An adware isn't that dangerous, but it still is a nuisance. An adware is just apiece of bad software which displays ads in the hope that you will click on them - they get their revenues from the clicks you make. Although this isn't serious, but it is annoying as it trashes your computer with tons of advertisement, some of which may be inappropriate. The best (and free!) adware removal software is Lavasoft's Ad-aware Personal, Spybot's Search & Destroy and Microsoft Defender . You can have multiple adware removal tools (unlike a virus checker) installed on your system with little or no problem. Not a single anti-adware software can catch and remove all, so your best bet would be to have a couple of them installed all together at once. Never install adware removal tools from unknown publishers as these install adwares themselves! A spyware is a potentially dangerous form of malicious software. It tracks your every move, every key you press, every passwords that you enter - everything that you do on your PC. That means it can find out all your passwords, credit card details, personal information and send it back to its maker. Thousands of accounts are being hacked, credit cards are being forged and identity theft being done this way. But you do not need to fret at this! The best spyware removal tools are also free. And yes, ad-ware removal tools also scan for spywares, so that you have a two-in-one software. Use the adware removal softwares that I have mentioned and make sure to run a scan frequently and update your software. 3. If using Internet Explorer, double-check before you run any Active X controls. 4. Time and time again, remember to update your softwares! 5. Never visit any illegal/crack/warez/serial/porn sites. These are the most likely sources for virus, spyware or adware infections. 6. Never download anything from sources that you do not trust. 7. Never respond to or open spam mails. Never download any attachments in your email from a person you do not know. 8. Use an antivirus software running in the background. These offer real-time protection and stop viruses the moment they try to enter your PC. And the best defense of all is to USE YOUR COMMON SENSE. If you need help, then post a message at our discussion forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gamers-world_bd/ where there are lots of eager members to help you. But if all else fails, and you need immediate assistance, then drop me a line. -Download Links (Free) -
Therefore I am proud to present this guide on how to protect your computer from these malicious threats.
1. ADWARE
Once you have downloaded the appropriate softwares, run a check weekly (at the least) and remember to update often. New adwares are constantly being released and your PC is sitting dumb unless you update. Updating allows newer adwares to be detected and removed by the adware-removal tools. Most of us forget to update our softwares - thinking that we are perfectly safe, but WE ARE NOT! Don't be one of them!
2. SPYWARES 
A. Trojan horses A Trojan horse is just a computer program. The program pretends to do one thing (like claim to be a picture) but actually does damage when one starts it (it can completely erase one's files). Trojan horses cannot replicate automatically.
B. Worms A worm is a piece of software that uses computer networks and security flaws to create copies of itself. A copy of the worm will scan the network for any other machine that has a specific security flaw. It replicates itself to the new machine using the security flaw, and then begins scanning and replicating anew.
C. E-mail viruses An e-mail virus will use an e-mail message as a mode of transport, and usually will copy itself by automatically mailing itself to hundreds of people in the victim's address book.
To remove viruses, you need a good Antivirus program, such as Symantec's Norton Antivirus, BitDefender or McAfee. If you cannot afford a paid antivirus program, then consider yourself getting a free antivirus program such as AVG Antivirus . It is good enough. Of all the important things, remember to scan and update regularly!
General Guidelines to avoid infection:
1. Always use a firewall, such as Zone Alarm. A firewwall is your first line of defence against malicious attacks as it stops the infection from entering your computer.
2. Use a safe browser, such as Mozilla Firefox, or the recently released Internet Explorer 7. A lot of virus outbreaks occur due to holes in Internet Explorer 6.
9. Patch your operating system regularly, especially if you are using Windows. Bugs and holes through which malicious content could enter, are continually being detected and patched. To make sure you are receiving the latest patches (in Win XP), go to Start>Control Panel>Security Center and make sure that Automatic Update is turned on.
