protecting my comp.

[lady driver]

how do i protect my comp from all the viruses thats going
around? i have already gotten the worm blaster for the
first one that came out. but im worried about my comp
getting more viruses. please help me... im a beginner to
the comp world. and dont want to mess up my comp. im
scared to turn it on anymore. please please help me...
thank you...lady driver

 

[ras]

Two things come to mind -1) antivirus program 2) firewall. You'll still
receive attachments in email. If you don't know who they're from, delete
them!

 

[Joan Archer]

Make sure you have anti-virus software installed and kept up to date, either
turn on XP's firewall or install a more functional one, don't open any mail
that has attachments unless you are expecting it and run a virus scan over
it before hand. Install Adaware to keep spyware away, in fact use common
sense about what you download and open.
Hope that helps
Joan

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

WRONG!

Most virii today come from someone you know, because their machine is
infected.

Never open an attachment, even from a friend, unless he has told you, before
hand, that he is sending you one. Even then, be careful!

 

[Cheryl Fischer]

There is good advice to be found here:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/4steps.asp
4 Steps to Help Protect Your Personal Computing Security:

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

1) Good anti-virus application with frequent virus definition
updates.
2) Reliable firewall
3) Most important: common sense.

Home Computer Security
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/

Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp

SpywareInfo · Spyware and Hijackware Removal Specialists
http://www.spywareinfo.com/


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Chek]

LD,
The five main things to do are :
1)Keep your Windows up to date (click 'start', 'help and support', then
'windows update'.
Most attacks exploit vulnerabilities in Windows, usually ones for which
'patches' have been available for some time.
DO NOT believe the emails that purport to be delivering these patches to
you, they are viruses dressed up to trick people into installing them. ONLY
get Windows updates from the MS website.

2)Install - and update at least weekly - an anti-virus program. AVG6 is a
free one that I have used for years, and works well with a minimum of fuss.
Some people prefer to buy thinking that something paid for will be
inherently better. That's up to you, but just get an anti-virus program
working on your system. And keep it updated. Can't stress that enough.

3)Set up a 'Firewall'. Doing this closes unused access ports that would
previously be visible to hackers. XP has a built in basic Firewall (check in
'start', 'help and support' then type in 'enable Internet Connection
Firewall' for a step-by-step guide to setting this up.
There are more advanced firewalls, such as the free version of Zone Alarm'
from www.zonelabs.com and paid for ones from Norton etc.
These are better than the standard XP version, as they monitor traffic in
and out of your system, and can also provide details of attempted hacks if
required.

4)Spyware detection.
These programs search and quarantine software that may report information
about you ,your browsing habits, or that may try to replace your ISP
connection with a premium rate scam line dial up. Again keep it up to date
and use it regularly. Ad- aware6 is a free software package from
www.lavasoft.de

5) Disable the 'preview pane' view in Outlook Express. (With OE open, click
'view', 'layout', untick 'show preview pane' , click 'apply and 'ok'.
That way, only the subject lines of emails will be displayed, and anything
unsavoury can be deleted without opening it and possibly activating it.
Using these 5 basic routines I can honestly state that I have never had a
virus on any of my systems, although I have caught and disposed of quite a
few.
Hope this helps,
Chek

 

[Chek]

Ld,
As a post script about attachments, if you absolutely have to see them,
choose 'save to disc' on the download menu that appears, then once it has
downloaded, right click and choose 'scan file' (or similar) that your
anti-virus program will have placed on the right-click menu.
As Crusty points out, ones from your friends are no more trustworthy than
any others, so be just as careful about them.
Chek

 

[Kent W. England [MVP]]

I wish they'd make up their minds whether it's four steps or three.

4 steps: http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/4steps.asp
3 steps: http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

Apparently, it hasn't been determined whether strong passwords are
essential.

 

[Cheryl Fischer]

I wish they'd make up their minds whether it's four steps or three.

Me, too. But, if the 4-step article prevents one person from setting their
password to equal "password", couldn't hurt...

 

[ROGER H]

HI,I USED AVG FREE EDITION AND FOUND WHEN I TRIED A FREE
SCAN FROM STOP-SIGN TO HAVE SEVERAL VIRUS"SWHICH AVG
FAILED TO DETECT!!I RECOMMNED STOP SIGN-ITS AROUND £16 TO
JOIN THEN $7DOLLARS A MONTH(AMERICAN COMPANY)ITS VERY
EFFECTIVE -TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHERE IT FOUND THE
VIRUS,ETC,ETC-HOPE THIS HELPS-R,H.

 

[Chek]

Roger,
On the other hand, I have used AVG (set to check for updates every evening)
for years now with no problem whatsoever. At all.
Every now and again, prodded by sniffy comments from the 'it's bought so it
must be better brigade' I'll run the online scan from Trend, and guess
what? That never finds anything either.
Any anti-virus program will let you down if its not updated regularly.
Chek


HI,I USED AVG FREE EDITION AND FOUND WHEN I TRIED A FREE
SCAN FROM STOP-SIGN TO HAVE SEVERAL VIRUS"SWHICH AVG
FAILED TO DETECT!!I RECOMMNED STOP SIGN-ITS AROUND £16 TO
JOIN THEN $7DOLLARS A MONTH(AMERICAN COMPANY)ITS VERY
EFFECTIVE -TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHERE IT FOUND THE
VIRUS,ETC,ETC-HOPE THIS HELPS-R,H.

 

[Gordon Burgess-Parker]

HI,I USED AVG FREE EDITION AND FOUND WHEN I TRIED A FREE
SCAN FROM STOP-SIGN TO HAVE SEVERAL VIRUS"SWHICH AVG
FAILED TO DETECT!!I RECOMMNED STOP SIGN-ITS AROUND £16 TO
JOIN THEN $7DOLLARS A MONTH(AMERICAN COMPANY)ITS VERY
EFFECTIVE -TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHERE IT FOUND THE
VIRUS,ETC,ETC-HOPE THIS HELPS-R,H.

Please turn off the caps lock!