Five immediate tips to reduce your exposure to spyware and viruses.
1. Browsers programs(Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc): First install and use Firefox as your primary browser to surf the web. Keep Internet Explorer as a secondary browser when webpages/functions don't work in Firefox which lately I have been expereniencing. Most spyware enters your computer through malicious web pages and Internet Explorer. Install Firefox and spyware will be a thing of the past. www.firefox.co
Any browser you use please keep them updated, always use the latest version of a browser program to surf the web. Firefox current version = 3.6.9, Internet Explorer current version = 8.0, how do you know which version you have?
In Firefox, click on the Help menu at the top, then select and click About Mozilla Firefox, a box pops with the version number it is.
In Internet Explorer, usually at the top somewhere depending on the version, click the Help menu or question mark icon. Then select and click About Internet Explorer.
2. Turn on Windows automatic updates, always makes sure this is on.
3. Don't open e-mail attachments and don't click links/web pages in strange e-mails.
4. Turn on Windows firewall
5. Buy or use a hardware broadband router, however with most people already getting broadband internet service from companies like Verizon or Comcast in which you are already using and secure behind a hardware router.
These things are not that complicated and you do not have to be a "security expert" to figure them out. I follow these practices and haven't had spyware or viruses in years.
Surfing the Web....as long as you practice the above steps you are good however there is a social engineering part of it as well which could still get you infected. This is key, try to visit only mainstream websites or websites that you know can be trusted(Apple, Microsoft, BestBuy, Amazon, NASA, ABC, etc...the chances these websites contain problems would be rare. However "Bob's website" maybe a "red flag".
However there are websites you may find yourself visiting in which while in the browser(Internet Explorer, Firefox) that on that page a box appears looking official in the middle of the screen like from Norton, Microsoft, etc. Called "Antivirus 2009 or 2010", stating you need this virus program or programs because they have found a virus(s) on your system and clicking within the box to remove the viruses...it's not true its a lie! Do not click anywhere in that box that pops up, instead close the browser in the top right hand corner of your screen by clicking the red X. Do not click the red X in the box that popped up, if you do than you just have installed a virus or mareware and your computer is now infected. Make note of that website and never visit it again!
Thats how they social engineer you, also do not fall for this in a strange email that you do not know where it is from, don't click the link in that email either. Be aware of what you have on your system and what or where stuff is from, Microsoft or Norton, etc...will not notify you in a pop up on some strange website or email stating you need to install something even if it looks like its from them. These companies do not do things like that, by knowing these little things will help you "raise the red flag" when you come across stuff like that and your computer will remain virus/mareware free.
Anti-Virus Software:
This type of software is just your second line of defense anyway, it will not protect you from istalling a virus if you physically click on a link in a email or link on a website popup from a social engineered scam. Your behavior is your first line of defense to keeping your PC secure, learn and keep on top of the scams, social engineering scams like "Antivirus 2009, 2010", etc. research these on Google. Don't solely rely and take for granite any Anti-Virus software alone and forget about it because it will not protect your system from getting infected.
There are two software packages I recommend at this time, a free one and a paid. The Free version is Microsoft's Security Essentials available for Windows XP, Vista and 7. The paid is ESET's NOD 32 antivirus. If you are going to install a Anti-Virus software make sure you keep it up to date with the lates virus defenitions provided by the software company as there are released. Another option is to instead of installing an Anti-Virus permantly you can on occasion use a web based Anti-Virus. Every month as a example run a web based scan, ESET has one to check for viruses. However as stated above on this page if you practice and do the above rules first then your system should be free and uneffected from any virus and you have no worries.
Older Windows OS Versions
This is more important if you use any computer on the internet, first this is the breakdown in order of release the Windows versions over the years.
RED = No longer supported GREEN = Supported
?/1992 - Windows 3.1 8/1995 - Windows 95 6/1998 - Windows 98 ?/1999 - Windows 98SE 2/2000 - Windows 2000 9/2000 - Windows ME ?/2001 - Windows XP (current is Service Pack 3, support continues to April 2014) 11/2006 - Windows Vista (current is Service Pack 2) 10/2009 - Windows 7 (current and latest release)
It is not a wise to be running a Windows version older than XP SP3 connected to the internet these days, especially if this is your primary computer you use all the time. The reason is Microsoft is not supporting or patching these versions with recent fixes discovered. Your chances of your system getting infected actually increases over time after support is dropped off. Because vulnarabilities continue to get discovered and once the bad guys know about them, they put those viruses to expliot those holes on the web. They are also looking at what Microsoft is not supporting anymore and they will take advantage of it anyway they can.
Your limitations with the old system will increase over time like if you wanted to purchase and use most new third party hardware/software most likely they will not support your version of Windows that is shown in red above. These drop off support as well over time, examples of this are: printers, webcams, popular software titles, motherboards, etc.
So when Microsoft drops all support for a version of Windows consider that the time to upgrade to a newer version that is being supported(shown in green) or to the latest version like Windows 7 or purchase a new computer.
