The Know Insider Weblog

Can you protect your computer from all possible viruses and other invasions?

The quickest answer to this is “no.” It’s just flat impossible to protect your computer from all viruses, registry attacks, worms, spyware, malware, popups, and other such nasties.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that you can clean up and protect your computer against almost all of these undesirable intruders.

The first thing you need to do is download a program called Mozilla Firefox. It’s a newer and better browser than anything offered by those guys in Seattle. For one thing, hackers have been concentrating their efforts on Microsoft products like Internet Explorer and MSN Explorer. This makes these browsers more likely to be attacked, whereas Firefox, at least as of this writing, seems more secure. And it does offer great popup protection.

Another thing you will like about Firefox is a feature called Tabs that lets you have numerous Web pages up at the same time with the ability to click back and forth between them. For example, you could have your favorite site, eBay’s home page, a phone number directory, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and your favorite blog all loaded at the same time … then just click amongst them as the moment moves you.

Here’s what you’ll really like about Firefox. It’s free from the Mozilla.org, which is a sort of consortium of public-minded software engineers who develop and distribute freeware (free software). Mozilla is also responsible for a great, free email program called Thunderbird.

Thunderbird is a fast and efficient way to get and send email and has great spam filters. I’ve personally been using it for more than a month and haven’t gotten a single piece of spam mail to date. Compare this with the stuff you get when you use other free email services such as MSN Hotmail.

Before you install either of these programs, you will want to rid your computer of any nasty software it has fallen victim to. A good way to do this is to download another great, free program, Ad-Aware SE from Lavasoft (Lavasoft.com). This program detects and eliminates objects such as a registry invasion. The Webopedia defines your registry file as “a database used by the Windows operating system (Windows 95 and NT) to store configuration information.” A registry invasion happens when a “free” program changes your registry to automatically load spyware or some undesirable program. For example, a Web site called I-Mesh allows you to download free programs, share files, and search for music and videos … but will alter your registry file to incorporate a service called GAIN (GAIN Publishing) that you may find very annoying.

Ad-Aware will also find and eliminate known data-mining programs, aggressive advertising, parasites, and scumware, as well as selected traditional trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components.

You can also find and eliminate spyware with a program called Spybot Search & Destroy. It’s available free at spybot.info/en/index.html. Install this program and then click on Search & Destroy and it will scan your hard drive in a matter of moments and then show you a list of “problems” it has found. It also tells you the type of problem, for example, “registry change.”

Once the scan completes, all you have to do is click on a button titled “Fix selected problems.” Spybot will first create a restore point (in case you delete something you wish you hadn’t) and then fix all the problems that are check marked (if there is any problem you do not want fixed for some reason, just remove the checkmark next to it).

Finally, there is a great anti-virus program you can also get free. It is AVG Free Anti-virus and is available at Grisoft.com. AVG will scan your hard disk, then report and eliminate any viruses found. In addition, it automatically downloads information on new viruses from time to time to help keep you protected. This automatic download service is free as well.

Have you heard about HD radio technology? It makes AM sound as good as FM and FM sound almost like you were listening to a CD … and its free! To learn more about this amazing new technology, just go my Web site, http://www.hd-radio-home.com, to get all the buzz. Douglas Hanna is a retired marketing executive and the author of numerous articles on HD radio and family finances.t .

There’s a plus and a minus to doing business on the
net.

The plus is instant gratification.
The minus? Instant gratification!

Let’s face it, people begin to “expect” certain things
in connection to working and purchasing items on the
internet. And, unfortunately, because of those same
expectations, it also tends to bring out the worst in
ourselves at times.

I spend many hours during the week talking with other
publishers and network marketers, and the common problem
many have is the “irate” customer.

You know the ones I’m referring to? Those people who
decide to “shoot first and ask questions later”?

MARKETERS HAVE OUTSIDE LIVES, TOO

Though often my own life doesn’t reflect what I’m about
to say, many, many people promoting products and services
online do have lives! If they are working exclusively
online, they do find the time for friends and family.

