AskManiG.com: March 2010

Thursday, March 18, 2010

All government office related links

All government office related links are available...... Kindly save it ......Might be useful
This section provides you with information and useful links to avail various Citizen Services being provided by the Central & State/UT Governments in India . The list, however, is not exhaustive, as we are committed to adding more and more information about other services for which citizens and other stakeholders need to interact with the Government. Keep visiting this section for new updates !!
Obtain:

* Birth Certificate<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=1>
* Caste Certificate<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=4>
* Tribe Certificate<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=8>
* Domicile Certificate<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=5>
* Driving Licence<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=6>
* Marriage Certificate<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=3>
* Death Certificate<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=2>
* Search More - How do I<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/advancedsearch.php>
Apply for:

* PAN Card <http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=15>
* TAN Card<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=3>
* Ration Card <http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=7>
* Passport<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=2>
* Inclusion of name in the Electoral Rolls <http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=10>
* Search More - How do I<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/advancedsearch.php>
Register:

* Train Tickets Online <http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=5>
* Air Tickets Online <http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=4>
* Income Tax Returns <http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=12>
* Complaint with Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=14>
* Search More - How do I<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/advancedsearch.php>
Contribute to:

* Prime Minister's Relief Fund <http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=11>
* Search More - How do I<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/advancedsearch.php>
Others:

* Send Letters Electronically<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=20>
* Search More - How do I<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/advancedsearch.php>
Search for Available Services
Select from the menu to know the available Services contributed by Central Government Ministries/Departme nts, State Government, UT.
Central: [Select Central \/]
[RichText]
State: [ Select State \/]
[ Search State ]
Advance Search<http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/advancedsearch.php>
Recently Added Online Services

"Print this mail only if absolutely necessary. Save Paper. Save Trees."

Thanks
With Warm Regards,

KANGEYAN V M
Relationship Manager | Wealth Management
M : 9176626384 | E : kangeyan.vm@ingvysyabank.com

ING Vysya Bank Limited,
No. 62/5, Madipakkam Main Road,
Madipakkam, Chennai – 600 091.

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Thursday, March 11, 2010

Useful Programs&Websites for your PC

Useful Programs & Websites for Your PC
Safe download sites
(Any site with a bunch of free ScreenSavers in my opinion, is not safe!)

If your going to download anything regarding a security product, ALWAYS get it from the vendors website.

* AndyManchesta.com<http://andymanchesta.com/>
* App-Stick Portable Freeware Directory<http://www.app-stick.com/>
* Association of Shareware Professionals<http://downloads.asp-shareware.com/>
* BearWare.info<http://bearware.info/>
* FileHippo.com<http://filehippo.com/>
* Favorite Freeware<http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php>
* Kim Komando <http://www.komando.com/downloads/> Downloads<http://www.komando.com/downloads/>
* Majorgeeks.com<http://www.majorgeeks.com/>
* Malwarebytes.org<http://www.malwarebytes.org/index.php>
* Mozilla.org<http://www.mozilla.org/>
* PortableApps.com<http://portableapps.com/>
* SourceForge.net<http://sourceforge.net/>

Temp. file & history cleaners

* ATF-Cleaner<http://www.atribune.org/content/view/19/2/>
* CCleaner<http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds> - Suggested download - CCleaner - Slim - No Toolbar
* CleanUp<http://www.stevengould.org/index.php?Itemid=69&id=15&option=com_content&task=view>!<http://www.stevengould.org/index.php?Itemid=69&id=15&option=com_content&task=view>
* Cleanup Assistant<http://www.cleanupassistant.com/default.aspx>
* EasyCleaner<http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm>
* Wise Disk Cleaner<http://www.majorgeeks.com/Wise_Disk_Cleaner_d5436.html>

Registry cleaners

Warning: Using registry cleaning tools unnecessarily or incorrectly could lead to disastrous effects on your operating system such as preventing it from starting. If your not 100% positive then leave it alone! Always make a back up of the registry first.

