Until it has happened to you, and you have spent countless hours trying to fix your computer after being infected by a seemingly harmless email, or hijacked because you clicked on an interesting ad, or had your computer simply stop responding for no apparent reason, you will not understand the frustration that such experiences can cause.

The team here at PC Help Forum has spent countless hours helping people who for one reason or another thought that they were OK with not thoroughly protecting their computers, and while helping people in trouble is our passion and joy, we would really like to save you the headache of infection from adware, spyware, and virus'. So take a couple of minutes to read this article, follow the instructions, and protect your computer, your family and your sanity. Then the next time you visit PC Help Forum you can ask for help with a fun question, like how do I format paragraphs in Word, or how can I make Excel keep track of my checkbook entries?

#10. Protect yourself with the proper software
At the VERY LEAST you should have Anti-Virus software, Anti-Spyware software and a firewall running on your computer, (remember only one of each). But that doesn't mean that you need to spend a huge amount of money to be protected. In fact there are many companies that create programs that purposefully have their ?free? scans show false positives just so you will spend money on their programs. More info on that here, PCHF Forum on False Positive Spyware Products Currently there are several free options for all of these types of software that are available. Remember that you never want more than one of each running on your PC at one time. Here is a list of the software the experts at PC Help Forum have found to be most reliable and effective which will link you to the sites for downloading them.

Anti Virus Software
grisoft AVG
Avast
Antivir

Anti Spyware
(You should have all of these installed on your computer, but only leave one running for protection)
Adaware SE Spybot S&D SpywareBlaster
*this one is a shield recommended by SpyBot S&D to keep things out
Spy Sweeper
* This is a 30 day free trial but the program is so good we've included it as an option

Firewalls
PCHF Article about Firewalls Zone AlarmSygateMy Tiny Firewall

#9 . Keep Your Protection Software Updated
Now that you've protected your computer, you have to keep it that way, there are an enormous number of terrible people out there who spend all of their time trying to figure out ways to get into other peoples computers, even yours. So, you have to update your computer protection software regularly. Run the scans regularly, and this is the most difficult part? REMEMBER TO DO IT! Luckily, the manufacturers of the good guy software realize that between getting to work and getting home and all of the other things that make up our lives, remembering can be hard if not impossible. So they have installed the ability to schedule both updates and scans, if you find remembering to do either of these tasks difficult, use the tools, that's what their there for. If you would like to read about some of the serious threats that are out there, check out the PCHF Security Watch Forum

#8 . Keep Your Other Software Updated
Yep, you thought you could just pick it up at the computer super store, plug it in and go. Well, they're easier than they used to be but you still have to make sure that you have all of the latest updates if you want your computer to run well and keep you happy. So, if you are running with a Windows Operating System, make sure that you either go to visit them regularly, (more often than the dentist please,) or set yourself up for Auto Updates which will take care of your computer updates for you. If you are going to do your updates without the help, every two weeks is a good rule of thumb. If you are running Linux you should also make sure to upgrade your PC regularly.

#7 . Personal Identity Theft, it really can happen to you
You've heard about it, you've read about it, you've seen it on the news, you've probably even seen the TV commercials, but you never thought it could happen to you. Well identity theft is real, a recent article published by Spyware Warrior talks about a huge identity theft ring that was just uncovered, they don't even know how many people have been affected. There are however, ways to protect yourself from your personal information getting into the wrong hands without having to give up shopping online at your favorite sites.

1.Never give out personal information on an unsecured website, a secured website will begin with https and have a small lock in the bottom right hand corner.

2.Do not respond to emails or pop-ups asking for personal information when you have not contacted them first. If you have any doubts, phone or write the company with the information.

