Spyware Preventive Maintenance

Do you run your anti-scumware (spyware and adware) and anti-virus programs only when you are having computer problems? If you do, then you may be too late and the damage may have already been done. It doesn’t matter how well you think you are protected against these nasty files; they may still find a way to get on your computer.

Remember, it is the trouble makers who are looking for every way to get those nasty files on to your computer so those programs that fight those files can only react to the latest threat, after they have been released. There are new threats that come out almost everyday, so you have to be on your toes.

The best method for fighting these nasty files is to do a weekly, or even better a biweekly, check for them. You should set aside a time when you don’t use your computer much and do thorough scan of your hard drive with your armory of programs. You should have all of the latest FREE programs that I list below, and you should run them weekly as a preventive measure. By running them weekly, you not only clean your system but you keep those programs updated.

Now you may update your programs every time you use them, but if you only use them once a month, then you may be flirting with trouble. How can that be? Well, some viruses and scumware may prevent you from accessing the internet, and they may be those very same nasty files that the latest updates addressed. There are viruses out there that will keep your ant-virus programs from even starting and getting on the Net as they go through your hard drive and infect every file they can find.

You need to be a responsible Internet user and do your part to fight these nasty files, because your actions-or lack of them-may have an impact on all us other Internet users.

I only list here the programs that I have used and I’m satisfied with. I know there are other great programs out there, but these are the ones that I have used and can verify as being worthy. When you go to the websites to download these programs, be sure to read the descriptions about them so you will have a better understanding of what they are and what they do.

SYSTEM INVENTORY
Everest: http://www.lavalys.com/products.php?lang=en

SPYWARE-ADWARE
AdAware: http://www.pctechbytes.com/downloads.htm
Spybot S&D: http://www.pctechbytes.com/downloads.htm
SpywareBlaster: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Microsoft AntiSpyware (XP only): http://www.pctechbytes.com/windows.htm

VIRUS PROTECTION
AVG Free: http://www.pctechbytes.com/freeantivirus.htm

VIRUS and SPYWARE DETECTION
Ewido (XP only - trial version): http://www.ewido.net/en/
HijackThis: http://www.pctechbytes.com/security.htm

Online HijackThis Analyzers
HijackThis analyzer #1: (website) http://www.hijackthis.de/index.php?langselect=english
HijackThis analyzer #2: (website) http://www.help2go.com/modules.php?name=HJTDetective
HijackThis analyzer #3:  (website) http://hjt.iamnotageek.com/

Online Virus Scan Website
Trend Micro: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

1. Free Antivirus Programs
2. Rookkits Explained
3. Modify The Hosts File
4. Erase Hard Drive
5. Computer Security Tips
6. Phishing Scams
7. Realistic Computer Security Threats
8. Email Worms
9. Secure You WiFi Network
10. Secure Passwords Policy
11. The Bittorrent Protocol, How it Works, and Legal Issues
12. The Kerberos Authentication Protocol
13. Implementing Kerberos
14. How to Remove Viruses and Spyware