It has been featured with our previous entries that a computer cannot have 2 or more antivirus programs installed. Now, how do you uninstall of the other antivirus programs? Simple, thru “add or remove programs” or “programs and features” in control panel. It is pretty simple and it works in most cases.

A previous case had issues with his programs after uninstalling his free antivirus software.  He also mentioned that a lot of icons in his desktop went missing and that several startup programs stopped launching; when all he did was to click on the uninstall button at the Programs and Features list in control panel.

Here’s the problem: there are other add ons on your antivirus program that may not be listed in the programs and features list. Some are, but you can’t uninstall them; thus causing problems like inability to browse, error messages on startup up to losing internet connectivity.

Even I, as a technician, get problems after uninstalling some antivirus program. Most commonly when removing an antivirus software bundle. I’m not saying that these bundles are not good; they are actually good and gives your computers security from all sides. Just like what I’ve previously mentioned; some add-ons are not that easy to remove because they are all over your system – your browser, your firewall, your registry. More often, these components are related to each other and if a component is removed it would just crash down altogether, causing damage on other components of your computer.

I’m pretty sure that this side problem has been raised to antivirus software developers. Some don’t really know this but each antivirus software has its own removal tool. Some of the popular ones I’ve listed below:

• Norton products
• McAfee products
• Trend Micro prouducts
• Kaspersky products
• AVG products

Instructions on how to use them are also included on the page.  Its quite simple really, all you have to do is to download the tool, install it and run it.

However, in cases where problems are encountered, most especially when network drivers need to be reinstalled or the firewall and/or the browser add-ons need to be reconfigured.  Depending on the situation; in worst cases, you just end up reinstalling everything.

End result: not only did we successfully remove other components of the antivirus program; but we also made sure that everything was in good working condition.  Another happy customer with a working computer.

How can Techie Now help?

Antivirus programs can be very tricky when you’re trying to uninstall them.  There are several components scattered all over your PC to give you all around security.  At most cases all components cannot be simply removed by the built in windows uninstaller and may cause instability to system crash on your computer.  Let Techie now take care of the hassles so you can ensure a working and safe pc.  We’ll also give you our expert opinion because we care for your computer as if its our own.

www.TechieNow.com

Twitter is being used by many people worldwide in these days. It’s a free social networking and micro-blogging service enabling its users to read and send messages. Because of its increasing popularity, Twitter has exerted its effort to stop attacks which includes spam, worms such as Mikeyy, and phishing. Twitter confirmed that the site was hacked last May where some individual account information were also leaked.

In regards to this, Kaspersky revealed a new tool named “Krab Krawler”. It will analyze million of tweets posted on Twitter every day and will block any Malware associated with them.

Krab Krawler will:

• looks at every public post as it appears in on Twitter
• extracts any URLs in them and analyzes the web page they go to
• expands any URLs that have been shortened

Twitter scans almost 500,000 new unique URLs every day where there are about 100 to 1,000 Malware attacks happen. Koobface virus has targeted Twitter by posting malicious links from infected users’ accounts. Twenty-six (26) percent of the total Twitter posts contain URLs redirecting to spam sites which are marketing products or services and not considered Malware. Thousands of accounts post spam links created by bots. Most of the URLs redirect to online dating sites.

Kaspersky’s regular antivirus software can detect and block ninety-five (95) percent of the Malware Twitter users are afraid of. Some antivirus companies focus protecting e-mail-borne viruses but also give more attention to social-media sites now. For now, Finjan offers SecureTweets to Twitter users. SecureTweets is a  free browser plug-in that warns the users as they come upon a malicious URL in Twitter, also includes Blogger, Gmail, Google search, MSN, MySpace, Yahoo and more sites.

Attackers are fond of hitting social-media sites because there are many people using them and trusting messages in there with their friends more than they do in e-mails. According to Kaspersky, Trojan-Clicker.HTMLIFrame is the most common piece of Malware associated with Twitter. It is a malicious Javascript that can be transferred to computer when you visit a compromised web site.