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows<http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=322756>

* CCleaner<http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds>
* Eusing<http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm> Free Registry Cleaner<http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm>
* Registry Mechanic<http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/?utm_source=majorgeeks&utm_medium=text&utm_content=moreinfo&utm_campaign=rm> - Paid
* RegSeeker<http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm>
* Wise Registry Cleaner<http://www.majorgeeks.com/download5437.html> - Free & Paid

File shredders

* BCWipe<http://www.jetico.com/bcwipe.htm> - Paid
* Eraser<http://www.heidi.ie/node/6>
* File Shredder<http://www.fileshredder.org/>
* nCleaner<http://www.majorgeeks.com/nCleaner_d5476.html>
* Jack the Shredder<http://www.jacktheshredder.com/> - Paid
* Lavasoft<http://lavasoft.com/products/lavasoft_file_shredder.php> File Shredder<http://lavasoft.com/products/lavasoft_file_shredder.php> - Paid

Securely wipe hard disks

Caution: DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it detects.

* Active@ KillDisk<http://www.killdisk.com/features.htm>
* DBAN<http://www.dban.org/> (Darik's Boot & Nuke)
* DBAN<http://dban.sourceforge.net/> <http://dban.sourceforge.net/> for <http://dban.sourceforge.net/> floppy disks and USB flash drives<http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/dban/dban-1.0.7_i386.exe?download>
Tutorial: How to completely wipe all the data from your hard drive<http://www.simplehelp.net/2007/09/11/how-to-completely-wipe-all-of-the-data-from-your-hard-drive/>

Firewalls (use only one)

* Agnitum<http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpostfree/index.php> Outpost<http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpostfree/index.php>
* Comodo<http://www.comodo.com/products/free_products.html> Firewall <http://www.comodo.com/products/free_products.html> (Uncheck during installation "Install Comodo SafeSurf..", Make Comodo my default search provider" and "Make Comodo Search my homepage" if you install Comodo)
* Jetico<http://www.jetico.com/index.htm#/jpfirewall.htm> - Free & paid
* Kerio<http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Kerio-Download.cfm> - Sunbelt<http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Kerio-Download.cfm>
* Online Armor<http://www.tallemu.com/online_armor_free.html>
* PC Tools Firewall Plus<http://www.pctools.com/firewall/>
* PeerGuardian<http://www.phoenixlabs.org/pg2> - IP Blocker
* ZoneAlarm<http://www.filehippo.com/download_zonealarm_free/> Free<http://www.filehippo.com/download_zonealarm_free/>
* ZoneAlarm<http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/home.jsp> Pro<http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/home.jsp> - Paid
Antivirus (use only one)

Gaming antivirus

* BitDefender<http://www.bitdefender.com/media/html/gamesafe.html> Game Safe<http://www.bitdefender.com/media/html/gamesafe.html> - Subscription only
* BullGuard<http://www.bullguard.com/why/bullguard-gamers-edition.aspx> Gamer's Edition<http://www.bullguard.com/why/bullguard-gamers-edition.aspx> - Subscription only
* nProtect<http://gameguard.nprotect.com/> GameGuard<http://gameguard.nprotect.com/> - Subscription only
* Norton AntiVirus Gaming Edition<http://www.norton.com/gamer> - Subscription only

Portable security

* a-squared HiJackFree<http://www.hijackfree.com/en/>
* Ad-Aware SE<http://www.lavasoft.com/support/securitycenter/blog/> (only the SE Personal edition, Ad Aware 2007 is not portable)
* avast<http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html>! Virus Cleaner<http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html>
* AVG<http://www.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=rcd> Rescue CD 7.5<http://www.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=rcd> (paid version)
* AVIRA<http://www.majorgeeks.com/AVIRA_Removal_Tool_for_Windows_d4771.html> Removal Tool<http://www.majorgeeks.com/AVIRA_Removal_Tool_for_Windows_d4771.html>
* CCleaner<http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds>
* Clam Win<http://www.clamwin.com/>
* CWShredder<http://us.trendmicro.com/us/products/personal/CWShredder/index.html>
* Dr. Web CureIt!<http://freedrweb.com/>
* Eraser Portable<http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/eraser_portable>
* Malwarebytes<http://www.malwarebytes.org/FA_Portable.zip> FileASSASSIN<http://www.malwarebytes.org/FA_Portable.zip>
* HijackThis<http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis>
* McAfee Avert Stinger<http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/>
* McAfee VirusScan USB<http://us.mcafee.com/root/package.asp?pkgid=269> (paid version)
* Multi Virus Cleaner<http://www.viruskeeper.com/us/mvc.htm>
* Portable Antivirus<http://www.data0.net/index.htm>
* Process Explorer<http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx>
* RogueRemover<http://www.malwarebytes.org/rogueremover.php> FREE<http://www.malwarebytes.org/rogueremover.php>
* RootkitRevealer<http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897445.aspx>
* Sophos<http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.html> Anti-Rootkit<http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.html>
* Spybot<http://portableapps.com/node/710> Search & Destroy<http://portableapps.com/node/710>
* WinPatrol<http://winpatrolflash.com/> USB Flash Edition<http://winpatrolflash.com/>

