Information Way

Identity Thieves are Sneakier Than You Think

2011-02-08T11:02:00.000-08:00

We’ve all heard the warnings: never give out your personal information over the phone or Internet unless you want someone to steal your identity. Even the most official-looking e-mails branded with corporate logos can be a front for phishers – crooks who want to make off with your credit card information and more. But sometimes you have to take extra steps to protect your identity. Here are some tips to keep you safe.

Leave Your Credit Cards at Home

When you don’t need your credit cards, leave them at home in a safe place along with your Social Security card and other important documents. This will not only curb the temptation to make impulse purchases, it will also keep your finances secure in the event that your wallet or purse is lost or stolen.

Keep Personal Details Private

Are you on social networks like MySpace and Facebook? If you’ve published such personal details as your full name and date of birth, thieves can use that information to learn more about you. Savvy thieves can take a few personal details and use them to track down your Social Security number and even your financial accounts. Play it safe and keep your details to yourself.

Watch for Missing Mail

Have you been waiting for bills or credit card statements that never arrive? Contact your creditor to ask about the delay. Once an identity thief highjacks your account, they can easily change the billing address, leaving you in the dark when it comes to purchases made with your credit card.

Manage Your Paper Trail

Whenever possible, get your bills and statements online and do away with paper bills altogether. That way, nobody can swipe your discarded mail and make off with your personal information. If you just can’t say goodbye to paper, be sure to shred your mail thoroughly before throwing it away.

Trust Your Instincts

If something seems fishy, go with your gut. For example, some thieves attach devices to the card slots of ATM machines and gas pumps. These devices capture the details of every card inserted into them. If there’s something unusual about a machine, don’t use it. Likewise, if your cashier is taking too long with your credit card, they could be taking a picture of it with their camera phone or swiping it through a ‘skimmer’ device to steal your credit card number. You don’t have to have a confrontation, but do be sure to keep a close eye on your credit card statements if you have suspicions.

What You Need to Know A

2011-02-08T10:59:00.000-08:00

If you have found yourself with a high credit card balance and a high interest rate to go along with it, you are not alone. Many households today have credit card debt totally well over $10,000. While 0% interest transfer credit cards are not as plentiful as in the past, they do still exist. If you can qualify for a balance transfer to a low or 0% interest card, it may be something you want to look into.

To determine whether or not a 0% interest card is right for you there are things to consider. First, understand that in most cases you will need to have a good to excellent credit rating to qualify. If you don’t have great credit, this option most likely will not be for you. Also realize that most offers today are for shorter terms than in the past ranging from approximately 6 -12 months. Balance transfer fees are also on the rise and unlike in the past do not have a cap. You can expect to pay transfer fees of about 3-5% of the total amount you plan to transfer.

To decide if a 0% interest balance card is a good option for you simply weigh the pros and cons. Determine the amount you would like to transfer and then take a hard look at your finances. If you are certain you can pay off the balance during the promotional time period, then you should take the next step. Organize all of your current credit card bills and get ready to determine which 0% interest credit card is right for you.

It will now be essential for you to do some home work. You will want to carefully compare offers between several different credit card companies. Be sure to read the fine print to determine fees, percentage rates and other restrictions. There can be quite a wide range and you will want to compare figures to determine where you will get the best deal. Also understand that once the promotional time period is up, if you have not paid off the balance in full, your interest rate will rise considerably. It is advisable to look at what the rate will go up to after the promotional period and compare that as well. Weed out any cards that seem higher than the average. Other benefits your new card should offer are no annual or application fees.

While you are waiting for approval and the transfer to go through be sure to continue making monthly payments on your other cards. Once you have your new card in hand and have transferred the balance, be warned. You will want to make sure that you never miss a payment. You will need to make your monthly payment, at least the minimum, on time every month. If you miss even one payment you can be hit with a no payment fee and because you have breached the credit card agreement the credit card company can choose to raise your interest rate.

Another thing to note is that it is not advisable to use your new credit card to make purchases. Usually the 0% interest rate only applies to the transfer, not to new purchases. Keep your new purchases separate on another card and make sure anything new you charge you can pay off. The last thing you will want to do is start building up new debt as you pay off the old.

The Argument against Credit Cards for Small Business Expenses

2011-02-08T10:55:00.000-08:00

The use of credit cards for your small business can be detrimental, and it's best to avoid using them. The reliance on credit cards to build up a business is a shaky foundation that will negatively affect not only your business but also your household. Entrepreneurial success is based in part on hard work, and credit cards reduce or eliminate your drive to be diligent. Forget the propaganda and marketing materials you've read or heard to date about how wonderful it is to use a credit company while building a business. Consider these arguments against using credit cards for small business expenses.

The Easy Road to Bankruptcy

Too much credit card debt can lead to your making a decision to file for bankruptcy, which can ruin your life for seven years or more. If small business owners were so disciplined with their use of credit cards for a small business, credit card companies would be out of business. The truth is that a lot of psychology and marketing goes into designing a credit card that will prey on your weakness, and even the most disciplined entrepreneur may not overcome the temptation to use it to make purchases. Small business expenses add up and can take 30 years to pay off. If your business fails, you may not be motivated or have the ability to pay off those credit cards. History shows that the end result for many small business owners is bankruptcy, and that's not a risk you want to take.

Higher Small Business Expenses

Studies show that you are more likely to spend more on small business expenses using a credit card than you are with a debit card, check or cash. Controlling your expenses is the key to effective money management in business. Not handling money well is the primary reason small businesses fail. If using credit cards for your small business leads to overspending, then common sense dictates that it's not a good idea. When you reduce expenses, you can increase profits to grow your business. Otherwise, your competitors who keep their costs down will beat you every time.

Leads to Poor Business Management Practices

Credit cards for small business are seemingly a quick fix to problems. You end up relying on your credit cards, instead of creative solutions to problems. The business problems you face are not new. Other entrepreneurs have solved such problems in the past, without using credit cards. You hamper your ability to manage your business, and you develop poor habits if you avoid solving those problems, which is exactly what you do when you use credit cards. There are ways to run a business with little money, and you may have to start small before you can grow big. Credit cards are not a way to get rich quick but, rather, your way to get poor faster.

