Security Software - Blogsolute https://www.blogsolute.com We. Computer. People. Thu, 28 Feb 2019 05:42:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.11 115487123 Risk and Disadvantages of Using a Self-Signed Certificate https://www.blogsolute.com/self-signed-certificate/31492/ https://www.blogsolute.com/self-signed-certificate/31492/#respond Thu, 28 Feb 2019 05:28:12 +0000 https://www.blogsolute.com/?p=31492 A person identifies himself with his own created stamp and sign- This is the same case goes with Self-Signed Certificate. Yes, this kind of certificate is generated by the owner to identify himself/herself. Instead of choosing trusted certificates issued by the CA (certificate authority), many organizations still prefer Self- Signed certificate that does not follow […]

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A person identifies himself with his own created stamp and sign- This is the same case goes with Self-Signed Certificate. Yes, this kind of certificate is generated by the owner to identify himself/herself. Instead of choosing trusted certificates issued by the CA (certificate authority), many organizations still prefer Self- Signed certificate that does not follow certain rules and regulation laid by the CA.

Self-Signed Certificates are in Danger Zone of Browser Authorities

However,  Self-Signed certificates do lack of trust among browsers and at present, browser authorities show disinterest in such certificates. Whether you visit a website in Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or any browser, Self-Signed certificates have no place in their trusted certificate list. So, if you want a perfect solution for your website security that your customer will also like, then there are trusted SSL certificates offered by many certificate authorities, for example, Comodo, RapidSSL, Thawte, GlobalSign, Sectigo, etc. Even, browsers have also implemented their root certificates in their list which does update on a regular base.

Impact on Business:

Browsers always show a warning like The connection is not private. Attackers might steal your information, which you can see in the below image.

Due to rising malware and online theft environment, instances of multiple credit card scams and password theft have been in news around us since long time. Customers have been started to take care of their data and other important credentials. They now want surety of their payment especially made over the web. In this critical scenario, if any website has no SSL or Self-Signed certificate then it may reduce company’s business as well cause reduce in credibility of a business. It is advisable to buy SSL certificate from a trusted certificate authority as customers/visitors will move away from your website when they see self-signed certificate warning.

Ignore Warning: A Risky Behaviour

Organizations always advise their employees to avoid warning popup on internal sites as they use Self-Signed certificate. It gradually converts in the tendency to avoid a warning on the browser and this habit could invite malware or vulnerability in organizations’ server or IT system as employees’ lack of awareness can bring heavy loss to organizations and their valuable data or information.

Chances of Self-Signed Certificate Deployment:

Despite of warning, if the organization is testing an application in the internal environment, developers tend to use Self-Signed certificate. In another case when clients want to pass through a local intranet to reach to the server and there are no chance of malware interference then clients may opt for Self-Signed Certificates.

Disadvantages of Self-Signed Certificate:

Below are some disadvantages that could stop you from thinking of Self-Signed certificate and you may end up with an opting 3rd party SSL certificate.

  • Websites will have less business volume as customers will avoid to visit your website further.
  • Attackers may take advantage of such a vulnerable website and penetrate such insecure website to gain advantages. According to 2018 report from OTA, cyber incidents got doubled in year 2017.
  • Business will have lowest online credibility and may lose trust of their future visitors and customers. The brand will have irreparably loss in long term.
  • However, such certificate are available at low price but it will turn into higher cost when attackers steal information from your website.
  • It is also difficult to monitor certificate management like its renewal and expiry. There is no PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) it means there is no online revocation list update.
  • Self-Signed certificates do not have warranty amount which is given by authenticate certificate authorities in case of misissuance of a certificate.

Checking Self-Signed Certificate:

You can check in browser by clicking red cross or use SSL checker tool that will reveal the details of the certificate. For example, In Chrome, you can press F12 >> Click on to view Certificate. In Firefox, you can click on padlock in browser and check the status of a certificate. Even most browsers display warnings of unsafe websites on the page.

Third Party SSL Certificates:

To make your customers worry from Self-Signed certificate warnings, a website owner should think of 3rd party SSL certificates. There are multiple certificate categories like domain validation, organization validation and extended validation certificate.

  • Domain Validation Certificate: Domain Validation certificate is a primary level of certificate that is issued to a single or multiple domain names. It does not require further business related proofs or verification of business authenticity.
  • Organization Validation: Organization Validation is second level of certificate where authenticity of a business needs to be verified with valid legal business proof along with domain validation.
  • Extended Validation: Extended Validation is highest level of authentication and can only be issued to organizations. It helps to boost the image of business across the web as it gets green address bar that shows business name with country code. Visitors when see green bar they gain trust in website legitimacy.

