This is another spammers paradise to say the least.
The link that is being sent is dont-miss-this.com that will redirect people to BlockDelete.com
When you get to the site all you have in front of you is a window which states:
‘Quickly and easily learn who blocked you on MSN.
The longly awaited feature for MSN Messenger, completely for free!
Please input your MSN Messenger account information to learn who has blocked you. Our system will login with this information and learn who has blocked you.’
You are presented with a login box and password box.
When you sign in using your passport credentials, they are stored on a server and they collect ALL of your contacts details and start spamming them with messages apparently sent by YOU - a trusted contact requesting that they also visit the site and register!
There is NO Privacy Policy, No way to contact them. You also optin to receive emails from blockdelete.com
If you have been a victim of this scam, please change your Live.com password immediately.
If this fails, uninstall MSN Messenger and re-install, sign in to Live.com and then change your password.
This is very similar to Meet Your Messenger which I wrote about previously.
Anti-virus programs and anti-spyware programs will NOT find this as you do not install anything.
Ensure that you Windows Updates are up to date and run the Malicious Software Removal Tool.
The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool checks computers running Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software.
Showing posts with label XP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label XP. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Ten XP Services to Turn Off
As long as Microsoft Windows has been a network capable operating system, it has come with quite a few services turned on by default, and it is a good idea for any security conscious user of Microsoft products to shut down any of these that they are not using.
If you are running Microsoft Windows XP on your desktop system, you should consider turning off the following services, it may surprise you as to what is running without your knowledge.
IIS – Microsoft’s Internet Information Services provide the capabilities of a Webserver for your computer.
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing — NetMeeting is primarily a VoIP and videoconferencing client for Microsoft Windows, but this service in particular is necessary to remote desktop access.
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager – This service is used by the Remote Assistance feature that you can use to allow others remote access to the system to help you troubleshoot problems.
Remote Registry – The Remote Registry service capabilities are frightening to consider from a security perspective. They allow remote users to edit the Windows Registry.
Routing and Remote Access – This service bundles a number of capabilities together. It is rare that any of them should be necessary for a typical desktop system such as XP, however, so they can all conveniently be turned off as a single service. Routing and Remote Access provides the ability to use the system as a router and NAT device, as a dialup access gateway, and a VPN server.
Simple File Sharing – When a computer is not a part of a MS Windows Domain, it is assumed by the default settings that all filesystem shares are meant to be universally accessible. In reality, we would only want to provide shares to very specific, authorized users. Simple File Sharing, which only provides blanket access to shares without exceptions, is not what we want to use for sharing filesystem resources. It is active by default on both MS Windows XP Professional and MS Windows XP Home editions. This cannot be disabled on XP Home. On XP Professional you can disable it by opening My Computer > Tools > Folder Options, clicking the View tab, and unchecking the Use simple file sharing (Recommended) checkbox in the Advanced settings.
SSDP Discovery Service – This service is used to discover UPnP devices on your network, and is required for the Universal Plug and Play Device Host service (see below) to operate.
Telnet – The Telnet service is a very old mechanism for providing remote access to a computer, most commonly known from its use in the bad old days of security for remote command shell access on Unix servers.
Universal Plug and Play Device Host – Once you have your “Plug and Play” devices installed on your system, it is often the case that you will not need this service again.
Windows Messenger Service – Listed in the Services window under the name Messenger, the Windows Messenger Service provides “net send” and “Alerter” functionality. It is NOT related to the Windows Messenger instant messaging client, and is not necessary to use the Windows Messenger IM network.
On your system, these services may not all be turned on, or even installed. Whether a given service is installed and running depends on whether you installed the system yourself, whether you are using XP Home or XP Pro, and from which vendor you got your computer if Windows XP was installed by the vendor.
With the exception of Simple File Sharing, all of the above listed services can be disabled from the same place. Simply click on the Start button, then navigate to Settings > Control Panel, open Administrative Tools, and from there open the Services window. To disable any service in the list, double-click on its entry in that window and change the Startup type/setting.
Generally, you should change services you are turning off for security purposes to ‘Manual’ and if your system is running smoothly you can then change the setting to ‘Disabled’. When in doubt about whether a given service is necessary for other services, check the Dependencies tab in the service’s settings dialog.
This is not a comprehensive list of everything running on your computer that you may want to turn off. It is simply a list of ten items that you do not need to have running, and constitute a security vulnerability if left running.
