Posted by: NoAdware Team on March 1, 2011

Difference Between Spyware and Virus!

Spyware are much more dangerous than viruses, here’s why:

A spyware spies on you, these take screenshot of your computer (without you having a clue), and basically can know anything you do on your computer. If you buy online the spyware can know the credit card number you entered, or if you login to facebook or anywhere else they can know the password you typed!

So as you can see that’s the most dangerous thing that can happen.

A virus does not spy, it destroys. Therefore if you have a virus it can damage a part of your computer, and if that part happens to be critical for the computer to function properly you may need to re install windows and such other complicated procedures… depending on the amount and type of damage the virus creates.

So both are bad, but luckily there are TWO easy solutions and you can practically rest assured you won’t get any spyware or viruses. Or at least if you do you will be able to remove it, or it might happen once in a lifetime.

1) You need an antivirus and an anti spyware software. Now you have to pay attention here. I recommend you follow the recommendations of someone who is an expert in spyware and viruses when selecting what product to use.

In fact, from my experience and knowledge I can recommend the follow:

NoAdware as an anti spyware software. Visit website of NoAdware.

Avast Internet Security as an antivirus software. Visit Website of Avast.

These software I mentioned won’t conflict with one another. What does that mean Clark? Well I explain: Some software conflict and this means that they won’t work properly or your computer becomes very slow! For instance, if you have two or more different types of anti spyware software they may conflict and won’t work! Some software like Norton conflicts with practically any other software, so you can’t have any other software if you use Norton.

So these recommendations are tested, all 3 can work on the same computer and won’t conflict with one another.

But more importantly these software are really good at protecting your computer. Avast have just updated their software, now it’s safer then ever to purchase online with their new technology called the SafeZone browser. This is a browser that unlike your normal browser (such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla, etc) is basically secured and no spyware can watch, even if your computer has a spyware!

Another problem people face is that their anti virus or anti spyware software identified a program, or file as a virus or spyware although you know it isn’t. This happens sometimes, and it’s just a mistake the software does. If you downloaded for instance Yahoo Messenger, your anti virus may identify it as a virus, these “mistakes” can happen, no software is perfect

So what about trojans, adware, malware, parasites, etc?

These are called other bad objects. The two main bad objects are called Spyware and Virus, yet there are other types of bad objects but these are so to speak less important and a spyware or a virus software does protect against these other bad objects as well!

2) The second solution is to NEVER visit porn related websites! That’s right. Most of these sites have some kind of spyware or virus. There may be some who don’t but since the majority of these sites do have spyware or viruses then the risk with these websites is very high.

So there you have it, TWO solutions.

Is that all?

No! The other nasty place you can get a virus is guess where? Inside your email. That’s right. Once again the solution is simple to avoid getting a virus from within emails you read. Here it is:

If the email contains any links NEVER click on them (unless you know for absolute certainty that the sender is someone you know for example a friend, a genuine newsletter, etc).

If the email contains attachments NEVER open them (unless you know for absolute certainty that the sender is someone you know for example a friend, a genuine newsletter, etc).

If you don’t know what’s an attachment these are usually images/videos/ or anything else attached to an email. The image may contain a virus, although to you it may look like an image (the virus is something you can’t see).

So with emails be careful, open emails only you know who’s the sender!

This post should really help you!

Difference Between Spyware and Virus!

Posted by: NoAdware Team on January 2, 2011

Hello and Happy 2011,

This post is a reminder of the most important guidelines you should follow. I highly recommend you read this post carefully and completely then apply (follow/do) what you’ll discover.

Here’s the list of the most important guidelines:

1. Do not click on the links inside emails.

The worst type of viruses/spyware/adware, etc are the ones found inside emails most of the time. If you don’t know who sent you the email, do NOT trust the sender. To become really good at catching spam emails from real ones check these: To People Who Want To Use Email But Cannot Stop Spam, Scams and Phishing!

