Can you be absolutely sure, that your activity isn't being monitored and recorded right now, while you're reading this?
The problem with many people is, because they're alone in a room with their computer, they think that no body can be watching.
If only they knew how easy it is to plant a computer recording device or software recording program onto a computer, they wouldn't feel so safe.
Whether you're a total computer newbie or a seasoned Internet veteran, everyone needs to know how to protect their privacy using the right anti spyware tools for the job.
In this article, I will show you how to easily spot a computer recording device or detect spy software using specific anti spyware tools.
It's really quite simple if you know what FREE anti spyware tools to use.
Computer monitoring devices come in two main categories, Hardware Key loggers & Spyware Software:
In this article I will address each of these categories and give you the best anti spyware solutions available, to spot and prevent them from spying on you
Hardware Key Loggers:
This type of Key Logger requires that the perpetrator have physical access to your computer.
Key Loggers can easily be installed in less than 5 seconds.
It doesn't matter if you use your computer at home or at work. If anyone has access to your computer they can install one of these devices without knowing a thing about computers.
If you want to see pictures and read up on this type of product, here is the URL for probably the most well known hardware Key Logger on the Internet:
http://www.i-loc.com
Once installed, a hardware Key Logger will capture every keystroke entered into your keyboard and then store it for future retrieval on the device itself.
Some hardware Key Logger companies boast a two-million keystroke capacity!
That's about 5 years worth of typing for the average computer user.
Whether at home or in the office, you can easily fall victim to this type of spying. A hardware Key Logger is installed between your keyboard and computer.
Removal of Hardware Key Loggers:
There are no anti spyware tools available for this except you're own two eyeballs. By taking a peek behind your system and following your keyboard cable, you can find out if there is something "odd" inserted between your keyboard and computer.
To remove a hardware Key Logger, you must shut down your system! You could cause damage your system if you attempt to remove the Key Logger while your computer is running!
Once your system is powered off, carefully remove the Key Logger from in between your keyboard and computer, and then plug your keyboard directly back into the computer. Make sure that it is plugged in completely and be gentle as the connectors are somewhat fragile.
It is very important to become an anti spyware enthusiast and check any computer you sit down at for hardware key loggers
Spyware:
Most everyone has heard of the term spyware.
Unfortunately the majority of people don't really understand what spyware does and what kind of anti spyware tool is best for them.
Spyware itself is broken down into two categories.
Adware vs Spy Software
Adware:
Adware (Advertising Spyware) is the most prevalent form of spyware. It monitors Internet activity to send targeted advertising to you as a consumer, or simply monitor your surfing habits to gather intelligence for companies who want to know what your interests are.
Adware is generally not a security threat, but can really mess up your computer when you try to remove it. Adware removal could cost you hundreds of dollars in repair bills even using the best anti spyware tools available.
Adware is written by "coders" who don't care what happens to your computer should you try to uninstall their software using an anti spyware tool.
Their only concern is making money from the information they acquire from your computer use.
Adware infections often cause many to make a trip to the computer repair shop just to get their computer back into running condition.
Adware can get on your computer in a variety of ways. You may download free programs, a screensaver, or some music or video, and the adware tags right along with your download file.
File sharing on peer to peer networks has been one of the worst culprits out there causing the serious spread of spyware worldwide.
Adware Symptoms:
The symptoms of Adware are uncontrollable popups, unwanted extra toolbars, and drastically slowed down computer performance that can result in freezes or lock up. When this happens it's time to get out your favorite anti spyware tool.
Tip: Music or File Sharing Can Be Dangerous: Never download ANYTHING from a website you do not trust, or can't verify, that they are a legitimate download site. Many times spyware can be attached to the music or file sharing programs themselves!
Adware Removal Using Anti-Spyware Tools:
You don't have to purchase an anti spyware tool for adware removal. I'm going to show you how to deal with an adware problem for free.
Unfortunately there are many anti spyware companies trying to profit from the spyware problem, so some of the anti spyware tools on the market today are very inferior "slapped together" products.
Some of these anti spyware companies do as much damage to a computer as the adware does. Many times all they want you to do is give them money. After all, how can you really know if they have done the job or not?
Some sneaky adware companies have even joined up with anti-spyware software companies and created a spyware removal utility that actually puts spyware on your system!
It's unbelievable what some people will do for a buck.
