Virus designers get around existing cures (otherwise, what's the point). It takes a couple days for Anti Virus people to notice, then, more time to create a cure.

There is NO CURE for each virus for awhile.

     Thousands of new viruses (or other annoyances) are released daily. It's easier to keep them out, than remove them after your computer is infected.

Computer Virus Definition: Parasitic program designed to spread itself to as many other computers as possible. Virus programs are intentionally written to enter a computer without the users permission or even their knowledge.      Whether you call it a virus, boot sector virus, trojan viruses, popup malware, adware, spyware, worm virus, firewall attacks, spam, phishing, pop-ups, root kits, trojans, trojan downloader virus, rogue protection, zombie on computer, registry cleaner rogue or whatever you want.      They're all part of a game that wastes your time. Like it or not, if you don't play the game, you lose! (unless you never communicate with anybody)

     Some viruses present annoying messages. Others destroy data and a few can even physically destroy your computer (rare, since the virus dies with it). A few puts a zombie on computer, performing functions without your knowledge (sometimes even illegal)!

     Each virus maker has unique reasons for their creations. Like an arsonist, who may enjoy watching the fire, or the fire trucks. They may want fame or profits. Sometimes, I think the virus maker just wants to see if they can.

     Viruses spread at an exponential rate. This means, if each infected computer passed it on to only one other computer a day, it would look like:

Computer Virus Infection Rate
Day	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Infected CPU's	1	2	4	8	1 6	3 2	6 4	1 2 8	2 5 6	5 1 2	1 0 2 4	2 0 4 8	4 0 9 6	8 1 9 2	1 6 3 8 4

     After only one month, the virus infects about 1,073,741,824 computers (more than a billion). Of course, some computers might infect hundreds a day, while others may infect none. These numbers should give you the basic idea though.

     At an exponential infection rate, we need that cure as soon as possible. So....

...Wait! Isn't creating computer viruses illegal?      Logically, creating a malicious virus should be illegal. In reality, laws must exist before they can be enforced.      The nature of law requires very specific wording, and the agreement of lots of people. A computer virus can be written and passed much quicker than any law.      The internet is international, so, the laws protecting us from internet destruction must also be international. Not all countries use computers as much as the USA. In many cases, it really isn't their top priority to solve our computer problems. Note: About 30% of people on earth have never even seen a telephone!

It really is up to you to protect yourself!

Protecting yourself with Internet Security Programs

     A good Internet Security Program would be similar to keeping your home safe. Doors and windows keep things in or out. Different things need to work like heat and refrigeration. People notice problems. People can decide who belongs and who doesn't.

Mark Twain once wrote: "common sense ain't so common"      ...but people have great intuition! Trust your instincts!      The worst security mistake people make is to say everything is protected by a machine or software program. ...Why? You've set up a challenge to hackers You'll stop watching things yourself A false sense of security means people do dumb things      Your computers most important guardian is you. Computers are only as smart as we train them. Many an internet security problem can be avoided with human intuition. Here are a few tips: Get the best Internet Security program and keep it updated. Know which one you have! Keep Microsoft Windows Updates current (Start, All Programs, Windows Updates) Updates DO NOT come through email Stay out of bad internet neighborhoods If something just doesn't seem right, assume it isn't Legitimate Financial Institutions don't email, unless they've told you they will Just because they say they are ____, doesn't mean they really are _____.

best Internet Service Provider (ISP)      Most virus problems currently come from email. Spam email often includes malware attacks on you. Your (ISP) should filter out most of the malicious junk. The amount of spam email is staggering. Your ISP should be running 2 types of filters. Anti Virus filter Anti Spam filter      The ISP shouldn't filter everything out, just problems and the known sources of spam. Some decisions should be left to you.      Spammers are constantly find new ways to sneak spam through. They try to look like someone you know and trust. So, if you get email from Grandma, but something doesn't seem right... trust your instincts! It could be spam! ... Grandma might even like a phone call from you

Best Internet Security Programs:      In your home, screens and doors keep most things in or out.      Internet Security programs are a time saver. Since there are thousands of viruses released daily, it wouldn't be easy to stop them all.      Internet Security programs are designed by full time experts. They discover the new tricks and block the different entrances from intruders.      Consistantly keep it up to date! get the Best Internet Security Program

     Computer virus definition includes many categories of problems. The following are brief descriptions of some of the more common problems. New types of problems are introduced on a regular basis.

Definition of trojan virus

     The definition of trojan horse virus comes from Greek mythology. It often appears as a free gift, but later, allows remote access to a hacker who can run programs on your computer or steal your vital personal information.

...Beware of free programs, movies or music etc!

