The Emsisoft Emergency kit is a freeware portable virus scanning tool for Windows that you can use to clean infected systems. The Emsisoft Emergency kit is basically collection of four utilities that you can run without installation from any device connected to the computer system.

The four utilities included in the emergency kit are: a disc scanner to check and clean infected systems, a command line scanner that offers the same functionality but without the graphical user interface, HiJackFree that provides an in depth analysis of the system and a cleanup software called BlitzBlank which can delete data that cannot be deleted by normal means.

To use the Emsisoft Emergency kit, all you have to do is download the zip file and extract it to any portable device (if you want to run the kit on other machines) or extract it to your local hard-drive. To start up Emsisoft Emergency Kit, simply double-click the start.exe executable file. This launches a choice screen for you to choose one of the four main programs included in the kit. Each of these programs can be launched with a double-click. You can also launch the programs directly from the kit’s directory.

Emsisoft Emergency Kit Scanner

The main interface of the scanner displays the current security status of the system as well as update and scan buttons. It looks very similar to the Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5 security status screen, which we have reviewed earlier. The scanner may want to retrieve the latest definition files before scanning, from an online server, it is recommended to allow this if your firewall asks for confirmation.

Clicking on the scan button opens a new window, with options to do a quick, smart, deep or custom scan of the system (again looks like Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5 scanner).

• Quick Scan: Scans all active programs, spyware traces and tracking cookies.
• Smart Scan: Scans same as Quick Scan plug programs and Windows files.
• Deep Scan: Scans all files on the hard drive.
• Custom Scan: Option to do a custom scan of the PC.

Emsisoft Command line Scanner

The command line scanner tool is the same scanner sans the graphical user interface, made for the experienced advance users and can be used perfectly for batch jobs. You can get all the command line options and help on how to use it here.

Emsisoft HiJackFree

HiJackFree included with both this emergency kit and the Anti-malware app is the same app. It helps advanced users to detect, remove and manage processes, services, drivers, autorun entries, open ports, hosts file entries and more.

It’s offers similar function like the old HiJackThis app, except that it offers detailed information by using its online analysis function for advice and the results are color coded directly in the listing. Green for instance is given to safe entries.

Emsisoft BlitzBlank

BlitzBlank is a tool for experienced users and for all those who deal with Malware on a daily basis. Malware infections are not always easy to clean up.

BlitzBlank deletes files, Registry entries and drivers at boot time before Windows and all other programs are loaded.

Note: Use BlitzBlank only if you know what you are doing.

After using Emsisoft Emergency kit, we can safely conclude that it is one of the best computer security emergency kit that will be praised by both normal and advanced users for its usefulness and effectively cleaning any infected computer system.

Microsoft today released a new, limited beta for their increasingly popular security application, Microsoft Security Essentials, the next big version of the well acclaimed Windows security software. Microsoft Security Essentials was first released in September 2009 and is Microsoft’s award-winning, no-cost, freeware, light weight security application. It’s designed to give security to computers running genuine Windows editions.

New features in the beta of Microsoft Security Essentials include:

Windows Firewall integration — During setup, Microsoft Security Essentials will now ask if you would like to turn the Windows Firewall on or off.

Enhanced protection for web-based threats — Microsoft Security Essentials now integrates with Internet Explorer to provide protection against web-based threats.

New protection engine — The updated anti-malware engine offers enhanced detection and cleanup capabilities with better performance.

Network inspection system — Protection against network-based exploits is now built-in to Microsoft Security Essentials.

If you are interested in testing the beta version, click here to visit the Microsoft Connect page to register for the beta and then download it. Please note that this is a limited beta available in English (U.S.), Israel, and Brazilian Portuguese (the beta will also be available in China in Simplified Chinese later this year) and is available to genuine Windows users on a first come, first serve basis until the allotted spots for the beta have been reached.

Since, Microsoft Security Essentials beta is available to a limited number of users on a first-come, first-serve basis, so if you’re interested, we’d suggest you get it while it’s hot. It is available for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions.

