How to remove Shortcut virus in your pen drive?????

There are many names for this virus but the most common
is "the shortcut virus". Its capable of "disappearing" our
folder and "appearing" it into shortcut.


The first thing NOT to do is to FORMAT your flash drive.
Rumors says that this virus is just a prank..
So that unwise user will think they files all gone!


Your file is NOT gone or corrupted, its just HIDDEN.
Follow these steps (if you are using windows..):


1) open your infected drive directory (example: drive F:\)


2) open tool, folder option, view tab


3) click "show hidden files & folders"


4) UNCLICK both "Hide extension for known file type" and


"Hide protected operating system files (recommended)"


5) If there is a warning, just click yes


/* Now you should be able to see your lost file (its in transparent
folder)*/


6) Enter the hidden folder, CUT all your file and PASTE it inside a new
folder. (repeat this step for your other folder too)


7) Delete all old folders that is empty and also the annoying 1kB shortcut
folder. (also any suspicious folder or icon such as desktop.ini, thumb.db
etc that might be virus)

Computer BUG

Bug: A computer bug is an error or defect in computer hardware or software that causes the computer or the computer program to malfunction. 

A moth (Bug) 
Do you know why defects in computer hardware/software are called as "Bug"? 

Here goes the answer è 
 


The first computer bug is said to have been a moth that was found squashed between the points of an electromechanical relay in the Mark II computer in 1945. This moth caused the entire computer to shut down. When the moth was removed, it was affixed to the computer's log with a scribbled note that read, "First actual case of bug being found." When the computer operators removed the moth, they claimed to have "debugged" the computer, thus introducing the term "debugging a computer program." 

 



From then onwards, all software programming defects are also termed as "Bugs" 

By the way, this first bug is now housed in the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian. 

Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures CVE-2006-2370 functions

Vulnerable Systems:
* Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
* Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 - 

* Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition -
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 -
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems -
* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition

RRAS Memory Corruption Vulnerability - CVE-2006-2370:
There is a remote code execution vulnerability in the Routing and Remote Access Service that could allow an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability to take complete control of the affected system.

What might an attacker use the vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of the affected system.

Who could exploit the vulnerability?
On Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 and Windows XP Service Pack 1, any anonymous user who could deliver a specially crafted message to the affected system could try to exploit this vulnerability. In order to exploit the vulnerability on Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2003, an attacker must have valid login credentials to a target system.

How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
An attacker could also access the affected component through another vector. For example, an attacker could log on to the system interactively or by using another program that passes parameters to the vulnerable component either locally or remotely.

What systems are primarily at risk from the vulnerability?
Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 are primarily at risk from this vulnerability. Systems that use Internet Connection Sharing are also at risk as RRAS must be enabled for ICS functionality.

Are Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition or Windows Millennium Edition critically affected by this vulnerability?
No. Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition do not contain the affected component.

Could the vulnerability be exploited over the Internet?
An attacker could try to exploit this vulnerability over the Internet. Firewall best practices and standard default firewall configurations can help protect against attacks that originate from the Internet. Microsoft has provided information about how you can help protect your PC.

Web Ref:
http://www.securiteam.com/cves/2006/CVE-2006-2370.html
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-025.mspx
http://www.saintcorporation.com/cgi-bin/exploits.pl

Check phishing sites...

What is phishing?

Phishing is a fraudulent attempt, usually made through email, to steal your personal information. The best way to protect yourself from phishing is to learn how to recognize a phish.

Phishing emails usually appear to come from a well-known organization and ask for your personal information — such as credit card number, social security number, account number or password. Often times phishing attempts appear to come from sites, services and companies with which you do not even have an account.

In order for Internet criminals to successfully "phish" your personal information, they must get you to go from an email to a website. Phishing emails will almost always tell you to click a link that takes you to a site where your personal information is requested. Legitimate organizations would never request this information of you via email.
Try Phishtank to check the suspected sites.

What is PhishTank?

PhishTank is a free community site where anyone can submit, verify, track and share phishing data.

PhishTank is a collaborative clearing house for data and information about phishing on the Internet. Also, PhishTank provides an open API for developers and researchers to integrate anti-phishing data into their applications at no charge
Try it and protect yourself...

http://www.phishtank.com/

COMPUTER CLEANING TIPS

GENERAL CLEANING TIPS

Below is a listing of general tips that should be taken when cleaning any of the components or peripherals of a computer as well as tips to help keep a computer clean.

