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Download Free Microsoft Security Essentials Limited Beta Soon!

vbb — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:38:49 +0000

Here is a security software from none other than Microsoft.Known as Morro, in development is now available for limited download.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a security suite just like other antivirus and antispyware suites.This free software from Microsoft has all common functions like many scan options, scheduled and automatic scans, automatic definition file updates,defense shield working on real time ,and root kit protection.Grab it quickly as it will not be available for long as download is limited to 75000 times only.

Free Security Kit from Microsoft

Before you download ,kindly note that-

It’s available in only four countries the United States, Israel, Brazil, and China.Even then I was able to download it in India,may be because my company in office uses a good proxy server.So you can also trying download using an anonymous proxy server which can hide locations.
You must have Genuine copy of your OS,be it Windows XP,Vista or Windows 7 as it needs WGA validation.
You will be required to become a member of Microsoft Connect and then fill a survey before you can download it.

I decided to try it on my virtual Windows7 installation.For Windows 7 ,the package is smaller than that for XP(Just 4.5MB).

After installation it updated the definition files to protect the PC from the latest malwares.

As you can see,it has its complete functionality in four tabs,namely Home,Update,History and Settings.
Home-Is the landing page,which shows the status of the program and PC.
Update-Definition files update status
History-Past history of custom and automatic scans including the malicious files and programs it found.
Settings-Contains settings for adjusting real time protection ,scheduling scans,and so on.It also has something called SpyNet which is like centralized malware feedback network.

After definition file update it took only 5 minutes for a quick scan and 36 minutes for a deep scan.So short scan time because I have allotted a small space to Windows 7.

I am yet to test it with malwares,till then download it soon before MS makes it unavailable.

Download Microsoft Security Essentials Beta.

Antivirus and Security Application Remover :Get AppRemover

vbb — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:47:56 +0000

Antivirus and security applications have been quite notorious about how their un-installation goes on.After un-installation many of them keep registry entries ,unused files and so on.Many times you will not be able to uninstall them for one reason or the other.

There are dedicated removers for these antivirus application but now we have a single Freeware AppRemover,which claim to remove all such applications in a simple smooth way.

Antivirus/Spyware Application Remover

As the name suggests it removes only the security application installed on the computer.

As you can see in the image,it was able to detect two security applications installed on my system.I selected one of them and it removed it quite smoothly.After the restart I didn’t find any leftover of the removed product.

This program also claims to remove any antivirus if you have forgotten its password.You need administrator privileges to run this program on your computer.

This program does not need an installation and hence is portable.
Download AppRemover

Simple and Free Test for checking Conficker Infection

vbb — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:50:46 +0000

Yesterday’s post was about removal tools for conficker worm,which can be used for removing the worm from your system.But given the symptoms,it was not easy to determine whether your system is infected with Conficker or not?

Here are two really simple ways to check for Conficker infection.One tool is released by McAfee and other by the Conficker Working Group.

Conficker Infection Checking Methods

1.Conficker Eye Chart

This chart, named an eye chart -as it resembles an eye chart, is released by Conficker Working Group.It is very simple to use.Just visit the following page-

http://www.confickerworkinggroup.org/infection_test/cfeyechart.html

This page contains a chart like an eye test chart but in actual- contains logos of some antivirus companies and some alternative operating systems.As already said,if your computer is infected then you will not be able to visit antivirus’ sites and hence the chart will not be rendered properly on your computer,detecting the presence of the worm.

2.McAfee Conficker Detection Tool

Released by McAfee-This tool checks you network interface and TCP ports to detects the presence of worm.According to Readme file with the tool-

McAfee has developed this free utility to help identify systems infected with W32/Conficker.worm. The detection technique employed by the tool relies on TCP port 445 being open. If this port is firewalled or blocked in any way, then the presence of Conficker may not be detected and no result will be shown for the system in question.

Download McAfee Conficker Detection Tool

Using the above tools can help you make sure that your computer is infected or not.

Download Conficker/Downup Worm Removal Tools

vbb — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:30:00 +0000

This year April Fool’s day was chosen by the deadly worm “Conficker” to start working.Be it a hoax or not,the worm has infected millions of Windows PC worldwide till now.The Wiki page on Conficker (also known as Downup an Kido) ,says it was detected in October’2008.Wiki also says that it is believed to be one of the worst computer worm infections.

You can gauge the dangers of such widespread infection that Microsoft has announced to reward US $250,000 to anybody with information that results in arrest and conviction of people behind conficker.Now if you feel that you are infected with Conficker here are tools to make your system clean.

Are you really infected with Conficker Worm?

Probably not,if you have auto update enabled or you update your Windows as soon as Microsoft releases an update.Soon after the detection of the worm,Microsoft released a security update.However if you didn’t update at that time and are now infected,then checking for this security update will be futile as the worm will say you have already applied that patch!

A common symptom of the infection is your inability to visit many antivirus sites and Microsoft update or security centre as the worm disables your system to visit them.

How to know more about the Conficker?

An alliance has been formed to combat the worm.You can also visit Conficker Wiki page and Microsoft’s “Centralized Information About The Conficker Worm” in addition to Guidelines to protect you from Conficker by Microsoft.

Where to get removal tools?

Almost all antivirus makers have released tool to remove/combat Conficker.Here is a list to get them-

Company	Information and Download
ESET	Instructions and Tool
Sophos	Instructions and Tool
Symantec	Instructions and Tool
Mcafee	Instructions and Tool
Kaspersky	Download Tool and FAQs
avast	Instructions to remove Conficker
Bitdefender	Instructions and tool
Avira	Do not Worry

If you have any of the symptoms ,then you should download the above mentioned tools to remove conficker from your computer.

Image Credit-Luke Wisley

Prevent Viruses Spreading Through USB Drives

vbb — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:47:20 +0000

A lot of viruses use USB media to propagate.You must have encountered New Folder.exe or many such viruses spreading through USB drives..In order to be propagated by this way,the virus usually attack the Autorun file on the USB drive.AUTORUN.INF file is used by Windows to start some programs automatically.Viruses are usually programmed to spread automatically through this Autorun.inf
So if you insert your USB drive in an infected PC,your drive will be infected too.In order to protect you from these Autorun infections,Panda Security research has developed a free utility which can be used to disable the Autorun completely and hence prevent spreading of virus.Panda USB vaccine

This tool, called Panda USB vaccine once launched gives you two options

Computer Vaccination
USB drive vaccination.

If you vaccinate your computer,then it will disable the complete Autorun file,and no program from any external media drive (CD/DVD/USB) can be executed automatically.If you choose to vaccinate your USB drive,this tool will permanently block an Autorun file on the selected USB drive.The Autorun file will no longer be read,created,deleted or modified.This means that any malware spreading through USB drive will not be propagated automatically even if they are programmed to do so,as the Autorun is no longer accessible.
The USB drive will can be used normally.It’s available for FAT and FAT 32 USB drives which all of us use.
Important Note
Panda Security blog says that the process is irreversible without formatting it. So it’s advisable not to vaccinate USB drives which come with embedded program launchers like some SanDisk and some Transcend drives,as it may block the launcher program too.Read further and download here.