Note: If you are having issues downloading the Microsoft Security Essentials beta after signing into Microsoft Connect, you can use the file transfer manager within Microsoft Connect to download the beta files.

To download using the file transfer manager, after logging into the Microsoft Connect site for the Microsoft Security Essentials beta, simply click on “Download Microsoft Security Essentials Beta”, then select the version of Microsoft Security Essentials beta that is right for you (32 or 64 bit), and then click the Download button (Download selected file(s) using FTM).

[via Windows Team Blog]

My Technology Guide readers knows it very well how important computer security is for them. So, we will not stress any more over the importance of having a security suite installed on your computer. New technologies like behavioral detection and heuristics, have emerged to further strengthen the standard protection layers offered by a security suite. One such security suite that we took for a review here is Emsisoft Anti-Malware.

Emsisoft Anti-Malware is a stand-alone antivirus, anti-malware product and uses two scan engines (the Emsisoft Anti-Malware, and the Ikarus Anti-Virus engine) to increase protection and to increase the malware and virus detection. The three guards present in Emsisoft Anti-Malware protects your computer against new infections: File Guard, Behavior Blocker and Surf Protection.

After downloading the installer which is 96.6 MB in size, we installed it on our test machine. After installation completes, Emsisoft presented us with a configuration wizard. We went through several configuration steps before we could start to use the program fully. The configuration wizard sets up the updater, runs a computer scan and allows us to customize real-time protection options. All this didn’t take long and the settings can be changed when needed later.

Emsisoft Anti-Malware’s interface is very simple and everything is very nicely available under one window, but this does not affect at all on its ease of use. All the menus of the software is in the left hand side of the application window allowing comfortable navigation.

The status of the three layers of protection available: File Guard, Behavior Blocker and Surf protection, displayed under the Security Status screen. Security Status screen also shows information on the time passed since the last scan or the last update, and the current state of all protection modules included in the application. Emsisoft Anti-Malware provides 4 scanning options: Quick Scan, Smart Scan, Deep Scan and Custom Scan. On demand scanning is available from Windows Explorer context menu (only available if you have opted for this during program installation).

Even though the app uses two full scan engines against viruses, trojans, backdoor, spyware, adware, worms, bots, key logger and all other types of malware, but this doesn’t affects the scan duration. We then tested Emsisoft Anti-Malware’s ability to detect and remove malware and in this test we found that the dual-engine protection really effective. Emsisoft Anti-Malware managed to detect 311 malicious items out of the 320 malicious items we tested, this translates into 97% efficiency.

Although the detection rate is very good, but while using Emsisoft Anti-Malware, we found that there is a high chance to detect innocent application activity as being malicious. As an example, Emsisoft Anti-Malware detected TweetDeck application’s behavior is like that of spyware (LAN bypass backdoor).

But, Emsisoft uses a very easy way to exclude TweetDeck from flagging again by creating application rules. It also makes use of the “Anti-Malware Network feature” and provides a recommendation based on the decisions of other users when an alert is raised. Based on the recommendation, you can then simply add the flagged application to be always blocked or allowed, or monitored for specific malware activities.

Emsisoft Anti-Malware’s Behavior Blocker lists a set of malicious activities. You can create rules for various types of alerts which may help you greatly diminish the number of pop ups on the screen. File Guard allows you to choose between best performance (scan programs on execution only) and best protection (scan all files when accessed). Surf Protection helps you block tracking cookies, ads or tracking hosts, malware hosts, exploiting hosts, fraudulent hosts, hijacking hosts, phishing hosts or warez hosts. For each of these, you can instruct the application to block and give you a notification, simply alert you, block silently (no pop up visible) or not to block it.

The configuration panel of the application is very easy to understand, you just need to check the right boxes to configure Emsisoft Anti-Malware to its core. You will also find the tab for schedule scans, and also for configuring access for non-administrative users. A very good feature for the administrators who wants to impose limits on users, who should not be allowed to change the apps configuration.