1. Never spray or squirt any type of liquid onto any computer component. If a spray is needed, spray the liquid onto a cloth and then use that cloth to rub down the component.
2. Users can use a vacuum to suck up dirt, dust, or hair around their computer on the outside case and on their keyboards. However, do notuse a vacuum for the inside of your computer as it generates a lot of static electricity that can damage the internal components of your computer. If you need to use a vacuum to clean the inside of your computer, use a portable battery powered vacuum designed to do this job.
3. When cleaning a component and/or the computer, turn it off before cleaning.
4. Never get any component inside the computer or any other circuit board damp or wet. 
5. Be cautious when using any type of cleaning solvents; some individuals may have allergic reactions to chemicals in cleaning solvents and some solvents can even damage the case. Try to always use water or a highly diluted solvent.
6. When cleaning, be careful not to accidentally adjust any knobs or controls. In addition, when cleaning the back of the computer, if anything is plugged in, make sure not to disconnect any of the plugs.
7. When cleaning fans, especially the smaller fans within a portable computer or laptop it's suggested that you either hold the fan or place something in-between the fan blades to prevent it from spinning. Spraying compressed air into a fan or cleaning a fan with a vacuum may cause damage to some fans.
8. Never eat or drink around the computer.
9. Limit smoking around the computer.

CLEANING TOOLS

Although many companies have created products to help improve the process of cleaning your computer and peripherals, users can also use household items to clean their computers and peripherals. Below is a listing of items you may need or want to use while cleaning your computer or computer peripherals.

Keep in mind that some components in your computer may only be able to be cleaned using a product designed for cleaning that component; if this is the case, it will be mentioned in the cleaning tips.

• Cloth - A cloth is the best tool used when rubbing down a component; although paper towels can be used with most hardware, we recommend using a cloth when ever possible.
• Water or rubbing alcohol - When moistening a cloth, it is best to use water or rubbing alcohol. Other solvents may be bad for the plastics used with your computer.
• Portable Vacuum - Sucking the dust, dirt, hair, cigarette particles, and other particles out of a computer can be one of the best methods of cleaning a computer. Over time, these items can restrict the airflow in a computer and cause circuitry to corrode. Do not use a standard vacuum as it can generate a lot of static electricity that can damage your computer.
• Cotton swabs - Cotton swaps moistened with rubbing alcohol or water are excellent tools for wiping hard to reach areas in your keyboard, mouse, and other locations.
• Foam swabs - Whenever possible, it is better to use lint-free swabs such as foam swabs.

CASE CLEANING

Why? Keeps the appearance of the computer looking new. During cleaning, if ventilation locations are found, these can be cleaned helping the case keep a steady airflow to the computer, keeping components cool and in good working condition.

Procedure: The plastic case that houses the PC components can be cleaned with a lint-free cloth that has been slightly dampened with water. For stubborn stains, add a little household detergent to the cloth. It is recommended that you never use a solvent cleaner on plastics.

Make sure all vents and air holes are hair and lint free by rubbing a cloth over the holes and vents. It is also helpful to take a vacuum around each of the hole, vents, and crevices on the computer. It is safe to use a standard vacuum when cleaning the outside vents of a computer; however, if you need to clean the inside of the computer, use a portable battery powered vacuum to prevent static electricity.

If you are looking for steps on cleaning the inside of the computer, please see our motherboard cleaning section.

Additional help: Case Page

CD-ROM CLEANING

Why? A dirty CD-ROM drive or other disc drive can cause read errors with CD discs. These read errors could cause software installation issues or issues while running the program.

Procedure: To clean the CD-ROM drive we recommend purchasing a CD-ROM cleaner from your local retailer such as a local Radio Shack. Using a CD-ROM cleaner should sufficiently clean the CD-ROM laser from dust, dirt, and hair.

Also see our below CD cleaning recommendation for steps on cleaning each of your CDs.

Additional help: CD-ROM Page

CD CLEANING

Why? Dirty CDs can cause read errors and/or cause CDs to not work at all.

Procedure: Cleaning CDs should be done with a CD cleaning kit but can also be done with a normal clean cotton cloth or shirt. When doing this with a clean cotton cloth or shirt, wipe against the tracks, starting from the middle of the CD and wiping towards the outer side of the CD. Never wipe with the tracks; doing so may put more scratches on the CD.

