As I searched for the answers, I encountered quite a few different services from several different companies and learned what they do. Eventually the services could be divided into two major types: Scanning Companies and Verification Companies. Here follow some descriptions of major players in their respective fields and a summary of what they offer.

SCANNING COMPANIES

These include sites like McAfee Secure (formerly Scan Alert Hackersafe), Comodo, and Verisign. The scanning companies play an important part in protecting the information of a business’ customers. The PCI standard sometimes requires a company that stores its customer’s sensitive information on their server to have it scanned for vulnerabilities regularly. This helps a site operator to be aware of the holes in their server’s firewall and fix them accordingly. So what’s the catch of going with one of these companies? Simply put: the price tags. They are very expensive and the trust seal they provide, effective though they are at increasing conversions, may not make up the difference to a small or medium size business. Make sure you know what you are paying for and if you really need it or not before signing up. If you aren’t in it for the scanning, then you are definitely going to pay more than you need to with these companies.

VERIFICATION COMPANIES

The verification area of the market includes companies such as the Better Business Bureau, Truste and Trust Guard. These companies address the individual site’s security concerns as opposed to their server. They do not offer the firewall scans, but instead focus on things like SSL Certificates and Privacy Policies. They will also usually confirm a company’s address and phone number.

To a site owner without the need for the expensive scans, these services provide the security and reassurance their customers need at a cheaper cost than the scanning companies. Their trust seals perform equally as well as the more expensive options increasing conversions. The biggest downside to these sites? If you need the scans to comply with PCI, you are out of luck. However, there have been some studies that suggest that multiple seals perform better than a single one, so a combination may be a good option to look at, if budget permits.

Also, while looking for a verification service, check the prices for each. The BBB, for instance, is more expensive than Trust-Guard, perhaps due to the brand recognition factor. But do your homework and these sites can make a huge difference in how your site performs. They also usually have some pretty good guarantees.

So there you go. An introduction to some of the different Trust Seal Companies and the services they offer. It’s really pretty simple. Do your homework and you’ll be alright.

Anti-Spywares

O objetivo dos anti-spywares:

O que realmente um anti-spyware faz é mais do que remover softwares espiões. Alguns removem cavalos-de-tróia, cookies e outros programas. As grandes empresas de segurança estão querendo definir o que é um anti-spyware e como avaliar um programa anti-spyware. Mas o qual é realmente o objetivo de um programa anti-spyware?

O objetivo dos softwares anti-spywares sempre foi detectar softwares potencialmente indesejados. Pode-se dizer que o fato de que esses softwares indesejados também espionam o usuário foi uma coincidência e também a causa da confusão ao redor do termo spyware. É muito fácil encontrar pessoas chamando softwares indesejados de spyware, mesmo porque as definições se cruzam constantemente.

Avira AntiVir Removal Tool
Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.0.30 Final	Spyware Terminator 2.3.0.481
AVG Anti-Spyware Free 7.5.1	Ad-Aware 2008 7.1.0.10 Final

Anti-Virus

Os antivírus são softwares projectados para detectar e eliminar vírus de computador.

FireWalls

Firewall é o nome dado ao dispositivo de uma rede de computadores que tem por objetivo aplicar uma política de segurança a um determinado ponto de controle da rede. Sua função consiste em regular o tráfego de dados entre redes distintas e impedir a transmissão e/ou recepção de acessos nocivos ou não autorizados de uma rede para outra. Este conceito inclui os equipamentos de filtros de pacotes e de proxy de aplicações, comumente associados a redes TCP/IP.

Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.25.378

ZoneAlarm Free 7.1.100.000

Sygate Personal Firewall 5.6.2808

USB Firewall 1.1.2

Codecs

CoDec é o acrônimo de Codificador/Decodificador, dispositivo de hardware ou software que codifica/decodifica sinais.

