JB's tips for a healthy PC

[JB]

Just wanted to give ya a headsup on pc maintenance...heres some tips to keep ya healthy.





Are Ya worried about all the spyware horror stories you've read? You should be. I've heard varying numbers, but it's said that putting an unprotected computer on a high-speed connection results in getting infected within a few minutes. I just read that the time is getting longer, but that's not much comfort. By all means you should have a router if you're on a high speed connection. A router provides some protection, but is only the beginning. Ok, now the new machine is booted up the first time and ready to go. It's on the net. In this order, here's what to do.
1. Update Windows immediately. In the Windows Security Center in the Control Panel turn on automatic download and installation for updates. Unless the computer came with a third party security suite or firewall, turn on the Windows XP firewall.
2. Update the pre-installed antivirus definitions and other security apps. Set them to auto update.
3. Download and install an alternative browser like Firefox or Opera.
4. Lockdown Internet Explorer. Yes, do it even if you use a different browser.
5. Install at least two anti-spyware apps. My top two recommended free apps are Ad-Aware and Microsoft AntiSpyware. Update definitions for both and turn on active protection in Microsoft AntiSpyware.
6. Install some free protective programs like SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard from Javacool Software.
7. Install IE-SPYAD, which puts nearly 20,000 known dangerous domains in IE's restricted site zone.
8. Install a HOSTS file from here or here.
9. Educate yourself on how to not become infected in the first place.
10. Surf safe and practice safe hex.
Porn sites with there pop up infect many a pc, however Porn isn't the only problem these days. It's rogue torrent sites, rogue search pages, so-called "free" software, P2P apps, pop-ups that shill spyware infested programs, (some claiming to remove spyware themselves), etc. I have lots of customers I KNOW would never visit porn sites, yet get infected with spyware just like everyone else. Porn sites are indeed a high-risk area, but the numbers of seemingly innocent websites that will install crap on your system without warning is extremely prevalent these days. I agree with pretty much everything on that list, with only a couple of exceptions. Any new computer owner should visit the windows update website first off, rather than waiting for the automatic updates to come down to them. Sometimes, the automatic updates do not get downloaded in a timely enough manner. I've seen XP systems with auto-update enabled that still havent got SP2. And that was released over a year ago. So a manual update is in order to get caught up with all the lastes patches, then the automatic updates are fine after that. Also, two antispyware programs with active resident components can be problematic. They can fight over what is detected, and prevent proper removal action by both programs. One good self-updating resident spyware scanner like MS Antispyware, or Sunbelt Counterspy is good in conjunction with a quality antivirus program (even these can overlap and conflict at times, but it is a necessary evil since no antivirus program does an acceptable job alone at preventing spyware, and no antispyware app is acceptable at detecting and removing viruses). Having multiple antispyware programs installed is fine as long as you only use ONE resident background agent. Use the other programs for manual scanning.

[zooker]

after you do all this drop and give me 25 puke!!!!

zooker

[JB]

and no backtalk lip U maggot rofl

[Chum]

Download/buy a virus scanner like Norton Antivirus 2005 or 2006, they block all trojans and can block some programs. Another cool feature is when you download files, right click then select scan files with Norton to detect and malicious files.

[JB]

I use the free antivirus AVAST...I'd recommend it to all.

[Dyas]

Although I hate to say it I have over 130 spyware on my pc...... Ouch LOL.....

[JB]

I've seen up to 700-900 adware spy virus's on many pcs. so dont feel bad!
NOw, get off the porn jk lol

[Dyas]

What porn......... I dont see no porn......... Just a lot of illegal downloads lol......

[PowerBass]

Earthlink comes wiht a spy ware killer on it.

[crankybait]

limewire= viruses. according to microsoft spyware, before limewire, no viruses. after limewire and 92 songs, 10 viruses. my dad thinks ive been doing something i shouldnt be, but hey, im not

[Dyas]

limewire=spyware. before limewire no spyware, after limewire and 238 songs and 5 movies 152 spyware... Just have to update it and it will all be gone...

[JB]

Try this spybot search and destroy to rid you of bugs
http://www.download.com/Spybot-Searc...-10122137.html

[Dyas]

Thanks for the link. I will have to do it when im on my computer though. Im at my dads place right now...

[basstech]

He he, Nice tips JB. Ya forgot to mention one thing. After installing you new O/S, and you're all prepared to manually do all the M.S. updates. Be prepared to be downloading and installing updates for about 3 hours. Oh yeah and one other thing. Do the bulk updates first and then the ones that have to be done individually after words. It tends to go smoother that way.
700 to 900 incidences of spyware and viruses. Is that all? I have the record at where I work for finding over 2500. Actually it was 2552 instances of spyware and like 111 instances of 9 different viruses.

[abarker]

Hey theres only one tru way to keep you pc healthy.... STAY OFF THE INTERNET!!!!!

[Dyas]

JB is it possible for spyware or a virus to screw up a USB jack. I just tried to hook my ipod up and it wasnt found......

[JB]

nope shouldn't have any thing to do with a port, if you have several ports , try another one that you haven't used before, I am sure one will work, if the cable is installed correctly.

[zooker]

i use 3-4 usb ports at a time. never had any poblems.-i have a multi port director.

i tend to get 1-2 viruses a month. which are caught by 3 differant anti virus/spyware programs.

zooker

[Dyas]

Yeah the port on the front quite working for some reason. The others on the back worked

[Bendersbe16]

Dyas.. i have that trouble all the time.. First thing is to rebout ur ipod..if u dont kno how ask me..then if that doesnt work..uninstall then re install itunes... got any question just ask

[RatLTrap]

JB good tips... but in all seriousness you don't need to even use any of those tips...


JUST STOP GOING TO THE FREAKIN PORN SITES!!!

just joking even though that really does cause a lot of mailware/spyware

Your best bet is just to be safe and secure... I have no anti-viruse protection or anything... I do use windows sp2 firewall but thats it... you just have to get used to what you can and can't do on a computer..

[JB]

I'd put some kind of protection on there if I were you, like avast or others I mentioned. The worst virus I ever got on one of my pc's was from a Japanese Art site..if the protection is free, why not arm yourself with it?

[RatLTrap]

Dyas sometimes you have to update drivers... what chipset? nvidia? or could be a motherboard issue.

[RatLTrap]

Ah I've been working with computers since I was 6 years old I dont need any protection I know what im doing

[ROBZILLA]

howm do you update your drivers?, I got a message saying my fast track isn't set up to my bios when I reboot?