How To Choose Best Anti-Virus Software

There are a number of companies that provide software solutions to virus, Trojan, and internet worm attacks. It can be really confusing when you compare three different software packages from five different companies trying to find the one that is right for you. With that in mind, there are several very important things that you need to consider when choosing antivirus software:1) How often/fast are the virus definitions updated. You want the answer to be "As soon as a new threat is found".
Are the virus definitions updated automatically by the software? You want the answer to be "YES"
Can you configure the software to check for updates every time you go online? You want the answer to be "YES"
Is the software "smart" so that it can find viruses it doesn't even know about yet? You want the answer to be "YES"
Can it scan incoming and outgoing email automatically? You want the answer to be "YES".6) Can you configure it once to perform automatic scans of your entire computer on a regular schedule? You want the answer to be "YES"
Does it provide a way to 'clean out' any viruses etc. that are found? You want the answer to be "YES"
Are upgrades to the software package performed automatically, regularly, and at no cost? You want the answer to be "YES".There are a few major players in the field that you should know about in order to make an informed decision about which antivirus software solution to buy and use. There are Norton Antivirus, Trend Micro's PC-cillin, and McAfee Antivirus. Sophos and Grisoft’s AVG are also very god choices. All of the top antivirus solutions will provide each of the eight points above (and more).There are quite a few smaller players on the market as well. In many cases they are quite good. However, most of the smaller players in this market don't have the resources (yet) to keep up with constantly changing virus threats. For now I would recommend staying away from them. Not because they are poor products, but simply because they aren't able to consistently provide each of the eight requirements above. The first few days after a new virus appears are often when it can do the most damage. The sooner you get an update the better. Thease will provide automatic updates to new threats usually within days of a new virus being found. Sophos and AVG are similar. Smaller players may take several days to provide updates, which are often not automatic. This should be enough basic information to help you on your way to choosing a good antivirus software.

How To Use Your Computer Away From Virus

Here are some simple steps you must take to avoid becoming a victim of computer viruses and also stop from spreading viruses to others. Here are some things that you can and should do.Email Issues to watchNever open an E-mail with an attachment you were not expecting.

The latest batch of virus programs are often spread by E-mail. Even if your anti-virus program does not warn you about the attached file and even if the eMail appears to come from someone you know, do not open it if you were not expecting it, and if you were expecting it, only open it AFTER scanning it with your up-to-date virus software.Scan ALL incoming email attachments (regardless of who sent it).Be sure to run each attachment you plan to open through the anti-virus check. Do this even if you recognize and trust the sender; malicious code, like Trojan horses, can slip into your system by appearing to be from a friendly source.Turn off the 'automatic preview' in your email program.Automatically previewing an email message has the exact same effect as opening and reading an email. My of the newest internet worms, trojans, and viruses simply need to have an email message read in order for them to be activated. Turning off the preview feature allows you to scan any email BEFORE you actually read it.Disk Issues to watchDon't boot from a floppy disk.Floppies are one of the most common ways viruses are transmitted. If you are using a floppy while working on your computer, remove it when you shut the machine off or the computer will automatically try to boot from the floppy, perhaps launching any viruses on the disk.Web Based IssuesKeep your web browser set to its highest security level.Its a pain to get the warning messages on every other web page you visit, but its the best way to protect yourself - especially if you use Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook. Don't download programs from the Web.Unreliable sources such as Internet newsgroups or Web sites that you haven't heard of may be willing providers of viruses for your computer. Avoid downloading files you can't be sure are safe. This includes freeware, screensavers, games, and any other executable program - any files with an ".exe" or ".com" extension, such as "coolgame.exe." Check to see if the site has anti-virus software running on their side. If you do have to download from the Internet, be sure to scan each program before running it. Save all downloads to one folder, then run virus checks on everything in the folder before using it. Regardless of where you download from, ALWAYS scan downloaded software.Routine MaintenanceMake regular back ups of important dataMake it a habit to back up all of your most important files at least once a month. Store the back up discs in a safe place.Clean any virus/worm/trojan off your computer(Details: http://www.antivirus-report.com/trojan-horse-removal.html )Using your antivirus software, perform a full system scan of your PC, hopefully it will detect and remove the virus. If a virus was detected, restart your computer and run the full scan again. Sometime the virus will keep reappearing, due to the evolving nature of viruses. Symantec is particularly fast at providing removal tools should you ever get a virus or worm infesting your computer. What is a removal tool? Well simply put it is a simple software that will scan your computer for infections, and then remove them from your machine. You most often need this if your machine got infected BEFORE you installed antivirus software.Top Considerations for PC ProtectionAnd the final and most important two things to do to keep your computer clean and make sure it does not spread viruses to other computers...Install a FirewallIf you use a broadband/high-speed method to access the internet, you need to get a firewall. A firewall is a program that defends your computer from hackers who attempt to gain direct access to your computer over the Internet. There is a very good firewall program called ZoneAlarm that will do the trick if you use Windows.Install and use a high-quality anti-virus program.This is the key to protecting your computer. Buy one of the major anti-virus programs - Norton Anti-Virus, PC-Cillin, or McAfee Anti-Virus. The primary benefit of the commercial packages is the frequency and ease of updating the virus definition files that these programs use to detect viruses. With new viruses popping up all the time, unless your protection software is kept updated, you start to become ever more vulnerable to infection.Get immediate protection.Configure your anti-virus software to launch automatically on start-up and run at all times. This will provide you back-up protection in case you forget to scan an attachment, or decide not to. And in case you forget to load up your anti-virus software, configuring it to start by itself will ensure you get immediate protection anyway. The top antivirus software programs all do this (but only if you have one installed on your computer). You do have current antivirus software installed right? If not, you can go to this page for more information on why you need antivirus software and how easy it is to use.

