Showing posts with label Windows Security. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows Security. Show all posts

28.12.09

Best Online Virus Scanners

Online virus scanners are handy tools which you can scan suspicious files to detect any threat.
Most of these online security tools works great with continuous update of virus scan engines.
here I have listed some of Online virus scanners.

1. Virus Total

Virus Total is a free service that analyzes suspicious files and facilitates the quick detection of viruses, worms, trojans, and all kinds of malware.
The Main advantage of Virus Total is it scan a file using multiple virus scan rngines exists. So it can make an effective and thorough scan of files for viruses.

Virus total fetures:
Email Scan (scans your email attachments)
Hash Search (md5/sha1/sha256)
Use of multiple antivirus engines
Real-time automatic updates of virus signatures
Detailed results from each antivirus engine
Real time global statistics

2. Bitdefender Online Scanner
Online PC scanner. It scan the PC for malware, trojans and other threats and cleans PC.

Bitdefender's 60-Second QuickScan has following features
Very fast scanning. Less than 60 seconds
Runs online from any Internet connected PC
Doesn't slow down your PC
Based on award winning BitDefender anti-malware technologies

3. Mcafee Online Scanner

Mcafee online scanner is another online virus scan tool that detects threats on your PC.

4.Trend Micro House Call
To use this online scanner you need to install a small snippet on your browser.

2.9.09

How to remove Norton

Norton is a Anti virus application that lets you protect your system from malwares and other types of threats. In past years Norton has gained much of reputation as a real time, full compatible treat detection tool. However most users see that Norton products are eating much of computer resources and thereby slows the computer speed.

Norton has also released some new versions recently, however newer products has that disadvantage of slowing your computer speed. Comparing to other Virus removal tools like kaspersky, Eset, BitDefender etc., Norton is uses huge memory in computer.

Most users finds that it's harder to completely remove Norton products from their computers with Norton's built-in uninstallers. However there is Norton removal tool that lets you remove Norton products from your PC if you wish to do so.

Download Norton removal tool

2.5.09

How to recover Windows XP passwords with PwDump and MdCrack

This is a one method to crack windows passwords. We will show you other windows password cracking methods in later posts. Here you will get an idea about how Windows password recovering method works exactly.

How many times did you attempted to recover the windows passwords lost bu you. ?
This guide will show you how to securely recover Windows Passwords using two tools PwDump and MdCrack.
Download two tools here (PwDump 7.1 and Mdcrack)

First of all I'll give a brief about what is MdCrack and Pwdump.
PwDump used to extract raw passwords from Windows SAM file. (In Windows OS, the SAM file is used to store all information about user passwords and logins) Once you extracted passwords from windows SAM file you can use them to find the what is the exact password.
You also can download PWdump from Andres Tarasco Acuna's web site here

The MdCrack part is converts raw hex data extracted by PwDump to decide the exact password. (MdCrack web site : http://mdcrack.openwall.net)

Ok let's begin to Recover our Windows Passwords.

Step 01:
First of all Download two tools here (PwDump 7.1 and Mdcrack)
Extract the zip and copy two folders to a main level directory in my computer (for ex: to D:\ drive)

Step 02:
Run Your CMD 'Command Prompt' in Windows
Start > Run > type 'cmd' > OK.

Step 03:
Now type the path to PwDump.exe in command prompt.
EX: D:\pwdump\pwdump.exe (don't put spaces between words)
then hit Enter to extract raw passwords from SAM file.

Here is how it looks like on my Windows PC. It should looks same in yours. (click on the image to get a larger version)










Step 04:
Now copy all raw data from command prompt(CMD) to a notepad and save.
(right click on CMD and click on mark to enable select and select the content of passwords and type CTRL+V to copy.)
Close the CMD.

Step 05:
Now again open the CMD and type the path to MDcrack to fire up MdCrack.
You should care in this step.
EX: D:\md-crack\MDCrack-sse.exe --algorithm=NTLM1 A9079FA49307FF67A8297431A2AC6770







the hex part (A9079FA49307FF67A8297431A2AC6770) should be the second part of the hex data shown after each user. (after the : mark of hex raw)
Now hit enter to begin the process.

