Key Logging Capers Part Two – Three Reasons why it is a Problem

For those concerned about spouses who may be cheating via the internet, key logging software can be a great way to check it out. It will give you a clue as to what your partner is doing online and whether or not there is a bigger problem. There are, however, problems with key logging software of which you should be aware. Three problems, in particular, are cause for concern.

First of all, key logging just isn’t quite the best way. For instance, there are programs out there that will allow you to record in great detail what your partner is doing on the computer. Such software will get you captured screen images, typed keywords, files he or she has opened, files that have been allowed, and even both sides of chat conversations. Key logging software is not a bad first step, but as opposed to these other software applications, key logging only gets you what was typed from the computer on which it is installed. You would not see both sides of a chat conversation, read incoming emails, or know exactly what websites he or she went to if the addresses were not typed in directly. In such a situation you are only getting half the story and it may be difficult to figure out exactly what is going on. In such a case you can end up either falsely accusing your partner or not be able to collect enough evidence to completely confirm your suspicions and confront him or her.

The second problem with key logging software when trying to catch a cheating partner is how easily it can be detected. Spying software is made to run stealthily in the background so that the person who is being spied on will not be aware. On the other hand, many key logging programs were designed for use by businesses to keep their employees on task. Part of the solution, in that case, is not hiding the fact that the employees are being monitored. Therefore, many key logging software programs are fairly easily detected so that your spouse will know that you are checking up on him or her. The drawback of that is two fold: one, you may not find out what is or was going on and two, you will likely upset your partner if it turns out he or she was not doing what you initially suspected.

The third problem with key logging software is that it may be hard to get it in where you need it. If your partner uses his or her own computer, you may have a difficult time getting access to it for a long enough time to get software installed. In addition to the problem of time, is the problem of access. If you have to install the software to find out what is going on, you will need to know how to get onto your partner’s computer. Sure, the key logging software can load the information to your computer for retrieval, but you will still need to be able to get it on his or her computer in the first place. Though this is a problem with many key logging applications, there are some that can help. Some of the newer spy and key logging programs are made so that they can be installed as a sort of virus. You need only email the program to the computer on which you would like it installed. When the user opens it or looks at it, he or she will automatically have it installed on his or her computer.

With our world increasingly relying on computers and the internet, it only makes sense that extramarital and cheating affairs would find their way there. You may even have suspicions that your spouse or partner is cheating by communicating on line or even by having a cyber affair. Like with any affair, you likely want to find evidence so that you either know you have reason to leave that person or so you can confront him or her for some sort of explanation. Key logging software is a popular way of seeking out such evidence. There are, however, problems with it. There are better software applications for this purpose, it can be difficult to get installed if you have limited access to the computer you need to log, and it can be very one sided since you only see what is typed on the computer on which it is installed.

Pound Those Pop-Ups

Advertising is part of what makes the internet a profitable investment for companies. Without advertising, in one form or another, the web simply could not be the free service it generally is. One form of advertising on the World Wide Web is the pop-up ad. This kind of advertising works when you open a certain website. As you open it, another window opens to display an advertisement. To close the advertisement, you either have to click on the ad or close the new browser window that has opened for you. You can also experience a version of this called a pop-under. This opens a window under your current browser window. This means you will not see it until the window you are using has been closed.

In the early days of the internet, simple banner ads on websites were profitable enough for companies. However, as the internet increased in popularity, and the dot com crash of the nineties happened, banner ads began to stop generating the cash they once were. As a result, pop-up ads became popular. They are harder to ignore. These ads also have a higher click rate, and they are more difficult to close, making them that much more likely to close a sale.

The major users of pop-up ads are pornographic websites. Sometimes the pop-up ads can get a bit more persistent with these kinds of sites. Instead of a single window opening, multiple windows open. As the user attempts to close each window, another one opens. The only way to stop this is to close the browser or shut the computer down. Another more persistent type of pop-up is usually referred to as “mouse trapping.” This type of ad fills your screen and removes all icons and menu bars so it is impossible to kill the ad. The only way to get rid of this ad is to shut the computer down, as access to other open windows, web pages, and programs is eliminated. The static image ad is also quite common. In this variation, the ad stays in one location as long as a particular program is open. This is most common with music programs and websites.

