Here are some standard browser and security programs you should download and use. They'll help keep your personal computer more secure. I have no stake in any of these, but have found them all to be helpful. First and foremost, you should already have active anti-virus software on your computer. Below are additional steps you can take.
Mozilla Firefox: http://www.mozilla.org/ (I've been using this browser for a while and it makes a huge difference security-wise). Automatically alerts for updates. Quit using Internet Explorer and use this browser. Making the transition from IE, importing bookmarks, etc. is very simple (File>Import...>Import Explorer Bookmarks). There are also several different skin themes and extensions, so you can make it look different than the default if you prefer. But the most important thing is that most viruses are made for IE, and using Mozilla eliminates most of these threats (and has a default popup blocker). There was a recent report on a virus made for Mozilla, and they dealt with it immediately with a security update. You can make it your default browser, though Microsoft will open IE when you run Microsoft updates (which you should continue to do regularly). The only drawback I've found is that some forms online -- like signing up for a newsletter -- were created in IE and sometimes Mozilla can't read the forms.
Mozilla Firefox: http://www.mozilla.org/ (I've been using this browser for a while and it makes a huge difference security-wise). Automatically alerts for updates. Quit using Internet Explorer and use this browser. Making the transition from IE, importing bookmarks, etc. is very simple (File>Import...>Import Explorer Bookmarks). There are also several different skin themes and extensions, so you can make it look different than the default if you prefer. But the most important thing is that most viruses are made for IE, and using Mozilla eliminates most of these threats (and has a default popup blocker). There was a recent report on a virus made for Mozilla, and they dealt with it immediately with a security update. You can make it your default browser, though Microsoft will open IE when you run Microsoft updates (which you should continue to do regularly). The only drawback I've found is that some forms online -- like signing up for a newsletter -- were created in IE and sometimes Mozilla can't read the forms.
Spybot: http://www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html -- you do updates manually, but it's pretty easy: click the updates button. This program found some non-threatening things on my computer when I first ran it, but hasn't found anything since. I'm not sure how useful it actually is, but some IT folks suggest having it.
Ad-Aware SE Personal: Download at: http://www.download.com/
SE Personal is free, the other versions have a charge. Maintain the updates.
SE Personal is free, the other versions have a charge. Maintain the updates.
RegCleaner: http://www.worldstart.com/weekly-download/archives/reg-cleaner4.3.htm (made by a fellow in Finland, this is nice software -- goes into the registry and gets rid of dead entries; you can also check the startup programs for junk you don't need -- run the complete cleanup from Tools>Registry Cleanup>Do them all). They've gone into the business of charging for their software, but this older freeware version is still available, and works well. Do not, however, delete things when you are not certain even if the program does backup deleted files.
All of these are respected programs and open-source. If you worry about this kind of thing and the fake software online posing as spyware, check out the site Spyware Warrior: http://www.spywarewarrior.com/.
All of these are respected programs and open-source. If you worry about this kind of thing and the fake software online posing as spyware, check out the site Spyware Warrior: http://www.spywarewarrior.com/.
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