At Glance:

With rising competition and cyber incidents, Ecommerce companies, banking, finance and other online  businesses have to look for legitimate SSL certificate instead of Self-Signed certificate. There is HSTS feature that every website should prefer for secure connection where it declares that servers are allowed to deal with via browsers over HTTPS only and thus helps against downgrad protocol attack and cookie hijacking.

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Stop Relying on Antivirus Software, it isn’t Enough https://www.blogsolute.com/antivirus-isnt-enough/29549/ https://www.blogsolute.com/antivirus-isnt-enough/29549/#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2014 08:48:49 +0000 http://www.blogsolute.com/?p=29549 I used to (and probably you too) think that our duty to secure PC ends after installing Antivirus software. However, that is partially true. One should not rely on single type of defense but multiple layer of security considering how dreadful malware have become. Blog article on Dealarious suggest that security starts right from building […]

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I used to (and probably you too) think that our duty to secure PC ends after installing Antivirus software. However, that is partially true. One should not rely on single type of defense but multiple layer of security considering how dreadful malware have become.

Blog article on Dealarious suggest that security starts right from building your Computer. Starting from hardware components I mean. Here is a 8 step checklist list published on how to secure PC completely:

computer-security

1. Install Windows 8 as operating system

It is the latest version from Microsoft and will have a benefit of continued support and updates. This include regular patches and fixes to the vulnerabilities found in the system architecture.

2. Use Motherboard that supports SecureBoot

SecureBoot is a component of Windows 8 operating system to help prevent malicious software applications and “unauthorized” operating systems from loading during the system start-up process.

secureboot

There are concerns that you won’t be able to install Linux as dual OS with SecureBoot. But then, it is a step taken to restrict malware from loading not Linux.

3. Do not Use Admin user regularly

When you are logged in as administrator, you have escalated privileges to make changes to system files. So, it is recommended to use another user with standard privileges so that even if malware tries to attack, it will be locked down due to lack of administrator privileges.

Learn how to sign in as different user on Windows 8

4. Keep Software programs which are required

Uninstall all the crap and unused stuff from your Computer. Not only this will save space but also prevent infection from spreading through them if any. Check out these 6 tools to clean up Windows and uninstall unused.

5. Stay up-to-date on all Software programs

Keep track of outdated software programs installed for they maybe more vulnerable to attacks.

6. Keep User Account Control to always Active

Whenever a program tries to modify system files, User Account Control makes sure these changes are made only with approval from the administrator. So, you get a popup notification whether it should be allowed or not.

Windows_7_UAC

If you think that the application asking for permission is not legit, it wont be given further access to make any sort of changes.

7. Stop Using Duplicate and Simple Passwords

I know it is difficult to remember unique passwords for each and every site you register. So, I personally recommend using LastPass to do this task for you. Also, you may opt for using a secure password generator website if you want to remember them by yourself.

8. Use Antivirus

Well, you already know why you need this 🙂

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You are Over Confident that your Home PC Won’t get Hacked https://www.blogsolute.com/home-pc-identity-theft-protection/29369/ https://www.blogsolute.com/home-pc-identity-theft-protection/29369/#comments Tue, 15 Apr 2014 07:45:53 +0000 http://www.blogsolute.com/?p=29369 Imagine a complete stranger rifling through your purse, glove box, pockets and phone. You’re not comfortable with that, are you? Nowadays, home PCs hold a myriad of personal files and information that most people wouldn’t be comfortable sharing. Search history, emails, instant messages, bank usernames and passwords, tax details and a host of other sensitive […]

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Hacking Home PC

Imagine a complete stranger rifling through your purse, glove box, pockets and phone. You’re not comfortable with that, are you?

Nowadays, home PCs hold a myriad of personal files and information that most people wouldn’t be comfortable sharing. Search history, emails, instant messages, bank usernames and passwords, tax details and a host of other sensitive data can now be found on your home PC – and without adequate protection from cybercrime, this information could fall into the wrong hands.

Identity thieves and hackers target home computers because they know families often do not maintain adequate security protection on their PCs. This makes these family users easy, lucrative marks. Many hackers access your personal information in order to steal your money and your identity. Others might want to use your home computer as a shield to mask their identity as they steal from others.

But it won’t happen to me!