Working Ways Of Antivirus Software

You want to make sure that you’re protected from viruses, you should get some antivirus software. This software can offer peace of mind, even for experienced computer users who would be unlikely to open a simple virus.Antivirus software works in two ways. Firstly, it has a big ‘dictionary’ of viruses, allowing it to scan files and flag any that are known to be viral. Secondly, the software monitors the system for any suspicious activity. One method involves creating decoy files that are hidden from the user and monitoring them to see if they are altered – if they are, then it was almost certainly a virus.
The two giants of the antivirus industry are McAfee and Norton. They are both commercial software based on yearly subscriptions, and at this point there’s little to choose between them – some people swear by one, but just as many will swear by the other. However, both are quite expensive, especially if you buy them as part of the complete security suite.If you want a free antivirus program, the best around is widely considered to be AVG (the Free Edition). It’s a small but effective antivirus application, popular firstly for being free and secondly for using hardly any system resources to run. AVG is capable of running very fast, even on older computers.For people who don’t actually want to download and install antivirus software, but just want to quickly make sure that they don’t have a virus, TrendMicro’s HouseCall website is a good solution (you can find it at housecall.trendmicro.com). When you go to the website and click ‘Scan Now’, it will scan your computer for viruses right then and there, without you needing to install anything – and best of all, it’s free. While it is a very good service, however, you shouldn’t rely on it completely, as it is a bad idea to use a computer with no installed antivirus protection.

