I've not known a person, who uses the computer frequently and have not had their machine infected with some sort of worm or viruses. Long before the Internet was common to ordinary home users, I have had machines infected with annoying viruses. However it is through the age of Internet that everyone knows what a worm or spyware is. If you think about it, the net is actually an ideal medium for spreading malicious codes to unsuspecting victims. The Internet is like a hub, with millions of people, downloading things from e-mail to programs, to videos, and occasionally the additional "software".
To protect yourself, you must first know what you are protecting against.
Below are some tips you can follow to help protect your pc against viruses.
1) Antivirus software is not all
Using an AV software would exponentially decrease your chances of getting your pc infected. But, AV works by matching virus patterns from known database to the file. If the virus is not in the database, you are in risk. Updating your antivirus often will help protect yourself.
2) You can receive infected files from people you know
I have seen many cases of people getting their PC infected from anonymous mails which usually has a amazingly suspicious subject title. But there are also plenty of instance where I received e-mails from people I know who say they didn't send them.
3) P2P sharing
KaZaa, LimeWire, etc are ridden with virus and spyware. Use it, and be prepared for the consequences. If not, find safer alternatives.
4) Get confirmation on links
Sometimes you get links from your contacts through IM/e-mail. Do request a confirmation from the sender before entering them. There is a change the links could be infected, and the sender didn't really send them.
5) Legitimate sites can contain virus too
It's true that many people get infected by surfing crack, porn sites etc. However, perfectly legitimate and well-known sites can have vulnerabilities too.
6) Never plug an unknown device into your PC
It's not the first time I have to clean up an infected PC from plugging in a virus ridden USB thumbdrive. If you have to do it, make sure you scan it first before exploring the contents. This could save you a lot of trouble later on.
7) Your passwords might not be so safe after all
Most people have simple passwords so they can remember them later on. However this also means it would be easy for people to hack in. Been more than a few times I cracked accounts of people who have common and simple passwords. If you password is or a variation of the following, change it immediately: password, 123, qwerty, abc123, [yourname], [your birthday], [telephone no]. Also try to avoid dictionary words.
8) You may be infected and never know it
Not all malicious programs will notify you that they are residing somewhere on your harddisk. Some may prompt messages, restart your PC, or delete files. But there are also some that lays dormant, only runs during certain periods. Regularly scan your PC.
9) There is no way to make sure your PC is 100% virus-free
Wait, there is. Don't use it, turn it off, put it in a box somewhere and seal it. There.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Sunday, December 16, 2007
How to Hide Desktop Icons
Requirement: Windows XP
Level: Beginner
This is a commonly asked question, but actually to accomplish it is very easy. Just go to your desktop, right click, go to arrange icons by-> and uncheck the show desktop icons. There, your desktop icons is hidden. This is useful if you like to have a clean desktop and less icons to block that beautiful wallpaper of yours. But by doing so, you might find it troublesome to access certain shortcuts.
Therefore, I'm going to show you a way to achieve the clean desktop without compromising on the convenience of having shortcuts. That is by having a toolbar. To do this, first just drag any one of your folders to the top of the screen. If done correctly, a toolbar should appear. Right click on the toolbar, and you can see the various settings to configure. You can auto-hide it, add additional toolbars, set the size, and lots more. Here's a toolbar for my desktop.
It's a little small, but you should see the line of toolbar at the top of the screen, and the black bar on the bottom is my windows toolbar. All the icons that I hid is displayed on the toolbar I made, so I do not have to compromise on the lack of convenience. You can display your wallpaper fully with the glory it deserves.
Level: Beginner
This is a commonly asked question, but actually to accomplish it is very easy. Just go to your desktop, right click, go to arrange icons by-> and uncheck the show desktop icons. There, your desktop icons is hidden. This is useful if you like to have a clean desktop and less icons to block that beautiful wallpaper of yours. But by doing so, you might find it troublesome to access certain shortcuts.