Identity theft is more common than you think – and the advent of the Internet has simplified the process for would-be thieves. It’s estimated that a quarter of all cases of identity theft originate on the Internet. More specifically, according to the Internet Fraud Complaint Centre, email and web pages dominate the fraud methodology, and the vast majority of victims actually have email contact with the perpetrator.

How can identity theft occur?

Anyone can fall victim to identity theft. Here’s how:

  • Accessing the Internet from an unsecured PC—Without a security layer between your computer and the Internet, you invite hackers to steal your identity, destroy your files, or use your PC to attack others
  • Obtaining potentially unwanted programs like spyware or adware on your PC—Malicious software programs may monitor your keystrokes, track your Internet logins, transmit your confidential information, or redirect your browser to fake web sites
  • Sending personal information over the Internet—Hackers can easily retrieve sensitive data that is sent over an unsecured Internet connection
  • Downloading files from friends and family or accepting unknown emails—You can obtain a virus, worm, or Trojan simply by accepting files from your friends, family, or others
  • Not recognizing phishing scams or spam— Ever received a dodgy looking email claiming you’ve won big? All you have to do is send over your bank account details… Phishing scams use fraudulent emails and web sites to lure unsuspecting users into revealing private account or login information.
  • Leaving your wireless network unsecured—Since your wireless network’s radio waves travel through walls, a hacker with a simple antenna could attack you from miles away to steal your information or to launch attacks from your PC

How you can fight identity theft

Common sense dictates some very obvious measures to protect yourself, your family and your computer. Make sure to set up parental controls to keep the kids from accidentally clicking on untrusted ads and websites. This includes not downloading files or clicking on hyperlinks sent by strangers, avoid storing financial information on your computer and using a secure browser.

Over-sharing on social media has desensitised our notion of online privacy, and it can be very easy to fall into complacency when sharing your personal information online. There are a number of ways that hackers can compromise your home PC and access information, most of which can be avoided with adequate security protection and a little online vigilance.

How do you keep your Home PC protected from Hackers?

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Allow or Block any Program from Windows Firewall with Right Click Menu https://www.blogsolute.com/allow-block-windows-firewall-easy/29160/ https://www.blogsolute.com/allow-block-windows-firewall-easy/29160/#comments Thu, 30 Jan 2014 14:07:47 +0000 http://www.blogsolute.com/?p=29160 Firewall acts a barrier between computer system and Internet connection. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to add or remove some program from Firewall rules list. These rules state if certain program is allowed to make communication or access Network connection. Sometimes, Firewall may mistakenly block some genuine software program but you want to allow it. In […]

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Firewall acts a barrier between computer system and Internet connection. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to add or remove some program from Firewall rules list. These rules state if certain program is allowed to make communication or access Network connection.

Sometimes, Firewall may mistakenly block some genuine software program but you want to allow it. In other scenario, it is possible that you want to block or restrict some program’s access because you think it is malicious.

In both cases, one has to add a rule manually to Firewall and that is not easy for everyone. We, at Blogsolute strives to make things easier and accomplish them in smarter way.

Here, I present a small tool which can add or block any program to Windows firewall from right click menu of that program.

Right Click Firewall Allow Block Menu

[sws_button class=”” size=”sws_btn_medium” align=”sws_btn_align_center” href=”http://www.tweaking.com/content/page/tweaking_com_%28right_click%29_allowblock_or_remove_windows_firewall.html” target=”_blank” label=”Download Allow Bock Right Click Menu Tool” template=”sws_btn_green” textcolor=”” fontweight=”normal” bgcolor=”” bgcolorhover=”” glow=”sws_btn_glow” btnwidth=”” textalign=”center”] [/sws_button]

Extract the archive and open Right_Click_Options.exe and click on “Add Right Click Menu”.

Allow Block Windows Firewall

From now on, there will be a new option whenever you right click on an executable file (EXE) called “Windows Firewall”. Just select from the available options which lets you Allow or Block that program from Windows Firewall list.

It should be noted that multiple EXE files could be selected at once to allow or block from Firewall.

If there was already a rule added about the Windows program you are trying to add, this tool will remove any existing rule and create new one. This prevents conflict and other problems.

And just for those users who like to keep things clean, there is also an option to Remove all rules for a program from the firewall. This is useful in case if you are uninstalling a program and do not need rules anymore.

To Uninstall this tool and remove option from Right click Menu, just have to open Right_Click_Options.exe and click on “Remove Right Click Menu” option.

