Computing Unleashed » Security

How To Block Websites Using Kaspersky Internet Security

Amal — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:49:24 +0000

With Kaspersky Internet Security you could easily block selected websites such that those cant be accessed again by any browser. This is done by the Parental Control Feature that comes along with Kaspersky internet security suite.

The Parental Control feature in Kaspersky not only allows you to block access to specific websites, it gives you a lot of good options like blocking persons in IM’s, limit internet usage, restrict usage in specific days, Restrict the type of downloads and many more..

Block Sites Using Kaspersky Parental Control

From the Kaspersky Window, click security and bring up the Parental Control.
Now click the “Enable Parental Control” check box and choose “Child” from the drop down menu under “ Operation Profiles “.
Click on the Settings button on the right side of the window. You will see the Parental Control window being opened now.
Click Settings in the Parental Control Window. The “Child” profile settings window will be opened now. Go to the Restrictions tab and click on the ‘Set Restrictions’ radio button and tick the checkbox left to ‘Block access to web addresses’ option.
On choosing the Select Option you could add the websites which you need to block.
You could also block unwanted sites by choosing the categories below.
Now Proceed by clicking OK on all the windows. You will be asked to enter a Password to make sure that others cant change the settings back.

Now access to all those selected websites will be denied by kaspersky on all the browsers.

How To Block Websites Using Kaspersky Internet Security is a post from: Computing Unleashed

How to Secure Internet Explorer

Amal — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:29:22 +0000

A fair amount of people still loves the default browser in windows ie. Internet Explorer. The browser is the most targeted one by malicious users. But its said that this is mainly due to the insecurity of the browser. Here are a few things you could do to secure internet explorer browser.

There are four security zone settings in internet explorer. In the case of normal usage, the settings coming under the Standard Internet Zone will be used unless the sites are listed in the trusted sites or restricted sites zones.

To get to the Internet Options go to Tools > Internet Options from the main menu and navigate to the Security Tab.

Now increase the security level by moving the sliding bar upwards based on the requirement you need. For eg, if the pc is intended for public use, its more wise to set the security settings to high or medium level.

Setting the slider to high level might prevent some sites from loading and some features on sites get disabled. And there’s always the Trusted Sites list where you could add those frequently used sites.

This will ensure that all the features of the sites you visit would be available irrespective of the security level you set.

Users with some expertise could go for the custom settings. If you have deep knowledge regarding web technologies or if you could find out what a particular setting does, then this one is the best option to go for. You bump up the security and disable unwanted features as well.

Are there any more tips you would like to include with this? Post it in the comments.

How to Secure Internet Explorer is a post from: Computing Unleashed

How To Recover Your Google Account When its Not Accessible

Amal — Tue, 25 May 2010 07:58:04 +0000

Google Account contains most of the important online services that we use. It can be gmail, blogger, orkut etc. All of these can contain vital information about us. Imagine losing these private information, all your photos and gmail contacts one day just by forgetting the google account password, due to a hacking attempt or by forgetting the related email address. There’s only a little to panic in such a case because we can recover the google account back by following some simple steps. This has once happened to me too. First of all let me tell you, “Do not do Any thing in a Hurry!” Think atleast 3 times before you do any thing in this situation.

Recovering Google Account When You Forget the Password

Here is what you have to do in case you google account password is lost.

Case 1) #You have access to the secondary email address you have set

When you have access to the secondary email address you have set in your google account, and you cant login to your current google account.

Before going with the password reset process you can try using a tool called Google Password Decrypter which retrieves the google account user name and passwords stored in applications such as Google Talk, Google Picasa, Google Desktop Search, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome.

Visit The Google Account Password Reset Link and enter your email address and click submit. You will receive the password reset assistance mail in your secondary email address. Now just login to the secondary email account and click the link to reset the google account password and you can recover your google account back.

Case 2) #You don’t remember your secondary email address, it had got expired or you cant access that too

In such a scenario, a security question will be asked and you have to provide the answer to the question to proceed with the password recovery process.

