Brief Banter By Ben

 

Many of the PC systems I come across today are infected with many kinds of nasties (viruses. spyware, trojans, keyloggers, diallers, malware, spybots, trackers and some cookies).

 

To ensure that your system stays clean you need to do some basic computer housekeeping.  This may mean installing some freeware programs that will clean and maintain your PC as there is no one tool that will deal with all threats.  Secondly you will need to keep these updated and run them at regular intervals.  I suggest once a week for a busy PC but a least once a month.

 

You will need the following:

 

Firewall For windows XP users it is already built into the operating system but for the rest I will recommend ZoneAlarm from Zonelabs.

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp be careful to only go for the free option.

 

AntiVirus Many of you will already have Norton or McAfee but there is AVG Free Version 7.300:

 

Nasties Removal Tools

Spybot - Search and Destroy, Version 1.3, Latest Update 16/02/05

 

AdAware Personal SE, Build 1.05, Latest Update 16/02/05

 

If you have Windows 2000, 2003 or XP

MS AntiSpyware Beta 1, Version 1.0.501, Spyware Definition Version: 5689 (18/02/05 20:51:36)

 

SpyWareBlaster, Version 3.2, Latest database update 22/02/05

 

 

If you need help downloading, installing, updating or configuring these tools then I am available as a cost option BUT it will be money well spent for your peace of mind.