A
AliasALIAS
Guest
Just fed up with my computer going wonkers, and I know it could be a lot worse for others because I only download from and visit safe sites.
Disclaimer: These sites are not affiliated with AllAlias.com. AllAlias.com is not responsible for the content of these sites. However, these are my personal recommendations and I have found them to be helpful.
Spyware/Adware - Basically, it's tracking software that some sites place on your system. These two programs should help get rid of spyware and adware.
Ad-aware
Spybot Search and Destroy
Programs to download if your computer is acting up:
CWShredder - This looks for problems with IE, such as your homepage being "hijacked"
HijackThis - Looks for other problems on your computer. After scanning your computer, don't fix anything yet. Save the log and post it at a site such as SpywareInfo Forums where people knowledgeable of the problems will be able to help. If you download this program, put it in it's own directory such as C:\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe because it makes backups and files and you don't want it to clutter your Desktop or My Documents folder.
Anti-virus software: - Make sure you have anti-virus software! This is very important. If you don't already have anti-virus software, you can get free versions:
Free Services | Wilders
AVG Anti-Virus-Free
AntiVir Personal Edition
avast! 4 Home - Free antivirus software
Only download one program. Make sure to keep all programs updated. Also perform a serverside security and virus check with
Symantec: http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home.as...YNBRFNJSVSTIVVB
Trend Micro: HouseCall – Free Online Security Scan
Internet browser - added 1.1.05
Firefox - Mozilla Firefox is a much more secure Internet browser than Internet explorer. In addition to safety, it's also customizable, has a built in pop-up blocker, and has tabbed browsing (multiple windows in one). It's really one of the best browsers out there, and IE is honestly far below it.
Tips:
From http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957:
1) Watch what you download!
Many freeware programs, and P2P programs like Grokster, Imesh, Kazaa and others are amongst the most notorious, come with an enormous amount of bundled spyware that will eat system resources, slow down your system, clash with other installed software, or just plain crash your browser or even Windows itself.
2) Go to IE > Tools > Windows Update > Product Updates, and install ALL Security Updates listed.
It's important to always keep current with the latest security fixes from Microsoft.
Install those patches for Internet Explorer, and make sure your installation of Java VM is up-to-date. There are some well known security bugs with Microsoft Java VM which are exploited regularly by browser hijackers.
3) Go to Internet Options/Security/Internet, press 'default level', then OK.
Now press "Custom Level."
In the ActiveX section, set the first two options ("Download signed and unsigned ActiveX controls) to 'prompt', and 'Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe" to 'disable'.
Now you will be asked whether you want ActiveX objects to be executed and whether you want software to be installed.
Sites that you know for sure are above suspicion can be moved to the Trusted Zone in Internet Option/security.
Read more at http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957
Like the above said, be careful what you download. Even if you get email attachments from friends, make sure you know what it is before downloading. Never download an email attachment from someone you don't know. This is common sense, but people still do it.
If using IE, go to Tools>Internet Options>Privacy. The higher the setting is, the moe secure you'll be. However, it may block cookies from sites you trust. If that's the case, either lower the setting (you should set it at at least medium) or click on Edit and manually add the URL of the site you'd like to accept cookies from.
Download a popup blocker. Popups not only slow down your internet speed and take up space, but they could install unwanted cookies and adware, and the content is often inappropriate.
Make your passwords complicated. It'll make it harder for people peeping over your shoulder to remember your passwords, as well as no-life hackers and malicious programs that may try to crack your password (<--this is unlikely for a home computer, but it could happen so it's best to be careful). Combine numbers and letters, uppercase and lowercase. Avoid using dictionary words.
Side note: This is how some spammers find your email address. They sometimes use dictionary words and common names and attach it to a common email provider such as Yahoo! to send spam to. Don't let this prevent you from making an email address with your name, though. The best way to protect your email address is to never post it publicly. Treat it like you would your address. If you want to share it with others (such as on AA), don't type it normally. Instead of simply posting email@domain.com, do something like emailREMOVETHIS[at]domain***.com.