Working on the internet is not the only way to get pop-up ads. Some software programs have pop-up ads. If spyware has infected your computer, you may also be experiencing pop-up ads at random intervals.

Not only are these ads annoying, the more persistent forms of pop-ups ads can be damaging to your computer with improper shut downs of certain programs. Moreover, some of these ads can carry malware, which can be very harmful to your system. It is important to stop these ads at all costs, if for no other reason than to save your sanity.

There are several things you can do to combat pop-up ads. The first line of defense is your browser itself. A number of different companies make browsers that eliminate pop-up ads before they ever begin. Gecko-based browsers, including Mozilla Firefox and Netscape versions seven and eight, are very good at stopping pop-up ads before they even start. A Gecko-based browser is an open source web browser layout engine. It is considered to be the second most popular type of search engine layout. Other companies that make browsers that eliminate pop-up ads include America Online and Internet Explorer. Not all versions of these browsers, though, support pop-up blocking technology, so it is important to check before you install.

Another thing you can do to combat pop-up ads is install an add-on program. Several toolbars and software programs claim to block pop-ups. Yahoo’s toolbar, MSN’s toolbar, and Google’s toolbar all claim to block pop-ups. The freeware programs KillAd and NoAds close the windows before they open. Other software programs including Super Ad Blocker, Pop-Up Stopper, Pop-Up Sentry, and Proximitron work in a similar fashion.

Many users are unaware of pop-up blocking technology. As a result, people continue to fight with pop-up ads on a daily basis. Armed with this new knowledge, though, you can be among the intelligent and begin fighting your pop-up ads with a new browser or a software add-on program.

Top Five Vulnerable Areas in Internet Security

The internet connects millions of computers. With it, you have access to a vast warehouse of knowledge. All you need to get to that knowledge is a humble home computer and a phone line or cable. However, that kind of access also opens new security risk doors. Important information can be taken, changed, or used for the wrong purpose with these security risks. These security risks can even damage the computer systems involved. An intruder does not have to break into your home, someone’s office, or anyone’s safe to damage the information or the systems involved with the internet. They can do it from the convenience of their own computer. There are five major risks on the internet.

The first risk is called an account compromise. This means someone else uses your computer account besides you. This is not the same thing as the account manager using your account. This is the unauthorized access of your account. This can be done for a number of reasons. The first reason someone might use your account without your permission is to gain access to your data. They could steal something as small as your contact information or something as important as your credit card or bank account information. Another reason someone might use your account is to cause havoc in the information stored in your account. This is basically malicious mischief, computer style. It’s like kids spray-painting graffiti, only in an electronic form.

Another risk is from probing. A probe is the attempt to get into a system or an account. In most cases, the perpetrator is looking for something he can steal or cause harm to. For example, a probe may try to get into your site files to look at your customer’s names and addresses. In some other cases, probes have tried to get into sites to corrupt the data. Probes, themselves, though, don’t cause the harm. They may cause some confusion, but once the probe discovers a way in, the perpetrator is not far behind.

An additional risk to internet security comes from a denial of service attack. The point of these is to stop users who should be in the system from using it appropriately. This can not only damage the equipment involved, it can cause panic and confusion. If large enough networks are hit, say major businesses like telecommunications companies, business can come to a standstill, causing major profit loss.

A fourth major risk to internet security is a malicious code attack. These kinds of attacks damage systems permanently. You may have heard about some of these. They can include Trojan horses, viruses, and worms. With a Trojan horse, the program is hidden in something legitimate. Once opened or altered, the Trojan horse begins its quiet damage. A worm makes thousands of copies of itself once it has started. A virus can do the same thing, but it usually requires a little help from a user. Any of these kinds of malicious codes can cause system damage and denial of service.

The final major risk to internet security is an internet infrastructure attack. While these other risks represent serious problems, an attack on the internet infrastructure could cause far more damage than any one of these smaller attacks. These are very serious security attacks that can compromise lots of users at any one given time.

The people who cause these problems can be curious kids, college students testing out new programs and software tools, people seeking fame, or paid individuals working for companies with malicious intents. They could even be former employees of a corporation who wish to do serious damage to the company because of problems they experienced during their tenure there. Intruders may want any number of things including laughs, a problem to solve, power, attention, or money. Most are connected with other intruders through bulletin boards and conferences. They share knowledge, software, and programs.

