If you are a self proclaimed computer geek and you haven’t heard a squat about Lavasoft, the term “self proclaimed” is a word that I’m glad I used. So having said that, for the ones who have just crawled out of their caves and for the ones who have been using the company’s software without knowing anything about its developers, this article is just for you. Lavasoft is a German company that was founded when computer viruses were dominating the computer crime scene. Spywares were not even heard of during this time. Lavasoft is the original anti spyware company which makes it the pioneer in the anti spyware software industry.

www.lavasoftusa.com is one website that offers solutions to the users who have quite literally given up their war against adwares and spywares by offering them latest anti spyware products and other help in order for them to configure the problem using the Lavasoft support center. There are various products that the website offers with names like Lavasoft Registry Tuner that helps in increasing the overall performance of your computer by cleaning up your registry off of the unnecessary files, then there is the Lavasoft Personal Firewall 2.0, Lavasoft Privacy Toolbox, Lavasoft File Shredder and Lavasoft Digital Lock. And for protection against any adwares, Lavasoft has its own range of products that are specifically designed to counter such threats. These products would include Ad-Aware Plus, Ad-Aware Pro and the Ad-aware version which is free for download.

Lavasoftusa.com was designed on the basis of consumer reporting, social change and of course, ethical advertising. One of the best things about this website is that it works directly with the spyware industry so that they become the good guys which is quite different from their percieved reputation. www.lavasoftusa.com works closely with the spyware industry constantly making improvements in them so that they don’t pose as a potential threat to the users anymore. So with the number of adwares and spywares on the rise, Lavasoft promises to be ready to protect your computers from these malwares.

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Contrary to popular belief, anti-virus software is only protecting you from half of the malicious content that you’re likely to find on the Internet. The other half comes in the form of Malware; an umbrella term for spyware, adware and several other disruptive applications.

It was only just recently that the top anti-Virus suites implemented scanning software to tackle the new problem. But despite the improvement of actually recognising the issue, it’s still important to have anti-Malware software installed if you wish to effectively wipe out the threat.

Viruses, understandably, take much of the media’s attention with their ability to spread like wildfire and cause severe disruption on a global scale. Yet Malware is much more common and can have a similarly disastrous impact on an operating system’s ability to function properly.

Even with the latest version of Internet Explorer, Malware makes it possible for other web users to hijack your browser and re-direct your every request to a third party website – usually one which sells an affiliated virus removal package.

Indeed, almost all Malware instances point to a commercial product which the user is trying to sell. They have several ways of succeeding. One of the most common is to include spyware with download packages.

An unsuspecting user might initiate a download without reading over the small print in the terms and conditions. When they install the program on their system, it will unpack several other applications. Some of these will operate in the background and the user won’t even know that they’re there. They can gather information about the user’s browsing habits, the sites that they visit and even more worryingly – bank details.

Other adware threats are less discrete and will spring up pop-ups on your desktop. You’ll even see your browser toolbar overtaken by commercial icons if you’re particularly unlucky.

One of the most popular tactics for Malware hackers is to spring up an alert box which states that the system is under attack from a deadly virus. The pop-up is dressed to look like a standard system warning, but it acts as an advertisement which will take the user to another third party website. As you can see, affiliation schemes are a popular target for the hackers.

The solution to all this, as you’ve probably gathered by now, is to protect your system with anti-Malware software. Most anti-Virus programs are extremely well designed to keep out the threat of Trojans and worms, yet they do little to fight off spyware which a user willingly installs without a second thought.

Anti-Malware products work in a similar fashion to virus protection software. They sit in the background and run a discrete check on the files that you download. If known instances of spyware or adware are detected, you’ll be confronted with an alert message and an option to either eliminate the threat or continue.

In most cases, eliminating the threat will simply mean not downloading a certain product. When software is packaged together, it becomes almost impossible for an Anti-Malware utility to sift out the good from the bad.

When you install the program, however, you should receive notification of the third party content that you might not have noticed in the zip.

