How To Spot Fake Torrents on The Pirate Bay and Prevent Malware Spread

Torrents are often criticized for being infected with virus and malicious codes and place from where it all comes is ThePirateBay. According to the researchers, at least one third of TPB are fake torrents. Learn to spot Fake Torrents on Pirate Bay and prevent malware spread.

Why You Should Worry

Owing to the large number of users per month, bittorrent is a clear target for all sorts of scams. Fake torrents are loaded with deceit name such as  famous movies or series. In most occasions, once downloaded the file, users end up being redirected to fraudulent sites or just installing malware.

The Pirate Bay is probably the most proliferate space where these types of activities in BitTorrent are prevalent. For this reason, a group of researchers decided to monitor all content files in a two week period.

The researchers found that a total of 29,330 torrent files, 12,209 were “false” and were eliminated. This means that one in three are fake torrent uploaded either malware or scam of some sort. While moderators and admin of TPB removed continuously removed, the researchers completed indicating that within a year million users end up downloading these fake files.

How to Spot Fake Torrents

TorrentGuard is a tool that allows the user to identify fake Torrent files.

A system that is able to describe and analyze the phenomenon of fake torrents. A tool that enables the user to check the torrent before downloading. Tool is available as a plugin for Vuze but also have it through their website.

Just upload .torrent file or paste the magnet link on the online tool to check

And how? By all accounts, the system is able to identify the malicious file that is uploaded by a small group ofuploaders. 90% of all fake files were “planted” by only 20 IP addresses. In this way and based on statistics, TorrentGuard can prevent about 10 million fake downloads a year.

Talking to TorrentFreak, Rubén Cuevas researcher of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid Explains That the research is Important Because It Reveals the Threat Posed by these fake torrents.

“Of course skilled users are aware of these risks and are able to identify fake torrents in most cases. However, a large percentage of BitTorrent users are unskilled and not capable of distinguishing between legitimate and fake torrents.”

For some torrents, Tool may not have enough information and can’t decide about reliability of the torrent. In such case, you should be able to identify them manually.

1. Look for comments. Confirm its working and quality by judging on comments.
2. Download from trusted users. Click on Author link to see their uploads and decide.
3. Use Antivirus to scan the file downloaded.

How To Stop Spamming on Facebook Friends and Timeline

Stopping Spam on Facebook Timeline is a need of hour. Social Network is widely exploited in various ways to spread spam but the fact is we are responsible for it. So, stop acting as spam agents and stop spamming on Facebook Friends and Timeline.

From my Facebook Experience, I have compiled some common ways using which Spam is generally spread.

Facebook App Spam

Apps are the prime source of spamming. Here are some examples of spam on Facebook:

1. Notification Spam: App might send request to all your friends, maybe without your permission.

2. Facebook Wall Spam: App will send invite or share some link on Friend’s wall.

Facebook Applications are built by people like you and me. So, Facebook isn’t responsible for everything that happens between you and app. Trusting blindly on all apps would be a mistake and hence preliminary care should be taken to avoid sorry at later stage.

Facebook cares about its user base and hence offers some actions which has to be to optionally taken by you in order to avoid spam. Whenever you use any app, you need to first authorize it and then start using it.

Here’s a checklist which you should always go through:

1. Who are Using it?

Maybe zillions of people are using it but check out how many of your friends are using it. More specifically “Who they are?”. If someone who you believe or you think is tech-savvy and decisive enough to judge apps then that adds to trust factor of app.

2. What Information you are giving out to this App?

Generally includes Basic info like name, profile picture and other things that you have made public. But look out for more. Some apps could dig out your more information like Phone number, Email ID, Birthdays, etc.

3. Who can see what this app posts?

After checking out first two steps, if you are somewhat convinced to use any app, this is an important step. Mainly because, here you are permitting app to publish and post something on your timeline on your behalf (maybe without your consent).

So, control who could see what this app posts on timeline. It is recommended to use Privacy setting as “Me” because even if app posts something, you will get to know and good thing it will be visible to only yourself.

This you could come to know how culprit your app is. Notice the slant lines around the box which signifies post is only visible to me. So, even this app tried to post spam on my timeline, my friends didn’t get harmed.