If you have any other tips, please share.
Disclaimer: These sites are not affiliated with AllAlias.com. AllAlias.com is not responsible for the content of these sites. However, these are my personal recommendations and I have found them to be helpful.
Spyware/Adware - Basically, it's tracking software that some sites place on your system. These two programs should help get rid of spyware and adware.
Ad-aware
Spybot Search and Destroy
Programs to download if your computer is acting up:
CWShredder - This looks for problems with IE, such as your homepage being "hijacked"
HijackThis - Looks for other problems on your computer. After scanning your computer, don't fix anything yet. Save the log and post it at a site such as SpywareInfo Forums where people knowledgeable of the problems will be able to help. If you download this program, put it in it's own directory such as C:\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe because it makes backups and files and you don't want it to clutter your Desktop or My Documents folder.
Anti-virus software: - Make sure you have anti-virus software! This is very important. If you don't already have anti-virus software, you can get free versions:
Free Services | Wilders
AVG Anti-Virus-Free
AntiVir Personal Edition
avast! 4 Home - Free antivirus software
Only download one program. Make sure to keep all programs updated. Also perform a serverside security and virus check with
Symantec: http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home.as...YNBRFNJSVSTIVVB
Trend Micro: HouseCall – Free Online Security Scan
Internet browser - added 1.1.05
Firefox - Mozilla Firefox is a much more secure Internet browser than Internet explorer. In addition to safety, it's also customizable, has a built in pop-up blocker, and has tabbed browsing (multiple windows in one). It's really one of the best browsers out there, and IE is honestly far below it.
Tips:
From http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957:
1) Watch what you download!
Many freeware programs, and P2P programs like Grokster, Imesh, Kazaa and others are amongst the most notorious, come with an enormous amount of bundled spyware that will eat system resources, slow down your system, clash with other installed software, or just plain crash your browser or even Windows itself.
2) Go to IE > Tools > Windows Update > Product Updates, and install ALL Security Updates listed.
It's important to always keep current with the latest security fixes from Microsoft.
Install those patches for Internet Explorer, and make sure your installation of Java VM is up-to-date. There are some well known security bugs with Microsoft Java VM which are exploited regularly by browser hijackers.
3) Go to Internet Options/Security/Internet, press 'default level', then OK.
Now press "Custom Level."
In the ActiveX section, set the first two options ("Download signed and unsigned ActiveX controls) to 'prompt', and 'Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe" to 'disable'.
Now you will be asked whether you want ActiveX objects to be executed and whether you want software to be installed.
Sites that you know for sure are above suspicion can be moved to the Trusted Zone in Internet Option/security.
Read more at http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957
Like the above said, be careful what you download. Even if you get email attachments from friends, make sure you know what it is before downloading. Never download an email attachment from someone you don't know. This is common sense, but people still do it.
If using IE, go to Tools>Internet Options>Privacy. The higher the setting is, the moe secure you'll be. However, it may block cookies from sites you trust. If that's the case, either lower the setting (you should set it at at least medium) or click on Edit and manually add the URL of the site you'd like to accept cookies from.
Download a popup blocker. Popups not only slow down your internet speed and take up space, but they could install unwanted cookies and adware, and the content is often inappropriate.
Make your passwords complicated. It'll make it harder for people peeping over your shoulder to remember your passwords, as well as no-life hackers and malicious programs that may try to crack your password (<--this is unlikely for a home computer, but it could happen so it's best to be careful). Combine numbers and letters, uppercase and lowercase. Avoid using dictionary words.
Side note: This is how some spammers find your email address. They sometimes use dictionary words and common names and attach it to a common email provider such as Yahoo! to send spam to. Don't let this prevent you from making an email address with your name, though. The best way to protect your email address is to never post it publicly. Treat it like you would your address. If you want to share it with others (such as on AA), don't type it normally. Instead of simply posting email@domain.com, do something like emailREMOVETHIS[at]domain***.com.
If you have any other tips, please share.