It is recommended when cleaning a CD that water is used. However, if the substance on a CD cannot be removed using water, pure alcohol can also be used. 

Additional help: CD-ROM Page

FLOPPY DRIVE CLEANING

Why? Dirty read/write heads on the floppy drive can cause errors during the reading and/or writing process.

Procedures: The floppy drive can be cleaned two different ways. The first method of cleaning a floppy drive, and our recommended method, is to purchase a kit at your local retail store designed to clean the read/write heads on your floppy drive.

The second method of cleaning the floppy drive is only recommended for experienced computer users. Open the floppy drive casing and physically swab the read/write heads with a lint-free foam swab soaked in pure alcohol, free-on, or trichloroethane. When performing these steps, be extremely careful when cleaning the heads to ensure that you do not lock them out of alignment causing the floppy drive to not work. To help prevent the heads from becoming out of alignment, use a dabbing motion lightly putting the swab on the head and removing it, do not perform a side-to-side motion with the swab.

Additional help: Floppy Drive Page

HARD DISK DRIVE CLEANING

Why? While hard drives cannot be cleaned physically, they can be cleaned with various utilities on the computer to help it run fast and more efficiently. Utilizing these utilities will prevent the hard drive from slowing down.

Procedure: Refer to our basic troubleshooting section for your operating system for steps that can be done to help improve the performance of your computer. 

Additional help: Hard Disk Drive Page

HEADPHONES CLEANING

Why? Headphones that are used by multiple people may need to be cleaned frequently to help prevent the spreading of germs and head lice.

Procedure: If the headphones being used are plastic and/or vinyl, moisten a cloth with warm water and rub the head and earpieces of the headphones. As mentioned earlier in our cleaning tips, it is recommended that if your headphones are being used for a library or school that you do not use any type of disinfectant or cleaning solvent as users may have allergic reactions to the chemicals they contain.

Headphones that have cushions often also have the availability of replacement cushions. Replacing these cushions can also help keep the headphones clean.

Finally, in regards to headphones and the spreading of head lice, if multiple students are using your headphones, you should consider having the students use their own headphones, using bags that are placed over the headphones, or having headphones that can be wiped with warm water after each student has used the headphones.

KEYBOARD CLEANING

If you're trying to clean a laptop keyboard see document CH000780 for additional help and information. All of the below information applies to standard desktop computer keyboards.

Why? Dirt, dust and hair can build up causing the keyboard to not function properly.

Procedure: Many people clean the keyboard by turning it upside down and shaking. A more effective method is to use compressed air. Compressed air is pressurized air contained in a can with a very long nozzle. Simply aim the air between the keys and blow away all of the dust and debris that has gathered there. A vacuum cleaner can also be used, but make sure the keyboard doesn't have loose "pop off" keys that could possibly be sucked up by the vacuum.

Why? If the keyboard has anything spilt into it (ie: pop, Pepsi, Coke, beer, wine, coffee, milk, etc.), not taking the proper steps can cause the keyboard to be destroyed.

Procedure: Below are a few recommendations to help prevent a keyboard from becoming bad once a substance has been spilt within it.

If anything is spilt onto the keyboard turn the computer off immediately. Once the computer is turned off, quickly flip the keyboard over helping to prevent the substance from penetrating circuits. While the keyboard is upside down, shake the keyboard over a surface you do not mind getting wet or that can be cleaned up later. While still upside down, use a cloth to help clean out what can be reached. After you you have cleaned the keyboard to the best of your ability leave the keyboard upside down for at least one night allowing it to dry.

If a keyboard does not work after trying it again later it is recommended that it be replaced. If the keyboard works, however some of the keys are sticky or cannot be pressed in you can attempt to do additional cleaning in attempt to resolve the issue. Unfortunately many times any sticky substance such as a non-diet pop is spilt directly onto the keyboard it is usually a loss unless you plan on spending dozens of hours attempting to clean each key.

Why? A keyboard that is used by multiple people, such as students or different employees, may need to be disinfected to help the spread of germs.

Procedure: Turn off the computer. Spray a disinfectant onto a cloth or damp a cloth with alcohol and rub each of the keys on the keyboard. As mentioned in our general cleaning tips, never spray any type of liquid onto the keyboard. 

Additional Information: Keyboard Page

LAPTOP CLEANING

Additional help and information about cleaning your laptop or portable computer can be found on document CH000780.

