein's excellent article on: So How Did I Get Infected in the First Place?