Virus Help

[Updated 07/30/2010]

I know darn few people will read (and HEED) this, but it seems to be my Quixotic quest in life to try and spread the word… MOST everybody out there has viruses and/or ‘Spy-Ware’. If only everybody out there did a very few simple steps once a week, the problems the computing world sees would drop dramatically. And when I say FEW, I mean it. It’s really very simple.

The FIRST, and most important step: USE ANOTHER BROWSER. Microsoft Internet Explorer is the DeFacto choice for virus writers. The security holes in IE are legion. Two basic reasons is the use of ActiveX Controls (Geek-speak, keep reading) and JavaScript (See previous). I recommend whole-heartedly Mozilla Firefox. It does NOT use the aforementioned tools and it has a very good pop-up killer built right in. Just use it for a couple of weeks, and you’ll be a believer, too. I know, you’ll have to THINK and be patient, not common traits in today’s America, but if you’re HERE, you have the brain cells needed to learn a new thing. I have faith in you! (and grab Thunderbird while you’re there. Learn a new, SAFER email program while you’re at it!)

Get Mozilla Here: CLICK ME
Get Thunderbird Here: CLICK ME

Second, download a FREE Antivirus program. It’s FREE. It’s very good. And did I mention it’s FREE? Free aint bad. Free is GOOD. And even if it’s not as good as that $80 commercial program you keep hearing about, it’s better than NOTHING, right? Yep, I thought so. I recommend, and USE, AVG Antivirus. I used Norton’s for YEARS, and AVG hasn’t failed me yet. I don’t miss shelling out $100+ a year for Norton’s anymore. I have FOUR computers running night and day and Norton’s wants money for EACH machine. When you click the link, scroll to the bottom to get the FREE version.

Get AVG here: CLICK ME

Third, download MalWareBytes. Adware/SpyWare/MalWare types of programs change your home page, search page, install password sniffers, log key strokes, STEAL PIN/ACCOUNT CODES, creates pop-ups or a whole host of other annoying and distasteful actions that compromise your personal information and/or raises your blood pressure. And it’s JUST NOT RIGHT. We all want to do right, don’t we? I thought so.

Get MalWareBytes here: CLICK ME

Fourth, get SpyBot Search and Destroy. It compliments MalWareBytes in searching out and destroying Adware, Trojans, Etc. What one misses, the other nails. It can be a little confusing to configure and run, but it’s well worth the learning curve. Be patient and let it do it’s thing. It’s a great little freebie that does a good job of cleaning your machine.

Get Spybot here: CLICK ME

Okay, there’s FIVE simple steps. I also have installed Microsoft’s Windows Defender. I use it on two of my machines, and it has yet to cause any trouble. It updates itself, so there’s nothing to remember. It runs and it goes away ’til next time. Simple and so far very elegant program. Microsoft haters won’t have a lot to say about this one as it is so darn quiet and trouble-free.

Get the tool here (VALID Windows Install REQUIRED): CLICK ME

And lastly, UPDATE – UPDATE – UPDATE – UPDATE your O/S (Operating System). The majority of you folks use Windows in one incarnation or another. Whichever – UPDATE IT!!!! (Yes, you, Terri!)

My recommendation is to turn on Windows Automatic Updates and leave your computer running 24/7. Turn your monitor off, but leave the box running so it can update itself overnight. Leaving the box on also allows the OTHER utilities to update themselves, scan for the bad guys and clean up, all while you sleep the night away. Easy…

I use these programs and methods EVERY DAY and they’ve never caused me a problem nor disabled a program or my machines. I trust them all. Give them a shot and I think you’ll see your machine behave and run as fast as it possibly can. And if you have any questions, please ask – if not me, someone else. There is no such thing as a dumb question. Well, there are, but we understand.