Spyware/Malware scan & removal

Some offer real time protection with the paid version

* Ad-Aware 2007 Free<http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php>
* CounterSpy<http://research.sunbelt-software.com/download.aspx> - 15 day trial
* Dr.Web<http://freedrweb.com/> CureIt<http://freedrweb.com/>
* Malwarebytes<http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_Anti-Malware_d5756.html> Anti-Malware<http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_Anti-Malware_d5756.html> - Free & Paid
* Pest Patrol<http://www.pestpatrol.com/> - Subscription only
* RogueRemover<http://www.malwarebytes.org/rogueremover.php> FREE<http://www.malwarebytes.org/rogueremover.php>
* Spybot<http://filehippo.com/download_spybot_search_destroy/> Search & Destroy<http://filehippo.com/download_spybot_search_destroy/>
* Spyware Doctor<http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/>
* Spyware Terminator<http://www.spywareterminator.com/dnl/files/39/SpywareTerminator.exe> - Without Web Security Guard
* SuperAntiSpyware<http://www.superantispyware.com/> - SUPERAntiSpyware<http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html> Free and Professional comparison<http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html>
* The Cleaner v5 Free<http://www.moosoft.com/TheCleaner/Download>
* WebRoot's<http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/spysweeper/sweeperb.php?rc=1243> Spysweeper<http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/spysweeper/sweeperb.php?rc=1243> - Subscription only
Online virus & spyware scans

Most of these require working ActiveX - Internet Explorer

* a-squared Web Malware Scanner<http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/ax/>
* BitDefender<http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html> Online Scanner<http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html>
* CA eTrust Antivirus Scanner<http://www.ca.com/us/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx>
* ESET<http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/> Nod32 Online Scanner<http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/>
* F-Secure Online Scanner
<http://www.247fixes.com/forums/ipb_seo.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsupport.f-secure.com%2Fenu%2Fhome%2Fols.shtml>Kaspersky<http://www.kaspersky.com/kos/english/kavwebscan.html> Webscan<http://www.kaspersky.com/kos/english/kavwebscan.html> - Scan only - Does not remove what is found
* McAfee Free Scan<http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp> - Scan only - Does not remove what is found
* Panda ActiveScan<http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/activescan/?>
* Panda's NanoScan<http://www.nanoscan.com/> - Scan only - IE or Firefix
* Symantec Security Check<http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=22&pkj=ABVWYHGBYNCJEIMXQKC> - Scan only - Does not remove what is found
* Tenebril<http://www.tenebril.com/scanner/main_start.php> Spyware Scanner<http://www.tenebril.com/scanner/main_start.php> - Scan only
* Trend Micro HouseCall<http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/> - Works with Firefox or IE
* Zone Alarm Online Scanner<http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/promotions/spywarescanner/scanner.jsp> - Scan only - Does not remove what is found

Online trojan scans

Require Internet Explorer

* ewido<http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/> online scan<http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/>
* Windows Security Trojan Scan<http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/> - Uses the a² scanning engine

Virus & spyware blockers

* Comodo<http://www.comodo.com/boclean/boclean.html> BOClean : Anti-Malware<http://www.comodo.com/boclean/boclean.html>
* PC Tools ThreatFire<http://www.threatfire.com/>
* SpywareBlaster<http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html>
* Windows Defender<http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx>
* WinPatrol<http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html> 2007<http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html>
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File<http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm>
IE-Spyad<http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource.htm>
Tutorial: Using IE-Spyad<http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial53.html>

Anti-Trojan scanners

* a-squared Free<http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/>
* TrojanHunter<http://www.misec.net/> - free trial
* Trojan Remover<http://www.simplysup.com/tremover/details.html> - free trial

Anti-Keylogger

* Advanced Anti Keylogger<http://www.anti-keylogger.net/> - Paid
* Anti-keylogger<http://majorgeeks.com/Anti-keylogger_d2125.html> - Paid
* Elite Anti Keylogger<http://www.elite-antikeylogger.com/> - Paid
* KL<http://dewasoft.com/privacy/kldetector.htm>-Detector<http://dewasoft.com/privacy/kldetector.htm> - Free
* Process Monitor<http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx> - Free
* SnoopFree<http://www.snoopfree.com/> - XP only - Free

Rootkit detection
Rootkit scans can be easily misunderstood. It is advised to ask for help if you are not sure of the findings.

