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Protect Your Computer
Using all five of the free utilities listed below will help protect your pc from malicious code that, among other things, could take over or disable your computer, capture personal information, and/or allow hackers to access and use your pc without your knowledge or permission.
Click on any of the links in the center column below to bring up the desired download (or online scan) page. To get more information on a utility, click on the right-hand column below.
Utility* Download Page More Information
Anti-virus (a) AVG Grisoft Firewall ZoneAlarm ZoneLabs Anti-malware -spyware Ad-Aware Lavasoft Spybot Search & Destroy Safer-networking Microsoft Defender Microsoft Free, demo & shareware (a) Caution: only one anti-virus program can be present on a computer; before installing AVG, remove any other trial, running or expired anti-virus program(s).
(b) Microsoft Security Essentials offers anti-virus as well as anti-spyware and anti-malware protection, for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7
Additional Utilities and Tools
* Note: In addition to the above brief list, there are many other tools available which one can download and/or purchase that provide additional protection and capabilities. The above list is therefore only intended to help a user give his or her computer basic protections as quickly as possible, at the lowest possible initial cost.
Also, keep in mind that while you can use only one anti-virus program on a computer, at the present time it is recommended that one have two or more anti-spy/malware programs to prevent and remove spy/malware.
For TechWeb's August, 2006 article "10 Free Ways to Keep Your PC Safe," point your browser to: http://www.techweb.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=161100001.
For a much more extensive list of free and commercial utilities, and additional information, visit member Don Miller's Web page at: http://dmiller900.com/internet_safety.htm, or point your browser to: http://100-downloads.com for 100 recommended, free programs and utilities which include those listed above.
E-mail safety: visit Don's Web page at http://dmiller900.com/emailinfo.htm
Children: keep them safe on the Internet - visit Don's Web page at http://dmiller900.com/kidsafe.htm
PC World article, and listing, of free utilities (be sure to look at pages 1 and 2): http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,119992,tk,spx,00.asp
Brief information on Spam, Phishing, Cyber Security, Identity Theft, and Spyware - what they are, and how to cope with them, at: http://www.techleadership.org/resources/
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"A survey conducted by NCSA found that 67 percent of home users do not have current antivirus software installed on their computers, while 15 percent noted that they have no antivirus protection at all. Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed stated that they are not aware of the difference between a firewall and anti-virus protection and 67 percent do not have any firewall protection at all. The survey also found that 38 percent leave their connections completely open." (As quoted in a message from Schaeffer Investments, Oct. 20, 2005.) |
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