HijackFree, bonus part in Emsisoft Anti-Malware, enables you to take a good look at the processes. It also shows all the applications that are currently communicating with the Internet along with the ports used; a list of all the startup items. You can also use the online analysis feature if you want to know more about the item, HijackFree will then show you the good using green color and bad using red color. The suspicious items are shown in yellow color.

Overall Rating:

For: Emsisoft Anti-Malware backed up by its two scan engines (the Emsisoft Anti-Malware, and the Ikarus Anti-Virus engine) does a very good job at detecting malware. Its protection layers include heuristics and behavioral engines too. Emsisoft Anti-Malware can be configured flexibly by allowing you to choose between best performance (scan programs on execution only) and best protection (scan all files when accessed) to combine performance with protection, and for protecting the system against online threats. HijackFree is a very good add-on, which is very handy in discovering malicious items on your computer.

Against: False positives and detection of innocent applications as malware. Online analysis of the processes running on the system using HijackFree shows some good and reputed items as unknown and yet to be verified.

Verdict: If you can handle the false positives, Emsisoft Anti-Malware is a very good antivirus and malware detection application for your system. It provides the best protection against other threats like trojans, backdoor, spyware, adware, worms, bots, key logger, tracking cookies, etc. Emsisoft does helps less experienced users to handle false positives by using the Anti-Malware Network feature. HijackFree can help easily trace illicit malware processes and remove them, but you should take care on while using the tool.

You can download and evaluate Emsisoft Anti-Malware from the link below:

[ Download Emsisoft Anti-Malware ]

The normal subscription cost of the product for 1 year is $40 but the developer is offering it with a special 50% discount at this moment. When downloading, you’ll get the full version including all protection features for 30+3 days for free. You can use it for 3 days without registering, but for evaluating it for 30 days you need to register with Emsisoft for free. Afterwards, if you do not pay for the subscription, the unpaid software switches to a limited freeware scanner mode (known as Emsisoft a-squared Free) that allows you to only scan and clean your PC when you want, but does not include the protection features against new infections.

The latest improved version of Avira Premium Security Suite was released few days back. This new version protects your computer system in a comprehensive way against the dangers from the Internet. It offers you many advantages from the earlier version of Avira AntiVir Premium. The Suite has an extra FireWall as well as an AntiSpam and a backup function as well as the award-winning virus protection. Other new additions are AntiVirProActiv, GenericRepair, improved ParentalControl and ExpressInstallation.

How To Grab the free 90 days license of Avira Premium Security Suite 10?

1. Visit the promotion page. Enter your details and then click on Request license now.

2. You’ll now receive an email with the license key attached. Alternatively, you can also click on the License overview button to download the license activation key.

3. Save the HBEDV.KEY file to your desktop. Download and Install Avira Premium Security Suite 10.

4. During installation when prompted for license key, click on “I already have hbedv.key License file“, browse to the HBEDV.KEY file to activate it Free for 92 days.

[via TechGravy, via Webtrickz]

You can easily configure Windows 7 to require all users to press CTRL+ALT+DEL to log on securely. When users press CTRL+ALT+DEL they are prompted to give a valid username and password to access the computer.

When you use secure log on, it provides an extra layer of security for your computer by ensuring that the authentic Windows log on-screen appears. It is known as secure log on as when it is enabled, no other malicious program (e.g. a spyware or a virus) can intercept your user name and password as you enter it.

One of the way you can configure this is through Advanced User Accounts, as described below.

• Open the Start Menu.
• Type netplwiz within the search box and press Enter.

• Now, from the User Accounts dialog box, click the Advanced tab.

• Select the option Require users to press CTRL+ALT+DEL to enable secure log on.
• Click on Apply and then OK to save your preferences.
• If you ever want to disable secure log on, simply follow the above procedure and deselect the option Require users to press CTRL+ALT+DEL.