Tips To Avoid Spyware

The internet can be a scary place, with unscrupulous individuals and companies trying to get your personal information by any means possible. These persons use spyware in an attempt to invade your personal computer, and ultimately collect your personal information. Although spyware is a fact of life on the internet, as long as you take simple preemptive measures, your internet experience should be a pleasant and safe one. Key tools to help you win the battle in spyware avoidance include antivirus software, an up-to-date operating system, a firewall, and last but not least, updated antispyware software. This article will briefly explain to you the importance of each of these tools to help you avoid spyware on a day-to-day basis.Another essential piece of software to help you win the spyware battle is antivirus technology. Antivirus software will detect, prevent, and take action to remove malicious software programs such as viruses and worms. Along with spyware, computer viruses are malicious software that your computer needs protection from. There are alot of choices when it comes to antivirus software, some of them are even free. AVG Anti virus is free antivirus software that I personally use and recommend. Antivirus software, combined with a an up-to-date operating system is a pretty solid remedy against spyware infestation.
In order for your operating system to have the latest in security features, it is essential that you keep it up-to-date. High-priority updates are critical to the security and reliability of your computer. They offer the latest protection against malicious online activities. If you're using a Microsoft Windows based machine (Windows XP, etc.), you can set up your computer to receive, download, and even install the latest updates for you! So, yes, you really have no excuse to NOT have the latest updates for your Windows based machine.Simply put, if you're surfing the web without a firewall, you're asking for trouble (you might as well leave the doors unlocked on your home as well). What is a firewall? In a nutshell, a firewall is a piece of software or hardware that protects your computer from viruses, or hackers who might try to delete information, make your computer crash, or even steal personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers. You should make sure your firewall is always turned on when you are on the internet. The best thing is, if you're using Windows XP, the firewall is built right in! All you have to do is turn it on! The firewall will then work in conjunction with your antispyware software to provide the best protection possible. Dreaded spyware can cause pop-ups, slow performance, and of course, security threats. Many types of spyware are designed to be difficult to remove (go figure). Some of these pesky spyware even reappear as soon as you restart you machine! To avoid this scenario, it is essential that you install the latest in antispyware technology. As with antivirus software, you must make sure to keep it updated at all times, to reap the full benefits of protection.All in all, avoiding spyware is really not that difficult. As long as your surfing includes the use of antivirus software, an up-to-date operating system, a firewall, and last but not least, updated antispyware software, you have a solid foundation for having a clean, great performing, and safe system.

Removal Of Trojans


Recently BitDefender, a world-renowned antivirus software maker from Romania, made a report based on its statistics of virus activity. According to the data, 9 out of 10 most active malware infections are trojan viruses and their mutations.There is no surprise.Trojans are nearly a most aggressive type of malware that ever hit the Web in the last years. Those who have been in IT industry for a long time remember that first computer viruses were created mostly for fun just to make sure it really works! Nowadays the reasons why Trojans are so widespread and so hard to remove are different: making money and taking control over infected computers.
It is hard to remove Trojan virus because of three main reasons:Trojans self-replicate and continue self-distribution from infected computers. An address book in email client is a good place for a Trojan virus to start sending itself to other networked computers;Because there is money to be made in malware industry, new Trojans are created with special accent on ability to fight antivirus applications. In fact, any security program that largely depends on definition updates is a sure looser in this war; it is next to impossible to remove Trojan virus with an outdated antivirus that lacks strong heuristics algorithms;The diversity of this type of malware challenges the whole security software industry. Those who used to call themselves No.1 on the market, are easily knocked off pedestal by Trojan virus creators.This is one of the reasons why tools developed by volunteer programmers and small software companies have gained so much appraisal from owners of infected computers. On of such tools is called SmitFraudFix and is meant to remove a number of fake security applications, installed with the help of sneaky Trojans. For some of the most nastiest pests there are even more targeted programs developed, i.e. for Vundo and Zlob malware programs that guilty of millions infected computers.A software company a-squared also joined the movement of free Trojan removers by releasing a rogueremover. Besides, the company created a command-line scanner to help system administrators and advanced PC users in winning the Trojan war. Though focused on rogue security software, it targets a number of threats. Malwarebytes offers its free anti-malware, and so does SUPERAntiSpyware.Online scanner is another common means to remove Trojan virus for free. Most major antivirus companies offer web services, and some provide integrated scans with engines from several manufacturers.However, the availability of free tools that have gained reputation and popularity thanks to their elaborated algorithms used to remove Trojan virus infections doesnot mean its easy to clean out a contaminated system. This type of malware is pretty tough to get rid of, and often a series of scans is required to erase the malicious files and registry entries left by Trojans

