What is the best way to determine if a software has Adware/Spyware in that?
There are hell lot of utilities available on the Internet today for free. Many times we linger to download as these tools/utilities might contain spyware. So how to determine if they have any spyware or not?
Never get trapped into the pop-ups you get while browsing. These are usually adware, which might link you to unknown website. We can never tell if a a program is safe or not to download from uknown website. Follow these guidelines to safe gaurd from malicious sofware.
You can safely download the software from well known websites like Microsoft, Adode, Yahoo, etc. Make sure you type the website name correctly and you reached the correct website. Some websites "look like" genuine websites but they may be phishing websites. Often they live with the typo of the actual name.
Never respond to the ads you see in the browsing. Many of then lead to unhealthy websites.
Now-a-days many websites offer free information while they advertise (that is how they can offer free information for you, just like you have to watch a 2 Hrs movie for 4 Hours in TV with commercials). Often these ads are context sensitive, means the advertisement running engines senses subject of the information you ar searching for. Example, if you are looking for a phone, you might also se the advertisements related to service providers. If you want to click the link in an online article, differentiate between an advertisement in the same web page and the article content.
Refer computer magazines. They have already installed and tested the applications for you, so that you do not need to worry for suspecious content.
Look for "Tested spyware free" before you download the application. Example, Download.com does that as a tag line under the download link.
Not able to open a specific website that was used to open in the past.
Problem: I am not able to open a specific website which I earlier used to open without any problems. Now only this particular website (http://www.somewebsite.com/) is not opening up and amazingly it is opening from any other computer (like office computer). Could you please suggest something on this?
Solution 1: Try cleaning up the Internet Cache, Cookies, Temporary Internet Files. See the following links. Link 1 Link2 Link3(Step by step video)
Solution 2: IE7 some times block the websites if they are in-appropriate. You may need to add to allo list, if it blocks (parental controls).
Sloution 3: Also check the security settings. Review what softwares are installed recently. Some of the websites host spyware/adware advertisements, which are caught by Anti-virus or Internet Security programs like Norton making the site unreachable. In those cases, you have add the site to the allow list.
Solution 1: Try cleaning up the Internet Cache, Cookies, Temporary Internet Files. See the following links. Link 1 Link2 Link3(Step by step video)
Solution 2: IE7 some times block the websites if they are in-appropriate. You may need to add to allo list, if it blocks (parental controls).
Sloution 3: Also check the security settings. Review what softwares are installed recently. Some of the websites host spyware/adware advertisements, which are caught by Anti-virus or Internet Security programs like Norton making the site unreachable. In those cases, you have add the site to the allow list.
Grand Central - Many Free Phone services......
Do you want to make free long distance calls?
Do you want a phone number that do not change for a life time?
What about being able to forward calls to any at phone number?
411-Telephone Directory service for free
You met a new friend. He/she asks, "Where can I call you?" What do you do? 123-234-3456 is my Work number, 234-345-3456 is my Cell number and 456-567-4567 is my Home number blah.blah..No more problems with multiple numbers. Live with one number and manage/program that number in the web console where ever you want to receive the call. Home, Work, Cell, or your friends number during your visit to his home? You bet!
You have a VOIP phone in India. It can only receive calls, but you can not make out going calls. You wish there could be some one who would conference every time you want to make a an outgoing call. But who can do and as many number of times you want and any time you want do that in this busy life style?
Are you outside US? Have too many friends in US? Paying big bucks for calling them using your International plans? Want to call them for free?
For all of the above and many more, Google's new service, http://www.grandcentral.com/ (Beta) is the answer. Explore yourself by clicking the link. As it is Beta, you can not just register and login yet! Click on "Reserve" (Save Number for me) button to get an invitation. Usually you will get it in a day in the email. Then register and enjoy the new world. Happy calling.
Infact, you can live with out any paid phone service! All you need is Internet and a Computer. You will never miss a call even if you are not there. Free Voice mail. Download message as MP3. Freedom to move any where in the world. Call US numbers for free from any where in the world.
Do you want a phone number that do not change for a life time?
What about being able to forward calls to any at phone number?