This argument may seem harsh, but the harsher reality is the financial ruin that comes to many entrepreneurs and their families who have been taught that credit cards for small business are a necessity or a great idea. There are better ways.

Taking Advantage of Business Credit Card Balance Transfer Offers

2011-02-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

When you get a business credit card, balance transfer offers can sound very appealing. If you use them correctly, these offers can really work to your advantage. However, if you do not handle them properly, they could come back to hurt you. Here are a few things to consider about taking advantage of business credit card balance transfer offers.

How They Work

Although every credit card company handles this type of offer in its way, the offers tend to have certain similarities. Most of the offers will provide you with a 0 percent introductory rate on all balance transfers that you make to their card. You will be able to take advantage of no interest for a certain amount of time. In most cases, they will give you at least one year to take advantage of these terms.

In order to utilize this program, you will have to complete a balance transfer from another credit card or account. You could potentially use the credit card number from your new card to pay off a balance, or you could have the credit card company take care of the transfer for you. Either way, the end result of the transaction will be that you transfer balances from your old card(s) to the new card.

Saving Money

When you take advantage of this type of deal, you could potentially save your business a lot of money. If you already have a business credit card, there is a good chance that you are paying very high rates of interest. In some cases, you might be paying as much as an APR of 25. If you have a large balance, this could add up to a substantial amount of money that you are paying to the credit card company in interest charges. If you were to transfer this balance over to a credit card that has no interest for the next 18 months, you would be saving a substantial amount of money.

Paying off Debt

Another advantage that could come of this type of program is an ability to pay off your debt quicker. In those cases, you will have 12 to 18 months to take advantage of not having an interest payment. The money that you would have been paying in interest can now go towards retiring the debt. With this strategy, you could potentially pay off the balance or pay it down significantly during this promotional period.

Investment

This type of offer can also provide you with the opportunity to invest money back into your business. Instead of paying extra money every month towards a high interest rate on a credit card, you can instead use this money to invest. You could potentially buy equipment or expand your business. There are also many other things that you could invest in with the money that you save. This will provide you with a way to earn money on the interest that you saved.

How to Get a Business Credi

2011-02-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

If you are looking to acquire a business credit card, low interest will be one of the most important features to look for. Securing a lower interest rate can provide you with a great source of savings for your business. Here are a few things to consider about how to get a business credit card with low interest.

Build up Credit

One of the first things to do is to try to build up your business credit score. Just as individuals have personal credit scores, businesses have credit scores. If you are in search of a low interest rate on a credit card, having a high credit score for your business will be very beneficial. There are several ways that you could build up your credit score. One way is to open some accounts with vendors that report to the credit bureaus. Make some small purchases on these accounts and then pay them off on time. This will help develop some credit for your business, and it will have a positive impact when you shop for a credit card.

Shop Around

When you are in search of a low interest rate for your business card, you should also be sure to shop around with many different credit card companies. Even though external factors play a role in interest rates, each credit card company is going to have its own criteria when it comes to deciding on an interest rate. Make sure to look at a number of different companies so that you can make sure you are getting the best deal on interest rates.

Negotiate

Whenever you are shopping for a credit card, you can also use negotiation to your advantage. Many people do not realize that you can actually negotiate with credit card companies in order to get a lower rate. While not every credit card company will be willing to negotiate, some of them will want your business. When you are shopping around, be sure to keep quotes from all of the different companies that you talk to. You can then use these quotes as leverage when you are negotiating with a company. If a certain company wants your business badly enough, it will probably be able to extend a special interest rate offer to you. Each company is in charge of setting its own interest rates, so it can also adjust them if it has a reason to do so.

Consider Collateral

Many businesses search only for typical unsecured credit cards. However, when you are shopping for a credit card, you might also want to consider a secured one. Secured credit cards will require some form of collateral on your part. In return for this collateral, you are going to be able to get a lower interest rate in the majority of cases. Therefore, if a low interest rate is important to you, consider putting up some collateral to obtain it.

4 Reasons to Open a Business Credit Line

2011-02-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

Opening a business credit line can help your business out in a number of different ways. Many businesses stay away from credit lines because they fear a negative impact on their credit scores. However, the benefits usually outweigh any negative consequences when dealing with business credit lines. Here are a few reasons to open a business credit line.

1. Build Your Credit Score

By opening a business credit line, you will be able to successfully build your credit score in the long-term. You want to work with someone that reports payments to the credit bureaus. In order to build your business credit, you are going to have to use it. Credit is one of those things that you are going to lose if you don't use it. When you make a payment, the company is going to note this payment with the credit bureaus. As long as you make your payments on time, this is going to reflect positively on you and your credit score.

2. Free up Cash

In business, one of the most common expressions is that "cash is king." This expression is true and it still applies in today's business world. As a business owner, you want to free up as much cash as you possibly can. If you have to use up all of your cash to pay your monthly bills, this will decrease the amount of flexibility that you have as a business. When times get tough, it is helpful to have a large amount of cash reserves on hand. This will prevent you from having to seek out financing from a lender when times get tough. As long as you have cash on hand, you can act independently and your business strategy will not be negatively affected by outside influences. When you are strapped for cash, you may not be able to act freely and make normal business decisions.

3. Convenience

Using a business credit line is also very convenient for you as a business. Whenever you want to purchase supplies or equipment, you can simply charge it on your business credit line. This will be easy and effortless on your part. The company will then send you a bill in a few days and you will be able to pay it at your convenience. This is going to save you time and it will allow you to pay your bills on your schedule. In business, you have to make decisions around cash flow considerations. You may not always have the cash on hand when you need to purchase something. However, you might be receiving some payments in a few days. By using a business credit line, you will be able to make payments on your schedule which will be much more convenient for you overall as a business owner.

4. Relationships

Opening a business credit line can also help you build relationships with other businesses. When you are working closely with another business with a credit line, you will be able to build up your business relationship. This can be beneficial throughout the life of your business and when you need help.

Business Credit Card Requirements for Limited Liability Corporations

2011-02-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

When you first form a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), you will receive multiple offers for a business credit card. It is important to realize that these cards are often tied to your personal credit or your individual credit score, and they are not truly sources of business credit. To get an actual business credit card, you will need to apply under the name of your new LLC.

