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How To Browse Privately After Congress Nixed FCC Protections

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  • Toms Hardware

  • 
    Apple's QuickTime for Windows
    
    
    Near the end of April 2016, Trend Micro published a recommendation to urgently uninstall Apple's QuickTime
    for Windows due to two critical security vulnerabilities in the software. The software is no longer
    maintained or updated by Apple, which means these critical security holes will remain unfixed and the
    only way for users to protect their computers is to fully uninstall QuickTime.  Home Land Security and
    others have also confirmed this and are recommending its removal.
    
    Tests reveal that even if you have already uninstalled QuickTime from your Windows, it is very likely that
    you still have data from QuickTime remaining in your system, potentially putting the security of your
    computer at risk.
    
    The popular Apple program has left computer users with vulnerable systems, given significantly flawed
    security holes. When users have downloaded QuickTime, it came with its own installer and uninstaller.
    However, there is a significant amount of data that comes along with it. When QuickTime is uninstalled
    using only its own uninstaller, many of the leftovers were still present on the computer.
    
    Please note that if you have any Adobe software other then "Flash Player" and/or "Adobe Reader" you may
    need to contact Adobe to see if the other Adobe software that you have requires QuickTime.
    
    If you haven't removed it yet, go to the "Programs and Features" item in the "Control Panel" and uninstall
    "QuickTime", "Apple Application Support", and "Apple Software Update".  Now open the "Windows Explorer" and
    remove the following folders if they still exist:
    
    C:\Program Files\QuickTime C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime C:\Program Files\Apple Software Update C:\Program Files (x86)\Apple Software Update C:\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\QuickTime C:\Users\"user name"\AppData\Local\Apple Computer\QuickTime
    Now close the "Windows Explorer" and click start and pick "Run..." at the bottom of the right hand menu
    and type "regedit" in the Open: box and click OK.  Now right click and delete the following registry keys
    if they exist, you will have to click the plus signs or arrows to the left of each registry heading to
    get down to the key the you need to delete:
    
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Direct3D\MostRecentApplication, name - QuickTimePlayer.exe HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Keyboard\Native Media Player\QuickTimePlayer
    Now you should be OK.  If you need a replacement for QuickTime, you can download a very good media player
    from the following link.
    

  • VLC media player

  • 
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    
    
    Excerpts from Article by: Neil J. Rubenking of PC Magazine, May 3, 2016
    
    Why should you pay a nickel for antivirus protection when it's already built into the operating system? If
    you're using Windows 8 or Windows 10, you've got Microsoft Windows Defender already, right? Well, it turns
    out you probably should look for something more powerful. Although Windows Defender seems to be improving,
    my hands-on testing convinced me that you'd be better off using a paid antivirus utility or a top-tier
    third-party free antivirus.
    
    Don't be confused by the tool confusingly called Windows Defender in Windows 7 and Windows Vista.  That's
    a completely different program, with a much narrower protective scope. Users of Windows 7 and Vista can
    download Microsoft Security Essentials, a tool that matches many features of the current Windows Defender
    but omits some of its most advanced features. This review specifically covers Windows Defender, not Microsoft
    Security Essentials.
    
    With many third-party free antivirus utilities, you get a ton of bonus tools above and beyond the basic 
    antivirus functions. For example, AVG AntiVirus Free (2016), free at AVG Technologies includes a file
    shredder for secure deletion, a component that actively blocks ad networks from tracking your browsing habits,
    and a rating tool that flags potentially unsafe websites. Defender sticks to the single task of keeping your
    system safe from malware. Avast Free Antivirus 2016, free at Amazon scans your network and router for security
    problems, optimizes your system, and manages your passwords.
    
    Researchers at AV-Test Institute rate antivirus products on protection against malware attack, low performance
    impact, and low false positives (usability), with six points available for each. Microsoft's scores for
    usability and performance were fine, 6.0 and 5.0 points respectively. But it got just 3.0 points for the
    essential task of protection. AV-Test treats Microsoft as a baseline, meaning any product that scored lower
    needs work. Top score in this test, 18 out of a possible 18 points, goes to Kaspersky Anti-Virus (2016),
    $49.95 at Target.
    
    

    
    SaferWeb.com
    
    Lately when I have been viewing the News on MSN's web site I keep seeing an article: "1 Reason Not to Go Online
    If You Live In The US."  I finally viewed the article the other day and found that it is really a scam that is
    trying to get people to install SaferWeb Internet Security on their computers.  It is totally garbage and it
    will install addware and spyware on your computer. Also it says: "Using a SaferWeb VPN server also Unblocks
    Many Sports And movie Channels.  You can even book holidays and flights cheaper simply by connecting in a
    different location to that of your ISP."
    
    This is totally a scam and what they say about creating a VPN connection between you and your web sites it not
    possible.  The only way to have a VPN connection is when your computer has VPN client software running on it
    and the Server that you are connecting to has the Server version of the same VPN software that you are using
    and that the public and private encryption keys have been properly set up on both machines.
    
    
    Don't fall for the SaferWeb.com scam!