Irrelevant Photo Tagging

Enough of blaming apps for spam, sometimes our stupidity also leads to spam. People keep on tagging their friends in an irrelevant photos and the reasons are:

1. They want to send wishes for an occasion (might be Christmas).
2. Want to show off something they bought or something hilarious they did.
3. They want you to notice and read.
4. They just want to increase number of Likes.

In reality, what you get is bulk notification about the comments on a photo in which you weren’t even present.

If you are the one who is doing it then here are alternative solutions:

1. Send Them a Message.
2. Write on their wall.
3. Tag then in Comments. (This doesn’t send notification for each activity)
4. Make your post “Like”worthy.

If you are victim of photo tags then:

1. Go to Photo and remove your tag instantly. This will save you from further notifications and also spamming timeline.
2. Change Tagging options from Privacy Settings.
   

These settings will let your friends tag you but you will only see what they have tagged. Also, you can setup Review Tags before they are actually visible to everyone. This would prevent from irrelevant tag and photo tag will be only where you are actually present in photo.

I hope you will act like a good friend and help in stopping spam on Facebook Timeline.

How To Print Web Pages In Proper Format By Editing With Printer Friendly

When you give a Print command from web browser, complete web page is printed. Now, this may contain many unwanted things like banner ads, navigation areas, etc. whereas you are interested in content. So, edit webpages before printing to print in proper format.

Other elements are necessary considering it as webpage but while printing, if those are also printed, you are unnecessarily wasting printer ink/toner.

Printer Friendly is a web service which understands your need and lets you edit webpage before printing. Not just editing before printing but it automatically recognizes your need and shows only possible content from page which needs to be printed in proper format.

It strives to offer perfect webpage printing experiencing by formatting the webpage whenever you want to print. This tool quickly customizes the webpage print to save printer ink and paper.

I tried printing one of my article about Quick Boot mode in Windows 8 and it looked horrible in print preview. However, when tried same on Printer Friendly, it turned into magically formatted printing webpage.

Printer Ink Saving Tips to Print More Pages with Same Cartridge

An article which may require One and half A4 size printing paper (which equals) could fit in just one. All possible because of formatting the page and removing the unwanted elements from it.

Not just saving but the printed article looks good, easy to read and moreover content is in focus. Also, they offer emailing of article as well as exporting as PDF.

Printerfriendly.com can be accessed by going to their website or you may add their bookmarklet or install Chrome extension. Webmasters / bloggers can help their readers by adding printer friendly buttons to website.

 VISIT PRINTFRIENDLY

Increase Gmail Attachment Size By Syncing With Cloud Storage

On Gmail, you can send maximum size of 25MB file as attachment. In case, you want to send really big archive of photos or a video/movie to family member or friend, it becomes restriction. Here’s how you can increase Gmail Attachment size by integrating Cloud storage.

Attachments.me brings all your content from cloud storage folder like Dropbox, Box, SkyDrive and Google Drive to Gmail. It makes possible to send Gmail attachments to Cloud Folder without downloading on computer.

Not just download but it also makes it possible to send file attachments to email recipient right from Cloud folder. In this way, the file size restriction of Email service (maximum 25MB in Gmail) is overridden.

Yes, it possible to send File of even 1GB as Gmail attachment thanks to Attachments.me.

How to Increase Gmail Attachment Size

1. Download Attachments.me Addon/Extension for Firefox / Chrome.
2. You will have to authorize this service to access Gmail account. Do not worry about your password as they are not stored and bank level encryption is implemented.
   
3. Once Gmail authorization is done, you have to choose from Cloud services to integrate which further requires authorization.
   
4. After successful integration of cloud account, you will be able to send attachments from those folder and also save file attachments there.

How To Send Big File Attachment From Gmail

I assume that you have an account on any of the Cloud service: Box, Dropbox, Google Drive or Skydrive. And files to be shared is saved on these cloud storage.

From now on, whenever you compose new email, you will notice “Share From Skydrive” button. (Skydrive in my case but can differ in your case according to cloud folder you choose)

Instead of clicking on “Attach File”, click on Share From button which opens dialog box showing files from cloud folder. Choose file and click insert.

File from cloud storage is now added and link to that attachment is in email content.