Security risks and incidents have risen dramatically as more and more users have internet access. It is important that you remember every part of the internet is vulnerable, whether you realize it or not. Giving your contact information, account information, or financial information to any company that does business with the web, is a risk. Putting your company on the web is a risk. Usually, these kinds of risks are well worth it. They make you a part of the ever growing, ever changing internet. However, sometimes they cause serious personal loss.

Squash those Worms – Four Ways to Keep your PC Critter-Free

Unfortunately, the Internet upon which many of us are so reliant is a vast sea full of critters wishing to do our computer systems harm. There are viruses, Trojan Horses, and yes even worms that you have to look out for. Each is looking for a computer to infect that is connected to the internet and thus vulnerable.

Worms can be especially nasty because of the way they behave once your PC is infected. The worms that are out there today are not limited to just the emails you send out to spread it self. It can go in to your address book and look for addresses through which it can automatically infect the computers of your friends and acquaintances. This makes worms and critters nasty little creatures from which you need to steer clear.

Obviously, then, it is important for you to protect yourself. There are a number of things you can do. Four actions will help to keep your computer critter free. Each has its own way of keeping these viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses off of your system.

The first thing you can do is to install an operating system that is more secure than the one you are using currently. Take a look at your system and see how new it is. Is it new enough that it is secure against the newer worms and viruses? Remember that the programmers of these critters are constantly improving and finding new ways to infect your computer, so it is up to you to be vigilant in making sure that your system is updated to where it can protect against their latest and greatest. While you are in there looking at your system, turn off your windows scripting. There are a lot of applications that use the language, but unfortunately for you, worms love it as well. Disabling scripting will go a long way in protecting your system.

The second thing you can do to keep unsavory critters from hitting your hard drive is to basically pay attention. Be very careful about opening any attachment that you may receive via email. A majority of the worms out there on the Internet hide behind false file types like JPG, GIF, and ZIP files. You may receive them in an email, with a subject that makes sense, from someone you trust. However, it can still be a worm; the programmers are pretty sharp when it comes to the design of these little viruses. Luckily, if you are savvy or talk to your local computer expert, windows can be modified to better control file types like the ones worms might hide behind. You can also configure many email programs to help you handle these problems. Check your email program to make sure all of the security settings are on and working to keep your computer safe.

Third, you should also make sure you protect your Microsoft office programs. Many of the macros in Microsoft programs like word and excel are popular ways hackers use to enter and destroy your PC. Like your email programs, Microsoft office programs are equipped with security; make sure you have it turned on.

Fourth, in addition to switching on the security in those programs, make sure you have a firewall set up so the worms cannot get there in the first place. The firewall will give you a first line of defense against any attack for which your computer may otherwise be in store. If the operating system you currently use does not have a built in firewall, you should buy a third party firewall program to use. Firewalls are as good a way to keep hackers, viruses, worms, and other damaging Internet inhabitants from entering your computer.

Your computer was likely a big investment either for you or for your business. Therefore, you want to protect it as a financial and as a business investment. Your ideas, your files, your documents, and the computer itself are under constant attack from worms and viruses out on the Internet. Believe it or not, they are everywhere, and you need to protect yourself. There are ways to keep your computer safe, or at least safer. You should make sure you have a safe operating system, be aware of what you are downloading, make sure email and software protections are enabled, and make sure you have a firewall. It may seem complicated, but in reality most of these things are actions you will only have to perform one time and then just keep them up and running.

Let’s Go Phishing! – Five Ways to Avoid Being Hooked by This Scam

Phishing is a word that is used to describe a very specific type of Internet fraud and identity theft. In phishing, a con artist will use what appears like a legitimate email from a reputable source uses a fake email. The idea is to get you, the user, to give out your personal or financial information. Once the scammer has such information from you, he can use it to empty accounts, run up charges on your credit card, and even clone your identity completely to take out loans and skip out on the payments leaving you with the beat up credit. So how do you avoid these scams? There are five simple steps you can take to keep yourself from falling victim to phishing scams.

