10 signs that your system is unsafe

Just because your antivirus program hasn’t reported anything strange doesn’t mean your system is safe. Here are 10 clues that could indicate an infection, and advice on how to tackle each problem.

PC is running slowly

If your PC is no longer as speedy as it once was, it could be a sign that you’re running out of hard drive space, but it could also be down to a malware infection. Run a good ‘second opinion’ scanner such as Reason Core Security (www.reasoncoresecurity.com).

Your PC Will Be Hacked

Not every security threat comes from the web. Wayne Williams reveals how your hardware may already have built-in flaws and explains how to fix them before it’s too late.

The last 12 months have been particularly bad for PC manufacturers – not only are sales down, but some companies have been exposed for pre-installing potentially dangerous and invasive software on their devices. This means that even if you’re very careful about what you download from the web, and where you get it from, your system could still be under threat from the ‘enemy within’ – built-in security flaws that leave it vulnerable to hackers and malware infection. In this feature, we highlight the worst of these hidden holes and explain how to fix them.

Over the following six pages, we explain how to check for (and remove) Lenovo’s Superfish adware, and secure the highly vulnerable Lenovo Solution Center. We also look at problems found on Dell and Toshiba PCs; explain how the Raspberry Pi isn’t as secure it should be; and look at problems that affect popular routers from companies including Netgear, TP-Link and D-Link.

Bitwalking

Have you resolved to get fit in 2016? David Crookes looks at an app that will encourage you to get walking by earning you money for every step you take

Is Bitwalking when you walk for a bit, then sit down?

No. Bitwalking (www.bitwalking.com) is a new digital ‘crypto-currency’ that allows you to generate money based on the number of miles you walk. Created by entrepreneurs Nissan Bahar and Franky Imbesi, it makes a direct, motivational link between health and wealth, and encourages people to be active by offering a financial incentive.

Zowie FK1

Painfully precise professional rodent

At first glance, this mouse may not look like much. It’s a far stride from the usual hyper-ergonomic, multi-colored, wireless, adjustable gaming mice we tend to feature. But that’s exactly what makes this mouse so special. It’s not about the glitz and the glam, it’s about making you the best damn gamer you can be.

So who is Zowie? Well, in short, it’s a tiny company, founded in 2008, with the distinctive goal of creating perfect gaming peripherals for pro-gamers. But that’s nothing we’ve not heard before, surely? Take a look at SteelSeries, Razer, and Logitech, and you’ll discover a similar ethos driving all those companies. What makes Zowie different from the rest is how it works as a company. It’s a brand that’s not seeking to become a market leader, it doesn’t answer to shareholders, and it's certainly not hoping to break any world records for the number of mice sold.

Lian-Li PC-08

1970s hi-fi or futuristic PC cube?

What can we say? Just wow. What a case! This is the PC-O8 windowed chassis brought to us by Lian-Li. Coming in at an incredible $390, this cube-like design by the world-renowned Taiwanese case maker follows the company’s long tradition of utilizing a full-aluminum chassis in conjunction with its entry point into the high-end premium market. And as far as cases go, it certainly doesn’t disappoint—although, would you really expect anything else at this price?