By far the most popular form of Anti-Malware software is the “Search and Destroy” utility. This tool doesn’t prevent all new occurrences of malicious content, but it will scan your hard drive and sniff out the bad files. You can then opt to place the programs in quarantine and have them immobilised from operating on the system.

Inevitably, having spyware and adware running on a computer will decrease the performance. After rebooting with the files destroyed, you should notice that things run a lot smoother. It’s also a good idea to look out for recurring threats.

Some Malware programs are designed specifically to re-install themselves when a system restarts. They can be hard to remove and even with the top Anti-Malware software on the market, your best hope is to enter Safe Mode and remove the threat from there.

You’ll find that Anti-Malware software is cheaper than the better known Anti-Virus varieties. It’s now possible to get sufficient support for Malware removal through the likes of Norton and Symantec. But there are also several free utilities available on the Internet, and these can be efficient for most spyware and adware instances.

Don’t assume that just because you have virus protection, you’ll be safe from Malware. It’s a very different problem and one which the major companies are only just beginning to address.

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Have you opened up Internet Explorer only to find that your browser re-directs and sends you off where you don’t want to be visiting?

If the answer is yes, the chances are high that you’ve been attacked by the notorious about:blank homepage hijacker. It’s likely that if you’ve been affected by the virus, you’ll know it as the Cool Web Search utility that appears on the desktop and in your web browser.

Make no mistake; there are many different homepage hijackers in circulation. They are used for several reasons, most notably for hackers to send traffic to websites of their choosing. Sometimes this’ll be to steal advertising revenue, other times it may be to fool a search engine. And of course, there are those occasions where the pesky hackers will attack for the sake of attacking.

You may have heard the about:blank problem described as a symptom of the HomeOldSP hacker. There is a simple reason for this, and to find it you only have to look as far as the Windows Registry where you’ll find the following key:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,HomeOldSP = about:blank

While you might think that it’s possible to get rid of the about:blank virus by simply deleting the registry entry, it’s not quite as simple as that. Deleting the entry will temporarily disable the virus, but the infestation is designed to undo any attempt to delete it permanently. This means that within moments, you’ll be suffering from the same about:blank problems.

The good news is that the threat isn’t severe. It won’t render your system useless, although the same can’t be said for Internet Explorer which becomes extremely difficult to use with any variation of the Cool Web Search virus in place.

The DLL file at the root of the problem can be found hidden away at the key below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\

WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows\\AppInit_DLLs

Once again, it’s not worth deleting the DLL because it will simply re-spawn. To remove it effectively, we need to download a copy of HijackThis and a comprehensive registry cleaner.

A good registry cleaner will scan and remove the about:blank hijacker. But it’s well known that the virus is capable of avoiding deletion across some anti-Virus platforms. Booting in safe mode is a good way of ensuring that you get to the root of the problem when you run your removal software.

It’s also possible to go in and correct the problem manually, if a little problematic to do so. You will need to use the Windows Registry Editor to locate a key named AppInit_DLLs. In its value entry, you will find the corrupt hidden DLL file that needs to be removed. The only problem is that you won’t be able to remove it unless you go through the Windows Recovery Console and rename the file first.

Before you can delete the file, you will need to lift the read-only protection that the hacker has placed on it.

Open up command prompt, find the stray DLL, and enter the following:

ATTRIB -R *file-name-here*.dll

Once the attribute has been changed, go ahead and delete the DLL file. Reboot the system and load up Internet Explorer. You should find that the about:blank problem is fixed.

We would strongly recommend that you purchase, or download, a sufficient spyware removal tool. There are many which sit in the web browser with the sole purpose of preventing intrusions such as the about:blank homepage hijacker.

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If, like many people, you choose to use Microsoft Outlook Express as your client for sending and receiving mail, you may have come across a 0×800cccod error at some point.