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Best Antivirus for Windows 8.1 – From AV-Test Labs https://www.blogsolute.com/best-antivirus-for-windows-81/29150/ https://www.blogsolute.com/best-antivirus-for-windows-81/29150/#comments Wed, 22 Jan 2014 09:49:17 +0000 http://www.blogsolute.com/?p=29150 When it comes to Virus protection, we are overwhelmed with the options available which often results in confusion. Let me make it easy for you to choose the best by showing the experiment results carried on Antivirus software. AV-TEST is an independent IT Security Lab which conducted tests on various Security solutions. Based on their […]

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When it comes to Virus protection, we are overwhelmed with the options available which often results in confusion. Let me make it easy for you to choose the best by showing the experiment results carried on Antivirus software.

AV-TEST is an independent IT Security Lab which conducted tests on various Security solutions. Based on their results, I would like to discuss which one should be the best Antivirus for Windows 8.1.

Study results are focused three useful parameters namely:

  1. Protection: Protection against malware infections (such as viruses, worms or Trojan horses)
  2. Performance: Effect of antivirus on Computer’s speed (whether it is slowing down PC)
  3. Usability: Impact of antivirus on Computer’s usability (whether it is annoying, giving false notifications, etc.)

Best Antivirus for Windows 8.1

BitDefender Internet Security 2014 tops the chart and can be considered as Best Antivirus for Windows 8.1 closely followed by Kaspersky Internet Security. Both of them are really good at protection computers from Virus and at the same time do not cause any disturbance while working or degrades system performance.

Dowload BitDefender 2014

Though not displayed in the chart but let me tell you that Norton Internet Security is good in terms of Protection but it hampers the performance or in other words slows down PC. That’s the reason it is not even in top five.

In case, if you are looking for free solution, AVG AntiVirus Free Edition is good followed by Avast 2014 Free Antivirus.

Do read difference between Antivirus and Internet Security before deciding anything.

From the list, what I observed is that most of the Antivirus software are good at detection of malware. The reason they are not on top is because they either have higher false detection rate or slows down PC.

Another surprising revelation this test does is that Windows Defender isn’t something to rely on for security of computer. It has the lowest Virus protection rating.

If you would like to know more, visit the results summary on AV-TEST website.

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Remove Toolbars and Adware Search Engines with Junk Removal Tool https://www.blogsolute.com/remove-toolbars-adware-search/29057/ https://www.blogsolute.com/remove-toolbars-adware-search/29057/#comments Thu, 12 Dec 2013 06:47:30 +0000 http://www.blogsolute.com/?p=29057 You are annoyed by some unknown application popping up wherever you go, asking you to click, forcing to visit. Funny thing is that you are completely clueless how it got installed. Moreover, it isn’t easy to uninstall or remove or even disable it. Some names of this kind of potentially unwanted programs could be Bablylon, […]

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You are annoyed by some unknown application popping up wherever you go, asking you to click, forcing to visit. Funny thing is that you are completely clueless how it got installed. Moreover, it isn’t easy to uninstall or remove or even disable it.

Some names of this kind of potentially unwanted programs could be Bablylon, Incredibar, iLivid, MyWebSearch, Conduit, MyRally.io, Ask Toolbar, Facemoods or Funmoods and so on…

[sws_blue_box box_size=”601″] Truth is that these applications are installed by none other than YOU. Yes, they didn’t install automatically. It was because of your ignorance. Your one Click could have prevented installation of unwanted toolbar or program. [/sws_blue_box]

I may have written tutorials on how to remove them individually which included removing deeply located files and registry keys. In this post however, I am introducing a tiny tool which can remove most popular unwanted programs automatically.

Junkware Removal Tool (JRT) is a tool which will search your system for any adwares, potentially unwanted programs (PUP) and remove them from roots.

I tested it on Windows 7 Ultimate x64 infected with:

  1. DealPly
  2. Sweet IM
  3. Smart Bar
  4. Price Gong
  5. iLivid

It removed all of them along with some more which I didn’t even know about namely SweetPack and Fun Web Products. Complete log of the tool actions is given below:

JRT Log File

JRT has a command line interface but don’t panic, no command input is needed as such. Just a confirmation of ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ to start searching and uninstalling these annoying programs.

Remove common adware and Toolbars

Tool has a database of popular adware and it knows where they keep their installation files. It automatically searches for possible threats, you do not even have to know or specify a name. They just get cleaned up!

