Preventing Spyware and Viruses
From HowToGeek
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There are several ways you can easily prevent Spyware and / or Viruses from infecting your PC. This wiki article will cover simple steps you can take to help prevent these instances of malware.
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Overview
There is absolutely no reason for spyware or viruses to be on your PC. Even if you have the best computing intentions, there are a few security steps that every user needs to stay on top of. Malicious software can steal personal information from your hard drive, steal passwords, break programs, or turn the machine into a "Zombie Computer" where it works with a network of other infected computers to do evil things.
There are different types of malicious software programs which do different things to muck up your system. Knowing the difference between these types malicious code and what is effective in combating it is essential.
| Spyware | Software installed on your PC with or without your consent that gathers information about web surfing habits and can potentially gather personal information. |
| Adware | Software installed on your PC with or without your consent that displays pop up advertisements on the computer screen |
| Grayware | Software installed on your PC with or without your consent that falls into a “gray area” meaning it is not as serious as a virus but annoying none the less. |
| Malware | Any and all of the above and more including viruses, trojans, worms, and rootkits. |
| Rootkit | A computer virus that access Administrator rights and disguises itself as a legitimate OS program. |
The Human Factor
The following are steps we need to take as computer operators in avoiding malicious attacks.
- Never give out personal information online unless you are 100% confident in the site you're using
- Don't ever open email attachments if you do not know who they are from
- Forget about P2P networks such as Kazaa, Bearshare, Azureus, etc.
- Keep your anti-virus programs updated
- When ever in doubt Ask A Geek before opening or launching a file or program.
Avoid Duplicate Detections Between Ad-Aware and Spybot S & D
Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware can co-exist together on the same machine. However, to avoid duplicate detections between the them you need to clear out each utilities detection archive. If they are not purged ad-aware will detect Spybot's and vice-versa. The archives are there so you can restore a file in case it were to render a program not working.
Purge Spybot S & D archive Recovery \ Purge Selected Items
Related How-To Geek Articles
- Free Anti-Virus Protection With Antivir Personal Edition
- Free Anti-Virus Protection With Avast Home Edition
- Free Anti-Virus Protection With AVG Free Edition
- Free Anti-Virus Protection With ClamWin
- Free Anti-Virus Protection With PC Tools Anti-Virus
- Ad-Aware
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- SpywareBlaster
- Windows Defender
- Spyware Terminator
Avoid Fake Security Software
There are several fake anti-spyware and Virus tricks out there. These rogue utilities look like legitimate security programs but are in reality malicious. A lot of times a window will pop up claiming there is a virus on your computer and you need to update right away. Clicking on the advertisement actually leads to an infection. Here are a few examples of known fake security applications. The names are clever and some sound like reputable utilities.
- MS Antivirus 2008
- Doctor Adware
- Adware Cops
- Elimiware
- Privacy Crusader
- SpyShield
Again, when in doubt Ask A Geek.
See Also
List of Free Anti-Spyware Applications