This error usually restricts a user from sending email, despite still being able to receive new mail from the POP server. You may receive an error that mentions invalid passwords, or invalid usernames. In some cases, receiving mail is also disabled and the user may have difficulty in connecting to the ISP’s mail servers.

The first step to take should be to evaluate whether the problem still exists with a firewall disabled. Many anti-Virus suites, for example, will try to scan new mail and they may alter the username and password leading to an error when it gets sent to the server. This is a simple problem to troubleshoot.

Temporarily disable the protection, try to send your message, and if it goes through successfully, you know that the anti-Virus software is causing a collision. It’s possible to disable the firewall for email services but that’s a drastic measure to take. Especially given that many viruses are spread through email communications.

You can breathe a sigh of relief though because even when you do download a virus via email attachment, most anti-Virus programmes will spot the file when you try to copy it across to the hard drive. It has to be downloaded, remember.

Most firewalls are easily accessible through the control panel of your anti-Virus software. There should be an option for “email scanning”. Turn this off and you will notice that sending and receiving mail becomes a lot quicker, not just in connecting but in downloading files too.

Another possibility – and probably more likely scenario – is that you’ve already been affected by a virus. There are many malicious applications which mess with the outgoing email, preventing a user from sending and in some cases, receiving too. Some viruses are easy to spot, while others are much more discrete. It’s not always viruses that cause the problems either.

A 0×800cccod error can even be triggered by spyware and adware. To prevent this kind of corruption, you should run a regular scan of your system. There are many free scanning utilities available on the web, and it’ll reduce the likelihood of an email problem if you have a clean hard drive.

If a system clean-up isn’t enough to solve the 0×800cccod error, you may want to re-enter your account details for the email client. This can sometimes reset the connection so that you can send to the SMTP server, and receive with POP.

Ensure that the details of the mail server settings are correct. If you are unsure of this, you will have to contact your ISP and retrieve the correct information. It’s possible – but wholly unlikely – that the ISP might change your log-in details without informing you. While we’d be surprised if this is the case, it would certainly explain why you can’t connect to send or receive mail! Such problems will usually be marked with an Invalid Username / Password message.

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As the world’s most popular web browser, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is used by over 80% of users on the Internet. This puts it way out in front of every other browser, but it also means that the software is required to reach out to the newest and obscurest of technologies.

While Internet Explorer is certainly the most popular, it’s not always the most reliable browser on the market. Each browser is different, and we’re going to look at some of the problems you could face while using Microsoft’s popular interface.

The biggest issue, and the source of most criticism directed at Internet Explorer, involves the danger of infecting your system through spyware and adware. There is no absolute way of eliminating malicious content from the web, but Internet Explorer is somewhat exposed to the dangers – more so than its rivals. This is due to the way that the program is structured, making it easier for hackers to attack your system.

It’s quite common to find the browser lagging - or even not working at all – after enabling an ActiveX control which isn’t as it seems. Whenever you load an ActiveX control in Internet Explorer, you’ll be given a warning about the content. It could seem completely innocuous, but after accepting, it’s possible for a malicious user to execute a “drive-by download” and effectively spam your computer without you so much as batting an eyelid.

Yes, this is still possible using Mozilla Firefox or any other browser. The difference is that Microsoft’s product is much more discrete about letting you know that you have a problem. Sometimes it won’t even tell you at all. The only way you’ll know for sure is by running a scan of your computer, or by using good ol’ common sense when the browser freezes up or overflows in third party advertisements.

A good spyware removal utility should clear up any issues related to the third party corruption of your browser, and believe us, there can be many. If you’ve been browsing the Net for a month without sufficient anti-Virus protection, the chances are that you’re harbouring some kind of malicious content.

It’s also good practice to delete your temporary Internet files on a regular basis. Every time you visit a website, a cookie is downloaded on to your computer. As you allow these to mount up, they can clog the system and ruin what was once a fresh browsing experience. They’re also very important when it comes to maintaining privacy in the websites that you’ve accessed.