Most users will never have use for the services in this list, once the computer is up and running. Other services may be disabled without ill effect as well, though you should research each item in the complete services list before you disable it to ensure that you actually do not need it running.
Some of them are quite critical to the normal operation of your system, such as the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service.
Every running but unused service on your machine is an unnecessary security risk. If a service is not important for authorized users and basic system functionality, turn it off.
I also turn the Windows Automatic Updates in Control Panel\ Administrative Tools\Services to MANUAL as they are nothing more than knee-jerk reactions to Microsoft’s usual bungling. I have seen PC’s with up to 1GB of these Hotfixes, Patches and Updates. All they do is slow down the computer to a crawl. Those that are actually necessary for the system WILL NOT have a Remove button on them in the Add-Remove Program.
Security hotfixes are necessary and you don’t want expose your PC to the Internet with an unpatched system. Hotfix itself is not a problem. The problem is the ‘Hotfix Uninstaller’. They do consume a lot of disk space over time. One great tool to remove all of these junk files is a utility called CCleaner.
If you are running Microsoft Windows XP on your desktop system, you should consider turning off the following services, it may surprise you as to what is running without your knowledge.
IIS – Microsoft’s Internet Information Services provide the capabilities of a Webserver for your computer.
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing — NetMeeting is primarily a VoIP and videoconferencing client for Microsoft Windows, but this service in particular is necessary to remote desktop access.
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager – This service is used by the Remote Assistance feature that you can use to allow others remote access to the system to help you troubleshoot problems.
Remote Registry – The Remote Registry service capabilities are frightening to consider from a security perspective. They allow remote users to edit the Windows Registry.
Routing and Remote Access – This service bundles a number of capabilities together. It is rare that any of them should be necessary for a typical desktop system such as XP, however, so they can all conveniently be turned off as a single service. Routing and Remote Access provides the ability to use the system as a router and NAT device, as a dialup access gateway, and a VPN server.
Simple File Sharing – When a computer is not a part of a MS Windows Domain, it is assumed by the default settings that all filesystem shares are meant to be universally accessible. In reality, we would only want to provide shares to very specific, authorized users. Simple File Sharing, which only provides blanket access to shares without exceptions, is not what we want to use for sharing filesystem resources. It is active by default on both MS Windows XP Professional and MS Windows XP Home editions. This cannot be disabled on XP Home. On XP Professional you can disable it by opening My Computer > Tools > Folder Options, clicking the View tab, and unchecking the Use simple file sharing (Recommended) checkbox in the Advanced settings.
SSDP Discovery Service – This service is used to discover UPnP devices on your network, and is required for the Universal Plug and Play Device Host service (see below) to operate.
Telnet – The Telnet service is a very old mechanism for providing remote access to a computer, most commonly known from its use in the bad old days of security for remote command shell access on Unix servers.
Universal Plug and Play Device Host – Once you have your “Plug and Play” devices installed on your system, it is often the case that you will not need this service again.
Windows Messenger Service – Listed in the Services window under the name Messenger, the Windows Messenger Service provides “net send” and “Alerter” functionality. It is NOT related to the Windows Messenger instant messaging client, and is not necessary to use the Windows Messenger IM network.
On your system, these services may not all be turned on, or even installed. Whether a given service is installed and running depends on whether you installed the system yourself, whether you are using XP Home or XP Pro, and from which vendor you got your computer if Windows XP was installed by the vendor.
With the exception of Simple File Sharing, all of the above listed services can be disabled from the same place. Simply click on the Start button, then navigate to Settings > Control Panel, open Administrative Tools, and from there open the Services window. To disable any service in the list, double-click on its entry in that window and change the Startup type/setting.
Generally, you should change services you are turning off for security purposes to ‘Manual’ and if your system is running smoothly you can then change the setting to ‘Disabled’. When in doubt about whether a given service is necessary for other services, check the Dependencies tab in the service’s settings dialog.
This is not a comprehensive list of everything running on your computer that you may want to turn off. It is simply a list of ten items that you do not need to have running, and constitute a security vulnerability if left running.
Most users will never have use for the services in this list, once the computer is up and running. Other services may be disabled without ill effect as well, though you should research each item in the complete services list before you disable it to ensure that you actually do not need it running.
Some of them are quite critical to the normal operation of your system, such as the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service.
Every running but unused service on your machine is an unnecessary security risk. If a service is not important for authorized users and basic system functionality, turn it off.
