Computer & Internet Security 101 for Windows Users – Computer How to Series
Virus Protection - Anti-Virus Software
Every computer needs to have an effective up-to-date anti-virus software program installed such as: MacAfee , Symantect Norton or Microsoft Security Essentials
There are plenty of free anti-virus software out there that almost as good as the fee based ones. One that stands out is:
Avira – A German Computer Security Company
Spyware Protection – Anti-Spyware Software
Every computer needs to have an effective up-to-date anti-spyware software program installed such as:
Macafee anti-spyware Navarre Webroot Spy Sweeper, Ad-Aware, Microsoft Defender, Spybot,
Here’s an article about these top 5 programs: The Top 5 Anti-Spyware Programs, 2010
I personally use the one made by CA, and bundled with Yahoo Toolbar, which is pretty good too: http://download.cnet.com/Yahoo-Toolbar-with-Anti-Spyware/3000-12512_4-10310984.html
Internet Security Scan for Your Computers
These programs could find out the vulnerabilities that your computer has.
Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=ESFOLLNKSGGNOLLFWVL
You could download it or just scan your computer instantly online. I chose: - Security Scan (online) by click the Security Scan “start” on the left It will start to scan your computer - You need to say yes to install a couple of add-ons or active x on the menu bar (just follow the instruction) In the end, it will show you a result report - Expend into the detail page I normally print the detailed result page into a PDF file and save the file into My Documents for a record.
Here’s the instruction on how to install a free PDF writer
Here’s a list for the top Internet Security software: Top Internet Security Suites
Following is a very good article about the cyber security risks: The Top Cyber Security Risks http://www.sans.org/top-cyber-security-risks/#best-practices
The following security scan software is very good. You could install it on your computer and scan your computer periodically.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.1.1 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b1e76bbe-71df-41e8-8b52-c871d012ba78&displaylang=en
Download this x86 version if your Windows OS is a 32 bit version: MBSASetup-x86-EN.msi
Download this x64 version if your Windows OS is a 64 bit version: MBSASetup-x64-EN.msi
The best free security scan that I like is the following one:
ShieldsUP – made by Steve Gibson
It’s entre in the wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shields_Up
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
You’d better to run all five scans: - File Sharing - Common Ports - All Service Ports - Messenger Spam - Browser Headers
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