DivX 6.8.3.18	XP Codec Pack 2.4.0
———————————————	————————————-
K-Lite Codec Pack Full 4.0.0	Vista Codec Package 4.7.2
———————————————	————————————-
Realtek AC´97 Audio Codecs para Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP/2003 (32/64bits) A4.00	K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 4.0.0

Limpeza de registro

São Aplicativos que fazem limpeza no registro do windows, tirando dele coisas inúties, programas que foram removidos, ou até programas que foram gravados duas vezes no registro ocupando assim mais espaço.

Easy Cleaner 2.0.5.338

Registry Cleaner 1.4.2.3

MV RegClean

 até mais pessoal...

• Use FireFox or Opera, which are both more secure than I.E.
• Know what you are downloading, especially from torrent sites, and programs like Limewire.
• Know what sites you are visiting, and Know if they are trust worthy. ( there are Firefox  add-ons to help you with this)
• Do not open email attachments that are not from a trusted source. In fact do not open anything that is not from a trusted source
• Scan Emails with a antivirus program.
• Scan files you download with an antivirus program.
• Basically just use common sense.

Which Programs Should you Use?

I will show you two programs which I think will enhance the security on your computer. (Note: that these are what I believe the be the best programs, there are some alternatives that other people firmly believe in)

The first is the Antivirus program.

My pick is. . .

Avast! Home Edition

Avast has several key features, which make it and extremely useful and powerful tool. These features include On-Access protection which is always scanning for a problem in the mail or file system, and antivirus program which can do a thorough scan of your drives, and a bootscan(that you can schedule) that scans for viruses during the boot process of your system. Avast is simple, easy to use, and free. (Click Here for Download)

Now for the Firewall Program

I use and suggest COMODO Firewall Pro.

This firewall is really great.  It has too many features for me to cover. But it's key features are network defense,  defense from harmful applications, File protection (deny all access or modification to certain files), parental controls, there are many more features to it. This is a well known, and highly praised firewall. It's free, so it is definitely worth a try. (Click Here For Download)

So, if you follow those general tips, and use these two programs your computer should stay virus free.

1. Open start menu and click Run and write cmd.
2. In the cmd window, write NET STOP WINMGMT /Y.
3. Now write cd "%windir%\system32\wbem\" and then RD /S /Q "Repository".
4. Last of all, write NET START WINMGMT /Y.
5. Close the cmd window and security center should no longer report it.

This is a known problem with Comodo Firewall Pro. After you uninstall it, Security Center still reports it's on.

Perhaps if I actually bothered to pay for it, then perhaps I'd get the features that I'd like to see, but I found that I could no longer schedule a full scan. I dunno, perhaps I missed it somewhere in the new interface, which all seemed a little bit disjointed and not quite as intuitive as the previous version.

I had stuck with it, because I couldn't really find a suitable alternative. I've tried BitDefender, but I found myself able to fall in it. I've tried the free trials of McAffee, and found it to be a little bit resource intensive. Norton, which I have free access to with BT Total Broadband lasted about an hour because it brought my system to a grinding halt.

So, I hit the web and began looking for reviews. I tried a few different ones (whose names escape me now), but finally I discovered Comodo. As far as I know it's still a beta (do I trust crucial system tasks to beta software), but so far I'm quite impressed. It's more lightweight in terms of memory use, and it seems to scan fairly quickly, both of which were high on the list of priorities.

It did pick up one program (part of the Sony Ericsson PC suite) that it said was a trojan. I'm not sure if it is, but I've submitted the file for analysis. Perhaps it'll turn out to be a false positive. In the meantime, I'm quite happy to play along with Comodo. Does anyone else have anything to say about it?

- Senhor Jesus - disse o rapaz - em primeiro lugar, gostaria de dizer que é uma honra recebê-lo em minha casa. Conforme o Senhor deve saber, estou passando por algumas dificuldades e preciso muito da Sua ajuda...
- Filho - interrompeu Jesus - antes de conversarmos sobre os seus pedidos, gostaria de conhecer a sua casa, onde é o lugar que você dorme?

