ToastyNews.Net





How Computer Viruses Spread

Wednesday 4 November 2009 @ 12:15 pm

Virus is a computer program that able to spread from one computer to another computer.
They are designed specifically to gain access into parts of your computer system and they have the ability to duplicate and infecting another computer.

Below is some of the most common methods for a computer virus to spread.

Boot Information

Every disk (hard disk, floppy disk, CD, DVD) contains a boot sector even if it is a bootable disk or not.
When you turn on your computer, then it will search for boot information.
If the computer finds a disk containing boot information, it reads the boot information and uses it to start the computer in normal procedure.
For an example if you accidentally boot your computer from a bootable CD that contains a computer virus, that way the computer virus are being triggered and it is possible to be transferred into the computer’s hard drive.

After the boot information on the hard drive has been infected with the virus, it will be loaded into your computer’s memory every time you start your computer. From that memory (RAM) the computer virus infecting every disk that attached with your computer. This is how the infection spreads.

Most boot viruses could stay on a computer system for a long time without generating problems, it was designed only to stay there and spread themselves.
Such computer viruses are designed to activate their bad behaviour on a specific date depends on the creator.
But there are some nasty boot viruses that can destroy the boot information or forcing a complete format of a hard drive right after they are transferred into a computer.

Application Infections

When a computer program that has been infected with a virus is running, the virus is loaded into the RAM.
While the virus is in the RAM, if you are running another application that application can become infected.
It means that more applications on your system are possible to be infected.
Multiple infections are very common and it will definitely generate system problems.

For some time the program files may operates normally without any problems but eventually they will have problems or the infections causes the whole computer system down.

Generally, when an application is infected with a virus, the first sign of an infection is when you are saving files it is saved without a proper names or the data that you save is incomplete.
This type of viruses are often designed to search for a programs that are used to share information between users/computers such as email applications, screen savers, office document Macros, and self-extracting compressed files.

E-Mail Attachments

Most of dangerous viruses are spreading through an e-mail attachments.
In such cases, the user does not realize that they are attaching infected file/s to an email message and send it to a friend/s or colleague/s.
By the time that email is received, the virus is triggered when the attachment file is opened then infecting a new computer.

These days mass mailing email contains worms or viruses are being released.
These kind of attacks AUTOMATICALLY scans your computer’s files and search for any email address it can find and uses your email application to AUTOMATICALLY send infected messages to every email address that it has found in your computer.

It is very important to be aware over the emails that you open. Make sure that it does not contain dangerous viruses.
Even if that email comes from your family or friends, it may contain a virus.
This is the moment where an anti-virus program would be really helpful to detect your incoming messages and to make sure that the messages you receive does not contain a virus.




Introduction to CHM Files

Wednesday 30 September 2009 @ 11:53 am

CHM file is a file with .chm extension.
CHM stands for Microsoft Compiled HTML Help. This kind of files are optimized for reading. This data format was developed by Microsoft and released in 1997. It was introduced by Microsoft for the first time with the release of Windows 98. Now, it is distributed and supported through Windows XP and Windows Vista.

There are many paid software which allow you to see CHM help files as HTML pages.
Chmlib.com authors developed the website which permits you to view help files in convenient way for free. They believe that the website they build are going to be useful for Linux, Mac and other non-Windows users which cannot view CHM files using their operating systems.

The website is continouly updated. Software developers can also send their help file to authors of the website to have it converted into HTML format and added to the website.
Chmlib.com file stores files in convenient format and allows you to read them even if you work under the non-windows operating systems.

In 2002, Microsoft announced some security risks related with the .CHM data format, as well as several security bulletins and patches. But reading the CHM file using chmlib.com in HTML format is completely safe.




Tips to Buy Software Online

Wednesday 26 August 2009 @ 3:03 am

Buying computer software via the internet can be tricky, especially if you are new to shopping online.
Whether you are upgrading an existing application package or looking for a new and specific computer program to install, the procedure will be a lot less complex if you acknowledge what to search for.

Software Buying Tips # 1
Learn customer reviews. Many popular online stores, such as Amazon, allow users to give their reviews about a specific product. Reading other user comments may assist to make your decision easier because it gives you a thought of others who have experienced the product firsthand.

Software Buying Tips # 2
When considering some type of computer software, be sure that it is compatible with your computer.
Almost all application demands a specific CPU type, such as Pentium or Celeron, and a certain amount of free hard disk space. The reason is because, in order for computer software to function properly and fast, the computer should be able to manage the application. By being familiar with your computer’s configuration, you can select the right software.

Software Buying Tips # 3
Become familiar with the software by learning it’s description and capabilities. Before buying any type of software, you should be certain that it is exactly what you want. Mostly, right after the software is opened or installed, there will be no refund policy for user.

Software Buying Tips # 4
Buy computer software from a reputable vendor. This will ensure customer service, reliability, good quality products and periodical shipment. By buying software from a trustworthy source, you will also find out that the title is trustworthy and not an illegal copy. The greatest way to find out a business’s reputation is through the Better Business Bureau.

Software Buying Tips # 5
The greatest part of online shopping for software is the competition. Because there are so many merchants, prices are more competitive than if exclusively single shop had the software that you want. Browse around and compare prices before making the last decision.

