Crackers use a number of approaches to guess passwords and break into accounts. Here are some of the common approaches they use:

Dictionary words: Many people often use dictionary words as their passwords. If the password is found in a dictionary (English, French, Chinese, and so on) then it can be easily guessed. Usually they do this by trial and error or use a software that automates the processes and makes it faster.

Words with number: Simple word-number combinations, like apple12 or 288cereal can be easily guessed. The same goes for punctuation (hello! and ?what?). If you want your account(s) to be secure, do not use passwords consisting of simple word-number combinations. Instead use complex passwords.

Keyboard patterns: Sequences like asdfghjk (adjacent keys on the keyboard) are very easy to guess. Other common passwords include asdf1234, qwerty, etc. Never use such passwords as they can be easily compromised.

Common data: License plates, dates (birthday, anniversary, and so on), kids names, and other types of public information are very easy to guess.

Crackers often use programs like John the Ripper to crack passwords through dictionary attacks and common password patterns like the ones listed above. John can crack about 20 percent of user-chosen passwords in the first few minutes, and up to 80 percent in a few hours.

You should always keep your passwords secret. You should never hint at your password, e-mail it, and tell it to anyone in public. You should also change it regularly. You can use software such as Roboform to generate good passwords.

Microsoft will be releasing 4 security bulletins on July 13 i.e. Patch Tuesday. The security hole discovered by Google engineer Tavis Ormandy will also be fixed.

Two of these bulletins are for Windows. The remaining are related to Microsoft Office. Microsoft plans to fix five different vulnerabilities in its products.

The bug discovered in June by Ormandy is related to the Windows Help and Support Center function in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. The discovery generated some controversy because Ormandy gave Microsoft only 5 days to create a patch before going public. Some attacks making use of the vulnerability have been reported.

A vulnerability in the cdd.dll (Canonical Display Driver) that Microsoft reported in May will also be fixed. cdd.dll is used by desktop composition to blend GDI and DirectX drawing.

“The good news is that with the release of these four bulletins next week Microsoft will take care of the two recent security advisories listed below and address the Help Center, Windows XP and Server 2003 vulnerabilities that have been under attack now for a few weeks,” said Don Leatham, senior director of solutions and strategy at Lumension Security.

July also marks the end of support for Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2. Microsoft is urging customers to upgrade to supported versions of the operating system i.e. Windows Xp SP3 and later.

There are a number of different types of malware. However all of these have one thing in common: they are all invisible and do damage to the computer. Malware are developed by programmers intentionally to harm the computers of other people. Different malware spread through different means.

Here are some of the common types of malware:

Viruses and worms: These are self replicating programs that spread from one computer to another. These programs spread via e-mail attachments, infected websites, P2P networks, etc.

A worm is very similar to a virus. One major difference is that it doesn’t require a host computer to spread. It spreads directly using the Internet. Installing a firewall software on your computer is an effective way to prevent worms from infecting your computer.

Viruses and worms can do serious damage to the computer. They can erase sensitive data from your hard disk, crash your computer and make your computer unbootable.

Spyware and adware: Spyware and adware do not directly cause damage to your computer. Spyware are designed to steal personal details such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords and other sensitive information. Adware, on the other hand, are designed to display unsolicited advertisements to the user based on his/her surfing habits.

Spyware and adware can be prevented by installing a suitable spyware removal tool on the computer. Many antivirus software can also detect spyware and adware.

Trojan horses and root kits:  A trojan horse is an application that works very similar to the actual Trojan horse of Troy. It looks like a legitimate program, but is actually a malicious program.

A root kit is a program that is capable of hiding itself and performing malicious activities in the background.

The best way to protect your computer from different types of malware is to install a good antivirus software. Other ways to prevent your computer from getting infected include avoid downloading software from unreliable sources, filesharing networks and P2P networks, scanning files before opening USB drives, and avoiding cracked software. A little common sense goes a long way in providing protection to the computer.

Spyware removal |

Spyware is malicious software developed by certain developers with the intention of harvesting personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers and banking details. Certain spyware also monitor and spy on the user’s online activities. Spyware can spread through a number of channels such as infected websites, P2P networks, e-mail attachments and through downloadable files. For this reason, it essential to take proper precautions while downloading files from Internet and installing them on your computer.

One of the best ways to ensure spyware free downloads is to download files from reputed websites. Always download software from the official website of the company. Alternatively, you can also download software from websites such as download.com, which provide user reviews and other information about the software. The advantage of downloading files from such websites is that he can rest assured that they will be free from malware. This is because before files are listed in such websites, they are thoroughly scanned using a number of different anti-virus software. Software are listed only after they pass all the quality requirements.

P2P networks are one of the other channels through which spyware propagate and infect various computers connected to the Internet. Spyware and malware writers often bundle spyware with pirated software. When the software downloaded and installed, spyware and other malware get infected on the computer without the user’s knowledge. Malware can also be bundled with images, music files and video files. Before opening or installing any files downloaded from P2P networks, always scan them using anti-virus scanner. If you detect any malware, do not open the file as it can infect your computer.

There are alternatives to pirated music and videos that are down from P2P networks. First and foremost, it should be kept in mind that downloading pirated files from these networks is not legal. It can land you in legal or criminal. Secondly, they are also not safe. For this reason, it is advisable to opt for alternatives such as paid subscription services. There are several companies which provide such services. By paying a small fee, you can download or rent a large number of movies. This way, you are not only on the right side of the law but also can ensure total security to your computer.

The best way to keep your computer secured is to install security software. Install an anti-virus scanner, a spyware removal tool and a firewall for maximum security. If you cannot afford paid security software, there are several free alternatives. Many companies develop free spyware removal tools and these can be downloaded and installed from the Internet without having to pay anything. They can be very helpful in maintaining a secure computer.

Spyware removal |