* F-Secure Blacklight<http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight/> - Blacklight<http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial124.html> Tutorial<http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial124.html>
* Panda Anti-Rootkit<http://www.antirootkit.com/software/Panda-Anti-Rootkit-Tucan.htm>
* Rootkit<http://www.majorgeeks.com/Rootkit_Revealer_d4652.html> Revealer<http://www.majorgeeks.com/Rootkit_Revealer_d4652.html>
* Sophos<http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.html> Anti-Rootkit<http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.html>
* Trend Micro Rootkit Buster<http://www.trendmicro.com/download/rbuster.asp>

Online website URL analysis & advisors

* Dr.Web<http://online.us.drweb.com/> online check<http://online.us.drweb.com/>
* Finjan<http://securebrowsing.finjan.com/> SecureBrowsing<http://securebrowsing.finjan.com/>
* LinkScanner<http://linkscanner.explabs.com/linkscanner/default.aspx>
* Malware Patrol<http://www.malwarepatrol.net/>
* McAfee SiteAdvisor<http://www.siteadvisor.com/>
* Norton SafeWeb<https://safeweb.norton.com/>
* Sitehound<http://www.firetrust.com/en/products/sitehound> - Free to try
* Unmask Parasites<http://unmaskparasites.com/>
* vURL<http://vurl.mysteryfcm.co.uk/> Online<http://vurl.mysteryfcm.co.uk/>
* WOT<http://www.mywot.com/> Web of Trust<http://www.mywot.com/> SafeSurf<http://www.safesurf.com/> ® - The original Internet content rating system! - ICCS® Certified<http://www.safesurf.com/>

For added security always keep your browser,firewall and antivirus up to date!
Software Vulnerability Scanning - Secunia.com<http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/>

Password managers
* KeePass<http://keepass.sourceforge.net/>
* KeyWallet<http://www.keywallet.com/>
* Password Safe<http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/>
* RoboForm<http://www.roboform.com/>

File/Drive encryption

* AxCrypt<http://www.axantum.com/AxCrypt>
* BestCrypt<http://www.jetico.com/bcrypt.htm> <http://www.jetico.com/bcrypt.htm> - Paid
* Dekart<http://www.app-stick.com/DJMlog.php?pID=Dekart> Light<http://www.app-stick.com/DJMlog.php?pID=Dekart>
* Lavasoft<http://lavasoft.com/products/lavasoft_digital_lock.php> Digital Lock<http://lavasoft.com/products/lavasoft_digital_lock.php> - Paid
* PGP<http://www.pgp.com/index.html> Encryption<http://www.pgp.com/index.html>
* PowerCrypt<http://www.spychecker.com/program/powercrypt.html>
* TrueCrypt<http://www.truecrypt.org/>
Analysis

* AutoRuns<http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx>
* File Research Center<http://www.fileresearchcenter.com/whatsrunningpreff.html>
* HijackThis<http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis>
* Process Explorer<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/ProcessExplorer.mspx>
* RunScanner<http://www.runscanner.net/>
* StartupList<http://www.merijn.org/programs.php#startuplist>
* Silent Runners<http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_thescript.html>

HijackThis log tutorials
Please ask for help in our forums when using HijackThis if you are not 100% positive.

* Tutorial from Merijn<http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html>
* Tutorial from Malware Help.org<http://www.malwarehelp.org/understanding-and-interpreting-hjt1.html>

Specialized free removal tools
You may need to know the virus or spyware name to use some of these.

