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Looking
for Live Online NEWS?? These are the best links to honest reporting!!! World Newspapers..The following sites
perform roughly the same function; linking the user to local, country and regional
newspapers from all over the world: SEE I like OnlineNewspapers.com
a great deal; it offers a very simple road to 1,000's of international publications. The PaperBoy is an equally
exceptional effort, if not better. It is produced by a lone newshound, is very
comprehensive and most importantly, it looks pretty. However even this labor of love is
not quite up with ABYZ News Links,
when it comes to displaying 'stalker like' obsession. This site demonstrates an almost
desperate devotion to the tracking down and ordering of international news sources. You
now can determine the "spin" tactics. ** Keep it fair & balanced. My choice
for the best sight for editorials, poll stats and cutting through the spin of both sides
is ... http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
Headline News:**** NewsHub aggregates stories
from a number of sites including CNN, BBC World, Fox, ABC, USA Today, and then
throws them at you every 15 minutes, all in one convenient cyber place. Newest addition to
my roundup is GOOGLE News culled
from over 4000 sources..
What are those pesky computer parasites?
 ‘Parasite’
is a shorthand term for “unsolicited commercial software” — that is, an
Adwarez program that gets installed on your computer which you never asked for, and
which does something you probably don’t want it to, for someone else’s profit.
Adware/Spyware or Malware is a huge problem not covered by anti-virus programs. The
parasite problem has grown enormously recently, and many millions of computers are
affected. I like the terms parasiteware or Scumware over Adware any day. Be sure to
read this complete section and take the steps to download my recommended detection and
removal software. Recommended ... http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
- LavaSoft Ad-Aware6.0 or download Spybot S&D at http://ejrs.com/spybot/ with these
nasties out there in mass ...get and use all three IMS webmaster recommendations. Nifty Online spyware/Adware detector and removal too for placing a
link to on your sites is.... http://www.spywareguide.com/txt_onlinescan.html ...try it for free and
you will be amazed! ALERT: New free web surfing defensive
tool is the slickest way to alert you to harmful web sites containing spyware -adware
-spam bundled or drive-by programs. Install www.siteadvisor.com today and let it open your eyes before
your system gets hijacked! This one works with the Google toolbar and others highlighting
search engine listings that are designed to dupe you into the Adwhore clutches
TIP
from IMS webmaster. Forget those Rewards &
Rebates browser hijacking plug-ins ever saving or making you a dime on bargains
shown in our CyberMall. You'll find all our merchant showcase specials offer the lowest
prices ..period!! The Spyware/Adware buried in those FREEBEE P2P file sharing programs
just ruin your computer and you'll play havoc with the con-men ever getting paid. To see
how these parasite programs operate and how to cure your system from all this POPup
Ad-nausium Hell... This page on Spyware/Adware detect and removal tools is designed to
whack these Adwhores!! This site will never show any
advertising popups or knowingly submit a single visitor into the clutches of the Adwhores
lurking on the internet!
Our webmaster, Mike Hyland has won the "Performance
Marketing's Most Vocal Advocate" award at the 2nd Annual
LinkShare Golden Links Awards held on June 22, 2005 in New York.  This site has
always been committed to showcasing merchants who place real value at the end of a
click... from a shoppers viewpoint. We have always believed in affiliate
marketing's potential to add real value to online merchants, without resorting to Gorilla
marketing tactics. This Award recognizes Mike's vocal demands and suggestions for
eliminating the incessant popups, spam and deceptive advertising practices of desperate
marketers were all valid points. The Industry has listened and made the needed changes.
Read about this coveted Award and check out this years Gala event photos & videos!
Shop here and save since we hand pick only the best online TRUSTED vendors.
Try the CSN niche storefronts for a variety of products. All prices are very competitive
and they delivery right on time.
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Our mission: Offer True value at the end
of every click rather then wasting your efforts on general search engines. Checkout the
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CounterSpy detects, deletes and protects you
against Spyware and Adware. Get rid of malicious
crapware that invades your PC without your knowledge or permission. Why choose
CounterSpy™? According to PC World, and all our webmaster tests, it has the best
spyware database in the industry. That means it removes the
most Adware/Spyware ...period!
