BlogAvoiding...

Avoiding Spyware and Viruses

Tuesday, September 7, 2004 by digitalpeer

• Do not install ActiveX components unless they are from a trusted site (i.e. microsoft.com). This means don't click yes to every popup you get in IE.
• Always show full file extensions. Any file you download from the web or an email may appear as picture.jpg and it's really picture.jpg.exe because you have disabled showing file extensions. Open the file explorer and go to tools -> folder options -> view and unclick "Hide file extensions for known file types."
• Don't execute .exe, .bat, .scr and a list of other file extensions from untrusted sources. If you execute a file and nothing happens, i'd say there's a 90% chance you just infected yourself.
• Internet Explorer and Outlook have and continue to have security holes that the above steps won't help you out with. Spyware and viruses will be installed without you ever knowing- all you have to do is visit a website.
• Continue to run adaware and update the definitions on a regular basis.
• Some applications come bundled with spyware. Watch out for what you install, you might be installing more than you asked for.
• Don't install random IE toolbars and extensions. Unless they are from a trusted source, they are most likely just an avenue to get you to install spyware on your computer.

If you feel that your computer is slow or infected with viruses and spyware there are several tools you can use to help. You should run your anti-virus software to get rid of viruses and I recommend downloading and running Ad-Aware to remove spyware. On Windows 98/ME you may need to stop every process except the adaware and explorer processes to be able to successfully remove some programs.

Download FireFox and use that instead of IE. If you want to take it a step further, download Thunderbird and use it for email.