[sws_button class=”” size=”sws_btn_medium” align=”sws_btn_align_center” href=”http://thisisudax.org/” target=”_blank” label=”Download Junk Removal Tool” template=”sws_btn_green” textcolor=”” fontweight=”bold” bgcolor=”” bgcolorhover=”” glow=”sws_btn_glow” btnwidth=”” textalign=”center”] [/sws_button]

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Best Anti Keylogger: Because Antivirus isn’t just Enough https://www.blogsolute.com/best-anti-keylogger/29029/ https://www.blogsolute.com/best-anti-keylogger/29029/#comments Fri, 06 Dec 2013 06:16:51 +0000 http://www.blogsolute.com/?p=29029 Keylogger is worst kind of breach to your privacy and security. Unlike any virus destructing your data or making it unusable, keyloggers send key strokes, windows activity screenshots to hackers silently. This could be anything- passwords, credit card details, anything. They carry on recording your each and every move and send all data without your […]

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Keylogger is worst kind of breach to your privacy and security. Unlike any virus destructing your data or making it unusable, keyloggers send key strokes, windows activity screenshots to hackers silently. This could be anything- passwords, credit card details, anything. They carry on recording your each and every move and send all data without your permission.

As such programs do not hinder or create any annoyance in working, most of the times, they are undetectable. Some of them have a digital signature which easily fools any Antivirus software. To tackle them, you need best Anti Keylogger which prevents recording of key strokes, mouse movements, clipboard, etc.

Based on the forum discussions and ratings on Software sites, I chose Zemana Antilogger and Spy Shelter Premium. Personally, I am using Zemana from a long time and gave a try to Spy Shelter for comparison purpose.

1. Zemana Antilogger

While talking about Anti keylogger, one name that pops up in my mind is Zemana. It has been in the market for a long time now and gained a reputed name. It provides full featured protection modules along with Anti keystroke logging like Anti screen capturing, Web cam recording and copying clipboard data.

System Defense feature actively monitors things such as rootkit installations, thread context, physical memory access, hooks, remote threads, DLL injections, kernel driver loading and system registry modifications.

Zemana Antilogger premium

[sws_highlight hlcolor=”aad97b”]Compatible with most known Antivirus software[/sws_highlight]  so that you can use it alongwith your Security suite. Check compatibility test.

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2. Spy Shelter Premium

It has all the features of Zemana with some more control and customizations. You can set rules for specific applications or all apps whose keystrokes will be encrypted. Though it is said that encryption driver is compatible, I faced problem on Windows 8 64 Bit. Not just once but [sws_highlight hlcolor=”f2a4b9″]when I enabled encryption, keystrokes went crazy [/sws_highlight]. I was not even able to login Windows because it became impossible to enter password.

Spy Shelter Premium

It monitors your system and will notify you if anything attempts to modify your registry, start up applications, hard disk or RAM. System Defense guard module acts as a Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) to protect critical areas from code injection such as memory and the registry. Network Spy module protects you during SSL, HTTP, HTTPS, POP, SMTP and FTP interactions.

[sws_button class=”” size=”sws_btn_medium” align=”sws_btn_align_center” href=”http://www.blogsolute.com/go/spy-shelter/” target=”_blank” label=”Download Spy Shelter Premium” template=”sws_btn_default” textcolor=”ffffff” fontweight=”normal” bgcolor=”388236″ bgcolorhover=”” glow=”sws_btn_glow” btnwidth=”” textalign=”center”] [/sws_button] [sws_divider_line]

Test Results

To test the security, I exploited some really clever keyloggers in market. So, if the app is able to detect these, you can be sure about protection from free and less powerful ones.

Best Anti Keylogger

From the above table, you can easily tell that none of them is completely perfect. One thing I noticed that these anti-keyloggers can detect keyloggers when they are in startup process. You get a notification when keylogger process tries to inject or make any move on Windows startup. So, detection can be bypassed if keylogger isn’t in startup list.

Spy Shelter Notification

Conclusion

When both of them have nearly same detection rate and similar price point, my vote goes to Zemana. Reason is its compatibility and simpler User Interface. Also, the company is more experienced and in the field for long time enough to build trust.

