Basic Steps to Prevent Your Data From Being Stolen

One has to cringe when they read this headline: "Millions of Medical Records Stolen from Unlocked Van".

In December of 2010 1.7 million records of patients, staff, contractors, vendors, and other personal records from several hospitals in the Bronx were stolen. Now, records are stolen every day. The point here is that the culprit was not some talented black-hat hacker or shadowy criminal organization from Russia or the Middle East. They didn't use sophisticated techniques or hacker tools, bounced off of multiple proxy servers, and controlled by a hidden botnet. These records were contained in data backup tapes that were being taken offsite by a third-party data storage vendor. The driver of the vehicle that picked them up left them in an UNLOCKED van that he/she left parked in Manhattan.

It has been said that the first step to electronic data security is physical security. The theft referenced above proves the point. It doesn't matter how secure your electronic points of entry are, if someone can get their hands on your physical media, you could have a problem.

This story brings up a good point: You should be using encryption on your backup tapes so that if they fall into the wrong hands the data cannot be easily recovered.

Basic security steps you should take today:

1. Make sure your backup software allows you to encrypt backup tapes and require a password to access the data on them. If your software doesn't do this then you need to upgrade your software!

2. Make sure all of your systems are protected by strong passwords. This includes even "non-critical" systems. The bad guys often use lesser systems as staging points to attack more critical systems.

3. Change your passwords often, and store them in a safe, preferably locked, location. Passwords written on sticky notes and stuck to your monitor, placed under your keyboard, in your desk drawer, or in a Rolodex under "P" for password is the same as having no password at all!

4. Don't assume that any system is not important enough to password protect. See number two above!

5. Make sure your physical entry points are secure. Data storage devices such as hard drives can and often are stolen, taken to the criminal's shop, and compromised at will.

6. When you return a copier or printer at the end of its lease, don't forget to destroy the data saved on its hard drive. This is often forgotten.

7. Make sure you are protected with business class firewalls, and software to protect against spam, viruses, and other malware, and keep your protection up to date.

8. If you don't feel comfortable doing all this yourself, hire a professional IT solutions provider. It is an investment that is well worth what you spend!

Every business needs to protect its systems and data. There are three questions you must ask yourself: 

1. How sure are you that yours are protected?
2. What are you going to do about it?
3. When are you going to start?

The short list of precautions above is certainly not all-inclusive, but it is a good place to start. Don't be caught with your proverbial pants down!

Ted Miller, President AVIK Technologies, Inc. We manage technology, so you can manage your business! Ted believes that most organizations, regardless of size, have the same basic information technology requirements. Regardless of whether an organization has five employees or five thousand, they have the critical needs of security, Internet connectivity, file (data) storage and protection, printing, email, backup, system reliability, etc. The difference in IT needs between small and large organizations is primarily one of scale. The need is the same, the size and cost of the solution may not be. Ted leverages his experience on behalf of his clients by reviewing how large organizations tackle specific technical and business problems, then scales solutions in such a way as to meet the need of his smaller clients while keeping costs under control and aligned with the client's business objectives. Visit http://www.aviktech.com today to learn more about the services provided by AVIK Technologies, Inc. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Miller

Norton 360 for Windows 7

It is now harder than ever to maintain a virus-free computer. With the advancements of technology, there are a lot of new online threats. These threats consist of credit card theft, password theft and even identity theft.

One way to keep safe is with Norton 360 for Windows 7; an amazing software that will protect and prevent online theft. It will also prevent viruses, malware, spyware, root kits, Trojans and many other threats.

With the release of Windows 7, PC internet security has never been easier and more reliable. Programs like Norton 360 and Norton Security for Windows 7 have been developed into amazing tools. These tools are a necessity if you wish to keep your information safe; away from online thieves.

Having a smooth-running PC is a hard to attain. The internet is full of bad people who are doing harmful stuff to innocent internet surfers. These bad people are no different than criminals. They won't physically steal your credit card but they will steal your credit card number. Theft is theft.

With the release of Windows 7, PC internet security has never been easier and more reliable. Norton 360 and Norton Security have evolved into brilliant programs. The Windows 7 integration, installation of these programs has never been easier.

