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

You can read additional information at Security Garden and discuss it in detail in our support forums. We also provide support for Windows XP should you require it.

“Between the 1-26 February 2010, Scamnesty bins will be placed around the country in public places so you can bin those pesky scam letters you have received in the post. As well as letters and mailers some scammers send emails, text messages or will call you at your home. Now you can report these phone calls and forward us your suspected scam emails and websites and help us to beat the scammers!”

You can find more details about this project at the followin website:

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty/

We really recommend that you forward this message onto any UK resident for their attention. It is their chance to fight back. Discuss here.

BBC Technology reports – “Almost a half of those who did respond to a scam had lost more than £50, while 5% lost more than £5,000.

The OFT said 73% of adults had received a scam e-mail in the past year.

Some 6,500 people are also receiving letters from the authorities warning them that their names are on a “sucker list” being circulated by fraudsters.

The OFT is launching a “scamnesty”, calling on consumers to drop scam mailings into designated boxes at public places or into an online “bin”.”

Are you in Britain? Do you think you are one of those who falls for scams, whether directly or indirectly? Tell us!

Ben Edelman (Direct link to the article) – “I present screenshots and screen-capture videos demonstrating that even after a user specifically chooses to “disable” the Google Toolbar, and even after the Google Toolbar disappears from view, Google Toolbar continues tracking users’ web browsing — including the specific sites visited, pages browsed, and searches conducted. I then critique Google’s installation — which lets users activate these transmissions in a single click, while ceasing the transmissions is much harder. I compare Google’s current notice/consent process to Google’s 2004 version, finding important declines in both the presentation and substance of disclosures.”

It’s pretty worrying to be honest as privacy plays a big part on our every day life these days. Have an opinion about the research? Tell us here.

SCars, has yet to be fully released to the public in any format and explained what it fully is. However, with the first public beta release around the corner, we thought a sneak peak wouldn’t do any harm.

(Check scars.securitycadets.com for the official image)

SCars has been a long project for a year or so now and is scheduled for release. However no specific release date has been confirmed.

Have a question about SCars? Want to get involved? Want to keep updated with news? Post here. Or you can do so by visiting the home page for our application:

http://scars.securitycadets.com/

Media Coverage – Zebulon.fr, Pctorium, ForoSpyware.com

However this time the German government is warning not to use the Microsoft browser on grounds that is unsafe with the latest exploitation, according to reports from BBC Technology News.

According to TheRegister.co.uk the exploited codes targets the Internet Explorer vulnerability used against Google and other companies and it has now gone public, increasing the chances that broader attacks will soon follow.

Microsoft do advise that the security hole can be shut by setting the browser’s security zone to high, although this essentially can block other sites in the process.

In a nutshell, it’s safe to say that all browsers have problems in almost every area. However they are yet to be discovered, explored and then exploited. Asking anyone to warn against using a browser will not solve the problem. It may decrease the chance of infection and exploitation to users though.

Expect an out-of-cycle update from Microsoft soon that should hopefully fix this.

If you want to discus this matter and your safety – Ask here.

Sources:

• BBC Technology News
• TheRegister.co.uk

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

There are simple steps to ensure you protect it better. At no extra costs, protecting it to your needs will secure it ten-fold.

Security Garden have a detailed blog post with tips and tricks you may find usefull – So, You Received a New Computer for Christmas

Should you have any questions that you may feel need to be raised from the guide or questions about some of the steps, then feel free to ask in our Computer Help forums.

Why? Well, with SCars coming along and the fact everyone will be busy in the run up to the festive holiday, it deserves a break. The time available for us to post the weekly posts is something we can live without for a month.

That said, the NewsBot Centre will continue to tick over in our forums sharing articles from across the blogging world.

Link – NewsBot Centre

Welcome to another blog post of Sunday NewsBot. All articles in the NewsBot Centre are imported from blog and site feeds from the world of security and technology and gathered in our centre. This weeks top articles are:

• New iPhone worm is ‘more serious’
• Beams collide in Big Bang machine
• Facebookers hit with steamy clickjacking exploit (‘Click da button, baby!’)
• Hong Kong man, three others jailed for spam scheme (Godfather of Spam)
• Google grabs another ad company
• BitDefender and Auslogics Partner to Bundles Their Software

There are more articles located within the NewsBot Centre. Plus there is also an chance to have your blog feed included. Details about it can be found here.

Posted and reported over at Calendar of Updates, you can see the screenshot within the post. It is also reported that it does not come pre-checked, like you tend to get with Ask.com toolbar.

CoU also have a useful list of software that comes bundled with that pecific toolbar for you to digest here.

Personally you need to look at each and every installer these days, because if you blink and click “Next“, you may find an add-on installed on your browser or something else.

Find this interesting? Have any thoughts about it? Want to see the screenshot? Then discuss it in our forums.

A computer worm that China warned Internet users against is an updated version of the Panda Burning Incense virus, which infected millions of PCs in the country three years ago, according to McAfee.

The original Panda worm, also known as Fujacks, caused widespread damage at a time when public knowledge about online security was low, and led to the country’s first arrests for virus writing in 2007. The new worm variant, one of many that have appeared since late 2006, adds a malicious component meant to make infection harder to detect, said Vu Nguyen, a McAfee Labs researcher.

“It has gotten more complex with the addition of a rootkit,” said Nguyen. “It definitely makes it more challenging for users to clean up and even to know that their systems have been compromised.” A rootkit burrows into a system to try to hide the existence of malware.

Thoughts on this? Discuss further in our community here.

• Yahoo site flaw uncovered
• Rogue antivirus: a growing problem
• Malware writers feeding on Twilight mania
• Police make “trojan” virus arrests
• MS discovers flaw in Google plug-in for IE
• Dumb code could stop computer viruses in their tracksDumb code could stop computer viruses in their tracks

There are more articles located within the NewsBot Centre. Plus there is also an chance to have your blog feed included. Details about it can be found here.

• Softpedia’s exclusive interview with Malwarebytes: Malwarebytes Accuses, IObit Plays Dead
• Rogue Anti-Spyware Targets Sesame Street’s Big Bird
• New Koobface Component Imitates Facebook User
• Firefox flaws make up 44% of all browser bugs?
• Windows 7 Team: How we really designed the look and feel of Windows 7
• Pushdo/Cutwail Spambot – A Little Known BIG Problem
• New Declaration by IObit about MBAM’s database;Iobit apologizes
• Keylogger Software Company Not Liable for Eavesdropping by Ex-spouse — Hayes v. SpectorSoft

There are more articles located within the NewsBot Centre. Plus there is also an chance to have your blog feed included. Details about it can be found here.