Microsoft has wrapped up the next generation of the free security solution it's offering users of Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP.

In this regard, Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 is now available for download from the Redmond company.

According to the information offered with the downloads, the Build number for this MSE release is 2.0.657.0. The most recent test development milestone of Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 was offered in November – Build 2.0.522.0.

The Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 RTM downloads are being served through the Microsoft Security Essentials website which was previously offering version 1.0 of the antivirus.

While the software giant has yet to announce officially the release to manufacturing o Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0, or the general availability deadline, the bits are indeed up for grabs. 

Kaspersky Lab has launched Kaspersky Internet Security 2009, an all-in-one security solution designed to protect home users from all types of security threats.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 incorporates an innovative application activity filtration module that makes use of HIPS (Host-based Intrusion Prevention System) technology together with a proactive defense module and an integrated firewall. These protect the system against both known and unknown threats.

Additionally, a white-list feature for trusted applications significantly reduces the need for user interaction. All unknown applications are subjected to complex analysis; the application is then assigned a security rating based on the risk it presents. The rating assigned to an unknown application determines the level of access it has to operating system resources, network resources, confidential user data, system privileges and removable devices. This means thateven if an application is malicious, the system will be protected from infection as the program will be unable to deliver its payload.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is designed to prevent systems from becoming infected providing far more effective security than attempting to deal with an infection after it has occurred.

New Security Analysis and Browser Setting features scan the operating system and applications for vulnerabilities, and provide options to enhance system security and significantly reduce the likelihood of a malicious program penetrating the computer.

At the heart of the new generation of products is Kaspersky Lab's new antivirus engine which is even more effective at detecting malicious programs than its predecessor. The new engine dramatically increases system scanning speed thanks to improved processing of objects and optimized use of system resources, particularly on dual- and quad-core processor platforms. The unique product architecture ensures high productivity and one of the lowest uses of system resources in the industry.

The range of functions designed to protect confidential user data has also been extended. The new generation products prevent users from unwittingly accessing known phishing sites and preclude the theft of important passwords and login details by key-logging programs.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 also includes a virtual keyboard that enables users to enter logins and passwords safely. Moreover, Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 prevents the theft of data transferred via secure connections (HTTPS, SSL) and can remove all traces of a user's Internet activity (temporary files, cookies, etc.).

The components included in earlier product versions, such as the firewall, heuristic analyzer, parental control module and anti-spam module have all been enhanced and upgraded. The product interfaces have also been redesigned, making them more transparent to beginners and more experienced users alike. The new products include an automated application mode - that results in the best options being chosen without the user being bothered by requests for action.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 is developed in line with the system requirements for Windows Vista and are fully compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system.

Kaspersky Internet Security is priced at Rs. 990.00.

Even with Windows 7 in pre-Beta stage, Microsoft is emphasizing the need for end users to run security software with the operating system, indicating that it is working with members of the industry in order to have the first antivirus products tailored for the Windows client as early as the Beta development milestone. Fact is that the necessity to install security solutions is valid for all Window operating systems, not just Windows 7, but at the same time, there are some antivirus products that users need to steer clear of. Just in November, Microsoft contributed to removing malicious code posing as Windows antivirus solutions from approximately 1 million computers worldwide.

Products including Micro Antivirus 2009, MS Antivirus, Spyware Preventer, Vista Antivirus 2008, Advanced Antivirus, System Antivirus 2008, Ultimate Antivirus 2008, Windows Antivirus, XPert Antivirus, Power Antivirus and Ultra Antivirus 2009 have a lot in common, but nothing whatsoever with genuine security products. Fake security software has grown to the size of a veritable plague, managing to deliver a consistent hit to the usability of infected PCs in order to blackmail the users into paying for the removal of incessantly nagging notifications.Rogue security “software tells you that your system is crawling with bad stuff (for free!) and then offers to remove it for you (that’ll cost you). Of course the stuff they report is completely bogus; they are incapable of finding any real malware. What’s more they can be very insistent, repeatedly displaying popup warnings that make it virtually impossible to use your machine unless you pay to 'register' the program,” revealed Microsoft's Hamish O'Dea.