* avast<http://www.avast.com/eng/down_cleaner.html>! Virus Cleaner Free Download<http://www.avast.com/eng/down_cleaner.html>
* AVG<http://www.grisoft.com/doc/63/ww/crp/0> Specialized Removal Tools<http://www.grisoft.com/doc/63/ww/crp/0>
* BitDefender<http://www.bitdefender.com/site/Download/browseFreeRemovalTool/> Specialized Removal Tools<http://www.bitdefender.com/site/Download/browseFreeRemovalTool/>
* F-Secure Virus Removal Tools<http://www.f-secure.com/download-purchase/tools.shtml>
* Griftsoft<http://www.grisoft.com/doc/52/ww/crp/0>/AVG Vcleaner<http://www.grisoft.com/doc/52/ww/crp/0>
* Kaspersky<http://www.kaspersky.com/removaltools.html> Virus Removal Tools<http://www.kaspersky.com/removaltools.html>
* McAfee Avert Stinger<http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/default.aspx>
* Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool<http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx>
* Trend Micro Damage Cleanup Engine<http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp>
* Sophos<http://www.sophos.com/support/disinfection/> Virus Disinfection<http://www.sophos.com/support/disinfection/>
* Symantec Specialized Removal Tools<http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/removaltools.jsp>
* Panda QuickRemover<http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/downloads/repair-utilities/?>

Program & file identification

* Answers that Work<http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm>
* BleepingComputer<http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/filedb/> File database<http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/filedb/>
* BleepingComputer<http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/> Startup List Database<http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/>
* Computer Task Database and Spyware Directory<http://www.what-is-exe.com/>
* PC Pitstop Known-Programs Database<http://www.pcpitstop.com/spycheck/Known.asp>
* Spyware Data File List<http://www.spywaredata.com/spyware/spyware-adware/bho/1/results.php>
* Spyware Encyclopedia #1<http://www.spywaredb.com/spyware-list-1/>
* Tony Klein and CastleCops list of BHOs<http://computercops.biz/CLSID.html>
* WhatIsThatFile.com<http://www.whatisthatfile.com/>
* Windows Startup Online<http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/search.php>

Suspicious file scanners
These will not remove malware but will help identify if a file is infected.

* Anubis<http://analysis.seclab.tuwien.ac.at/?Anubis> - Must be a Windows executable not more than 2 MB
* avast<http://onlinescan.avast.com/>! Online Scanner<http://onlinescan.avast.com/> - 512 KB File size limit
* Avert® Labs WebImmune<https://www.webimmune.net/default.asp> - Free Registration required
* ClamAV<http://www.gietl.com/test-clamav/> COSS File Scanner<http://www.gietl.com/test-clamav/> - 500 KB File size limit
* Comodo<http://camas.comodo.com/cgi-bin/submit> Instant Malware Analysis<http://camas.comodo.com/cgi-bin/submit>
* Dr.Web<http://online.drweb.com/> File Check<http://online.drweb.com/>
* Eset<http://www.eset.sk/virus-info/on-line-scanner> On-line Scanner<http://www.eset.sk/virus-info/on-line-scanner> - In Slovak
* FortiGuard<http://www.fortiguardcenter.com/antivirus/virus_scanner.html> Virus Scanner & Submission<http://www.fortiguardcenter.com/antivirus/virus_scanner.html> - 1 MB File size limit
* JoeBox<http://www.joebox.org/submit.php>
* Jotti's<http://virusscan.jotti.org/> Malware Scan<http://virusscan.jotti.org/> - multiple engine scan
* Kaspersky<http://www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus> File Scanner<http://www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus>
* Microsoft Malware Protection Center<https://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/submit.aspx> - Results via email
* Novirusthanks.org<http://scanner.novirusthanks.org/> - multiple engine scan
* Norman Sandbox Information Center<http://www.norman.com/microsites/nsic/Submit/en-us> - Results via email
* Sunbelt Sandbox<http://research.sunbelt-software.com/Submit.aspx> - Results via email
* Surf Right Malware Analysis<http://analyzer.surfright.nl/analyzer/> - Results via email
* PC Tools Threat Expert File Scanner<http://www.threatexpert.com/filescan.aspx> - Results via email
* VBA32<http://www.anti-virus.by/check/>
* VirusChief<http://www.viruschief.com/> - multiple engine scan
* Virus.Org<http://scanner.virus.org/> File Scanning Service<http://scanner.virus.org/> - multiple engine scan
* Virustotal<http://www.virustotal.com/> - multiple engine scan
* VirSCAN.org<http://virscan.org/> multiple engine scan

Remove stubborn files/programs

* Pocket Killbox<http://killbox.net/>
* Revo<http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html> Uninstaller<http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html> - Guide - Using Revo Uninstaller<http://www.computer-juice.com/forums/f49/malware-removal-please-read-before-posting-7476/#post54814>
* Unlocker<http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/> - Guide - Using Unlocker<http://www.computer-juice.com/forums/f49/malware-removal-please-read-before-posting-7476/#post63763>
* Your Uninstaller 2008!<http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Your_Uninstaller_2006/1031658821/1> - 21 day trial

General purpose/all in one fixes
These tools can fix some Browser and Internet problems caused by malware.