Case 3) #You have forgotten the answer to the security question

In this situation google wont have any way to verify your identity, so the only way is to fill up this form.

Make your best guess on dates if you’re not sure about them and try to include as much information as you can.

Case 4) #Hacked Google Accounts Not Linked to Gmail

If your Google Account doesn’t use a Gmail address, contact Google by filling this form. This could help in bringing back your Google Account if you scrupulously preserve all your old emails.

Recovering Google Account When it Has Been Hacked

If you feel that your account has been hacked by some one there is nothing to panic.

When your gmail account is hacked, most probably the hacker will be wise enough to change your secondary email address too. So you’ll miss that method to restore your account.If you are lucky enough you can answer the security question and gain back the access. (If the hacker had forgotten to change it) .

The next way is to fill up this form with the most probable details. Its better if you can give the email address of the person who first sent you that invite for Gmail.

How To Recover Your Google Account When its Not Accessible is a post from: Computing Unleashed

List Of Best Free Antivirus Softwares For Mobile Phones

Amal — Sun, 09 May 2010 10:11:05 +0000

With lots of new mobile phone apps and games popping up its very necessary to have a antivirus for your mobile phone. Mobile antivirus software’s do basic file scanning operations, automatic updates and also protect your smart phone from suspicious network connections. Here are some of the best antivirus software’s for mobile phones.

Is it necessary to have a antivirus software for your Mobile Phone?

Well the answer depends on you and how you use your mobile phone. Antivirus software’s are necessary only if you own an high end phone with operating systems like Symbian Os 6, Windows Mobile OS, Android or later. In this case too it is optional, but if you use your mobile phones regularly for sharing data via Bluetooth, wireless etc then the chance of getting infected by mobile viruses are high. So its better to take a necessary precaution to avoid losing your data which might be more valuable than the mobile phone itself. Though the mobile viruses are not in big number, antivirus companies reveal that they too are multiplying in number daily. So here are some Antivirus For Your Mobile Phone.

NetQin Mobile Anti-virus

Comes with a combination of firewall and real-time monitoring ensure your mobile device is safe and secure. NetQin provides optimized full scan and system management to your mobile while enhancing overall mobile performance.

With NetQin mobile antivirus software installed you can surf the internet and download without worrying about virus attacks.

Supported Platforms : Windows Mobile, Symbian
License : Freeware

Get NetQin Mobile Antivirus

LookOut Mobile Antivirus

With an added features like online mobile storage and locate missing phone features, lookout mobile antivirus too comes with a antivirus software and a firewall that together protect your mobile phone from virus threats.

With LookOut online mobile storage feature, you can backup your mobile phone data and restore it at a later time as per requirements.
Locating your device, sound an alarm, wipe your personal information etc will be done with the help of Missing smart phone feature which helps you to respond when your device is lost or stolen.

Supported Platforms : Windows Mobile, Andriod, Symbian and iPhone
License : Freeware

Get LookOut Antivirus For Mobile

Antivirus Free For Android Mobile Devices

antivirus free provides ongoing scanning and cleansing of Android devices, protecting against viruses, malware, OS exploits to ensure the integrity of applications and data.
DroidSecurity SMS filters provide an additional layer of content security, blocking spam text messages and SMS exploits.
In addition, DroidSecurity alerts users to suspicious new applications or possible mis-configurations ensuring phone operability.

Supported Platforms : Andriod
License : Freeware

Get Droid Free Antivirus

Hope these antivirus softwares will to protect your mobile from new security threats.

Dont forget to add your favorite mobile antivirus too to the list. comment it down!

List Of Best Free Antivirus Softwares For Mobile Phones is a post from: Computing Unleashed

How to Block Stolen Mobile Phone With IMEI Number

Bimal Roy — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:58:26 +0000

Every mobile phone has its own IMEI ( International Mobile Equipment Identification ) number which could be used to locate and find your lost or stolen mobile phone. Even if you change the SIM card, it won’t be changing because the IMEI number is not in the SIM, but in your phone. Every mobile phone will be having a unique IMEI number.

