Virus protection

Whether you installed AVG free home edition or you have another virus protection program is not important. They all have the ability to be scheduled to run on a regular basis. It should be scheduled to update and run at least every other day.

Spyware protection

Once the above programs are installed, AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy, the following process needs to be done about once a week.

Open up AdAware and click "Check for updates now", then click "Connect". It will tell you if there is a newer version and download it for you. If there is not, just click the "Finish" button. Next, click the "Start" button, then click the "Next" button. This will begin scanning the files on your computer. Once it is done, click "Next" and you will see a listing of spyware files it found. Right click on any file in the list and click "Select all objects" then click "Next" and a box will inform you "300 objects will be removed. Continue?" It will indicate how many objects it found, 300 is just an example. Now you are back at the start again, just close the application.

Open SpyBot and click "Search for Updates" to check for the latest version. If there is a newer version, then it will be downloaded to replace the previous version. Next Click "Search and Destroy" and click "Check for problems". The program will run for several minutes and read thru several thousand different types of spyware files and look for any matches in your computer. Once it is complete, if any were found, then verify that there is a checkmark next to all files listed and click "Fix selected problems". This will remove the spyware files.

WARNING: AdAware will read through all files on your computer, looking for spyware. SpyBot will read through it's own list of spyware files looking for spyware on your computer, and you can see the files it is reading as it scrolls through them. Some of the files that SpyBot reads through may be offensive. Keep in mind, the files that SpyBot reads through, are files that it is looking for and not files it sees on your computer.

It is a good idea to run AdAware and SpyBot back to back. Generally, they will both find some things.

Windows updates

Windows need to be kept up to date and Microsoft issues updates or service packs regularly. To ensure that you are getting them in a timely manner, do the following:

Click start, control panel, (switch to classic view, if it's not already), Automatic Updates.

Be sure that the checkbox is checked where it says: Keep my computer up to date
You can choose one of the following:
Notify me before downloading any updates and notify me again before installing them on my computer
Download the updates automatically and notify me when they are ready to be installed.
Automatically download the updates and install them on the schedule that I specify

The way you set it up is up to whatever your preference is, but the main thing is to keep your operating system up to date. If you don't want to be bothered with it, then choose the last option. If your computer is turned off at the scheduled time, then it will run behind the scenes the next time you boot up. However, if you are concerned with what is being installed on your computer, then one of the other options will work fine, but just be sure to follow thru with installing the updates.

Windows XP should have Service Pack 2 installed (SP2) and to verify this, click Start, Control Panel, System. This will show you what service pack you are on and it should be SP2 or greater. SP2 is more than a simple update, it is an upgrade to the operating system and it will update security as well as install a new firewall. The firewall that is installed with SP2 for Windows XP is only for incoming internet traffic, not outgoing.

Firewall protection

ZoneAlarm is free and it prevents known and unknown threats from reaching your PC.  Generally, firewalls don't need to be updated, so just install Zone Alarm and let it do it's job.
Conclusion

If you have read this entire document and it all makes sense, then my job is done. If, however, you have gotten this far and still have questions, please do not hesitate to call me or email me.

For instructions on installing the above programs, click here.

To download this document to your computer or to print it, click here.