Building Business Credit

Once you are legally incorporated as an LLC, you can begin opening bank accounts. If your business has capital from investors or if you have personal capital, begin by purchasing assets in the name of the business. You will have to start small in order to build a record of transactions for your new company. Building account balances and assets is a good way to start. An LLC is capable of holding assets in its name, and this method should be used in order to get a credit card.

Getting a Business Credit Card for an LLC

Once your business has a financial identity, you can apply for a credit card. Often, it is easiest to apply with the bank where your business accounts are currently held. The credit line you can secure will depend on those assets in the business's name and the business's own record of financial success.

How to Identify Small Business Credit Card Scams

2011-02-08T10:40:00.000-08:00

When dealing with small business credit cards, there is a chance that you could run into some scams. Avoiding scams is an important part of the process of having a small business credit card. Here are a few tips on how to identify small business credit card scams.

Better Business Bureau

Before you ever do business with a company that asks for your credit card info, make sure that you check them out on the Better Business Bureau. If they are a legitimate come in a, they will have a profile on the Better Business Bureau website. You can check out there track record and see if they are legit.

Watch E-Mails

Many times, scam artists will send e-mails that look like they are from a legitimate source. If you receive an e-mail that asks anything about your credit card information, you should definitely not give it to them. Legitimate companies are not going to try to get your credit card number through an e-mail.

Opt Out

If you regularly receive credit card offers in the mail, you should opt out of further offers. You can contact the Direct Marketing Association to opt out of many promotions. Scammers can open a credit card in your name if they have a promotional piece of mail from a credit card company.

5 Tips to Get a Perfect Credit Score

2011-02-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

Getting a perfect credit score is something that could potentially save you a lot of money on interest charges. If you want to go after a perfect credit score, there are a number of steps that you will need to complete. Here are some tips to getting a perfect credit score.

1. Don't Be Afraid of Credit

Many people mistakenly believe that they should not utilize credit if they want to have a good credit score. In fact, the opposite is true. You are going to have to use some type of credit if you want to boost your credit score. This is one of those things that you have to use or you are going to lose.

2. Use it Cautiously

Although you need to use your credit, you need to use it sparingly. Be careful with how you use your credit and do not let your debt get out of control. One of the big problems that people run into is accumulating large credit card balances. If you want to get a perfect credit score, you are going to need to make small regular purchases with your credit accounts. Make a small purchase and then pay off your balance each month. You do not ever want to exceed more than 30 percent of your credit limit. If you get in the habit of maxing out your credit card, lenders are going to think that you do not know how to handle your money very well.

3. Do Not Apply Often

You want to try to have a nice mix of credit. Having different types of credit such as a mortgage, auto loan, and a credit card can be helpful. However, you do not want to apply for credit too often. You want to limit the amount of time that you apply for credit cards and other types of credit accounts. Those that have the highest credit scores do not regularly apply for credit. You do not want to carry around five or six credit cards at one-time. Get one or two of the best credit cards and use them for your transactions.

4. Never Miss a Payment

If you want to get a perfect credit score, you are going to have to have a perfect payment history. Payment history is one of the most important factors that credit bureaus look at when determining your credit score. You need to make your payments for every type of account that you have. If you miss a payment, your creditor is going to reported to the credit bureaus and it will negatively impact your credit score.

5. Credit Monitoring

Another step that you should take if you want perfect credit is to employ the services of a credit monitoring company. There are many different credit monitoring services out there that can watch your credit report for you. They will alert you if any credit accounts are opened in your name or if identity theft is suspected.

Do You Need Credit Cards After Bankruptcy?

2011-02-05T03:37:00.000-08:00

Whilst a bankruptcy discharge may leave you debt free or in a renewed and healthy financial state, it will also remain on your credit rating prepared 7 to 10 years depending on the type of bankruptcy you have file under. Consequently, your credit rating will be ruined.

Therefore, once your bankruptcy has been discharged you need to focus on rebuilding your credit score. The best way to do this, to prove to the bureaux that you can manage your money sensibly, is to obtain a credit card, use it, but make sure that you pay the balance every month.

This may seem somewhat ironic given the fact that it may well be that it was card debt that got you into trouble in the first place. You may even feel that you never want to have a card again. This is a perfectly natural reaction, and a sensible one, but credit cards, when used correctly, can be incredibly useful for unforeseen emergencies.

True, if you have had a bankruptcy discharge then you may find it difficult to obtain a credit card, particularly in the wake of the recent economic crisis and the resultant reluctance of banks to lend money to anyone they consider the remotest risk.

The 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act has reduced the risk to lenders by extending the period of time allowed between filings of bankruptcy, which means that someone who, for example, has just received a discharge in a chapter 7 case, cannot then file for bankruptcy again until eight years have passed, and in the case of a chapter 13 bankruptcy, six years.

In addition, some states have no usury law, which means test credit card companies are free to charge higher rates of interest, and will do so to those with dubious credit histories.

The bottom line here is that as a discharged bankrupt, whichever route you go as regards credit, you will almost certainly be faced with a higher than average rate of interest.

Despite this, or more likely because of this, you need to decide before accepting any new credit card that you are going to pay the balance off in full at the due date, and therefore your new card is not to be seen as a source of replacement cash.

Another thing to bear in mind when applying for a credit card is that having an application for a card turned down reflect negatively on your credit rating.

Therefore you need to do some homework. Rather than apply for a card, the best thing to do is to compile a list of reputable card companies and then contact them directly to ask them what their policy is on issuing cards to discharged bankrupts. You can also ask them directly as to whether they would be likely to grant you a card, but make sure that you are talking "off the record" and not as a formal application. That way you minimise the risk to your credit score.

If you experience difficulty in finding a credit card company that will accept you, or if you truly don't want to have a credit card at this stage in your financial rehabilitation, an alternative is to apply for what is called a "secured" credit card. With a secured credit card the credit card issuer takes a sum of money which is held in a deposit account and is equal to the limit on your card. This act as a guarantee to the card issuer that you will never be able to run up more credit than you can afford to pay.

You may feel therefore that there is little point in having a secured card when you might just as well used cash, after all you can only use the card to the same value as the amount of cash you deposited with card issuer.

However, the credit bureaus, (those who calculate your credit rating) do not see you spending cash. They do, however, see your spending on a secured credit card, and even though the card is secured against your deposit, using the card and paying the balance off in full every month will help to restore your credit rating.