Will Norton 360 and Norton Security for Windows 7 get rid of internet threats? Yes, in fact, these programs will boost your overall PC internet security.

Because the programs are always running in the background, your computer will have full protection at all times. The software is always monitoring external threats. You will be protected from the following: viruses, malware, spyware, root kits, Trojans and overall PC access from bad people.

We strongly recommend you get these programs if you wish to prevent and remove viruses and credit card theft.

Kevin Daniel Kilbane is administrator of site NortonSecuirtyBase.com ( main topic these days is: Norton 360 for Windows 7 ) and expert in IT. He currently live in Huddersfield with gorgeous wife and two children. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Kilbane

Google Redirect Virus: What You Must Know About It

To people who use their computer everyday for work, encountering problems like the Google Redirect Virus can be an annoying issue. This is because this virus is capable of causing huge problems for computer users. While it is easy to assume that this problem can easily removed, the virus can actually be difficult even with the help of tools. However, you can still get rid of the virus through a combination of procedures.

What is the Google Redirect Virus?

If you have been experiencing the annoying virus, it is actually a piece of malware which is really hard to remove successfully. Although there are several websites that provide a walk through or a diagnosis on the virus, they are not the best ways to get rid of the problem. But if you are able to find a good step by step guide on how to get it done, you will be able to get your computer back to its original state: clean and fully operational.

How to Know You Have the Virus

It is very easy to determine if your computer has been affected by the Google Redirect Virus. The simplest way to identify this is when you are getting dummy results pages every time you conduct a web search in Google. This is because the virus comes up with a dummy page which is full of bogus websites. The moment you visit these websites, your computer will be further infected with the malware and spyware these websites are made up of.

The Result

If your computer has been affected by the virus, you will have a computer which cannot be used well. Aside from this, your data is available to unscrupulous web users who can scam you.

For more information on how you can get rid of the Google Redirect Virus, just visit our website and we'll help you out! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hank_T_Marvin

How to Remove XP AntiSpyware 2011 - Get Rid of XP AntiSpyware 2011 Easily

Do you have a strange new program running on your PC called XP AntiSpyware 2011? Guess what, it is spyware itself. You see, what hackers are doing these days are creating programs like this one that appear to scan your PC, but in reality, the software is harvesting itself deep in your computer, leaving behind corrupt system files, assaulting you with pop-ups, and making your PC nearly unusable. Why? Because these hackers hope you will purchase a 'full version' of their fake antivirus tool, giving them access to your bank account. We won't let that happen. We have to remove XP AntiSpyware before anything awful happens, such as identity theft or bank theft.

If you're wondering how you became infected with this malware, the most usual methods of infection are from a flash video codec, a social network malware link, browsing questionable warez or adult websites, and download files from P2P file sharing networks. Your PC then becomes slow, loaded with warning messages, your normal applications don't work correctly, and you have this strange program starting up every time you turn your PC on. The entire situation is dangerous, and we must delete XP AntiSpyware 2011 before anything serious happens.

The next step is to figure out if you will get rid of this virus manually or automatically. The manual way involves editing your system's registry. Your registry is the core of your PC, it holds all of the saved information that your applications create for you, all of your settings, and is normally a hidden folder, for your protection. Since manual removal involves making edits to your registry, it is only recommended for experienced, advanced PC users. You will have to remove registry values in your HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder, seek out the corrupt values, block the related malware processes, delete the folders and files associated with the virus, and block related websites. The entire process will take some time, and is dangerous, due to the fact that a single error can turn your PC into an unusable paperweight. Beginners should not attempt manual removal.

This is why I suggest automatic removal. I use it myself, and I am fixing computers every day. Automatic removal is simple. It takes a few clicks and your PC is running cleanly again. If you are in need ot an XP AntiSpyware 2011 removal, this is the way to go.

If you're tired of malware threatening your safety, then consider taking a look at the automatic tools that I recommend, which will remove XP AntiSpyware 2011 for you in a few clicks.

