malware

When it comes to antimalware software, the first decision any Windows user needs to make is whether to go with an integrated suite of software or pick and chose specific products, such as a firewall, antivirus, and antispyware software. If a suite came preinstalled, it's certainly a tempting option. Dealing with a single company and not having to install new software has obvious appeal. But, I think it's the wrong way to go.

For one thing, the software suites can be complicated to use. Oftentimes they have been known to slow down the computer. And they cost money, … Read more

It's amazing to think there are people out there still using dial-up, and that anyone hit with dial-up disabling spyware would, to be blunt, care. Though he has high-speed Internet, Jonathan does care, and reminds us that plenty of users out there have their own reasons for sticking with telephone-ordered Internet. For many folks, a dial-up disaster is an Internet disaster.

Read Jonathan's tale of spyware aggravation, or scroll through all Spyware Horror Stories.

Julio knows enough about spyware to recognize it when he sees it. And he does. An afternoon of setting up his friend's wireless home network gets detoured as Julio pulls out every trick he remembers to rid his friend's PC of the offending adware.

However, splintering the Trojan is only half the battle. The other half resides in wireless network security. Will Julio remember all the tricks of making home networks secure?

Read up on it in this week's Spyware Horror Story.

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Comodo Firewall Pro gets a major revision from its publisher, upgrading to version 3 with some significant changes. Most importantly, user complaints about resource hogging when version 2 came out have been all but eradicated with the new model.

… Read more

ZoneAlarm is offering its CNET Editors' Choice-rated Anti-spyware program for free today, until 7 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The $20 program battles spyware from a different approach than most other antimalware apps. Using its extensive knowledge of firewalls, ZoneAlarm Anti-spyware uses firewalls as a basis for providing protection. Unlike most popular antispyware software, ZoneAlarm scans commonly affected system areas rather than your entire computer.

While this method scans faster than other options and is mostly effective for catching intruders, I find a comprehensive system scan to be more desirable. Still, people familiar with the popular ZoneAlarm firewall software will recognize … Read more

How would you like settling down in your chair to watch a hilarious video just to have it erupt in dozen of pop-ups?

Nicholas didn't like it either, and with some ingenuity, he went after the malware that toppled his king and turned him into a pawn. Are you curious how? Read up in this week's Spyware Horror Story.

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Jacob is a nerd and proud of it. But his older siblings seem oblivious to his hardware and software achievements. Even after Jacob flies to the rescue when their shared computer is on a malware-induced fritz do they dismiss his advice. How will he make his siblings gain some respect? Find out in this week's Spyware Horror Story.

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There's a new piece of malware out there targeting Mac users that takes advantage of the inclination to watch porn.

Intego, a Mac security software company, issued an alert Wednesday warning Mac users of the OSX.RSPlug.A malware, which it describes as a Trojan horse. Those of you familiar with mythology recognize the reference, and OSX.RSPlug.A disguises itself as a video codec that would ensure whatever porn video you just stumbled upon will play on your Mac.

But to get infected with the malware, you have to accept the invitation to download "new version of … Read more