Filing Bankruptcy - Not By Choice

2011-02-05T03:32:00.000-08:00

The current economic state around the world has caused many individuals to consider filing bankruptcy. Some sure investments that many have made ended up being not so secure, with the loss of revenue really hitting hard. Though bankruptcy is an option and sometimes the best choice, here is some need to know information when you are filing bankruptcy not by choice.

This issue needs to have careful consideration, so having as much information as you can get is essential to understanding the ins and outs of bankruptcy. There are different types of bankruptcies. One is the Chapter 7 and the other is Chapter 13. Each method of bankruptcy has its place; one is less involved than the other. Read on to discover how the different methods are applied.

Chapter 7 is often applied when the debtor does not have assets that need protected, such as a home or auto. This method of bankruptcy can also be applied for individuals who do not have the money to pay current bills. Chapter 13 is more involved and is applied in order to restructure debt without endangering the home or auto. This method is appropriate for those who are able to pay current bills as well as extra in order to get caught up on back payments. At this point in time it is best to seek the skills of a competent attorney that is practiced in bankruptcy filings.

If you are in the position of filing bankruptcy not by choice, there are avenues that can be taken to lessen the impact. Disputing charges against your credit can help clear a bill that has been paid, but not removed from your credit record. This is the first step to take in order to get your debt mapped out so that you know what will be involved in the bankruptcy and what will not.

Losing their job is one reason many people fall terribly behind on their bills. When an individual has to make the choice between utilities and food, there is little room for breathing, let alone staying current with your bills. Food pantries can help with the food issue and there are programs that will help with the utilities in most states. The credit bills may force you to resort to an unpopular option: bankruptcy.

Another cause that may force a bankruptcy is high medical bills. The average worker cannot pay these huge medical bills. The option of filing for Chapter 7 or chapter 13 is often the only resolution that can be made in order to get the debt back under control.

Chapter 7 is more often used for ending the shorter term of debts while Chapter 13 settles longer term debt. Chapter 13 can prevent foreclosure on the residence while helping individuals restructure their debt and gradually getting caught back up again. Chapter 13 will also keep the utilities on while the restructuring is being done. Auto loans, wage attachments, and credit card debt can all be negotiated to a smaller amount owed while the debtor is able to retain the property or auto. Wage attachments can cause even further problems and bankruptcy can halt most wage attachment excluding child support payments, some student loans, and taxes.

It is best to bring in a professional when bankruptcy is the evident solution. Laws vary from state to state and are often confusing. Making a mistake at this time could end up costing for many years to come. The professional that deals with bankruptcy can advise you as to what is the best option for you.

What Happens when a Firm Becomes Insolvent?

2011-02-05T03:23:00.000-08:00

There are various stages that a business might go through when it becomes insolvent. It will have taken various steps already to try and deal with the problem but if some legal action is being taken, it may have got beyond the stage where the firm itself can cope with it and some outside assistance may be required.

If it gets to the position where it has tried to deal with the problems it faces but has to accept that it will not be able to do so there are a number of possible routes it can take.

Decide to go into liquidation. This will involve selling of the assets of a company in order to try and pay off creditors. There are various forms of liquidation:

- Compulsory liquidation. In this case, one or more of the creditors will have gone to a court to get their money. The Court issues a winding up order that forces the business to close down and take steps to sell off its assets.
- Members' voluntary liquidation. This occurs where the company has sufficient assets to cover its liabilities but the shareholders decide to put the company into liquidation. The implication is that the shareholders are not confident of the longer-term position of their business and decide to cut their losses.
- Creditors' voluntary liquidation. In this case, shareholders have decided to put the company into liquidation but they face a situation where they do not have sufficient assets to cover their liabilities.
Informal Arrangements. Here the company might contact its creditors advising them of its position and seeking to come to an agreement about arrangements to settle its debts.
Company Voluntary Agreement. Similar to the informal arrangement but the company would use a court to formalise it. In such cases a specialist Insolvency Practitioner (IP) will be employed to see through the agreement. An IP must be registered and will often be part of a firm of accountants who specialise in dealing with company failures.
Administration. An application to a court by the company to suspend the requirement to pay creditors for a period of time. During this period of time, the company will be administered by an IP and it will be their job to either find a new buyer for the business or parts of the business, negotiate with the creditors to restructure the debts or oversee the liquidation of the assets to pay off creditors. Going into administration gives the firm some breathing space to help deal with its problems and can result in the firm surviving albeit probably in some different form than before it went into administration.
Receivership. In this situation, the creditors can ask for a receiver to be appointed to sell the assets of the company and thus pay off the creditor. The receiver's job in this case is purely to recover the debts of the creditor. Once this has been done the remains of the business is handed back to the owners.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy

2011-02-05T03:09:00.000-08:00

This resource seeks to help guide you through some of the issues surrounding the idea of insolvency. Most businesses when starting up might dream of success and profits. The reality in some cases is much less romantic: 20% of new businesses fail within the first two years of operation. In many cases, this is due to problems of cash flow rather than the business idea being wrong.

Strictly speaking, insolvency is the term we should use to describe the difficulties businesses face, whereas bankruptcy refers to the position an individual faces when unable to pay their debts. The two terms tend to be used interchangeably, and the basic problem is essentially the same.

What is Insolvency?

All businesses have revenues coming in from sales and money going out to pay for raw materials, staff, insurance, administration, advertising, loans and so on. The amount of money coming into the business, and when it comes in to the business, is crucial to allow a firm to be able to continue operating in the longer term.

Expenditures tend to be fairly regular in occurrence - insurance, staff salaries, rent and rates, for example, have to be paid at least monthly and raw materials used will depend on the level of production. If a business faces an increase in demand for its products, it may have to order in more stock and it needs the funds available to be able to do that.

If, for some reason, revenues are not coming in at the same rate then the business can start to experience problems. Without cash coming in, creditors (people who are owed money by the business) do not get paid and legally they can take steps to recover this money. If this happens then the business faces insolvency - an inability to be able to pay off their debts.

Cash Flow and Profitability

A business can be profitable in that, over a period, its costs are less than its revenue. However, if during that period it is unable to meet its obligations, then it can face insolvency. Profit, therefore, is not the same as cash flow.

