Protecting Your Digital Identity - A Interview in Paltalk

Hottest Web Security Products

Just came across this link while googling, and thought should surely share it with you. Here is the 12 Hot Web Security Products for Midmarket.

Cracking a Software Key – What’s the risk possessed?

Many people they don’t want to pay for computer protection. Hence they start downloading the cracked version of software which we term as “pirated software” or “illegal software”. The people, who use such cracked software, think that both paid and cracked version is going to have the same features. So instead of spending they try to generate a duplicate key and crack the software and use it. But wonder how long is this cracked software going to work?

What’s the risk of using a pirated version of software?

In pirated or cracked software version though the features and the GUI everything remains same, you won’t have any automatic updates or regular bug fixes. Anyways illegal is illegal always. For example, the most popularly downloaded antivirus software, though it can be cracked, it would be useful only for that day. The reason is because there are thousands of viruses that are generated day by day all over the world. So the antivirus companies they research, find the new virus, find a signature, write a program to disable it from action etc and upload it to their antivirus software, which goes as automatic updates to the people who genuinely purchased the software. Whereas the people who installed the software using a duplicate cracked key, the automatic updates doesn’t work out. So the end user who uses the illegal software, doesn’t get the periodic updates, and is transparent and vulnerable to lot of security threats and attacks.

Moreover, in case a person who downloads a cracked version of software and installs it in his computer, sometimes if that results in a system crash, who would be providing the support? If he/she goes and asks the software company, the company will sue against him/her for using a pirated version of their software. The most possessed risk is that if you visit any crack download sites, you will see porn pictures to attract you, which may or may not be carrying some kind of viruses, which will enter the system while installing the cracked version of software.

So it is always good to buy software spending few bucks or instead go for some free wares, which is genuine. Because most of the freeware softwares may have adware installed in their software, which gives you regular pop-up and spy’s your computer.

A Recap – Why not to use Cracked Software:

1.) It’s Against the Law – i.e. its infringement of Copy Rights.
2.) You don’t get Automatic Updates
3.) Chances of getting malwares
4.) Finally its Doesn’t provide enough security to the Computer

“Using Cracked Software in a Computer is like using a broken shield in a War”

To fight the anti-Social elements you go for Fitness Courses and Self Defense Courses, to fight your computer enemies you need to install a real Internet Security software.

Will update you more on my Internet Security Blog.

Nigerian Scam / Spam mail leads to suicide

In a breakthrough, Many of the email users receive a mail stating that you have “Won a Lottery of $5000000 and you can claim it now”. Thinking this to be a genuine one, many people reply the mail with their name, address and bank details. But when you reply those mails, they again shoot you a mail stating that you need to first pay the taxes or consignment amount or so on and claim your Money. But people only realize it later when they lose money that it’s a fraud email. These types of mail we term as “Online Lottery Scam, Nigerian Scam – being the mails claims to be sent from Nigeria.” There are some people who have lost lot of money believing such kind of spam mails and even committed suicide.

If you see the cause of suicide, there are spam mails such as “Nirosha Silva”, who even come via chat and speak stating they have lot of assets, and to transfer it they need money, and to make people believe they even call via phone and speak. Once they receive the money, they easily see for the next person to cheat again. So please try to understand what is spam and lets prevent and protect ourselves and others educating about such kind of fraud mails.

If you get such kind of mails claiming that you have won a lottery or stating that they need your help in transferring their assets from one country to another, or shooting (UK Requirement Microsoft) chained mails i.e. telling you if you forward this mail to one person you will get this many cents or dollars, kindly don’t believe them and lose your money. Always try to ignore such kind of mails, and also tell your friends, family and relations not to believe such kind of fraudulent emails.

The Screenshot provided is a recent spam email – which we shouldn’t believe. Click the image to have enlarged view.