* Dial-a-fix<http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix>
* IEFix<http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFIX.htm> <http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFIX.htm>
* FixPolicies.exe<http://downloads.malwareremoval.com/BillCastner/FixPolicies.exe> by Bill Castner Tutorial<http://www.techsupportteam.org/forum/tutorials/3236-fixpolicies-fix-permissions-issues.html>
* LSP<http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/lspfix.php>-Fix<http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/lspfix.php>

Web browsers

* Avant<http://www.avantbrowser.com/download.html> Browser<http://www.avantbrowser.com/download.html>
* Internet Explorer 7<http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx>
* Mozilla Firefox<http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/> with NoScript<https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722> and Adblock<https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865> Plus<https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865>
* Opera<http://www.opera.com/>

Vulnerability testing

* Drivers Update Software by RadarSync<http://new.radarsync.com/>
* eicar<http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm> THE ANTI-VIRUS OR ANTI-MALWARE TEST FILE<http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm>
* Leak Test<http://www.grc.com/lt/leaktest.htm>
* Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsahome.mspx>
* PC Pitstop<http://www.pcpitstop.com/default.asp>
* Secunia<http://secunia.com/software_inspector/> Software Inspector<http://secunia.com/software_inspector/>
* Security Test Sites<http://lists.thedatalist.com/pages/Security_Testing.php>
* Shields UP!<https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2>

Software updates & definitions

* Calendar Of Updates<http://www.calendarofupdates.com/>
* FileHippo.com<http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/> Update Checker<http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/>
* Microsoft Windows Update<http://update.microsoft.com/%5DMicrosoft%20Windows%20Update>
* Secunia<http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/> Online Software Inspector (OSI)<http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/>
* VersionTracker<http://www.versiontracker.com/windows/>
* WinUpdatesList<http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wul.html> (Service Packs and Hotfixes)<http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wul.html>
* Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)<http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wsus/default.aspx>

Malware databases

Virus hoax warnings - Wikipedia Virus hoax<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus_hoax>

* F-Secure Hoax Description Database<http://www.f-secure.com/hoaxes/>
* Hoax-Slayer<http://www.hoax-slayer.com/>
* McAfee Hoax Warnings<http://vil.nai.com/vil/hoaxes.aspx>
* Panda Hoax Warnings<http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/hoaxes/>
* snopes<http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/virus.asp> Virus Hoaxes & Realities<http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/virus.asp>
* Sophos<http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/hoaxes/> Hoax Warnings<http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/hoaxes/>
* Symantec Hoax Warnings<http://symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html>
* Trend Micro Scams and Hoaxes<http://www.trendmicro.com/VINFO/hoaxes/default.asp>

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Interesting Article about Market Competition

Article by: Dr. Y. L. R. Moorthi who is a professor at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.

Who sells the largest number of cameras in India?

Your guess is likely to be Sony, Canon or Nikon. Answer is none of the above. The winner is Nokia whose main line of business in India is not cameras but cell phones.

Reason being cameras bundled with cellphones are outselling stand alone cameras. Now, what prevents the cellphone from replacing the camera outright? Nothing at all. One can only hope the Sonys and Canons are taking note.

Try this. Who is the biggest in music business in India? You think it is HMV Sa-Re-Ga-Ma? Sorry. The answer is Airtel. By selling caller tunes (that play for 30 seconds) Airtel makes more than what music companies make by selling music albums (that run for hours).

Incidentally Airtel is not in music business. It is the mobile service provider with the largest subscriber base in India. That sort of competitor is difficult to detect, even more difficult to beat (by the time you have identified him he has already gone past you). But if you imagine that Nokia and Bharti (Airtel's parent) are breathing easy you can't be farther from truth.

Nokia confessed that they all but missed the smartphone bus. They admit that Apple's Iphone and Google's Android can make life difficult in future. But you never thought Google was a mobile company, did you? If these illustrations mean anything, there is a bigger game unfolding. It is not so much about mobile or music or camera or emails?

The "Mahabharat" (the great Indian epic battle) is about "what is tomorrow's personal digital device"? Will it be a souped up mobile or a palmtop with a telephone? All these are little wars that add up to that big battle. Hiding behind all these wars is a gem of a question - "who is my competitor?"

