If they opened a James Bond movie the way spring of 2011 opened, it would seem like quite a plot – cyber terrorists around the world attack Western computer systems.

First, they try a soft target – the Sony PlayStation data center; and then they get more ambitious and take Citibank data center security down.

US Airways is grounded because of a computer glitch; and so is United Continental just a week later. It’s the end of Western civilization – if James Bond doesn’t join hands and do something.

There’s one little way in which the whole story doesn’t ring true. This Citibank data center security breach and the one with the PlayStation were the only ones we learned about.

There are breaches occur almost every week that never get reported. People who trust that the banks know how to take care of their financial information and who give their credit card numbers to dozens of merchant establishments trusting that they will do everything in their power to keep them safe live in serious self-delusion.

Banks and merchant establishments lose your data just as often as you misplace your car keys. Only, when it’s your car keys, you actually get to know about it.

What can you do when your hard-earned money sits there in your account waiting to be robbed at any time? It’s there one moment, and it’s gone the next.

The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has just published a proper list of all the data center security breaches that have occurred over the last six years in this country.

And apparently, there are enough people on that list to cover the US population twice over. There have been a couple of hundred security breaches this year alone and tens of millions of financial records have been stolen.

Some people can have their life turned upside down when this happens. The people who steal their Social Security numbers and everything else can commit crimes in their names.

When the victims go apply for a job or a house loan or something, their name shows on the system, flagged as that of the convicted felon. Criminals don’t need to rob banks anymore.

They just have to get a stolen bank account, sit at the computer, and steal as much money as they can from other people’s bank accounts and have it transferred to the stolen bank account they have and make away with the money. They don’t care that they’ve just destroyed someone’s life forever.

So are these cyber thieves some kind of super high-tech people with brilliant hacking abilities? Not likely. Most of these crimes are done by people who use basic old techniques that have been in place for years now. It’s just that the banks haven’t been doing anything at all to protect your interests. The question is, if the banks won’t protect you, how do you protect yourself?

Basically, all you can do is to protect your computer. If they are stealing from the bank where you have an account, there’s pretty much nothing you can do. All you can do is to take steps to minimize the fallout, once it happens.

One way to protect yourself would be to use different user names and passwords for every online banking account you have.

When thieves get their hands on a bunch of user names and passwords from one bank, they’ll try them on every other bank hoping that you’ll have been too lazy to think of a new username and password there. They have automated programs that try every bank (and PayPal) out, automatically.

If you are hit at any time, the only way you’ll ever know is if you take a look at your credit report and see some suspicious activity. Make sure you keep on top of your credit reports.

Accepting the Reality of Data Center Security Breaches and Coping is a post from: Computer Spot

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Do you share a computer with your child? If yes, you will need some additional steps to safeguard your data and also to protect your child’s experience on the computer.

This article will share some important computer security tips that can help you.

1. You set some rules for your child what he/she is allowed to do on the computer.
2. Installing security software such as firewall and anti virus software. You must keep them up to date.
3. Set up parental controls. It’s our duty as parent to control our child using a computer. In windows 7 there is a feature how to limit your kids computer use. Here is the reference how to set up parental controls on windows 7, http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Set-up-Parental-Controls
4. Take advantage of login and user management systems
5. You should use tools that can monitor their activity. Monitoring your child using a computer is a good way to protect them.
6. Be accessible to your child in case of questions and concerns.
7. Warn your child of dangers associated with social networking and chatting.
8. You must back up your important data. There are many ways to backup your data. You can use external hard disk, flash disk, etc.

It is very important to not only properly secure your computer, but also to keep your child safe, if you are sharing your computer with your child. Use the tips in this article to keep them both safe.

Safety Way to Share Your Computer With A Child is a post from: Computer Spot

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The Pc Security Software Marketplace for the beginner, Described is a post from: Computer Spot

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How often do you use your personal computer? More than likely you make use of this handy resource on a daily basis. Moreover, you probably have more than one PC or Mac in your home that gets used every day.

At this point, most people simply cannot function on a day-today basis without their trust computers at their side. Since these advanced little machines are so extremely important for routine rituals and chores, it is naturally important to keep your PC healthy and running properly.