The only anti spyware tool you need to use if you have adware on your system is SpyBot, which comes highly recommended by security experts.
And it won't cost you a penny!
SpyBot is FREE...
SpyBot anti spyware will do everything the paid ones do and then some.
If you like SpyBot anti spyware you can donate money to the author, but only if you want to.
Here is the website for this excellent FREE anti spyware adware removal tool.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
Spy Software...Are You Sure You're Alone?
Spy Software is designed to silently record computer activity and then archive it for later retrieval, or stealthily send everything you do on your computer back to the intruder.
In my opinion, this type of spyware does the more damage to lives WORLDWIDE than any virus or adware product ever could.
Because spy software is so easy for anyone to purchase and install, now ANYONE who wants to find out what you're doing on your computer can see everything.
The worst part is, spy software is virtually undetectable by most adware scanners.
Want to see what I'm talking about? One of the best known companies who sell this type of spy software is www.spectorsoft.com
Most Spy Software is sold to spy on other family members, leading to divorce and all kinds of grief.
The worst cases are when used by business associates or even those who are after your credit card information or passwords to your accounts.
I've got a firewall you say...
Many Spy Software products can bypass even the best firewalls.
A firewall will lock up your system and require you to give your permission for any software program to operate on your system.
Spy Software companies know this, and many have figured a way to bypass most firewalls and send your personal information right over the Internet to the perpetrators.
When your firewall is triggered to ask you for your permission to send your captured information, the spy software will actually alter the message your firewall uses to ask your permission.
Your firewall will now ask you if it's alright for "Internet Explorer" or some application you're totally familiar with to access the Internet.
Of course you will click yes, and many times you will tell your firewall not to bother you when this program accesses the Internet in the future.
By clicking yes, you've just allowed the spy software to send your private information to the perpetrator(s).
Spy Software can be slipped onto your system via e-greeting cards, emails, Trojans or just simply physical access to your PC.
Spy Software Removal:
Whatever anti spyware tool you get, don't spend your money unless you're VERY SURE the product will do the job for you.
You wouldn't get a virus scanner that only got some of the viruses would you?
You can use the anti spyware SpyBot for most adware related spyware and it will even catch some Spy Software products.
The absolute best product I've seen to detect Spy Software is SpyCop.
SpyCop does not... I repeat, DOES NOT focus on adware. Do not download SpyCop to deal with adware infections.
SpyCop is a tool that is totally dedicated to detecting Spy Software products and has the most up to date spy software database anywhere.
SpyCop will scour your system for over 500 spy software products
SpyCop has been tested and proven to work by the most ardent anti spyware experts. http://www.spycop.com/download1
Elizabeth Ward makes it easy to protect your Internet & computer privacy. Learn the 4 essential steps to spy proofing your computer. To receive your FREE 4-part mini-course visit the Anti Spyware Toolkit
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Little Tricks To Making Money With Your Home Computer Business Idea
There are a few little tricks to making money with any work at home computer-based business, but the number one so-called secret is in how you actually market your web site. The first crucial thing you need to do is to advertise your site so that people know that you even exist. How you advertise, however, is one of the tricks.
If you are running a computer-based business you have already determined that your potential customers are also online. Regardless of the quality of your product or service, if people do not know you are present on the internet, you will eventually become just another casualty of the online community.
Affiliate marketing programs offer one of the best methods of advertising for fledgling computer based businesses where the cost of your advertising is deferred until a customer buys something from you. Through affiliate marketing you provide promotional tools such as graphics and text embedded with links for other website owners to post on their site. When one of their visitors sees your advertisement, clicks on the link and buys something from you, that website owner is paid a sales commission.
The more external websites that carry a link to your site, the more essentially free advertising you will receive for your affiliate marketing program. You can also carry affiliate advertising on your site for related internet businesses and earn a commission on sales from their sites. Some affiliate marketing companies give you the option of automatically approving others to post links to your site on theirs while others give you the option of approving a site before your link is posted. Just as you can be particular about which companies you link to, you can also be particular about which sites link to you.
There are also numerous opportunities to network with companies as an affiliate and if you are signed up as a member of their site, your income potential can increase dramatically. For example an online retail site may pay you a five percent commission on sales if you are a free member, but the first level of paid membership has that commission jump to 10 percent. Some companies may offer premium memberships and the commission will go as high as 30 percent or more, or there will the opportunity to earn on several referral levels.
