How to Disable or Enable Toolbars in Internet Explorer

Toolbars that are offered my different search engines and web sites can be very useful. However, there may reach a point where these become more of a hindrance than a benefit. You can remove the toolbar by following these steps:

 

1. Click on Start » Control Panel. Select Programs » Uninstall a Program.
   
    
   
   
   
2. Choose the toolbar you wish to uninstall and click Uninstall/Change.
   
   
   
   
3. Close the Control Panel.

To turn off a toolbar:

1. With Internet Explorer open, press the Alt key. This will open the Menu bar.
   
   
   
   
2. Click the View menu option, then Toolbars.
3. All of the toolbars currently being displayed will show with check next to it.
   
   
   
   
4. To disable the Toolbar, click the toolbar you wish to turn off.
5. If you are using Internet Explorer 9, you may receive a message asking if you wish to disable the toolbar. If so, click Disable. The toolbar will no longer be displayed.
   
   
   
   
6. If there is more than one toolbar you wish to disable, simply repeat the process.
7. To re-enable or turn the Toolbar back on, simply press Alt to display the Menu bar. Click View » Toolbars. Click on the toolbar to display it again.

How to Import Internet Explorer Favorites and Other Items into Mozilla Firefox 4

1. Open Mozilla Firefox 4.
   
   
   
   
2. Push the Alt key to display the Menu Bar. Then, click File » Import.
   
   
   
   
3. On the Import Wizard window, click Microsoft Internet Explorer » Next.
   
   
   
   
4. The items available to import will be displayed. Click on the box next to any item you do not wish to import and click the Next button.
   
   
   
   
5. Below is an explanation of the information in each of the items that could be displayed. The information is per the Mozilla Firefox support website:
   
   • Internet Options: General settings, including your home page. Since Firefox and Internet Explorer have different features, Firefox won't be able to import all of your settings.
   • Cookies: Small bits of information stored on your computer by some websites that are used to keep you logged in, store your options, or do other things.
   • Browsing History: Information on the sites you have visited.
   • Saved Form History: Text you entered in text fields on websites.
   • Saved Passwords: Usernames and passwords for websites you told Internet Explorer to remember. Note that you can't import passwords from Internet Explorer 7 or higher.
   • Favorites: Web pages you have saved in your Internet Explorer favorites.
   
   
6. The items that were imported will be shown on the Import Complete window. Click Finish.
   
   
   
   
7. To display your bookmarks, click the Bookmarks icon in the upper right of Mozilla Firefox, and then click From Internet Explorer.
   
   

Reference:

Mozilla Firefox. Importing favorites and other data from Internet Explorer. http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Importing%20favorites%20and%20other%20data%20from%20Internet%20Explorer

How to Change the Home Page of Mozilla Firefox

This guide will walk-through how to change the home page of Mozilla Firefox.

1. Open Mozilla Firefox by clicking Start » All Programs » Mozilla Firefox folder » Mozilla Firefox.
   
   
   
2. Click Tools across the top of the window.
   
   
   
3. Select Options.
   
   
   
4. Select the Main button.
   
   
5. Type the address of the desired home page in the Home Page box.
   
   
   
6. Click OK.
7. Close Firefox.
8. Open Firefox again (refer to step 1) to verify the new home page.

How to Run the ESET Online Anti-Virus Scanner

If a working Anti Virus program is not available on a computer, the ESET Online Scanner can be used to detect and remove virus infections. To use the ESET Online Scanner, take the following steps:

1. Go to the page: http://www.eset.com/online-scanner.
2. Click on the ESET Online Scanner button.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Check the box by "Yes, I accept the Terms of Use" and Click the Start Button.
4. Allow the program to run if prompted by Windows User Account Control.
5. The default setting is to remove found threats. The following Advanced settings are available:
   
   
   • Select the type of applications scanned
   • Select the target drive(s) to be scanned
   • Use Customer Proxy Settings
   • Show a list of other installed Anti Virus software installed on system
   
   
   
   
   
6. Once the desired settings have been made, Click on the Start Button.
7. During the scan, threats that are found will be displayed.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Once the scan is complete, there is the option to "Uninstall application on close" by placing a check in the box. This will require the files to be downloaded again the next time ESET Online Scanner is run.
9. Click Finish.

Reference:
ESET. Online Anti-Virus Scan.
http://www.eset.com/online-scanner

Password Security

Passwords are essential for establishing security not only for a computer’s user account but also online access to bank accounts and shopping sites. With the increase in identity theft, it is critical that you use passwords that are unique and changed frequently to prevent someone from hacking into your accounts. Here are some basic Dos and Don’ts for creating and using passwords:

DO:

• Create a password using six or more characters.
• Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase characters.
• Include numbers or special characters (if allowed).
• Change all of your passwords frequently; at minimum every 60-90 days.
• Clean your browser history and cache everytime you use a password on a site.

DON’T:

• Leave your passwords on your desk or in plain sight (such as attached to your monitor).
  