No mesmo instante, o jovem se lembrou que guardava no quarto umas revistas terríveis e se apressou em dar uma desculpa:
- Não, Jesus! Lá, não! Meu quarto não está arrumado!
- Bem - disse Jesus - e a cozinha? Posso conhecer a sua cozinha?
O rapaz lembrou que na cozinha havia algumas garrafas de bebida que ele não gostaria que Jesus visse.
- Senhor, desculpe, mas prefiro que não - respondeu o rapaz -a minha cozinha está vazia, não tenho nada de bom para Lhe oferecer.

Neste instante, um barulho forte interrompe a conversa. Era alguém que batia furiosamente na porta. O rapaz se levantou assustado e foi ver quem era. Ele abriu a porta meio desconfiado e viu que era o diabo.
- Sai da frente que eu quero entrar! - gritou o tentador.
- De jeito nenhum! - respondeu o rapaz.
E assim começou a briga. Com muita dificuldade, o homem conseguiu empurrar o diabo e fechar a porta.
Cansado, o rapaz voltou para sala e continuou:
- Então, Jesus - disse ele - como eu estava falando ao Senhor, estou necessitando de tantas coisas...
Mas, outra vez, a conversa é interrompida por um barulho forte que vinha da janela do quarto. O rapaz correu para ver quem era e ao abri-la se deparou novamente com o diabo:

- Agora não tem jeito, eu vou entrar! - disse o inimigo.
Mais uma vez, o rapaz se debateu com ele e conseguiu trancar a janela.

- Senhor - disse ele - desculpe a interrupção. Conforme eu dizia...
Outra vez, dos fundos da casa, vinha um grande barulho, como se alguém quisesse arrombar a porta. Era novamente o diabo:
- Eu quero entrar!
 O rapaz, já exausto, lutou com ele e conseguiu mantê-lo do lado de fora. Ao voltar, contrariado, disse a Jesus:
- Eu não entendo, o Senhor está na minha casa, por que o diabo fica insistindo em entrar?
- Sabe o que é, meu filho? É que na sua casa, você só me deu a sala - explicou Jesus.

O rapaz humildemente entendeu a lição de Jesus e fez uma faxina na casa para entregá-la aos cuidados do Senhor. Neste instante, o diabo bateu mais uma vez à porta. O rapaz olhou para Jesus sem entender, e o Senhor disse:
- Deixa que eu vou atender.
Quando o diabo viu que era Jesus que atendia a porta, disse:
- Desculpe. Foi engano.
E sumiu rapidinho.

Muitas vezes, é o que acontece com o nosso coração. Entregamos a Jesus só uma parte dele, apenas a sala, ficando as dúvidas a morar no quarto, o fracasso na cozinha, o medo na varanda. Então, lutamos e não vencemos, porque a casa está dividida. A Bíblia diz que os olhos do Senhor passeiam por toda a Terra para se mostrar forte para com aqueles cujo coração é inteiramente Seu.

Olhe para o seu coração hoje e pergunte: Quantos quartos eu já entreguei a Jesus?

Entregue todas as coisas a Ele e  tenha certeza, quando as aflições, dúvidas ou tentações baterem à sua porta, Ele vai atender por você!

Deus te abençoe!

Marc Jacobs nos propone un nuevo ítem para esta temporada. Se trata de un bolso acolchonado con elegantes detalles, y un color grisáceo. Ofrece un lazo de cuero en el mismo tono rodeando toda su estructura, además de una refinada hebilla de oro.

Brinda amplias asas arrolladas, ofreciendo aún más originalidad. Su tamaño es perfecto para el porte de todo tipo de accesorios, logrando ser muy cómodo y funcional.

En su centro dispone de una chapa bañada en oro con el infaltable logotipo Marc Jacobs. Por otra parte su interior también ofrece varias novedades, desde un interesante diseño, hasta bolsillos internos. Se encuentra a la venta a un precio de 760 dólares.

