Security

[Download] Microsoft Security Essentials V2 Beta

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Microsoft connect

Microsoft has released a new beta version of Microsoft Security Versions 2.0. If you are running your PC on Windows OS and couldn’t afford to buy an anti-virus software, it is strongly recommended that you download and use this free security tool from the Microsoft folks.

According to a blog post by Brandon LeBlanc, the new version of MSE (build 2.0.0375.0) is coming with the following new features:

1. Windows Firewall Integration

Windows firewall in MSE

2. Protection for web-based threats

3. New protection engine

4. Network inspection and protection system for Windows Vista and Windows 7

Microsoft Security Essentials 2 Beta

Microsoft Security Essentials v2 beta is now available as free download via Microsoft Connect for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. MSE will protect your Windows PC against viruses, spyware, root kits, and Trojans. Security Essentials was launched in September 2009 replacing Windows Live OneCare.

Download:

Register yourself for Microsoft Connect to proceed to the download. There are some download issues if you go for a direct download. It is recommended that you use Microsoft File Transfer Manager (FTM) to download the file mseinstall_en_usx86.exe(7.78 MB for 32-bit) or mseinstall-en-us-amd64.exe (9.82 MB for 64-bit). This beta version is currently available in English (U.S.), Israel, and Brazilian Portuguese .

Security Essentials download

F-Secure Internet Security 2011 Beta With 6 Months Free Subscription [Downloads]

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F-Secure logo

F-Secure has released the public preview (beta) release of their upcoming Internet Security 2011 suite along with 180 days(six months) free subscription to use and test the new version.Please keep in mind that this is a beta version and hence only use it for personal use.

The new F-Secure internet security 2011 has many performance improvements, security and feature updates compared to F Secure internet security 2010.The new user interface(UI) of the software is stunning.

F-Secure_internet_security_2011_beta

This new beta version is coming up with a brand new tools dedicated to safeguard your online browsing experience.The menu “Online Safety” is added in the 2011 version to provide the same.

Another additional feature in the new version is for managing the program update downloads through the mobile internet connection.As the users using mobile internet through UMTS(3G) or using data cards (like EVDO or 3G), this new setting allows you to set automatic downloads only when you are on the home network and disable it when you are on roaming.

Grab your own copy of F-Secure internet security 2011 with six months free license, during which period you get all the product updates as free downloads.

How to Get  Free Six Months License ?

1. Go and visit this free registration page , enter your details

F-secure six months free registration

2. You will now receive a email with your registration details and confirmation link.Once you confirm it, you will receive another email with the license key.

3.Download F-Secure Internet Security 2011 Beta Installer [Link expired]

Supported OS:

Windows XP, Windows Vista & Windows 7(32-bit and 64-bit)

MyWebSearch Adware: Instruction to Completely Remove My Web Search Toolbar

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my_web_search_uninstaller

MyWay Searchbar commonly known as MyWay Speedbar, MyWay Search Assistant, MyWebSearch, and MyWeb Searchbar is toolbar allows us to query Google, Ask.com, and Yahoo! search engines. The program were classed as adware by some websites and anti-malware applications, although they claimed not to have the adware function. The MyWay Searchbar is currently described by Sunbelt Labs as a Potentially Unwanted Program. [Source: wikipedia.org]

MyWebSearch installed on my system without permission:

How I got MyWebSearch installed on my computer without actually installing it? This happened when I was chatting with a friend in Gtalk. I received a chat as:

You just received a smiley! Go to http://buddies.smileycentral.com/ to see it!

I was curious and clicked it. Then I later found out that it had installed MyWebSearch without my consent. This is only one way of getting infected. There are lots of others also.

Why MyWebSearch is potentially unwanted?

  • My Web Search installs its own programs without any permit.
  • It is difficult to completely remove this program.
  • Even if it is removed from the Add/Remove program, the registry values still remain and tries to run.

How to find out MyWebSearch installed or not?

  • Add ons appear in Browsers like Mozilla/Internet explorer
  • Add ons can also be found in Messengers like Gtalk
  • Unwanted pop ups may come up during internet usage.

How to Remove MyWebSearch Completely from your Computer?

Step 1: Remove the program from Add/Remove programs:

Go to Start Menu –> Control Panel –> Add/remove Programs or Uninstall a program

Search for MyWebSearch and uninstall all the programs shown.

control_panel_remove_mywebsearch

my_web_search_uninstaller

After removing the program, restart the your system.

Step 2: Use HiJackThis to remove the unwanted registry entries and running programs of My Web Search:

HiJackThis is a freeware which can scan your registry for unwanted entries. It is a stand alone program and  doesn’t require installation.

