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Security Threats

What is Malicious Software?

Malware Information
Malware information is available in abundance on the Internet, but web-surfers often find that there is so much information it is difficult to get a straight answer out of any online site. If you need malware information, you have come to the right place. At WinHaven Consulting, we know malware inside and out because we are constantly working on ways to find it, remove it, and keep it from spreading.

Detailed Malware Information
When it comes to basic malware information, computer users should know that malware is defined by three characteristics. The first characteristic of any malware program is that it installs itself on a user's computer without the user realizing it is being installed. Most malware is unintentionally installed when users download freeware and shareware programs.

The second characteristic of malware is that it provides computer users with no easy way for a user to uninstall the software. Malware posts no listing in the Add/Remove Programs section of the Control Panel and often installs a "helper" program that monitors whether or not the main malware program has been removed. If malware is removed, the helper program re-downloads and reinstalls the application.

A third characteristic of malware is its ability to track what you do on your computer. Marketing companies can tailor advertising to individuals using information tracked by malware; and criminals can use stolen information to forge documents or open up illegal lines of credit. In either case, malware is an invasion of your privacy and a problem that must be addressed.

If you suspect your PC might be infected, ask yourself these simple questions:

  • Is my computer acting unusual?
  • Are normal functions suddenly dragging?
  • Do I have trouble opening up Windows or other applications?
  • Is my PC freezing and crashing more frequently?
  • Why can't I get my printer to work?
  • How is it that I can't seem to get (or stay) online?
  • Why are my friends complaining about receiving emails from me which I did not send?

Preventative Solutions:

  • Avoiding Viruses:

Do not open email attachments that are sent from someone you do not know. Be careful opening attachments from people you do know but do not have an anti-virus program on their computer.

  • Anti-Virus Prevention Programs:

Just like a biological viral threat, prevention is preferred over treatment -- and it's usually much more effective.

Anti-Virus Scanners with active protection must be installed on your computer. Once they are installed they run in the background and prevent a virus from getting a foothold on your computer. They monitor your hard drive, floppy drives and other drives, plus your memory and network connections. If a virus attempts to infest your computer the active protection will immediately kill it or render it harmless. Here are our recommendations for antivirus programs:

The staff at WinHaven Consulting also has experience with many products not listed below. This lack of listing may be due to the more complicated nature of the products or because WinHaven LLC does not recommend the product. (BEWARE! There are many malicious programs that pass themselves off as solutions to your problems!)

For more information on any product listed or otherwise, you may contact WinHaven directly.

VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware

VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware

VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware is high-performance security software that doesn't slow down your PC like older, traditional antivirus products. VIPRE is the end of antivirus software as you know it.

Tired of old antivirus software that makes your PC slow down to a crawl? Interrupting what you are doing with slow scan times, causing problems and nagging you? Time for a change to next-generation antivirus + antispyware that IS NOT a resource hog!

  • Does not slow down your PC
  • All-new technology: antivirus + antispyware engine
  • Advanced anti-rootkit technology
  • Real-time monitoring with Active Protection
  • Full protection against email-borne threats

What is VIPRE?

VIPRE is the end of antivirus software as you know it.

Is your antivirus program slowing down your PC? Ditch your old antivirus software for high-performance, next-gen antivirus + antispyware that IS NOT a resource hog.

PC Magazine's security expert Neil Rubenking just gave VIPRE an excellent review with 4 STARS and said: "As its name indicates, Sunbelt Software's VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware 3.1 is designed to handle all kinds of malicious software, and it does a very thorough job." Robert Vamosi's CNET review of VIPRE said: "7.8 out of 10: Very Good. VIPRE combines antivirus and antispyware technology in a fast and light application that also includes a worthy set of security tools." But spend a minute to find out what VIPRE can do for a home PC with old-style antivirus on it. Read this ZDNet review that starts out with: "Sunbelt Software's VIPRE - I've finally found an antivirus package that delivers the goods. Next, in a follow-up post he does a performance shoot-out and concludes: "Sunbelt Software's claim that VIPRE doesn't hog system resources and doesn't slow down a PC isn't just marketing hyperbole but is actually true."

High-performance, next-generation antivirus + antispyware software
VIPRE combines antivirus, antispyware, anti-rootkit and other technologies into a seamless, tightly-integrated product. Built with next-generation technology, VIPRE (Virus Intrusion Protection Remediation Engine) gives you powerful antivirus and antispyware software in-one that protects you against today's highly complex malware threats including viruses, adware, spyware and rootkits, without hogging your PC resources like many traditional antivirus products.

Checkmark Anti-Virus Certified
VIPRE is Checkmark Anti-Virus Desktop certified by West Coast Labs and will receive additional certifications through other certifying bodies in the coming months.

Does not slow down your PC!
User surveys show the biggest frustration with existing antivirus solutions is bloat and high resource usage. VIPRE's design is low on system resources and optimizes your overall PC user experience, keeping notification pop-ups and warnings to a minimum.

Still use Sunbelt's CounterSpy?
You can continue using CounterSpy (new versions will be made available), but if you want to save family budget, get rid of your old, resource-hungry antivirus program! Want to speed up your PC and save money? Ditch your bloated antivirus and get VIPRE now. It is available as an upgrade to CounterSpy for just $9.95.

Real-time monitoring with Active Protection™
VIPRE's Active Protection delivers real time monitoring and protection against known and unknown malware threats. Active Protection works inside the Windows kernel (the core of the operating system), watching for malware and stopping it before it has a chance to execute on your system.

Full protection against email-borne threats
VIPRE includes comprehensive protection against email viruses, with direct support for Outlook, Outlook Express and Windows Mail; and support for any email program that uses POP3 and SMTP.

Advantages of VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware
  • High-performance threat protection with low impact on system resources
  • Scans email for malware threats
  • Kernel-level Active Protection guards you 24/7
  • Advanced anti-rootkit technologies
  • Small, regular definition updates greatly reduce update downloading time
  • VIPRE has three extra bonus tools: a history cleaner, a secure file eraser, and the PC Explorer for advanced users.
Find Out How Bad Old-style Antivirus Resource Usage Really Is.
Old-style antivirus products have stacked layer upon layer of engines, and created bloatware in the process. They slow down your PC, have slow scan times and cause performance problems. See VIPRE's low impact on system resources compared to the competition. Click the chart to the right to enlarge.

 

 
 

 

    

 

  

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P.O. Box 130 - Winneconne, WI 54986
(920) 582-7574

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Last Modified: 07/28/2010