Drive-by and bundled
Unsolicited commercial Spyware/Adware software can typically: Having any of these symptoms is not necessarily
the end of the world. But any combination of 3-5 of them could be cause for concern
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The
homepage of your browser is changed suddenly, and you have no clue as to how it happened.
This is commonly called a browser hijack, and one of the most notorious of
these infections is CoolWebSearch.
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You
suddenly notice an 'extra' toolbar on IE and once again you didn't install it. Toolbar
infections are of a wide variety, coming in many forms and names.
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Your
firewall alerts you to an unknown program trying to access the Internet. This usually
means something has already gotten by your defenses and you need to take action, and in
many cases most infections rarely travel alone. Another firewall indicator is that it is
actually turned off by the malware. Many aggressive malwares target multiple
av\anti-spyware applications.
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New
shortcuts appear on your desktop or your task bar, or even your system tray that you
didn't put there nor know what they are.
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New entries
appear in your favorites folder that you didn't put there.
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Your
computer starts acting sluggish and slow with massive CPU numbers. This could also be
from any number of unrelated reasons too, so this symptom in and of itself, may not be an
indication of malware problems.
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Excessive
popup windows, unable to stop or close. One famous infection which had this symptom
was a plague over this past summer was the Bube Trojan. It required a special, detailed fix to remove. I had the
pleasure of trying to remove one of these nasty infections, and it was beyond my
abilities, and I had to call in the cavalry. This was while the experts were still trying
to fine tune the fix with several applications.
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If you have
AdAware or Spybot S&D, should either one open, and appear for a few seconds, then
disappear without scanning, more than likely, it's a variant of CoolWebSearch infection. Yes,
that's right, as the popularity of these two applications is so high, the malware writers
wrote code to specifically turn these two applications off if found to be present on the
machine
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Every time
you do a search, you wind up at the same unusual and unknown web site-search engine, or
you get 1-3 pages of unrelated search results, before getting to your actual search. Typically
referred to as a 'search page hijack'. This too is a common symptom of CoolWebSearch.
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There is a
new program or multiple programs in the Add/Remove Programs section of your control panel.
If you're lucky, they will remove via Add\Remove, but more times than not, this does
not work.
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You're
unable to access any of these: task manager, regedit, MSCONFIG, they just pop up and
disappear. The idea behind this little trick is to prevent you from being able to
access key sections of your computer for removal of the infection. Usually a special
registry merge is required just to fix this part.
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Your
desktop has been changed to a web page or some type of notice that your PC is infected and
you cannot change it. There are several alleged anti-spyware applications which
actually do this. Imagine, claiming to remove infections, when in fact they cause them!!
The most noted are PSGuard, RazeSpyware, World AntiSpy and SpyTrooper.
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You get a
lot of returned emails from people you don't know. This could be a sign of your
machine being a zombie.
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Washington Post ... Invasion of the Computer Snatchers
Hackers are hijacking thousands of PCs to spy on users, shake down online businesses,
steal identities and send millions of pieces of spam. If you think your computer is safe,
think again By Brian Krebs -Sunday, February 19, 2006 ...
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Read up on valuable free protection
tools to make your web surfing safe for the entire family. DON'T ever click on any popup
or banner Ad trying to trick up into a FREE Spyware/adware scan telling you your system is
infected. Sure your infected like 90% of all using the internet with the drive-by and
hidden bundled Adwhore crap placing commission hijacking programs on your computer. Here's
a great Spyware/adware/virus article, and links to some useful freeware security programs.
More recommendations on anti-virus online scan and virus definitions are shown below. The
BHO Adwhores now have teamed up with trojan horse virus writers to disable your computers
anti-virus programs during their drive-by installs. Newest efforts in
allowing Web shoppers to take back control of their computer systems.
Harvard and Oxford Universities Target Badware .... Jan 25th
2006
Harvard University's Berkman Center and the
Oxford Internet Institute have launched a "Neighborhood Watch" initiative
against spyware and other malicious software programs. The Berkman Center and the Oxford
Internet Institute hope this initiative will serve as a deterrent by publishing names and
reports of companies spreading badware, as also an educational tool for software
developers by providing principles they can follow to provide a positive user experience.