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Definition of worm virus

     The definition of a worm virus, or really the difference between a worm and a regular virus is the ability to move from machine to machine on a network or the internet.

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Popup malware, malware toolbar

     The definition of malware is simply an abbreviation of 'malicious software.' Popup malware usually tries to convince you to part with your money. The malware toolbar wants your constant attention.

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DNS malware

     The DNS malware is especially dangerous. The internet prefers to operate with numbers, but people remember names better. DNS does that translation for you.

     Your ISP has their own DNS servers. Your local machine has tools to jump right to a site if you program it (hosts). DNS malware uses this to go to fraudulent pages. You could assume they are OK, like your bank, but they really belong to a phishing scam.

     A good Internet Security program tests for this too. In fact, one clue to having DNS malware is your Internet Security updates won't want to download properly. Check your 'hosts' file.

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Phishing scam definition

     Phishing scams are the internet version of the old confidence game. Anybody can appear to be anything they want to be. This can be advantageous with some handicaps, but can also be used to scam other people.

     The cartoon at the right does a great job of illustrating some wisdom about the internet world.

     The Microsoft phishing filter has a Microsoft phishing filter pop up. There is only an IE8 phishing filter and the phishing IE7 filter. Older Internet Explorer versions include no phishing filters. Better filters are available with the best Internet Security Programs anyway.

     Almost everybody has won the phish lottery or ebay phish tickets at least once. Don't believe any of this! Most phishing lures and expeditions are attempting some form of identity theft or just to empty your bank accounts.

     For instance, if you get email from the IRS or a bank, you should wonder why. They don't usually send email unless you are aware of something in the first place. They should definitely know all of your personal numbers as well, so if they ask, definetly doubt them!

     If you think this might be legitimate, DO NOT use the links in the email. Look them up somewhere you know is legitimate. Then you can ask (or report) about the real problem.

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Define rogue protection

     The rogue protection utility is especially insidious. This rogue malware masquerades as protection. The rogue trojan can be a huge problem themselves, as they install more problems.

     The rogue scan or rogue cleaner usually appears from out of nowhere, claiming to have found an internet security problem on your computer. It becomes really annoying, and they want money to install "internet security help" for you. They also tend to disable all real internet security programs.

     Sometimes a registry cleaner rogue is sold to the user and provides gaps allowing their team of hackers access. The term rogue trojan is quite descriptive.

...Don't give in! You'd be really sorry.

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Firewall software definition

     First, let's describe a software firewall. On your computer, many internet functions communicate with the outside world through ports. Each function has its own port, for instance SMTP (outgoing mail) is port 25 while port 110 is the POP3 (incoming mail).

     There are about 65,000 port addresses. While some are legitimate, most could be openings for devious people. The best pc firewall software closes all the ports, then opens just the ones needed. It then defines who is allowed to use each port.

     If someone gets through your ports, there are lots of malicious things they can do. They can even run programs, which is really dangerous.

     The Windows firewall software started with Windows XP. Of course, every hacker knows this firewall.

...get the best firewall software program

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Zombie computer definition

     Having a zombie on computer can be a real parasite. A computer zombie sends spam email, provides all kinds of illicit materials on the internet without your knowledge.

     If you have a zombie, you could get blamed for everything your zombie computer does, so you really need a zombie computer fix, before you get a visit from law enforcement.

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Boot sector virus definition

     The definition of boot sector virus requires knowledge of the boot sector. The boot sector is the first thing read from the hard disk when your computer starts. The boot sector defines the hard disk structure so your computer can find everything.

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adware, spyware, spam, pop-ups, root kits, downloaders, hijack

     Lately, the most predominant method of infection is through email. But, they can also arrive in files from a disk, memory sticks, CD's or through any type of network, including the internet.

     Adware and Spyware are relatively new problems. Virus' were mostly developed in secrecy. People often picture a kid with nothing to do after school before their parents come home. A way to become famous, but not too famous. Adware and Spyware is a whole new game. Now, many of them even make a profit.

     One of the scariest items in the Spyware arsenal is the keystroke loggers. Even passwords and credit card numbers can be stolen through this malicious annoyance.

Obvious symptoms of Adware are those pesky pop-ups or your machine slows down

     Don't rush out and get a "Pop-Up Blocker." The Adware is already taking your resources to gather ads (that's why your machine is running slower). A pop-up blocker just uses more resources to block the pop-ups.

     Eventually, this process ends up giving all your resources to the Adware and the Pop-up blockers, leaving no resources to get your work done.

     Don't treat the symptoms. Eliminate the problem at the source.

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Best anti virus spyware downloads

     Getting rid of these annoyances is easy if you have good anti virus spyware downloads, that do it all.

