Review of Spyware Programs and Safe Net

   Spybot Search & Destroy Ad-aware, Avast, Zone Alarm, and Firefox

First rule of surfing, don’t click on any ad or pop-up that say, “Is your computer running slow or do you have, or want to check for spyware?” Odds are if you click on it, your system will become infected. Kind of like having unprotected sex with a crack addict.
Every one of the computers I have fixed for friends and co-workers has had over 200 or more programs that the owners knew nothing about or how they originated on their systems. Most people don’t know how to take care of their systems. This is what allows systems to become compromised. You could repair your system to correct the problems, but most spyware/adware also does more than just make your system run like crap. It steals your personal information like passwords and bank information. Hey, you don’t have to lock your front door or car doors but chances are they will be broken into if you don’t lock or protect them. Well the net works the same way and you have to secure your stuff or it will be compromised with a cost to you and many others on a grand scale.
Now how to Secure your system.
Firefox is a more secure way to surf the internet. The main reason is Firefox does not use Active-X which is a main weakness in Internet Explorer.
Use and keep current your anti-virus program up to date. Use at least one or more spyware/adware removal programs. Yes, I said one or more because there is so much bad stuff out there one program can not find it all. The programs I use and recommend for spyware removal are “Spybot Search & Destroy” and “Ad-aware”. Both programs are highly rated and a bonus is that they are both free. Ad-aware does have an upgrade version for around $30 that will update automatically and do real time protection. Spybot can immunize your system to prevent the bad stuff from getting back on your system. You need to do a manual update for Spybot and it checks for the update and installs the updates by itself. No upgrade for Spybot, it has always been free. You can donate to the maker of Spybot which I have done and suggest, because it is truly one of the best software programs I have ever used. There are other paid programs for spyware removal which I would I review in the future if I had money to waste buying software that free software can do just has good as any paid software I could buy.

A firewall is also needed. Zone Alarm is a top rated program and free. They do have an upgrade version but the free version works great. Windows comes with a basic firewall but Zone Alarm is a more thorough program.
If you are tired of paying for and Anti-virus program like Symantec/Norton or McAfee, Avast is a very good anti-virus program that is free and automatically updates itself. It also has an upgrade version for a cost, but the free version works great.

Now for future news. Microsoft is working on a subscription service to include anti-virus, spyware removal and other protective services to keep your system safe and running. They already have a beta spyware removal program and are working on an anti-virus program. The whole package should be available after the first of the year and estimates are around $60 per year. This sounds great for the average user and a pain-free way to keep your system safe. I will wait to evaluate this service, but from past history this is going to be a hard job for Microsoft to pull off. They have just released a very early test version of the new Windows under very tight restrictions and already some people have written viruses for it even though this version of Windows is not even due out until late 2006. I believe 3^rd party programs will be needed like the other programs in this story to fully protect your system.

The moral of this story is that you need to protect yourself while on the net. Current studies have shown that a system with no protection on it and connected to the internet will be compromised in under 20 minutes when doing nothing and while just being turned on and connected to the Internet. You have been warned: no excuses!
Remember these are just my opinions and hard lessons that I have learned over the years. Learn from my pain.

justaguy

 

I don't get on the net without 4 programs
listed below

safe browser

	removes spyware
	removes spyware
	free anti virus
	free firewall

yes there are 5 programs glad to see you can count
firefox is a alterative browser for safer surfing
if you really care about being safe on the internet
the others are bare minimum
and all are free.