Once in a while, to intrigue my students I toss a question at them. It says "What Apple did to Sony, Sony did to Kodak, explain?" The smart ones get the answer almost immediately. Sony defined its market as audio (music from the walkman). They never expected an IT company like Apple to encroach into their audio domain. Come to think of it, is it really surprising? Apple as a computer maker has both audio and video capabilities. So what made Sony think he won't compete on pure audio? "Elementary Watson". So also Kodak defined its business as film cameras, Sony defines its businesses as "digital."

In digital camera the two markets perfectly meshed. Kodak was torn between going digital and sacrificing money on camera film or staying with films and getting left behind in digital technology. Left undecided it lost in both. It had to. It did not ask the question "who is my competitor for tomorrow?" The same was true for IBM whose mainframe revenue prevented it from seeing the PC. The same was true of Bill Gates who declared "internet is a fad!" and then turned around to bundle the browser with windows to bury Netscape. The point is not who is today's competitor. Today's competitor is obvious. Tomorrow's is not.

In 2008, who was the toughest competitor to British Airways in India? Singapore airlines? Better still, Indian airlines? Maybe, but there are better answers. There are competitors that can hurt all these airlines and others not mentioned. The answer is videoconferencing and telepresence services of HP and Cisco. Travel dropped due to recession. Senior IT executives in India and abroad were compelled by their head quarters to use videoconferencing to shrink travel budget. So much so, that the mad scramble for American visas from Indian techies was nowhere in sight in 2008. (India has a quota of something like 65,000 visas to the U.S. They were going a-begging. Blame it on recession!). So far so good. But to think that the airlines will be back in business post recession is something I would not bet on. In short term yes. In long term a resounding no. Remember, if there is one place where Newton's law of gravity is applicable besides physics it is in electronic hardware. Between 1977 and 1991 the prices of the now dead VCR (parent of Blue-Ray disc player) crashed to one-third of its original level in India. PC's price dropped from hundreds of thousands of rupees to tens of thousands. If this trend repeats then telepresence prices will also crash. Imagine the fate of airlines then. As it is not many are making money. Then it will surely be RIP!

India has two passions. Films and cricket. The two markets were distinctly different. So were the icons. The cricket gods were Sachin and Sehwag. The filmi gods were the Khans (Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and the other Khans who followed suit). That was, when cricket was fundamentally test cricket or at best 50 over cricket. Then came IPL and the two markets collapsed into one. IPL brought cricket down to 20 overs. Suddenly an IPL match was reduced to the length of a 3 hour movie. Cricket became film's competitor. On the eve of IPL matches movie halls ran empty. Desperate multiplex owners requisitioned the rights for screening IPL matches at movie halls to hang on to the audience. If IPL were to become the mainstay of cricket, as it is likely to be, films have to sequence their releases so as not clash with IPL matches. As far as the audience is concerned both are what in India are called 3 hour "tamasha" (entertainment). Cricket season might push films out of the market.

Look at the products that vanished from India in the last 20 years. When did you last see a black and white movie? When did you last use a fountain pen? When did you last type on a typewriter? The answer for all the above is "I don't remember!" For some time there was a mild substitute for the typewriter called electronic typewriter that had limited memory. Then came the computer and mowed them all. Today most technologically challenged guys like me use the computer as an upgraded typewriter. Typewriters per se are nowhere to be seen.

One last illustration. 20 years back what were Indians using to wake them up in the morning? The answer is "alarm clock." The alarm clock was a monster made of mechanical springs. It had to be physically keyed every day to keep it running. It made so much noise by way of alarm, that it woke you up and the rest of the colony. Then came quartz clocks which were sleeker. They were much more gentle though still quaintly called "alarms." What do we use today for waking up in the morning? Cellphone! An entire industry of clocks disappeared without warning thanks to cell phones. Big watch companies like Titan were the losers. You never know in which bush your competitor is hiding!

On a lighter vein, who are the competitors for authors? Joke spewing machines? (Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, himself a Pole, tagged a Polish joke telling machine to a telephone much to the mirth of Silicon Valley). Or will the competition be story telling robots? Future is scary! The boss of an IT company once said something interesting about the animal called competition. He said "Have breakfast ...or.... be breakfast"! That sums it up rather neatly.

Happy Investing...!