Do not ever respond to an email that has seemingly come from your credit card company, bank, or other financial institution with which you might have a relationship. There are many phishing scams out there that will use these emails. They will say that there is a problem with your account and that to fix it; you must click on a link they send you. They will even go as far as to threaten you with closing the account or calling the credit bureau on you if you ignore them. No matter what you will not want to click on any links. Don’t call the number they offer you either. Instead, call the number you usually do for the bank and talk to someone there. Tell them about the email and what it asks you to do. In almost all cases, they will tell you it is a scam and will thank you for letting them know about it. The people who put together phishing scams are sly with their emails, so always double check with your financial institute any emails that you get from them requesting information or asking you to click on a link.

Secondly, keep private personal information just that; private. Do not ever give out your bank account information, credit card numbers, PIN numbers, social security number, or any personally identifying information to anyone asking for it via email. Legitimate companies understand the need to keep personal information private and will never ask you to email such information. In addition, if a company has issued a PIN for some reason, they will never ask you to reveal that number to any of their employees. Anyone who would for any reason need to know that information will be able to get it from the system. Phishing scams are counting on your willingness to give such information over email, so simply don’t do it. If for some reason a company you work with is asking you to do that, then you may want to consider finding a different financial institute with which to do your business.

Do not ever click on the link in an email to buy something. The email may very well look like it came from a department store you use. However, many phishing scams actually take real URL’s and change them ever so slightly to make them look like the real ones. To protect yourself, if you see something in an email that asks you to click a link to buy it, type in the URL yourself. If it is a department store with which you are familiar, then type in the URL you usually use to work with them, if you don’t know it then look it up. By not clicking in the email, you can very simply save yourself a very big mess.

Fourth, report emails you find to be phishing emails. When you get one that is imitating a bank or business, forward that email to the institution. Most banks or companies will have a postmaster@ their URL as an email to receive these reports. The companies will often be able to warn other customers or even track down and pursue action against those responsible.

Lastly, if you get a phishing email and it really worries you, if it is one that seems particularly threatening or seems to be working on a broad scale, then report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. It is a government agency that is a joint project between the FBI and National White Collar Crime Center. They can help to shut down or prosecute those who are particularly threatening.

Top Ten Tools to Boost your Internet Security

When you think of security, you likely think of banks and financial institutions or at least companies in fear of corporate espionage. However, they are not the only ones that have to be concerned about security. Anyone, including you, who use a home or business computer to get on the Internet, should be concerned about security. The Internet, though a wonderful tool full of a wealth of information, is also full of hackers, viruses, and scams that can cause your computer a great deal of damage. Luckily, though, there are ways to prevent a lot of what is out there from getting to your computer. There are tools and precautions that you can take. The following is a list of ten that can go a long way in protecting you and increasing your internet security.

First of all, make sure that you have a firewall up and running on your computer as well as a virus checker. In addition, make sure what any firewall that is included in the software that you are using, has been activated and is set properly. Consult a professional or your software’s manual to make sure you have the settings on and correctly placed for optimum security.

Secondly, try not to share your computer. Obviously there are times when, especially with a home computer, that there will be multiple users. The problem is more with kids than anything. Children have a tendency to download anything they think they might need without thinking it through. If you do have to share your computer with kids, take time to talk to them about the risks of downloading software.

Third, backup your data often, especially what you consider it to be essential data. If you don’t do anything else, make sure you backup your files. Anything you backup can then be recovered if there is a problem. Viruses, worms, and the like can eat up files and before you know it family photos, business files, or important contact information can be lost.

Fourth, make sure you know what you are doing before you download anything. Don’t click on any unknown link that asks you to agree to install software to view their page. Sometimes those contain spyware.

A fifth way to increase security is to be careful about any business or sensitive information you access or pass on a public computer. You don’t know what has been downloaded onto those computers that could affect your files. Public computers could even have spyware, key logger software, or a number of other programs that could steal sensitive information. If you must use a public computer, make sure you sweep it with some sort of spyware seeking program.

Sixth, carry a flash card with you. You can load your own software onto the flash card for use on any public computer. This will help keep you safe from viruses. You may also want to use it if you are going to be using a family computer that you are not positive its virus and spyware free.

Seventh, be aware of visiting porn sites or anything like that. Those sites often contain spyware, Trojan horses, viruses, and all sorts of nasty bugs. These sites can even have software that will run in the background of your computer without even asking you, so it is a good idea to just stay away.