After all, it is not worth much if it can’t perform how you want it to. This means that you may require free computer virus protection to stay on the safe side.

Think about all of the sites and email addresses you come in contact on a daily basis. Whether you realize it or not, all of these can have an impact on your computer’s safety.

Surely you’ve been surfing the web before and random pop-ups covered your screen. There was a time when many personal computer browsers had no clue how to deal with these. Every time you clicked one closed, three more would arise.

This was utterly annoying to say the very least. Even though many major browsers have been updated so they can deal with most pop-ups now, you still might require free computer virus protection of some sort. Sure enough, some spyware still gets through.

Take a look at your PC more closely to see what current anti-virus software you have on it. If you have Norton or Symantec, go ahead and do a full hard drive scan to make certain your computer is free of all viruses and spyware.

This only takes an hour or so to run. If you do not have any anti-virus software to assist you with this, proceed to acquire a free computer virus protection download online.

Websites that can easily assist you with this are CyberDefender.com, Symantecstore.com, and webroot.com. Take a closer look at these so you can get started with a good anti-virus software program now. The sooner you protect you PC, the better.

A lot of people assume that their computers are free of any damaging viruses and spyware. This is never a good idea. After all, you can’t really know if you need a free computer virus protection download if you haven’t scanned your hard drive for threats.

Fortunately many websites that offer these free virus protection downloads can scan your computer promptly for spyware and other potential dangers.

Some issues that may arise if your computer is infected are as follows; The speed of your processor seems slower than it was originally, the PC crashes regularly, the screen locks up and you have to restart the computer, or certain password protected accounts appear to be accessed by someone else.

Go ahead and see which free computer virus protection download is right for you now!

Free Computer Virus Protection is a post from: Computer Spot

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Even if you do not appear as scheduled tasks, several optimizations, especially to improve the disk layout, the start and the opening time of applications, depending on the service or the Services snap-in Task Scheduler Disable command menu Advanced. For this reason you should not disable the Task Scheduler service stopping with these two instruments.

Abbreviations for the keys of the root:
> HKCR = HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, is primarily responsible for managing file extensions and classes of the associated functions.
> HKCU = HKEY_CURRENT_USER and> HKLM = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
the two main keys to the Windows configuration.
> HKU = HKEY_USERS = HKLM, contains the root of all user profiles on your computer
> HKCC = HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG administers the current profile hard-ware used by the computer.
In Knowledge Base, at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/DE/, you can find more information about the Windows registry. Here you can also get information about hidden files that contain all the log data.

The registry is launched from the Start / Run / regedit and through it you can have total control over the OS, speaking at the heart of the system. And ‘it is essential for this, do a full backup of the registry before making any changes. To do this there is a specific tool called Registry Toolkit (www.funduc.com), or you can also use the utility of the operating system.

In the latter case, select Start / All Programs / Accessories / System Tools / Backup that is precisely the tool that allows you to backup your registry files and settings with Windows. Now follow the wizard and select All information on this computer. Further knowledge on this subject can be found in Knowledge Base article at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756. In case you want even more security, you can create images bitwise partition system, using the Acronis True Image (www.acronis.com).

Preventive Security In The Use of Registry is a post from: Computer Spot

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Along with Windows Vista, Microsoft created by far the most secure version from the flagship Windows os yet. That security comes with a learning contour though. Microsoft introduced many different new principles and technologies such as UAC (User Account Control), WIL (Windows Ethics Levels), PatchGuard kernel safeguard, Bitlocker drive encryption, plus more. This section will assist you to to understand the safety features associated with Windows Vista and use them to correctly protect your PC along with your data.

Windows Vista has an innovative feature called the Sidebar. The Sidebar could be configured to help display for the left or maybe right with the screen and may even be configured to remain seated onto all alternative windows to ensure that the information is obviously available. Simply by default, Vista comes with a handful involving Gadgets you could plug in the Sidebar. These Gizmos include things like a time clock, a date, a photo slideshow, the local weather, and many others. There are numerous other Devices available on the other hand. These are generally my Leading Picks to get Vista Sidebar Gadgets which have been related to help security and allowing you to monitor your personal machine security.

