SUMMARY: Windows XP comes built-in with a firewall. Will it protect your machine when>
Windows XP comes built-in with a firewall, and if you are running Service Pack 2, it is turned>
SUMMARY: Are firewalls needed even if you patch your operating system and software with the latest updates?
A firewall is needed whether or not you are extremely vigilant in keeping your operating system and other software up-to-date with patches created by the manufacturers.
One reason is that vulnerabilities in software can be found that take days (months) (years??) to be patched. Sometimes, these vulnerabilities can be exploited as soon as they are found (a 0-day exploit), with information about the exploit being sent around the Internet to those with malicious intent
Rather than waiting for an exploit patch and hoping that your computer does not get attacked, firewalls can help. Firewall manufacturers may be quicker than software manufactures to issue updates to block traffic that can trigger exploits. However, since firewalls already block a good deal of suspicious traffic, a firewall user may already be somewhat protected against new vulnerabilities without having to do anything else.
Nov 172010
SUMMARY: This tip defines a firewall and why it is important for your computer’s security.
(This definition of a firewall is NOT complete but meant to provide a basic explanation of the term, mainly to beginning and intermediate computer users.)
A basic definition of a firewall is either a software program or hardware device you can use when connected to a network (such as Internet), mainly to help prevent your machine from getting attacked.
“Attacks” usually occur when an application you are running, or the operating system itself, is vulnerable to problems.
Two examples of the types of vulnerabilities that can occur:
* Your multimedia player cannot handle a specially-crafted audio or video file. When it tries to play the file, the multimedia player may crash, or worse, malicious instructions can be embedded in the file that when read, cause all sorts of problems, including opening a ‘back door’>
SUMMARY: Windows Defender may record false alarms if used with other anti-spyware tools.
Windows Defender, like other anti-spyware software, is not perfect and may record false alarms. This is especially true if you also run other anti-spyware software, such as SpywareBlaster or Spybot Search and Destroy that help protect your computer from ever downloading spyware and adware in the first place.
For example;>
Nov 172010
SUMMARY: Where are the Advanced Tools in Windows Defender that used to be in Microsoft AntiSpyware?
In previous versions of Windows Defender there was a set of Advanced Tools that let power users perform tasks such as analyzing individual files and displaying the list of BHOs (Browser Helper Objects) installed in Internet Explorer.
Unfortunately, in Beta 2 of Windows Defender these tools have been removed.>
Nov 172010
SUMMARY: Download the Windows Defender software to help remove spyware, adware, and other rogue software from your computer.
Microsoft, through their purchase of GIANT, has developed a freeware anti-spyware software package called Windows Defender. This includes most of the features found in the old GIANT AntiSpyware product, including spyware and adware detection, security agents that monitor suspicious computing activity, advanced tools for privacy and repairing spyware infections, and more.
Windows Defender requires a computer with Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003 or higher.
To download the software, visit the Microsoft’s anti-spyware section at http://microsoft.com/spyware and click the “Download Windows Defender” link.
Or, more directly, access http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/
spyware/software/default.mspx and click “Download it Here”.
Nov 172010
SUMMARY: Keep Windows Defender up-to-date as the beta version will stop working at the end of December, 2006.
If you download Windows Defender, note in the license agreement that the beta will expire (this date keeps changing – it is currently December 31, 2006, as noted in the license agreement of July 29, 2006) or until the date Microsoft releases a commercial version of the software, whichever date is first. Thus, you should regularly check for updates when new betas or the official version 1 of the software is released.
Nov 172010
SUMMARY: Determine that ignored threats Microsoft AntiSpyware finds should actually be removed from your system?
When scanning for adware, spyware, and other malware with Windows Defender, when potential nuisances are found, you have the option of ignoring these from future scans.
Ignoring may be useful, for example, if Windows Defender comes up with false alarms. Also, if you’re not sure that a potential threat is really a threat, you may want to explore it further by doing investigation through chat rooms, message boards, search engines, and the like. By ignoring the threat, you lessen the risk of accidentally removing the file in a future scan before you can determine whether the perceived threat is actual.
If, after doing your investigations, you realize that an ignored threat should be removed from your system, you need to remove it from the ignore list so it can be redetected and removed. To do so:
1. From Windows Defender, click the “Tools” button.
2. Select “Allowed Items”.
3. Underneath “Allowed items”, check the ignored threats you wish to remove from the list, and then click the “Clear” button.
Note that performing this task does not remove the potential threat from your system; you will have to do another spyware scan to determine whether or not the threat still exists and if you wish to neutralize it.