Greetings from Technigrafa! In this edition we will be discussing free anti-adware, anti-virus, anti-spyware and other utilities to make your computer run more smoothly.
Sure, you've heard about adware, spyware and computer virii, and no doubt you've experienced the frustation that these little nasties can produce when they infest your computer. But what can you do to protect yourself?
1. Don't open emails from people you don't recognize. This is probably one of the most common methods that virii and spyware spread. If possible, set your email program settings so that they will not automatically download images or run scripts. These things can either cause infestation, or confirm to spammers that your email address is a legitimate one.
2. Don't use Internet Explorer. Most online virii and spyware is designed to take advantages of security holes in IE. There are plenty of other browsers out there that provide just as good of a browsing experience(if not better). Here are links to a few that are free for you to download and install:
3. Avoid clicking on pop up banners or other annoying advertisements as you surf. These ads are often misleading and can trick you into installing unwanted software on your computer.
4. Be weary of emails you get promising SUPER deals, or emails claiming that an account you have with your bank, Paypal or eBay is about to be closed out if you don't click on this link and update your profile. This is usually a trick to get your account information. If you are concerned that an account of yours is in poor standing, contact the company directly by phone or from a website you know to be theirs.
5. Regularly update your operating system. Windows, MacOS, and Linux all provide means to automatically update your system periodically. These updates often fix security holes.
6. Regularly run an antivirus program and make sure to schedule it to download recent virus definitions. Here are a few free antivirus programs, but there are many good ones to choose from that are reasonably priced, as well.
7. Spyware is software that gets onto your computer and monitors the sites that you visit and can even log data you type in(like credit card numbers!). The worst part is most antivirus softeware won't remove it. So it is also important that you regularly run spyware removal software. Here are a few free alternatives:
So hopefully these tips will arm you for the war against spyware, adware and computer virii.
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