Best Anti Keylogger 2014

[sws_button class=”” size=”sws_btn_medium” align=”sws_btn_align_center” href=”http://www.blogsolute.com/go/zemana/” target=”_blank” label=”Download Zemana Antilogger” template=”sws_btn_default” textcolor=”ffffff” fontweight=”normal” bgcolor=”388236″ bgcolorhover=”” glow=”sws_btn_glow” btnwidth=”” textalign=”center”] [/sws_button]

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Should I Buy an Antivirus or Total Internet Security Pack? https://www.blogsolute.com/buy-antivirus-or-internet-total-security-pack/27156/ https://www.blogsolute.com/buy-antivirus-or-internet-total-security-pack/27156/#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:13:41 +0000 http://www.blogsolute.com/?p=27156 This is a critical question in everyone’s mind before buying any security package for Windows. Probably, you will be troubled by this question till the moment you click on the Check Out button. Though, there is huge Price difference between both the security versions yet it seems just tiny enough when the security of your […]

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This is a critical question in everyone’s mind before buying any security package for Windows. Probably, you will be troubled by this question till the moment you click on the Check Out button. Though, there is huge Price difference between both the security versions yet it seems just tiny enough when the security of your Precious data as well as PC is in question.

Today, in market, there are many big players from whom you can buy PC protection software like Bit Defender, Norton, Kaspersky, Avast etc, etc. Funny part is, most of them offer more detailed security services which lies between Antivirus and Internet Security. For instance take Bit Defender, it provides Antivirus Plus, Internet Security and Total Security. Same goes for Kaspersky or Norton. Here in this article, I wont be suggesting companies from whom you should buy the product but about how to choose the product itself.

[alert-success]  Compare The Best Antivirus Software Products of 2013 [/alert-success]

What’s the Difference between Antivirus and Internet Security?

Buy Antivirus or Internet Security

Basically, there is a vast difference in terms of functionality. Total Internet Security is the top product in line providing extended features like Device Anti theft, Anti Spam, firewall and Tune up tools. So, buying a basic antivirus protection just saves your PC from any kind of threats whereas a Total Security pack provides protection from all types of threats while you are online.

[alert-note]Free Antivirus 2013 Download Offline Installer For Windows PC [/alert-note]

Now this decision depends on your work habit and also the kind of person you are. To get the the right antivirus product for you, first you must ask the following questions to your self. Do not skip any one of them.

  • Will I use my PC to read storage devices from Cyber Cafe, friends and untrusted sources with minimal internet access?
  • Will I use my PC extensively for browsing on internet ?
  • How much awareness do I have with respect to finding stuffs on Internet?
  • How much time can I spend Googling and learning stuffs if something goes wrong with my PC?
  • Am I going to use this PC for Office use or just for Home use?

Assuming that you have an honest reply to each of the questions, let’s evaluate and narrow down your needs.

1) Use of PC for Extensive Data Transfer from External Sources

PC data storage

It’s a bitter experience that I have had gone through once upon a time. If you are working regularly on untrusted computers and need to bring back the data to the PC in reference or you are using others hard Disk to transfer heavy data like movies, music, docs etc then consider buying a basic antivirus. As the internet usage is minimum in this case, you will not need an Ultimate Suite to protect yourself.

[alert-note] USB Write Protection Software: Enable / Disable Writing or Lock USB Drives[/alert-note]

Most of the Viruses spread from data transfer done from already infected devices. This is the case with which majority of people suffer, specially those living in hostels etc. So, have an Antivirus and just keep updating it regularly. If this was your only need, your search ends here.

 2) Use of PC for Extensive Internet Access

Online safety

If you are always connected to the internet and perform basic tasks like checking mails, accessing social media, sharing stuffs etc then there are further points to be considered before buying a Total Security Package but ya basic Antivirus is required. You must move on with the next sections to narrow down your requirements.

[alert-note]Why Windows 8 will be the most secure Operating system so far? [/alert-note]

3) Internet Usage Awareness

Internet awareness

This fact alone can protect you from many issues and troubles that a general person might face. Internet usage awareness basically creates your browsing habits. What you are surfing and from where you are downloading is an important thing to lookout for. Mostly the threats on internet comes with persuasion to your desperation. Email threats and social network scams can be reduced till a limit just by applying some patience and common sense.

If you are downloading stuffs from torrent, you should be able to figure out whether the torrent is fake or not. Even in case of freeware software, there are trusted sources to download them.

[alert-announce] How To Spot Fake Torrents on The Pirate Bay and Prevent Malware Spread [/alert-announce]

So, if you are aware of all the facts and know exactly what you are doing on internet then stick with a basic Antivirus and continue with the article. If you are not sure or don’t have much knowledge about these things then go for a Total Security Pack.

[alert-success] How to survive without Antivirus on Windows Computer [/alert-success]

4) Time Investment and System Maintenance

PC recovery from virus attack

In the above point, I have mentioned that having awareness will protect you from most of the existing online threats but it might not be sufficient again new threats. So, if somehow you get infected you will have to spend a lot of time searching for the cause and bring back your system in shape. You might even lose some data in this process.