You could find your mobile phone’s IMEI number simply by dialing “ *#06# “. It might turn out to be useful for certain purposes in the future. So you could note it down some where or in your mind if you are having a good remembering capacity!

You could of course, move towards law by approaching the Police and file a case to find your stolen mobile phone. But don’t give up after doing just that. After seeking help for locating your lost or stolen mobile, you should block your mobile phone as someone else who finds it or has stolen it could use it. So here is how you could block your lost or stolen mobile phone using your phone’s IMEI number.

1. First approach the Police and file a case to recover your lost/ stolen mobile phone.

2. Contact the network provider/customer care and tell them the matter. Ask them to block your mobile phone access using the IMEI number.

3. If they ask for a copy of the complaint you gave for the Police, provide them with that by contacting the Police ( You should take the copy when you first approach the Police ).

4. Follow their instructions and your network provider would block the IMEI number of your stolen mobile phone.

Now someone else cannot give or take calls through your lost mobile phone as the IMEI is blocked. Even if the SIM card is changed, he/she cannot use your mobile phone as SIM card doesn’t have any influence on the IMEI number. For example, if the user changes the SIM card from Airtel to Vodafone, it won’t affect your mobile phone’s IMEI number and hence you could block the user. Later the authorities would track and find the exact location of the phone and hence find the thief.

How to Block Stolen Mobile Phone With IMEI Number is a post from: Computing Unleashed

How To Lock and Password Protect Your iPad

Amal — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:38:51 +0000

Securing your iPad always helps you to keep your data safe in case your iPad gets stolen or lost. More over you can also keep your data safe from being accessed or viewed by prying eyes. For most of us losing the device doesn’t matter much than getting the data (personal information) being accessed by some one else. So, here is how you can lock your iPad.

Select the Settings from iPad’s home screen.
From the left pane of the Settings Screen, choose General and select Passcode Lock from the right pane.
On the upcoming options, tap Turn Passcode On.
You will be asked to enter a four digit numerical pin and then confirm it by entering it again.
You will be asked for the 4 digit pin number each time your iPad is turned on.

Thats it now you can be protect your data stored in your iPad from being accessed by others in your absence. [via TipsNeeded]

How To Lock and Password Protect Your iPad is a post from: Computing Unleashed

4 Tools To Protect USB Flash Drive/Pendrives From Virus

Amal — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 05:55:24 +0000

Often,our systems get infected with viruses soon after a USB pendrive has been plugged in. It is so easy to get infected these days by viruses after plugging in a pendrive to your system from unknown source (may be your friends one). Not all the security programs can defend your PC against the virus attacks carried out through USB drives. But if we can take the necessary steps, staying safe from such viruses, worms and spywares spreading through pendrives/ flash drives may not be difficult at all. Here are some softwares that can efficiently protect your system and flash drives from unknown threats and viruses.

1) USB Write Protector : It is a software that can help you write protecting your Pendrive. USB Write Protector only allows data to be read from the pendrives, but it won’t permit data to be written into the pendrive. This is really useful for taking your pendrive and plugging it into your friends’ or relatives’ PC, as most viruses enter pendrives unknowingly. USB Write Protector is a small program, around 190kb in size.

After downloading the program, there’s no need for installation. Just run the program and a window will show up with just two options: Enable write Protection in your USB Flash Drive, or to Turn Off the USB Write Protection. Its that simple. You just need to pick the option and click on OK.

Download USB Write Protector

2) USB FireWall : As mentioned above, USB write protect software protects your pendrive from viruses. USB firewall likewise protects your PC from viruses. The software protects your system from security threats by launching itself as soon as a USB peripheral is inserted. As soon as USB firewall is launched it works in the background and a window appears when some program tries to launch out automatically from a peripheral USB. USBFireWall is also able to scan all your partitions for auto launched programs and delete the respective autorun file.

