Spyware and Adware

February 1, 2004

Sorry I skipped last month, things were just too busy around here. Hopefully I will be able to stay on top of things a little better this year! Each day things seem to get a little easier as Matt gets older and better able to entertain himself - without the help of Mom. Things get quite interesting around here when I have to rebuild computers, as he dearly loves to lend a hand. One of these days he's going to turn the tables on me when I jokingly tell him to go take the hard drive out of his computer!

I'm still seeing a lot of computers that are misbehaving because of SPYWARE. I know I've written about it before, but I'll say it again. In addition to running an updated anti-virus program, you also need to download two spyware detection programs and check your system from time to time to keep them clean. Both of these programs are FREE. The first is called AdAware, which you can download here:

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

The second one is called SpyBot Search & Destroy. You can download it here:

http://www.safer-networking.org/

Be sure to check for updates each time you run them. If you find very little in the way of spyware the first time you run them, then you won't need to run them very often, unless the usage of your computer changes. Most spyware comes from "free" software that you download and use. These programs are free to the user because the load ad banners on your system. Unfortunately, many of the programs that generate these ads also track your use of the internet, and can also be used by hackers to wreak havoc on your system, or on someone else's by way of yours.

A few more things that I find I always need to repeat:

BACKUP anything that you would cry over if you lost it! {Don't know how? Schedule some time for a lesson!}

Run scandisk and defrag at least on a monthly basis; run scandisk first, then run defrag. If you are using XP, you do not need to run scandisk, but you do still need to run defrag.

Don't open any attachments that you weren't expecting! If you think it might be legit, but didn't expect it, ask the sender about it before you open it!

If you use Outlook Express, switch to Eudora. If you don't want to give up Outlook Express, then at the very least make sure you are not using the Preview Pane.

Make sure your antivirus software is renewed every year, and that it is updating it's data files every day. If you don't have an antivirus program, well, I bet you will after you have to call me to come fix virus-laden computer!

If you have Windows XP, make sure it is set to check for updates daily, and install them whenever it says they are available. Turn on the firewall that comes with XP.

That's it for this month. I hope everyone is staying warm this winter. Just remember, we have less than two months before spring arrives!!!

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