411-Telephone Directory service for free
You met a new friend. He/she asks, "Where can I call you?" What do you do? 123-234-3456 is my Work number, 234-345-3456 is my Cell number and 456-567-4567 is my Home number blah.blah..No more problems with multiple numbers. Live with one number and manage/program that number in the web console where ever you want to receive the call. Home, Work, Cell, or your friends number during your visit to his home? You bet!
You have a VOIP phone in India. It can only receive calls, but you can not make out going calls. You wish there could be some one who would conference every time you want to make a an outgoing call. But who can do and as many number of times you want and any time you want do that in this busy life style?
Are you outside US? Have too many friends in US? Paying big bucks for calling them using your International plans? Want to call them for free?
For all of the above and many more, Google's new service, http://www.grandcentral.com/ (Beta) is the answer. Explore yourself by clicking the link. As it is Beta, you can not just register and login yet! Click on "Reserve" (Save Number for me) button to get an invitation. Usually you will get it in a day in the email. Then register and enjoy the new world. Happy calling.
Infact, you can live with out any paid phone service! All you need is Internet and a Computer. You will never miss a call even if you are not there. Free Voice mail. Download message as MP3. Freedom to move any where in the world. Call US numbers for free from any where in the world.
- Install a soft phone like X-Lite (see link to download it and setup it up)
- Get a VOIP number from VOIP provider like http://www.voiptalk.org/
- Get a free incoming number from http://www.ipkall.com/ and
- Get a Grandcentral number that forwards/conferences you to the incoming number you got from ipkall.
- Share your grandcentral number with the world. If you change your mind to move from a softphone to any phone, still you do not need to tell the world that your number got changed.
- This solution really works. My parents in India have my city local number. So calling them or they calling me is not even a long distance call, it is just a local call.
Google offers free 411 yellow pages service (your phone company charges for the calls made to 411), but 1-800-GOOG-411 is free! See the You Tube video
* Where ever it is mentioned free in the above text, Internet charges are NOT included that you are already paying to your ISP.
Note: As it is still in beta, I suggest to wait giving that number to the world till it is not in production. But explore all the features mean while. I see small issues of not getting the call forwarded some times, but that is a rare situation. This is very useful service for personal usage and most of the times for business too in my opinion. Once it is live, it may be good for business too!
Talk to your family on the other side of the globe for free as long as you want.
Problem: Calling card prices sliced down a lot compared to few years back. Oh God, am I too optimistic to ask you for even a free phone communication?
Solution: Your prayers are answered! If you are new to VOIP, this solution really let you talk for free (excluding device cost, setup (if any) and Internet service charges). Are you thinking there is a monthly fee? No, absolutely there is no fee. Talk as long as you want. Click the link to learn how to setup a VOIP connection between 2 points. Also learn how to get an incoming number free so that you can call that number from any Landline or Cell Phone.
Solution: Your prayers are answered! If you are new to VOIP, this solution really let you talk for free (excluding device cost, setup (if any) and Internet service charges). Are you thinking there is a monthly fee? No, absolutely there is no fee. Talk as long as you want. Click the link to learn how to setup a VOIP connection between 2 points. Also learn how to get an incoming number free so that you can call that number from any Landline or Cell Phone.
How can I get free Office Software?
Problem: Hi, by any chance do you have a Office Software to share?
Solution: If you are asking about Microsoft Office Softwware Suit, I can not share it illegally. But I can help you to get free open source Office Suite. These are some options.
Open Office has the entire suite.
Google Docs offers free office docuements - Spreadsheet, Document and Presentation
Solution: If you are asking about Microsoft Office Softwware Suit, I can not share it illegally. But I can help you to get free open source Office Suite. These are some options.
Open Office has the entire suite.
Google Docs offers free office docuements - Spreadsheet, Document and Presentation
Toshiba Laptop Heating/Sudden Shutdown Problems....
Problem: My Toshiba Laptop is getting hot too much now-a-days and stops intermittently as if some one pulled the power card.
Solution: Some of the Toshiba Laptops were shipped with Desktop Pentium Processors which operate at higher temperatures as processors meant for desktops run at little higher voltage. Heating is a common problem in such Toshiba Laptops.
