Home page of K9 Web Protection on your computer

Last year, a friend came up to me and asked if I know any software that would help protect his computer while his son is browsing the internet. I told him to install a third party firewall on his computer, and I said that the firewall would be enough to block websites with bad content. And then I remembered that his computer was not that “fast”. So putting that third party firewall will definitely hog some memory.

And then I stumbled upon this software that I think will be perfect for his computer.

K9 Web Protection

K9 Web Protection home page on a Mozilla Firefox Web Browser

K9 Web Protection is made by Blue Coat. It is a free Internet filter and parental control software. It acts as a “watchdog” on your computer, its features include:

• Block web sites in more than 70 categories, including pornography, gambling, drugs, violence/hate/racism, malware/spyware, phishing
• Force SafeSearch on all major search engines
• Set time restrictions to block web access during designated times
• Configure custom lists for “always allow” and “always block”
• Override a web page block with password
• Trust the enhanced anti-tampering, even children can’t break
• View easy reports to monitor and control web activity
• Real-time categorization of new adult and malicious sites
• Best free parental controls software/internet filter

IT’S FREE!

K9 Web Protection is a free software. All you need is to register your email on their website, and they will email you the serial key which is good for one computer.

K9 Web Protection Summary Report

LIGHTWEIGHT

K9 Web Protection does not hog a lot of your computer’s memory. It runs on computer’s start-up, and can be accessed using a web browser.

PROTECTION

K9 Web Protection’s Categories

K9 Web Protection uses a category when blocking sites. You can also customize the sites that you wanted to block using the “URL KEYWORDS”. Also you can use “WEB SITE EXCEPTIONS” if you want to unblock sites.

Blocked by K9 Web Protection

When K9 Web Protection blocks a site, a page will display this alert. You can allow sites when you choose the “ALLOW THIS KEYWORD” and choose for a specific time or you can totally unblock it. You will need your password to be able to change these settings.

Under “Time Restriction”, K9 Web Protection has a “NightGuard” option, where it will block web access on a specific time of night regardless of the category and it is set to every day or every night. While in “Custom” option, you can block web access on a selected time slot on a specific day.

SAFE SEARCH

Safe Search is supported by many leading search engines as a way to block search results for offensive topics. For example, Safe Search might not show any results in a search for adult photos. K9 Web Protection also enables you to force users to use Safe Search with the following search engines: Google, A9, AltaVista, Microsoft Live, Yahoo, Ask and Orange.co.uk.

In addition, you have the option to block the use of search engines that do not support Safe Search.

EVEN THE “UNINSTALL” IS PROTECTED.

Want to remove K9 Web Protection?

When your kid is a bit of a computer wizard, well don’t worry because you can only uninstall the K9 Web Protection when you know the password.

VERDICT?

There is no escaping the fact that the internet is the future. It is a big and a much different world where kids can do anything and they can be harmed by everything. We don’t need to hold them back and not experience browsing the web; all we can do is protect them by blocking the sites that they don’t need.

Using K9 Web Protection will definitely help us in guarding them. You don’t want your kid browsing the internet at a specific time the whole day? Well K9 Web Protection will automatically block it for you.

Side Note: I just found out that K9 Web Protection is also available on IOS and Android

You can download K9 Web Protection on their website: http://www1.k9webprotection.com/

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Google Chrome Incognito Window

I’ve posted 2 weeks ago about Google Chrome’s Incognito window. One of Google Chrome’s feature where you can browse the web and it won’t save any history of the sites you visited and your username and password of your account.

Today, I am going to help you on how to create a shortcut for an incognito window on your desktop.

1. Create a shortcut of Google Chrome on your Desktop.

2. Right click on the icon and select PROPERTIES.

Select PROPERTIES

3. A new window will appear. Select the SHORTCUT Tab.

4. On the TARGET, add “- incognito”. So if you’re path:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe -incognito

Adding “-incognito” on the path

5. click APPLY and OK. Now open the shortcut.

Now you’ve created a shortcut for an Incognito Window

There you go.