Eighth is to never open SPAM email while you are still connected to the Internet. Many times, just by clicking on SPAM you may be adding yourself to your own email address to another SPAM list. Often your email address will be used as the sending address and you will not know this, until your account is closed. You can also end up with viruses or worms from clicking on SPAM emails.

Ninth, turn off your Internet connection if you are determined to see what is in the SPAM email. If you really feel like you need to look at a message, but are unsure where it is from, shut off your connection at the firewall first.

Lastly, make sure you have a good virus checker installed on your computer. There are many free ones out there and they work well at protecting your computer from viruses. Look for a virus checker with regular updates, even daily updating, and make sure you receive those updates. Virus software will help protect your computer from new viruses and new worms that get discovered on the Internet. By making sure you are updating regularly, you can keep up with the viruses that are out there.

Identity Theft via Internet Security Flaws

In 2002, federal investigators helped to crack an identity theft ring that had been going for almost three years. More than thirty thousand victims were involved in the problem. Eventually, three men were charged. They had caused more than two point seven million dollars in damage. The scam was the largest in the history of the United States. The entire scam started when the perpetrators worked for a company that collected information via the internet. The security flaws that existed then and currently exist helped the men to do their damage. Those security flaws can still be a problem today.

It is estimated that identity theft accounts for twenty-five percent of all credit card losses in the industry. Moreover, in some states, identity theft is not even illegal. It is relatively easy for a thief to get your identity. First, all a thief needs is your social security number; you birth date, and your contact information. Once he or she has any of this, they can get a fake ID, which will help them apply for credit, posing as you. Because so many lending institutions are eager to issue credit these days, information is not properly verified, and the first account leads to more accounts. This ruins your credit. It is simple for a thief to take the first step to get more information because of password protected sites where you have entered your information.

Industry analysts suggest that passwords are the weakest, most exploited form of protection in the internet industry. They are a serious security flaw. Once a password is created or issued, it is impossible to tell exactly who is using the password. It could be passed around from individual to individual without the company ever realizing a problem has occurred.

Even if thieves don’t get your password, there are hundreds of other opportunities to start the processes with your contact information. Files about you exist everywhere. Your doctor has your contact information. Your lawyer has your contact information. Your banker has your contact information. Even your trash collection service probably has your contact information. If even a single person in any one of those offices decides to use or sell that information, an identity thief could be in business.

Identity thieves also exploit other internet security flaws to get your password. Phishing is one popular scam. In this model, you get an e-mail from a company you currently do business with asking you to verify your login and password through the link they’ve established in the e-mail. Once you click on that link and enter your name and password, you’ve just given your information to an identity thief without even knowing it. Another way thieves exploit security flaws is by hacking sites with poor security protocols. You can tell if the site you’re dealing with has good security by looking at the address as you login. If the “http” turns to “https,” you’re dealing with a secure site. If it does not, it would be wise not to submit your information to the site.

Once you become aware of the fact that you are a victim of identity theft, the first thing you should do is call the fraud division of all three credit bureaus. They can send you a free credit report so you can examine the damage that has been done. The next thing you should do is contact your creditors. You will need to do this both on the phone and in writing. They can give you the evidence you need to go to law enforcement personnel. Debt collectors may begin to call, and if they do, you must inform them immediately that you are a fraud victim, and that you cannot be held responsible for the account itself. If they persist, you should obtain the name and number of the collection service, as you can report them to the Federal Trade Commission. The next call you should make should be to local law enforcement personnel. Offer them all of the evidence you have collected, and make sure the police report lists the accounts that have been used. You will need a copy of the police report to settle the accounts in question. Finally, keep a case log of the entire process. You should include receipts for things like phone bills, postage, and all other costs associated with your fraud case. These could be useful in the future.

Hijacked at Home - Five Steps to Protect Your Home PC

Before you open those email attachments from an unknown source, insert a disc into your hard drive, or download any software from a new website that you’ve only just discovered, stop! You could be inviting a virus into your computer. It may sound a bit paranoid, but wouldn’t it be better to be a little paranoid than careless? Everyday the threat of a new computer crippling virus becomes more real to people everyday as they become victims. According to the International Computer Security Association (ICSA), which is an organization that monitors computer virus activity, over 20,000 computer virus strains are currently in circulation. The ICSA also assesses that at least 10 to 25 new viruses are detected everyday.