10. Get the latest updates of all the software that you use - it improves performance, stability and system security.
It is hoped that with these guidelines, you will be able to stop 90% of all malicious attacks. But in the off-chance that you do catch a virus, then don't tear out your hair yet! Try to remove it using a virus scanner or manually delete the file. If all else fails, you may need to perform a complete reformat of your hard drive. But that means backing up all your data, documents, personal files, reinstalling Windows, reinstalling all your softwares and settings and the like.
Lavasoft's Ad-aware - Spybot Search&Destroy - Microsoft Defender - AVG Antivirus - Zone Alarm
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Get rid of adwares, spywares, viruses and other malicious content once and for all
Utsay dot net
Most probably you don't know this superb Bangladeshi blog - Utsay Dot Net. I came across this blog the other day and was actually surprised as to how good it was. It has every topic covered, from video games to movies to sports. You are sure to find something in this blog that interests you. Another plus side is it's simple and elegant design. There are quite a few ads but it won't get into your way. Another plus is that the content is updated regularly (unlike mine) and there are some interesting articles to read.
Well, don't let me stop you. Visit this site at http://www.utsay.net
Thursday, June 28, 2007
PC PHOBIA - Is the PC dead as a gaming platform?
I don't blame you if you are thinking the same. I mean, the PC graphics are oh-so last-generation, even if you do own a decent gaming rig. For the half that you spend on your PC, you will most likely find a top-of-the-line next generation console. And should I start about the next-gen graphics in consoles and HDTVs? Sure, that will soon change when Direct X 10 graphics cards hits Bangladesh, but come on, are you kidding me? Is anyone willing to cough up $500 just for a graphics card when you can get the wlite Xbox 360 just for $480?
Then there isn't the hassle of ensuring that your system meets the requirements to play the game, just pop the disk inside your console and start playing - even no installation required! Unlike PCs, you don't have to constantly upgrade your consoles meaning that your "investment" won't get obsolete by the next year or just six months from now.
Then there is the achievements in X360 and PS3 - the main reason why I bother to stick with single player games on consoles - bragging to your friends of your gamerscore is a truly satisfying experience. Now why don't we see that on PCs?
Xbox Live for 360 is, I believe, one of the greatest online multiplayer experiences avaialable at the moment. I know there is multiplayer support in Pcs, but it has to be more streamline. Games for Windows Live is nothing but a flop. Look at consoles, ther are no viruses, spywares, adwares or crashes to deal with. And now you can browse the internet with consoles!
Heck, you even get to watch DVDs/HD-DVDs/Blu-Ray discs on consoles any experience "next-generation entertainment", which is expensive to do so on computers. And then you have to ensure that all your hardware is HDCP compliant or its standard definition or even no movies at all for you!
Now don't get me wrong. I've been using PCs since way-back 1995. But something needs to be done to help promote PCs as a gaming platform. The "Games for Windows Live" and "one-click game installation" in Vista is one step forward in the right direction by Microsoft. Sure, the PC is not entirely doomed and excels in certain areas. You cannot get the fast and twitchy gunplay in consoles as in PCs. And a true RTS experience is only possible on computers. But the point is that something needs to be done for this waning platform - and SOON - because consoles are quickly catching up.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
My Xbox 360 just took a bath!
First I unplugged all the power cords and left it to dry for an hour or two. Next I got out my mom's hairdryer and blasted every vent holes with hot air. I would have taken the console apart and dried each part individually, but, I wanted to keep the warranty sticker intact. Lucky for me, I happened to put some old newspapers under the 360 which soaked up most of the water before it could really do much harm to my console.
The next time I turned on the power, I was happily playing Project Gotham Racing 3 on my squeaky-clean X360 without a glitch. Guess it needed the bath, right? And in case if you are wondering, yes, my X360 still lies on the ground in the same exact spot. I think that I still haven't learned from my experience, that is, until the next flood comes. That's how careless I am.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Die hard Oblivion fan - disk error - you've just wasted 110 hours!
