removal

Thanks to this spyware removal program's lack of a Help file and vague interface, it is difficult to imagine a less appealing utility than Spyware Vaccine.

This freeware installs easily and doesn't infect your computer with anything, but that is about all we can say in its favor. On launching, the application goes straight to the system tray. Once we realized that nothing was happening, we double-clicked on the small bottle icon, and were presented with a larger bottle icon that contained a link to Scan and a link to the maker's Web site. Clicking Scan opened … Read more

While there are more expensive programs that let you do more with your digital images, Photo Crop Editor lowers the cost and focuses exclusively on cropping.

This is about as simple as a program can be when dealing with photo editing. The generous screen is dominated by the open space for your photos. At the top is a surprisingly short list of commands. Users are given opportunities to select a photo, quick crop, manually crop, select a background, save, and print. Below this are smaller icons dedicated to rotating the picture and zooming.

Most inexperienced photo croppers will want to … Read more

While this system cleaner is easy to use and works quickly, it doesn't offer anything to set it apart from the plethora of other registry fixers and optimizers.

Family Windows Cleaner has a clean, simple interface with big, bold buttons that all users will find easy to follow. The program offers several check boxes for users to customize their cleaning options. Like most optimizers, this program lets users choose certain cookies to keep during the cleaning process. It also offers password protection to limit access. In our trials, scanning and cleaning took no more than a few minutes, and … Read more

There comes the time in every computer program's life when it outlives its usefulness. Whenever this happens, uninstalling the program is the best option. MyUninstaller wants to be the tool for the job and promises more information and ease than Windows' built-in uninstaller.

This freeware jumps into action with an interface that is equally informative and simple to operate. The bulk of the program is dominated by a list of every program on your computer. Next to each icon and name is its version, the company that produced it, and a brief description of what the program does. Users … Read more

With hackers monitoring passwords, cookies, and browsing, users need all the protection they can get. Wipe claims to offer that protection in such an easy manner anyone can use it.

This freeware advertises its ease and does not disappoint. We have tested several programs that perform the same task and have never used one as simplified as Wipe. The download consists of a screen listing hundreds of programs that may contain personal data you do not want to share. From Windows XP to temporary Internet files, each is displayed with the number of files and the amount of space each … Read more

Let's assume you're on the receiving end of the worst April Fool's Day joke of 2009: your computer's been infected with the Conficker virus. It's a frustrating but not insurmountable problem. This guide will walk you through how to cleanse your computer and inoculate against other Conficker variants.

First off, make sure that you are actually infected. There aren't many warning signs, but a few will stand out if you know what to look for. One fast way to check is to try to visit any major security software publisher's Web site. If you've cleared your browser cache beforehand, and you can load the sites of Symantec, Eset, Avira, or AVG, you're clean because Conficker blocks access to them.

Another good litmus test is to check on the status and functionality of Windows services such as Automatic Updates, the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Windows Defender, and Error Reporting Services. If any of those have been disabled without your consent, or if your account lockout policies have changed without approval, you might be infected. Other warning signs include unusually high traffic on your local area network, and domain controllers responding slowly to client requests.

If you're running an up-to-date virus scanner, it's unlikely you'll get infected unless you've configured your computer to not receive automatic Windows updates. Checking your list of installed updates for security update MS08-067 (KB 958644) is not recommended because the worm, alternatively known as Kido, Downup, or Downadup, fakes the patch job. … Read more

Updated at 9:13 p.m. PDT with information provided by BKIS stating that its free version of BKAV antivirus software can remove the worm from any infected computer.

There's been a lot of fuss about the Conficker worm. And here's the a $250,000 question: what is the origin of the virus?

$250,000 is the amount of money Microsoft is putting up as a reward for any information leading to an arrest related to the case. Folks at BKIS, a Vietnamese security firm that makes the BKAV antivirus software, announced Monday that they found clues that the virus may have originated in China. Previously, there were rumors that it might have been from Russia or Europe.

The firm's conclusion is based on its analysis of the virus' coding. It found that Conficker's code is closely related to that of the notorious Nimda, a virus that wreaked havoc on the Net and e-mail in 2001. At that time, BKIS determined that Nimda was made in China, based on the firm's own data.

It's important to note that the origin of Nimda was never verified. Though Nimda contained text indicating that it may have originated from China, that is in no way hard evidence. … Read more

Consistently at or near the top of independent efficacy testers, Avira's AntiVir remains one of the best freeware security solutions around. Its scans are flexible, allowing the user to fully scan both internal and external hard drives, run a preloaded scan--for rootkits, for example--or customize a scan. The latest version introduces antispyware protections, scanning tech that can crack open "locked" files, improved internal security to prevent AntiVir's files from being maliciously altered, and one-click threat removal--no more baby-sitting.

There are few interface changes in version 9, and older users are not likely notice anything different in … Read more

We always appreciate when an application takes all the guesswork out of using it. That's the case with the well-designed Max Spyware Detector, which smartly guides you through the process of detecting spyware. Our only reservation was a stability issue that one Windows XP tester encountered.

Max Spyware Detector's compact interface holds a lot of information and controls, but manages to keep it organized. Colorful icons across the top lead to the main functions and settings. The left-hand sidebar and viewing pane change depending on what you're doing. Initially, the left-hand sidebar shows the number of threat … Read more