Eleven Essential Freeware Applications:

1. AntiVirus Software: AVG or avast! - With it's realtime protection, automatic updates, avast! is an excellent alternative to commercial antivirus products. A highly configurable application, avast! guards against viruses by scanning downloaded files or email attachments. Similarly, another quality antivirus application is AVG. The latest incarnation of AVG (8.0) is slightly more bloated than the previous version (7.5), which will be dearly missed, however, it's still a good antivirus program. It too has realtime protection and automatic updates, and just like avast!, you basically install it and let it do it's thing. And unlike avast!, you can do scheduled scans - which I think is an important feature. For example, I have AVG scan my entire system starting at 1 AM every Saturday morning. Both AVG and avast! have fully featured editions which cost money, but the free home/personal editions are perfect for the average home user.
2. AntiSpyware Software: Lavasoft's AdAware 2008 Free and SuperAntiSpyware - AdAware can scan and eliminate tracking programs, cookies, keyloggers, spyware, hijackers, and trojans. A good program, it unfortunately does not provide realtime protection. SuperAntiSpyware, despite having a name that sounds like a bogus AntiSpyware program, it actually works.  My first experience with the software was when I used it to remove a varient of the Vundo trojan off a friend's computer.  The only drawback is that updates are manual and there is no realtime protection. Install both and run them manually biweekly.
3. Browser Hijacks: HijackThis along with the Log Analyzer - An application that actually falls under the AntiSpyware category, HijackThis scans your machine for settings that may have been changed by spyware programs. For example, if you have alot of popups or if your google/yahoo searches lead you to shopping websites, your browser may have been hijacked. HijackThis will scan your machine and create a log file. You take the log file to the Log Analyzer page to get an interpretation of the results, giving you an idea of what's good and what's bad. Just like AdAware, you usually don't need this program unless you unwittingly installed some "search assistant" or "shopping assistant" program or some third party wallpaper/screensaver that came with some "extra goodies", that you really weren't aware of.
4. Firewall: Comodo Firewall Pro 2.4 and Zone Alarm- If you have a router at home (if you don't you should!!), that will protect you from incoming attacks. The router typically has firewall functionality built in, that will make your internal PC invisible to the outside world. A software firewall, on the other hand, installed on your PC, will protect you against malicious outgoing traffic. It will allow you to control which software programs on your computer has access to the internet. By using a software firewall, you can see which programs are trying to get out to the internet, either to access info (such as program updates, antivirus updates) or send info (such as your personal searching habits). Zone Alarm works well in giving you this type of protection, displaying alerts when applications try to connect out. It is good for the novice user who wants a general software firewall without the need to fine tune. Comodo allows a user to fine tune the firewall, with the ability to specify TCP ports, traffic direction (incoming, outgoing, or both). In other words, it's for the user who wants to get down to the nitty gritty. The new 3.0 version seems a little bloated. It crashed my machine several times, causing BSODs. So I would stick to the 2.4 version, which is still available, unless you're adventurous. They are constantly updating the software, so the latest version may be ok, but try at your own risk. If you choose to use Zone Alarm or Comodo, you should disable the Windows Firewall so that they don't create any conflicts. On a side note, Sygate Personal Firewall was fantastic until Symantec bought them out and canned it (R.I.P.).
5. Privacy: CCleaner - If you surf the Internet, whether using Internet Explorer or Firefox, of any other browser, you're bound to have a load of cookies and temporary files. CCleaner will help clean up those unnecessary files in addition to, Windows Temporary Files, URL History, Recycle Bin, Clipboard, Windows Log Files, Recent Documents from the Start Menu, among other temporary files. A good, easy to use cleaner. You can set it to run automatically after the computer boots up, and set it for secure deletion (from 1 to 35 passes). I usually run it after I'm done browsing or going to websites where I need to enter a username and password. The "C" in CCleaner supposedly stands for Crap. NOTE: When you install CCleaner, make sure you uncheck the "Add CCleaner Yahoo! Toolbar and use CCleaner from your browser" option. It otherwise installs the Yahoo toolbar which is not something I recommend.
6. Popup Blockers: Google Toolbar: Windows Internet Explorer has it's own popup blocker which works ok, but the Google toolbar provides an extra layer of protection against popups. Plus you get the Google search bar. A nice toolbar that doesn't seem to weigh down the browser providing extra buttons for gMail and gCalendar (both recommended but non-essential), it also simplifies your search. Just make sure to go into the Settings--> Feature tab and uncheck any unnecessary add-ons (usually all of them).
7. Archiving: 7Zip - A fast archiving program which packs/unpacks files and directories in 7z format as well as the ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR formats. It unpacks only in the RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, MSI, WIM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS formats. It integrates well with the Windows shell, and works better than the Windows unpacking utility since you don't have to deal with the Windows Extraction Wizard which makes something that should take one step, into four steps.
8. Encryption: TrueCrypt - When you need to encrypt your USB flash drive or create an encrypted "container" or partition on your hard drive, TrueCrypt is the way to go. TrueCrypt provides for "on-the-fly", transparent encryption allowing you to securely store your files without much hassle. Essential when you store personal information on your computer, such as your tax files, password lists, etc.
9. PDF Reader: Foxit Reader - A small, fast alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader (2.55M versus 20M) with no annoying splash window. Required for when you need to download/read user manuals or other documents which only come in PDF format.
10. PDF Writer: PrimoPDF - Great for when you need to print something (like an online shopping receipt) but don't have a printer handy, print to a PDF printer. Basically, acts like a printer, but simply "prints" to a pdf file, which you can save and print later, or save and open using your favorite PDF reader.
11. Image Resizer: Microsoft Image Resizer PowerToy - Nice simple tool to resize pictures that you've taken with your digital camera. You simply right-click on the photo (or selection of photos), and select "Resize Pictures" from the menu. Easier than starting another program (such as Photoshop or Elements) to resize pictures.