How To Save Email attachments to Cloud Storage

Whenever an email arrives with attachment in inbox, Attachments.me detects automatically and shown on right sidebar. Click on “Send to” button and cloud folder will open in new dialog box. Select folder to save this file in cloud.

How To Automate Saving Email Attachments To Cloud Storage

If you want to save all Telephone bills received in email every month to a specific folder in Cloud storage. Then, it can be easiy configured using a feature called Automatic Filing rule. Paper clip button at the top offers an option of “Automatic Filing rules”.

You can set “Which Type of File” received “From Whom” to be sent in “Which Folder” of “Which Cloud Storage”.

Connect Multiple Cloud Storage To make Big Space and Manage from One window

Bottomline

Attachments.me hence can be used to manage Cloud Storage from Gmail account and not just increasing Gmail attachment size. If you find this solution lengthy then go for free services to share large files over web without registration.

• Send Attachments via Gmail, Yahoo, Google Apps, etc from right click Context Menu
• Connect Multiple Cloud Storage to make Big Space and Manage from one Window
• Which Cloud Storage should I use to Backup Data Online Safely
• Upload Documents to Online Cloud Storage from Desktop

Strategies of a Facebook Hackers and How You Can Outsmart Them

With one billion users at same place and hacking techniques at disposal, Facebook has become a huge playground for Hackers. They are coming up with different techniques to exploit Facebook and take advantage of user data. Here’s how you can outsmart them and protect your FB account.

Your personal details are sitting inside a vault called Facebook with a crackable password. I have compiled a list of some most used strategies by Hackers to break this vault.

Stealing Photos

All those Photo collections of beautiful women and attractive girls on Porn sites and forums; Where do they come from? They are stolen from personal albums of people’s profile on Facebook and other Social networks. And without user’s consent, they are circulated on web.

Benefit: Hackers sell these photos to such websites which in again earns revenue out of it.

Solution: Photos published are usually the ones which are publicly visible on Facebook. You should take care of visibility of a content you upload on Facebook. Restrict it to “Friends Only” and choose friends wisely, learn to detect fake Facebook profiles.

Duplicate Profile

Hackers create a new profile on Facebook using the same information of an existing user. And then starts sending Friend requests to people who are friends with original profile. If you were the one to receive such request, most probably you will accept it without a second thought. Even I will, because I know that person.

Benefit: After being friends, hacker has elevated access to your personal information to steal. Also, chances are higher that you will click the links sent by your friend which may open website embedded with malware.

Solution: With such a huge friends list, we often forget if we are already friends with some person. But, if there is even 1% of doubt, double check the profile and friend list for same name. Possibly, also notify the real person about this and report the profile to Facebook.

To avoid falling prey to malicious URLs, I personally use Bitdefender to scan links on webpage for me and notify about any danger.

Track using Geo-location

With smartphones, photos captured also contain GPS log which gives out information about your location. If you happen to click a photo nearby your home and upload it on Facebook, your residence location is revealed. It becomes easy for a hacker to reach where you live.

Solution: Keep a check on visibility of Photos.

Cracking Your Account Password

Hacker may use a phishing page to steal your password or use some hacking tool to crack it. If you search on web, there are number of tools available to hack Facebook account. Most of them are fake and may be used against you. But, with a right tool, it’s all possible.

Solution: Have a strong password for Facebook account. You may use one of the password generators to create an unbreakable one.

Still, if hacker manages to hack your account, learn to get back hacked Facebook account.

Using Facebook Apps

Little knowledge is what all you need to create a Facebook application. Hacker creates application with tempting name and content. Maybe revealing some secret about you or offering an iPhone for 50 bucks. On allowing apps, they could fetch all personal information about you. Some apps pretend to be a Free Game but ask for Credit Card information to start playing. Avoid them!

Solution: Don’t allow access to any random app and check permissions before approving. Be wise. Think logically. “Why a gaming app needs access to my phone number?”. Read my article on Stop Facebook Spammingwhere you can learn how to choose FB apps.

Whatever happens, you are responsible for your account and its protection. I have listed the most used ways to manipulate users but they may come up with some more innovative technique to exploit Facebook. So, you always have to take necessary security precautions while using Facebook.