I also turn the Windows Automatic Updates in Control Panel\ Administrative Tools\Services to MANUAL as they are nothing more than knee-jerk reactions to Microsoft’s usual bungling. I have seen PC’s with up to 1GB of these Hotfixes, Patches and Updates. All they do is slow down the computer to a crawl. Those that are actually necessary for the system WILL NOT have a Remove button on them in the Add-Remove Program.
Security hotfixes are necessary and you don’t want expose your PC to the Internet with an unpatched system. Hotfix itself is not a problem. The problem is the ‘Hotfix Uninstaller’. They do consume a lot of disk space over time. One great tool to remove all of these junk files is a utility called CCleaner.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Drivers Backup For Windows
You know what it's like when your hard drive fails, your system crashes or you do a format....you have to reinstall all the drivers from countless CD's. With this program, all your drivers are stored in one neat little package, either in a folder or zip file.
DriverMax helps you backup all the drivers installed on your Windows computer. When needed you will be able to reinstall all your drivers or just the ones you choose in a single step that takes less than a minute; a very handy tool especially after reinstalling Windows or when the hardware driver CDs which came with your computer are no longer available.
DriverMax also helps you check if you have the latest versions of drivers and displays detailed information about all drivers. No more searching for rare drivers on disks or having to track them down on the Internet or inserting one installation CD after the other.
Simply export all your current drivers (or just the ones that you want) to a folder or a compressed file. After reinstalling Windows you will have everything in one place.
Version 3 is a completely new release which features Windows Vista rating tools, hardware identification tools and the background of a powerful hardware information database.
Behind a smooth interface, this program backs up all your PC's drivers in case you mess up somethin. From registration to implementation, DriverMax works fast, runs smooth, and does more than simply backing up.
When you run the application, it asks you if you'd like to run the trial version or apply for a registration key. The key is free, requiring only an e-mail address and your name.
Once you've entered the key, the program interface appears, with simple button navigation: Driver Operations, Updates and Identification, and Popular Hardware. Mousing over one reveals more options, so you can export your drivers, import drivers, or view an installed drivers report.
Updates lets you update both the DriverMax software and the drivers themselves, although as of this writing there is a warning label on the DriverMax Web site that downloads are not currently functioning. The program can also identify unknown hardware and point you in the direction of popular hardware options, pointing users to a compilation of statistics about different video cards and processors.
The strongest features relate to driver backup and reinstalls. They function smoothly, offering users the option to back up all drivers or compile a customized list. Reinstalling an "accidentally" deleted driver was as pain-free as could be. This is a great utility tool that should appeal to newbies as well as seasoned pc users.
The user interface is entirely wizard based; any chosen task is conveniently broken down into 2 or 3 simple screens.
You can export all drivers, drivers that belong to a certain category, or any specific selected drivers. Export to a folder or to compressed zipped folder. Then burn it to cd / dvd or store on an external device.
Exporting is very fast compared to another program I’ve tried recently. Importing and installing drivers can take as little as 5 mins and requires only a single reboot.
It generates a comprehensive report on installed drivers that you can use to compare existing driver versions with the latest drivers that may be out there which you can view in your browser or as a text file.
At present it does not offer Driver Updates, but it does show you which Drivers can be updated and a simple online search for a particular driver will enable you to download the latest version.
This program is registerware. You have to supply a valid email address within 30 days to get the free registration code. I advise you to use a disposable email address.
Download it here
System requirements: Windows XP/2003 Server/Vista
For larger screenshots go HERE
DriverMax helps you backup all the drivers installed on your Windows computer. When needed you will be able to reinstall all your drivers or just the ones you choose in a single step that takes less than a minute; a very handy tool especially after reinstalling Windows or when the hardware driver CDs which came with your computer are no longer available.
DriverMax also helps you check if you have the latest versions of drivers and displays detailed information about all drivers. No more searching for rare drivers on disks or having to track them down on the Internet or inserting one installation CD after the other.
Simply export all your current drivers (or just the ones that you want) to a folder or a compressed file. After reinstalling Windows you will have everything in one place.
Version 3 is a completely new release which features Windows Vista rating tools, hardware identification tools and the background of a powerful hardware information database.
Behind a smooth interface, this program backs up all your PC's drivers in case you mess up somethin. From registration to implementation, DriverMax works fast, runs smooth, and does more than simply backing up.
When you run the application, it asks you if you'd like to run the trial version or apply for a registration key. The key is free, requiring only an e-mail address and your name.