Malware

There may be a time when you were using your computer, and you’ve noticed that it was a bit slow in responding, booting up or just lagging. Well it could be that a “Malware” is inside your system.

You could’ve picked it up while you were playing your favorite flash game, or while you were reading an article somewhere and you accidentally clicked an advertisement, saying that “Virus Alert” or “Your PC is Slowing Down?”.

What is a Malware? really?

Malware, short for malicious software, is software used to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computer systems. It can appear in the form of code, scripts, active content, and other software. ‘Malware’ is a general term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software. Malware includes computer viruses, ransomware, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, keyloggers, dialers, spyware, adware, malicious BHOs, rogue security software, and other malicious programs; the majority of active malware threats are usually worms or trojans rather than viruses. 

source: wikipedia.com

Now that you know what is a malware, I bet you are going to ask “how do I remove it on my computer?”.

One word: MALWAREBYTES

Malwarebytes’ Main Window

Basically, the software scans for malware that is present or running in your system. You have three options on scanning for malware.

1. Perform quick scan – basically a scan that could be compared to a light scratch on a skin.
2. Perform full scan – A thorough scan.
3. Perform flash scan – it only scans, mostly autorun objects. (only available on licensed versions.)

I always run a “Quick Scan” first, mainly because most common malware can be detected on a quick scan. I only choose a full scan when a “quick scan” hasn’t detected anything and I want to make sure that the system is really malware free. Now scanning could take some time especially when you choose a “full scan”, the bigger the capacity of the hard disk the longer the scanning process.

After selecting a scan option, you will choose what drives you want to be included in the scanning

Malwarebytes scanning the system

After scanning the system, it will show results with a check box on its left. And you have options like IGNORE, or REMOVE SELECTED. Please be noted that the only time you can only choose the IGNORE option is if the selected item is not really a malware, or if you know that it is really not a malware. If not, then you should go and choose REMOVE SELECTED.

Selecting what items to remove

If you choose REMOVE SELECTED, it will get rid of the detected malware on your system, and would only ask to reboot your computer. Malwarebytes will only do this if the malware that malwarebytes is removing is already running on your system, and it will remove the malware while your computer is booting up.

One Thing

After scanning, Malwarebytes will show you the results of its scanning. You will be luck if you only had 10 or 20 results. But I had experienced that it detected a bit over 300 and I had to check all the boxes MANUALLY just to be able to select the items I want to remove. I don’t know if it is because of the version I am using or they forgot to make a “SELECT ALL” button. One tip in using this software, patience.

Updating Malwarebytes’ database is easy, once you’ve run the software and you’re computer is connected to the internet, A window will appear and notify you if malwarebytes’ database on you computer is outdated.

THE VERDICT?

Well I have been using Malwarebytes for a while now, and I can safely say that it detected and removed most malware out there. It is easy to use, and it doesn’t hog a lot of computer’s resources. And most of all, it’s free! I have installed this on every home computer I have handled and they haven’t got a malware problem after

If you do not want to spend a few bucks on protection, well the free version of Malwarebytes will already do the job. But if you’re willing to pay for a little added features, then you can get the pro version.

Malwarebytes Pro version (which is a licensed version) has features like:

• Detects and protects against malware in real-time
• Blocks hacking and phishing attempts
• Schedules automatic scanning
• Offers three flexible scanning modes

But if you like the free version you can get it at malwarebytes’ website: http://www.malwarebytes.org/

PROS:

• Can remove most malwares
• Easy to use
• Light
• Easy to update

CONS:

• No “Select All” button when choosing what items(malware) to remove.
• It would’ve been nice if the free version had a “Real Time Scan” feature.

The Aqua Key Test window

No, I won’t be posting a video of a keyboard being slammed on a wall or a living person (though I would love to!) just to test the keyboard’s durability.

Instead I will be sharing a tool that will test the KEYS on your keyboard.

The software is called AQUA KEY TEST.

Like my age, I forgot where I found this software. All I can remember is this is a freeware that is light and no installation is required. You just have to extract (it was packed as a zip file when I found it) the software and run it.