Scareware including Micro AV, MS Antivirus, Spyware Preventer, Vista Antivirus 2008, Advanced Antivirus, System Antivirus, Ultimate Antivirus 2008, Windows Antivirus 2008, XPert Antivirus, Power Antivirus and others are identified by Microsoft as members of the Win32/FakeSecSen family.

The Modus Operandi is always the same. Installed on the users' machines, or simply when accessing a webpage, Win32/FakeSecSen will perform a fake scan of the PC for free and report inexistent problems, raging from malware infections to privacy concerns. However, once the inherent list of bogus malicious code infections has been produced and delivered to the end user, the false resolve is only made available for a fee. Paying for the rogue security software will only result in the product removing the threats which did not exist in the first place.

“An interesting, but not unusual, characteristic of Win32/FakeSecSen is that it uses many different disguises. As well as further contributing to the level of FUD and making them harder to keep track of, this might broaden their appeal to a wider audience – while one person may be convinced by something called “Ultimate Antivirus”, another would be more likely to install 'Vista Antivirus 2008'. It may even lead to the same person being duped by the same rogue more than once,” O'Dea explained.
source : softpedia.com

Seagate in collaboration with McAfee have announced the shipment of self-encrypted hard drives for the notebook PC. The novel 500GB and 320GB hard drives with integrated encryption will have Dell as their first OEM customers.

With software from McAfee for the enterprise wide management of laptops having Seagate security, the new drives will help users fight the loss or theft of mobile information. Released in both 5400 rpm and 7200 rpm models, the novel Momentus full disk encryption (FDE) laptop drives by Seagate have a storage capacity of up to 512GB.

The Seagate McAfee drives comprising of complete hardware encryption will also have the 128-bit AES encryption and a fast Serial ATA interface. With no requirements of replacing the encryption software in case the security software is modified, the encryption feature will ensure users of no performance overhead. Also the drives have been National Security Association (NSA) certified and can easily be swapped into existing notebooks.Joni Clark, product marketing manager for the storage vendor’s Personal Computer Business Unit, mentioned, “The management of Seagate’s encrypted hard drives comes from McAfee’s $350 million acquisition in October of 2007 of SafeBoot, a privately held vendor of data encryption technology. SafeBoot was added to McAfee’s ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) security management software.”

She additionally remarked, “So for small businesses, if they know that encrypted hard drives are faster than software encryption and they offer security, there’s no need to go out and purchase a new laptop. They can just replace the hard drive.”

While Dell is the first OEM to confirm the use of the 7,200-rpm Momentus drives to its new E-family of Latitude notebooks, Seagate has also announced the availability of the drives via PC OEMs, custom system builders and distributors for those who looking for new notebooks.

There are no details on the price yet. However the Momentus 5400 FDE.3 hard drive 320GB and 160GB along with 8MBs of cache and the Momentus 7200 FDE self-encrypting notebook drive in 320GB and 160GB along with 16MBcache have already started shipping. Early next year we should see Seagate’s Momentus 5400 RPM and 7200 RPM self-encrypting hard drives 500GB storage capacity.

Now-a-days a lot of addware and malware have been introduced and released in the internet that affects system greatly. Recently, I faced a similar problem in my computer. And the problem was "Antivirus XP 2008". It changed my computer settings and my desktop colour turned to blue. The desktop properties were also locked, so I was not able to access several options like desktop, screensaver, themes etc. One of the main problem is that it starts to scan your computer automatically and I don't know whether the virus it detects is installed by it or not. But finally I got the trick to get rid of this type of malware. The procedure is as follows:Step 1: Open task manager and End the infecting processes
Go to processes and stop those processes that are named lphc9u2j0ejde.exe and rhccu2j0ejde.exe. It must be note that in other computer these processes may be named in different way. Just try to identify those processes and you will be done.
Step 2: Delete the infecting programs
Now try to locate those files that you stopped in the task manager. Then delete those files or rename those files.They are generally located in the path: C:\windows\system32\lphc9u2j0ejde.exe
C:\windows\system32\blphc9u2j0ejde.scr
C:\program files\rhc75dj0e1an\rhccu2j0ejde.exe
All these things once deleted your computer is now free from this type of malware. But you have to now remove those side effects. In order to do this follow the steps Step 3: Open msconfig to clean Start Programs
Click on startup Tab, and uncheck the boxes in front of “lphc and rhc” files.and then restart your computer.
Step 4: Change Group Policy to restore wallpaper
Go to Start -> Run... ->type ‘gpedit.msc’ in run window. This will open Group Policy.
In that navigate to User configuration ->Administrative Templates ->Control Panel-> Display.
In that double click on the following item and set them disabled in the option you will get in a new window.
1. Remove Display in Control Panel
2. Hide Desktop Tab
3. Prevent changing wallpaper
4. Hide Appearance and Themes tab
5. Hide Settings tab
6. Hide Screen Saver tab
This will return all those things in your computer.