You are alsmost done and just wait till the MdCrack recovering the passwords.
Don't forgot to let us know your rresults here.
Happy Cracking/Recovering

27.4.09

Free up the hard disk space by removing Kaspersky temporary files

Free up the hard disk space by removing Kaspersky temporary files.
Here is a great Windows tip to remove your unnecessary files stored by Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti Virus. You can save a huge amount of your hard drive space by applying this method.
Let's see how to do it in few steps.

01.
Enable “Show Hidden files and folders” option from the folder options of My Computer window.

02.
Disable the Kaspersky Security system.
Then open Kaspersky Application --> Settings --> Options then disable the Self -Defense by removing the mark of the check box.

03.
NowExit from the Kaspersky application ( KAV or KIS ).
Then Go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Kaspersky Lab\AVP8.

04.
Open the “Data” folder where you will see many files named as av1A.tmp, av2A.tmp..... etc. and with other files and folders.

05.
Then select all the files having a .tmp extension (Click on Search Button in the same window --> click on all files and folders --> type " *tmp " to search for all temporary files in that folder )
Then delete all the temporary files (.tmp files) you have selected. Make sure not to delete other files. You will now notice a high reduction in your disk space.

( You can do this automatically by downloading Ccleaner application. Ccleaner can increase your hard drive space by removing unwanted files from it. Just give a run on everyday and see how much of files it can remove.)

20.4.09

Wifi network Security - be secure at Wi-Fi hotspots

You can access and feel broadband internet connections at Wifi hotspots available around the country. Mostly Wifi hotspots available on Airports, universities, Restaurants, fuel stations and other public places.

Free hotspots operate in two ways:

  • Using an open public network is the easiest way to create a free HotSpot. All that is needed is a Wi-Fi router. Private users of wireless routers can turn off their authentication requirements, thus opening their connection, intentionally or not, for sharing by anyone in range. The disadvantage is that access to the router cannot be controlled.
  • Closed public networks use a HotSpot Management System to control the HotSpot. This software runs on the router itself or an external computer. With this software, operators can authorize only specific users to access the Internet, and they often associate the free access to a menu or to a purchase limit. Operators are also now able to limit each user's available bandwidth - each user is therefore restricted to a certain speed to ensure that everyone gets a good quality service. Often this is done through Service Level Agreements.
Also those places are convenient for hackers to steal your personal information while you are using them. All that is needed is common hardware and software and hackers can pull every piece of information sent over a Wi-Fi network. Just a few issues that may arise from using an unsecure Wi-Fi hotspot are:

The websites you are visiting exposed. While not necessarily a big deal to some, it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

· Login information to any unsecure (Non-SSL) site that you sign into. This can include but is not limited to banking and email, which can include a vast amount of personal information. Even sites such as web forums or a majority of social networking sites such as Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook are also available to hackers.

Using an unsecured hotspot or entering your password into an unsecured web site while on one is basically like leaving your front door unlocked where complete strangers can wander in and find any information about you.

A few key bits of information to keep in mind are:

· Never connect to an unsecured network. The various encryption settings for wireless networks are:

o Unsecure – No encryption at all. Anything broadcasted over the network can be seen by anyone.

o WEP Encrypted – The bare minimum of encryption and safety on wireless networks. Although it provides protection against random people, anyone that wants to break the encryption can do so easily in 5 minutes.

o WPA & WPA2 – the definite choice for security. Although they can be broken, information sent over these networks is encrypted and take much more to break.

· Only connect to crucial sites using HTTPS (You should see the lock symbol in your browser and also https://websiteyourarevisiting).

· Make sure your antivirus/malware software is up to date and running.

· Make sure your firewall is up and running.

· Make sure Windows is updated with all the latest security patches from Windows Update.

· Turn off file and printer sharing before connecting to public networks. Although you may not have sensitive files on your computer, there are still malicious attacks that can be launched with it on.

