Yes, today, 8th of April 2010, marks our birthday. Today we turn four! Four years old, heh? It seems only yesterday was our first.

The last year has been a busy one. Maybe not in public, but certainly in the background. We’ve released our first piece of software and we’ve continued the free computer support in the support forums. And continued to recognise the ability of individuals with a few promotions (1,2).

This year will see no giveaways as we move forward in focusing our time and efforts on SCars and other projects. But please post your messages of support to our staff members who volunteer in giving you support.

As always we are thankful and greatful to all volunteers and people who have donated. They all keep this site going. Without those two areas, we wouldnt be here. So, Happy Birthday to us and here is to another year where we try and tackle the bad guys!

Forum Announcement – Securitycadets’ – Four Years Old!

Stay in touch – Twitter, Facebook

SCars has been a long project for awhile now and it’s at that stage where we feel comfortable that it can be released to the general public.

What is SCars? To quote the SCars home page:

“SCars is a program designed to aid users in performing the regular computer maintenance tasks that should be undertaken to keep their computer working efficiently. Tasks such as updating Windows and security software, and cleaning temporary files are important to a computer’s health. In addition, SCars can be used to remind users of whatever they choose as it has the capability for users to create ‘custom’ reminders for any purpose.”

For a long time now, we have been developing this application which started from a small idea from some of our staff behind the scenes. At the time we were discussing overhauling our support forums. And from somewhere, it sparked a conversation about creating a tool. So that we can assist computer users not only via our website, but on their actual computer when they’re offline or online after we have assisted them. That was the start of a project which we then dubbed, Project X.

Overview

• Built-in computer Security and Maintenance reminders – all customizable
• Custom reminders for any purpose
• Automatic or manual updating available
• Multiple languages supported
• Full help and support available (more info)

For a run-down of the above visit the Features page.

We don’t expect at this stage to have a Pro version for which you pay for. As it stands it is a freeware application to recommend to anyone which will assist in maintaining a computer. All those who contribute, are volunteers. They have either been in a position themselves where they got infected and seeked help on similar websites like our own. So they know where most users come from. That is vital to the development of SCars to maintain it’s functions as it’s designed for.

Although this release is stable, we have not yet fully implemented all features. So for the first public version, it will be a Beta. We do want to remind anyone using it in the Beta version that testing will be at your own risk.

At this stage we’d like to thank everyone who has worked hard on SCars. You can see who has contributed on the SCars pages (more here). And should you have an opinion, chat about it in our forum.

Links of Interest:

SCars Home Pages

SCars Support Forum

I cannot believe how fast 2009 has gone. It was a very busy year for me and this support site. We had some problems, but got through them.

To everyone who may read this, I hope 2010 is a healthy and year to you all. I hope you achieve what you want.

Regards,  Securitycadets.com

Update – SCars Beta 1 has been released for testing

For details how to apply, please read our forum announcement.

It is an awesome feeling to know we have reached this age and not moved an inch. We’re still contributing to the community, offering free support for users with computers and highlighting who the scumbags are!

The difference about this year is we won’t be giving away licences to software or having the chance to win some great prizes. But as ever, we offer the chance for you to celebrate with us. Please visit the celebration forum;

• 3rd Year Anniversary Celebrations

It’s been a long journey and it’s a journey we couldn’t do without the fantastic support from our staff who help in our forum and post articles on our blog. They have made a great contribution to this site as a whole.

Our staff consist of Microsoft MVP’s and ASAP Members. The standard is set for us and the support given to our members is of a high degree.

What vision do I have for the next year? Well more of the same. The more we highlight things to the public, the more aware you can all be. Education is a key factor. However not everyone wants that. That’s one barrier we need to try and break down and work at. Not just us, but the whole community.

You can help and expose us to more users who need help. So please take note of some of the useful links below. Please consider a link to us.

So to all associated with Securitycadets.com:

Happy Birthday!!

Selective Links:

• Site Announcement

• A.S.A.P Member
• Contact Us
• Donate
• Link To Us
• Support Forums

http://www.socialsecurityawards.com/

Voting categories:

• Best Security Podcast
• Best Technical Security Blog
• Best Corporate Security Blog
• Best Non-Technical Security Blog
• Most Entertaining Security Blog

Let’s see where this gets us. Get your votes in!