How Can Techie Now Help?

If your PC gets infected while using Twitter and you need help, feel free to contact Techie Now. Our virus removal services will be the solution you are looking for. We offer better services at a lower price. With Techie Now, your PC is at good hands.

www.TechieNow.com

Peer to Peer progras

Many of us have been using peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing applications in our home for a while now.

What is peer-to-peer?

A peer-to-peer network, also called P2P, is composed of participants who share a portion of their resources directly available to other network participants without the need for servers or stable hosts. It was popularized by file sharing systems like Napster. It allows users to connect and transfers or shares files directly with each other’s machine.

Nowadays, P2P applications are very popular. People often use P2P to search for and download songs and movies that they like. P2P has a big impact to the people socially and economically.

File sharing is not the only type of P2P application, most of the instant messaging applications are P2P too like Skype. Forums and distributed databases are some of other examples and so on. Here are some the popular peer-to-peer applications:

• BitTorrent – One of the most popular peer-to-peers file sharing used on the Internet involving a significant amount of traffic. It distributes large files, popular files and files available for free which includes films, videos, music, television shows, computer applications, etc.

• LimeWire – The free, simple and popular P2P file sharing program which offers unlimited simultaneous searches of MP3s, documents, software, videos and more. It also has family filters and integrated chat. Other features include improved privacy features, elimination of spyware, and support for podcasts, BitTorrent, iTunes, parental controls and extended file information.

• Kazaa – The single most popular P2P file sharing system of all time which is very easy and fast to use. It has been said that it causes more network compared to any other application.

• Morpheus – A safe and secure file sharing tool that permits you to search multiple P2P networks for MP3s, documents and videos.

• Bearshare – A file-sharing program that connects you with other users letting you to find, download, share and publish audio and video files.

• Tribler – A social community which helps the users to find, enjoy and share content such as videos, audio, pictures and more.

• Pando – A free P2P software which offers a fast, easy and fun downloading, streaming and sharing of large media files.

• Babelgum – A free revolutionary Internet and Mobile TV platform supported by advertising that professionally produces content and prevents piracy.

• Joost – Using P2P, it distributes TV and other video shows for free over the web.

• LiveStation – Runs on a peer-to-peer software created by Microsoft which delivers live TV and radio news as it happens.

• Mashboxx – The peer-to-peer software currently unreleased which promises to be the first to be authorized by major record labels, Sony BMG Music, and EMI Music.

• Ares – A free and open source P2P file sharing program that allows you to search the shared folders of other users for documents, images, sounds, videos and more.

P2P applications have been facing some issues dealing on how dangerous it can be to everyone. Since P2P allows the sharing of files with other peers, your computer might take the risks of being infected or damaged. A user might send you a harmless file, like a music file, only to find out in the end that it is a malicious program. One example of this situation is when Kaspersky Lab discovered the Worm.Kazaa.Benjamin virus. It is also known as Kazkaz which overwrites any file that is sent to Kazaa. Through P2P, files are everywhere and people can share and distribute them to everyone without asking the permission of the person or company who has the copyright on it. It is a violation of the law to download or provide available download for copyrighted files. Music files are one good example of these copyright protected files.

How Can Techie Now Help?

Nowadays, transferring of files is normally done by people every day. That’s why so many people are hooked using different peer-to-peer applications to exchange music, video and other files over the Internet. Even though many are taking advantage of these P2P applications, it is still risky to use because it might infect your PC. You have to configure your peer-to-peer applications correctly to prevent others from accessing you. You might be surprised one day that the world is accessing your PC and downloading your files.

If you encounter problems and gets your PC infected with viruses and other Malware while using P2P applications, Techie Now is here to give you a hand. Contact Techie Now and we will give you fast and safe services that will keep your PC protected from everything.

www.TechieNow.com