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Spyware has become a big problem recently. It can really
slow your computer down. There are three free spyware removers (for
personal use) you may want to download. These are Lavasoft's Ad-aware,
Spybot - Search & Destroy, and CWShredder - Coolwebsearch trojan remover
(for browser home page hijackings). Some very stubborn spyware may require
a program called Hijackthis to remove them. All of these programs can be found at
www.Download.com. To analyze output from Hijackthis log files, visit
http://www.hijackthis.de/index.php.
Great care should be taken when using the Hijackthis program!
"Top 10 Fast and Free Security Enhancements" according to
October 1, 2003 issue on page 88 of PC Magazine written by Larry Seltzer:
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| 1. Check Windows Update and Office Update regularly.
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| 2. Install a personal firewall. Both SyGate (www.sygate.com)
and ZoneAlarm (www.zonelabs.com) offer
free versions. |
| 3. Install a free spyware blocker. PC Magazine's Editor's Choice
("Spyware", April 22, page 92) was SpyBot Search & Destory (http://security.kolla.de).
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| 4. To block pop-up spam messages in Windows NT, 2000, or XP, disable
the Windows Messenger service (this is unrelated to the instant messaging
program). Open Control Panel |Administrative Tools | Services and you'll
see Messenger. Right-click and go to Properties. Set Start-up Type
to Disabled and press the Stop button. Any good firewall will also stop
them. |
| 5. Use strong passwords and change them periodically. Passwords
should have at least seven characters; use letters and numbers and have at least
one symbol. This will make it much harder for anyone to gain access to
your accounts. |
| 6. If you're using Outlook or Outlook Express, use the current version
or one with the Outlook Security Update Installed. The update and current
versions patch numerous vulnerabilities. |
| 7. Buy antivirus software and keep it up to date. If you're not
willing to pay, try Grisoft AVG Free Edition (Grisoft Inc.,
www.grisoft.com).
And doublecheck your AV with the free, online-only scanners available at
www.pandasoftware.com/activescan and housecall.trendmicro.com.
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| 8. If you have a wireless network, turn on the security features: Use
MAC filtering, turn off SSID broadcast, and even use WEP with the biggest key
you can get. |
| 9. Join a respectable e-mail security list, such as the one found at
our own Security Supersite at
http://security.ziffdavis.com, so that you can learn about emerging threats
quickly and can take proper precautions. |
| 10. Be skeptical of things on the Internet. Don't assume that
e-mail "From:" a particular person is actually from that person until you have
further reason to believe it's that person. Don't assume that an
attachment is what it says it is. Don't give out your password to anyone,
even if that person claims to be from "support". |
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