CompuClever Blog

Java security “exploit” may not receive a patch

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Web browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome have all been hit by a Java software flaw used to spread malware, and security experts have gone as far as warning people to disable Java software on their computer.

This flaw or vulnerability in Java allows an attacker to bypass Java security completely, making it possible to install malware or execute malicious code on your computer.

Malware, short for “malicious software”, is software used or created to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computers.

Java itself is used to create “applets” or programs that are embedded in other applications, typically in a web page displayed in a web browser,  in order to provide interactive features to web applications that cannot be provided by HTML alone. Some video games and flash movies are examples of applets.

It’s estimated that Java is installed on more than 3 billion computers around the world, but only about a third of users get updates and patches for the software that close security holes.

As well, sometimes Java security flaws remain “unpatched”.  Oracle, which provides software patches for Java  has only patched two of the 31 flaws reported so far this year. It’s hard to say when this latest patch will occur.

Java was designed to be one of the safest computer programming environment when it is created, but ironically nothing is really safe when it comes to web security.

How to stay safe

So what’s the solution?

Use anti-virus on your computer

Make sure you have an anti-virus program installed on your computer. Anti-virus programs examine all of the “traffic” arriving on your computer from the Internet, and also monitor when programs attempt to connect to the internet. AVG offers a popular free anti-virus program, while Kaspersky’s “premium” product is also installed on many computers around the world.

Keep your information safe

It’s not always easy to keep your computer completely safe from viruses and malware, and infections may happen. Because of this ever-present risk, it’s a good idea to make sure that there are no passwords, credit card numbers, or even cookies available for an intruder to somehow exploit. You need to safeguard your information.

The best way to safeguard your information is remove it entirely from your computer, period.

PC Clean Maestro provides an easy way to remove passwords and credit card payment information so it will never fall into the hands of the wrong people. As an added bonuses, preseve your privacy by completely removing your browsing history too. It will help you preserve your peace of mind.

Top 5 Simple Tasks Every Computer User Should Know

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As computing power has increased rapidly over the past few years, maintaining a computer has become as complicated as looking after a car. And, because of that, it’s easy to miss out on all of the great features and abilities our computers have.

Here are 5 things about using your computer you should know:

Know how to create a computer backup

Computer hard disks fail pretty regularly, which can be traumatic because the hard disk is used to store everything from the computer’s operating system and main programs (Microsoft Word) that can be expensive to replace, to photos and media libraries. Microsoft Windows 7 actually features a Windows backup feature, and you’ll need an external hard drive or a number of DVD’s to do this. To be even safer, you can use a service like CrashPlan to back up your computer online.

Understand how to set up your home WiFi

Understanding routers, modems, and the other things that make up your network can seem daunting, but there are a few basics that can fix most problems that come your way. Does your router constantly need resetting? Make sure it isn’t overheating or clogged with traffic. Is your Wi-Fi speed and range less than ideal? Check out Lifehacker’s complete guide to knowing your network for more information.

Learn how to share files between computers

It’s very easy to transfer a file between two computers over your wireless (or wired) network, whether it’s between you and a friend or between multiple computers you own. If you want to share them between multiple computers in your house, Windows 7’s Homegroup feature is a great option. Learn more here.

Keep your information safe and secure

the internet isn’t always a safe place, which means everyone needs to make sure they’re keeping their personal information safe. Make sure you use strong passwords, remove personal information from photos and other files, and never use open public Wi-Fi networks without protection. PC Clean Maestro also features tools to keep you safe.

Keep your computer in tip-top shape

Computer maintenance has gotten really complicated over the years. Between defragging, cleaning up temporary files, and other tasks, it’s almost like trying to maintain a car. Thankfully, PC TuneUp Maestro can help with that.

How to Start Your PC Faster

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speed up windows computer

Unlike super-quick iPhone and iPad mobile devices that turn on and off nearly instantly, PC’s often take forever to “boot up” or start. It’s one of the minor annoyances of owning a Windows computer.

What’s causing all of this?

There are two culprits responsible for preventing your PC from starting up more quickly:

1) Many applications are set up start up automatically when Windows starts without you even knowing or agreeing beforehand!

2) Some of these programs are rarely or never used, and are not needed to run your Windows computer.

It is annoying and painstaking to wait for 5 minutes before your PC finishes booting and is ready for you to use, all on the account of unneeded programs.

It’s not only slow Startup times…

And there’s another problem:

All of those and unused programs that slow your computer’s Startup times can even slow down the process of shutting down your PC!

