Windows Tools, Help & Guides

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is becoming a good alternative for those who prefer to have a free security solution.

How to get the Latest MSE Definitions

If your system cannot connect to the internet, due to a virus infection, this is your only way to be updated.  If you are experiencing problems updating your antivirus you can use this method.

The following links download the utilities, different for 32 and 64 bit operating systems,  that install the latest definitions:

Definition updates for Microsoft Security Essentials on computers running x64- based versions of Windows

Definition updates for Microsoft Security Essentials on computers running x32- based versions of Windows

When installing on Windows 7 and Vista you need to run as administrator. Right click mpam-fe.exe, click Run as administrator, and then click Run.

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The problems you must face using an Antivirus are not always obvious. By not properly uninstalling an antivirus programs, you can experience system instabilities.

It is not unusual that you find problems when installing a new antivirus program due to traces of the older one.

The first choice you should use is the uninstaller that comes with the software. But if something happens on the process the following list can solve your problems:

Panda

Panda has created an uninstall program for every product, so select the proper one:

Panda Antivirus, Firewall 2007 Uninstall Utility

Panda Antivirus, Firewall 2008 Uninstall Utility

Panda Antivirus, Firewall 2009 Uninstall Utility

Panda Antivirus, Firewall 2010 Uninstall Utility

Kaspersky

Removal Tool for Kaspersky Lab Products

This removal tool can uninstall all versions of Kaspersky Antivirus and Internet Security but under 64 bit operating systems versions 6 and 7 of the products.

Norton

For reasons that I don’t understand, Norton Antivirus leaves a lot of  traces even if you uninstall it using the default uninstaller.

Norton Removal Tool

F-secure

F-secure has created an extensive page about how to removal its antivirus:

Advanced F-Secure product removal

There is an uninstaller tool but F-secure only recommends it as a last resort.

Bitdefender

Bitdefender Uninstall Tool

Avg

Avg Remover

Avast

Avast Uninstall Utility

McAffe

How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee consumer products using the McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool

Which program did we miss? Now you’ve removed your bloated AV software, check out the free Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE).

Do you think your girlfriend/boyfriend is cheating on you? Are your children visiting webs and you don’t know anything about?

Many features we find in modern software are very useful, but sometimes, is complicated to know what they actually do.

InPrivate Browsing is of this kind. The name itself drives to confusion. If you haven’t read about it, you might think is a sort of protection over your privacy on Internet.

To complicate the things a bit, the browser even comes with two new modes with similar names, InPrivate Browsing and InPrivate Filtering.

This is what Microsoft tell us about InPrivate Browsing:

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A few weeks back you got to read about a small utility that allows you to lock your keyboard and mouse when leaving your computer on (Read here). And a while back, I told you about Predator which allows you to lock your Computer using a USB Flash Drive (Read Here). This time I\’m bringing you a way to lock single applications, so that you can leave your computer on for others to use, and at the same time protect running applications from tampering or accidental shut-down.

Windows Guides\’ Rating	User Rating	Compatible with
4 out of 5	(8 votes, average: 2.75 out of 5)

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Adobe has found a critical vulnerability that affects Flash Player, Adobe Reader, and Acrobat.

Adobe informs that affected software include: Adobe Flash Player 10.0.45.2, 9.0.262, and earlier 10.0.x and 9.0.x versions for Windows, Macintosh, Linux and Solaris and Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.3.2 and earlier 9.x versions for Windows, Macintosh and UNIX.

To be more clear Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.3.2 and earlier 9.x versions for Windows are affected.

As you notice Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.x are not affected.

The company also informs that this vulnerability is being exploited so I recommend you continue reading.

Right now Adobe hasn’t launched a fix, but recommend to update to the:

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When you get to that point in time, when you decide to upgrade or re-install Windows.  Are you sure you have all the old Drivers or install disks lying around still ? Windows does recognize most devices available today, but not always. What do you do when it fails, and your driver installation disks are nowhere to be found ? Another issue to consider is that your device driver may have been outdated, making the old installers disk obsolete. This does by all means not only apply to older systems but may also apply to your brand new hardware.

If you want to stay ahead of this possible future problem, there is a great solution available:

Driver Magician v.3.5

Driver Magician offers a professional solution for device drivers backup, restoration, update and removal in Windows operating system.

Windows Guides’ Rating	User Rating	Compatible with
5 out of 5	(7 votes, average: 4.14 out of 5)

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