I’ve already written an article about Spybot Search and Destroy. I talk about it’s ability to help the general user and seasoned professional with Spyware, Adware, & Malware.

Since posting that last article, I’ve heard grumblings about Spybot and problems using it with Microsoft’s latest Internet Explorer (Version 8). Most of the criticism has been aimed at Safer Networking and their Spybot software. So I thought I would dive in a little deeper.

I found an article by Safer Networking, from this past March (2009) about this exact issue. Safer Networking stated that there is an apparent problem between Internet Explorer 8 and the immunization feature of Spybot.

At the suggestion of Safer Networking’s article, I tested Spybot with IE7 and then again with IE8. I also tried filling IE8 with a huge list of sites to block. As I suspected and as Safer Networking eluded to, Microsoft is tripping on it’s own feet again. Spybot is working correctly. You need the blocked sites list to protect you, whether it is provided by the Spybot software or not. If you plug the same list of sites into Internet Explorer 8 manually, that Spybot does for you automatically, you will get a similar result. So the problem falls on Microsoft and the Internet Explorer 8 web browser.

SOLUTION: DO NOT USE Microsoft Software of any kind, but more specifically Internet Explorer 8. Instead, try a flavor of Linux/Unix, maybe even a Macintosh. See the complete list of supported operating systems here!

If you must use Microsoft Windows, and you absolutely have to have IE8, you need to be using Spybot. So, a less aggressive solution would be to be patient when launching IE8. If you have Spybot installed, running correctly and protecting Internet Explorer 8, it is going to take a little bit for the program to load completely.

Filed under: Anti-Malware, Anti-Spyware, Computers, Free Software, Free Utilities, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Software, Utilities, Web Browsers, Windows | No Comments »

Have you ever tried to play a DVD and received an error message tell you there wasn’t any DVD Decoder available on your PC? Maybe you’ve tried to play a DVD on a Mac or Linux system and received a similar message or it just wouldn’t play. Most new PCs do come with DVD Decoder Software pre-installed, but that doesn’t mean it works right or that it is the best option. Even the “FREE” software pre-loaded on your “NEW” PC can be limited in functionality, requiring you to pay for the upgrade for full functionality.

If you decided to buy the fully functional versions of the most common DVD Decoder software, you can expect to pay $50 – $100 for WinDVD from Corel or Cyberlink’s PowerDVD.

If you have a Windows PC with a built in DVD player, but can’t play DVDs because the DVD Decoding software is missing, you could just buy the DVD Decoder Plug-in DVD XPack or PowerDVD SE. These plugins will provide a DVD Decoder to work with the Microsoft Windows Media Player.

I suggest you go another route. As a regular Linux user, I became familiar with the VLC Media Player, which was developed by VideoLAN. VideoLAN is a software project, which produces free and open source software for video, released under the GNU General Public License.

The Media Player provides High Quality playback of your media files and doesn’t cost you a dime, which is enough to put VLC Media Player in a league of its own. However, VideoLAN wants to offer more. So, what can VideoLAN do to make their VLC Media Player stand out even more?

They make it available for just about any OS you wish to use. You can download VLC Media Play for installation on Windows, Mac OS X, BeOS and Syllable. You can also get installation packages for GNU/Linux operating systems such as Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu, Mandriva Linux, Fedora, openSUSE, Familiar Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Slackware Linux, ALT Linux, Arch Linux, YOPY/Linupy and Zaurus. Wow, that is a huge list. If that wasn’t enough, there is more. Though there are no precompiled binaries for NetBSD, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, Solaris, QNX, Gentoo Linux or Crux Linux, you can get the source code for VLC and its required libraries and build one yourself.

So, if you must use Windows, I recommend that you use VLC Media Player for Windows. You can download it HERE.

If you are a ‘Nix user, then go to www.videolan.org/vlc/ to get information on how to install VLC Media Player in your favorite ‘Nix flavor.

Filed under: Anti-Spyware, Computers, Free Software, Free Utilities, Laptops, Linux-Unix, Media Players, Software, Utilities, Windows | No Comments »

According to Wikipedia.org, Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to collect information about a user, their computer or browsing habits without the user’s informed consent.

Spyware can be way more than simple monitoring. Many Spyware programs collect personal information, like your Internet browsing habits and which sites you may visit. Spyware programs can also interfere with your ability to control your computer when installing software or redirecting Web browsing activities. Some spyware may even slow your internet connection, change your home page and/or interrupt the functionality of your web browser or other programs, by reconfiguring your computer’s settings.

Spybot (made by safer-networking.org) is one of the best privacy software utilities available to protect your pc from Spyware (Including Adware), Malware and general Hijacking. (EvenPC World & PC Magazine has rated Spybot “THE BEST!”)

Generally, when you use a quality privacy software, a standard disclaimer stating potential problems that may occur when modifying system and registry settings. Spybot has this same disclaimer and is very up front about it. However, I have used this utility for several years and have never had an issue with computer functionality after running Spybot.

I recommend this software to computer amateurs and professionals alike because I have never been disappointed by Spybot’s ability to find and remove harmful spyware from my Windows computers. If you insist on using Microsoft’s Windows Operating System you need to be using Spybot.

Does all of this sound like a sales pitch? Well, it isn’t. One of the best things about Spybot is it is provide FREE!

Try Spybot for your self. If you like the results, donate to Safer-Networking.org, so that they can continue development and improvements on Spybot as well as other free utilities they provide.

Filed under: Anti-Malware, Anti-Spyware, Computers, Free Utilities, Software, Utilities, Windows | No Comments »

These days you can’t afford not to have Anti-Virus protection. However, if you can’t afford to purchase one of the AVG products, they also offer a much more limited product here. This more limited, free version provides basic protection with Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware protection, LinkScanner Active Surf-Shield, LinkScanner Search-Shield and the AVG Toolbar.

See a comparison of the different levels of protection offered by AVG, here.

AVG offers various options and levels of protection to their users. From basic protection of your home pc to the more advanced protection available for commercial server environments, there is a product that will work for you. See all the options AVG offers by visiting their web site here.

Do not believe someone who tells you that an Anti-Virus is an Anti-Virus. Not all Anti-Virus software is created equal! Some of this type of software is more detrimental to the performance of your system than it is helpful in preventing virus infestation. You don’t have to sacrifice performance when you use AVG.

If your local retail store doesn’t sell AVG, don’t settle for inferior products!

AVG is a global security solutions leader protecting more than 80 million consumers and small business computer users in 167 countries from the ever-growing incidence of web threats, viruses, spam, cyber-scams and hackers on the Internet. Headquartered in Amsterdam, AVG has nearly two decades of experience in combating cyber crime and one of the most advanced laboratories for detecting, pre-empting and combating Web-borne threats from around the world. Its free online, downloadable software model allows entry-level users to gain basic anti-virus protection and then to easily and inexpensively upgrade to greater levels of safety and defense in both single and multi-user environments. Nearly 6,000 resellers, partners and distributors team with AVG globally including Amazon.com, CNET, Cisco, Ingram Micro, Play.com, Wal-Mart, and Yahoo!.

Filed under: Anti-Spyware, Anti-Virus, Computers, Free Software, Free Utilities, Software, Utilities, Windows | No Comments »