If you missed the Trend Micro promotion, here is another great promotion, which will get you free 36-months license activation code of Norman Virus Control worth $39.95.

Norman Virus Control consists of an antivirus software application and other utilities that will help you protect your workstations, servers and gateways against malicious software. It will protect you from the most common types of malware such as viruses, worms, trojans, etc.

Features of the Norman Virus Control:

• Email scanning for malicious programs
• Real-time scanning of files
• Norman SandBox technology to include detection of unknown viruses, Trojans and worms
• Automatic Internet update

As said earlier, Norman Virus Control normally cost $39.95 to buy a license. Now as a part of a promotion, everybody can grab free Norman Virus Control valid for 3 year license serial code. Just follow the guide below:

• To grab the free Norman Virus Control, visit the following promotion URL:

  http://www.norman.com/support/auth

• Enter your name, valid email address, country and most important the OEM code FSC536, in the form, and then click on the “Submit” button.
• Check your inbox, you will receive an email from “Norman Web” with a free 36 months license serial code.
• Download the Norman Virus Control by using direct download link: NormanVirusControl_599SU_ENG_R20.msi
• Install the Norman Virus Control and enter the license code that received to enjoy free full version 36 months Norman Virus Control.

Norman Virus Control supports Windows NT, Windows 95/98/Me, Windows XP, and Windows Vista.

[via My Digital Life]

Trend Micro Internet Security Pro provides the most comprehensive, easy-to-use protection for your personal data so you can shop, bank, or browse with confidence. If you are in search of a security suite or if you are a Trend Micro Internet Security fan then here is a good news for you all. Trend Micro is running a promotion where you can get free 1 year Single User valid subscription of Trend Micro Internet Security 2010. They are also giving away a 1 year Single User valid subscription of Trend Micro Smart Surfing for Apple Mac users. This special offer is originally meant for Iomega Customers only but you can also avail it!

Trend Micro Internet Security protects you and your family against cybercriminals and inappropriate content without slowing down your computer. Trend Micro Internet Security 2010 has the following features to protect your computer:

• Antivirus
• Anti-spyware
• Firewall
• Protects Windows and Important Programs from Unauthorized Changes
• Web Threats Protection
• Spam Email Filter
• Parental Controls
• Data Theft Prevention

Supports — Windows 7, Windows Vista (All versions) and Windows XP (32-bit version only with Service Pack 2 or 3 only)

How to Get a Free 1 year license?

[ Update ] The offer is no longer available. Link to the promotion page removed.

Visit the promotion page here. You will find the download links for both the products (identified by a grey arrow icon) on the right sidebar. If you cannot find it, download the files from the links below:

FREE Trend Micro Internet Security:
http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/tis/TIS175_IOMEGA.exe

FREE Trend Micro Smart Surfing for Mac:
http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/smartsurfing/Trend%20Smart%20Surfing-1.6.1065-Iomega.dmg

After download is complete, while installing, select “Install a free trial version” and enter your email address when required to activate it for FREE.

[via Raymond.cc]

WinTinker Password Generator is a light portable application with a download size of only 124 KBs, but don’t be fooled by its small size! Under the hood, it is a very powerful password generator. In the past, we have seen how accounts got hacked because of using simple dictionary words as passwords. It becomes extremely important to make sure that the passwords that you are using for WEB 2.0, be it, social networking sites, online banking accounts or anywhere online are very strong, secure and hard to break.

While searching online for password generators you will get tons of apps. But the only problem with them is that the passwords that they generate are filled with random alphabets, numbers and symbols which is very hard to remember. For this reason, you may note down the generated password which renders the process of having secure passwords.

WinTinker Password Generator is different from them. With the above feature, it has the ability to make your simple easy-to-remember and easily crackable password into a hard-to-break but easy-to-remember password. I guess you didn’t get that right? Ok, let me elaborate…

Let us suppose you use the World’s most easy to remember and also the most easy to crack word “password” as your password. Now, when you use WinTinker Password Generator’s “Easy Password Generator” feature, it will make “password” as “P@$W0Rd“. Which you can now use anywhere without the fear of being hacked while memorizing it easily.

