Seven easy tips to protect your PC from hackers and malware

Common sense alone isn’t enough to protect your Windows PC from malware – malicious software that disrupts your computer’s operations or gathers sensitive information about your online behaviour.

Hackers can attack your PC in so many different ways that employing several layers of anti-malware protection is the only way to keep your PC malware-free when it’s online.

Here are seven steps to protect your computer from Malware. Check out the video above to find out more.

Tip 1: Install, update and use anti-virus software

Installing antivirus software may sound like an obvious first step to protect against malware, but not everyone bothers to do it. With so many options now available, though, there really is no excuse. Microsoft offers its own free download in the form of Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows Vista and 7, while Windows 8/8.1 has Microsoft Defender built in.

Alternatively, BT NetProtect Plus is available free to some BT customers. Check out the box below to find out more.

Once installed, it’s vital to regularly update your anti-malware software’s database and run system scans at least once a month.

Tip 2: Keep Windows up to date

Hackers often discover new ways to bypass Windows’ built-in security features, which is why Microsoft issues small operating system updates every Tuesday and larger ‘service pack’ updates once or twice a year. These will be downloaded and installed automatically by Windows update, but only if this feature is properly configured.

To check that it’s working normally, type Windows Update in the Start menu search box in Windows Vista/7, or at the Start screen in Windows 8/8.1. Look on the left of the Windows Update window and click Change settings and use the drop-down list to check that Install updates automatically is selected - anything other than this risks a crucial update being missed.

Tip 3: Turn on the Windows firewall

Windows has a built-in ‘firewall’ that protects your PC from unwanted attention via the internet. This software firewall is enabled by default and works alongside any hardware firewall that’s built into your home broadband router. Check its settings by typing “check firewall” in the Start menu search box or on the Windows 8 Start screen and choosing Check firewall status from the results.

Two green tick marks mean the firewall is working normally, else you’ll need to select Turn Windows Firewall on or off on the left of the window and enable one or both options that appear.

Tip 4: Use the latest version of your web browser

Web browsers are vital applications, but just like other software, they can contain bugs. Hackers are quick to capitalise on these and create bogus (or infect genuine) web sites with data designed to exploit them. Once a web browser has been compromised in this way, a hacker can monitor everything you type, including passwords to credit card numbers. That’s why it’s vital to use the latest version of your web browser - anything other than this may be a security risk.

Microsoft includes updates for Internet Explorer. Search for Windows Update and check its optional updates section to ensure you’re also using the latest version of the application - which is Internet Explorer 11, if you’re using Windows Vista, 7 or 8/8.1.

Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox will also update themselves automatically, but don’t ignore their requests to restart the browser when such an update has been downloaded and is ready to be installed.

Tip 5: Don’t fall for phishing emails:

Emails that appear to be from a recognisable online service asking you to log into a site to confirm some personal details are always fake.

These emails are usually caught by your email application’s spam filter, but if one does slip through and you click its link, your web browser should detect and block the site it takes you to.

This does depend on your web browser being aware of the fraudulent site, though, which is another good reason to always use the most recent version.

Tip 6: Use the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

If you suspect your PC has succumbed to malware and your anti-malware software doesn’t detect it, there are two steps to take.

The first is to download and run the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool from the Windows Download Centre. This will detect and remove specific types of malware and is very simple to use, although it isn’t a replacement for a full anti-malware application.

Tip 7: Still infected? Use a boot CD.

Some malware can hide within Windows and make itself difficult to detect and remove. If your own anti-malware software and the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool fail to shift it, you’ll need to download and burn a free anti-malware boot CD – refer to your computer’s manuals for instructions on how to boot from a CD as the process varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Kaspersky Rescue Disk 10 is a good one, but never download it on an infected PC -ask a friend to do it, if necessary. This will then scan your PC for malware without the need for Windows, which makes removal that much easier.

Are there any security tips we've missed? Let us know in the Comments box below.

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Tips to Become Cyber Security Specialist

To become a cyber security specialist dedicated study and learning is the key step. Nobody can expect to become a specialist over night, it requires hands-on-experience, extensive training and management expertise.

Step-by-step

Do Your Own Research
The cyber security field is all about new trends and techniques, so it is necessary to do your own research to explore new trends, techniques and technologies in the field of cyber security whenever possible to prove you are an expert that can deal with a wide-variety of problems. It’s an ongoing process if you consider cyber security field for your future.
   
Study Hard
In the field of cyber security, you must be up to date to new research and studies. In-depth study is the only key to grow in this field. Nobody can expect success overnight, this field required dedicated hard work and knowledge to survive. Most of the security firms are seeking candidates with a bachelor’s degree, although master’s and post graduate degree along a few years of experience is a plus.

Pursue Security Internship
Although study and research give you enough knowledge to start as a cyber security professional, but practical experience is compulsory to get known by the world. So, start with the internship at any cyber security firm to begin your career.

Get Certified
Although, studies with knowledge and university degree is not enough for a better future in this field. You must earn security certificate in order to get recognized. Getting certificate will provide you with the proof of knowledge.