How To Find Free Antivirus With Google

So many people who search on the internet have a favorite search engine. In fact, the majority of internet users choose Google.Do you fall into this category? If so, are you taking advantage of everything Google offers?
If an internet search means you go to www.google.com and simply type 2 or 3 words into the search box, hoping to find what you're looking for, you aren't even scratching the surface.How Can You Get Better Results?Google is the number one search engine for good reason - their results are generally the most accurate. Even so, there are ways to pinpoint what you're looking for even more effectively.You have two options when it comes to fine-tuning your searches - you can use the Google Advanced Search screen or you can use "modifiers" in the main Google search.Option 1: Google Advanced SearchWhen you go to www.google.com, there is a little "Advanced Search" link to the right of the main search box. If you click on that, you'll get the much more detailed Google search, where you can make very specific requests.The first four sections, highlighted in blue, are some of the most important. Here you can specify any of the following:All of the words - this will give you results with all of your search words, but not in any particular order. They can also be anywhere on the page.The exact phrase - this will give you results with exactly the phrase you enter. The phrase must appear on the page exactly the way you enter it.At least one of the words - this will show results with any one or more of your search words on the page.Without the words - this will give you results that don't include your search terms at all.These four sections can be used independently or combined to work together.For example, you could search for the exact phrase 'free virus software' without the words 'trial' or 'tryout' if you're looking for free virus software but don't want trial versions that will expire after a short time.As another example, you could use option #3 (at least one of the words) if you're looking for something but don't know exactly how to spell it. Put a few possible spellings in and it will find pages with any one or more of those spellings.The rest of the sections on the Advanced Search page are pretty self-explanatory. One that I will point out is the Domain option. You can specify a website and either search for something only on that site, or anywhere but that site.If you've found an interesting website that doesn't have a search function of its own, you can use this to limit Google to searching that site for whatever you're looking for. In fact, the Google search is often better even if the site does have its own search function.You can also use it to find other references to something you might have read on a particular website. If you search for it and exclude the site you saw it on, you'll find other references to it that you can cross-check.Option 2: Using ModifiersModifiers will let you use all the advanced features without having to go to the Advanced Search page every time. These modifiers can just be entered in the standard Google search box to get the same results as the advanced options.There are quite a few different modifiers that can be used, but some of the most useful are as follows:Putting "" around a phrase will search for the exact phrase. Searching for free antivirus software will show you pages with those three words anywhere on the page. Searching for "free antivirus software" shows you pages that contain that exact phrase.Putting a - before a word is the same as the advanced option "without the words." So, to use the example used earlier, searching for "free virus software" -trial -tryout will show pages with that exact phrase, not including the other two words.Using site: followed by the domain name of the website you want to search will only return results from that particular website. For example, searching for "virus protection" site:computer-help-squad.com will only return results from the www.computer-help-squad.com website.Again, these can be combined so -site: will return results from any site except the one you specify.How to Figure Out the ModifiersThe easiest way to see how to use modifiers in your searches is to try some searches with the Advanced Search page and see how Google formats them.Using our example again, if you enter 'free antivirus software' in the "with the exact phrase" box and the words 'trial' and 'tryout' in the "without the words" box, the search that Google runs looks like this:"free virus software" -trial -tryoutIf you play around a bit with the advanced searches, you'll see how Google formats them for you. Next time, you can just enter them yourself in the standard search box instead of going to the Advanced Search page.Once you get the hang of these options in Google, you'll find that your searches get even more accurate because you can filter out the stuff you don't want.