Therefore, I'm going to show you a way to achieve the clean desktop without compromising on the convenience of having shortcuts. That is by having a toolbar. To do this, first just drag any one of your folders to the top of the screen. If done correctly, a toolbar should appear. Right click on the toolbar, and you can see the various settings to configure. You can auto-hide it, add additional toolbars, set the size, and lots more. Here's a toolbar for my desktop.
It's a little small, but you should see the line of toolbar at the top of the screen, and the black bar on the bottom is my windows toolbar. All the icons that I hid is displayed on the toolbar I made, so I do not have to compromise on the lack of convenience. You can display your wallpaper fully with the glory it deserves.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Keeping Your PC Virus Free
You do not necessarily need an anti-virus program to secure your computer. What's most important is the browsing habits. If you are not aware of the dangers, the best anti-virus program in the world would not secure your computer. Here are some tips that could help you secure your PC.
1. Choose what you read
A lot of virus and worms spread through e-mail attachments and instant messengers. These malicious programs can come in different forms from word documents to pictures. The rule to avoid infecting yourself if to look at the sender. If it is from someone unknown, ignore it. From someone you know? Read the subject, if it looks suspicious or you are not expecting it, ask the sender or read with caution. The anti-virus program provided by the mail hosting should not be the determining factor for the safety of the attachment. Trust your judgment, and think before opening any attachments.
2. Do not install unnecessary software
Many softwares/toolbars/plug-ins from the Internet may not be as safe as you think. They may not contain viruses, but spywares or adwares. Unless they are really necessary, think twice before you install any software, and read the terms and conditions first. Read some reviews and comments on professional websites before installing.
3. Avoid porn/hacking/cracking sites
From my experience, the above websites are the most popular for attempting to infect your computer. They may have a lot of links, pop-ups that would come up, and sometimes forcing certain plug-in installation before allowing access. Please, DO NOT install these plug-ins, or in fact any plug-ins in any website unless you know what it is.
4. Avoid usage of P2P software
P2P softwares, such as Kazaa, Limewire are great for file-sharing and downloading those hard to get files. However they come with a great risk, as many of these files may in fact contain malicious programs that could infect your computer. From my experience, a significant portion, maybe 10%-15% of the files inside are infected. If you download from them, you too risk infection. I too have stopped using it just for this reason.
5. Scan first
I once have two of my computers infected just because I wanted to save some time copying files from a friend. His USB thumb drive is infected, I did not scan it before I plugged it in, I regretted. This resulted in the format of both the infected laptops. Therefore, next time before opening a file you just downloaded, or plugging in a friend's USB drive, scan first.
There are no definite ways to keep your computer virus free. What is most important is to be smart when surfing the Internet, and be aware of the dangers. There are plenty of ways a virus can infect your computer, even without connecting to the Internet. Of course, get a good anti-virus program. For financial restricted users, I recommend AVG Free, which you can get here.
1. Choose what you read
A lot of virus and worms spread through e-mail attachments and instant messengers. These malicious programs can come in different forms from word documents to pictures. The rule to avoid infecting yourself if to look at the sender. If it is from someone unknown, ignore it. From someone you know? Read the subject, if it looks suspicious or you are not expecting it, ask the sender or read with caution. The anti-virus program provided by the mail hosting should not be the determining factor for the safety of the attachment. Trust your judgment, and think before opening any attachments.
2. Do not install unnecessary software
Many softwares/toolbars/plug-ins from the Internet may not be as safe as you think. They may not contain viruses, but spywares or adwares. Unless they are really necessary, think twice before you install any software, and read the terms and conditions first. Read some reviews and comments on professional websites before installing.
3. Avoid porn/hacking/cracking sites
From my experience, the above websites are the most popular for attempting to infect your computer. They may have a lot of links, pop-ups that would come up, and sometimes forcing certain plug-in installation before allowing access. Please, DO NOT install these plug-ins, or in fact any plug-ins in any website unless you know what it is.