Bob Walker is a veteran IT consultant with over twenty years of experience in the industry. He's helped clean up the computers of everyone from fortune 500 organizations to individual users and families. His website is dedicated to anti-spyware and virus removal research, where he ranks the most efficient anti-spyware and anti-virus programs currently available. http://www.spyware-review.net Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_L_Walker

Antivira Av Rogue Antispyware Program

Antivira Av is a rogue antispyware program that derives from the same family of rogues as Antivirus.NET application. It imitates scanning the system for infections but finally displays imaginary files instead of real infections in its scan results. Even if your system is completely clear of infections, the program will claim to detect some infections because its goal is to make you believe you have got protection problems and then convince you into purchasing Antivira Av to fix everything.

Most of the time, this badware is installed by a Trojan. Trojans often pretend to be programs necessary to download in order to watch videos. So you basically think that you are installing some useful program but instead end up having a Trojan on your system. The program is configured to start automatically after each computer reboot, which means that you will see its scanner loaded on your system each time you will login to Windows. The scanner will report that it detected tons of system threats in your system and offer you to purchase a full version of Antivira Av in order to remove them. Moreover, the program will generate lots of fake pop ups and security notifications stating that your system is infected as well just to convince your system is really badly infected.

Security experts recommend removing Antivira Av as soon as you notice it on your system. In case you have paid for it, contact your credit card company and dispute the charges. Otherwise, your money will go straight to cyber criminals.

http://www.2-viruses.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Renata_Mykolaityte

The Need for a Centralized Repository of Smart Devices-Based Threats

The benefits of using connected, smart devices in all segments of the economy are well established; however, without proper security, these devices and the applications running on them won't be trusted, says VP Product Management of Good Technology Dimitri Volkmann.

Due to the nature of interconnection between devices, one weak class can cause cascading failures - or compromises - to other devices present on the network. Also, these devices are used many times in the field for several years, so device developers and application developers need to take a more proactive stance regarding security.

There is a separate need for a "centralized repository" of device vulnerabilities, threats and malware, according to Freescale Semiconductor CEO Rich Beyer.

Smart device security company Mocana has announced a new "Smart Device Threat Center" knowledge-base and website. This center will have the distinction of being the first centralized repository of information on smart device-based threats, vulnerabilities, hacks, and malware.

The SDTC will be different from other threat centers as it will pay attention to all smart device segments: Besides smartphones and tablets, it will provide information related to smart grid, embedded systems, office and datacom equipment, medical devices, industrial automation, automotive and aviation electronics, point-of-sale and near-field-communications devices, and federal and military devices. The center will also report on the apps and services that run on these devices. To summarize, the SDT Center will centralize information related to threats to virtually all things that connect to the Internet that aren't a PC.

According to CEO of Mocana Adrian Turner, the STDC is hugely important because devices already outnumber PCs on the Internet by approximately 5 to 1.

It is hard to acquire information about the exact numbers of vulnerabilities and viruses because a knowledge-base like the SDT Center is not available. One reason for this is the fact that number of threats to devices has only recently hit critical mass. Current estimate of malware designed for devices is in the low thousands, but the number is growing.

Salman searches for and shares information related to smart energy and renewable energy. Readers interested news related to intelligent energy and clean technologies can visit Smart Metering News.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Salman_H

Remove Windows Wise Protection - Get Rid Of the Windows Wise Virus Before It Wrecks Your Computer

When most of us think of antivirus or anti-spyware software for our computers we believe that with these tools our PC and the information that is stored on it will be protected from the damaging effects of malicious software out there. in most cases this is the truth.

But there are some situations where a program you believed to be providing you with protection and peace of mind is actually what is causing the issues on your computer to begin with. Unless you know what to look for chances are that you will deceived from these types of software and do what they tell you to in an effort to restore proper functionality and security to your PC. One good example is software known as Windows Wise and if you get this on your PC you need to remove windows wise protection quickly.

The most common method of transition of this malware or virus is via compromised web sites that use pop up messages to tell you that there is already a virus present on your PC and that a free tool is available to scan your system. The scan that is performed at this point is rather impressive looking, but its all part of the deception. Because no matter if your computer is totally clean or not, you will be informed of several different infections. The message often looks something like this:

1. Warning - Several infectious files have been found on your computer

2. These programs create a dangerous for your computer and the data stored on it. Without proper action being taken your computer will be severally compromised and made vulnerable to countless other malicious programs too.

At this point you will be given the option to download and install the " full version" od this malware. But even if you decide to not download and install this software, no matter where you click on the screen, even to close the window the program will still be downloaded and installed without your knowledge or permission and you need to remove windows wise protection as soon as you see it on your computer.

