As you probably know, the internet is a "dangerous" place. As such, I have compiled a list of things you can
do to make your computer more secure.
Dont be an idiot!
Most problems can be avoided by simply not doing stupid things, such as opening a file that you dont know what it is. If someone
sends you an email, and you dont know who they are, dont open it! Dont wantonly go opening every file you see
to figure out whats inside. Also, dont visit dangerous sites! Any site regarding illegal activities is dangerous.
Avoid them at all costs unless you know what you are doing (Not to mention the fact its an illegal site)
Dont just click a button on any window that pops up. If somethign asks you if it can be installed, and you dont
know what it is and you didnt ask for it, DONT. It is probably spyware/adware. If you get stuck in one of those
annoying "YOU MUST CLICK YES!" loops, ctrl-alt-del out of the browser rather than wimping out and clicking yes.
Finally, and this is a big one: Dont click sponsored links in search engines! It is most likely NOT what you are
looking for.
Get firefox
Firefox is an alternative browser based on Mozilla. It is much safer than Internet Explorer because it does not
have as many dangerous "features" such as ActiveX or automatic plugin downloading. Extraneous toolbars cannot be
automatically loaded. Not to mention it has the best free popup blocker I know of. Downloading Firefox should always
be the first thing you should do. Get it here.
Firewall your computer
Getting a GOOD firewall is essential. It can keep viruses and hackers out, and keep anything you might have
from spreading. Good firewalls will ask you if each individual application can access your internet connection.
The best firewall I know of is Sygate Personal Firewall.
It lets you know when anything is trying to access the internet, be it a windows service, a game you are playing, or the
internet browser. You can of course set it so that it will not send you a specific program again, so it will not
ask you 100 times if Firefox can access the internet. This is useful so you can disable Windows from being able to access
the internet. This means that if a virus changes even core Windows files, it wont be able to spread. It also makes
it easy for the paranoid to keep applications from reporting back to their creators.
Get an adware remover
An adware/spyware remover is a crucial component to any secure computer. All removers have the ability to scan and
detect adware/spyware and some other problems on your computer. Good ones will protect against spyware.
There are three good packages out there.
--The quick and painless: AdAware - Easy to use interface, searches and removes spyware. Best for beginners.
--The tech-savvy: Spybot Search & Destroy - A tad harder to use, but is more effective. It removes the problems without
leaving much mess behind. It also allows you to "immunize" your system against further Spyware/Adware attacks.
--The Fort Knox: Hijack This - Not for those who dont really know what they are doing. This program
detects EVERYTHING that could possibly be spyware or adware on your computer. This means that if you go and remove everything, it will mess up your computer.
Thus, only very good computer users should decide what to remove on their own. Fortunately, it has the option of
saving a log of everything it finds, so you can send it to your computer geek friend (I can do it if you want, email me) and have them
tell you what to do. It also includes a process viewer, so you can see EVERYTHING (Including things even ctrl-alt-del doesnt see) that is running, and what
files they are using. This helps in removing very troublesome problems.
Get good virus protection
Finally, virus protection. If you follow all the above rules, you shouldnt have too much of a problem. But it is still
a good idea to get virus protection. I dont use any currently, my firewall catches any virus trying to get in (I have Sygate Personal Firewall Pro, $40.. a good upgrade to the free version.)
Virus software isnt usually free. There is one free version from McAfee, called Stinger. It can scan for and remove common viruses.
While it does not beat a full package, it is free, and it works decently.
If you want to get a full package, I would also reccomend one of the several McAfee virus scanners. Norton is decent, but it is a pain to install, use,
and if you dont like it, it is horrendous to uninstall.
These simple rules should aid you in your defense against the dark arts, ahem, I mean viruses/spyware/adware. Have fun!