4. Avoid usage of P2P software
P2P softwares, such as Kazaa, Limewire are great for file-sharing and downloading those hard to get files. However they come with a great risk, as many of these files may in fact contain malicious programs that could infect your computer. From my experience, a significant portion, maybe 10%-15% of the files inside are infected. If you download from them, you too risk infection. I too have stopped using it just for this reason.
5. Scan first
I once have two of my computers infected just because I wanted to save some time copying files from a friend. His USB thumb drive is infected, I did not scan it before I plugged it in, I regretted. This resulted in the format of both the infected laptops. Therefore, next time before opening a file you just downloaded, or plugging in a friend's USB drive, scan first.
There are no definite ways to keep your computer virus free. What is most important is to be smart when surfing the Internet, and be aware of the dangers. There are plenty of ways a virus can infect your computer, even without connecting to the Internet. Of course, get a good anti-virus program. For financial restricted users, I recommend AVG Free, which you can get here.
Shortcut to Windows Programs
Requirements: Microsoft Windows
Level: Beginner
I'm sure many people are familiar with the Windows Start Menu. It is like a portal to all the different installed programs on the computer. However, as the usage grows sometimes people may find it difficult or time consuming to find the appropriate programs. With these keywords, you may be able to save some time looking for these often used programs.
1. Go to Start->Run
2. Type 'notepad' and click OK
This will run the Windows notepad. There are many more programs that can be run with the correct commands. Here is a short list of useful programs.
Level: Beginner
I'm sure many people are familiar with the Windows Start Menu. It is like a portal to all the different installed programs on the computer. However, as the usage grows sometimes people may find it difficult or time consuming to find the appropriate programs. With these keywords, you may be able to save some time looking for these often used programs.
1. Go to Start->Run
2. Type 'notepad' and click OK
This will run the Windows notepad. There are many more programs that can be run with the correct commands. Here is a short list of useful programs.
- wordpad - Windows Wordpad
- mspaint - Microsoft Pain
- cmd - Command Prompt
- calc - Windows Calculator
- dxdiag - DirectX Diagnostics
- freecell - Frecell card game
- mshearts - Hearts card game
- winmine - Minesweeper game
- pinball - Windows Pinball game
- regedit - Registry editor
- winword - Microsoft Word
- photoshop - Adobe Photoshop
Speed up Windows XP Boot
Requirements: Basic knowledge on programs, Windows XP, Common Sense
Level: Intermediate
Your boot up speed is not only determined by the speed of the computer hardware, but also the amount of installed programs. Some of these programs are set by default to load when Windows boot up. However there are ways to change that so these programs only run when you want them to.
1. Go to Start->Run. Type "msconfig" (without the quotes)
2. Go to the Startup tab. You should see a list of programs, each with a checkbox on the left.
3. Go through the list, and look for familiar programs which you can identify. Some may include Microsoft Office, Quicktime, Adobe, Nero, DAP.
4. Uncheck programs that you do not need.
5. To save the changes, restart the computer.
Note: The rule here is to identify which program that you do not need to run on startup. Unchecked programs would still be able to function normally, just that you may need to manually load the programs. If anything does not function as you wished, just repeat steps 1-5, but checking instead.
Level: Intermediate
Your boot up speed is not only determined by the speed of the computer hardware, but also the amount of installed programs. Some of these programs are set by default to load when Windows boot up. However there are ways to change that so these programs only run when you want them to.
1. Go to Start->Run. Type "msconfig" (without the quotes)
2. Go to the Startup tab. You should see a list of programs, each with a checkbox on the left.
3. Go through the list, and look for familiar programs which you can identify. Some may include Microsoft Office, Quicktime, Adobe, Nero, DAP.
4. Uncheck programs that you do not need.
5. To save the changes, restart the computer.
Note: The rule here is to identify which program that you do not need to run on startup. Unchecked programs would still be able to function normally, just that you may need to manually load the programs. If anything does not function as you wished, just repeat steps 1-5, but checking instead.