Increase Your Computer's Slow Speed

Have you ever noticed if your computer runs slow at times? There could be a number of things to help diagnose the problem. There are things that you can try to increase your computer's performance and reliability. This article will further discuss what tends to work most of the time, and also take a look at what does not seem to work as well as expected. Some of these steps may also increase your gaming experience. What you are looking for is a computer free from viruses, trojan, spyware, adware, to start with. You should start by downloading updates to your current antivirus software. Try Spy Bot Search and Destroy to start.Once you have verified that you do not have any of the listed offenses in the previous section, you can move on to optimizing your pc for maximum performance and reliability. One place you can start is by disabling the restore and backup feature. This is one feature that takes lots of space on your computer, and it is also seen as a safe haven for trojans.
Another thing to try is uninstall programs that you do not use. This will free up some space. After going through the programs to uninstall what is not needed, try optimizing your disc. The next step would be to defragment your computer. You could also check which programs are loading at startup; you may be able to disable these that you don't use every time at startup. Therefore, you could free up more space here too.If these options listed do not help in boosting your computer's performance and reliability, then you may want to consider taking your computer back to factory settings and just start over or as some way, from scratch. With these tips in mind, continue to install programs, keeping a mental note of what programs are running at startup.The more programs that you try to run at startup simultaneously, the less performance and reliability you will have in a computer. If you concentrate on just what you need to run at startup, the performance will be there when you are in need of more performance. So in an essence when you overload your computers with programs that are not needed, the computer is bogged down with too much running at the same time. This is where the slowness comes in, the next step is purchase more ram to add more memory for larger storage. If you want your computer to last a while, think about the components brand you are installing. If you purchase low end, then you can expect low end results.By scanning your computer on a regular scheduled basis, you can eliminate the system crashes by backing up your data to disc. Also, by cleaning up your disc of temporary files, and such that you can remove and save that space also. There are several things to try, and by being conscious of the fact will also gain more space. One thing at a time.

Reasons Of Pcs Crash One Should Know

• Fatal error: the system has become unstable or is busy," it says. "Enter to return to Windows or press Control-Alt-Delete to restart your computer. If you do this you will lose any unsaved information in all open applications."• You have just been struck by the Blue Screen of Death. Anyone who uses Mcft Windows will be familiar with this. What can you do? More importantly, how can you prevent it happening?
Hardware conflict• The number one reason why Windows crashes is hardware conflict. Each hardware device communicates to other devices through an interrupt request channel (IRQ). These are supposed to be unique for each device.• For example, a printer usually connects internally on IRQ 7. The keyboard usually uses IRQ 1 and the floppy disk drive IRQ 6. Each device will try to hog a single IRQ for itself.• If there are a lot of devices, or if they are not installed properly, two of them may end up sharing the same IRQ number. When the user tries to use both devices at the same time, a crash can happen. The way to check if your computer has a hardware conflict is through the following route:• Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Device Manager.• Often if a device has a problem a yellow '!' appears next to its description in the Device Manager. Highlight Computer (in the Device Manager) and press Properties to see the IRQ numbers used by your computer. If the IRQ number appears twice, two devices may be using it.

Bad Ram• Ram (random-access memory) problems might bring on the blue screen of death with a message saying Fatal Exception Error. A fatal error indicates a serious hardware problem. Sometimes it may mean a part is damaged and will need replacing.• But a fatal error caused by Ram might be caused by a mismatch of chips. For example, mixing 70-nanosecond (70ns) Ram with 60ns Ram will usually force the computer to run all the Ram at the slower speed. This will often crash the machine if the Ram is overworked.

BIOS settings upland11• Every motherboard is supplied with a range of chipset settings that are decided in the factory. A common way to access these settings is to press the F2 or delete button during the first few seconds of a boot-up.• Once inside the BIOS, great care should be taken. It is a good idea to write down on a piece of paper all the settings that appear on the screen. That way, if you change something and the computer becomes more unstable, you will know what settings to revert to.• A common BIOS error concerns the CAS latency. This refers to the Ram. Older EDO (extended data out) Ram has a CAS latency of 3. Newer SDRam has a CAS latency of 2. Setting the wrong figure can cause the Ram to lock up and freeze the computer's display.• Mcft Windows is better at allocating IRQ numbers than any BIOS. If possible set the IRQ numbers to Auto in the BIOS. This will allow Windows to allocate the IRQ numbers (make sure the BIOS setting for Plug and Play OS is switched to 'yes' to allow Windows to do this.)