Viruses are no longer the thing of the past where they can only be passed on through one floppy disk to another. In a day and age of email and the internet, viruses are circulating even faster. Now almost every program, document or file can carry a virus. The virus can come in the form of an email from an unknown source or from an unknowing friend or acquaintance. Not only can these viruses breech your security and make all your private information public, you can loose data and even crash your hard drive. This can cost you a small fortune to repair, or even replace your computer, and it could cost you valuable time.

Most computer owners have very important and sometimes even personal information stored on their computer and that would be a terrible thing to lose. Without the proper security, your computer is open to hackers and hijackers all over the world. Why take this risk when it can be easily avoided? Avoid being hijacked at home; follow these five steps to help protect your home PC:

1. Install a firewall. If you own and operate a computer, you need a firewall. This is one of the best methods to help protect your computer from intruders. Firewalls are used to help prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer. They are very difficult for hackers to understand, thus a very good security measure. You can both purchase firewalls or find them for free through the internet. Regardless of whether you choose to purchase a firewall or obtain a free one, this is a very important security measure.

2. Download anti-virus software. This is definitely a must have. Anti-virus software is developed to scan your computer and search for viruses that can be infecting your computer. This software will find all of the viruses or infected files and permanently delete them from your computer to restore your computers vitality. There is a large variety of anti-virus software manufacturers available from which to pick and choose. It would be best to choose the more popular brands such as Norton Anti-Virus, McAfee Virus Scan, Symantec Anti-Virus, etc.

3. Install any and all security patches. When you receive an email from the vendor or merchant you had obtained your security software from, open it immediately. The email may contain vital information you need to help protect your computer. Once you receive an email stating you need to apply a security patch, you should do so immediately.

4. Update your software on a regular basis. Make sure you have the latest security software installed in your computer. Some software has weekly or monthly updates that should be done as they are offered. New viruses are detected every day and therefore you need to keep your security software updated on a regular basis in order to stay ahead of those threats.

5. Never open any emails from people or places you don’t know and never download any attachments. These emails can seem so innocent and friendly, but that’s exactly how they get you. A popular virus came from an email sent with the subject line “Someone wants to kiss you.” when an unsuspecting user opens this email thinking it’s coming from a companion, they become infected with a virus that begins circulating through their entire computer system. Never insert a disc into your hard drive if you don’t know what it is or who sent it. Last but not least, never download any software from a new website or any website that you don’t know.

Don’t Get Hacked Off—How to Stop Computer Interlopers in their Tracks

You’ve heard the term hacker, you know they can cause damage and create havoc, but do you know what a hacker is? A hacker is a programmer able to get into a system or gain unauthorized access by skillful strategy. Hackers can be useful for maintaining a system and is constantly searching for security deficiencies. They can be the guardians of the security system. They also can turn that around and do more harm then good. A hacker is a skilled programmer who can write software expertly and swiftly. They can crack nearly any code and get into any computer system. Some of the more famous computer systems that have been hacked are corporations such as McDonalds, and to federal websites that have extremely sensitive information. Highly skilled hackers have hacked into Griffith Air Force Base, NASA, the US Department of Justice, and the US Air Force. Hackers have their own underground network where they exchange triumphs and share techniques to hack into new programs or skirt any protective software.

How can you protect yourself and your computer against hackers? Your computer may not be NASA quality or have sensitive and confidential information like the Department of Justice, but it can cause you some problems. A good hacker can get into your computer, steal passwords, pin numbers or codes to your financial sites.

How do you stop this attack on your system? One of the most important guards you can have in place is a fire wall. A fire wall will help keep hackers from getting into your system and sending out your personal information. Antivirus software will scan incoming files and e-mails but a fire wall stands guard outside the system to block any communications or information exchanges from sources that don’t have your permission. If you use a high-speed Internet connection, you may have the same security concerns that any big organization or corporation has. It filters the information coming through the Internet connection. It can flag a packet of information that could potentially be harmful to your computer system.

Some systems come with a fire wall already installed; it just needs to be turned on once your get your computer set up. You can get separate software that will run in the background while you work, or you can get an external hardware fire wall that includes fire wall software. There are several fire wall software programs on the Internet that can be downloaded free. Be sure the sites you are using are trustworthy and have a good reputation.