A new website, www.StopBadware.org, has been launched, where Internet users will be able
to check to see if programs they want to download are badware, and alert others to the
malicious programs they have encountered.
www. StopBadware.org will spotlight the companies
that make millions of dollars by tricking Internet users to download malicious spyware,
adware and malware programs they don't want. The multi-year initiative will empower
consumers to fight back against badware. It is being supported by companies, including
Google, Lenovo and Sun Microsystems. Consumer Reports WebWatch, a grant-funded project of
Consumers Union, has agreed to a pro-bono role as special consumer adviser.
StopBadware.org is a "Neighborhood Watch" campaign aimed at
fighting badware. We will seek to provide reliable, objective information about
downloadable applications in order to help consumers make better choices about what they
download onto their computers. We aim to become a central clearinghouse for research on
badware and the bad actors who spread it, and become a focal point for developing
collaborative, community-minded approaches to stopping badware.
To do this, we need your help. If you have a story to tell, we urge you to
tell us by clicking here. If you have technical skills and would like to give us more
detailed information to help us in our research, you can do so by filling out the form
here....http://www.stopbadware.org/home/help
http://www.stopbadware.org/home/reports
.."Our research involves comparing downloadable applications against these guidelines
in our lab, using our judgment and a transparent methodology, and publishing our findings.
We welcome input about these guidelines from any interested party. We intend to update
these guidelines periodically. Our intention is for our research to help empower
consumers, to protect against deceptive, unfair and harmful practices, and to promote
innovation in legitimate internet applications that abide by these guidelines. "
Get involved and do your part to combat
those pimping for the Adwhores and privacy info peddlers posing as internet merchants.
When choosing anti-spyware protection, you should rely on products with
deserved reputations and proven track records. That means avoiding the new and unknown,
and not succumbing to impulse buys of anti-spyware products that you see on the Net, esp.
those included in the "rogue/suspect" list
on this page or advertised on Google. Always run
a online virus scan if you expect a drive-by install of Adware/Spyware as the perps bundle
them with virus trojans.
At the very least, you should have an anti-spyware scanner, and there are
several reputable anti-spyware scanners available on the Net -- some even for free. But
anti-spyware protection goes beyond having an anti-spyware scanner like Spybot Search
& Destroy or Ad-aware. Even after installing and running an anti-spyware scanner, you
should take steps to lock down your browser and protect your system against further
infestation by spyware and adware.
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Install an anti-spyware scanner (or two...) |
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One basic tool in every user's toolbox of software ought to be an
anti-spyware scanner. There are several excellent anti-spyware scanners available -- some
free, some for pay. These include (but are not limited to): Anti-spyware scanners work much like anti-virus applications (such as
Norton Anti-Virus, McAfee VirusScan, et al), except that instead of scanning your PC for
viruses, trojans, and worms, they scan your computer for spyware, adware, and
dialers.
You should not rely exclusively on this short list of recommendations, however. Rather,
you should investigate and test a range of reputable anti-spyware programs to find the
programs that are best suited to your own privacy and security needs. (You can find a more
complete list of anti-spyware applications HERE as well as a
breakdown of the features offered by the most reputable anti-spyware programs HERE. And for reports
on testing with many popular anti-spyware utilities, see HERE.)
We recommend using at least two anti-spyware scanners regularly, as one will often pick
up items that the other misses. Even after you install an anti-spyware scanner, be sure
to keep it updated because new spyware and adware appears on the Net almost daily.