USB Firewall is 3.3 MB in size.

Download USB Firewall || Download USB Firewall (Direct Link)

3) Panda USB Vaccination Tool : It’s a great Tool from Panda that will disable the autorun function from your computer completely and it has a special ability to add a autorun.inf file of its own which can’t be read or deleted or modified. So the autorun virus wont be able to modify it and your system will be safe from the autorun.inf virus even if you plug the pendrive.

You can create a shortcut to the Panda Vaccination Tool with the parameters USBVaccine.exe /resident /hidetray +system and copy the shortcut to the windows startup folder, so that each time a USB device is plugged onto your system, the program popups automatically asking you for vaccination.

Download Panda USB Vaccination Tool

4) USB Guardian : USB Guardian helps you to safely share pictures, movies, documents etc. via your USB pendrive without the risk of being infected by viruses and worms that spread through the pendrives. USB Guardian boasts a clean and simple interface so that so that the user can work with minimum effort.

USB Guardian blocks any programs from being automatically executed from a pendrive and thereby it isolates the autorun directives on the removable device.

USB Guardian then scans for any autorun.inf file on the flash drive to check whether it references to any additional files on the pendrive. If any such files are found it automatically blocks those files.

The Locked files will be inaccessible by any other program and you can unlock it using USB Guardian itself if you think the program is harmless. USB guardian is free for use and is 2.96 MB in size.

Download USB Guardian

Hope these tools will help you in protecting and securing your USB Flash drives/ Pendrive from Viruses and Worms.

4 Tools To Protect USB Flash Drive/Pendrives From Virus is a post from: Computing Unleashed

How To Get Temporary/Disposable Email Address ?

Amal — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:58:44 +0000

If you are into registering with not-so popular websites, you are most likely to join the list of spam mails. You are getting one step ahead in receiving spam emails. Registering with unknown websites can be avoided to some extend but some times we get compelled to do so. But if you have a temporary or disposable email address then you can be free from those spams getting into your inbox. So here is how you can easily get a temporary or disposable email address.

There are quite a few services that provides disposable email addresses. A service called 10MinuteMail.com is a good one to consider. It gives you a temporary email account and not just a disposable email address.

What’s particular about this service is that Any e-mails sent to this temporary address will be shown on a temporary webpage, visible only to you.

You will also be able to respond to the mails you have received in your temporary inbox. A tick mark will be shown over the read mails.

On visiting their webpage you will be shown a disposable email address that you can start using right away. But remember as this is temporary it will get expired after 10 minutes! But they also provide an option to extend the time a little further to 10 more minutes if you click on “ I need more time! Give me 10 more minutes! “. Click it again before the time runs out to extend the time to 10 more minutes and this can be repeated.

Visit 10minutemail

Get your self a disposable email address and prevent those spams…

How To Get Temporary/Disposable Email Address ? is a post from: Computing Unleashed

How to Get Back Hacked Facebook Account

Amal — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:40:41 +0000

These days there are many ways a facebook account can be hacked easily and many people are falling victims to these hackers. Its very easy to get trapped by hackers, they use more sophisticated methods to do it. And are you in such a situation? Did some one hacked your facebook account ?

There should be any thing to worry if it is yes. Before losing hope there are some things that can be done to get your Hacked Face Book Account Back.

First of all you can try resetting your account password on facebook. But this could help only in rare cases, because most hackers are intelligent and they surely will have changed the default email address. But if some body have accidentally (though the chances are extremely narrow) logged into your account and has changed only the password of your face book account, this might help you in recovering your account password and gain access to your compromised account.

But things get much more worse when the hacker changes the email address in your Face Book Account. You’ll no longer be able to reset the account password and gain access to the account.

But there is a way.

Face Book provides a contact page for you to help you to in recovering the hacked account .

Visit http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=account_compromised

Inside the contact Form You need to Fill in the Following Details Correctly.

