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 Top Ten Suggestions to Keep
your PC healthy:
- Use an Anti-virus
software program on your PC. Keep the definitions up to date.
- Use an email
antivirus service that scans inbound and outbound email for viruses
at the mail server level.
- Do not install programs like Limeware, Kazaa or any other Peer to Peer
file sharing software. These programs contain spyware and will continue to
install new spyware over time. The purpose of these sites is to
share files. A large number of the files shared on these networks
are infected, either intentionally or by chance.
-
 Do not install "free" stuff
like screensavers, cool weather tools (e.g. weatherbug, Instant Messagers, etc. These "free" programs typically have spyware, malware, or trojans piggy-backed into the installation and you don't know it.
- Do not visit un-trusted sites.
There are security holes within web browsers and Windows,
these sites take advantage of those security holes. You WILL more often than not end up with
viruses, spyware, malware or browser hijacks from these types of web site.
Un-trusted sites will also try to trick visitors into installing a
plug-in or BHO, which is in actuality spyware. What is an
un-trusted site? #1, pornographic sites, followed by program crack
sites, betting sites, joke sites ... the list goes on and on. If
you wouldn't want your kids looking at it, chances are it's not for you
either.
- Do not double-click email attachments with the following common
extensions for executable files:
exe, .bat, .com, .shs, .vbs or .scr .pif and sometimes .jse and .vbe
Generally picture files are ok. Extension are: jpg, jpeg, bmp, gif
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Note: If your computer is set to hide extensions,
you should enable the viewing of extensions. For more info in
showing file extensions,
read this. Beware of
multiple extensions, i.e. image.jpg.pif |
-
 Frequently run the following programs
to help keep your computer free from Spyware and viruses. When new items are found, remove them using the
software
that detected the spyware and malware:
Spybot Search & Destroy - Run "Search for Updates" every time you run it and download updates.
Remove anything it finds.
Ad-Aware SE Personal - Run "Check for Updates Now" every time you run it and download updates. Then go to Search & Destroy and Check for
Problems. Remove anything it finds.
Microsoft Windows Defender (Beta) -
Microsoft's free antispyware program.
Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan - Scan Now
Click Yes to Install now, When it loads, Check the "Local Disk C:" and
click Scan.
Online Virus Scan (Housecall)
- When Browsing the Internet, use web browsers other than Internet
Explorer. The reason for not using Internet Explorer is that it is a huge target for
security vulnerabilities and most web browser security breeches are through
Internet Explorer.
Using web browsers other than Internet Explorer will minimize your risk.
See Preferred Web Browsers.
Modzilla Firefox - Read more about Firefox Web Browser
Here.
Avant Browser - Even though Avant Browser uses components of Internet
Explorer, it has
built-in pop-up blocking and ad blocking among other features not found
in Internet
Explorer, which are very useful.
www.avantbrowser.com
-
 Windows Updates - Set your computer to automatically download and install Windows
Updates. A
very common message with a large majority of Microsoft updates: A
security issue has been identified with (a particular vulnerability)
that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Microsoft
Windows and gain control over it.
- Educate yourself
on
the subject of viruses and spyware.
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Common Causes of a slow PC
So what causes a PC to run
slow? There are many causes. Read about some of the most common here.
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Editing the Registry
The Registry is a database of nearly all the settings for Windows
operating system and most of your installed applications. Learn how to
edit and clean it yourself. |
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Removing Spyware
Unless you know how to avoid it
and/or combat it, you probably have it on your computer. |
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Removing
Viruses
Learn about viruses and find out how
to scan and remove them for Free. |
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