Here is the link to remove the dust. Do it at your own risk. If you are not confident, do not do it. Send it to Toshiba Service Center or go to Bestbuy. Check you might have extended warranty. Get all the things before you start.
I see many friends keep the laptop on bare carpet, or even a sofa. From time to time, the processor cooling fans start spinning to cool down the processor. This is a bad practice, and may also ruin the Laptop if the heat sensors do not work. I suggest to keep the laptop on a flat dust free surface, like a wooden/glass table.
Solution: Some of the Toshiba Laptops were shipped with Desktop Pentium Processors which operate at higher temperatures as processors meant for desktops run at little higher voltage. Heating is a common problem in such Toshiba Laptops.
Here is the link to remove the dust. Do it at your own risk. If you are not confident, do not do it. Send it to Toshiba Service Center or go to Bestbuy. Check you might have extended warranty. Get all the things before you start.
I see many friends keep the laptop on bare carpet, or even a sofa. From time to time, the processor cooling fans start spinning to cool down the processor. This is a bad practice, and may also ruin the Laptop if the heat sensors do not work. I suggest to keep the laptop on a flat dust free surface, like a wooden/glass table.
Spyware Problems
Problem: My Machine has lot of Ad ware or Spy ware how to remove them?
Solution:
In simple terms Ad ware is Advertisement Pop-up that every Netizen know about. On the other hand Spy ware intension is steel important information like Credit Card Information, Login ID and Passwords, personal, confidential or sensitive information from your computer.
Even though Ad ware and Spy ware are different terms, some times it is difficult to differentiate as many times they are combined. Do we really know what Microsoft Word exe has inside? We only know its functionality. But it is guaranteed of any Ad ware or Spy ware free as it is sold by a company. On the other side Ad ware or Spy ware authors are unknown. Most of the times their intension is show/do what they want, not what you need. If you delete them from one place, they still exist in 100 other places.
There are many removal softwares. May be none is 100% efficient to remove all. It is all like what is first? Chicken or Egg? That is why it is important to update these software on frequent basis. If the spy ware is newer than the updates you have, the removal software may show there is nothing as the updates are older.
So, what is the best way is the best way to get rid of these problems?
I personally do not believe even a removal software says there are no more ad ware /spy ware. What I do, assuming your data is not corrupted by ad/spy ware, I will take the data backup, . Reload the machine with the operating system, install all applications and restore the data back to system. One most important thing, assign passwords to all accounts and never ever use the account with admin privilege for day to day usage like browsing. By default all accounts created at the time of Windows XP setup will have Admin access with no password, which is bad. This problem is taken care in Vista. Click to know more about Admin Access.
Another anology is, when our wallet is lost, we do not just change one or two credit cards, we call all creditors and inform we lost our wallet. Also change the keys if we there were keys with the wallet. In the same way, when the system is compromised, best way is to rebuild the machine, assign password, avoiding admin accounts for browsing.
To better explain, one more example. You have a paying guest living with you. You do not give access to every part of the house right? Browsing is also like that. When the Internet browser come across a spy ware or ad ware site (all free movies/songs/software sites live by hosting ad ware), ad ware programs are automatically downloaded and will try to get installed behind the scenes with out your permission. If your logged in user ID has Admin Access, that program will get installed successfully, annoying you with all Advertisements, and who knows, steeling sensitive information. If you did not have Admin access, they will fail to get installed, saving your system from a disaster.
Solution:
In simple terms Ad ware is Advertisement Pop-up that every Netizen know about. On the other hand Spy ware intension is steel important information like Credit Card Information, Login ID and Passwords, personal, confidential or sensitive information from your computer.
Even though Ad ware and Spy ware are different terms, some times it is difficult to differentiate as many times they are combined. Do we really know what Microsoft Word exe has inside? We only know its functionality. But it is guaranteed of any Ad ware or Spy ware free as it is sold by a company. On the other side Ad ware or Spy ware authors are unknown. Most of the times their intension is show/do what they want, not what you need. If you delete them from one place, they still exist in 100 other places.