Full name on the account:

Enter the Full Name as you have given in Your Face Book Account.

Network(s) the account belongs to:

Enter the names of the networks you have joined. Include as many as possible.

Email addresses that may be affiliated with the account:

This is the email address you used as username to login to face book.

Your contact email address:

Enter a email address you can be contacted by facebook. They will contact you regarding this issue.

URL (web address link) of the profile page:

Give the link to your facebook profile address.

Description and steps to reproduce the issue:

Provide as much as information in here regarding how your face book account was hacked etc. It is recommended to include the time and date when you were able to access your account for the last time.

How to Get Back Hacked Facebook Account is a post from: Computing Unleashed

How to Get a Valid IMEI Number For Mobile Phones in India

Amal — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:24:00 +0000

According to studies there are currently 25 million mobile phones used in India which don’t report IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity ) numbers. Imported phones like the China Mobiles and like were allowed to operate in India which do not have IMEI numbers. This was exploited by criminal to get away with serious crimes.
It was reported that in recent terrorist attacks at Mumbai, the terrorists were allegedly using China Mobiles. There are many genuine users in India who buy these mobiles because its so cheap. Finally, the Cellular Operators Association of India and Department of telecom have made necessary steps to block all the invalid or fake IMEI handsets from December 1 2009 allover the country.So, from now on its very necessary to get a Valid 16- digit IMEI number for your mobile phone.

If you dont know whats an IMEI number for? then its just a 16 digit number that appears on the service providers network logs each time a call is made from the mobile phone. This number is unique to a particular handset and can be used to find out the location of the handset within one kilometer radius.

Why it is important to Have a Valid IMEI Number for the Mobile?

If you find your Mobile Phone stolen you will be safe if you know the IMEI number of your Mobile. The stolen mobile phones can be used by criminals for committing crimes, and you will b one who’s getting caught by the police for that.

The IMEI number is like a finger print for your Mobile. Typing *#06# in your mobile will show you the IMEI number of your Mobile.

If you find your mobile is lost or stolen, you can call the service provider and ask them to block the phone by using the IMEI number.

How To Check whether the IMEI Number of Your Mobile Phone is Valid or Genuine?

Typing *#06# will give you the IMEI number of your Mobile.

Note down the IMEI number and send it to 53232 via SMS.

The format should be IMEI .

If your Moible Phones IMEI number is valid you will get a Success message and if not you will get a invalid IMEI number message.

How To Get a Valid IMEI number for my Mobile ?

There is no problem even if you own a China mobile or similar that dont have a IMEI number till now.

The Mobile Standards Alliance of India through the “Genuine IMEI Implant Program “, is working in partnership with Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Department of Telecommunications (DOT) to implant the genuine IMEI numbers on to the mobile handsets which are carrying bad/non genuine IMEI numbers as a one time Amnesty Program.

The GII program is being run to help protect the interest of consumers who unwittingly bought these handsets.

Advantages of this program are:

You can register handsets with Invalid IMEI implanted with genuine IMEI number.
Genuine IMEI recognized by network operators so ‘no barring’ of services.
Govt. approved genuine IMEI implant process.
Choice of 1600 + GII service partners nationwide as they are rolled out.

To Get/Register a Vaild IMEI Number

Visit http://www.msai.in/listofcentre.php, and the name of your state and check out your nearest GSP(genuine service providers) outlet.

You can visit your nearest authorized GSP center with a valid identity proof, and just Rs. 199 as life time fee and get genuine/valid IMEI for your handset.

Alternatively you can also register online at http://www.msai.in/registration.html
to get a valid IMEI number.

This is a great opportunity if you have unwittingly bought the china mobile handsets or if your handset dont have a genuine / valid IMEI number. So Dont wait, get a valid IMEI number for your Mobile as fast as possible.

Update : The Valid IMEI Program has been Closed Now. So the links wont work.

How to Get a Valid IMEI Number For Mobile Phones in India is a post from: Computing Unleashed