So you want to keep your computer clean?
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- STOP viruses, spyware, malware, trojans, pop-ups, BHO (Toolbars), and adware from taking over your system, slowing down or even crashing your computer, preventing your use of it.
New, Used, or Old, if you have Windows, you need security software, even if you do not connect to the internet. Spyware and viruses have been found in CD's (music,) Games, Music Players, Picture Frames, even on brand new hard drives, Software install discs, memory sticks and floppies. If you ever tried "pirated" or copied movies you may also be infected. Real DVD's and other disks may also come come with adware or be infected at the factory. Downloads, email, File Sharing (including music and movies) and Free softwareware sites may be infected, and most file sharing sites are badly compromised.
Jack's Opinion and reports on what works:
You need: (active paid or free versions)
Anti-virus – 1 active and updated (daily check, scan manually at least weekly) (NOT 2 or more)
Anti-Spyware – at least 1 active and updated (daily update/scan manually daily or weekly, and 2 or more that you update and scan with manually)
Spyware/bad site blockers – 1 or more active and updated weekly
Firewall – 1 active and/or up to date (older Windows may have old versions)(NOT 2 or more)
Anti-phishing or similar bad website warnings – example: McAfee SiteAdvisor, AVG, as built into IE7, etc.
You need to have your Windows updated with all updates available from Microsoft, Whether Windows 2000, 2003, XP or Vista. (Other Operating Systems require other security measures, Apple and Linux have many updates)
Specifics: (more links to be added later)
For more Specifics on some of the programs: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfjf45p5_5ph8xf2s2
Anti-Virus Software such as Norton (Symantec) or McAfee work during their paid subscription, before needing renewal, auto-update virus definitions, but do not always update the entire program. Do a full manual update and full system scan weekly as recommended by them, more often if a virus is suspected. Updating daily is a good idea.
Other Anti-Virus programs available include: Panda, PC-Cillin (Trend), Anti-Vir, AVG (Grisoft), Microsoft, Clam, Avast, Sophos, e-Trust (CA), Kaspersky, ZoneLabs, and more.
- If you are installing a new anti-virus program on a previously running system, viruses may need to be removed first, before successfully installing the new anti-virus program. You may have to scan the drive as an external drive on a known working system. You will also have to remove any PRE-EXISTING AntiVirus, even if was expired or disabled.
Using On-Line scanners from another brand to check for viruses is also desirable. (links coming)
* “Free” versions work OK, but may not auto-update as often, or have other limitations such as 30 or 60 day trial periods. Check for fake antivirus programs before installing any found on the internet or if offered through a pop-up on a web page - they can be viruses, trojans, or spyware. (check www.spywarewarrior.com as well as search on Google with the word spyware or malware after the program's name.) Only download from trusted sites.
Anti-Spyware Software: Free versions available include Ad-Aware 2008 2009 or Anniversary Edition (same program), SpyBot Search and Destroy (1.62), Tenebril, AVG (7.5) which may no longer update, SuperAntiSpyware; Malwarebytes, and others have may free demonstration versions (1 run or up to 30 days) of their programs. If the demo does not actually remove any spyware or adware, it may not be a real anti-spyware program (“detections” alone do not count.) All should be updated and run manually, some can be configured to scan at start-up and shutdown, or scan at all times, but this will slow your computer down. Paid versions from various companies may find and fix more than the “free” versions as well as auto-scan incoming files, but this is not always true.
Microsoft offers “Defender,” free for Windows XP and it is automatically included as part of Windows Vista.
The Yahoo Toolbar for Firefox and IE includes a pop-up blocker and free spyware remover. You can run the Spyware remover (from CA) daily. There are updates every few days. (CA Antispy did not work in Vista IE7 SP1 as of September 2008)
Spyware blockers: SpySweeper (paid and free 30-day demo) includes a blocker. SpyWareBlaster, a free program, works well with SpyBot Search and Destroy blocker (see options of that program) to block bad downloads/websites. It must be checked, updated every few days, make sure it is activated - it does not run after it is installed, it is passive. Zone Alarm (free and paid versions) now also includes a free active blocker too.
Firewalls, including the free ones, from ZoneAlarm & others are all supposed to be better than the “free” one included in Windows XP. Paid ones may be easier to use and more secure. There are several versions, some of which still work in Windows ME and 98.
Other Maintenance includes Disk Checking (Scandisk or Chkdsk) and Defragmentation, not to mention cleaning out the dust and temp files.
None of these are “content blockers,” that is another category of program entirely. (As in blocking Porn sites, game sites, etc., although many of the malware infested sites that are blocked by Spybot S&D are Porn or Fake Porn sites - Fake as in whatever you click on, it is malware.)
Other programs you may see: ccleaner (cleans temp files), kazaabegone (stops file sharing), HiJackThis (Stops files on startup, but is dangerous as you can remove needed Windows files), Bugoff, and Stinger.
Run Belarc Advisor to determine if your Antivirus and Firewall are working and your Windows is up to date! It can give a false report of a working Antivirus if your commercial version is expired or infected, so check the programs separately too.
NOTE: RoadRunner, Frontier, AOL, and other services offer various versions of antivirus and anti-spyware programs for “free” or discount, as you are paying for their services – Downloading, installing and updating them, as well as running them is your responsibility, and you must still confirm they are working and run them yourself on a regular basis.
www.securitytango.com - Advice on cleaning a system - I agree with most of the procedures here.
www.filehippo.com - Free Software - and latest anti-spyware downloads -but watch out for the malware in the Google Ads!
www.download.com - Free Software, etc. and demos, reviews, and latest anti-spyware downloads -
PERSONAL NOTE: You can contact me via this website to see what can be done to clean up a system, save files, or use remote access to maintain a computer. Files (pictures, word documents, movies, music, etc.) can be recovered from most drives, infected or not, no matter if PC, Mac, or other systems.
www.spywarewarrior.com - You can check for legitimate and fake spyware removers (with reviews)
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Online scanners for viruses and spyware are on these sites below (free to install and scan)
www.Trend.com - will also clean many viruses and spyware (may need JAVA installed or use FireFox or IE)
www.PandaSoftware.com
www.BitDefender.com - will also clean many viruses and spyware (needs IE installed)
www.McAfee.com & others
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And to help in Keeping your computer in good working order: clean out dust from inside your computer, remove temporary files, run defrag (or other defragmenter) and chkdsk (a disk checker to detect failing hardware).
And UPDATE:
Windows, Media Players, Drivers, JAVA, CD Writers, Acrobat, and other programs as needed such as Office, Open Office.
Personal NOTES: I am currently using: AVG 8, AVG 7.5, Avast, and Symantec (Norton) on some computers, as well as many anti-spyware programs. Avast works for me in Linux (to scan Windows files) and in old Windows 98, AVG 7.5 still updates in Windows 98 and Me as of the end of 2008. -Jack
Note:Cleaning Up XP :http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10165_7-5554402-1.htm
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