LCD CLEANING

Why? Dirt, dust, and finger prints can cause the computer screen to be difficult to read.

Procedure: Unlike a computer monitor, the LCD / flat-panel display is not made of glass, therefore requires special cleaning procedures.

When cleaning the LCD screen it is important to remember to not spray any liquids onto the LCD directly; do not use a paper towel as it may cause the LCD to become scratched.

To clean the LCD screen we recommend that you use a soft cotton cloth; if a dry cloth does not completely clean the screen, you can apply rubbing alcohol to the cloth and wipe the screen with the damp cloth. Rubbing alcohol is actually used to clean the LCD before it leaves the factory.

MONITOR CLEANING

Note: This section is for computer monitors if you have a LCD or flat-panelsee our LCD cleaning section.

Why? Dirt, dust, and fingerprints can cause the computer screen to be difficult to read.

Procedure: The glass monitor screen can be cleaned with ordinary household glass cleaner*. Be sure to remove power from the monitor and spray the cleaner onto a lint free-cloth so the fluid doesn't leak into the electrical components inside the monitor. Vacuum off any dust that has settled on top of the monitor, and make sure no books or papers have been placed on the air vents. Obstructed monitor vents can cause the monitor to overheat or even catch on fire.

*Warning: We suggest using a cloth dampened with water when cleaning monitor on a screen that is not made of glass or has any type of anti-glare protection on the screen. Using ordinary household glass cleaner on special screens, especially cleaners with ammonia can remove anti-glare protection and/or other special surfaces.

Additional help: Monitor page

MOTHERBOARD CLEANING

Why? Dust and especially particles of cigarette smoke can build up and corrode circuitry causing various problems such as computer lockups

Note: When inside the computer take the necessary ESD precautions and try to avoid unplugging any cables or other connections.

Procedure: Our recommendation when cleaning the Motherboard from dust, dirt, or hair is to use compressed air. When using compressed air, hold it in the up-right position; otherwise, it is possible chemicals may come out of the container that could damage or corrode the Motherboard or other component within the computer. Also, ensure when using compressed air that you always blow the dust or dirt away from the motherboard, or out of the case.

Another good alternative to compressed air is to use a portable battery powered vacuum that can effectively remove the dust, dirt, and hair from the motherboard completely and prevent it from getting trapped within the case. However, do not use a standard electricity powered vacuum as it can cause a lot of static electricity that can damage the computer. When using the vacuum it is vital that you stay a couple inches away from the motherboard and all other components to help prevent contact as well as to help prevent anything from being sucked into the vacuum. Ensure that you do not remove any small components with the vacuum such as jumpers.

Tip: When cleaning the inside of the case also look at any fans and/or heat sinks. Dust, dirt, and hair often collect around these components the most.

Additional help: Motherboard Page

MOUSE CLEANING

Why? A dirty optical-mechanical mouse (mouse with a ball) can cause the mouse to be difficult to move as well as cause strange mouse movement.

Procedure: To clean the rollers of an optical-mechanical mouse, you must first remove the bottom cover of the mouse. To do this, examine the bottom of the mouse to see which direction the mouse cover should be rotated. As you can see in the below illustration, the mouse cover must be moved counter clockwise. Place two fingers on the mouse cover and push the direction of the arrows.

Once the cover has rotated about an inch, rotate the mouse into its normal position, covering the bottom of the mouse with one hand and the bottom should fall off including the mouse ball. If this does not occur, attempt to shake the mouse gently.

Once the bottom cover and the ball are removed, you should be able to see three rollers located within the mouse. Use a cotton swab, your finger, and/or fingernail and move in a horizontal direction of the rollers. Usually, there will be a small line of hair and or dirt in the middle of the roller, remove this dirt and/or hair as much as possible.

Once you have removed as much dirt and hair as possible, place the ball back within the mouse and place the cover back on.

If the mouse still appears to be having the same issue, repeat the above process; if after several attempts the mouse is still having the same issues, it's likely that your mouse has other hardware issues and we recommend that it be replaced.

Note: Cleaning your mouse pad with a damp cloth can also help improve a computer's mouse movement.

Why? To help keep a mouse clean and germ free it can be helpful to clean the mouse.

Procedure: Use a cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol or warm water and rub the surface of the mouse and each of its buttons.