There are many removal softwares. May be none is 100% efficient to remove all. It is all like what is first? Chicken or Egg? That is why it is important to update these software on frequent basis. If the spy ware is newer than the updates you have, the removal software may show there is nothing as the updates are older.
So, what is the best way is the best way to get rid of these problems?
I personally do not believe even a removal software says there are no more ad ware /spy ware. What I do, assuming your data is not corrupted by ad/spy ware, I will take the data backup, . Reload the machine with the operating system, install all applications and restore the data back to system. One most important thing, assign passwords to all accounts and never ever use the account with admin privilege for day to day usage like browsing. By default all accounts created at the time of Windows XP setup will have Admin access with no password, which is bad. This problem is taken care in Vista. Click to know more about Admin Access.
Another anology is, when our wallet is lost, we do not just change one or two credit cards, we call all creditors and inform we lost our wallet. Also change the keys if we there were keys with the wallet. In the same way, when the system is compromised, best way is to rebuild the machine, assign password, avoiding admin accounts for browsing.
To better explain, one more example. You have a paying guest living with you. You do not give access to every part of the house right? Browsing is also like that. When the Internet browser come across a spy ware or ad ware site (all free movies/songs/software sites live by hosting ad ware), ad ware programs are automatically downloaded and will try to get installed behind the scenes with out your permission. If your logged in user ID has Admin Access, that program will get installed successfully, annoying you with all Advertisements, and who knows, steeling sensitive information. If you did not have Admin access, they will fail to get installed, saving your system from a disaster.
Why Computers slow down?
There are several reasons why computers slow down. Here are some....
- Probably the computer is never cleaned. Just like a house never cleaned for a long time becomes unusable, computers are no different. Run Clean up today.
- Files gets fragmented as you use the system. Defrag drives regularly.
- Ad ware, spy ware slow down by eating the system resources
- Too many installed programs many of them are never used but get loaded every time you start the system
- Fragmented Page File. Click here learn how to make an unfragmented page file
Free Anti-Virus Software
Problem: I have old computer with Win 98. Can you suggest me name of latest Antivirus software that can run of Win 98?
Solution:
I am not sure if you would like to spend money on your old machine. How about free anti-virus software? Go to AVG Website and download free version. May be that is enough for your system. Let me know if you still want to buy a software.
Clean up the system today!
Problem: I have cleaned my system several times but not satisfied with it. How to perform a better cleanup?
Solution:
Solution:
- Login as each user and perform the following steps for each user
- Delete unnecessary files that are not needed any more, from the desktop,
Mydocuments, and other folders.- Remove cached files from Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, which ever your browser is.
- Remove files from temporary folders
- Run the Disk Cleanup by clicking Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> Disk Cleanup.
- Delete unnecessary files that are not needed any more, from the desktop,
- Login as Admin or with an account that has administrator privileges if you have not already logged in so.
- Uninstall unnecessary programs those you do not need/use any more (make sure you have the install program some where with product code, in case if you wan to install again in future. Good example is I have Microsoft Flight Simulator installed 6 moths back which you is not use now as I am not interested to play. Before you uninstall it, make sure you have the original software and it's product keys available in case if your nephew want to play during his vacation.)
- Many of the above tasks can be done with the simple program CCleaner. Install it and run it in every user profile. It has File cleaner, Applications Cache Cleaner, Uninstall applications feature, Startup programs cleaner (use it cautiously, you can not undo it, you have to manually add the registry entries if you have to undo, better note down if you delete any entries , never delete antivirus program entries for example), Fixing registry entries and many more. Definitely go through the Quick Tour to get an idea before you download. Caution: Some of the options that you select willl remove the cached Internet User names and Passwords.
- Once you done the cleaning, Defrag the drives
How to setup Page File?
Page file logically sits between the RAM and Operating System, helping the frequently used applications loaded into a temporary big system file which is called pagefile or virtual memory. This big file creates problems some times due to fragmentation. Here are some tips to setup page file.
- Some people think keeping page file lot bigger make the system run faster. It is not totally true. Think of a water tap with running water. If you increase the width of the pipe, say double the size may result in more water to flow. But it makes no sense making it 100 times of its orginal size. Pagefile works in the same way.