Relate your suggested password to a word that you will not forget and it will automatically converts that word.

Lower Case
Facebook  
f@c3800k

Upper Case
redevelop 
r3d3v3l0p

Alternating Case
password 
P@$W0Rd

Here are some key features of “WinTinker Password Generator“:

• Can create easy-to-remember secure passwords that combines all Lower Case, Upper Case, Numbers and Symbol.
• Create unreadable Randomly generated password.

  

• Ability to generates a password that balances the feature of being unrecognizable and difficult to crack but also easy-to-remember password. From a very simple suggested password like “technology” into a strong and encrypted words.

[ Download WinTinker Password Generator ] [ Homepage ]

Want to know how to download latest database update of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for offline install? We will show you two simple ways to do that.

Off-late, I am getting a lot of questions asking how they can manually download the latest definition for Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware. I use the free version of Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware (MBAM) to occasionally scan my computer for malware and other threats. I have always used the built-in online updater to get the latest definition before scanning. After getting all these requests, I started my quest to find out, how to get the latest database of Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware on a computer that cannot access the Internet? I found two simple ways by which the mission can be accomplished!

The first step to manually update MBAM requires access to a working computer. This PC should have access to the Internet and should have a copy of Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware installed. After updating the copy of Anti-Malware from the Internet in this computer, open the database location as stated below. Copy the database file “rules.ref” to your PC in the same database location according to your operating system.

You can manually copy the database from here using a flash drive or CD to the PC which needs the latest definition. In the target computer, you have to paste the definition update in the same location as stated below.

• For Windows XP and 2000 users, open and copy from the following location:C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\rules.ref
• Windows Vista and Windows 7 users, open and copy from the following location:C:\ProgramData\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\rules.ref

If the first step is not possible, you can perform a manual update of MBAM definition files using mbam-rules.exe file. Click on the download link below (you will get a Google redirect page, don’t worry, just click on the mbam-rules.exe link to continue there.)

Download mbam-rules.exe

Please NOTE: The second method of MBAM manual update will always be not the latest as compared to the updates from within the program or using the first method.

Microsoft developed COFEE (Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor), a USB key flash drive-based computer forensic and auditing tool which is available to the law enforcement agency. The software is free to police forces around the world and helps access details about crimes such as identity theft, online fraud, child pornography and illegal file sharing before criminals can wipe the information.

However, back few months Microsoft admitted that COFEE was leaked on the internet and was available for download by anyone. This is serious as hackers and people with malicious intents may use COFEE to track and access private data, temporary files, online activity traces, browsing histories and decrypted passwords.

DECAF is an anti-COFEE application that works by comparing against signature of COFEE application files or processes. When a USB flash drive running COFEE is plugged into the computer’s USB port, DECAF can detect COFEE. DECAF will then nuke and remove temporary files created by COFEE, clear all logs files created, disable USB drives, contaminate or spoof a variety of MAC addresses.

You can download DECAF from decafme.org. Just click on the DOWNLOADS link and download DECAFv201.zip file. After downloading, extract DECAFv201.zip and run DECAFv2.exe and load signatures.dat.

Disclaimer: This article is only meant for educational purpose.

Avast! is one of the world’s most popular free antivirus solution for home users. It is a good alternative to AVG and Microsoft Security Essentials. Avast! has refreshed its product range with the launch of three new solutions designed for home or business use. The products that Avast! now offers are Free Antivirus, Internet Security and Pro Antivirus.

Avast! Free Antivirus, arrives as the successor to Avast Home Edition and provides free-of-charge protection to consumers who “use the internet for web browsing and email”.

Users running Avast Home Edition 4.8 should be prompted to update to Avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 in the near future, but those wanting to make the jump as soon as possible can download the standalone installer at the new-look Avast! website.