That's it!. Of course, if you're not the type to install "free" wallpapers, screensavers, toolbars, shopping assistant applications, then you probably don't need any of the above :)

Hope this list helps. Comments are certainly welcome!

Download Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.25.378 (32-bit)

Download Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.25.378 (64-bit)

Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.24.368 è un firewall gratuito sviluppato dalla Comodo. Oltre alle classiche funzioni di firewall, blocca anche le dll injection e protegge anche alcune chiavi del Registro di sistema. E’ stato premiato da diverse riviste informatiche ed ha un interfaccia semplice e di facile comprensione.

Download Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.24.368 (32-bit)

Download Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.24.368 (64-bit)

Para quem ainda não conhece esta firewall, é simplesmente a melhor firewall do momento, e não sou só eu que o digo. Também o dizem os peritos de segurança. Com ela poderá bloquear/permitir acessos a aplicações, a sítios da Internet (ideal para controlo parental, protegendo com uma palavra-passe as suas definições). Ainda lhe permite, entre muitas outras coisas, definir o grau de protecção que deseja, tanto para monitorizar o tráfego da Internet, como para saber que aplicações acedem a que serviços. É de facto uma firewall bastante completa e que oferece uma protecção fora do normal.

Esta nova versão possui um novo componente que poderão optar ou não por instalar. Que componente é este? Chama-se "SafeSearch" e integra-se com o Internet Explorer, e permite uma navegação mais segura. Pessoalmente não uso este componente, pois uso o LinkScanner, que já mencionei num artigo sobre segurança.

NOTA: Antes de instalarem esta versão, convém desactivar a protecção do anti-vírus, pois como possui esta barra (SafeSearch) que se integra com o Internet Explorer, ele poderá detectar como sendo uma aplicação potencialmente não desejável. Foi algo que aconteceu com o AVG. Quanto a outros não faço ideia, pois não tive ainda tempo de fazer testes.

Sistemas Operativos suportados: Windows XP/XP x64/Vista/Vista x64

Licença: Freeware

Para saber mais e fazer a transferência vão aqui.

Quem tiver o Windows 2000 e Windows Server 2003 poderão fazer a transferência da versão 2.4 aqui.

Comodo Firewall 3.0.23.364 è l'ultima versione di questo firewall che ultimamente si sta affermando tra i migliori firewall gratuiti. E' stato premiato da diverse riviste informatiche ed ha un interfaccia semplice e di facile comprensione.

Download Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.23.364 (32-bit)

Download Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.23.364 (64-bit)

Disfruten con las melodías del ex-pirata.