If you wait too long to fix it the only course of action will be to completely wipe your computer and install windows and all your programs again. This is because once it gets on there it starts to corrupt windows and the registry and open a backdoor to other malware. This can be very expensive to fix.

To prevent this from happening you need to get rid of this malware fast.

This virus will prompt you to reboot your computer once the program has successfully made it onto your computer. When your computer comes back up, instead of normally going to your desktop you will be redirected to a screen from this malware that informs you that another scan is necessary. You can only get to your normal computer desktop by stopping the scan before it is finished. Once you make it to your desktop you will continue getting messages from the virus software warning you that there are currently several viruses, spyware and other malicious programs on your computer.

It will even provide you samples of what it finds. Most of the time though these samples are either legitimate files on your computer or place keepers or fake files put there by Windows wise protection to fake a computer infection.

You can see this is nothing more than an attempt to get you to purchase software that has no intention of actually protecting your PC. Your best solution is to download a system and registry scanner and remove windows wise protection quickly before it does real damage to your computer.

To do this is very easy. Just restart your computer in safe mode with networking, so any malware on your computer cannot start. Then download and run a system and registry scanner and do a full scan on your PC.

This will find any running malware and spyware and stop it for you in minutes. If your computer is infected with any malware or spyware or has suddenly started running slow scan it now. Doing this will give you a faster and more secure PC right away.

Here is the #1 solution to Remove Windows Wise Protection this will make your computer faster, just click herenow Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_S_Marshall

How To Get Rid Of Computer Viruses – Learn To Remove A Virus, Spyware Or Malware

Getting rid of computer viruses, spyware or malware will be an easy task if you follow my step by step instruction. But before going ahead and coming to the point let me assure you that once you have read this article you will surely be able to put yourself in a position where you are aware of the best ways that you can use in order to secure your computer from any and every type of computer viruses, spyware or malware. I am sure that you may have read this type of stuff already, but trust me in this article I am going to tell you the best and the safest way in which you will certainly be able to get rid of all computer viruses from your computer. This is obviously something that is very important to almost each one of us who uses computers daily in order to accomplish a number of tasks, so read this article very carefully.

Now the best thing that you can do in order to protect your computer from a whole lot of computer viruses and also prevent it from crashing every now and then is to simply make use of a good anti virus software on your computer. The only important thing here is the fact that you must make it a point to install only a good and reputed anti virus software on your computer for this purpose, the reason why I am emphasizing on this is the fact that there are a whole lot of such software's that are available in the markets today and not all are as good, so it is advisable only to choose the best one.

Visit The Most Reputed AntiVirus Software Website Which I Use!

Now trust me once you have made use of this method to secure your computer, this will safeguard your computer against the deadliest of computer viruses and also it will prevent the frequent crashing problems on your computer. You will surely be able to perform a whole lot of tasks on the internet in a very safe manner and without the fear of any hacking issues. Also you can confidently take care of your banking transactions and other extremely personal stuff without any fears.

So now if you also want to be able to use your computer with such great freedom, then I recommend you to simply go in forsoftware called Anti Virus Plus, this is one such software that will surely come with all the features and facilities that you have always wanted in the anti virus of your choice. This is by far the best choice in anti virus software that you can make. So now all that is left for you to do is to simply get the anti virus plus software and install it on your computer and live freely without the fear of any viruses interrupting your work on the daily.

Spying Software and the IMEI Code: Protect Your Phone

If you suspect your cell phone has spy software on it, the first thing you should do is have it removed. After it is removed, there are some precautions you can take to protect your privacy and make it difficult to reinstall the spyware.

Removing Spy Software

Spy software is easy to remove, simply go to your service provider and have them erase the phone's memory and restore the factory defaults. Some providers will even walk you through the procedure over the phone. Make sure you have a hard copy of any information you need to keep.