When it comes to security, you will notice that everything that has a high value in your life are kept under tight security, be it your household assets or your highly classified documents. Similarly, data present in your computer and network is highly valuable and needs several layers of security to prevent data theft. Also its important to prevent malicious programs, bots, etc. to get in your computer. Whenever you are entering any data such as your usernames, passwords, your bank account details, they all are vulnerable and may be stolen by some pesky spyware or sniffed out of your network if you don’t secure your computer and network enough. Here, we will walk you through the process of securing your computer from any security threats.

Patch Frequently, Keep your operating system updated

The very first step is to keep your operating system patched with the latest updates available through the manufacturer of the OS. Be it Windows XP, Vista, Linux, Mac OS or any other system, it is always a good idea to keep your system patched. Patching helps in plugging the security loopholes usually used by hackers to attack a system. And by the way, it sometimes do improves system performance. So keep the Automatic Update setting on in your operating system. Below you will find some useful links related to updates and security: Windows OS, Apple Mac OS, Linux, Sun OS

Use Antivirus Software, Firewall and Keep It Current. Keep Your System Protected Against Spyware

Before you do anything in your system, you should always install a security suite. Keep in mind though, never install more than one security suite. This will not make your system more secure but will cause system instability and many other system problems including performance degradation. So always try to keep only one very good security suite. Security suites, be it antivirus or Internet security suite, whatever be your choice, keeps most of the viruses, Trojans, spyware and other malicious programs and scripts at bay.

There are many good security suites programs such as the ones provided by Kaspersky, Symantec, AVG and others. You will get a good review about which one is the best at Anti-Malware Test Lab, AV-Comparatives or TopTenREVIEWS. In addition to basic antivirus protection they also protect from spyware, ad-ware, Trojans, and other threats. Also keep in mind to keep virus-definitions updated to equip your security suite to catch the new threats.

Keep Spam at bay, Use Anti-spam Solutions

Spam is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, trying to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Most spam is commercial advertising, often for dubious products, get-rich-quick schemes, or quasi-legal services. Spam costs the sender very little to send, most of the costs are paid for by the recipient or the carriers and not by the sender. There are many software filters available that will help you to remove spam before it even shows up in your Inbox.

For instance, SpamAssassin is generally considered as one of the most effective spam filters available, especially when used in combination with spam databases. Even simple text-matching alone may, for most users, be sufficient to correctly classify a majority of incoming mail. Use of good email clients like Mozilla Thunderbird or Microsoft Outlook with built-in spam filter also helps reducing spam. Now, even some security suites includes anti-spam filters. Use any of your choice and prevent spam mails piling up your Inbox.

Be careful with Passwords, Keep them Strong and Never Share

Always use a strong password that includes a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Never use your spouse name as your password for your bank account or other important areas. Also, never include the name of the system or the associated username with the password. Never let anyone else know or use your password. Never write it down; or if you must, keep it in a locked area or in your wallet. Don’t post it on your computer or anywhere around your desk. Try to change your password periodically, even if it hasn’t been compromised.

Encrypt your data to keep them secure from theft

The only solution to protect your important data from being theft is to keep them encrypted, so that even if someone gets it, it becomes useless for them. There are many encryption softwares available that helps you encrypt your data and keep them secure with military standard encryption rules. TrueCrypt is one of them. It is wizard based and is free to use. Encryption is a very strong solution to protect your confidential data from going to wrong hands.

Other Good Practices and Solutions

• Frequently backup your system and keep copies in another location.
• Avoid Phishing Scams (Read more at Microsoft.com)
• Monitor system performance for clues about any virus infection or other malware. If the performance is degraded suddenly or your internet connection becomes slow all of a sudden or system showing lot of unusual activities, fully scan your system for any infection.
• Also keep your softwares updated.

Share with us below, the security measures that you carry out to keep your computer safe and secure.

Image courtesy purpleslog