#6 . Backing Up Your Computer
Yes, it's a pain, yes it's tedious, yes you will probably never need them , and OK, so keeping backups of your files such as documents, spreadsheets and photo's that you would not want to lose will not prevent something horrible from happening to your computer. However, if something does happen? having the backups changes your situation from being disastrous to just annoying. In fact it is so important that there are literally dozens of programs designed to help you do just that, keep a computer disaster to a mere annoyance. Here is a list that the PCHF experts use PCHF Backup and Restore Utilities , Backing up the files and registry on your computer is very important and isn't difficult to do, for more detailed information on exactly when and how read this Backing Up Your Computer

#5 . Email Friend and Foe
Email, how would we live without it? Have you ever seen the looks people get when they tell someone they don't have email? You can stay in touch with anyone anywhere in the world. You can send pictures, videos, ecards, and VIRUS'. Who can you blame for this outrageous attack on your personal computer? Who would be so horrid as to inflict such terrible torrents of trouble on your personal communiqu?? Well, YOU! You opened the attachment; you clicked on the email from someone you didn't know. Yep, you. Well, don't feel too bad, you're in good company, millions of people have been infected this way. There are a few simple guidelines you can follow to keep your emailing a fun experience.

1. If you have Outlook, use your Reading Pane, you can view your email without opening it.

2. Do not open an email attachment before scanning it with your Anti-virus software. (usually just right click on it and "scanning" is one of your options)

3. Do not respond to ?Virus Warning? emails, many times they are hoaxes which are designed to get you to damage your computer. They can also be a way of getting you to pass on a virus unsuspectingly.

4. Do not respond to emails asking for personal information, unless you have contacted them first.

5. If an email contains links to websites verify that it is really a company website and not just a collection front. If in doubt, contact the company.

6. There is no such thing as an email that can do ANYTHING because it was forwarded to a certain number of people, at best these are nothing more than chain letters, at worst, they can spread virus'. Delete them.


#4 . Protect your Browser and Your Sanity
(To Lock or Not to Lock, that is The Question, and Be Careful Where You Click)
There's just no getting around it, Internet Explorer has more holes than Swiss cheese. If you're going to use it, you have to protect yourself and your computer with Security. There are two schools of thought on protecting your PC; Locking-Down Internet Explorer and identifying the exact problem sites you want to avoid.

Locking Utilities

Enough is Enough
Enough is Enough is a utility that sets Internet Explorer's Security settings for you. You will have to change the settings for individual sites as some may not work properly with the restricted settings.

IE Lockdown
IE Lockdown, is actually a restore utility that stores Internet Explorer's Security settings so that they can be restored if they are changed by a hijacker or other Malware.


Bad Site Identifying Utilities
IE-SpyAd
SpySites
Both of these free utilities, use a list of bad or problem sites into Internet Explorer's Restricted Zone, keeping those sites from ever getting to your computer. These programs need to be updated to keep them working effectively.

In case all of this is just too much for you and your thinking about switching to an alternative browser, read this PCHF Guide to Alternative Browsers

Then there is the other part of protecting your browser and this is important for Alternative Browsers as well as IE. While you are surfing the net, playing games and looking for the best bargain, thousands of Pop-up Ads are stalking you, waiting for you to click on their page so they can jump out at you and attack! Pop-ups weren't always evil, they were originally designed to give information such as definitions, dialog box control explanations, or WhatsThis topics. But their meek beginnings have been corrupted by advertisers and hackers attempting to increase web traffic, or worse, plant a virus on your computer. Never click on a Pop-up that claims to know you have a virus and insists that you download a specific program, or a Pop-up that tells you it has a Security Warning about vulnerabilities on your computer these two types of Pop-ups are invariably viruses trying to install on your computer.

It's important that you use a Pop-Up blocker, and there are many available to you. If you have Windows XP SP2, you have a pretty good one already on your system, it is turned on by default when SP2 is installed. Here is a list of several other free Pop-up Blockers you can try;

Panicware Nview Earthlink

Experiment, find the one you like the best, just make sure you use them, you can always override the blocking software for particular sites you know are safe. As always, Better Safe than Sorry.


