The Underside of Using Movie-viewing Apps on Your Computer.

Everyone loves getting something free; especially if it works. This is especially so if the item is a free application that lets a user view the latest movies for free on their home computer. App stores are now awash with a variety of these programs, from classic Hollywood and tv movies to the latest in-cinema fare. Movie fans are voraciously downloading these programs despite the ongoing opposition of movie distributors and the Justice Department. Make no mistake: the war is on!

Times and methods are swiftly changing in this battle between movie distributors and movie-app developers. Each side keeps dreaming up new and more effective ways to counteract each other. Caught in the middle of this war are the unsuspecting app-users who are simply trying to watch movies. The Justice Department believes that these people are criminals, and as such, deserve to be prosecuted. App developers, on the other hand, argue that these programs benefit movie distributors and moviegoers equally. They advertise the work of movie-makers and enable movie-goers to wisely buy their big-screen experiences.

Regardless of the merits of either claimant, these applications have now become hot-beds of danger for users. Many of them are now being used to compromise the computers of unsuspecting users. Users find themselves directed to pages offering to upgrade their viewing programs for free or to update their apps. Some of these offers are so insistent that they don't take no for answer and will hold a computer hostage unless the user shuts down the computer or agrees to download the offer. Others find that ads have taken over their computers with no way to shut them off, or that the movie they tried to watch is drowned out by annoying sounds from unknown sources.

Based on experience, my advice to users of these apps: NEVER DOWNLOAD OR ACCEPT ANY OF THESE OFFERS !!! These are virus and malware-laden files which will immediately affect your computer. If your computer becomes unresponsive when you encounter one of these pages, RESTART OR TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER. These programs can only hurt you if you download or install them. Always remember that every program is a series of instructions that must be loaded into your computer's RAM before it can become active. After restarting your computer, check your download folder for any new, suspicious files and delete them. Scan your computer with your antivirus and malware software to ensure that all is well.

I Repeat: Protect Your Computer from Malware

I see this time and time again. Some poor sap fires up their computer to search for some needed information and Sweetpacks, MyWebsearch or some other insidious piece of crapware has taken over the computer. They don't know how or when this happened, but their frustration is no less pronounced when they cannot get to the information they need because of the multitude of ads these programs promote. Not only that, but the amount of fake virus attacks and "warnings" they create serve to scare computer users and cheat them out of their hard-earned money by selling useless "protection" programs. Consumers are literally being hijacked in their own homes and businesses by cyber-criminals exploiting the huge loopholes in today's essential computer software and operating systems. Microsoft is a magnet for virus creators, whatever the cause. As a result, every computer user working with Windows-based machines is a target for cyber-crime. Now the prevalence of software-bundling program installers is making it super easy for cyber criminals to install malware on the computers of unsuspecting consumers. In cyberspace, "free" has always carried a price. Now crapware is really upping the ante on "free" software. Consumers who download "free" software from almost every software depository on the internet are now forced to use that depository's installer to set up the software. These installers are usually loaded with bundled malware programs, some of which are so persistent that they won't take "no" for an answer. Clicking "decline" on some of these malware programs tricks consumers into installing the crapware on their machines. The bottom line is that whoever you are and whatever your purpose for using a computer, if you are connected to the internet (and who isn't), you MUST protect your computer against Malware. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT rely on Windows' built-in firewall to protect your computer. It is a joke to cybercriminals. Windows Explorer, despite Microsoft's efforts to make it safer, is a highway for crapware infection. Bing is a parallel route. Fortify your computer with alternative browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox (just examples) and reputable anti-virus programs such as Malwarebytes, Avast and AVG (examples). Do your research. There are tons of reputable antivirus programs available; some of them providing really free but effective, limited versions. Avoid those "free scan now" ads like the plague they are! My parting advice to you, dear reader, is to run a weekly anti-virus and malware scan of your computer system every 3 days to ensure that insidious malware infections do not colonize your machine while you are sleeping. Note that NO antivirus program, despite its propaganda, is 100% virus-proof. It is a good idea, from my experience, to install and use at least 2 trustworthy scanners. I would currently recommend Malwarebytes and Avast or AVG. But you are the ultimate judge of what works best for you.