• Have a master file containing all of your passwords on your computer’s desktop.
  
• Use passwords that are easy to decipher such as your birth date, middle name, home address, social security number, etc.
  
• Use passwords that are found in the dictionary or common expressions.
  
• Use passwords that are a sequence of numbers or letters (ex. 123456 or abcdef).
  
• Give your passwords to anyone – especially via email or phone.

Remember to use caution with your passwords. If you receive an email or phone call from someone claiming to be from your bank or a website, never give them your account number or password. Always call the company back to verify their identity. Some criminals use a technique called “social engineering” in which they take the identity of a company employee to gain access to restricted information.

In addition, hackers use another technique called “brute force” where they use a dictionary of common words or phrases in an attempt to decipher a password. Your personal information is easy to find on the Internet through phone directories and genealogical sites, so do not use your name or relatives’ names and addresses as passwords. For password security recommendations, go to Kaspersky.com or McAfee.com.

Reference:
Kaspersky. Recommendations how to create strong passwords.
http://bit.ly/eaDOrx

McAfee Blog. Password Policy – Length vs. Complexity.
http://bit.ly/gqvR1Q

How to Reset Internet Explorer

Is your Internet Explorer crashing all the time? The browser may have become unstable from too many add-ons causing the program to freeze. IE has a reset option available but should only be used as a last resort to fix major problems. By resetting the browser, IE removes any and all favorites and add-ons previously installed.

To reset IE:
1. Go to Tools » Internet Options.

2. Click on the Advanced Tab.

3. Under Reset Internet Explorer settings, click Reset.

From this point, you can start rebuilding your customized settings by adding Favorites and Add-ons.

To create a Favorite, select Favorites » Add to Favorites.

For IE Add-on options, go Microsoft’s Add-on Gallery to download. Be cautions of re-installing the same add-ons that were installed previously — it may result in your browser becoming unstable again.

Reference:
Microsoft Internet Explorer Add-ons Gallery.
http://ieaddons.com/en/

Microsoft Support. How to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer in Windows 7/Vista/XP.
http://bit.ly/HwT8e

Virus ALERT: Security Shield

There is another rogue anti-virus program called "Security Shield" that infects computers by using bogus security warnings in lure users into downloading the malware. This virus is one of a suite of known malware programs by Virus Doctor. Security Shield or any other Virus Doctor freeware can cause a variety of issues including blocking the system’s ability to connect to the Internet and slow down other system processes.

Security Shield Program

Only use established anti-virus program manufacturers to scan and remove malware from any computer. ESET NOD32, Symantec Norton Anti-Virus, McAfee Anti-Virus and Webroot are all industry-approved programs that will monitor and remove viruses from your system.

If your system is infected with the Security Shield virus, there are solutions available from Symantec and Malwarebytes.

For Symantec:
1. Download the latest Rapid Release definitions.
2. Reboot the system in Safe Mode.
3. Run Disk-Cleanup to remove temporary files.
4. Perform full system scan. Follow the instructions to remove any detected threats.

Click here for more information on the Symantec solution »


For Malwarebytes:
1. Download Malwarebytes program here.
2. Install the program "mbam-setup.exe".
3. Use the default settings during the setup process. Check "Update Malwarebytes" and "Launch Malwarebytes".
4. Once installation is complete, begin scanning the system.
5. When scanning is complete, review the Scanner report. Check any files that are marked at malware and click "Remove Selected".

Malwarebytes Site

Click here for more information on the Malwarebytes solution »

Reference:
BleepingComputer.com. Remove Virus Doctor.
http://bit.ly/fCmYTG

Malwarebytes.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Symantec. Security Forum.
http://bit.ly/fQD3LU

How to: Install Add-ons to Internet Explorer

It’s easy to customize Internet Explorer by using Add-ons to enhance your browser’s functionality. Microsoft provides a library of options for IE from blogging to finance to shopping. To install an Add-on to Internet Explorer, follow these steps:

1. Go to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer Gallery and select an Add-on from the site.

2. Download the file and follow the on-screen instructions. Some Add-ons may require you to restart your browser after installation.

3. In IE, select Tools -> Manage Add-ons. This menu provides detailed information about each extension.If you need to disable an Add-on, click on the Name, then select the Disable button in the bottom right-side of the menu box.

The Manage Add-on menu also has some other useful functions. Accelerators are a new feature of IE that can give you quick access to common menu items by simply selecting a word on a web page.

The InPrivate Filtering option helps to regulate unauthorized tracking of your browsing activities. You can activate InPrivate Filtering using the Safety menu on the Command Bar.

For more information on Internet Explorer Add-ons, go to Microsoft Support »

Reference:

Internet Explorer Add-in Gallery
http://ieaddons.com/en/

Internet Explorer Add-ons FAQs
http://bit.ly/9szt9i

Internet Explorer 8 Features
http://bit.ly/1OrGFD