AntiVirus Help for the Novice Puter User
From the Desk of Butch Bridges Ardmore, Oklahoma
bridges@OklahomaHistory.net
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net
Email Butch Bridges
Updated June 22, 2007
AVG ANTIVIRUS AND SPYWARE PROGRAM
Grisoft's AVG is one of the best anti-virus programs I found on the internet. It does a great job, and they still offer their Free version.
http:/free.grisoft.comSPYWARE TERMINATOR and WINCLAMAV ANTI-VIRUS
12/16/06 I found a program, actually 2 programs, by the name of Spyware Terminator. Just go to their website and read all about it. I used it for several months, and found it did not catch spyware that Spybot and Lavasoft's Ad-Aware did catch and remove.
http://www.spywareterminator.com
Spyware Terminator WebsiteCLAMWIN ANTI-VIRUS
ClamWin is an excellent free antivirus you install on your computer.
http://www.clamwin.com
The Clamwin WebsiteAll the major antivirus programs including the AVG program will scan your incoming email for viruses, and AVG AntiVirus even scans and certifies with a signaure at the bottom that each of your outgoing emails as virus free.
Regardless if you purchase one of the commercial antivirus programs like Norton or McAfee, or the AVG AntiVirus, if you don't keep the DAT files updated, then you are wasting your time. With new viruses coming out daily, it is imparitive to keep the DAT files current no matter which program you use. Most programs, including AVG Antivirus allows you to either manually or automatically schedule updates.
Equally important is to keep your Microsoft Internet Browser updated. (Sorry, I do not know about Netscape or other browers.) Updating your Microsoft browser is easy to do. When you are on the Internet, just click on TOOLS tab at the top of the Page and then WINDOWS UPDATE. Just follow the prompts and install any critical security files or updates recommended by Microsoft.
Microsoft Update SiteThere are several websites that will scan your computer for viruses while you are Online. Two in particular I have been using for several years have caught and removed viruses on a couple dozen computers I am aware of personally, so I know these Online virus checkers work. These websites update their DAT files daily, so they catch the newest viruses. Here are the two that has worked very well for me the past few years.
HOUSECALL ANTI-VIRUS
http://housecall.antivirus.com by TrendMicro
Trend Micro Online Virus ScannerPANDA ANTI-VIRUS
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan
Panda Software Online ScannerAll of the above Online virus scanners will require a small program being installed from their website to your computer. Each time you do a scan, a small DAT file will be downloaded to your computer to update the virus scan before the scanning begins. Be sure and keep your DAT file current and up to date no matter what virus scanner you use.
To really be on the safe side, use both the grisoft.com free program above or Norton Antivirus, or what ever, PLUS run the online virus scanners mentioned
STINGER by MCAFEE
McAfee has a great little FREE anti-virus tool also. It's a small downloadable file you execute and run. It will check for over 40 of the most common viruses floating around today
McAfee Stinger AVERT Stinger UtilityFREEWARE from WEB ATTACK
One problem is as we visit websites some of them put little files on our computers that cause those annoying popups. As the days and weeks go by the popups get worse and worse until you spend half of your time "x"ing out of those blasted popups. There are several programs that claim to eliminate the popups and some are free too. For several years I have been using a popup killer called FreeSurfer and I can vouch that is does the job. I very seldom have a popup come on my screen. When FreeSurfer detects a popup you will hear a faint "beep" so you know its working!
Download FreeSurfer hereAD-AWARE ANTI SPYWARE
Another problem is spyware being put on your computer when you visit a website or open an email. These little "data miner" files are constantly sending info to their respective website about you and your computer usage without your knowlege. I have used Ad-Aware with limited success. Hopefully you will get better results than I did. It is suppose to remove unwanted spyware. But I have had one computer that Ad-Aware free version would not fix. For it I had to use the spyware removal program mentioned next in the paragraph below.
Ad-Aware's WebsiteSPYBOT ANTI SPYWARE
Maybe an even better and Free spyware removal program is SpyBot. They only offer a free program and does not offer a "better" program version at a price
SpyBot's WebsiteEMCO FREE MALWARE REMOVER
This is a great freeware program for removing malware from you computer.
EMCO Malware RemoverYAHOO'S POPUP STOPPER
I see that yahoo.com has an anti-spyware and pop-up stopper program built-in to their toolbar. Its available as a free download from yahoo's website.
Yahoo's WebsiteI've found that sometimes when you have a virus or spyware on your computer that the anti-virus program can not remove because 'the file is in use', if I shutdown the computer and restart it in "Safe Mode" then the antivirus and spyware programs most of the time are able to remove the problem files.
If you have broadband with a constant connection to the Internet such as a DSL line or cable, I would highly recommend buying a firewall router box for around $50. There are several good brands, like Linksys, Netgear, D-Link, Microsoft and others.
In addition to the above, a few things you can do to help keep your computer running smooth are:
1. Run 'ScanDisk' at least once a month.
2. Run 'Defrag' at least once a month.
3. Run 'Disk Clean Up' at least once a month.
4. Remove 'Temporary Internet Files' at least once a month. (Found under Tools / Internet Options)And last but not least, backup, backup, backup! lol
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Below are some neat freeware programs I call "cant live without programs". Some I have been using a very long time, some not so long. But I will pass along those little freeware jems as I run across them below.
FREEZIP
Have you ever tried to download a program and found out the file was one of those blasted Zip files? Nothing can be more frustrating then trying to unzip a zipped file when you don't do it but once a year. When I started in computers, there was no Windows or nice programs and everything done at the DOS prompt, we had to unzip files all the time, so it is no task for me. But I can sympathize with the average PC user over the Zip file frustration. There are several programs out there to help unzip a file, some free, some you pay for. I have tried them all. But I found one that works flawlessly and easily for the non-computer guru. Its called FreeZip by Dariusz Stanislawek. And unlike a similar program with the same name by Braxio, this one does not have spyware hidden inside it.
Download Freezip HereRegSeeker
Sometimes we need to removed a certain spyware program from the Windows registry, and you can use regedit, but that can be a little scary. I have been using a freeware program called RegSeeker for a couple of years that works great for searching the registry for invalid links, remenants of programs no longer on the computer, etc. I have used RegSeeker on dozens of computers, dozens of times and have never regretted using the program.
Download RegSeeker HerePrint Desk Top
Remember the old PrintScreen key we could use in DOS? That sure was a nice feature and we all wish sometimes it was available to us under Windows. I ran across the neatest freeware called PrintDesktop that will allow us to do just that, print what we see on screen. Its even got a hotkey feature that makes it even easier.
Download PrintDesktop HereHunter Screen Capture
A completely is an easy-to-use screen capture tool that allows you to capture the content of your desktop or any window with the click of a button. You can also choose to only capture the client area or a selected rectangle - even icluding the mouse cursor (optional). The program comes with several additional options, you can auto-name the captured file, copy it to the clipboard, set a capture delay or use the Hotkey from F1 to F12 and the Print Screen key. Screenhunter supports BMP, GIF and JPG.
Download Screenhunter at Webattack.com It can be found in the FREEWARE section