Hard disk drives• After a few weeks, the information on a hard disk drive starts to become piecemeal or fragmented. It is a good idea to defragment the hard disk every week or so, to prevent the disk from causing a screen freeze. Go to• Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-Disk Defragmenter• This will start the procedure. You will be unable to write data to the hard drive (to save it) while the disk is defragmenting, so it is a good idea to schedule the procedure for a period of inactivity using the Task Scheduler.• Hard disks will slow down and crash if they are too full. Do some housekeeping on your hard drive every few months and free some space on it. Open the Windows folder on the C drive and find the Temporary Internet Files folder. Deleting the contents (not the folder) can free a lot of space.• Empty the Recycle Bin every week to free more space. Hard disk drives should be scanned every week for errors or bad sectors. Go to• Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-ScanDisk• Otherwise assign the Task Scheduler to perform this operation at night when the computer is not in use.

Fatal OE exceptions and VXD errors• Fatal OE exception errors and VXD errors are often caused by video card problems.• These can often be resolved easily by reducing the resolution of the video display. Go to• Start-Settings-Control Panel-Display-Settings• Here you should slide the screen area bar to the left. Take a look at the colour settings on the left of that window. For most desktops, high colour 16-bit depth is adequate.• If the screen freezes or you experience system lockups it might be due to the video card. Make sure it does not have a hardware conflict. Go to• Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Device Manager• Another useful way to resolve video problems is to go to• Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Performance-Graphics• Here you should move the Hardware Acceleration slider to the left. As ever, the most common cause of problems relating to graphics cards is old or faulty drivers (a driver is a small piece of software used by a computer to communicate with a device).• Look up your video card's manufacturer on the internet and search for the most recent drivers for it.

Viruses• Often the first sign of a virus infection is instability. Some viruses erase the boot sector of a hard drive, making it impossible to start. This is why it is a good idea to create a Windows start-up disk. Go to• Start-Settings-Control Panel-Add/Remove Programs• Here, look for the Start Up Disk tab. Virus protection requires constant vigilance.• A virus scanner requires a list of virus signatures in order to be able to identify viruses. These signatures are stored in a DAT file. DAT files should be updated weekly from the website of your antivirus software manufacturer

Printers• The action of sending a document to print creates a bigger file, often called a postscript file.• Printers have only a small amount of memory, called a buffer. This can be easily overloaded. Printing a document also uses a considerable amount of CPU power. This will also slow down the computer's performance.• If the printer is trying to print unusual characters, these might not be recognised, and can crash the computer. Sometimes printers will not recover from a crash because of confusion in the buffer. A good way to clear the buffer is to unplug the printer for ten seconds. Booting up from a powerless state, also called a cold boot, will restore the printer's default settings and you may be able to carry on.

Software• A common cause of computer crash is faulty or badly-installed software. Often the problem can be cured by uninstalling the software and then reinstalling it. Use Norton Uninstall or Uninstall Shield to remove an application from your system properly. This will also remove references to the programme in the system registry and leaves the way clear for a completely fresh copy.• The System Registry can be corrupted by old references to obsolete software that you thought was uninstalled. Use reg cleaner to clean up the System registry and remove obsolete entries. • Read the instructions and use it carefully so you don't do permanent damage to the registry. If the Registry is damaged you will have to reinstall your operating system. • Often a Windows problem can be resolved by entering Safe Mode. This can be done during start-up. When you see the message "Starting Windows" press F4. This should take you into Safe Mode.• Safe Mode loads a minimum of drivers. It allows you to find and fix problems that prevent Windows from loading properly.• Sometimes installing Windows is difficult because of unsuitable BIOS settings. If you keep getting SUWIN error messages (Windows setup) during the Windows installation, then try entering the BIOS and disabling the CPU internal cache. Try to disable the Level 2 (L2) cache if that doesn't work.• Remember to restore all the BIOS settings back to their former settings following installation.

