Recent Comments
Comment by Dave M. on Forgot Your Windows Password? Do This Now... (April 11, 2025 11:40 PM)
I couldn't get this to work for me. Digging a little deeper, I discovered that I am signed in with my Microsoft account. I don't really understand thi...
Comment by BDD on Forgot Your Windows Password? Do This Now... (April 11, 2025 03:03 AM)
I just reset my password it was pretty fast, time spent less than 5 min. Two emails with codes then I made up a new account. Eazzy pizzy...
Comment by R. Smith on Forgot Your Windows Password? Do This Now... (April 10, 2025 11:27 AM)
I hate the PW entry process. MS OS without a password would be best for me. How does one do that?...
Comment by John W Seager on Forgot Your Windows Password? Do This Now... (April 10, 2025 03:25 AM)
Many thanks for the information about recovering my Microsoft account it, worked a miracle after many months of failures. cheers, John....
Comment by howard on Forgot Your Windows Password? Do This Now... (April 9, 2025 05:26 AM)
this happened 3 or 4 years ago, not sure exactly what or why it happened, not sure if windows 7 or 10 pro, no password had been set up, went to do som...
Comment by chris on Forgot Your Windows Password? Do This Now... (April 8, 2025 06:26 PM)
I use a rolodex card file and write down all of my passwords....
Comment by Ken D on Geekly Update - 03 April 2025 (April 6, 2025 05:08 PM)
How about using 0Patch to keep Win 10 updated? https://0patch.com/index.html...
Comment by Wolf on Erase Your Hard Drive - The Nuclear Option? (April 5, 2025 10:47 PM)
This is a fantastic and informative article, Bob. I use PrivaZer to secure erase individual files. There is also a feature to wipe the "free space" on...
Comment by D Wms on Erase Your Hard Drive - The Nuclear Option? (April 5, 2025 04:18 PM)
Between your excellent article and the comments section so far, have learned a LOT and offer much thanks! ...
Comment by bb on Erase Your Hard Drive - The Nuclear Option? (April 5, 2025 03:42 PM)
The free parted magic Linux boot disk has a Secure Erase included. Can do the regular or enhanced SE. Much easier interface than the CMRR program. ...
Viruses Articles
Fileless Malware: Who You Gonna Call?
A clever but pernicious software technique that's been known for more than a decade is finding favor among today's malware authors, complicating the work of anti-virus developers and digital forensic analysts. Tracking down so-called “fileless malware” is to detection of regular malware what ghost-hunting is to catching a garden-variety burglar. Read on to learn about this resurgent threat and what you can do to stop it...
...Is This a Fake Virus Alert?
A concerned reader asks: “Bob, I'm worried that I might have a computer virus. My computer will sometimes stop and a warning says I have a virus, and I must call a number on the screen. Then supposedly they will walk me through the process to fix it. Is this true? I have antivirus installed but still, it pops up now and then.” Is this virus alert real or rogue? Here's my diagnosis...
...Can You Get a Virus By Opening an Email?
A concerned AskBob reader wants to know... “Is it possible to get a computer virus by simply opening an email?” It's true that email has been and remains one of the most popular attack vectors for hackers, spammers, scammers, phishers and other cyber-miscreants that are jiggling the latches on the door of your inbox. But is it really that easy to slip in, and wreak havoc on your computer? Let's find out...
...Malware and Spam: Why Do They Exist?
Philosophers have pondered the nature of evil for ages. Perhaps you also have wondered how a medium meant for information sharing has become a minefield of privacy and security risks. Spam, viruses, ransomware, identity theft, data breaches, phishing, malicious links and other cybercrimes have become commonplace. Who does this stuff, and what the heck is wrong with them? Let's take a look at what motivates the miscreants who menace millions on the Internet...
...Is Your Flash Drive Infected?
Security research firm Sophos found malware on two-thirds of fifty USB flash drives that had been lost aboard Australian trains. That might suggest that you should avoid computing on Australian trains, but the broader lesson is that USB flash drives are highly vulnerable to malware infections. Here's what you need to know, and how to protect your computer from viruses that may lurk on flash drives...
...Where Do Viruses And Spyware Come From?
Several thousand new viruses and spyware programs are detected every day by security analysts. Have you ever wondered who creates these plagues, and why?
...Virus Alert - XP Total Security 2011
Somehow I got a virus called XP Total Security, and I can't get rid of it. It blocks my security software, and it won't let me download any new anti-virus tools. It's even asking me for money... how do I get rid of this thing?
...Should You Call The Geek Squad?
My computer is running really slow, and I think it might have a virus. There's also a ticking sound inside the computer. I'm not very technical, so I'm thinking about calling the Geek Squad. Do you think that's a good idea?
...How Does a Virus Spread?
I love your site and your Tourbus Newsletter! I would like to know how a virus propagates over a network? If you get a virus on one computer - do other users on the network have to do anything to get infected? Is there a good way to protect against this?
...Free Virus Scan
My computer has been acting strangely... at times it's very slow and I'm getting lots of popups. I'm afraid I have a virus, and the anti-virus software that came with my computer has expired. Can you recommend a good (and preferably free) virus scanner?
...How can I avoid computer viruses?
When I wrote in a previous article that You CANNOT get a virus just by opening or reading your email I fully expected it would unleash a torrent of emails in response. I knew this would happen, because Ask Bob Rankin readers are generally smarter and better-looking than the rest of the online population. Read on for Virus Prevention 102 -- even more information on virus prevention and the merits of anti-virus software.
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