How To Keep Your Computer Spyware/virus Free.

[Christopher]

Intro

Hello,

Since I work for a technical support department within an internet service provider, I have had the chance to diagnosis and repair more than a thousand computers riddled with viruses + spy/ad-ware. Through those excruitating sessions, I have had to adopt a common plan of attack to not only process the call(s) steadfast, but to assure that the person would not call the week after with the same issue.

First off, if it's been a while, or you've never done so before [and if applicable], update your version of Windows. This can be done here. Not only critical to your hypothetical Sonicstage installation, it's important to the security of your computer. Windows isn't flawless, but if you remember the Sasser and msblaster attacks of long ago, a disclaimer isn't necessary. There were patches for those viruses months before the world nearly fell to it's knees because of such.

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Internet Browsers

Still using Internet Explorer? Why?

Mozilla Firefox is a browser that is superior in functionality to IE, and features flexibility in which IE has never seen. Tabbed browsing, pop-up blocking, less susceptibility to ad/spy-ware, great search, excellent RSS implentation and more. And it's free! I promise you, once you try it, you will not go back. I would also suggest Opera if you're not keen on Firefox.

The only flaw with Firefox is that it doesn't play nice with the aforementioned Windows Update [or rather, ActiveX], and the next service I'm about to mention:

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Anti-Virus

Trendmicro, the new and undoubted frontrunner for anti-virus solutions, has a free online virus scan, aka Housecall. I've been using this since day one for quick diagnosis and repair at work and I will recommend it to you as well. Remember, I am speaking from the experience of dealing with more than a thousand virus + spy/ad-ware infestations. Additionally, the internal network at work that once employed Norton Corporate edition last year, switched to Trendmicro's Corporate edition this year.

Additionally, if you use Windows XP, temporarily turn off system restore whilst running a virus scan to ensure a full virus scan, as I have seen viruses hide in restore points.

You can also purchase [and demo] Trendmicro's desktop software here. It's ESSENTIAL that you use something for anti-virus protection, espesically if you have a broadband connection.

I actually don't even use anti-virus software. I am very keen on my network usage through checks of my ping times [manually + games + via work], logs from my router [which I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone] that deal with incoming/outgoing transmissions, and a few other utilities. When things don't look kosher, I run the Housecall scan.

Nonetheless, I cannot recommend you do what I do. But, I do recommend that even if you employ an anti-virus suite or software utility, please use the free online scan at Trendmicro, aka Housecall as an addendum to assure you're truly virus free. I've seen numerous cases where a user will employ Norton, McAfee or even AVG with active and updated subscriptions and trendmicro's free online scan will find something they haven't.

If you are not keen on Trendmicro, or choose not to buy it after the demo is over, then I would suggest AVG as a desktop solution, but with a Housecall scan as an addenum every so often.

I will never recommend Norton or McAfee to anyone except a complete novice to computers. There was once an era where those two were the trusted solutions, but after my experiences I can no longer believe such. Plus, they're bloatware! I can't even begin to tell you how much Norton can hog your system, and the same goes with McAfee..

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Ad/Spy-ware

Another big issue with computers that are on the internet consistantly is ad/spy-ware; I would assume out of my experiences that more than 85% of all Windows machines have some form of it. This isn't that sensitive of a subject if you use Mozilla Firefox/Opera, but if you're still on the IE bandwagon it hits you like a ton of bricks probably every day. Even if you're still using Firefox/Opera, I recommend still scanning for such every so often. Use these utilities:

- Ad-Aware SE.

- Spybot S&D.

Either one is fine, but I only use Ad-Aware. In my experiences, I have found that Ad-Aware will consistantly find more infections than Spybot, but I have seen cases where Spybot will find certain things that Ad-Aware will not. Some people like to use both utilities, but in my opinion I believe Ad-Aware is the better avenue.

It's important that if you employ such a program [which I really recommend], you keep it updated! Running a scan without updated defintions is a moot point! This goes for whatever anti-virus solution you use as well.

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Useless/Insecure Windows XP/2000 Services

WILL ADD SOON