HOW TO USE THE AQUA KEY TEST

1. Extract the “AquaKeyTest.exe”

2. Once extracted run the software.

3. Now try pressing the keys on your keyboard. (Please be noted that when you press a key on your keyboard the keys on AquaKeyTest will turn to yellow. If not, well you know what key is not working.)

Pressed keys turn to is being marked yellow

You can use this software to test your newly bought keyboard,  if your coffee was just spilled on your keyboard and you want to know if you will be buying a new one, or maybe if you had just cleaned your keyboard and want to check if you have the right keys installed.

Now I have searched the web where the Aqua Key Test originally came from, but I wasn’t able to find it. Too bad I can’t give credit to the one who made this software. Whoever you are, Thank you!

Anyway, you can download the Aqua Key Test software here.

A friend once went on line at a computer rental shop. After she was done, and left she realized that she forgot to log out from her email account. She went back and asked the operator if she could log off from her account. Fortunately for her, no one sat at the computer after she was done.

Forgetting to log off or log out from your account is one of the mistakes when going to computer shops or when using “other” people’s computer.

The good news is, two web browsers have a feature that you can use when you want to surf the web and don’t want to save your information..

Google Chrome’s “Incognito Mode”

The private browsing feature called Incognito mode prevents the browser from permanently storing any history information or cookies from the websites visited. 

source: wikipedia.com

How to open Inconito Mode on Google Chrome

1. Click the Chrome menu  on the browser toolbar.

2. Select New incognito window.

Opening an Incognito Window

3. A new window will open with the incognito icon  in the corner.

Incognito Window

You can also use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows, Linux, and Chrome OS) and ⌘-Shift-N (Mac) to open an incognito window.

Once you have opened the incognito window, you will also see a disclaimer that reads:

You’ve gone Incognito. Pages that you view in this window won’t appear in your browser history or search history and they won’t leave other traces, like cookies, on your computer after you close all open Incognito windows. Any files that you download or bookmarks you create will be preserved, however. 

Going Incognito doesn’t affect the behaviour of other people, servers or software. Be wary of:

• Websites that collect or share information about you
• Internet service providers or employers that track the pages you visit
• Malicious software that tracks your keystrokes in exchange for free smilies
• Surveillance by secret agents
• People standing behind you

Mozilla Firefox “Private Browsing”

Private Browsing – Browse the web without saving information about the sites you visit.  As you browse the web, Firefox remembers lots of information for you – like the sites you’ve visited. There may be times, however, when you don’t want people with access to your computer to see this information, such as when shopping for a present. Private Browsing allows you to browse the Internet without saving any information about which sites and pages you’ve visited. We’ll show you how it works.

How to open a new “Private Window”

At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button and select New Private Window.

Select “New Private Window”

Important: When in Private Browsing mode, the Firefox button will be purple. You may also have other windows open that are not Private Browsing windows.

You can now browse on a Private Window

What does Private Browsing not save?

• Visited pages: No pages will be added to the list of sites in the History menu, the Library window’s history list, or the Awesome Bar address list.
• Form and Search Bar entries: Nothing you enter into text boxes on web pages or theSearch bar will be saved for Form autocomplete.
• Passwords: No new passwords will be saved.
• Download List entries: No files you download will be listed in the Downloads Windowafter you turn off Private Browsing.
• Cookies: Cookies store information about websites you visit such as site preferences, login status, and data used by plugins like Adobe Flash. Cookies can also be used by third parties to track you across websites. For more info about tracking, see How do I turn on the Do Not Track feature?
• Cached Web Content and Offline Web Content and User Data: No temporary Internet files (cached files) or files that websites save for offline use will be saved.

source: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/private-browsing-browse-web-without-saving-info

And just like Google Chrome’s Incognito Mode, Private Browsing also has a disclaimer:

Important: Private Browsing doesn’t make you anonymous on the Internet. Your Internet service provider, employer, or the sites themselves can still track what pages you visit. Private Browsing also doesn’t protect you from keyloggers or spyware that may be installed on your computer.