Mount/Run ISO/cue/bin Files
Requirements: Virtual Drive Tools
Level: Beginner
I have been asked quite a number of times on how to run ISO, cue or bin files. These are images, and when mounted on a virtual drive will act like a CD/DVD. So to run or access the files on the images, you'll need a virtual drive tool. There are a few out there, the more popular ones being:
The basic idea is like that, for a deeper understanding on virtual drive emulation, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_drive
Level: Beginner
I have been asked quite a number of times on how to run ISO, cue or bin files. These are images, and when mounted on a virtual drive will act like a CD/DVD. So to run or access the files on the images, you'll need a virtual drive tool. There are a few out there, the more popular ones being:
- Daemon Tools (www.daemon-tools.cc)
- Alchohol (www.alcohol-soft.com)
The basic idea is like that, for a deeper understanding on virtual drive emulation, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_drive
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Downloading videos from streaming sites (YouTube etc)
Requirement: Internet connection
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
YouTube and similar sites like Metacafe and Break.com allows streaming of video, where the video is downloaded while the users are watching it. There are several ways that you can download these videos, some requiring installation of plug-ins and program.
Method 1: This is a method which does not require and installation whatsoever. For Internet Explorer users, files loaded when you are surfing the web is actually stored in your hard drive, in the Temporary Internet Files folder. The purpose is so that when you re-visit a site, the computer would not need to download these files from the Internet, instead just retrieve them from your hard drive. To find these files in Windows XP, go to C:\Documents and Settings\Your username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files.
Inside the folder you should see lots and lots of files, to locate the particular file you are looking for, you can try clicking on the size tab, as video files are usually the largest among the temporary files. From there just copy and paste the selected file to your destination.
Method 2: This is my personal favourite, as a Firefox user, there is a plugin that you should take a look at. It's called Download Helper. The plugin will show when a video is available for download, and to actually download the video takes just a few clicks of the mouse. Simple and easy to use. Here's the link for the addon: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006
Method 3: This is a method for non-Firefox users. There are plenty of programs which allow users to download videos from YouTube, such as YouTube downloader (http://youtubedownload.altervista.org/). Some of these programs may be trial version only and require registration after a period of use.
Method 4: Downloading from website. There are websites which provide services that allows download of the videos by copy and pasting the link to the site. One example of such sites is www.keepvid.com
There may be more ways to download streaming videos, it depends on your personal preference. My personal favourite is the Firefox addon because it not only applies to streaming videos, but also flash and other multimedia apps.
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
YouTube and similar sites like Metacafe and Break.com allows streaming of video, where the video is downloaded while the users are watching it. There are several ways that you can download these videos, some requiring installation of plug-ins and program.
Method 1: This is a method which does not require and installation whatsoever. For Internet Explorer users, files loaded when you are surfing the web is actually stored in your hard drive, in the Temporary Internet Files folder. The purpose is so that when you re-visit a site, the computer would not need to download these files from the Internet, instead just retrieve them from your hard drive. To find these files in Windows XP, go to C:\Documents and Settings\Your username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files.
Inside the folder you should see lots and lots of files, to locate the particular file you are looking for, you can try clicking on the size tab, as video files are usually the largest among the temporary files. From there just copy and paste the selected file to your destination.
Method 2: This is my personal favourite, as a Firefox user, there is a plugin that you should take a look at. It's called Download Helper. The plugin will show when a video is available for download, and to actually download the video takes just a few clicks of the mouse. Simple and easy to use. Here's the link for the addon: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006
Method 3: This is a method for non-Firefox users. There are plenty of programs which allow users to download videos from YouTube, such as YouTube downloader (http://youtubedownload.altervista.org/). Some of these programs may be trial version only and require registration after a period of use.
Method 4: Downloading from website. There are websites which provide services that allows download of the videos by copy and pasting the link to the site. One example of such sites is www.keepvid.com
There may be more ways to download streaming videos, it depends on your personal preference. My personal favourite is the Firefox addon because it not only applies to streaming videos, but also flash and other multimedia apps.
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