[alert-note] Fix The Problems After Virus Removal on Windows Computer[/alert-note]

So if you are using your PC for critical office work and do not want to get stuck then definitely go for Total Security. If you are a home user and willing to spend time maintaining your PC then stick to a basic Antivirus.

5) Firewall and External Security

firewall protection

Finally, if you are worried about remote hacks and unauthorized access to your PC, you need to have a Total Security Suite. If you are a tech enthusiast you can try out third party free firewall software like Comodo Firewall. Of course, you have to do a manual configuration to achieve a high level Firewall Security. So again, the fact remains same. You need to invest a lot of time and its a tiresome task. Hence a Total Internet Security Pack takes away those pains.

Truth about Anti theft Application is that If after stealing, your hard disk is changed or formatted before going online, its not going to work anyhow. For parental control you can use Windows predefined features itself.

[alert-note] 5 Free Software to Recover Stolen / Lost Laptop and Smartphone [/alert-note]

Moral of the Story

These are the facts you should consider before buying the security product. Your needs, usage behavior, data sensitivity and obviously the budget. If you are using your system for office work, go for Total Security Pack without thinking anything else.

If not for official or critical tasks, judge it according to the points above. You should strictly review each of the additional feature that you get depending on what your need is. Also search whether there are alternative freeware software available for the same.

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Best Free Antivirus 2013 Award Goes To… https://www.blogsolute.com/best-free-antivirus-2013-award-goes-to/25626/ https://www.blogsolute.com/best-free-antivirus-2013-award-goes-to/25626/#comments Mon, 10 Dec 2012 04:45:22 +0000 http://www.blogsolute.com/?p=25626 Its an year end and now all antivirus solution manufacturers have their 2013 version in market. New version doesn’t only change number but bring many other changes in product. As you all liked the article about Best Free antivirus 2012, I thought of continuing the legacy. Among the many free antivirus software available, I shortlisted […]

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Its an year end and now all antivirus solution manufacturers have their 2013 version in market. New version doesn’t only change number but bring many other changes in product. As you all liked the article about Best Free antivirus 2012, I thought of continuing the legacy.

Among the many free antivirus software available, I shortlisted the popular 6 and compared to decide #1. Tests are conducted in a similar way as in previous comparison of Best Free antivirus 2012. These six antivirus are evaluated for performance, detection capability, features and interface.

I judged the antivirus popularity by their market share (data provided by OPSWAT). Though the image shows all brands but I have considered only the ones which have a fully functional free version of their Antivirus product.

free antivirus market share 2013

And these six candidates are:

avast! Free Antivirus 7: Soft Voice

Avast has the highest market share (maximum number of users estimating around 150 million) in the world. It was also declared as the winner of Best free Antivirus 2012. It boasts a usable, uncluttered interface and a set of features that keeps it at the forefront of Windows security.

avast free antivirus 7 2013

Lately, avast! has suffered a decline in performance, with increasingly slow scans and consumption of resources away from what would be optimal. Maybe after all this time, it is stagnating and need a refresh.

Microsoft Security Essentials 4.1: The Silent Strength

Microsoft’s solution to defend virus attacks on its operating system. It is now branded as Windows defender which comes inbuilt with Windows 8. It ranks second in the market share and the reasons behind that are obvious.

windows defender 8

It is  fast and lightweight antivirus, tightly integrated with Windows and offers acceptable detection rates. MSE wants to do its job without getting noticed and that’s the reason I called it Silent Strength.

Avira Free Antivirus 2013: Iron Umbrella

Last year, Avira focused on a breezy new installation and modernizing its interface, the 2013 version is all about offering competitive and forward-thinking security features.

Avira Free Antivirus 2013

Maybe because of these reasons, there was a rise in market share of Avira.

AVG Free Antivirus 2013: The Shield

Version 2013 of AVG Free has new stylish interface matching the Windows 8 Metro. And at the same time, they have incorporated new features for effective virus removal.

avg antivirus free 2013

But how effective is AVG Virus detection engine? Detection rate is identical to that of avast!, And its performance is among the best. To this we must add a toolbar to the browser with utilities to protect privacy.

Panda Cloud Antivirus: Free Cloud Protection

Panda Cloud Antivirus comes with its unique cloud technology. Thanks to which, you get impressive results in detecting new malware and also a light weight antivirus with no issues of regular updating.

panda cloud antivirus free 2013

Last year, it was 2nd runner up in competition.