· If you do have sensitive files on your network and must connect to public hotspots, consider encrypting that data using a program such as True Crypt.

These are only a few key points to keep you safe while connecting to wireless hotspots. Basically when you are on them your need to be extra cautious of sites you visit and information you enter into your pc onto these sites.

18.4.09

How to enable show hidden files and folders disabled by viruses

We are going to show you how to enable to show hidden files and folders in windows.
Some times viruses and other malicious programs may not allowed or completely wipe out your hidden files and other private folders in C:\ such as hidden folders in 'Documents and Settings'.
Virus may block the access to those hidden files even you enable 'show hidden files and folders' by going to "Folder Options".
The virus implements a policy such as “Shockwave.dll” that’s forcing system to keep hidden files forever not visible or hidden.

Your virus guard may some times failed to block or quarantine those viruses. So the following guide will help you to enable the access to your hidden files and folders.

  • Go to Start Menu and click on Run (Windows Vista and Windows 7 uses Start Search instead).
  • Type RegEdit and press Enter to run Registry Editor.
  • Navigate to the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL

  • In the right pane, verify that the CheckedValue value data is REG_DWORD type. If it’s not (such as belongs to REG_SZ), then delete the CheckedValue value data.
  • If CheckedValue has been delete, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it as CheckedValue.
  • Double click on CheckedValue and change its value data to 1 (virus may change it to 0 or 2).
  • Within the same registry key, verify that the Type value data is of REG_SZ type, and has the value data radio. If not, set it to radio. Virus may change it to blank.
  • Set the system to show all hidden files and folders by going to Folder options, and then check if hidden files and folders are show.
On our next post we will discuss how to enable Registry Editor (regedit) that disabled by viruses.

19.3.09

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 (8.0.0.506)

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 (8.0.0.506)
Kaspersky released it's new version of Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 or 8.0.0.506 version few days ago.
You can download the latest version of Kaspersky I.S. here.
http://www.kaspersky.com/kis_latest_versions

What's new in Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 ( 8.0.0.506 )
  • Kaspersky Internet Security now requires considerably less input from the user, due to the use of lists of trusted applications (“white-lists”).
  • New integrated system scanning before applications starts first time to prevent dangerous programs and penetrating the system.
  • New Internet browser configuration to analyse the the security of browser side programs.
  • System Restore wizard helps repair damage to your system arising from malware attacks.
  • Monitors access to confidential data, user files and application folders.
  • The new Privacy Cleaner wizard which erases from the user’s computer all information about his or her actions throughout the session.
  • Upgraded updates of phising sites database.
  • Integrated Wi-Fi connection scanner.
Kaspersky Internet security now available in almost every country and provides at a reasonable local charge by country agents. So you don't have to search hours on the internet looking for Free Kaspersky Internet security Keys. It's useless to getting Kaspersky keys from free and illegal sources because Kaspersky has a separate team who monitors all torrent sites and other sites giving free kaspersky keys. it's most likely to getting blacklisted of those keys after next Kaspersky database update.
So most wise decision is activating the Kaspersky trial version and after it expired getting a working key from Kasperky lab which saves your time.

Global ranking for Anti Virus software as folows.
Rank 1 - Kaspersky Internet security
Rank 2 - Bitdefender
Rank 3 - Eset Nod 32
Rank 4 - AVG Security
Rank 5 - Macafee
Rank 6 - Norton

1.3.09

Winguard Pro 2008 - Lock windows applications and programs

Winguard Pro is a program which allows you to lock some programs and features of Windows system like Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, other folders and files plus it can disallow installing programs by others. Winguard will locks and disable these features by using a password.

Here are some features of Winguard Pro.
  • Lock Programs, Applications, EXE Files with a Password
  • Encrypt Files, Folders and Entire Drives
  • Disable Zip and Self Extracting Files
  • Lock Windows at Boot and the Boot Keys (F8)
  • Password Protect Windows Explorer
  • Password Protect Web Browsers - Internet Explorer and FireFox.
  • Disable Software Installation and Downloads.
Download Winguard Pro from original site