Anti-Spyware for the Mac
We're starting to get more and more questions from Mac users about anti-spyware. At
this time, the only anti-spyware program that we know of for the Mac is:
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Install anti-spyware protection |
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Scanning for spyware and adware isn't enough to protect your PC. You also
need to take preventative steps to ensure that unwanted software doesn't come back. One
effective way to prevent spyware and adware from returning is to install an anti-spyware
prevention program such as: SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard are excellent, free programs from
JavaCool. I recommend installing and using both, as they protect your computer in
different ways. SpywareBlaster "inoculates" your Internet Explorer browser
against the installation of unwanted spyware and adware from the internet. SpywareGuard
actively monitors your PC and prevents spyware infestations. Both are easy to install and
update. |
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Lock down your browser |
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One of the most prevalent means for spyware and adware to be installed is
through Internet Explorer. To prevent spyware and adware from installing without your
knowledge and permission, you need to "lock down" Internet Explorer. There are
several ways to do this. Securely configure the Internet zone
First, you can securely configure the Internet zone of Internet Explorer and add sites
that you trust to the Trusted sites zone. This means that by default web sites will not be
able to use "active content" (i.e., ActiveX controls, Java applets, and
scripting) until you explicitly choose to trust those web sites. See this page for
instructions on how to securely configure Internet Explorer:
- Internet
Explorer Privacy & Security Settings
Add bad sites to the Restricted sites zone
Second, you can use another approach to "locking down" Internet Explorer
which avoids the hassle of broken web sites by adding known "nasty" sites to the
Restricted sites zone. Doing so gives your PC protection against known threats while still
allowing most web sites to work by default. To put the clamp down on a long list of
undesirable web sites, you can install and use this free program:
- IE-SPYAD
If you choose to use the Restricted sites approach of IE-SPYAD, be sure to update your
copy of IE-SPYAD regularly, as new web sites are constantly being added to the list. |
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Use an alternative browser |
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Internet Explorer is not only the most popular browser on the Net, it is
also the browser most widely and easily exploited by spyware pushers to install spyware
and adware behind users' backs. Thus, you might decide that Internet Explorer is simply
not worth the hassle or risk. In that case, you can install and run an alternative, non-IE
browser such as: All three of these browsers are mature, robust, and fast. Moreover, they
have built-in pop-up blocking and several other nice features that Internet Explorer
simply lacks. More importantly, all three of these browsers are much less susceptible to
unwanted adware and spyware installations. Mozilla and Firefox are free; Opera is
available for a small price.
Note: even if you do switch to an alternative browser, you should still lock
down Internet Explorer, as described above. Given that Internet Explorer has effectively
been integrated into Windows, it can still be exploited by adware and spyware that gets
installed to your system through other means. Thus, locking down Internet Explorer remains
important even if you're not regularly using Internet Explorer to browse the
internet. |
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Keep your system safe & secure with Windows Update |
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To prevent unwanted spyware and adware from being installed behind your
back, you need to install all the latest "Critical Updates" from Microsoft.
Doing so is easier than you might think.
Microsoft has an entire Windows Update site devoted to automatically updating
users' systems with all the latest fixes and patches for a wide range of Microsoft
software, including Windows, Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), and Internet
Explorer.
We strongly urge you to take your system past the Windows Update site and let that site
download and install the appropriate fixes for your computer. Doing so just might save you
some grief and headaches down the road:
- Windows Update: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
Much of the update process at Windows Update is automated, so it's simple and
convenient. The Windows Update site will install a small program to analyze the software
on your system and recommend the appropriate fixes. This process takes only a few
minutes.
Once Windows Update has finished analyzing your system, you'll be presented with a menu of
downloads that Windows Update deems appropriate for your computer. At a minimum you should
let Windows Update install the fixes marked as "Critical Updates." The other
available updates ("Recommended Updates," "Drivers and Enhancements")
are optional.
Check the boxes for the updates that you wish to install ("Critical Updates"
are checked by default). Then click the appropriate button to start the download and
installation process. You'll be shown a summary of the updates that you've selected, and
then you'll presented with a "License Agreement." After you click through the
"License Agreement," the download and intallation process will start.
Since the entire download and installation process is automated, there's almost nothing
for you to do except reboot the computer after all the updates have been installed. |
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Read Licenses & Privacy Policies |
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Anti-spyware applications alone can't protect you entirely from unwanted
spyware and adware. You have to do your part as well by being vigilant in your online
behavior. One of the more common sources for spyware and adware is "freeware"
(e.g., Grokster or KaZaA) that bundles unwanted third-party applications. Another
common source involves third-party web sites that automatically start the installation of
spyware and adware when you visit those sites. These auto-installed spyware and adware
programs may initially appear to be plug-ins necessary for the web site itself,
though usually they are not.
Wherever you happen to encounter spyware and adware, you will usually be presented with
a EULA (End User License Agreement) and/or Privacy Policy. Do not blindly click through
these documents. Read them carefully and look for the tell-tale language that discloses
the presence of adware or spyware. For tips on what to look for, see these pages:
Most if not all of the "adware-supported" or
"advertising-supported" applications on the Net have adware-free
equivalents. There's simply no need to use advertising-supported applications. If
you're looking for truly free software without any unwanted surprises, see
the following sites:
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| Other Anti-Spyware Tools |
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There is a wealth of specialized anti-spyware tools on the
Net, many free for the taking. For a more complete list of anti-spyware products, see: |
 CastleCops Viruses, Worms,
Trojans Support Forum
These tools detect existing infections and identify the virus (malware)
involved.