AlertCon – Do you love to know what the security posture with the Internet is definitely? Internet Security Systems (ISS) presents an all round “barometer” regarding Internet-wide reliability issues. Such as the DHS fright alert quantities, ISS carries a four-level World-wide-web threat amount meter known as AlertCon of which immediately monitoring users when there may be some sort of large-scale earthworm or virus infestation or other these kinds of network-disrupting task. This device displays the actual AlertCon status from the ISS site (www. iss. net). The actual status can auto-refresh each sixty minutes.

Windows Vista Security With Alertcon is a post from: Computer Spot

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In the days when the majority of businesses were beginning to use the internet for their everyday interactions, the security of the company was left up to the IT specialists of the company.

They had a set of hard and fast rules that were applied. User permissions were limited and firewalls put in place, and along with anti-virus software, the systems were able to remain secure.

Massive changes have since occurred in the world of computing, and these mean that companies may suddenly be finding themselves vulnerable.

It was once a relatively simple job. User settings were at a level where the user was unable to install their own software. This prevented them from running executable files that may be infected with viruses, and firewalls were used to prevent them downloading anything that might be a problem.

Rules were issued to all staff that stated that certain links were not to be clicked, and that only permitted sites could be visited. Even USB ports may have been disabled, in order to prevent media being loaded onto a computer in that way.

There are many new threats to corporate security. The first of these is the ease with which people can now bring in their own media and computing devices.

Many people now carry smart phones, or use netbooks or MP3 players that can be networked, and once networked can be accessed from any computer.

Others still can be linked to a computer via bluetooth or the WiFi network in order to access the files on the device, and this can mean that malware can easily be transferred.

Where once it was easy to see when a link came from an untrusted source, the growth of URL shortening has confused this. By entering the URL into an online tool, the original link can be hidden, and the true origin only discovered when the link is clicked-by which time malware may be already being installed.

Many people now use their work computers during their breaks, in order to browse or to watch videos. Even viewing an infected video can install malware onto your computer.

Collaborative tools can be a dream when it comes to getting team work done. By uploading your work to a shared document tool such as Google Docs, several people can be granted access to it, in order to either view it or edit it, or both.

This can speed up the time in which work gets done, since instant messengers also make it easy to tell the rest of the team when edits have been completed.

The security hole here is glaring. Though these documents are sometimes password protected, passwords can are do get hacked, allowing sensitive information to be viewed.

If the document in question contains client information, or worse-essential information on the running or profitability of your business, it may be disastrous if the document were to experience unauthorized access.

From a privacy point of view, this makes these tools a nightmare situation, yet for productivity they are incredibly useful.

Advances such as these are needed, and are here to stay. But till companies manage to catch up and make them secure, the risk to their businesses will remain.

Why Technology Increases are Endangering Business Security is a post from: Computer Spot

Viruses become a common thing in the Internet. But it should not be a common thing in your computer. Computer viruses behave the same as health viruses.

They start small, propagate, and invade the body causing it to cripple and unable to perform well.

Microsoft is constantly updating its operating system software to make it virus free. But even computer virus evolves.

It is keeping up with the times and the numerous security updates. It keeps on looking for holes where it can break into.

PC Virus threats are classified into different levels. These levels are standard and are followed by the major anti-virus software manufacturer.

To understand what the different virus levels are, read on:

1. Critical Level

Critical level means the worm or the virus has the ability to create damage worldwide. It can easily spread globally and cannot be contained in an instant. This also means that the virus is widespread and that it can target everyone, including common home computer users. Malware and spyware are good examples of these.

2. Severe Level

A virus alert is tagged severe if the worm can target both patched and unpatched computer systems. It is also worldwide in nature, and has the potential to spread rampantly and swiftly, but has not done so just yet.

3. Elevated Level

This level alert is given out when a worm or a virus has the ability to spread globally and attack both patch and unpatched systems. But the virus cannot penetrate or propagate by itself. User intervention is usually needed.

4. Low Level

With a low alert level, there is no direct danger to systems that were successfully patched. The virus, malware, or spyware under this alert are in a controlled level and there are new activity reported.

These are the four personal computer virus threat levels. Your anti-virus software can use any one of these alert levels when they post new updates about recently discovered viruses and spyware.