Kaspersky Removal Tool v7.0.0.242 Portable

2011-02-05T03:06:00.000-08:00

The Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool application was designed to be another virus scanner and detection software from Kaspersky. The produst will scan the specified locations for any virus threats and remove them or send to Quarantine folder.

Size: 34 MB

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McAfee AVERT Stinger 10.0.1.602

2011-02-05T03:05:00.000-08:00

McAfee AVERT Stinger is a stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system. Stinger utilizes next generation scan engine technology, including process scanning, digitally signed DAT files, and scan performance optimizations.

OS: Win 9x/ME/NT/2K/XP/2K3

Size: 2.37MB

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BitDefender Antivirus 2009

2011-02-05T03:02:00.000-08:00

BitDefender AntiVirus 2009 - Superior Proactive Protection from Viruses, Spyware, and other e-Threatsthat wont slow you down!
BitDefender provides security solutions to satisfy the protection requirements of today's computing environment, delivering effective threat management to home and corporate users. BitDefender Antivirus is a powerful antivirus and antispyware tool with features that best meet your security needs. Ease of use and automatic updates make BitDefender Antivirus an install and forgetproduct.

BitDefender a global provider of award-winning antivirus software and data security solutions, has launched BitDefender 2009 its new line of security solutions providing state-of-the-art proactive protection from todays most damaging viruses, spyware, hackers, spam, phishing attacks, and other common Internet security threats.

Features:

· Confidently download, share and open files from friends, family, co-workers and even total strangers!
Improved: Scans all web, e-mail and instant messaging traffic for viruses and spyware, in real-time
Proactively protects against new virus outbreaks using advanced heuristics
· Protect your identity: shop, bank, listen, watch privately and securely
Blocks attempted identity theft (phishing)
Improved: Prevents personal information from leaking via e-mail, web or instant messaging
· Guard your conversations with top-of-the line encryption
Instant Messaging Encryption
· Play safe, play seamlessly!
Improved: Reduces the system load and avoids requesting user interaction during games
· Get fine-tuned performance from your computer !
Uses few system resources
Laptop mode prolongs battery life
Improved: Scans all web, e-mail and instant messaging traffic for viruses and spyware, in real-time
Proactively protects against new virus outbreaks using advanced heuristics
· Family network protection
Manage the security of your home network from a single location. BitDefender software from other computers in the network can be remotely configured, while tasks such as scans, backups tune-ups and updates can be run on-demand or scheduled to run during off-hours.
· Hassle Free Hourly Updates
Hourly updates ensure that you are protected against the latest threats without pushing a button. Lost program files are not a problem either. In the rare event of file damage due to PC problems, BitDefender automatically repairs and updates itself.
· FREE 24/7 Support

Size: 52 MB

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Norton AntiVirus 2009 16.0.0.125

2011-02-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

Norton AntiVirus blocks viruses and spyware with advanced protection. It helps protect your entire computer by stopping viruses, spyware, and other security risks. Norton AntiVirus works in the background so you can surf the Internet, read the news, play games, and download software or music without disruption. It also scans and cleans all email and instant messaging (IM) attachments, preventing you from receiving viruses, or spreading them to others. With set-it and forget-it functionality, Norton AntiVirus checks for updates continuously and automatically blocks new and emerging threats from getting on your system. In addition to protection updates, Norton AntiVirus provides new product features as available throughout your service subscription.

Key Technologies:
• Antivirus software
• Spyware remover
• Bot protection
• Browser protection
• Internet worm protection
• Intrusion prevention
• OS and application protection
• Rapid pulse updates
• Recovery tool
• Rootkit detection
• Norton™ Insight
• SONAR™ behavioral protection

Key Benefits:
• Stops viruses, worms, spyware, bots, and more—Keeps your system protected against all types of malicious threats.
• Norton™ Insight—Delivers innovative intelligence-driven technology for faster, fewer, shorter scans.
• Rapid pulse updates every 5 to 15 minutes—provides up-to-the-minute protection.
• Prevents virus-infected emails and instant messages from spreading—Feel secure while you keep in touch.
• Blocks browser exploits and protects against infected Web sites—Surf the Internet with confidence.

Norton AntiVirus Features:
Engineered for Speed
* New! Proven fastest, lightest security suite available.
* New! Scans only files and processes at risk using Norton™ Insight.
* New! Installs in under one minute on average, requires less than 10 MB of memory, and only 100 MB of disk space plus definitions.

Up-to-the-minute Protection
* New! Delivers up-to-the-minute protection with rapid pulse updates.
* Improved! Provides multilayered security through the Norton™ Protection System.
* New! Prevents bots from taking control of your PC.
* Detects and automatically removes malicious threats.
* Improved! Defends against Web-based attacks.
* Automatically detects and removes spyware, viruses, Trojans, bots and Internet worms.
* New! Boots and repairs badly infected PCs.
* New! Delivers our most complete, deep cleaning scan possible.

Control without disruptions
* New! Automatically schedules scans and updates to occur while PC is idle.†
* New! Review the security status of every process on your PC.
* New! Ensures movies and games are never interrupted.

Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Ultimate**
Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 2 Home/XP Pro/XP Media Center Edition
* 300 MHz or faster processor
* 256 MB of RAM
* 150 MB of available hard disk space.

Email scanning supported for POP3- and SMTP-compatible email clients.
Browser support for Browser Protection feature:
* Microsoft Internet Explorer® 32-bit 6.0 or higher
* Mozilla Firefox® 2.0 or higher

Supported instant messaging clients:
* AOL®
* Yahoo!®
* Microsoft®
* Trillian™

Installation:
1. Install Norton 2009. (It would be best if you are not connected to the internet.)
2. Install crack and restart your PC.
3. To remove, just use the uninstall.

Size : 57 MB

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Spyware Doctor with Anti-Virus 6.0.0.385

2011-02-05T02:57:00.000-08:00

Doctor is a multi-award winning spyware removal utility that detects, removes and protects your PC from thousands of potential spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, spybots and tracking threats. Protect your privacy and computing habits from prying eyes and virtual trespassers with the help of Spyware Doctor.