- If you have 512 MB of RAM, keep a Pagefile of 1024 MB, means double it. If you have 1GB of RAM, keep a size of 2048MB. This need not be a magic number, any near by number is acceptable. Microsoft says double the size of RAM + 12 MB. I did not see any magical changes in my system by using this formula.
- System Managed Size - Unfortunately Microsoft default page file settings are not good in a long run. When you purchase the OS or install it freshly, the default settings let the Pagefile grow dynamically. This only helps in conserving few hundred MBs of disk space, but in a long run fragments the page file. As per today's disk space availability, no body cares if the pagefile takes even more than a GB to offer better system speeds.
- Make sure you have at least few GB of free disk space before you proceed to change the setup of the Pagefile.
- Defrag the drive.
- To change the page file setup
- Login as Admin or with an account that has administrator privileges if you have not already logged in so.
- Click on Start --> Control Panel --> System -->Advance Tab --> In the Performance block, click Settings --> in the "Performance Options" tab click Advanced --> in the Virtual Memory Block click Change.
- If the page file already set to some size, select "No Paging File" option, click OK 2 times and restart the system when it prompts. Note that we will not leave the system with out page file option, we will set it to new unfragmented pagefile size after the machine comes back from reboot.
- Select Custom Size. Select the double the size (or even two and half times is also OK) of the RAM as your Initial size and as well as Maximum size. Setting the Initial and Maximum is the key here to avoid fragmentation of page file in future.
- The following are bad practices. The advantages of these bad practices out weigh the disadvantages. So do not use them.
How to defrag the drives?
Problem: How to defrag the drives?
Solution: Windows XP has an in-built system utility that can defrag the drives. This is not that efficient as third party software like Disk Keeper, but it is free with Widnows XP.
Solution: Windows XP has an in-built system utility that can defrag the drives. This is not that efficient as third party software like Disk Keeper, but it is free with Widnows XP.
- Login as Admin or with an account that has administrator previleges if you have not already logged in so.
- Go to Add Remove Programs and uninstall the programs that are not required any more.
- Run the Disk Cleanup by clicking Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> Disk Cleanup.
- Go to Command prompt, run the command defrag c:
- You may even like to automate the drives to automatically defrag. Click the link Automating Defrag task
Automating Defrag Task
Problem: I ran windows defrag tool couple of times, but want to automate it. Also want to log the results.
Solution:
- Login as Admin or with an account that has administrator privileges.
- Copy the following lines to a text file, name it as "defrag_bat.bat" and store it C:\Windows\System folder.
- Create folder called C:\Temp if it is not present already.
Echo ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// >> c:\Temp\Defrag.log
Echo Defrag started at @ && Date/T >> c:\Temp\Defrag.log && Time/T >> c:\Temp\Defrag.log
Echo ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// >> c:\Temp\Defrag.log
defrag c: /f >> c:\Temp\Defrag.log
Echo Defrag Ended at @ && Date/T >> c:\Temp\Defrag.log && Time/T >> c:\Temp\Defrag.log
Echo ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// >> c:\Temp\Defrag.log
- Schedule a Task to run it at a time you are not supposed to use the computer.
Slow running PC Problem
Problem: You have been noticing your PC is running slow now-a-days as compared to previous times. It is taking lot of time to boot and application response is also very slow. Check the following solutions that best suits your requirement.
Solution:
Solution:
- Check if you are running low disk space on the system drive (usually C: drive). Make sure at least few GB of free space is available.
- Login as Admin or with an account that has administrator previleges if you have not already logged in so.
- Clean up the system. If you still see there is only few GBs of free disk space on the drive (applicable to any drive), plan for hard drive upgrade.
- Then Defrag the drives.
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My PC was starting up minutes longer than the super fast few seconds it took and programs were lagging. As mentioned here, on giving my HDD a 'checkup'( not used to doing it regularly) i realized how negligent i had been in maintaining its health. The drive shows almost complete fragmentation and has about 14% free space. Its almost as if a disease has reached its final stages and emergency treatment is required.