Keeping your computer healthy.

[retd]

What do you do?I have anti virus ,firewall,blockingand Spyware they seem to work but you still get the odd virus that can hit you hard.

 

[Tele2047]

Format every 6 months (or more often if you can), defrag your computer occassionally. As for viruses, I've had a firewall for roughly 2 years (and a virus checker for as long as I've had a computer) and I've never gotten a virus that hasn't been caught by one or the other. If you're still getting viruses then I'd be more careful about stuff you download.

 

[Jaded1]

Having a anti virus, firewall, and spyware is one thing. Making sure you run your updates is another... Be sure that you check for updates to all three at least once a week! I have a rule of thumb. If I don't recognize the the send's screen name in three seconds or less it's deleted....

 

[bisexplicit]

Don't go on the internet.

(I think someone needs a break from the GB because shes become too flippant and/or bitchy.)

 

[TirelessTongue]

Thats why my next computer will be a Macintosh.

 

[anony13]

1) Get a Mac. When my sister wanted a computer for college I reccomended this. I haven't needed to fix her computer once.

On the flip side. I've fixed 3 friends computers in around a total of 12 hours. So far:
Comp 1: 854 Pieces Spyware. 14 Viruses.
Comp 2: 350 Pieces Spyware. 3 Viruses (but damn were they nasty)
Comp 3: 400 Pieces Spyware. 40 Viruses. (Her computer ran like molassis)

I can't name how many computers I've seen grind to a halt. These are all 2.0Ghz+, 512MB RAM+ and they run slower than my P3 833 mHz Acer.

I don't have a software firewall installed, but I am behind a router.

I keep numerous things on my iPod shuffle for when I need to fix a computer:
AdAware
Spybot S&D
Firefox
Avast! (I love this program. The virus scan at boot rocks)
KillBox (Deletes/Removes programs even if they're running)
CWShredder

Then for Personal Use
Putty
DVAssist (I'm a dvorak typer)
Firefox Portable
Thunderbird Portable.
--
Boot into Safe mode w/networking and install and run everything on the first list.
Get FF installed. I disable IE with as many methods as I can find on google.

 

[ravenous_os]

 

[Quoll]

First and foremost get rid of IE, it's a virus magnet.

 

[shadowbla1000]

Always remember to do frequent backups and never ever open attachments from some one you dont know.I would also say to use the internet to search for fixes for specific viruses or trojans.

 

[human_male]

I used to get infected with shit all the time! Every time I went online even though I use a firewall. Then I stopped using Internet Explorer and switched to Mozilla Firefox and haven't got anything since. Nothing. Zippo. Not even when surfing naked with my proverbial willy hanging out. I'd do that if I were you. Run Spybot and Ad-Aware every now and again anyway though.

Edit: Or should that be metaphorical willy?

 

[His_pita]

I used to get infected with shit all the time! Every time I went online even though I use a firewall. Then I stopped using Internet Explorer and switched to Mozilla Firefox and haven't got anything since. Nothing. Zippo. Not even when surfing naked with my proverbial willy hanging out. I'd do that if I were you. Run Spybot and Ad-Aware every now and again anyway though.

Edit: Or should that be metaphorical willy?

OK, first off that av of yours. Ewwwwww! Just saying. LOL

I have heard many times that I should dump IE and get something like Firefox. If I do this then what do I do with the IE? Just ignore it's on my computer or is there a way to get rid of it. I don't really understand how that all works.

Also, how do I do this defrag thing. I have heard that often too and have no idea.

I heard that Adaware has it's own spyware attached to it so I got rid of that and now use Spyware Doctor. Seems to do the job fine. I also use anti-virus and firewall through my local provider that seems to be good. *knock on wood*

 

[Tele2047]

I have heard many times that I should dump IE and get something like Firefox. If I do this then what do I do with the IE? Just ignore it's on my computer or is there a way to get rid of it. I don't really understand how that all works.

Just ignore it, it can still come in handy for some sites where firefox doesn't load correctly.

Also, how do I do this defrag thing. I have heard that often too and have no idea.

Go to start -> programs -> accessories -> system tools -> disk defragmenter, select the drive(s) and click on defrag. If you don't have a lot of free space it'll pop up and tell you that you should have at least 15% to do it or it won't be able to do it as well, but you can still go for it. Depending on how long since you formatted/defragged last then it might take a long while.

I heard that Adaware has it's own spyware attached to it so I got rid of that and now use Spyware Doctor. Seems to do the job fine. I also use anti-virus and firewall through my local provider that seems to be good. *knock on wood*

Never heard of adaware having its own spyware, I use it all the time and haven't had any problems.

 

[His_pita]

Thank you very much Tele2047. I shall defrag tomorrow and get Firefox.

 

[retd]

Thanks all I seem to get most of my viri from google so have stopped using it.

 

[pike_7]

What do you do?I have anti virus ,firewall,blockingand Spyware they seem to work but you still get the odd virus that can hit you hard.

Firefox
Spywareblaster
Avast Antivirus
Microsoft Antispy

I use each of these with great results.

 

[human_male]

Thanks all I seem to get most of my viri from google so have stopped using it.

Really? Gee that's worrying. How do you know, are you pretty sure it's google?

 

[His_pita]

Thanks all I seem to get most of my viri from google so have stopped using it.

I would like to know this too. I use Google constantly, it's my homepage. I have never had a virus.

 

[retd]

Really? Gee that's worrying. How do you know, are you pretty sure it's google?

Since stopping using google as my search engine no problems,I had google as my main page,I had a bad crash,restored without google and I am fine.

 

[retd]

Virus I got was a password Stealer,once anti spyware got rid I could restore.

I use XPhome

 

[Mister Mischief]

What do you do?I have anti virus ,firewall,blockingand Spyware they seem to work but you still get the odd virus that can hit you hard.

stay away from those naughty websites? lol pick up ad-aware to clean out your comp of all those nasty data miners and clingers.

 

[Swordplay]

I heard that Adaware has it's own spyware attached to it so I got rid of that and now use Spyware Doctor.

I think that myth came from the fact that another spyware remover (can't remember which one) tags Adaware as a spyware program. Innocent mistake, or just part of doing business?

In any case, I recommend using more than one ad/spyware checker, as sometimes one will pick things that another one misses.

Other than that, I second the mac suggestion ...

 

[JRaven]

Spybot Search and Destroy will tag Ad-Aware as a potential issue. It does state that because of the way Ad-Aware quarintines the spyware it finds, Spybot will continually find that spyware in the quarintine folder.

I always chuckle when I read or hear that people won't open email from people they don't know. The truth is, email worms come from people that you DO know! The worm runs on your mother's PC. It looks in her address book and finds your email address. It sends itself to you. You get an email from Mom. Of course you're going to open the nude picture of Anna Kournikova that your mother sent you. You trust Mom, she wouldn 't send you a viruis on purpose.

This really happened back when the virus was going around. I asked the guy at work why his mother would send him a picture of a nude woman. His face really went red when he realized that his mother had tried to open the picture as well.

My recommendations for a healthy PC:
Antivirus software, with update subscriptions. Set to update automagically.
Antispyware - update it weekly, just before you run it.
Firewall, either software or external. I prefer external.
Software updates. Be sure to keep the operating system and all your applications updated.

Jenny