And PC’s need to be shut down a lot. Windows security patches and updates need to be installed or a low battery, means laptops and PC’s often need to be shut down and booted up on a daily basis.

What’s the solution to slow boot-up and shutdown times?

It’s simple. Manage which programs automatically start up with your computer, and be sure to uninstall rarely or never-used applications.

How to manage what programs start up with your computer

Windows actually lets you see and manage Startup programs, but it’s not an easy or intuitive process, and doesn’t always work.

PC TuneUp has an easier-to-use feature that helps dramatically improve Startup times for your Windows computer:

1) Use PC TuneUp Maestro’s Startup Manager to review every application that is set to launch at Windows Startup time, and disable or even remove those unnecessary ones from the list.

To launch the Startup Manager, open PC TuneUp Maestro, click “Manage” on the main menu and select “StartUp Management”.

2) Use PC Clean Maestro’s Clean Uninstall feature to cleanly remove unneeded programs

Try PC Clean Maestro’s free Clean Uninstall feature to cleanly remove the unneeded program and all of its residue remnants to make your computer is clean and fast. The Clean Uninstall feature is available from PC Clean Maestro’s “Uninstall” menu.

Not sure which startup program to disable?

Don’t uninstall the wrong program by mistake.

The StartUp Management feature also displays helpful information about each Startup item, so you can make an informed decision about whether or not to disable it.

You also have the power to temporarily disable any item, to see how it affects your system. It makes it easier to avoid removing the wrong program, which can be one of the pitfalls of using Window’s Add/Remove Programs feature.

Understanding what programs load on Startup, and how these programs affect performance is a big part of getting the most out of your Windows Computer. PC TuneUp Maestro actually has a number of other features that help speed up your computer. Learn more here

More on the difference between Flash and Shockwave Flash

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You may have heard of “Flash” and “Shockwave Flash”. If you think they are the same thing, you might be wrong!

First of all, Flash (or, more correctly “Adobe Flash”, and in the past “Macromedia Flash” before Adobe acquired the company) is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. In a nutshell, Flash usually need to play YouTube video on your computer, and the way to do this is to install the Adobe Flash Player.

Your browser uses the Adobe Flash Player to watch movies, stream audio, play games, and even interact with some web pages. Flash Player is freely available as a plugin for recent versions of web browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Safari) on selected platforms. Google Chrome even integrates the player into its distribution, which means you never have to worry about updating it.

So what’s Shockwave Flash?

Shockwave Flash is actually an “authoring tool” that is used to create content for websites, such as games. You can use more types of files with Shockwave. You could, for example, import a Flash file into a Shockwave movie, but it doesn’t work the other way around – you can’t play Shockwave file in a Flash Player.

Flash is more universal. More than 90 percent of Web users have the Flash plugin installed, while a little less than 60 percent have the Shockwave plug-in.

Security risks of Flash Player

Flash Player often contains security vulnerabilities. It’s possible with some browsers to block Flash entirely, but with other browsers such as Internet Explorer it is not. So it’s important to make sure your Flash Player is kept up to date. Here’s Adobe’s Flash Player updates page.

 

How to fix Flash on your computer

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If you have ever heard of Flash, you’ve probably asked yourself the question: “How do I fix Flash on my computer?” Flash is a finicky program that often crashes. And it’s not only buggy – Flash can also be dangerous for your computer if it’s not updated regularly.

First of all, what is Flash? Flash is a “multimedia platform” created and maintained by Adobe, and is used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash typically helps your computer play streaming media such as radio broadcast, or, most regularly, YouTube videos.

Without Flash, most computer browsers would not be able to play YouTube (although that may change as new technologies are introduced).

So, if Flash is out of date and refuses to work, it can be extremely annoying because you won’t be able to watch videos or listen to music. Flash also sometimes powers webpages as well.

Why Flash can be dangerous for your computer

Flash is also used to display things like banner ads on webpages. Almost every website we visit has some sort of banner ad. However if your browser’s Flash plugin is not up to date, it can be a serious security issue. Hackers can find vulnerabilities, and can find ways to transmit viruses to your computer via Flash (often this risk is paired with the failure of the website owner to either make sure their own site is updated, or they may have chosen a really inept and risky way to build their website, making it easy for hackers to find a foothold).

So, update Flash! It will save you aggravation, and will help make your web surfing safer. Here’s a link to the Adobe Flash download page.