Download HiJackThis v 2.0 : http://www.techrena.net/downloads/HiJackThis_v2.exe

Size: 1.2 MB

Scan your System with the program. Remove the following entries if present:

Click Here to Open The text file containing the entries.

See the image below to see hot to remove the entries: (Click to Enlarge)

fix_registry_hijackthis

Step 3: Remove the My Web Search registry Entries present in the windows registry:

Download the BAT file from the link below:

http://www.techrena.net/downloads/remove_my_web_search.bat

Double click on remove_my_web_search.bat. It will open Command Prompt. While running the commands the command prompt will ask for confirmation to delete the entries. Press Y and enter every time it asks.

confirm_delete_cmd

Ignore if it tells cannot find the value in the path. It is because the values are already been removed.

Now you have successfully completed removing My Web Search bar components from your system.

Note:

1. In order to perform all these actions and  commands you need to have Administrator privilege.

2. If your registry editor is disabled, you cannot perform theses actions. You can refer: How to enable Registry Editor (REGEDIT) to enable it.

How to Remove Alureon rootkit To avoid BSOD Crashes in Windows

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Windows Update

This is a very important note for all the Windows users especially 32-bit, that before installing the security updates that Microsoft Windows had released last week, you check if the malware known as Alureon Rootkit is present or not and remove it using the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool.  If the malware is present in your system and if you happen to install the security update (KB977165) then there is a high possibility that Windows may crash and it may show only a blue screen during startup (Blue Screen Of Death BSOD).

Alureon Rootkit or Win32/Alureon.gen causes problems with the way Microsoft’s patches interact with the kernel, which has led the company to include a package detection logic that prevents the installation of the security update if the rootkit is present on 32-bit systems.

Windows Crash Reported after installing Security updates:

Windows systems crashed during the latest Microsoft security update last week. According to Microsoft this happened because the systems were infected with a rootkit program that made changes to the operating system kernel and it was not due to the update patches.

“The restarts are the result of modifications the Alureon rootkit makes to Windows Kernel binaries, which places these systems in an unstable state,” Mike Reavey, director of the Microsoft Security Response Center, wrote in a blog post. “In every investigated incident, we have not found quality issues with security update MS10-015.”

Download:

Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

Remove Alureon rootkit To avoid BSOD Crashes in Windows

Download Security Update for Windows 7 To Protect from Remote and Local Attacks

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windows 7 logo

A series of 5 Important Security Updates for Windows 7 has been released yesterday.  According to Microsoft Windows a new security issue has been identified that could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker or authenticated local attacker to compromise your system and gain control over it. This being a serious issue and of great concern we are giving the details to install the updates as soon as possible.

The list of Security Updates are:

Security Update for Windows 7 (KB978601)    204 KB
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB979309)    99 KB
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB979683)    1.8 MB
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB980232)    229 KB
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB981332)    222 KB

The description of KB978601, KB979309, KB980232 and KB981332 is: A security issue has been identified that could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to compromise your system and gain control over it. You can help protect your system installing this update from Microsoft.

KB979683: A security issue has been identified that could allow an authenticated local attacker to compromise your system and gain control over it. You can help protect your system installing this update from Microsoft.

All the 5 security updates are required to face this issue.

Installing the Updates:

Automatic Download:

Go to the location:

Control Panel—> System and Security—> Windows Update

In the left Side Pane Click on Check for updates.

After Checking, Windows may find various updates. Select the updates you want to install and Update. See the image below.

security_update

You can check the updates you want and uncheck the ones you do not need.

Manual Download:

You can manually download the updates from the links given below from Official Microsoft site.

Security Update for Windows 7 (KB978601)
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB979309)
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB979683)
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB980232)
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB981332)

After Installing you need to restart the system to complete installation.

Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer(Critical) – KB980182

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Internet explorer logo

Microsoft has issued emergency patch to address 10 possible holes in Internet explorer that also includes a critical vulnerability that has been exploited in attacks.

This cumulative security update patch covers a publicly disclosed critical vulnerability (released in Security Advisory 981374) in Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7 (Note that IE 8 is unaffected by this vulnerability addressed).However, the security bulletin MS10-108 which was released yesterday addresses 9 more additional vulnerabilities some of which also effect Internet Explorer 8 and are not disclosed publicly.

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-018 – Critical : Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (980182) [aka Out of Band Internet Explorer Security Update]

Target platforms: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Internet Explorer 7 Dynamic Installer, and Windows Internet Explorer 8 Dynamic Installer.

KB980182:

Security issues have been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a system that is running Microsoft Internet Explorer and gain control over it.You can help protect your system by installing this update from Microsoft.

All Windows users (including Windows 7) download and install the latest Windows update KB980182 to make your software more secure.

For more information, read the MS10-018 bulletin.