     If you have separate tools, they may leave gaps between functions. Besides, most scanning tools do similar things, and having separate tools is redundant, takes more machine resources and slows down the computer.

     I recommend using AVG Internet Security Programs. It does a great job, and protects against all annoyances at once.

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Already Infected?

     Now, if you've been surfing without protection for a while, it's quite likely you are already infected. Some spyware and adware downloads are infections designed to make sure you can't install new anti virus protection. Some virus’ mess up Internet Explorer settings also.

     Spybot Search & Destroy provides a wonderful platform for removing problems. It doesn't require other programs or even an internet connection (except for updates). If your machine is really screwed up, you may have to download the program with another machine and install it from a CD. Spybot is one of the better free adware spyware downloads.

Why not just use free anti virus downloads?

     Like most free things, people don't give away their best stuff. They save the best for paying customers. Some of the free tools have wonderful qualities, but they leave out a feature or two, like automatic updates or active protection. This ensures that the full product worth more.

     If your machine uses email or anything requiring security, you should always have up to date virus protection. If you do online banking, I can't stress enough about having good protection!

     If your machine sits in the corner and nobody uses it much, then the free anti virus downloads should be fine. Make sure you have something though. Most computer anti virus downloads provide some protection. Since email is the predominant source of infections, don't use it for your email.

     Spam is email that really isn’t targeted to the reader. Anybody who receives email, knows spam when they see it. The simple response to spam is ‘delete!’

     Adware and Spyware sends junk mail to everyone. Postal junk mail (snail mail) is limited by a 42¢ cost per item. The internet is a bit different, but sending thousands of emails does take serious server resources. Most ISP's (Internet Service Providers) want extra for this huge expenditure of server time.

• Legitimate businesses pay their costs, then,
  work hard to target the audience who
  actually wants their product.
• Adware makers don't pay their costs, but,
  find ways to use other peoples resources.
  They really don't care if you want it or not!

     Many people would detest knowing their machine was acting as a "Zombie," participating in product ads they are unknowingly helping to spread.

     This is how Adware and Spam Email shows a profit with lousy conversion rates. It's a lot like borrowing someones postage meter without asking. With good Windows anti virus downloads for windows, you can keep your computer resources for yourself.

     The real problem with spam email is the shear volume. People ask their Internet Service Provider (ISP) to do an anti spam review and deletion. Unfortunately, they also complain if someone can’t get legitimate email to them. This leaves the ISP in the precarious position of deciding which emails are really spam.

Spam detection works best in 2 stages ISP deletes junk from known spammers, along with virus infected emails etc. User deletes stuff they personally don't want.

     Most ISP’s try to block absolute spam, but leave the rest for the customer to decide. It isn’t unusual during an ISP's anti spam review, to block many times more spam emails than legitimate email, and still have junk sneak through. Spammers are constantly innovating new ways to sneak junk into your inbox.

     An ISP should block email from known spam sources. You might think they should also block emails with certain word combinations. This becomes problematic. For instance, some customers have medical conditions requiring some of those pesky drug names. Deleting emails from their doctor could create problems much worse than spam.

     In response, most ISP’s give each email a spam score. As each email is checked, different problems add appropriately to the score. Once the score surpasses acceptable levels, they are marked or deleted.

Personal Anti Spam Review

     AVG Internet Security works for anti spam in outlook. You just need to set your message rules to send the spam messages to junk, or where ever you choose.

     For personal anti spam review, I like using Thunderbird Email. It allows you to program your spam filters. Each time you mark junk, Thunderbird remembers what you blocked and tries to block similar things later.

     Make sure you check your Thunderbird junk folder regularly. You might find messages you actually want in there. You need to unjunk the good messages. This also helps program the spam filters. I check and delete my junk folders daily, for simplicity.

     AVG Internet Security Programs are trusted around the world. They include protection from Virus, Adware and Spyware downloads. It also includes a firewall and an anti spam filter.

• Simplicity: Easy to download, install and use
• Security: Daily automatic updates, certified and awarded detection technology
• Support: Technical support and new program versions included at no extra cost
• Price: Get 2 years for the price of 1 year of most competing products

Good clean protection, running efficiently, at a reasonable price

Protect Yourself From Viruses And Still Get Your Work Done      Feel safe and confident surfing the internet with AVG Internet Security Program.      AVG has won many awards, including "Best Security Software" by TechWorld, and even got a "5 Star Rating" from Cnet.      Get 2 years of top notch protection from all types of internet threats with a single efficient product. It doesn't slow your computer down (like other products). All for the price of only one year of many other Anti Virus programs.      Easy to download, install and use. Order AVG Internet Security Programs from secure servers today.

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