Once you've entered the key, the program interface appears, with simple button navigation: Driver Operations, Updates and Identification, and Popular Hardware. Mousing over one reveals more options, so you can export your drivers, import drivers, or view an installed drivers report.
Updates lets you update both the DriverMax software and the drivers themselves, although as of this writing there is a warning label on the DriverMax Web site that downloads are not currently functioning. The program can also identify unknown hardware and point you in the direction of popular hardware options, pointing users to a compilation of statistics about different video cards and processors.
The strongest features relate to driver backup and reinstalls. They function smoothly, offering users the option to back up all drivers or compile a customized list. Reinstalling an "accidentally" deleted driver was as pain-free as could be. This is a great utility tool that should appeal to newbies as well as seasoned pc users.
The user interface is entirely wizard based; any chosen task is conveniently broken down into 2 or 3 simple screens.
You can export all drivers, drivers that belong to a certain category, or any specific selected drivers. Export to a folder or to compressed zipped folder. Then burn it to cd / dvd or store on an external device.
Exporting is very fast compared to another program I’ve tried recently. Importing and installing drivers can take as little as 5 mins and requires only a single reboot.
It generates a comprehensive report on installed drivers that you can use to compare existing driver versions with the latest drivers that may be out there which you can view in your browser or as a text file.
At present it does not offer Driver Updates, but it does show you which Drivers can be updated and a simple online search for a particular driver will enable you to download the latest version.
This program is registerware. You have to supply a valid email address within 30 days to get the free registration code. I advise you to use a disposable email address.
Download it here
System requirements: Windows XP/2003 Server/Vista
For larger screenshots go HERE
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
SpywareGuard 2.2
A real-time protection solution against spyware!
SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution
against spyware that is a great addition to
SpywareBlaster’s protection method.
An anti-virus program scans files before you open them and
prevents execution if a virus is detected - SpywareGuard
does the same thing, but for spyware! And you can easily
have an anti-virus program running alongside SpywareGuard.
SpywareGuard now also features Download Protection and
Browser Hijacking Protection!
Features Listing:
Fast Real-Time Scanning engine - catch and block spyware
before it is executed (EXE and CAB files supported) with
signature-based scanning for known spyware and
heuristic/generic detection capabilities to catch
new/mutated spyware
Download Protection
Prevent spyware from being download in Internet Explorer
Browser Hijacking Protection
Stop browser hijacking activity in real-time
SG LiveUpdate
Provides an easy updating solution
Small size
With a small size and small definition sizes, download and
updates are quick
Report Capabilities
Keep a detailed log of all spyware detected
Spyware files are blocked before being opened or run -
they are not simply shut down after they are loaded in
memory (and after they have performed their tasks)
It’s a free download and is freeware
Get it here:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3045.html
SpywareGuard is compatible with: Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP
Friday, June 22, 2007
IObit SmartDefrag
One thing that is often overlooked is defragmenting your
hard drive(s).
This program eliminates that. Once installed, it will sit
in your System Tray and when your CPU drops to 20% or less
it will automatically start to defragment and optimise your
drive(s). You can also use the manual Defrag and set to to
Comprehensive.
It runs efficiently in the background with very little
processor usage.
The Most Efficient Defragmenter
The main cause of slow/unstable PC performance is disk
fragmentation. IObit SmartDefrag helps defrag your hard
drive most efficiently. With “Install it and forget it”
feature, it works automatically and quietly in the
background on your PC, keeping your hard disk running at
its speediest. Slow down, freeze-ups and crashes will be a
thing of the past. IObit SmartDefrag is 100% FREE for
personal, home and small business, and 100% safe from any
spyware, adware and virus. IObit SmartDefrag is designed
for Windows Vista, XP and 2000.
Simple to use
Install it and forget it.
The intuitive interface makes IObit SmartDefrag the ideal
utility even for complete dummies.
Efficient Defragment.
No more long time waiting. IObit SmartDefrag has the
fastest defragment engine in the world, especially designed
for modern large hard drives.
Optimize File System
It isn’t just a simple defragment, it also streamlines
your file system and makes your computer run at higher
speeds with more stability.
Always-on Working
IObit SmartDefrag works automatically and quietly in the
background, constantly keeps your computer fragment-free.
Free
IObit SmartDefrag is 100% freeware. You can get it and
update it at no cost whatsoever.
Download it here:
http://www.iobit.com/iobitsmartdefrag.html#
Any problems, try the Forum, FAQ or Contact Me.
Safe surfing everone
cotojo
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