Sometimes you’ll access websites and click on links which fail to load. This isn’t usually a trait of Internet Explorer, but of a toolbar that’s attached to it. Check to ensure that you have pop-ups enabled, since some sites will use the target=”_blank” key to open a page in a new window.

Other problems such as failed applets and scripting malfunctions can often be a sign that you’re Internet Options have been adjusted. Try going to Tools then Internet Options and under the access permissions, make sure that the three scripting boxes are checked. If they’re not, JavaScript will not run in the browser. This, as you can probably imagine if you have a web background, can cause a lot of difficulties.

With the release of Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, many of the security issues have been taken care of. But that’s not to say we should neglect the likelihood of opportunist attacks on the web. Be sure to browse safely with anti-Virus protection and clean your system regularly.

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“A Runtime Error has occurred. Do you wish to Debug?”

If you have been receiving this message while browsing the Web, it’s likely that you’re suffering from scripting errors caused by configuration options or malicious malware.

Runtime errors can arise out of many things. Maybe you have a pop up blocker installed. When a window opens to execute a script, the pop-up blocker terminates the script before it can complete its command. This leads to what is known as a runtime error.

With every runtime error, you’ll have the chance to debug where the problem is in the code. Of course, as a casual web browser, this isn’t really any of our business. So instead we end up clicking through “OK” messages until the alerts disappear. As such, it can take several clicks to load a single page!

Another problem involves the configuration of anti-Virus software. While it’s certainly advisable to browse with protection, always make sure that you have the right permission levels within the application. If you switch off scripting, you’re likely to get quite a few runtime errors. It’s also important that your anti-Virus suite is configured NOT to scan the Temporary Internet Files. This can lead to all kinds of problems.

Some people find themselves flooded with annoying runtime errors, yet the website itself seems to function properly. To fix this, follow the steps below.

• Go to Tools and Internet Options in Microsoft Internet Exporer
• Click on the Advanced Settings.
• Disable script debugging.
• Disable the script error notification box.
• Save changes and relaunch your browser

This will prevent reports of errors being returned when you load a page. Note that it won’t prevent the actual collision. But you won’t have to click OK several times before a page actually loads.

It’s possible that runtime errors are the result of a spyware infestation. Many malicious users design software which sits under the browser and springs up pop-ups. Due to the rough cut nature of most malwares, they can lead to an unhealthy number of errors. Ultimately, they’re not designed with the end user in mind and in desperation to blitz your browser with third party ads; you’ll be fighting off many errors.

To deal with spyware, there are many excellent free system cleaning utilities available on the market. These will tear through your computer and eliminate the bad apples. They’ll also clean the registry and improve the overall performance of your computer. Most runtime errors are born from collisions with the code. If you’re getting them persistently on reputable websites, the problem is most likely spyware or a spreading virus.

It’s not out of the question, however, that the runtime error is the fault of the developer who created the page. Programming languages aren’t a walk in the park by any means and there is plenty of scope for errors. If the site is using bad code, there’s nothing you can do other than to find a different website. You can eliminate the error reporting however, as we mentioned above, and this is often enough to make a website usable.

You can usually tell when the problem is on the part of the developer. If the errors are occurring on innocuous websites designed for the masses, it’s likely a fault at your own end. Remember that most reputable businesses and organizations are forced to design tidy code that won’t clash with pop-up blockers and anti-Virus software. Still having problems? Remember the three most likely reasons;

• Spyware
• Pop-up blockers and anti-Virus software
• Script configuration settings in Internet Options

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I would like to address several  issues relating to Microsoft Windows
stability. Though this issue may not be so crucial for users of
home computers, for people who use their computer in the course of
their work, there are some important things to know about Windows
stability. Here are the most important methods to keep your
computer functioning properly.

