FREE Independent advice on buying and maintaining a home computer - PCAdviceNow

Viruses / Spyware / Malware

If your PC is connected to the internet then it will be attacked by a virus / spyware program within approx 10 minutes.

Yes..............within 10 minutes.

Computer engineers spend many happy and profitable hours removing viruses and spyware from unprotected computers.


What is a Computer Virus?

A computer virus is a piece of code that is secretly introduced into a system in order to corrupt it or destroy data. ...

A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. The original may modify the copies or the copies may modify themselves, as occurs in a metamorphic virus. ...

A computer program that can harm a computer by displaying messages, deleting files, or even destroying the computer's operating system.


What is Spyware / Malware?

Software that sends information about your Web surfing habits to its Web site. Spyware is often installed without the user's knowledge or explicit permission in combination with a free download.

A form of Malware that is often associated with Browser Hijacking, Keyloggers, and recording / sending web browsing habits to a 3rd party. Spyware is one of the most common forms of malware, and often slows the performance of your computer.

Programs that, when installed on your computer, change settings, display advertising, and/or track Internet behaviour and report information back to a central database. Spyware sometimes installed unintentionally by users along with other wanted software, and can be very hard to remove. ...

Malicious software (mal-ware) is a form of computer program designed with malicious intent. This intent may be to cause annoying pop-up ads with the hope you click on one and generate revenue, or forms of spyware and viruses that can be used to steal your identity or track your activities. ...


As a minimum your PC should have the following:

• A two way firewall (Windows XP is only one way)
• An anti-virus program
• An anti-spyware/malware program

These can be bought as packages, good examples are Norton Internet Security and similar applications from MacAfee. These are ideal if you are new to computing as the set up is virtually automatic.

For those looking for something different, Ican recommend the following from personal use over the past few years:

Firewall:-
http://www.comodo.com/

Anti-Virus:-
http://www.free-av.com/

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

Anti-Spyware:-
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

All of the above have free versions which work well so there is really no excuse, just make sure you download the correct version for your operating system e.g. Vista or Windows XP

Remember - an anti-virus / spyware program is only as good as the last update..............you need to update it every few days. Some of the above programs prompt you to do this so please don't ignore it!


What is SPAM?

The use of mailing lists to blanket Usenet groups or private e-mail boxes with indiscrimination, unsolicited messages of a promotional nature. ...

Unsolicited e-mail. There are two common usages: 1) mass e-mailings by commercial sites to recipients who have not requested any contact, and 2) e-mail sent to intentionally annoy or harass the recipient, including crashing his or her computer by overloading its e-mail capacity

"SPAM" mail is the practice of sending massive amounts of E-mail promotions or advertisements (and scams) to people that have not asked for it. Many times, SPAM E-mail lists are created by "harvesting" E-mail addresses from discussion boards and groups, chat rooms, IRC, and web pages. ...

Depending on which survey you believe over 80% of the worlds email is SPAM! Many ISP's (Internet Service Providers) use SPAM filters to try and reduce the volume, however you can help yourself.

There are software applications that allow you to filter your email before you download it your Outlook or whatever email application that you are using.

This is useful as it stops SPAM and potentially Viruses / Spyware getting to your computer. A good free example is Mailwasher which I have used for over 3 years

Email Filter:-
http://www.mailwasher.net