Anti-virus software and firewalls do not fully protect your system against the majority of spyware and privacy threats. Because spyware is commonly bundled with software downloads, attached to e-mails, or transmitted through networks it can appear to be legitimate software, but once installed it can be nearly impossible to detect and remove without the help of a dedicated spyware removal tool like Spyware Doctor.Spyware Doctor has consistently been awarded Editors' Choice, by leading PC magazines and testing laboratories around the world, including United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany and Australia. All current versions of Spyware Doctor have won Editors' Choice awards from PC Magazine in United States. In addition, after leading the market in 2005, Spyware Doctor was awarded the prestigious Best of the Year at the end of 2005.

Spyware Doctor Tools:

- Spyware & Adware Scanner Keylogger
- Guard Popup
- Blocker Phishing
- Protector Real Time
- Protection Browser
- Guard Spyware Cookie
- Guard Malware
- Immunizer

What's New in Spyware Doctor 6.0 :

• Latest protection from unknown threats

- Spyware Doctor now has Behavior Guard, providing you with the latest pro-active behavioral-based technology against zero-day (never seen before) threats. Built on the award-winning ThreatFire technology, Behavior Guard has been seamlessly incorporated into Spyware Doctor to offer you leading protection. This new technology protects you when some anti-virus products give up! Read more about behavior-based protection.

• Improved detection capabilities:

- Spyware Doctor has been enhanced to improve detection effectiveness. In particular, each individual signature created in the threat database is optimized so that it is capable of detecting multiple variations of malware threats (threat variants) while maintaining minimal system resource usage (memory footprint).
• Swift clean-up for heavily infected computers:
- Spyware Doctor is able to detect and remove threats on heavily infected computers faster and easier than ever before. Sometimes your computer is so highly infected that you may find yourself unable to install or run security software except when in the ‘safe mode’ of Windows.
- In these cases, malware consumes computer resources so resulting in lengthy scanning and removal times. is now armed with the technology to scan in safe mode faster and more effectively by forcing your computer to take a higher priority over the scan than the malware and other software attempting to run on your system.

• Improved Hacker Defense :

- Further improvements have been included to enhance our own defense against malware threats attempting to interfere with the effectiveness of Spyware Doctor . Our hacker defense system means you can rest assured that your computer system has the most comprehensive protection while ensuring that malware threats don’t impede on the functionality or effectiveness of Spyware Doctor.
- The new hacker defense utilizes a particular feature available in Windows Vista (known as ASLR) to make it difficult for hackers to exploit or gain control over Spyware Doctor .

• Other enhancements:

o Support for Windows Security Centre in Windows Vista Service Pack 1
o The real-time protection module is now referred to as Intelli Guard®
o Enhanced error reporting to assist with diagnosis of program crashes (hackers!).

Size : 21.03 MB

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McAfee VirusScan Enterprise v8.7i Retail

2011-02-05T02:08:00.000-08:00

VirusScan® 8 takes anti-virus protection to the next level, integrating elements of intrusion prevention and firewall technology into a single solution for PCs and file servers. This powerful combination delivers truly proactive protection from the newest of today’s threats-including buffer - overflow exploits and blended attacks - and features advanced outbreak management responses to reduce the damage and costs of outbreaks. Everything is managed by McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator® or ProtectionPilot™ for scalable security policy compliance and graphical reporting.

Key benefits:
- Integrated firewall and IPS technology - Addition of firewall and intrusion prevention technology delivers maximum proactive protection in a single, integrated package
- Enhanced coverage for emerging threats - VirusScan provides protection from the newest potentially unwanted program security threats (e.g., spyware), application-specific buffer overflow attacks, and blended attacks
- Lowered TCO during outbreak response – Advanced outbreak functionality closes the window of vulnerability before DAT files are available, limiting damage by blocking the entrance and spread of the outbreak
- McAfee scanning technology – Award-winning McAfee scan engine performs in-memory scanning to block threats such as Netsky and CodeRed, which don’t write their code to disk
- Centralized management and reporting – Integration with McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator and ProtectionPilot provides a complete security management solution, including detailed graphical reporting, from a single console

Features:
- Comprehensive McAfee anti-virus protection
- Potentially unwanted program security
- Buffer overflow prevention (IPS feature)
- Complete outbreak response
- Port blocking/lockdown (firewall feature)
- Application monitoring: email engines (firewall feature)
- File blocking, directory lockdown, folder/share blocking (IPS feature)
- Infection trace and block
- Powerful memory scanning
- Centralized management and reporting
- Enhanced email scanning
- Protection from threats that use scripts
- Optimized for mobile users

New features in v8.7i
New and updated features in the current release of the software:
- Support for Microsoft Windows Server 2008
- Architectural changes:
* Better rootkit detection and cleaning without system restart — Safe memory patching, better IRP repair support at the system core, and the ability to read locked files at the kernal level provide better rootkit detection and the ability to clean detections without restarting the system.
* On-access scan performance improvements during system startup — A new boot cache process improves on-access scan performance during system startup.
* Greater self-protection — The self-protection feature has been enhanced to protect against a wider range of mal-processes that can terminate McAfee processes. This provides greater VirusScan Enterprise self-protection and product stability.
- Real-time malware protection:
* This feature uses sensitivity levels that can be configured, based on your risk tolerance, to look for suspicious files on your endpoints that are running VirusScan Enterprise 8.7i.
* When enabled, this feature detects a suspicious program and sends a DNS request containing a fingerprint of the suspicious file to McAfee Avert Labs, which then communicates the appropriate action back to VirusScan Enterprise 8.7i.
* The real-time defense feature also provides protection for classes of malware for which signatures might not be available.
* This protection is in addition to the world-class DAT-based detection VirusScan Enterprise has always provided. The user experience remains the same and no additional client software is required.
* In this release, this feature is available only for on-demand scans and email scanning and is disabled by default. You must select a sensitivity level to enable the feature.
- Performance improvements:
* New scan deferral options improve local control of on-demand scans, including the ability to defer scans when using battery power or during presentations. One option can be configured to allow end users to defer scheduled on-demand scans for the increment of time you specify. You can specify hourly increments up to twenty-four hours, or forever.
* Enhanced system throttling now includes registry and memory scanning in addition to file scanning.
- Improved email scanner
- Buffer overflow protection exclusions by API
- On-access scanner — Scan processes on enable
- On-demand scan usability improvements:
* Clean — Report and clean the detection.
* Continue — Report the detection and continue scanning.