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus 10: The Spy Hunter

Rookie of the year is Ad-Aware, an old acquaintance who has changed its appearance. It used to be just an anti-spyware but now a promising antivirus, although still very young to fight.

ad-aware antivirus free 2013

It has one of the most powerful engines on the market (GFI Vipre) in terms of detection, and still has a solid antispyware protection. Limited range of functions could be only negative aspect about this antivirus.

[alert-note] How to survive without Antivirus on Computer [/alert-note]

Results and Conclusion

How tests are carried is already explained last year so, I won’t repeat that again. I have taken data from the reports of Virus Bulletin. VB is an independent company carrying out insightful analysis of effectiveness of antivirus software.

Here is a table of results:

best antivirus 2013 results

The best in terms of detection of viruses and malicious software was Ad-Aware, and right behind that is Panda Cloud and AviraAll programs received more than 9 points except MSEI am surprised considering that this is Microsoft’s application which integrates effectively with the Windows operating system.

As for the performance of other antivirus, surprisingly, avast! has very bad results. It seems that every year this application is losing to competitors. Even its market share is going down every quarter.

That doesn’t mean avast! is out of competition. It is best in terms of features, options and interface. This makes #1 antivirus of 2012 fall down to third position.

And the Best Free Antivirus 2013 award goes to… Avira Free Antivirus 2013. Its exceptional speed and power of the detection engine, coupled with the removal of annoying advertising popups, it has stepped up to the first place.

best free antivirus 2013

[alert-success]Download Free Antivirus 2013 Offline Installer[/alert-success]

Personally, I don’t rely on Free Antivirus for security of my system instead use Bitdefender which is #1 in Paid antivirus. Stay tuned, I will soon be posting Best Paid Antivirus 2013 too.

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BitDefender Total Security 2013 License Keys Giveaway https://www.blogsolute.com/bitdefender-total-security-2013-license-keys-giveaway/25207/ https://www.blogsolute.com/bitdefender-total-security-2013-license-keys-giveaway/25207/#comments Wed, 17 Oct 2012 07:23:04 +0000 http://www.blogsolute.com/?p=25207 BitDefender Total Security is the first choice and trusted by users worldwide for overall protection of computer. It is often referred as the economical and reliable alternative Total Security suite among the competitors. On Blogsolute, in association with Bitdefender, we are giving away 7 BitDefender Total Security 2013 License Keys. BitDefender Total Security is a […]

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BitDefender Total Security is the first choice and trusted by users worldwide for overall protection of computer. It is often referred as the economical and reliable alternative Total Security suite among the competitors. On Blogsolute, in association with Bitdefender, we are giving away 7 BitDefender Total Security 2013 License Keys.

BitDefender Total Security is a complete package including Antivirus, Antispam and Firewall. It not only defends you from viruses but also secure online transactions, protect mobile devices from theft, automatically back up files, and Tune-Up PCs.

One license costs 69.99$ for 1 Year protection and we are giving away 7 licenses which sums up to 489.93$.

Bitdefender Total Security 2013 Features

  • Bitdefender Safepay – Keeps hackers at bay by automatically opening all your online banking pages in a separate, secure browser.
  • MyBitdefender dashboard – See all the status and licensing information about your software and services.
  • Security Widget – Enables you to keep track of all of your security related tasks, drag-and-drop files for quick scanning for viruses right from your desktop!
  • Parental Control – Blocks inappropriate content, restricts Web access, monitors your children’s online activity.
  • USB Immunizer – Immunizes any Flash Drive from viruses, when they are connected to your computer.
  • Active Virus Control – A proactive, dynamic detection technology which monitors processes’ behavior in real-time, as they are running, and tags suspicious activities.
  • Device Anti-Theft – Locks, wipes or even locates your laptop from any Internet-connected device you have at hand.
  • Vulnerability Scanner – Checks for missing or outdated security software, missing Windows security patches.
  • Bitdefender Autopilot – provides a hassle-free experience by making optimal security-related decisions without input from you.
  • Personal Data Filter – Prevents critical data from ever leaving your computer.
  • Antiphising – Analyzes and blocks websites that support various scams or credit card phishing attempts.
  • Scan Dispatcher – finds and uses time-slices when system resource usage falls below a certain threshold to perform recurring scans of your entire system.

Win Bitdefender Total Security 2013 License Keys

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For those, who don’t want believe in luck, you may get 70% Discount on Bitdefender Total Security 2013.

Bitdefender Total Security 2013 Coupon

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