I'm scared!

[Wulf190]

Y a know I'm scared to connect to the internet with my new computer. I just don't like the idea of getting spyware, trojans, or viri on my new system. Is this a serious problem I have?

[Johann Steve]

Hi Wulf 190.. If you look for protection against the spyware don`t use Internet explorer is like an invitation in gold for the viruses;trojans,spyware,malware.. use mozila firefox is a great web explorer with a lot of security options. for more information go to:

http://www.mozilla.org/ (free explorer)

and if you want an excellent tool for remove spyware go to:

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ ( look for Ad-aware..free programm for remove spyware)

other tools that can mantain your PC Clean are:

http://diskcleaner.robertenfemke.nl/ (disk cleaner excellent free programm; I highly recommend this program)

http://www.macecraft.com/ (home of Regsupreme Pro, excellent tool for clean the registry)

http://www.ursoftware.com/ (check for a programm called "your uninstaller" )

Other solutions are:

-Don`t look porn
-Avoid to download exploration bars (except google and Msn toolbars)
-Avoid to download Free emoticons,icons,screensavers,cursors,wallpapers etc.(you can download some of these for free but the quality of the webstite is important for example if you want a good site for download good wallpapers go to:http://www.webshots.com/).
-avoid to download free weather programms.
-keep in mind that SOME free programms can have spyware.
-keep your antivirus updated.
-Be carefull with the programs for share files or download MP3 (Kazza,bearshare,etc)
you can use them but you need a good antivirus.
-Read some things about computers,software and security on the internet.

About your question:yes the spyware can be a great problem but this depends of the class of spyware that is on your PC, exists a lot of spyware programs and each one have their own characteristics:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware

http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/security/spyware/

http://www.pcpitstop.com/spycheck/default.asp

Good Luck!!:icon29::icon29:

[Wulf190]

Well what I currenty have on my system is this. Nvidia firewall, Norton AV and system works. I use both Sby Bot S&D and Adware, I wish the M$ spydetector were better. I use it on the family system it it never seems to find anything. I also use firefox on my machine.

I don't use P2P programs, not really interested in porn. And the only places that I download aircraft, the majority of what I do download, from are sim-outhouse, simviation (I know that had spyware), avsim, and flightsim.

I just want to be invisible to hakers and the other internet ilk.

[Stratobat]

Also visit http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/ and pick up SpywareBlaster ;)

Regards,
Stratobat

[johnh_049]

A good firewall helps too. i use ZoneAlarm, and every testing site i've visited shows my computer as invisible...
www.zonelabs.com

[SdC]

also use an up-to-date email client, and configure Windows to install updates automatically.