Newsletter Archives

June, 2006

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PC Tips & Tricks #6
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Last month, we explained how to ensure your anti-virus software is working as hard as possible to protect your PC from viruses. This month, we’ll help you tackle Spyware and Adware. (If you missed last month’s newsletter, please visit our archives at http://www.digitalfilerecovery.com/archives.html.)

What Is It?

Neither are always bad. For instance, some programs (i.e. Eudora mail client) will display advertisements in a section of the window instead of charging you a licence fee to use it. This can be a win-win situation since you get useful software for free and the author can stay in business and improve their software thanks to the advertisement revenues. Some add-ons (i.e. the Alexa toolbar) will collect information about what web sites you visit to improve search results and rank web sites by popularity. Both help you in the end.

However, spyware and adware’s bad reputation is a result of the programs that steal personal information like passwords and credit card details and those that mysteriously cause pornography sites to appear on your screen.

Find Out More
You can find out more about spyware and adware by visiting the following web sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adware
http://www.spywareinfo.com/

Tools
The most popular, free anti-spyware/adware programs are:
Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal
Spybot Search and Destroy

Microsoft has also decided to get involved by releasing Windows Defender. It already has over 25 million users and is also free. You can find out more and download a copy by visiting http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx.

You can find more programs by visiting http://www.download.com and searching on “spyware”.

What To Do
The rules to protect yourself from malicious spyware and adware are similar to those to protect you from viruses.
• Don’t open email attachments from people you don’t know.
• Be very careful when running programs from unknown sources. There are programs on the internet with hidden malicious code in them.
• Never run executable email attachments from unknown sources. Files with the extensions .exe, .com and .vbs can all contain potentially unsafe code.

Summary
What are the most important things to remember with anti-spyware/adware software?
1) Make sure it’s always up to date. (All good anti-spyware/adware software can be configured to automatically update themselves. Otherwise, just make sure you update it each time before scanning your system.)
2) Always have it running. Your anti-spyware/adware software should be running in the background at all times to ensure that your PC has the best chance of spotting & blocking malicious code as soon as your PC is exposed to it.
3) Scan regularly. Most anti-spyware/adware programs will allow you to schedule a system scan for spyware & adware. If you don’t set up an automated task, make sure you perform a manual scan regularly – atleast once a month, preferably more often.)

Next Month
That gives you the third and final step in protecting your PC. So far this year, we’ve given you the information and the tools required (mostly for free) to keep your PC running securely & efficiently automatically.

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