Hacking Alert! Hackers Target Databases –Hack using SQL injection

It has been a week ago, a Romanian has hacked the website of the antivirus software producer using SQL injection to steal the data. Many wonder what kind of databases are being handled by security companies, but there are databases that are really worth which include customer emails, software activation keys, personal details of the customers and other related information, which are being stored in the database server. Then wonder, how much confidential databases should a company which involve financial trasactions would handle. So if the server has got minor vulnerability also, the hacker can easily enter in to the server, by manipulating a URL, and passing certain SQL commands – which is termed as SQL injection. So it is always good for top level companies to use high-end database backup software, and have a regular system check to patch the security holes in the computer. Though the companies understand the importance of computer security and server security, due to high work upload, they sometime fail to update their security patches, which leads to such kind of hacking attacks.

This is an instance that happened, and has alerted the big players in the market, who deal with huge volumes of databases. Now most of them knew that hackers not only target the banking or consumer databases but also target whatever databases are available from pin to plane, which a hacker can monetize it.

Simple Steps to Prevent Computer Freezing

Computer Freezes commonly occurs due to some hidden problems in the computer. Computer usually freezes unexpectedly, due to some services that are running in the system. Here are few simple steps that can avoid unnecessary computer freezes.

1. Uninstall unwanted programs – which may eat up lot of spaces from your computer
2. Disable certain programs in the Start-up, which you don’t use frequently but are important
3. Delete the cookies frequently from your computer cache
4. Remove all unwanted information from the system registry
5. Scan your computer regularly to keep it against viruses, worms and malwares
6. Keep your hard-disc bit free – which makes your system to perform faster, when some processes are opened
7. Be sure you have hardware components in the computer, that fit the capacity – and see that your computer is not overloaded
8. Always use a PC Security Software – to protect your computer from malicious program (malware).

Other than this, externally when you visit some website where you do financial transactions make sure, if the website is secured with SSL certificate.

Don’t handle technical jobs – Unless you are sure, you can do it in the right way.

List of Antivirus Software Vendors, PC Internet Security Companies

This is a full list of anti-virus, internet security software vendor companies, ranging from start-up to large companies. If anything is missed, you can contact me, with the company name to make a addition.

AhnLab, Inc. - AhnLab V3 Internet Security, AhnLab SpyZero 2007
Aladdin Knowledge Systems - eSafe Web Threat Analyzer
Authentium, Inc. – Command Antivirus for Windows
Avast- antivirus software with spyware protection
Avira – Avira Antivir , Avira Premium Security suite
Bit Defender – Antivirus 2009, Internet Security 2009, Total Security 2009
Comodo Group – Free Comodo Firewall Pro, Antivirus, Internet security
Computer Associates International, Inc. - CA Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2009
Doctor Web, Ltd.- Dr.Web Desktop Security Suite
Eset – Nod32 Antivirus Software
FRISK Software International - F-Prot Antivirus for Windows, Linux, Exchange
F-Secure Corporation – F-Secure Antivirus, Virus Protection and Computer Security
G-Data – Internet Security 2009, G Data Antivirus 2009, G Data TotalCare 2009
GFI Software Ltd - GFI MailSecurity, WebMonitor for ISA Server, Endpoint Security
Grisoft – AVG Anti-virus, AVG Internet Security
HAURI Inc. - ViRobot Desktop, ViRobot ISMS
K7 Computing – K7 TotalSecurity, K7 AntiVirus
Kaspersky Lab - Kaspersky Anti-virus 2009 Software with Anti-spyware
McAfee, Inc. – Mcafee Antivirus Software and Intrusion Prevention Solutions
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Live OneCare
MicroWorld Technologies, Inc. - eScan AntiVirus (AV), eScan Internet Security Suite (ISS), MailScan
Norman - Norman AntiVirus & Spyware, Norman Security Suite
Panda Security Software – Panda Internet Security, Panda Global Protection
Proland Software- Protector Plus Antivirus Software
Quick Heal Technologies – Quick Heal Antivirus, Quick Heal Total Security 2009
Rudra Technologies – Rudra Virus Detection
SafeScribble PC Security Solutions – SS Virus Removal Tool, SS Virus Detection, SS On-Demand Virus Scanner
Sophos – Sophos Enterprise Security & Control,
Sybari Software, Inc. - (Microsoft Subsidiary) - Windows Scan Engine
Symantec - Norton Antivirus, Norton Internet Security, Norton 360
Trend Micro, Inc. - PC-Cillin, Internet Security 2009

*Some the Computer Security Companies listed are just start-up.