I'm sure that there are redundant post about security software questions, so I decided to put a massive post here on strictly the subject of Internet Security, this discussion will be about software that helps protect your computer against internet problems.
First and foremost, if you are a business, this information will not apply to you, for businesses cannot use the software listed here for free.
If you are going to use protection software DO NOT install suites, they are resource hogs, are not as good as individual programs, and through massive testing I can tell you what the best free software on the market is, I know because I have tested these softwares on INFECTED computers, and tested them against other softwares on the market..
The BEST FREE Virus Scanners
AVG & Avira (hands down!)
The BEST FREE Spyware Removal
Spybot Search & Destroy
The Best FREE Malware Removal
Malwarebytes'
You can get them all at
www.download.com
The Best FREE Rescue Disc for viruses ONLY.
http://www.free-av.com/en/tools/12/a...ue_system.html
The Best Free Rescue Disc for everything else...
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html
The Best Free ONLINE Scanner
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm
(This program catches more than just viruses, spyware, and malware)
NEXT:
I will be discussing how to keep your computer safe while surfing.
First and foremost, the best way to protect your computer is to run a firewall on an old computer and then network that computer to your computer, sharing the internet connection, this is without a doubt the test best form of protection against hackers.
Windows firewall is good, dont' let anyone fool you otherwise, There are holes in all of the free firewall programs and they will cause you connection & software issues to say the least!
The best way to protect your computer is by using a router WITH a firewall using NAT (Network Addressing Translation). These routers add a level of protection that cannot be bypassed by most hackers!
So, in essense, you want your modem (isp provided) connected to a NAT Router, which then is connected to an old computer which only runs the firewall (doesn't need a monitor after you set it up), and this computer is the network computer that shares the internet with ALL other computers.
Linsys makes a great wireless routher that offers 4 wired connections on top of wireless connection, YOU MUST HOWEVER SET UP THE SECURITY, if you do not, then people will be able to STEAL your connection!
This is a cheaper sollution for wireless. I recommend using USB Wireless connection Drives to connect to the wireless routher for desktops, obviously laptops should already have an internal card able to pick up the wireless signal, though setting up security can be a little trick it is an absolute must, otherwise you will be the victim of wardrivers!
Wardrivers drive in a car looking for an unprotected connection which they can access to do all sorts of malicious things, please protect yourself from this!
Moving on to other important issues while on the internet. Viruses can leap out at you, there are so many ways code can be ran on your computer, so, I highly recommend using the User Account Controls On Vista & Windows 7, these will prevent a major amount of malicious code from being executed by the internet web sites on your computer.
All you have to do is load the page and they got you! Yes, I am accusing websites of running malicous code, IT's A FACT JaCK!
Furthermore, emails are NOT safe, do not open emails you don't absolutely do not know for sure who the sender is! Don't EVER send out personal information on the internet ANYWHERE! The safest protection for you is not to put any information on the internet that doesn't need to be out there, because once you write it, I assure you, it's out there!
Don't surf to the Ghetto of the internet (ie. porn sites, torrent sites, and the likes of places that are known to be the kings of viruses!) Downloading ANY program that isn't from the original creators' website is dangerous! Many places like
www.download.com test their applictions that are posted, THIS DOES NOT GARAUNTEE THEY ARE VIRUS FREE!
You should always SCAN ALL DOWNLOADS BEFORE YOU USE OR ACCESS THEM! This will prevent about 70% of most malicious programs, viruses, and such. Most Viruses scanners will detect viruses as you download them, AVG & AVIRA is REAL good at this!
Be very aware of Fake Alert Viruses & Malicious Malware (Fraudulet programs that say your infected, click here for a free scan, they are total BS!) There are too many problems to list them all, surely that's the job of virus, spyware, and malware scanners, to help you stop those threats...
HOWEVER, sometimes computers become infected to the point that the computer will not run, or the malicious software in question will disable your internet protection (very commmon!).
At this point, you will want to run the avira or kaspersky free rescue disc, which scan and remove viruses from a boot cd! They are HOW the techs do it ALL tech shops! Some use other programs, but I assure you, that even the biggest names in the business uses freeware to fix your computer, so why shouldn't you?
More On This Subject Later, anyone who has more to add please do so, feel free to point out any errors I made, thanks in advance...
LEGAL NOTICE: You are free to read this post, but you may not use this post or any content within this post for profit purposes, you may copy this post and distribute it freely, but any and all information within is given to you without warranty, and no claim shall be granted to the reader or user of the information in liability of damages caused by using any software posted in links in this post.
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