PC Setup


You just got a new PC and now you want to use it without having it infected with virus and spyware. There is plenty of free software available to help you with this. Contained on this web page is a list of software that helps protects your PC and adds features that may be missing from your PC. The software listed is free for personnel use unless otherwise stated.






Protecting your PC

Protecting your PC from virus and spyware involves a layered approach. This involves using a variety of software that protects your PC using a variety of means. Viruses and spyware continue to evolve finding new ways to infect your PC. This makes it very difficult for one peace of software to prevent all infections. So using a variety of software helps insure more areas are protected on your PC.

In addition, if your PC does become infected it might take trying several different programs before the parasite is successfully removed. The software listed below is used in protecting your PC from Virus's, Spyware, and other nasties.


AntiVirus


Note: You should only have one virus scanner installed on a PC. Uninstall any other virus scanners before installing another one, but wait to uninstall it until you successfully downloaded the new anti-virus scanner and scanned it for viruses. 
  • AVG anti virus (free) (recommended)- Provides anti virus scanner, anti spyware scanner, and checks search results for safe site. Includes schedule automatic update and daily scan. 
  • Avast anti virus (free non-commercial use) (alternate choice) - Has many of the same features as AVG. It provides virus, spyware, and rootkit protection but no builtin system scan scheduler. Every year you need to register again to keep getting updates.
  • Microsoft Security Essential (Free) (alternate choice) Supports Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Provides protection against viruses and spyware and replaces Windows Defender. This is very new (2009-09-28) and I have not tried it.

FireWall

  • Zone Alarm (free edition) has free version of their highly recommended firewall. While it does not have all the features and protection of the purchased version it is still considered better than the firewall included with the Windows OS. 

    Window's Firewall (Windows XP) only monitors incoming connections. Zone Alarms firewall monitors both incoming and outgoing connections. This allows you to block applications such as spyware and viruses from accessing the Internet. This application provides help in determining if an application should be allows access. This firewall is consider safer in Windows Vista and Windows 7. For additinal information on using this fireall see Secure XP.

Spyware Protection

Note: For spyware protection, you can have multiple scanners.

  • Spyware Blaster (freeware) (recommended) This tool protects your PC by blocking sites and updating your browsers settings to make them more secure. Recommend you enable all blocks. Then check for an update every 6 months.

    For a small contribution you get automatic updating of this tool.

  • Windows Defender (free) (recommended) - available from Microsoft. It actively protects your PC while cruising the Internet. It is free for Windows XP and is included with Windows Vista.

  • Microsoft Security Essential (Free) (alternate choice) Supports Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Provides protection against viruses and spyware and replaces Windows Defender. This is very new (2009-09-28) and I have not tried it.

  • Firefox (free) and Opera (free) are great alternate browsers to Internet Explorer providing additional protection from spyware.

Monitor System Setup

  • WinPatrol (free) (recommended) monitors for changes in auto startup programs. Spyware and many other products love having their programs loaded when starting up windows. This tool notifies you when a new program is being added to the windows startup and allows you to prevent.

    Some tools such as RealPlayer keep adding itself to the startup. This tool can disable it afterwards and then it will remain disabled until you set it otherwise.

Additional Sources

Fixing Virus Infections


If you suspect your PC has been infected with a virus and are unable to install one the above Anti-virus software, you can try some of these virus cleanup tools. Their purposes is to cleanup existing issues but for ongoing protection look at other tools in this page.

  • Housecall (free) - Trend Micro - Requires Internet access - Scan and fixes your PC for viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware. Trend Micro offers a variety of tools to clean up your PC.

  • Sysclean (free, download) - Trend Micro - Uses local copy of pattern file used to scan and fixes viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware. 

  • McAfee AVERT Stinger (Free, Portable)  - Stinger is a stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses.  

  • Panda Online Scanner (Free) - Free registration required to clean infection.

  • List of Portable Anti-virus scanners

Fixing Spyware Infections


If you suspect your PC has been infected with spyware and after running full system scan using your anti-virus scanner and Windows Defender, you can use the following software to help detect and remove the spyware.

  • Search & Destroy (free) - use this tool to scan and remove the spyware. The latest release has a rootkit detector.

    Setup options:

    • Use Internet Explorer Protection (SDHelper) - decline
    • Use system settings protection (Tea Timer) - decline

    This scanner includes an immunization option that works similar to Spyware Blaster. It updates your browser (IE, FireFox, Opera) making it more secure. Unfortunately, it is overly aggressive in identifying sites for restricted access. So if you have trouble accessing some site or using some of their features, you will need to remove the sites from you browser's restricted list or disable this tools immunization option.

  • Ad-aware (free) - Use this tool to scan and remove any spyware on your PC.  You can use multiple SPYWARE scanning and removal tools when trying to cleanup SPYWARE on your PC.

  • Bazooka Adware & Spyware Scanner (free) This small tool provides a very quick scan that finds spyware other scanners miss.

  • Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (free version). This program provides a scanner and remover.  It provides two  types of scans quick and very thorough. I used the quick scan and it caught some stuff missed by the others. What I liked most was it skipped all the cookies. 
  • hijackthis (free) is for advance users and is often consider the last chance in removing spyware from your PC. It performs a indepth scan of your PC creating a report that you can post to a  dedicated forum for help in identifying and removing spyware.
    Other Forums you can post to:

  • Yahoo Toolbar (free) - includes a spyware scanner and other tools.

  • Spyware Doctor (free edition) has a free starter edition available at VNUNET.COM and from Google Pack.  This tool is very intrusive and I have uninstalled it. Currently, I only install it to fix spyware issues as a last resort.

Cleaning Your PC

  • CCleaner (free) (recommended) - used for cleaning up files and can be used for cleaning the  registry.  I have found it effective in cleaning the registry of poorly uninstalled programs.

  • EasyCleaner (free) - used for Registry Cleaning. It can be used for file cleanups but I use CCleaner for that.

Compressed File Tools

  • IZArc (free) (recommended) - is a great free compression tool that support many file types.  I use IZArc over 7-Zip because because it is slightly faster. There is also a portable (IZArc2Go) version so you don't need to install it. Has super fast option that changes a compressed file size from 660 mb to 716 mb but reduces the time by 50%.

  • 7-Zip (free) (alternate choice) - a good free compression tool for PC's that don't already have one. Do not compress files using 7z archive format select ZIP instead.

  • Universal Extract (free) (recommended) - extract all types of compressed files including installation files.

IE Toolbars

  • Google or Yahoo toolbars maybe added to Internet Explorer. It is recommended you limit the number of toolbars on your browser. Only choose one of these toolbars. They can prevent pop-ups and provide quick access to either search engine. Yahoo is great if you have a Yahoo e-mail account and you want another spyware scanner tool.

    There are many different toolbars available but try to limit your browser it to one or two.

Helpful Guides/Tips



<< Top >>

Last Updated:Monday, 23-Nov-2009 20:31:20 CET