Protecting Your Phone

Spy software is easy to remove and it is just as easy for someone to reinstall - if you are not very careful. Some of the things you should do to protect your phone:

• Lock your keypad with a password. This will prevent anyone who does not know the password from installing the software.
• Use antivirus software on your phone to detect and remove spyware and viruses.
• Do not give your cell number to anyone you would not share all your information with. Some very sophisticated software can be installed from a remote location using only the phone number and sometimes the IMEI code (International Mobile Equipment Identity number). The IMEI code is not confidential. It is possible to find it in 3 different places
  
  1. From the phone contract. It was on my iPhone 4 contract.
  2. From the battery case. It was in my iPhone 4 battery case.
  3. By simply dialing #06# on your phone. This worked on my iPhone 4.

It is chilling to think that all a spy needs is the IMEI code and the phone number to start spying

Remember that the spyware is not easy to detect and it may have been reinstalled without your knowledge. If you are in a confidential meeting - be aware that nearby conversations can be recorded even if the phone is off. Consider removing the battery for the duration of the meeting.

Unless you know what to look for, the software is undetectable. Privacy laws and their enforcement have not caught up with what is happening in the marketplace today. This means that each person should be aware that anyone could be spying on his or her phone for any reason. The technology is not going to go away and the best protection is information. There are many ways to deal with this problem. Three that are manageable are:

1. Be careful what you text and say on a mobile phone. You may not have spyware on your phone, but the person who you are communicating with may have it on theirs.
2. Be aware that if your phone has this software, the spy may be able to hear your nearby conversations even when you are not speaking on the phone. If you are in a confidential business meeting you might want to take steps to ensure that it is not being recorded covertly.
3. Protect access to your cell phone as if it is the key to your life - it is!

By the way, if you would like the "Spyphone Software Report" about how to choose the best software for you, go to http://spyforcellphone.com You might also enjoy this short article on how the different services differ in price, features, and guarantee. It's a real eye-opener: http://spyforcellphone.com/articles/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_T_Barker

Windows Universal Tool Removal Tutorial - How To Get Rid Of Windows Universal Tool

The Windows Universal Tool virus can look like any of the typical antivirus programs that you have seen. The only problem is, this "tool" does not fix anything, and instead it will cause damage. It can go to your computer undetected and it can install its self without you knowing it. If you leave it alone, it will only cause more problems. Eventually, it will hack into your personal information and get your passwords, accounts, etc. Not only that, you might get tricked into buying the upgrade which claims to get rid of this virus but will actually do nothing. This infection requires a proper removal process that you can check out below.

What Is This Virus?

The virus, properly known as the "malware" (malicious software), sneaks into the computer using a file that can come from any of these: email attachments, rogue websites, a dubious download and unsecured Internet connection. The file will launch the program that looks like a believable antivirus program. It will then start a scan of the system but this "scan" is not real. The results it will show are also not real. If you attempt to close the application, you will realize that you cannot do so. The virus is quite persistent and it will continuously advertise an upgrade of a program for you to buy. Meanwhile, it is extracting personal information from your hard drive. You will know that the infection has taken its toll when:

1. Your computer will be performing much slower than it is supposed to.
2. Programs will most likely freeze up or fail to load.
3. Windows features cannot be accessed; and four, Task Manager is no longer effective.

This means that the virus has penetrated the system and it is spreading its infections. If you are experiencing this dilemma, do not panic. There is a way by which you can treat the infection and clear out the virus completely. You can either do this manually or with the use of an anti malware tool. Either way, the process will kill the virus processes and remove it.

How To Remove Windows Universal Tool

There are two ways to get rid of this properly from your system. The first is to stop the program from running, and then manually delete its files. Although this works for some people, the fact is that it's continually going to be causing a large number of potential problems for your system. Many people find that they are not able to get rid of the infection properly, and as a consequence see the virus popping up again & again when they use their computer. If you want to get rid of this in the best way possible, it's recommended you use a reliable malware removal tool.

The best way to get rid of Windows Universal Tool is to download the Frontline Rogue Remover program - a powerful tool against malicious software infections that experts recommend. Install it on the computer and run it. It will find the virus and infections; then, it will take care of removing every last bit from the computer (up to 95%). The rest of the components of the virus are usually stored in the registry and a registry cleaner tool can take care of it. After cleaning out the registry, the removal process is 100% complete.

You can remove Windows Universal Tool from your computer by using the tutorial and tools on our website. You can Click Here to get rid of Windows Universal Tool from your PC for good. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Kahn