ОS : Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista

Size : 56.3 MB

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Portable AVG Anti Virus 7.5

2011-02-05T02:07:00.000-08:00

AVG Professional is simple to install and operate. No IT expertise is required and it can run in the background, providing uninterrupted protection. All file and e-mail activity is checked automatically, allowing you to get on with your work without worrying about viruses. AVG Professional is extremely reliable , fast and light on resources, so, no matter how demanding a user you are, it won't slow down your performance.

Here are some key features of "Portable AVG Anti Virus 7.5":

· A 2 year license, so you can receive free updates and full product support for a whole 2 years. It includes free 24 hour a day e-mail access to Grisoft’s professional team of technical experts
· Free program and virus updates are provided via ultra reliable Akamai servers. AVG Professional Edition updates itself automatically whenever
updates are available. Alternatively you can update manually, or configure AVG Professional to download updates at a scheduled time that suits you.
· Multiple language support in one package. No need to buy a special language version as all languages are included in the one product. A simple click of the mouse and the entire interface (including help files) will instantly change to your required language
· AVG holds the VB100% award and is ICSA certified, so you can be assured of the highest level of antivirus protection.
· AVG Professional Edition has many more features that make it the best value antivirus protection available
· The powerful AVG Resident Shield provides maximum protection by scanning every file opened, executed, or saved. It will also prevent the opening or executing of infected files.
· The AVG Personal E-mail Scanner checks every e-mail sent or received, providing much needed protection from e-mail borne threats. AVG supports all leading e-mail clients including MS Outlook, The bat!, Eudora and all other SMTP/POP3 based email clients such as Outlook Express. Encrypted connections using SSL are also supported.
· AVG Professional can scan attachments of instant message services (like ICQ, MSN Messenger) for viruses and other threats.
· AVG provides support for the detection of "potentially unwanted programs".
· AVG’s scanning engine uses a unique combination of heuristic analysis and generic detection methods to detect all known viruses.
· The AVG Resident Shield can include/exclude files from scanning based on individual file extensions.
· Automatically attempts to heal/remove infected files and other threats such as trojans, worms, and java applets. Removed files are quarantined in the AVG Virus Vault.
· AVG Professional has flexible password protection so you can select which settings you wish to protect from other users.
· AVG Professional now supports Microsoft Windows 64 bit platforms.

Size : 42 MB

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Ashampoo antivirus 1.50

2011-02-05T02:06:00.001-08:00

Complete protection without the slowdown!
There are plenty of antivirus programs but some can put a heavy load on your system, eating up the processor power you need for your applications. Many people even turn their virus protection off when they are working to speed up their machines, leaving themselves wide open to attack. To make things worse, these complex antivirus programs are often equally complicated to use.

At Ashampoo we believe tools are there to work for you, not to take over your computer. Ashampoo AntiVirus gives you comprehensive protection against viruses, worms, Trojans and dialers, but it’s so efficient you won’t even notice it’s there. And it’s so easy to use that it won’t waste any of your valuable time. Just set it and forget it and get on with more important things. .

Features:

* Comprehensive protection: Protects against over 470,000 viruses, worms, Trojans and dialers. Scans all critical system areas, memory, emails and files.
* Simple to use: Very intuitive user interface, no previous knowledge required. Configuration with slider controls that automatically display the settings.
* Low system load: You won’t notice it’s there so you’ll never feel tempted to turn your protection off.
* Daily updates: The virus signatures are updated several times a day and the program checks for updates automatically – every hour if you want. A high-speed server prevents update delays.
* Multiple scan modes: Automatic protection while you are working plus manual scans and scheduled scans performed automatically.
* Quarantine: Move infected or suspicious files to a locked quarantine area where they can’t do any damage.
* Windows® Explorer integration: Adds an option with which you can scan files for viruses directly in Windows® Explorer.

Size : 20 MB

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RISING Antivirus 2008

2011-02-05T02:05:00.001-08:00

RISING Antivirus 2008 protects your computers against all types of viruses, Trojans, Worms, Rootkits and other malicious programs. Ease of use, Active Defense technology, Patented Unknown Virus Scan&Clean technology and Patented Smartupdate technology make RISING Antivirus ' install-and-forget ' product that lets you focus on what you really want to do.

Active Defense Technology
Rising's Active Defense Technology is designed to prevent the execution of malicious programs. It provides more open rules for advanced user customization, which enables the user to define unique defense rules depending upon the special circumstances of his/her own system, thus maximizing the system's protection.

Patented Scanning Technology for Unknown Viruses
Rising's scanning technology for unknown viruses is protected by patents in the United States of America and Europe. This technology protects your personal computer before new virus definitions are available. Unknown Virus Scan&Clean(Patent No.:ZL 01 1 17726.

Patented Fully Automatic SmartUpdate
Rising's Automatic SmartUpdate Technology enables Rising software automatically detect the latest version and automatically updates. RISING Virus Lab provides updates at least three times per day with instant updates. Fully Automatic SmartUpdate(Patent No.:ZL 01 1 42155.X)

Smart Virtual Machine with Behaviour & Packing Pattern Recognition
RISING Antivirus comes with an integrated smart virtual machine, which is used for virus scanning and malware recognition. RISING's proprietary smart virtual machine technology provides the additional safety for your computer without slowing down your system. Suspected code and program can be run in this virtual machine for RISING Antivirus to check for potential malicious behaviour. RISING's Behaviour & Packing Pattern Recognition allows to test such potential malware thoroughly without influencing the performance of your PC and protects your system against new viruses and unknown viruses.

Application Protection
Application Protection can protect specified applications from attack by malicious programs. A user can apply rules to game software, instant messenger, etc. to customize protection. Rising Anti-Virus 2008 provides users with eight rules: Anti-DLL Injection, Anti-CodeInjection, Anti-Memory Modification, Anti-Memory Read, Prevent Suspension, Prevent Termination, Anti-Simulated Sending, and Anti-Simulated Key

Size : 54 MB

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Trojan Remover 6.7.3

2011-02-05T02:03:00.000-08:00

Trojan Remover aids in the removal of Malware - Trojan Horses, Worms, Adware, Spyware - when standard anti-virus software either fails to detect them or fails to effectively eliminate them. Standard antivirus programs are good at detecting this Malware, but not always so good at effectively removing it.
Trojan Remover is designed specifically to disable/remove Malware without the user having to manually edit system files or the Registry. The program also removes the additional system modifications some Malware carries out which are ignored by standard antivirus and trojan scanners. Trojan Remover scans ALL the files loaded at boot time for Adware, Spyware, Remote Access Trojans, Internet Worms and other malware. Trojan Remover also checks to see if Windows loads Services which are hidden by Rootkit techniques and warns you if it finds any. For each identified Trojan Horse, Worm, or other malware, Trojan Remover pops up an alert screen which shows the file location and name; it offers to remove the program's reference from the system files and allows you to rename the file to stop its activation.