2. Download 2 software: An antivirus software and an anti adware and spyware software.

This is very important and there are many different “theories” and questions about this on the web. People don’t know what and how many software they need, etc. So here’s the answer: You need two software. Here’s my recommendations:

Antivirus software: Avast company have multiple antivirus software, you can download the free antivirus software, or the paid one (a small yearly fee). If you don’t buy online then you can get the free version, however if you buy online I suggest getting the paid version because it has more security. Here are the links:

Avast Free Version

Avast Internet Security (paid version)

Anti adware and spyware software: This is the other software you should have. I suggest NoAdware software, which you can download from my website.

If you do research about Internet Security software you’ll find out there are software which are both an anti spyware/adware and also antivirus software. There are many different types, although of course some of these may be good, I suggest you stick with my recommendations.

Special Note: I suggest you make a commitment for 2011 to learn all you can about Internet Security software. What’s important to learn for example is how to use the software; such as: when to scan, how to configure their features (you can read their help manual for this), what’s quarantine, what to do if you find an infected file, etc. Make a small commitment to learn.

3. Turn Firewall on and Automatic Updates on.

If you have Windows, you should have a Firewall. Go to your Control Panel and make sure it’s turned on. Also in the same location make sure Automatic Updates are turn on, and the setting set to Install Updates automatically.

Once again use the Internet to learn how to turn these two options on. You can also use your computer Help and Support center by clicking on Start and selecting Help and Support center. Then learn all you can about these options. There’s a wealth of good information already on your computer, use it.

4. Keep your computer Clean and Healthy.

That’s right, the more you use your computer and the more programs you download and install the more “clutter” gets in your computer. Files and folders in places on your computer you can’t see (such as the registry section); folders that your computer uses to operate, etc get kind of messed up and this can cause your computer to get slow or show other negative side effects.

Solution: Use Ccleaner to keep your computer clean and healthy. This is an absolutely FREE software.

Once again if you never do so make it a habit for 2011 to start reading the help manual of the software you download, so you know better how to use them.

I also suggest you make use of other software apart from that one, these other software are already on your computer (because they where installed already when you purchased the computer). These are: Disk Defragmenter and Disk Cleanup. I suggest you use CCleaner and Disk Cleanup once every 1-2 months, and use Disk Defragmenter once every 2-3 months. Disk Defragmenter will tell you each time you open the software whether you need to use it or not.

Once again I shall remind you about learning because it has its benefits. Use the Help Section on your computer or use the Internet to learn what’s a Disk Disk Defragmenter tool, what it does and why it helps your computer. There are so many tutorials, and information. You can use Wikipedia to start learning. This is an online encyclopedia.

5. Make sure all programs/software you have are Updated!

This is very important and many people don’t know what it means or its benefits. All software and programs you use such as: messengers, your web browser (Mozilla, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, etc), and any other program you have may require an update from time to time.

Make sure you update all the programs you have on your computer, or at least those you use. Most of the time the software, for example Live Messenger, will show a message saying: There’s a new Version available.

Most software have a Check for Update feature located in the Help menu of the software.

When the bad people create a virus that targets a software, for instance Live Messenger, the company behind the software in that case Microsoft will create a solution (an update) and therefore you should download this update, the new Live Messenger. Most of the time you won’t see any difference in the software itself.

Take for example Ccleaner, this software will show you a message when there’s an update you need to download.

So make sure you start taking notice of these messages, and more importantly that you have downloaded the latest update of the software or program.

Most of the software check to see if there’s an update available automatically and then show you a message to download the update. But not all do this automatically for you, so make sure you check.

6. Be careful when buying online.

If you buy online often you might get so used to it that you may not be very careful anymore. Remember the most common tips: Buy from trusted and well known websites whenever possible. If you want to buy books for instance check first at Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com rather than a less known website.

If you’re on the page where you enter your payment details (credit card information, etc) do it quickly, don’t go away from your computer to eat or something that instance. The faster you do it and close the page the better.

You should also consider getting a new credit card and loading it with few money, so you use this card for online purchases which you can associate it with a new account at your bank used solely for online purchases. That means it will act like pocket money.

7. Change passwords regularly.

Especially for websites like paypal.com or other websites where you input your more personal information.

Never store passwords on your computer. Refer to my earlier post about passwords: Generate Strong Password

These are not difficult guidelines, take action and Happy New Year