Additional help: Mouse Page

PALM PILOT CLEANING

Why? Dirty touch screens can cause difficult navigation.

Procedure: To clean the Palm Pilot Screen, use a soft cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol and rub the screen and the casing of the palm pilot. It is not recommended to use glass cleaner as it could damage plastics over time.

PRINTER CLEANING

Why? Cleaning the outside of a printer can help keep the printer's appearance looking good; and in the case of a printer that is used by many different people, keep the printer clean of germs.

Procedure: First, make sure to turn off the printer before cleaning it. Dampen a cloth with water or rubbing alcohol and wipe the case and each of the buttons or knobs on the printer. As mentioned earlier, never spray any liquid directly onto the printer.

Why? With some printers it may be necessary to clean the inside of the printer to help keep the printer running smoothly.

Procedure: Because of numerous types of printers, different steps in cleaning printers, and printer manufacturer policies on cleaning the inside of the printer, we recommend you obtain the printer cleaning steps from yourprinter manufacturer.

SCANNER CLEANING

Why? Flatbed scanners commonly become dirty with dust, fingerprints, and hair. When a scanner is dirty, the images may have distortions.  

Procedure: Clean a flatbed scanner's surface by spraying a window cleaner onto a paper towel or cotton cloth and wipe the glass until clean. As mentioned earlier, never spray a liquid directly onto the component.

To clean the outside of the scanner, the same towel or cotton cloth can be used.

SUPERDISK CLEANING

Why? It is recommended that the SuperDisk / LS120 drive be cleaned regularly to prevent drive heads from becoming dirty.

Procedure: Purchase the SuperDisk cleaning kit available through Imation. Using any other method will void the warranty on your drive.

Trojan steals Gmail passwords

Trojan steals Gmail passwords – and charges for it
Nobody wants to lose their e-mail. So, for Gmail users, G-Archiver seemed like a great buy. For $US 29.95 this shareware app will make a duplicate of your Gmail account on your hard disk, for as many accounts as you like. What its users didn't count on was that G-Archiver's authors helped themselves to your Gmail username and password too. 

A Gmail user, undoubtedly part of the G-Archiver development team, if not the author himself, called John Terry had hardcoded their Gmail username and password into the source code. And then he noticed every time a user ran G-Archiver and added a new Gmail account the program would e-mail these credentials to John Terry's mailbox! This very code was clearly visible within the file SM.dll installed by the software: 

Read More about it 

Beware OF Free Ipad Download Sites!

By: Dana Goldberg

Ipad is the hottest device released in 2010. You can ask any Ipad owner. Everyone will tell you that they simply love it. There is no better way to read e-mails, browse the web and view photos. You can also read books on it and the touch screen allows you to even turn the page as if it were a real book. You can also watch videos on Ipad. Now you can watch your favorite movie on the go in DVD quality. The battery life offers hours upon hours of use. Apple really hit the mark when it released the iPad to the public.

Of course you will have to have the option of downloading content to your Ipad. But Apple took care of this as well.. The Apple store is well known. The only downside is that Apple store is very expensive. If you want to download a book you will have to pay up to $12. That is just too much for some people to consider spending. The good news is that alternative Ipad download sites are poppping up everywhere on the internet.

As soon as the Ipad was released smart business man realised that Ipad owners needed a cheaper place to download content. This is why soon after the release of Apple's new computer Ipad download sites started to show up on the net. The only thing you have to do to join these sites was to pay a one time fee. This is really a great deal. You will find all kinds of content and of course tons of Ipad books. By taking advantage of one of these unlimited Ipad download sites, consumers no longer have to worry to spend too much money at the Apple store.

With the arrival of these sites that offered a one time fee for unlimited downloads came free sites. It's a matter of fact that if people can get something for free, they will get it. But free is not always good. These so-called free sites offer content that will infect your iPad with trojans, worms, and viruses. That's the last thing that you need when you are just trying to get some nice applications or iPad books on to your device.

Any iPad owner that wants to be able to have the best downloads should immediately sign up on a site that offers unlimited downloads for a one time fee. This is a better option than paying and arm and a leg at the Apple store. It is also better than ending up with a rather expensive paper weight, which your iPad might become if you go to a virus filled free site.


Author Resource:->  Learn About The Best Places Online To Download IPad Ibooks. Visit Ipad Ibooks At http://www.i-padibooks.com

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