There are also services which will pay you for taking surveys online, and while the per survey earnings may not be high, they generally take little time and you get to give an honest opinion on a variety of topics. Surveys typically pay between $2 and $10 each and take from five to 20 minutes to complete. Making money on the internet filling out surveys will of course depend on how much actual spare time you are willing to put into it. But this extra money could then be used on advertising your home business.
However, having a decent, updated computer and a fast internet connection will be necessary, regardless of any programs you may join, if you plan on making money on the internet and taking your computer based home business seriously.
Kerenza Faram is the author of several informative articles on internet marketing. For tested and proven Home Computer Business Ideas, click here
If you are running a computer-based business you have already determined that your potential customers are also online. Regardless of the quality of your product or service, if people do not know you are present on the internet, you will eventually become just another casualty of the online community.
Affiliate marketing programs offer one of the best methods of advertising for fledgling computer based businesses where the cost of your advertising is deferred until a customer buys something from you. Through affiliate marketing you provide promotional tools such as graphics and text embedded with links for other website owners to post on their site. When one of their visitors sees your advertisement, clicks on the link and buys something from you, that website owner is paid a sales commission.
The more external websites that carry a link to your site, the more essentially free advertising you will receive for your affiliate marketing program. You can also carry affiliate advertising on your site for related internet businesses and earn a commission on sales from their sites. Some affiliate marketing companies give you the option of automatically approving others to post links to your site on theirs while others give you the option of approving a site before your link is posted. Just as you can be particular about which companies you link to, you can also be particular about which sites link to you.
There are also numerous opportunities to network with companies as an affiliate and if you are signed up as a member of their site, your income potential can increase dramatically. For example an online retail site may pay you a five percent commission on sales if you are a free member, but the first level of paid membership has that commission jump to 10 percent. Some companies may offer premium memberships and the commission will go as high as 30 percent or more, or there will the opportunity to earn on several referral levels.
There are also services which will pay you for taking surveys online, and while the per survey earnings may not be high, they generally take little time and you get to give an honest opinion on a variety of topics. Surveys typically pay between $2 and $10 each and take from five to 20 minutes to complete. Making money on the internet filling out surveys will of course depend on how much actual spare time you are willing to put into it. But this extra money could then be used on advertising your home business.
However, having a decent, updated computer and a fast internet connection will be necessary, regardless of any programs you may join, if you plan on making money on the internet and taking your computer based home business seriously.
Kerenza Faram is the author of several informative articles on internet marketing. For tested and proven Home Computer Business Ideas, click here
Symantec Norton Antibot The Latest In Norton Computer Protection Software
It seems like every other month a new "program" comes along to make our lives that much easier. For example, first we could bookmark favorites, and then RSS feed them, and then came widgets and now "bots" which are robots that do a lot of our computer work for us in the background. Examples of friendly bots are weather bots, game playing bots, instant messaging and my favorites are those on AOL Instant Messenger which do all kinds of functions for me like shop, find movie times and even give updates on the Wall Street Journal.
Unfortunately not all bots were created "equal." Some are friendly and some are not. The ones that are not friendly can be a form of malware that allows control of your computer to be released, providing hackers with the opportunity to access your information and spread harmful bots to others. This type of computer virus can then be used to spread spam and commit various types of identity theft and other online fraud.
So with new threats to our computers and information, new methods of protection are required. One of the oldest and most well known software protection designers has recently released a new protection program, Symantec Norton AntiBot. This is a software product designed to prevent the hijacking of one's personal computer by bots and uses the bots on design programs against them, to located and destroy them.
Many people already employ some form of protection on their personal computer, such as increasing the protection level from internet information to "high." But these cannot detect some of the most recent bot programs and may not be the most efficient means of information protection, especially with the Internet being used more and more frequently for online shopping, ticket purchases, travel and other "high risk" activities.
A more effective method of detecting and eliminating threats caused by bots is to install software designed specifically to detect, destroy and prevent bots from having access to your computer. With Symantec Norton AntiBot software, protection against bots is enhanced several times and the threat of bot attack is greatly diminished. It's program protects against bots by blocking bots from entering your computer through downloads and e-mail attachments (two of the common ways bots enter a personal computer), checking for any unusual behavior on your personal computer and eliminating it, and detecting malicious bot software at all levels; keeping your personal, financial and credit card information safe and stopping identify theft before it can occur.