How do fire walls work? A fire wall filters incoming data and lets only the ones considered safe to come through. Information is checked and is matched to specific defining characteristics. If these characteristics are not matched, the fire wall will not allow the information to go into your system.

Hackers also use Web browsers such as Netscape and Internet Explorer to get into your computer system. You can make your system more secure by increasing your online security. You can find the security feature by going to “Tools” or “Options” on your task bar.

A good fire wall can protect you from the creative ways that people use and misuse unprotected computers. It protects from remote login so a person can’t view or access your files or run any of your computer programs. It keeps hackers from hijacking your e-mail. Once a hacker gains access to an e-mail address, it can then use that address to send unsolicited junk e-mail to thousands of users.

E-mail bombs can be used as a personal attack on your personal computer. Someone sends you the same e-mail thousands of times until your e-mail system can’t accept any more messages. For someone who works from home this could be a catastrophe.

Spam is junk mail, usually harmless but it also often contains links to Web sites that may install a “cookie” on your system that creates a backdoor for a hacker to enter through.

Your newer system might also have free software that closes holes in the system that hackers can use. These patches can be found on the website for your system’s manufacturer and can even be set to be installed automatically whenever a new patch is issued for a newly found problem.

When Formatting the Hard Drive is Your Only Recourse

Your hard drive is working perfectly. You’re computing and working steadily with the computer as your friend, when suddenly, you start receiving error messages. Your computer starts stalling and worst of all; you get the blue screen of death. You may have picked up a vicious virus or a worm that has affected the performance of your computer.

Maybe you receive a message such as “this program performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.” These error messages, freezes, and stalling can be caused by several different problems. You may have added new hardware that is not matched to your computer components, or may even be defective. Electric Static Discharge can make a computer go haywire. Some versions of Windows actually came with a bug that can cause these computer problems. You may have installed new software that may have bugs that can cause problems or it could be a combination of all the above.

There are several ways you can correct these problems without totally formatting a hard drive. Several programs on the market will help you clean up your computer and get it running properly again. These can be bought either through the Internet or at a local retailer.

Every Windows system has a registry. That system registry holds a lot of information about your computer. You may have software that you are no longer using or software that was not properly removed causing your computer to hang up or freeze. Removing these and cleaning up the registry will sometimes fix the problems of a sluggish or freezing computer.

The most common problem with computer hang-ups is often caused by the video driver. The video driver will have new demands that it may not be able to handle. You can sometimes fix this problem by finding the exact make and model of your video card, then downloading and installing the latest drivers from that company’s web site.

Sometimes, clearing out software that you no longer use or uninstalling software and reinstalling will clear up any problems you are experiencing. This is something you should try before reformatting. Look at your files, are there any software programs that you no longer need or use? If so, then uninstall them, free up room on your hard drive.

You will probably want to try to fix your sluggish computer by trying other options available before your turn to reformatting your hard drive. Sometimes, that’s the only action that can repair your sluggish computer.

Reformatting a hard drive is not something you should do unless all other avenues have been explored. Clearing and reformatting a hard drive is a huge challenge and if you do it wrong, it will make your computer worthless. First, back up any information that is important to you. Second, gather all the needed software and original CD’s and start up disks that came with your computer purchase. Be sure you have your Windows Certificate of Authenticity at hand also.

If you’re lucky, you may have a “Restore Disk” that came with your computer that you can be used. In addition, manufacturers will sometimes provide the system restore information right on the hard drive. Instructions for these methods of reformatting should have been included in your computer package and are specific to each computer manufacturer.

Do you have added software that you use on a regular basis? You should have that software disc available as well. Go to your control panel and open the system icon. Under the hardware tab, you will find the Device Manager. Make a list of all the devices and drivers that you are currently using.

If you are using a Windows NT or older system, you will need to boot your computer from the Windows CD and then follow the prompts. It will give you the choice of repairing your Windows Installation, performing a clean installation of Windows, reformatting your hard drive or deleting everything and starting over from scratch. Remember, this is a drastic step and should only be done if all else has failed, AND after you have backed up all-important information.

If you’ve done all that’s possible and reformatting is your only recourse, then follow the above steps and start with a clean slate.