So the next time you inspect the virus bulletin from your mail or from the anti-virus website itself, try to check out the PC virus level first. That alone will give you a faint idea as to how worse the situation can be.

But the bottom line is that viruses, whatever their alert level maybe should be given absolute attention. Do not take viruses for granted. Remember that a single one of them penetrating your computer system will cause it to crash.

Understanding the Different Levels of a PC Virus is a post from: Computer Spot

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There are times when we type things on our computer and save them on our computers yet we don’t wish people to read whatever it is we have written and saved. For those who don’t know how to protect what they have written from people who might have access to their computers other than themselves, using a password protected system to keep your documents from being accessed by other people is one thing that should be learned.

Create a Password For Your PC

One of the easiest ways for you to protect your documents from other people who might use your computer from time to time would be to create a password for your User profile. Your User profile can be locked so that only you can access it and other people can use the PC from another profile that can be for common use. To password protect your User profile:

1. You should first click on start then on settings and finally on Control Panel.
2. From control Panel, access the User Accounts and click on your User account.
3. Follow the steps for creating a password for your user account and apply it.

Create a Password for Your Word Documents

After you create a certain document you want to keep away the eyes of people you don’t want to read it, you can always password protect it after you write it. This kind of a move password protects individual documents that you feel should be hidden from everyone else without having to create a separate user profile on your computer. Here are the steps you can use to do this:

1. You first choose options from the tools menu.
2. You then click on the security tab on the pop-up and you type in the password that  is needed to open the document in the box provided for.
3. You will then click on OK after typing in your password and you will need to re-verify this password after you click OK.
4. You can then safely save the document and be secure that no one can read it without the password. You can only open this particular document after you provide the password.

Protecting your documents with the use of either a user profile password or a specific document password will help ensure that whatever you wish to keep to yourself will remain safely away from people you don’t want seeing your documents and what they contain.

How to Password-protect Documents in Your Computer from Prying Eyes is a post from: Computer Spot

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Technology is an amazing thing. Computers these days can do everything. With so many new bells and whistles, computers and the Internet have become hunting grounds for child predators. They attempt to reach your child through your computer and they can use webcams to do it.

It’s as if The Jetsons are alive and living in the 21st century. You can actually talk to someone through your computer and see them face to face. Using webcams, video equipment and microphones, kids can project their image across cyberspace.

It’s new technology so kids are curious and excited. YouTube is a site devoted to video networking. Kids can upload videos of themselves doing everything from skateboarding to fixing their favorite milkshake. Once these videos are uploaded, people anywhere can see them.

Webcams aren’t all bad are they?

Webcams are useful for many reasons. First, families can stay in touch. This is especially nice for service men and women to see their families or grandparents to keep in touch with their grandkids who live miles away. A webcam lets you see the person in real time.

Secondly, webcams can be used for instructional videos, school projects and classes that are interactive. It’s like being there without being there.

What are the drawbacks?

With each new technological development there comes someone who wants to exploit it for its nefarious uses. Child predators use webcams to satisfy their sexual urges.

Getting to your child with messages in chat rooms is dangerous enough, but with a webcam they can actually see them.  It is as scary as it sounds.

If you’ve ever seen someone use a webcam online, they can post their webcam address and perform real time video sessions.

Some people do it on their social site pages for friends, but the feed can be picked up by others and broadcast all over the world. Online predators can tap into these feeds and contact your child.

The relationship begins innocently. They talk to your child and might ask them to do things on camera like wearing a certain outfit or saying certain words.

Over time the acts will get more explicit and the person may even offer money or gifts for the privilege of looking at your child.

What can a parent do?

Know your child and set up rules for using webcams. If your computer has a webcam keep it in the common area of the house. There is no need for webcams in a child’s bedroom.

Secondly, teach your kids not to post anything they wouldn’t want to be seen by a million others. It might seem like fun for your child to dance around in their nightgown to have fun with some girlfriends, but on the Internet that same footage could send the wrong message. Anyone your child sends the video to can post it as long as they have the link.

Our children don’t always make the right decisions so it is up to us to guide them in the right direction. Webcams might be fun for family and friends but they can be a dangerous avenue for sexual predators if used irresponsibly.

Webcam Technology is a post from: Computer Spot