Chinese security company Rising has launched what seems to be one of the most innovative consumer-oriented security services ever created: an SMS antivirus solution which allows users who encounter problems with the security of their computers to get professional help in a matter of minutes. All a user has to do is to send an SMS message to "106575020236" and wait a few minutes until one of the Rising engineers analyzes the problem and sends suggestions and advice.

According to ChinaTechNews, users can receive technical support straight by SMS, no matter if there are questions related to the Rising products they have bought or not. Moreover, "they can also make use of the platform to subscribe or unsubscribe from Rising's downloaded software."The developers of the service plan to bring new additions in the near future in order to make the SMS antivirus product more powerful and able to provide the correct information users need. The SMS platform is free and open to all users but, in case you want to use it, you have to pay the SMS you send to the company, depending on your network operator fees.

At this time, the SMS service is only available to Chinese users but there's no official statement concerning a potential migration of the platform to other markets such as the US or Europe. However, since these are only the first days of availability, it's interesting to see how many users will adopt such a technical support method, even if it's quite easy to use.

Wang Jianfeng, general manager of Rising's Client Service Center, says that "the company will continue to open more advanced functions for the platform so that users can ask for help related to any data loss or computer virus from Rising's engineers," ChinaTechNews added.

Product: Trend Micro Internet Security 2008
URL: us.trendmicro.com/us/home/
Price: $39.95-$69.95 (varies by subscription and version)
Pros: Competitive price, network protection, faster installation
Cons: Competitive marketing claims not substantiated

Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 offers an intuitive menu that offers easy options for working in any area of the program. In the ongoing game of cat and mouse — security software versus hackers — Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 concentrates this year on catching more malware and spam, scanning faster and making its interface easier to use. Whether you browse Web pages, send and receive e-mail, exchange instant messages, shop and bank online or share digital files, a competent security product such as Trend Micro offers some peace of mind.Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2008 and Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 are both much like last year's versions with a few enhancements thrown in for good measure. The company has also unveiled a new product in this year's lineup, Trend Micro Internet Security Pro, which offers the features covered by last year's TrendSecure services.

Trend Micro's TrendSecure offered online services that extended security beyond a home PC, such as when you use a public computer or when connected to the internet via a wireless hotspot. The TrendSecure name has vanished, but its functions have mostly been incorporated into Trend Micro Internet Security Pro.

fter finally scratching the PC-Cillan name last year, Trend Micro still appears to be in a pattern of shuffling and re-mixing its product line. For the most part, Trend Micro largely continues to shine on its strengths.

Scenes from a "Mal"

For 2008, Trend Micro introduces proactive intrusion blocking technology designed to detect and halt unauthorized and malicious changes to your computer's operating system and core software. The feature boasts real-time prevention capabilities that adapt to new and emerging threats without having to rely on signatures that have to be constantly updated.

Trend Micro claims that this approach reduces the number of alerts that you have to deal with because it traces changes back to their sources instead of reacting to them. So in use, if a single source makes several changes to your operating system, whether it's to the registry and key files, this, in theory, only registers as a single alert instead of numerous alerts for each area.

Without formal lab testing, it's hard to determine whether the approach truly reduces alerts, but customizable security warnings let you decide how often you want to receive security warnings. You can tell the program to inform you of all alerts, to group alerts together, or only occasionally alert you. The end result is that you will hopefully see fewer alerts — always a welcome option.

The company's Web Threat Protection feature is designed to guard your PC from attacks and goes beyond traditional URL filtering by assessing the safety of each Web page based on its age, content, behavior, and reputation.

The program looks for pages that are associated with malware and determines whether a page is new or has registered with several domains in a short period of time (a potential indication that a site was created for nefarious purposes) and checks for IP addresses of known spammers.

