Patrick
Wed May 24 23:39:31 CDT 2006
"Marvel" <marvel.smith@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ujx5EesfGHA.2188@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
> "Imhotep" <imhotep@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:o7ydnb2lI4LXBO_ZnZ2dnUVZ_smdnZ2d@adelphia.com...
>> Marvel wrote:
>>
>>> I was at work and checked my e-mail on my laptop there was a new mail
>>> message to me from my home computers hard drive (the home computer was
>>> on,
>>> no one was home) the subject line read short joke and the text of the
>>> message read check it out and it had half of my password, next there
>>> was
>>> a hyperlink to a site.
>>> I dont know where to start protecting
>>
>>
>> ...think about getting a Mac...
> Actually I had, what are the advantages?
>
Fewer people are using them, so fewer viruses and malware are aimed at them.
But, you also want to look at the disadvantages as well. Such as, some of
the programs that you like to (or have to) use aren't going to be
compatible. There's also the cost issue.
I've harped on Imhotep about macs in other posts, but I'll refrain from it
here. Until and even if you decide to buy a Mac, you need to make sure that
your Windows computer is updated completely, and hardened as much as
possible (security-wise). I would look to what David Lipman, Malke,
Panda_Man and a few others (I don't want to go through all of the posts in
the newsgroup to name everyone) suggest-- before you do something drastic as
buying a different computer.
Some of the steps will include (but not limited to):
1. After you've successfully cleaned your computer of any
spyware/viruses/malware, make sure you have a good antivirus solution.
While NO ONE can say for certain which antivirus is the best, I think we'll
all agree that you need real-time protection and that it needs to be allowed
to update whenever it needs to.
2. At a minimum, every second Tuesday of each month, allow Automatic
Updates to get the latest patches from Microsoft. I would actually say
"Allow Automatic Updates to get the latest patches from Microsoft whenever
they are released", but at a minimum do it every month on "Patch Tuesday."
3. Make sure you have a good firewall. Like the Antivirus step, no one
here can say "This firewall is the best." But we'll all agree that it's
only as effective as you let it be. You need to allow it to check for
updates (Yes, Firewalls get updated also). And, you need to use common
sense when it comes to allowing programs access. If it's not one that
you've heard of, you need to research the program a little BEFORE you grant
or block it.
4. As far as antispyware goes, IMHO, you want to have at least two or three
different ones installed (Note, I said Installed and not running). Only one
of them should be constantly running (real time protection or Resident
protection). The others should be used on a periodic basis to back the main
one up. We all have our favorites. Personally, I use (and recommend)
Windows Defender, Lavasoft's Ad-Aware, SpyBot S&D, and Sunbelt's CounterSpy.
Others will say they don't like Windows Defender, because it's in beta.
That's why I back it up with at least one or two of the others.
There are a lot of other things that I haven't mentioned. I believe David
or Shenan posts something like 13 tips that you should follow. The most
important thing is use common sense. Be careful where you surf, and don't
open suspicious e-mails (or attachments).
HTH a little bit.
--
Patrick Dickey
Smile... Someone out there cares deeply for you.
http://www.pats-computer-solutions.com
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
http://update.microsoft.com