If they work their online business in a part-time
capacity, no doubt they have outside JOBS or other
obligations that prevent them from sitting 24 hours a
day in front of their own computers.

As a matter of fact, sleeping comes to mind… remember
sleeping?!

Differences in time zones fly out of many peoples minds
when they communicate online. Remember, it’s called the
WORLD-WIDE WEB for a reason! Just because you happen to
be up and surfing doesn’t mean the guy at the other end
is… Find a good world clock. Checking the time alone
may help lower your blood pressure!

THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE MADE ON THE NET

You can save yourself a LOT of aggrevation, fear, and
frustration by paying attention to one single factor
when making a purchase online.

Thousands of merchants use PayPal.

And… PayPal has a CONTINUE button!

That’s right! On your “you’ve just sent money” PayPal
payment confirmation page, how many of us know to
LOOK FOR and USE the CONTINUE button in the
lower right-hand corner of that page?

If set up correctly, the merchant using PayPal has that
CONTINUE button right there for your convenience!

By clicking the CONTINUE button, 99.9% of the time it
whisks you away to your confirmation and/or download
page to complete your order.

So, before you go ballistic, ask yourself,
“DID I click that PayPal CONTINUE link?”

Frankly, I love PayPal! I truly do. However, this IS
one feature I sure wish they would correct. This one
little misplaced, hard-to-find button has got to be
the thorn in every merchant’s and customer’s side.

Hey PayPal! Move it up where everyone can see it!

SO WERE YOU REALLY SCAMMED?

Hey, it does happen! I’m not saying it doesn’t, and
it is truly unfortunate when it does.

But, scamming is not limited to only the buyer’s side,
and everyone would do well to remember that.

Perhaps that occasional seller who does make it a tad
harder to complete your order has had to do it for
self-preservation. Perhaps THEY, the seller, have been
ripped off more times then they care to admit and are
just trying to protect themselves!

It can be a two-way street.

SO… LET’S BE NICE

My suggestion is that before either side comes to blows,
let’s all take a deep breath and count to 10.

Personally, I’ve met hundreds, if not thousands, of
truly wonderful people online. On the other hand, the
ones we’d all like to see a lot less of can be counted
on just one hand.

For the most part, people want to help! People want to
be successful and see you succeed, too.

You truly can attract more bees with honey than you can
with vinegar when communicating online. Give the guy
the benefit of the doubt, first.

Try it and see!

© Theresa Cahill - All Rights Reserved. Feel free to distribute this article. Please keep it intact and with the resource box included below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Theresa Cahill, a two decade veteran of marketing, is the owner of http://www.mywizardads.com and invites you to take a look at the services of MWA and download fr.ee helpful information and more at http://www.mywizardads.com/sitemap.html

There are so many companies that manufacture burglar alarms. The most recommended and approved by the UK government are ADT systems, AGS systems and British gas home security.

ADT systems
They are the leading provider of electronic fire and security services in the whole United Kingdom. They specialize in home security, and commercial security including, electronic article surveillance (EAS), fire detection, alarm systems, gaseous extinguishing and asset tracking solutions to a wide range of people and organizations. They protect 89 out of the UK’s top 100 companies and more than 120,000 homes.

ASG systems
They have been manufacturing home securities for the past 40 years. Their company has its base in Washington. An example of their astonishing product is the digital video recording and management system. This system can be discreet or fully integrated with:

• Enterprise Level Access Control
• Surveillance
• Badging
• Intrusion Detection
• RFID Asset Management
• Visitor Management

British gas home security

They are the leading firm that manufactures and installs home security in the United kingdoms. They also give tips and information on home improvement projects. Their security systems are:

The Intruder Response/24 system: This is connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) which monitors your alarm 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If there is a break-in, the ARC phones your home for password identification. If it is not given the ARC contacts a key holder and possibly the police.

The Intruder Alert/24: This immediately calls up to four telephone numbers with a pre-recorded message alerting you to a break-in. An external siren is triggered to alert neighbours and deters burglars.

The Intruder Alarm/24 triggers an external siren, alerting neighbors and deterring burglars.