First of all, there are three programs which are most important for
the stability of your system. First and foremost is a virus
scanner. Viruses can attack anything that runs software on it, even
mobile phones. Viruses may be transmitted through email
attachments, through websites, software programs, through media
such as CDs, zip disks, diskettes, etc. At the beginning, many
viruses originated from Eastern Bloc countries. Perhaps in the
future terrorists may chose viruses as a favored mode of operation.

If your Internet browser seems to be slowing down, your browser
homepage changes of its own and you can’t change it back, icons
you’ve never seen before start appearing on your desktop, these may
all be signs that you’ve been hit by spyware or adware. These are
little programs which are placed on your system by advertising
companies or hackers. The programs enter your system via emails,
music downloads, instant messages, or even by browsing the
Internet. As an indication of how large the problem has become,
Dell has reported that close to 20% of their technical support is
caused due to spyware or adware.

A firewall is an important protection against this menace, and can
be composed of hardware, software or both. A firewall serves as a
partition, protecting your computer from the outside world, be it the
Internet, a network or Intranet. Windows XP users already have this
option which is automatically deployed on the system (verify that
Service Pack 2 is installed, as this ensures that the firewall is implemented
properly). Users of earlier Windows versions can purchase or
download for free software equivalent firewall programs.

Another important step is to periodically perform maintenance on
your system, which helps in the prevention of problems over time.
Luckily, Windows already has some of these tools, which saves on
having to purchase or download them. At Accessories > System Tools,
you can find the Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter, two
applications which help keep your system functioning properly.
These tasks should be carried out at least once a month (dependant
on usage).

Another important pointer, that many computer “wizards” neglect, is
to make sure that you are only installing such programs on your
computer which you absolutely need. Too many programs on the
systems will cause Windows to become unstable. Even after
uninstalling a program, some leftovers on the system can prove
hazardous to it over time. The KISS rule (Keep it simple, stupid),
is definitely a good tactic when using Windows. So don’t be too
quick to install all kinds of questionable tools you may not really
need.

Also important is to remember to update your systems periodically.
Updates for Windows as well as for other Microsoft applications
appear regularly on the Microsoft website. It’s possible to
configure your system to perform these updates automatically, but
this may also be the cause of serious problems. Some people have
woken up to find that after their system automatically updated, it
actually became completely corrupted while they were sleeping.
Though this may happen for systems which were already unstable to
begin with, such stories are enough to make you want to update your
system manually. Whichever way you chose, don’t forget to carry out
this important process.

A final point is related to your hardware. I am a staunch supporter
of keeping your PC on at all times. To do so, your computer must be
equipped with surge protectors against electrical anomalies, and
also have a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). It must also have
excellent security systems installed. However, you will see that
your hardware, including the hard drive, will last longer if it is
kept on, than if you keep turning your computer off. Though some
may say that the newer technologies enable turning the computer off
at night, my experience shows that this is not the case. It is
similar to a light bulb, which is much more prone to failure when
it is being turned on than during constant use. This is because of
the initial power surge that occurs when power is initially applied.

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Nowadays, computers have become so common that most households
possess at least one of them. A stand-alone computer in itself does
not pose any security threat to the individual using it. However,
once connected to the Internet, each computer becomes a door which
any identity thief or hacker may use in order to take advantage of
the pandemonium of the World Wide Web. In an effort to protect
users from the aggravation caused by viruses, spyware, pop-ups and
spam, software companies have developed various measures aimed at
improving computer security.

Anti-virus software is the predominant development in this field.
McAfee and Norton are the two major companies offering such
anti-virus software, which actually searches through the files on a
computer in order to see if they contain certain characteristics
which could be viruses, or which are often associated with viruses.
The characteristics, known as virus definitions, need to be
regularly downloaded. In addition to files on the computer itself,
e-mails as well as files on CDs and floppy discs should be scanned.
It has already been accepted as an axiom, that anti- virus software
is absolutely essential for computer security.