Most ingenious hackers with spam on their minds have moved beyond e-mail messages from so-called Nigerian diplomats with money to give you to now sending image-based spam. As a result, Trend Micro now searches for spam in images as well as text.

A feature that won't be available until early 2008 will be designed to disable links to untrustworthy Web sites that come via e-mail. Trend Micro customers will automatically receive this update, which has been named "Worry-Free Click."

Scanning the globe

Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 scans more efficiently and quickly and consumes fewer computer resources than last year's edition. In testing on a fast PC, scans were fairly unintrusive, on par with what we experienced when using Norton Internet Security 2008.

The anti-virus and anti-spyware engines have been combined to reduce scanning time. Trend Micro claims that its products scan 30 percent faster than competitive products. When asked, Trend Micro could not tell us the products that it tested against to make this claim.

The company did state the following: "We tested against a number of top-tier security products, but cannot get into specifics. When our independent external testing results are ready, we can share." Perhaps the marketing hype was touted before the final results were in — basically putting the cart before the horse.

Trend Micro has simplified the program's installation and setup and now only requires three clicks for installation. Indeed, if you choose not to customize the software, the entire installation can be completed in three clicks, one of which includes your acknowledgement of the software agreement.

One aspect that shortens install time is the fact that there is no pre-scan during installation. If installation can't be completed due to the presence of pre-existing malware, the program launches a troubleshooting mode and deals with the problem.

Most of the configuration occurs after installation. The interface now features a new "Fix Now" button that provides a clear means to correct problems after an alert has been received.

The TMIS 2008 interface is quite intuitive and it's easy to configure settings by clicking on buttons along the left-side of the screen that designate virus and spyware control, home network and firewall controls, internet and e-mail controls, and more. Always willing to toot its horn, a new security activity reports tells you what the program has done for you lately and how well it's protected you.

Maintaining the good

Trend Micro continues to offers strong protection against viruses, worms, and Trojan horses and secures personal information and privacy against rootkits and spyware. The personal firewall prevents your PC from exchanging data via the Internet without your approval and defends against hacker attacks. The anti-spam feature takes the form of a toolbar in Outlook that allows you to control whitelists from within your e-mail program.

The program competently alerts you to the latest phishing threats that can steal your bank account and credit card information. And parental controls allow you to block web sites and screen for some 20 categories that include: spyware, sex, alcohol/tobacco, gambling, violence/hate/racism, spyware, adware and more.

A good innovative feature that stood out last year but has since been answered by Symantec is the ability to manage, configure, and update the security of every PC in a home network (up to three), as well as block intruders on home wireless networks. This allows you protect up to three computers and scan and update them remotely.

The program secures your personal information by preventing it from being sent over the internet. To accomplish this, the program stores portions of your Social Security Number, home phone number and credit card numbers as a reference.

The program provides adequate context-sensitive help that includes definitions and explanations. Trend Micro also offers free phone, e-mail and chat support in North America.

In terms of differences in product editions, Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2008 protects your PC from viruses, spyware, and malware, while Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 and Trend Micro Internet Security Pro add network support, the firewall, phishing protection and capabilities to block e-mail and image spam.

The Internet Security Pro edition adds validation for Wi-Fi networks and hotspots, defense against keystroke loggers, the a capbility to remotely lock folders and files in the event of theft, and features to optimize a PC's performance and restore Windows after an attack.

With Symantec's Norton Internet Security 2008 and Microsoft's Windows OneCare Live both now offering support for up to three PCs in a network, Trend Micro loses some competitive edge. Also, there's lots to like about Norton's capability to maintain personal information and passwords. But Trend Micro is still twenty bucks less, which makes it a viable alternative.

Availability and pricing

Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 has a subscription price of $49.95 that entails protection of up to three PCs for one year. Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2008 has a subscription price of $39.95 and protects a single PC for one year. Trend Micro Internet Security Pro has a subscription price of $69.95, with protection for up to three PCs for one year.

Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 requires Windows Vista Home Basic (32/64 bit), Windows Vista Home Premium (32/64 bit), Windows Vista Ultimate (32/64 bit), Windows Vista Business (32/64 bit), Windows XP Professional or Home Edition with Service Pack 1 or 2 (32 bit), Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 or 2005 (32 bit), or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2004 or 2005 (32 bit). And here is the rest of it.