Some useful certifications include:

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Protection Professional (CPP)
• Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)

Learn Form Tutorials
Tutorials are not just about creating an excellent learning experience for students, but also a powerful instructional tool as well. Nowadays, we can find everything on the internet; various online academies are offering Cyber Security Trainings to provide the market with quality cyber security professionals. From online tutorial, it’s easy to manage time while learning in addition we can reach best teachers from overseas.
  
Apply for an Entry Level Job
Getting recognized by firms is the real challenge in this field as companies seek for the best cyber security professionals. Companies vastly depend on cyber security staff, so it’s a tough recruitment process waiting for cyber security professionals. Hence, you should consider some other relevant jobs that work as a bridge towards your cyber security professional career like network administrator.

Although, you must work to defend companies from cyber attack rather offensively to harm companies in any manner. Many cyber security academies are the best platform to begin with, it will develop an interest along practical knowledge and expertise as well.

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How To Reset Windows 10 Login Password

How To Reset Windows 10 Login Password – Hack and bypass windows 10 login screen. Basically Microsoft has a feature that allows you to set a new password. Here you are not cracking or hacking the password, you just set a new password without knowing current password. It’s a nice way to open your locked Windows 10 PC or Laptop if you are unable to remember the password.Resetting Windows 10 Login Password is easy, you don’t need to be a hacker or a geek. Anyone can do this, just make sure you follow the step by step guide here-How To Reset Windows 10 Login Password.
How To Reset Windows 10 Login Password

1. Boot your Windows 10 DVD and you will get like this.
2. Now open command prompt by pressing SHIFT + F10
3. Type or copy paste this command line and press enter to make a backup of utilman.exe
4. move c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe.bak
5. Again type this command like to rename cmd.exe to utilman.exe
6. copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
7. Now close the command prompt and shut down the PC also remove the Windows 10 DVD
8. Power on your PC, and on sign in page click on utility icon. As soon as click on utility icon command prompt will open.
9. Type this command to add a new user with a password
10. net user /add alltechtrick iloveyou
11. Here “alltechtrick” is a new username and “iloveyou” is the password, you can set your own username and password.
12. Now make that new user as administrator by typing this command.
13. net localgroup administrators alltechtrick /add
14. Restart your PC, and login with your new user here its “newhackingtricks”, give the password “iloveyou”.
15. Now open Computer Management then selects Local Users and Groups
16. Select your old user, that your forgot password and right click on it and set a new password without knowing the old password.
17. Restart your PC and login to old user and delete the new user “newhackingtricks” from computer management.

Everything is fine except your utility icon becomes a command prompt, if you want to get it can then Put the Windows 10 DVD and do the method top open command prompt said in step 2. Now run this command

copy c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe

Then you need to restore utilman that you made a backup by this command

move c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe.bak c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
Hope you have successfully reset your Windows admin password with this post How To Reset Windows 10 Login Password

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Check if your Online Account has been Leaked in a Data Breach

A data breach is defined as an incident where private and confidential information is illegally viewed, used or accessed by a malicious entity. In May 2016, passwords of over 100 million LinkedIn users were stolen by hackers in a major data breach.
Similar incidents of data breach have occurred in the past, and there are no signs that can tell that they won’t occur in the future. During a data breach, personal information such as email ID, passwords, date of birth, addresses, credit/debit card numbers, bank accounts, etc., are potentially exposed to hackers. Depending on the leaked data, hackers can:

• Commit identity theft – can open fake bank accounts under your name

• Hack other accounts – using the leaked password and email ID, they can access your other online accounts

• Launch phishing attacks – using personal information such as your name, date of birth, address, etc., they can target you with specially crafted phishing emails and steal more sensitive information

In short, data breaches are bad news. We have come across a site Haveibeenpwned.com where users can check if their online accounts were leaked in any of the data breaches that happened in the past. Using the site is simple. Just enter your online account (email ID or username) and click on pwned? as shown below.

# If your account was compromised in any breach, it will show up like this:

What should you do?
Change the account’s password. Choose one that is made up of a mix of uppercase, lowercase letters, special characters, and numbers. Something like this InoNothin@343#

# And if your account was not compromised, it will show up like this:

have i been pwned2

What should you do?
You don’t have to worry for now. But still, if you haven’t changed your password for quite some time, consider changing it. Better safe than worry.

So, pay a visit to Haveibeenpwned.com and run a quick check on your online account.

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Safety tips to follow while using WhatsApp

• Never send private information like bank account details, PINs or passwords through WhatsApp.
• Never accept files or begin downloads from messages sent to you by strangers or unknown numbers.
• Never respond to suspicious messages that come through from unknown numbers.
• WhatsApp as a service will never contact you through a WhatsApp message.
• Never trust any message that claims to come from WhatsApp and demands some payment for the service.
• Some scams say they can connect your PC with WhatsApp and send messages from a desktop. Do not believe these as this is not possible.
• Keep automatic downloads disabled so that you can always keep a check on what is being downloaded.
• Avoid using WhatsApp when you are connected to open Wi-Fi networks. These are hunting grounds for malware authors and data sniffers.
• Always keep an updated antivirus security solution installed and updated on your mobile device.
• Lock WhatsApp with Secure Password.
• Remember to log out of WhatsApp Web.
• Always use WhatsApp Privacy options carefully.

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