As articles have dried up a bit of late on our blog, we want to remind you that we still post all the latest security and technology news from around the globe in our forum via our customized NewsBot. This is to make sure whatever we do on our blog, we still try to make sure we keep you in touch with the latest news out there!

Our NewsBot Centre has proved to be a hit with visitors ever since we started it back in March of this year. And we hope this will continue for months and years to come!

That’s not all, you can also include a feed from your blog/site into the system. Just send us an e-mail to the following address:

newsbot AT securitycadets DOT com

So, there is no reason to miss out on all our news with NewsBot from across the internet.

Links:

1. NewsBot Centre
2. NewsBot Centre Archives

For more information about this see our announcement topic in the forum.

Edit – The server move has nor been completed and it is business as usual. With this server move we will be able to offer some new services. Stick around to see what they will be.

Comments and questions are welcomed.

As it’s towards the end of the period, which has gone over it’s planned slot, we still have some licences to give away! They are copies of Sunbelts’ Counterspy and Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware.

To enter on your choice of raffle, click on the links below:

• Enter the raffle that is giving away full licences of Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
• Enter the raffle that is giving away full copies of Sunbelts’ CounterSpy

And all you have to do is register and post you want to win! Then a number is allocated to your post and in a weeks time (depending on the amount of entries) we will put all numbers in a hat and draw the numbers!

Simple ‘eh? Go and get your copy!

If you are a regular of this forum, you may remember last years fun! Where we gave away licences to security and protection goods for your computer! Even from then, we have gained more than a 1000 members and assisted in over 800 hjt log/malware removal based topics. Not to mention the self-help guides we produced! But for us mostly it’s not about figures, it’s about being there to provide support and spread the word!

History

I remember well on how we got to this stage in our short but sweat history. I started a blog on Blogger, bought a domain a few months later and moved all those posts to a WordPress install. Shortly after that a forum was purchased and the fun began.

Am I happy I begun this two years ago? Too right I am! When I began in this community I always wanted to choose this route. Of course there would be skeptics and those with doubt. But then in life when doesn’t that occur?

New features

Anyway, that’s a brief history. But I want to concentrate on the future and what we have in the pipework. Well, for a start, we already rolled out our new feature, dubbed “NewsBot”. NewsBot imports blog feeds from all around the globe to computer related ones. We created this so we could add more coverage of other news we may not cover, or we failed to cover. We researched and found that this was a good move to do. Go check it out here. Any regular member can reply, just not post a new topic.

The next feature is a big one. One that will still remain private. A sneak peak would suggest we are spreading our wings in a joint venture. You’ll just have to wait as to what they could be.

We’re also looking at adding the chat room back and also possible audio streaming features and more. Basically brand new stuff to blow your head away. Just so that more news can get to you in every way we possibly can cater for.

Celebrations

Celebrations during the next few weeks and month will of course be going on. Just head to our main celebration forum and read the pinned.

Sponsors

During this period the following companies are sponsoring our celebrations and birthday. They have also kindly donated some goodies.

• Sunbelt Software
• Malwarebytes.org

For details about this and what has been donated, visit the pinned here.

So, how do we see the next year go? Well the same really, but with new features and a fresh approach. We plan to be here for a long time and those bad guys will know about it.

From everyone who works on this site, Happy Birthday and see you on our forum!

Links:

http://forum.securitycadets.com/index.php?showforum=86

Well, all we will reveal is to make sure you log in over the next week or so for new additions being announced, games and competitions going on. And a special day on the 8th of April 2008 as the next month happens.

See you this week, next week and beyond as we move forward to exciting times!!

The world of malware is changing day by day and the hunger for money by rogue organisations is increasing. Rogue software is part of the internet now whether we approve or not. But we can do something about this. Make sure new ones are added quicker to right removal tools. Try and make sure we squeeze the money trail and report rogues before they hit the wild.

Don’t get me wrong, you can report things like this already at many places. This is nothing new we are doing here, but we are making the possibilities for reporting bigger and easier.

Our report forum is located here. You’ll have to register to post for security matters. Please also read the pinned topics for general info. All samples or reports will then be dealt with and passed on to the relevant personnel.

Tell you neighbour and their neighbour. E-mail this to your friends. Let’s make this happen

Report Rogue Anti-Spyware

I did say a week or so ago that I posted my last article for the year. However whilst I have been on holiday, several items have come to light which I will be going into once I am back from holiday. Probably near Sunday evening this weekend.

I may be on holiday, but suckers, I still have my eye on you!