Author:Paul Granberg, Issue: December 2003, Topic: Computers

Periodically I write these articles to remind people how to keep themselves and their computers 'safe' while using the internet. Please read on and follow these simple instructions to save yourself the pain of potentially loosing all the information on your computer. Do you really want to loose all your mp3's, movies, e-mails, Word documents...?

Viruses and Worms

There are lots of them around, and some of them only require you to be connected to the internet to infect your machine (Blaster Worm). However, securing your machine against these threats only requires 3 things:

1) Use WindowsUpdate (CONNECT TO THE INTERNET - INTERNET EXPLORER - TOOLS - WINDOWSUPDATE). Scan your computer and install all of the files marked Critical Updates. This will patch all of the recently discovered security holes in your version of Windows.

2) Install and maintain your antivirus (AV) programme. The one that I reccomend is Norton Antivirus 2003-4. FREE antivirus programmes are available at http://www.grisoft.com In order to keep these programmes operating correctly, you need to update them periodically so they will recognise new viruses. Do this at least once a month.

3) Install a firewall on your machine. At the very least, you should enable the Internet Connection Firewall installed on every WindowsXP machine (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/networking/icf.asp) A very good free firewall program is available at http://www.zonealarm.com.

Spyware and Adware

Ever wondered why you are constantly getting adverts popping up on your screen when surfing the internet (or sometimes while you aren't even connected). The odds are that you have some spyware or adware that has secretly installed itself on your machine.

It's easy to remove. Just install Adaware from here: http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download. Update the library files (you'll work it out) and scan your machine. You'll be suprised at what you find.

That's it. And it's all free

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