According to Wikipedia, “Malware” is: “software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner’s informed consent.”

Many of us have experienced malware of some sort.  If you have, you know that it can be pretty nasty business – causing everything from annoying pop-ups or slow performance to a complete system crash resulting in a total loss of data and programs.

This month’s Tech KNOW Tip (the second of a 2-part installment gives you some definitions of the names you might have heard for various kinds of malware and some help with how to avoid and/or remove malware from your computer.

spyware – Malware that is downloaded to your computer with the purpose of tracking or recording the user’s activities without the user’s consent.  Such malicious software could be used to log keystrokes to get passwords, or just track internet search histories to target pop-up advertisements.

adware – Some free downloads from the internet will ask the user for consent to install spyware software on the user’s computer as part of the download agreement. Such software is usually referred to as adware instead of spyware since the user has given consent to be tracked in exchange for some free software.

web cookies – These are usually harmless bits of text that are downloaded automatically whenever you open a website.   The cookie is used to track your visits to a specific website. The creators of websites use cookies to gather data about whom and how often their website is being accessed.

How to clean malware off your computer?
For starters, here’s a popular free download for finding spyware on your computer: Ad-Aware from Lavasoft: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
They have a free version that you can try.

Then there’s the anti-virus software you can buy. Here’s a review of the Top Antivirus Software from PC World:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,124475/article.html

Most of us are pretty good about keeping our personal information private and secure. There are ways, though, that some computers can get viruses or even be hacked into. Here are some pointers on how to keep your computer safe:

1. Keep your spyware up to date:
   1. Run your anti-virus and spyware software at least once a week in order to make sure you don’t have any viruses or spyware lurking around on your computer.
2. Secure your router with a password:
   1. If you have a wireless router, make sure to encode it with a password. This keeps others from using your internet for free and possibly hacking into your information.
3. Keep your Windows software and Internet Explorer up to date:
   1. Run any updates that pop up for Windows and Internet Explorer to keep these programs running smoothly.
4. Filter your email for spam:
   1. Spam can clutter your email very quickly. Make sure your spam filter is turned on. If you do not know who the email is from, do not click on any links or follow any hyper links from the emails.

These suggestions were taken from HTS Tech Tips on www.htstechtips.com.

Do you work in an office where others could possibly have access to your computer? It’s easy for someone to hop on your desktop while you’re taking a restroom break or out to lunch. Protect yourself with a couple of easy tips.

1. Create a log-in (if you don’t have one already) for your computer that is password protected. Don’t share your password with anyone, and don’t make it something easy like your child’s name or your birth date. (I know, one more password, but make it something you can remember!)
2. When leaving your workstation, lock your computer so that no one can access the information on it. This way your information stays safe. No one is able to look through your files or access important documents.

Locking your computer is just like logging off without having to reboot when you’re ready to get back to work. Two ways to do this are:

1. Press and hold the “Windows” key. Press “L” and this locks the computer.
2. Press and hold the “Ctrl” key, “Alt” and hit “Delete.” This will not delete anything! It will bring up the Windows Security window and give you different options, one being to lock your computer.

Upon returning to your desk, press “Ctrl” “Alt” and “Delete” again to enter your log-in and password. This will restore your desktop to how it was when you left.

Keep your information secure!

I went shopping for a new TV in the after-Christmas shopping spree. Honestly, the crowds were nowhere near as bad as I thought they would be with people returning unwanted items.

In heading back to the TV section of a local electronics superstore, I was almost overwhelmed by the selection, price differences and varieties of television’s they had to choose from. Thank goodness I already knew what size TV I wanted (that narrows it down quite a bit!). Now I had to choose between an LED, LCD and plasma TV. This is where many people get stumped and don’t know what to buy. You can always ask a sales associate in the store, but often times they are going to try to sell you the most expensive item they can. I decided to offer our readers an explanation of what the different types of TV’s are and what they are best used for.

LCD- LCD stands for liquid crystal display which is used to produce images. LCD screens are commonly used as second computer monitors and when you will be viewing a lot of still images. LCD TV’s, on average, have a much longer life span than its other two competitors, some lasting up to a predicted span of 30 years. These televisions are also great in bright rooms, and come in a range of sizes from 15 to 50 inches or more. Some disadvantages, though,  are that LCD TV’s tend to have poor contrast ratios and respond slower to fast moving images.

Plasma- Plasma TV’s, or PDP’s, are usually recommended when choosing a larger TV (40” or more). This technology uses tiny fluorescent lamps to produce images. Plasma TV’s have better contrast ratios when it comes to color. They also have wider viewing angles, meaning you can practically watch these TV’s from any angle without distorting the picture or color. One disadvantage, though, is that plasma TV’s on average use more electricity. The plasma TV screens are made from glass, which can cause a glare. Make sure your plasma has an anti-glare filter on it when choosing a plasma TV.

LED- LED TV’s are very similar to LCD TV’s in that they both have a liquid crystal display. LED’s produces a backlight from fluorescent lamps that enhance the contrast between darker and lighter images. LED TV’s can also be extremely thin, but also extremely expensive. Why? LED TV’s usually offer the latest “technology” and upgrades available, while being the thinnest out there and use less power than the plasma or LCD TV.

I suggest you research some TV’s online before going to the store and have an idea of what you’re looking for when you get there. Plasma TV’s are going to offer a better picture when choosing a TV larger than 40” while LCD’s are more likely going to fit your budget. Happy shopping!