»housecall.trendmicro.com/
»support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml
»www.mwti.net/antivirus/free_utilities...
(eScan)
»security.symantec.com/ (Norton)
»www.ravantivirus.com/scan/ (RAV)
»www3.ca.com/threatinfo/virusinfo/scan...
(eTrust)
»www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
»us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp
List of virus encyclopedias:Because vendors sometimes
give the same name to different versions of a virus, the encyclopedia for the AV product
that made the detection should be checked first.
Always read the entire description of the virus because often there are one or two
manual steps required to remove the virus, beyond running the AV scanner or auxiliary
virus removal tool:
»www.avast.com/eng/windows_viruses.html
»www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/..
(eTrust)
»www.f-prot.com/virusinfo/
»www.f-secure.com/virus-info/
»www.mwti.net/virusnews/virusalert.asp?..
(eScan)
»www.grisoft.com/virbase/virbase.php?ln..
(AVG)
»us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp
»www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/
»www.ravantivirus.com/encyclopedia/
(RAV)
»securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter..
(Norton)
»www.sophos.com/virusinfo/
»www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/
(Housecall)
»www.viruslist.com/eng/viruslist.html
(Kaspersky)
Where do they come from?
There are three major ways unsolicited commercial software can make
its way on to your machine. Some freeware programs are ‘bundled’ with parasites,
which are installed at the same time. The P2P file-sharing programs are notorious for
this; in particular, iMesh, Grokster and KaZaA come with numerous unwanted add-ons*.
Often if you are careful to read the small print when you install the software it
will warn you about this, and it is sometimes possible to opt out. So always skim the
licence agreement when you install and don’t just click Next-Next-Next... but you
still can’t be sure they’ll tell you.
Many parasites load using Internet Explorer’s ActiveX
installation option. When a web page includes a link to an ActiveX program, a window will
appear asking the user wishes to execute it. If ‘Yes’ is clicked (or if IE
security settings are set lower than normal so that it never even asks*),
the software is allowed to run and can do anything at all it likes on our computer,
including installing parasites.
For this reason, you should never click ‘Yes’ to
a “Do you wish to download and install...” prompt unless you are 100% sure you
trust the publisher of the software, which might not be the publisher of the web site you
are viewed — read the dialogue box very carefully. Also be careful not to open any
Web Greeting Cards that require a special browser plug-in ...those are all scams to get a
virus installed on your system to spread more Adware copies to those in your e-mail
addressbook.
Sometimes sites (or pop-up ads) try to fool you into clicking
‘Yes’ by stating that the software is necessary to view the site, or opening
endless error windows if you click ‘No’, or claiming that the digital
certificate on the code means it is safe. It means no such thing. ‘Microsoft
Authenticode’ means only that the company that wrote the software is the same as the
company whose name appears on the download prompt, nothing more.
Some of the really sleazy parasites, particularly
homepage-hijackers and dialers, execute by exploiting security holes in Internet Explorer,
ways of getting code to run that are not supposed to be possible, but are due to mistakes
in the browser. You can do your best to guard against this by ensuring you have the
latest updates and patches from Microsoft.
Still, there are usually a handful of security holes that have not yet been corrected, so
you can never be 100% sure you are safe. Besides all this some of the worse offenders
(Gator -eBates -WhenU) do Drive-By installs without warning and often manage to swap
affiliate ID#s or sales tracking cookies to steal commissions from sites like this one!
The FTC works for
the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the
marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To
file a complaint
or to get free
information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP
(1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity
theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure,
online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in
the U.S. and abroad. |
One place you can trust to find ...All the good stuff ...Cheap!
 Overstock closeouts Boscov's Dept store Sierra Trading Post
outdoor gear Fine Jewelry Watches Golf Pro Shop Sporting Goods Bicycle Shop Travel Center Automotive Shop Info-mercial
TV products Discount Magazine Shop
Check out the new discount Golf
ProShop for golfing gear!
Your IMS WebMaster ...
...Mike Hyland
So  me!!
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World and Internet News 