Software aimed at scanning for spyware comes next. Spyware are
programs that certain websites run in the background of the
computer while gathering data about it. This data could be
relatively harmless information such as finding out what kind of
websites the computer owner visits, but it could also go so far as
acquiring passwords. In any case, spyware usually deteriorates
computer performance drastically and must be removed from the
computer. Ad-ware and Spybot Search & Destroy are popular
software used for this purpose, but they don’t cover all threats.

Furthermore, spam filters and pop-up blockers are also of critical
importance. Spam and pop-ups are serious nuisances to the user, but
worse, they are often the vehicles that sypware scanning software
(as previously explained) use to enter the computer. They also
negatively affect computer performance. An irritated computer user
is more prone to making a security faux pas than a calm one!
There are several more actions computer owners should take to
ensure their computer and information remains their own private
property, in addition to the software options previously mentioned.
As much information as possible should be secured via passwords,
and passwords should be complex enough to make them hard to guess -
the user’s name, spouse name or birth date are not good passwords.It is also strongly recommended not to check bank statements when
using an unsecured wireless network, since these networks enable
numerous people to use them simultaneously. It’s important to
remember that hackers spend a lot of time and effort trying to
access information, and users have to keep up to speed if they want
to keep their information secure!

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The computer world has become a dangerous place for the innocent
computer user - threats lurk around every corner, intending to
collect your information, damage your network, impersonate you and
generally cause chaos. Luckily there are several excellent software
programs which can help you defend yourself against these perils.
Even better, these programs are free, so you can get straight to
work!

Anti-virus protection is the first essential program you need.
There are many expensive and popular alternatives, which however
tend to slow down the performance of the computer and require an
annual subscription fee. Experience shows that the virus protection
provided by freeware alternatives is just as good. A good
recommendation is Grisoft’s  AVG Free Edition. Though the program
does not boast every single feature provided by the commercially
available programs, it provides excellent protection by performing
the most important task of keeping the system free of viruses,
Trojans and worms.

The second weapon in your arsenal should be the firewall. This is
necessary for preventing others from entering you machine. Hackers
try to infiltrate systems in order to steal data or damage the
system, or else they may try to take advantage of a computer by
using it remotely for sending spam email (known as a “spam
zombie”).  A firewall is vital for protecting the system against
these threats. If you are using Windows XP, you may already be
acquainted with the built-in version (available on both Home or
Professional Editions). However there are also many other options,
of which Zone Alarm Free Firewall offers the best alternative.

Equipped with anti-virus and firewall protection, the next issue is
one which is generating a lot of confusion - what can be done to
better manage passwords? The program CyberScrub KeyChain is an
excellent new program that offers a solution for this confusing
issue. KeyChain is distributed free, and stores all your user names
and passwords, as well as you credit card details and addresses.
All of this sensitive information is stored with one single
“master” password, which eliminates the need to remember the
multitude of access combinations you use. Whenever you enter a
password protected website, you highlight and click a small toolbar
in the browser and KeyChain automatically fills in your log-in
details and submits them. This application makes shopping on the
Internet much more simple and quick, and means you don’t have to
type in all your addresses and credit card information. A strong
encryption algorithm is used to make sure your sensitive
information is kept safe.

This overview would be incomplete without discussing the pestilent
spyware. It can be just as dangerous as viruses, and sypwares are
multiplying at a frightening rate, driven by creative schemes of
the mastermind hackers that invent them. Spyware is so powerful
that it can even control your CD drive, it can aid browser ads,
take control of your homepage and steal your passwords and much
more. To combat this hazard, you should take action, for example by
using Ad-Aware SE Personal, a very good program from Lavasoft.
This list should serve as a starting point, providing the
fundamental tools to protect you system and information. Take
action now, or you may well regret it!

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Everyone has seen it and most of us have been annoyed by it. Adware also known as advertising supported software is simply a program or application that will disply, play or download advertisements to a internet user’s computer once it has been installed on that computer or while it is being used on that computer.

Programs such as Ad-Aware are only designed to detect and remove adware and spyware programs. So be sure that you do not count on them to detect viruses and other security threats on your computer.

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