Ugh! That's why I hate consoles - because of their over reliance on the DVD drive and the DVDs itself. If anything goes kaput, then it's game over. Worse still is the fact that a malfunctioning DVD drive in next-gen consoles is next to impossible to replace by yourself.Take my point for example. I'm an avid fan of the Elder Scrolls IV : oblivion. I've completed every single quest in Oblivion. But my love for Oblivion didn't stop there. I've taken great pains to set up a home network to share my internet connection, so that I could download the near 1 GB expansion pack, Shivering Isles, over my lousy 128 kbps connection (it's the fastest in Bangladesh). Trust me it wasn't a happy moment. Not only that, but I've had trouble paying for Shivering Isles because I live in Bangladesh ( and goddamned Microsoft won't accept an international Visa credit card!!). Nasty details aside, and fast forward a couple of days, I was happily exploring the wonderful realm of Sheogorath in Shivering Isles. I've spent over 110 hours in total playing Oblivion, I just can't put it down.. But it seems that I am cursed, because my woes with Oblivion didn't end there.
Recently, I'm getting an unreadavle disk error while playing Shivering Isles. It's gotten so frequent that I can't even load the goddamned game. The cause? If you play long enough on the 360, your game disk could get scratched(more at http://gamersworldbd.blogspot.com/2007/06/xbox-360-can-scratch-your-game-disks.html). My warranty period has expired so there's no
option for replacing the disk. I could just buy a new one - yep, that seems the best option. But ther's just a teeny-weeny problem. I've imported my Xbox 360 and all its game from the US. So none of the pirated games available here in the whole of Bangladesh is going to work on my unmodded X360.Looks like I will just have to travel thousands of miles to the nearest Gamestop retail outlet in the US to grab a new copy of the game. Yeah, I'll do that. I'll even go to the ends of the earth just to be able to play Oblivion again - heck, it's the only reason I bought an Xbox 360.
Cool Bangladeshi site!
Visit this site today! I know you won't be disappointed.
Manhunt 2 gets "Adults Only" Rating
Earlier today, the British Board of Film Classification gave Manhunt 2 a thumbs down, banning it from sale in the UK due to its "unremitting bleakness" and "casual sadism." Now it appears the Entertainment Software Rating Board is ready to hand down its own most restrictive rating to the latest controversial offering from Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games.A Take-Two representative told GameSpot today that the ESRB has issued an initial rating of AO for Adults Only to Manhunt 2. While not an outright ban, the rating would severely limit a game's sales potential, as most major American retailers have chosen not to carry games rated AO.
As for the reason this is only an "initial" rating, when the ESRB rates a game, it notifies the publisher 30 days prior to publicly releasing its decision. This gives publishers unhappy with ratings the chance to either modify their games and resubmit them for a second assessment, or go before the ESRB's appeals board to challenge it directly.
"We believe the process of rating video games is to help people make informed entertainment choices and not to limit them," a Take-Two representative said. "Manhunt 2 was created for mature audiences and we strongly believe it should receive an M (Mature) rating, aligning it with similar content created in other forms of media. We are exploring our options with regard to the rating of Manhunt 2."While Take-Two doesn't agree with the idea of an AO-rated Manhunt 2, one parent watchdog group believes it's only appropriate. Earlier today, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood demanded that the ESRB give Manhunt 2 an AO rating, saying that "harmful effects of ultra-violent video games on children will be magnified by playing them on the interactive Nintendo Wii system."
The group's announcement contained a statement from Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children's Hospital Boston, who explained, "The content of Manhunt 2 and the unique physical interaction with the Wii control combine to take [the game's simulation] a level closer to reality--we can expect that the effects of this experience will be even greater."
The group directed like-minded individuals to contact ESRB president Patricia Vance with their concerns, and Vance today issued her response.
"We have received the letter from CCFC and, while we might take issue with some of the statements made within, we sincerely appreciate their expressed concerns," Vance said. "Our ratings are intended to provide guidance that allows parents to choose games they deem suitable for their children, and that is a responsibility we take extremely seriously."
Manhunt 2 is currently slated for a July 10 release on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii.