Because bots operate in the background and are not detectable by antivirus or antispyware programs, many computer users are completely unaware that their personal computer has become infected. Many problems caused by bots go undetected until it is too late. Warning signs that your computer may have been accessed include: slowness of computer speed and unusual or irrelevant error messages. However, many times com these symptoms are sporadic and computer users will take little notice. Many people will continue to use their personal computer, unaware that bots have hijacked their personal computer and are slowly at work; looking for credit card numbers, passwords, and logon information which can be used for identity theft and in committing other types of online crime. This program scans your personal computer on a continuous basis, closing the gaps that could allow bots to infect your personal computer and better ensuring that bots do not invade and gain control.
The use of Symantec Norton AntiBot to determine what a harmful or useful bot and allows you to continue using those bots you love and have come to depend on for information and services. It can be used in addition to several other antivirus and antispyware programs. Its compatibility is not limited to only Norton products.
The cost of this software is $29.95 for one year of service. It was awarded PC Magazine's Editor's Choice Award (2007) and underwent rigorous testing which included using AntiBot on computers with existing threats as well as allowing threats to try to access the computer after installation.
With the growing threat of identity theft and credit card fraud Symantec Norton AntiBot offers an additional level of protection needed to combat the threat of bots and prevent them from turning one's personal computer into a robotic that turns into an instrument of destruction to both your personal and financial well-being.
Lisa Carey is a contributing author for Identity Theft Secrets: prevention and protection. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity Theft Secrets blog.
Unfortunately not all bots were created "equal." Some are friendly and some are not. The ones that are not friendly can be a form of malware that allows control of your computer to be released, providing hackers with the opportunity to access your information and spread harmful bots to others. This type of computer virus can then be used to spread spam and commit various types of identity theft and other online fraud.
So with new threats to our computers and information, new methods of protection are required. One of the oldest and most well known software protection designers has recently released a new protection program, Symantec Norton AntiBot. This is a software product designed to prevent the hijacking of one's personal computer by bots and uses the bots on design programs against them, to located and destroy them.
Many people already employ some form of protection on their personal computer, such as increasing the protection level from internet information to "high." But these cannot detect some of the most recent bot programs and may not be the most efficient means of information protection, especially with the Internet being used more and more frequently for online shopping, ticket purchases, travel and other "high risk" activities.
A more effective method of detecting and eliminating threats caused by bots is to install software designed specifically to detect, destroy and prevent bots from having access to your computer. With Symantec Norton AntiBot software, protection against bots is enhanced several times and the threat of bot attack is greatly diminished. It's program protects against bots by blocking bots from entering your computer through downloads and e-mail attachments (two of the common ways bots enter a personal computer), checking for any unusual behavior on your personal computer and eliminating it, and detecting malicious bot software at all levels; keeping your personal, financial and credit card information safe and stopping identify theft before it can occur.
Because bots operate in the background and are not detectable by antivirus or antispyware programs, many computer users are completely unaware that their personal computer has become infected. Many problems caused by bots go undetected until it is too late. Warning signs that your computer may have been accessed include: slowness of computer speed and unusual or irrelevant error messages. However, many times com these symptoms are sporadic and computer users will take little notice. Many people will continue to use their personal computer, unaware that bots have hijacked their personal computer and are slowly at work; looking for credit card numbers, passwords, and logon information which can be used for identity theft and in committing other types of online crime. This program scans your personal computer on a continuous basis, closing the gaps that could allow bots to infect your personal computer and better ensuring that bots do not invade and gain control.
The use of Symantec Norton AntiBot to determine what a harmful or useful bot and allows you to continue using those bots you love and have come to depend on for information and services. It can be used in addition to several other antivirus and antispyware programs. Its compatibility is not limited to only Norton products.
The cost of this software is $29.95 for one year of service. It was awarded PC Magazine's Editor's Choice Award (2007) and underwent rigorous testing which included using AntiBot on computers with existing threats as well as allowing threats to try to access the computer after installation.
With the growing threat of identity theft and credit card fraud Symantec Norton AntiBot offers an additional level of protection needed to combat the threat of bots and prevent them from turning one's personal computer into a robotic that turns into an instrument of destruction to both your personal and financial well-being.
Lisa Carey is a contributing author for Identity Theft Secrets: prevention and protection. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity Theft Secrets blog.
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