#3 . . Reading is Fundamental
(or the real reason the End User License Agreements are written so small)
Remember your mother telling you there's no such thing as a free lunch? Well that's still true. Possibly the most common source for Spyware and Ad ware infection is ?freeware?, you know like Grokster or KaZaA. You want the service, they want your information, so they bundle some unwanted third-party applications with their installation, and supposedly, in order to comply with Federal Regulations, they tell you about it, upfront, in the EULA, the End User License Agreement, and/or a Privacy Policy (that one makes you feel more secure). Yup, those pesky, incredibly longwinded, legalese spouting, teeny tiny font written boxes that pop up and demand that you accept them before you can install the software. By just clicking that little button, or checking that little box, you have effectively told that company that you want them to spy on you, or throw pop-up ads all over your computer.

?No!? you say? You didn't mean that? Then you are going to have to do your part in the war against these unwanted pests. Yes, you are going to have to either read, (and we don't mean scan). You will need to read them carefully and look for the tell-tale language that discloses the presence of Ad ware or Spyware. OR, yes, there is an alternative to reading EULAs, (due to the ever increasing presence of malicious third party bundles more companies are becoming prone to hiding the existence of Spyware and Ad-ware on their sites and keeping that information out of the EULA) you can Google to find out if a certain program you are going to install from a site has known bundled software. Either on your Google Toolbar, or at Google.com search for ? Program Name spy adware? and see what shows up.

Fortunately, you have alternatives, you can say ?NO!? to the secretive and deceptive behaviour of these sites. Almost every application which you want to use, that has included Ad-ware or Spyware, has a kinder, gentler cousin that does basically the same thing. You just don't have to take it anymore. If you want to support the folks doing things the right way, try these sites;


CleanSoftware The Open CD

Old Version The OSSWin Project

FreeWindows.dk Moochers

GNUWin II PricelessWare
Oh, and just one more thing, be aware of web sites that automatically start installing Spyware and Ad ware on your computer just because you visited the site. Many times the web site tries to tell you that it is a plug-in needed for you to view the web site properly, but most of the time they aren't. If you're computer starts acting strangely or slowly, soon after you visit a certain site, you may have been hit by uninvited Spyware or Adware.


#2 . Knowing When to Ask for Help
Which brings us to the next most important issue, KNOW WHEN TO GET HELP! Chances are if your computer is acting strangely or slowly it isn't going to get better by itself. Contrary to the doctor's instructions for getting over a virus, ?Drink lots of liquid, get lots of rest and let it run its course,? your computer is not going to get better; it is going to get worse. Lots of Spyware, Ad-ware, Virus', and other Malware open your computer to other infestations. The longer you wait, the worse it gets, until your computer becomes so infected you will have to spend countless hours and possibly have to wipe the whole thing and reinstall everything, (more countless hours). The tech team at PCHF would like to save you the aggravation caused by a heavily infected PC by recommending the following;

1.Be aware of changes in your computer's behavior, your mouse should not be running around the screen on its own, and your browser does not get to decide what page it wants to open at.

2.Check to see if you have an infection. (We know that you immediately started protecting your computer as soon as you started this article, now is the time to use your perfectly updated programs.) Here are the instructions PCHF Malware Check Instructions

3.If you are unsure about what you have found, contact an expert, PCHF has experts online around the clock to help you with whatever PC problems you are having.

4.There are other reasons that your computer can stop working efficiently, and there are some basic maintenance that you should do regularly to keep your computer running smoothly, more on that here, PCHF Computer Maintenance . But if you have done all of the maintenance, and your computer is still not running properly you should contact an expert, the tech team at PCHF has experts in every type of computer topic.

5.If you are a novice, or just uncomfortable doing computer fixes on your own, the Tech Team at PCHF can help , we've held thousands of hands through the simplest to the most difficult problems.


And the Number 1 way to protect your computer, ENJOY IT!!
You always take better care of something when you have fun with it (think about your first car). Learn how to enjoy your computer, if you have kids, have them teach you. If you just use your PC at home to answer emails and work from home, you are missing out on the amazing capabilities that this technology has given us. Go take a tour of the Louvre . Listen to your favorite music, or look at the stars . What ever you are interested in, there is someplace on the Web to learn more about it. Have fun.

See you in the forums
The PCHF Staff

Thanks to Eric Howe at Spyware Warrior for his permission to use ideas from their site
Thanks to Barney Matthews at Tuxs.org for his inspiration in writing this article