I have modest nerd credentials. I don't claim to be an expert or anything like that. But, for many, I'm their go-to guy when they have computer issues. While I'm not a professional nerd, I have a pretty good track record when it comes to keeping my machine clear of viruses. I've been online since 1993 and have yet to have a machine get over-run. Add to that the fact that I'm so cheap that I've never paid for a single anti-virus program, and I think I just might have the right formula.
So, here are some things to do to help your machine work better...
Anti-Virus
You MUST have an anti-virus program. There is absolutely no reason to pay for it, though, so don't sweat it. If you're not absolutely sure you have anti-virus, then you probably don't. I have been using AVG's free program for years, and I love it.
To get it, go to this site:
CNet's Secure Windows Software Site
There's a search bar at the top. Type in "AVG Free."
Download that bugger. In order for it to work, you have to actually use it, though. After it downloads, follow the instructions on installing it. Open the program and study it. Learn to use it. Make sure you have it set up to update itself and scan your computer on at least a weekly basis. The advanced settings to do this are under the Tools tab.
:::EDIT:::
AVG's free edition is offered for free because they hope you'll like it so much you buy their other goods. When using this program, you will see advertisements asking you to upgrade to a "better" version. DO NOT DO IT! Don't even accept the trial. There's nothing wrong with it, but if you end up failing to pay for the full version after the trial expires, the program will no longer work! I recently discovered that a friend who had followed my advice inadvertently did this and went about two months with NO anti-virus program running on their computer!
Windows Update
Almost as important as an anti-virus program is making sure your computer's operating system is up to date. Microsoft issues updates to Windows on an ongoing basis so that holes in the program that hackers have found can be patched. Not updating Windows is like leaving your door unlocked in the ghetto. The process is slightly different on different versions of Windows. The easiest way is to simply go to Microsoft's website and follow the directions. Here's the web address:
Microsoft's Windows Update Page
Email
You probably already know that email is one of the biggest risks to getting viruses and other nasty stuff on your computer. There's an easy way to stop that. Use a web-based email service. These are free and inherently safer for your PC than the email program (like Outlook) that you may be using. The reason is simple. With Outlook, when you check your email, it and its attachments are downloaded onto your PC. If there's something nasty in it, it's already on your PC just waiting for you to open it. With web-based email, the email and any attachments stay on the internet and you view it just like you would a website. In order to get a virus from a web-based email service, you have to intentionally download the file to your computer. Even then, you'll be asked if you're sure, and the files are generally scanned by the email service provider in advance to hunt for viruses.
They're super easy to use and, unlike normal email, are available to you from any device with an internet connection, not just your home PC. To get them, go to any of these links and sign up for a free account.
gmail.com
yahoo.com
hotmail.com
Web Browsers
Most people, whether they know it or not, use a program called Internet Explorer to get on the Internet. Internet Explorer is a fine program with one glaring problem. It is the world's most used Internet browser. As a result, every hacker interested in causing you grief knows the most likely way to get his or her virus onto your computer is to try to find weaknesses with Internet Explorer. A good way to simply avoid this problem is to just not use it. There are some very good alternatives out there that you may actually like better. Follow one or more of these links and download the browsers offered there. I actually use five different browsers for different reasons (we won't get into the reasons, here.)
www.google.com/chrome
www.opera.com/browser
www.mozilla.org
Finally, here are a few simple tips or rules to follow when browsing the Internet to keep your machine clean.
Never
Download any type of toolbar for your browser. They're junk and usually infested with nasty stuff. They may even work as advertised. While they're doing that, they're also collecting data about you and transmitting it to the bad guys.
NEVER
Download any coupon printing programs. Yes, there are legitimate reasons for these to exist, but just like the toolbars, they're generally junk... baiting you with the promise of great coupons while looting your bank account of every penny you have.
NEVER
Download anything if you're not 100% sure where it came from. Even if you get an email from a friend with an attachment, don't download it unless your friend told you the attachment was coming beforehand or in a SEPARATE email. Once someone's email account gets hacked, the first thing the hacker does is send out emails to all that person's friends with attachments full of viruses or bogus links.
If you must download...
Download from this site:
download.com
That's the simple stuff. There's much more you can look into if you're looking for even more security. For example, look into Web of Trust to warn you of sketchy websites. Use Google.com or Bing.com instead of your browser's address bar when entering a website's address. The bad guys love to take advantage of typos that Bing and Google will catch.
You can also get a Spyware/Malware program like MalwareBytes. I didn't include a link, because these programs can actually be quite dangerous to use by a non-techy minded person. Some of my techy friends might disagree with me and insist it be included on any machine, but it's quite easy to completely disable your system with one in the right situation. If you do get Malwarebytes or something like it, learn how to use it and be very careful when making changes.
That's it, for now. I welcome any comments or suggestions and will adjust this post as necessary.
Hope this helps!