Overheating• Central processing units (CPUs) are usually equipped with fans to keep them cool. If the fan fails or if the CPU gets old it may start to overheat and generate a particular kind of error called a kernel error. This is a common problem in chips that have been overclocked to operate at higher speeds than they are supposed to.• One remedy is to get a bigger better fan and install it on top of the CPU. • CPU problems can often be fixed by disabling the CPU internal cache in the BIOS. This will make the machine run more slowly, but it should also be more stable.

Power supply problems• With all the new construction going on around the country the steady supply of electricity has become disrupted. A power surge or spike can crash a computer as easily as a power cut.• If this has become a nuisance for you then consider buying a uninterrupted power supply (UPS). This will give you a clean power supply when there is electricity, and it will give you a few minutes to perform a controlled shutdown in case of a power cut.• It is a good investment if your data are critical, because a power cut will cause any unsaved data to be lost.

Steps To Running Safe Pc

These ten steps will help you increase your computer's security. From discovering viruses to learning how to avoid them, this article is a must read!
Windows password This is the easiest way to make sure you know who is using your pc. Choose a lengthy password that contains capital and lower case letters. Including a number or two will greatly increase your security. Having a Windows password means that the only people that can log onto a Windows session are people that you have granted access to.Password manager You should never write your passwords down. Using the same password all the time will also make it very easy for hackers to reach your personal information. So if you can’t write it down and you’re notsupposed to use the same one – how are you supposed to keep track of all of your passwords? The easiest way to do this is to use a password manager. We prefer to use Roboform. Roboform is an easy to use password and profile manager that docks neatly into your Internet Explorer toolbar and keeps track of all of your passwords for you. Roboform also uses a master password system. You will have one password that accesses all of the passwords in the program. This way you can keep all of your information safe and secure. You can download Roboform for free by http://www.roboform.com.
Spyware Remover Next to spam, spyware is the internet’s biggest annoyance. By definition, spyware is “any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Once installed, the spywaremonitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.” The amount of spyware that exists on your pc is dependent on the amount of internet surfing you do. A good rule of thumb here is to scan for spyware once per week or whenever poor system performance surfaces. If you don’t have a spyware scanner, we recommend http://www.webroot.com.
Antivirus This should go without saying, but if your computer is connected to the internet you need antivirus software. With weekly scans and program updates you should be protected from most threats. For added protection, werecommend using more than one anvtivirus scanner.

Firewall A firewall will keep unwanted visitors out of your computer. You can obtain a firewall either by using software application like ZoneAlarm or Black Ice Defender, or by using a router with your internet connection. For more information on routers plese visit http://www.Linksys.com.
File sharing Basically, file sharing programs are the single biggest security risk you will come across. This is because the only facts you have about the files you are downloading are the file name and the file size. It is quite simple to change a filename to dupe someone into downloading a virus or other malware like keystroke recorders. Our advice – stay away from file sharing at all costs. If you need to use it, make sure you have updated antivirus software installed and running.

Research In a sentence – know what’s out there. http://www.Symantec.com has a section on their website that will serve you well. Knowing what types of viruses exist and how to avoid them will make you a much smarter internet user.
Email protection Most of the antivirus applications available offer email scanning. If yours does not, you will want to get one that does. Email scanning will make sure all of your incoming and outgoing emails are safe for both you and the recipient. Email viruses spread very quickly by using your address book to propagate. Never read email from people you don’t know and always make sure your email scanner is active.
Network security Another way that viruses spread is through computer networks. We have a few quick tips to keep your network safe. Always scan any files that come in from other computers. Even if it’s a file you have brought from home. Never allow a file to be placed on your network until ithas been scanned. The main server should be the only computer with file sharing enabled. By not allowing computer users to transmit files, you can quickly neutralize a threat.

Maintenance Performing weekly virus and spyware scans will go a long way to keeping your computer safe. Defragmenting weekly will also greatly improve performance. If you put in the effort, you will be rewarded with a safe and smooth running pc. Not to mention less headaches!By following these ten guide lines, you will greatly improve the performance of your computer. You will also generate peace of mind as you gain a new sense of security.