Keeping your PC safe from the variety of dangers present on the Internet
requires only a small bit of maintenance and it is well worth going to the trouble. I have included
links for free software that can help keep your computer clean and protected. The four things to do follow.
1: Keep Windows Updated
Not only should you be using Windows 2000 or XP, but you should have Automatic Updates running. Microsoft's
Automatic Updates will periodically check for security updates and either notify you or it will download them
and install them depending on how it has been set up. This is crucial. An alternative is to simply go the the Windows
Update page at microsoft.com. The link is http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.
2: Run Current Anti-Virus Software
This is very important, and it is just as important to keep the definitions up to date. Schedule a full system scan
at least once a week. The most popular commercial antivirus programs are Norton and McCaffee. A freeware alternative
is AVG Free Edition. I recommend AVG because it is not only free, but it is far less
intrusive to your operating system and it doesn't put as big of a performance hit on your computer.
3: Run Current Spyware/Adware Scanners
Spyware and Adware programs can be as sneaky as viruses, but rather than trashing the Internet for fame, certain
unscrupulous companies are doing it for money at the expense of your privacy and/or your computer's system resources. As
these programs become known, their "fingerprint" is downloaded into the spyware scanner much like virus definitions
and Spyware/Adware scanners may seek and destroy these things. My personal preference is
AdAware, but use whatever suits
you- but please use something! A word of warning: Some adware scanners are not really valid scanners and they will give you
a trial version that is difficult to remove, and they won't work until you pay the premium fee. It will pay to do a bit of
research on the program you wish to use just to be sure it is not one of these aggressively marketed scams. The free versions
of many adware scanners do not offer "real time" protection, so they
must be run periodically by you.
4: Use a Firewall
If you are on a network that shares the Internet through a piece of hardware, you are probably already behind a
firewall. Installing additional software, in my opinion, is sometimes more trouble than it is worth. The point of a
firewall is to allow only connections that you approve of. In the event of a virus running rampant on your network,
it could help to keep the infected machine isolated, but there is a great deal of trouble involved with networked
computers and firewalls on every machine. If you are the only machine on your network, it will probably not cause you
any trouble to install a personal firewall. If you are on a business network, I would recommend that you speak with
your network administrator, or give TLA a call to see if your machine is directly exposed to the Internet.
Windows XP Service Pack 2 enables the Windows Firewall by default and if it is not causing you any troubles with
networked applications, I recommend that you leave it on.
In Conclusion...
Be afraid, be very afraid! Be careful should you happen to find yourself on the seedier side of the web, and
please, please, please make sure that you have backups of your most important files and information. I'll be posting
an article about that soon.