Software Buying Tips # 6
When doing an online purchase, consider using a credit card. Most credit card issuers offer a conflict resolution action, which is advantageous if the product is not delivered, damaged or the provider won’t support behind the transaction.

Software Buying Tips # 7
If you are buying a personal developer or personal vendor, make sure that the software has complete manuals and/or product keys to verify appropriate installation.

Software Buying Tips # 8
Discover about the company’s restitution, repayment and/or replace policy. In Numerous cases, especially with software, the company may refuse the product back for a repayment. Nevertheless, there is always the possibility that a program is damaged or doesn’t work in good order, in which case the store should reward the purchase with an exchange for the same product. When Purchasing computer software online, it’s better to buy from a store that is responsible when it comes to substitutions if there is no refund policy.

Software Buying Tips # 9
When purchasing computer software online, spend some time to look at the company’s shipping costs, methods and the availability of a way to track down the package shipment.

Software Buying Tips # 10
Popular payment methods include credit cards, checks and/or money orders. If you wish to buy software online, you will have to see if a company or online store receive a convenient payment method. If you do not have a credit card, almost all companies will receive a posted payment. Nevertheless, most companies won’t recommend shipping cash payment.




Tips on Keeping Your Windows XP Running Smooth

Wednesday 19 August 2009 @ 2:48 am

There are numerous matters that cause a computer to perform slower than before.
It can be from software to hardware.
It can be the storage is too small or not enough RAM.
It can be your BIOS, Operating System Settings or software that are eating up your CPU and RAM.
Or perhaps it can be your network.

Here are numerous tips that can help maintaining your computer perform faster:

1. This is so classic I shouldn’t need to tell it, keep clean which ever email software you use.
I have customers who are constantly complaining, but who will resist dumping years of accumulated emails.

2. Make sure you have a great anti virus program, apply only one anti virus on each computer, make it up to date and auto monitoring.

3. Make sure you use a strong anti spyware program, utilize only one anti spyware along each computer, have it up to date and automatic monitoring.

4. Run Disk Clean Up Daily by following these steps : Start, Pograms, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Clean Up – a box opens – be certain all box is selected, click ‘OK’ – a box pops up – Click Yes).

5. Delete Cookies and Cached Files Periodically by following these steps :
Start, Control Panel, Internet Options, Delete Cookies, Click OK, Click Delete Files – select ‘Delete All Offline Content’ – Click OK, then set your clear history to no more than seven Days – Click OK.

6. A really essential measure almost everyone misses Clean The Prefetch Folder :
Start, My Computer, ‘C’ , Windows, Prefetch Folder, Edit, Select All, File, Delete – Click Yes, Close Windows.

7. Empty Recycle Bin. I believe everyone knows how to empty the recycle bin.

8. Scan drive ‘C’ :
Start, My Computer, Right Click ‘C’, Click Properties at the bottom, Click Tools, Click Check Now.
Be certain both ‘Automatically fix file system errors’ and ‘Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors’ are selected, Click Start.

9. Defrag Computer :
Start, software, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter, Select ‘C’ Drive, Click Defragment.

The last two steps, step 8 and 9, can take a while if they haven’t been done recently.
I complete this entire routine on my computer before I finish working for the day everyday and the total steps requires no longer than twenty minutes.




Easy Steps to Reduce Your File Size for Email Attachment

Wednesday 12 August 2009 @ 11:56 am

This article will talk about something that corresponding to your business office daily work.
I want to send out an electronic mail with a Word Processor file as an attachment, but the e-mail fail to be transmitted because the Word file is too large. Did you come accross the following situation ?
If you also come accross the same situation then you can try out the following methods, which can scale down the size a good deal.

1. Save as

In Menu, select “File > Save As”, and save the data file with another name. You can compare the new file into the original one; you are going to find that the data file size of the new one is very much smaller.
You can as well work in this way.
Choose the full content of the document, copy and paste it to a new empty document and save it.
Once Again, you will see that the data file size of the two documents is unlike.

2. Delete previous versions

If there are many old versions kept in the file, the data file size will be huge.
In Menu, choose “File > Version”, check to determine if there is any old version saved.
You can erase those versions to get the data file slimmer.

3. Insert image wisely

“Insert picture” is one of the principal causes for the Word Processor file become over size.
Try on to enter a smaller size picture. You can use graphical editor program to reduce the size of the picture before inserting into the data file.
The data file format must use GIF or JPG and avoid utilize those high-resolution computer graphic, such as BMP.

4. Do not “Embed True Type Font”

“Embed True Type Font” will increase the size of Word data file.
In Menu, choose “Tools > Options”, switch over to “Save” tab page.
Confirm that your Word Processor file have no true type font, and cancel the “Embed True Type Font” option. If you embed true type font, then choose “Embed characters in use only”.

5. Compress your file with a File Compressor.

Use a file compressor to reduce the size of your attachment. For this point, i will describe the step by step guide in the next post.

Try out the preceding five steps, you are going to find out that your Word Processor file is getting slimmer.




Next Posts »» «« Previous Posts