Most modern Malware programs are memory-resident, which makes their de-activation more difficult. How many times have you been told to start your computer in 'Safe' mode, or even worse, in DOS? Trojan Remover does all this for you. When it finds Malware that is memory-resident, Trojan Remover automatically re-starts (on request) your system and completely DISABLES the Malware before Windows restarts.
Trojan Remover writes a detailed logfile every time it performs a scan. This logfile contains information on which programs load at boot-time, and what (if any) actions Trojan Remover carried out. The logfile can be viewed and printed using Notepad.
Trojan Remover is set to automatically scan for Malware every time you start your PC (you can disable this automatic scan if you wish).

Changes in this version
- Added new heuristic detection routine for hidden Winlogon\Notify DLLs.
- Added Added new heuristic detection routine for the Downloader.MisleadingApp malware family.

OS : Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista

Size : 7.35 MB

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F-Secure Anti-Virus 2009 v9.00.138

2011-02-05T01:59:00.000-08:00

There is also a new breed of threats on the Internet, such as carefully planned targeted attacks that can pass through conventional security solutions unnoticed, possibly taking over your computer for illegal purposes. F-Secure Anti-Virus 2009 comes with F-Secure DeepGuard™ 2.0, introducing network-based instant recognition of both safe and malicious software, which is able to protect you in 60 seconds from the first confirmation of a new threat. No other antivirus vendor has such "in-the-cloud" real-time protection network deployed globally.

With F-Secure® Anti-Virus 2009, you can open e-mail attachments and use your computer without any fear of virus infections, spyware intrusion or malicious programs that can take over your computer. In addition, F-Secure DeepGuard™ 2.0 provides instant protection against new threats with real-time protection network that shortcuts the hours it typically takes to send out database updates.

Key features

Quicker where it matters
NEW! Quick and easy installation, faster boot-up times and faster scanning and cleaning of files.

Protects your computer against viruses, worms and unknown attacks
With daily automatically updated virus protection from world-renowned F-Secure Data Security Laboratory and F-Secure DeepGuard 2.0 technology that instantly protects you against zero-day attacks and other future threats, you can safely use your computer, now and tomorrow.

Detects and removes spyware from your computer
F-Secure Anti-Virus detects and removes secretly installed software from your computer better than ever before, ensuring that your system is running smoothly and clean of spyware.

Fastest Protection
F-Secure is one of the leading antivirus vendors when it comes to reaction times and update delivery times during virus outbreaks.

Size: 83.73 MB

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ZoneAlarm with Antivirus 8.0.020.000 Final

2011-02-05T01:58:00.003-08:00

Includes the World's #1 Firewall From the People Who Invented It.
ZoneAlarm pioneered the personal computer firewall used by over 60 million people worldwide, and our parent company, Check Point Software, invented the enterprise firewall used by every member of the Fortune 100. We know how to keep the bad guys out.

Keeps YOU in Control of Your Computer
Rootkits and operating system attacks can by-pass other defenses and take control of your computer. Our leading Root & Boot Protection shields you during startup and beyond to stop these attacks.

Fast, Safe, and Easy to use for novices with our new One-Click Fix It interface, yet powerful and customizable for more advanced users.

Features:

Antivirus
Award-winning antivirus stops, blocks, and removes attacks before they infect your PC.

* Advanced Anti-Virus Engine - delivers the broadest and deepest protection that stops malicious software that other systems ignore.
* New Scan Modes - run faster, deeper, and provide customization options.
* Kernel-Level Virus Prevention - protects at the operating system level.
* Fastest Updating Signature List - detects and stops even the most recent viruses that others miss.
* Inbound and Outbound MailSafe - quarantines suspicious attachments, stops harmful messages before viruses transmit to your computer.

#1 Firewall
Proactively protects against inbound, outbound, and program attacks while making you invisible to hackers.

* Inbound & Outbound - monitors and blocks threat traffic in either direction.
* Full Stealth Mode - makes you invisible to hackers.
* Kill Controls - instantly disable malicious programs.
* Passes Independent Leak Tests* - to verify complete blocking, see test results.

Root & Boot Protection
Keeps YOU in Control of your computer. Guards your operating system from rootkits and other attacks while also providing full protection during startup.

* Operating System Firewall - (OSFirewall™) constant protection from even the most sophisticated viruses and spyware, rootkits, and kernel-level threats.
* O-Hour Rootkit Protection - blocks silent rootkit outbreaks from gaining system access.
* Program Control - restricts programs from malicious activities, blocking attacks that by-pass other defenses.
* Early Boot Protection - protects your operating system during start-up.

Additional Layers
Integrates multiple layers of advanced protection for unsurpassed security

* Wireless PC Protection – automatically detects wireless networks and secures your PC from hackers' threats wherever you're connected – at home or on the road.
* SmartDefense™ Service – provides real-time security updates, quick response to breaking threats, and leverages threat data from the vast community of users to protect your PC from the latest attacks.

Fast, Safe & Easy
New interface delivers a simple overview, One-Click “Fix It” buttons, and customization controls for more advanced users.

* One-Click Fix It Interface - provides simple overview, 1-button fix if security is off, and easy access to instant upgrades and updates.
* Millions of Programs Pre-Set - automatically configures security settings for millions of programs.
* Auto-Learn Mode - automatically configures security settings based on your behavior so you don't have to.
* Game Mode - One-click control temporarily suppresses most security alerts and prevents them from interrupting your fun while maintaining protection for your PC.
* My Zone - hosts additional security tools, helpful information, and support including LiveChat so you can easily get the most out of your ZoneAlarm products.
* Free Upgrades & Online Customer Support for 12 months from date of installation.

Size: 31,8 MB

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