Some Tech Advice

OK. This is not normally a tech blog but I do work in IT and have for my entire professional life. I just want to share some of my advice on avoiding yuckware/spyware/viruses etc. this is not how to clean it if you get it. Nowadays the crapware is so advanced you are almost better off backing up your files formatting and reinstalling if that happens. I know I can disinfect a PC, but its a lot of work even for a tech. Your normal tools (spybot, adaware, etc) are not gonna save you. Here is how to protect yourself. Its mostly common sense.

1) Thou shalt not use Internet Explorer except on sites that force you. This is the main one. IE is full of holes, targeted and supports a lot of iffy technology. I use Mozilla Firefox unless I hit a site that absolutely requires IE. Not only is Firefox a superior browser but since it doesnt support active X, you are less likely to get infected. In my opinion, casual web browsing (not downloading, hackers, etc) is how

2) Thou shalt not run Limewire, Grokster, Imesh or other P2P tool. Yeah you may want to download music and I dont advise the paid sites because music should be free, but the majority of files on these things are fake and virus infected. If you must do this, get a seperate computer that you turn off when not in use just for this. Now if the music plays the file is clean and you can move it to your real computer.

3) Thou shalt not install smiley faces. Cute addins smileys, weatherbugs, purple monkeys, are almost all spyware of a sort. I even consider Yahoo spyware but not of a dangerous sort. If its free, its most likely adware.

4) Thou shalt not believe a web site that says its spyware free. Everything says that now. It means nothing

5) Thou shalt not surf porn. If you must, do what you do for music downloads. Use a dedicated computer and expect an infection. If you have sex without a condom, youll get a disease. Same goes for your computer

6) Thou shalt not feel safe because you have "internet security software" installed. Norton, McAfee, Trend, they all are some protection but they have two inherit problems (other than making your computer run like crap). 1) They dont help you until you have a virus. 2) The line between viruses and legitimate ads has been blurred. Dont waste your time and money with Norton, McAffee, etc. Its like the dept of homeland security It will terribly inconvenience you to make you feel safe

7) Thou shalt not hide problems from your techie friend. If you get an error, write it down and admit what you were doing. Your techie friend cant read your mind and decipher imaginary errors

8) Thou shalt keep Windows up to date. You can at least patch the holes they know of

9) Thou shalt not let others use your computer without knowing what they are doing. My wife let a friend use her PC once and the first thing she did was open up IE and infect away

10) Thou shalt not assume you are being hacked. You arent. It just doesnt happen to normal people.

OK so what do you do. Run a good free antivirus like AVG or Avast. Ask a tech, dont google free anti virus. Majorgeeks.com has both. If you have an old computer, run AVG, If you have a fast PC, Avast is a little better.

Dont bother with firewall software unless you are on dialup. DSL and cable modems usually are firewalls. Software firewalls may make you feel safer, but they normally just annoy and again, they cant help unless its already on there. If you dont understnad them, dont bother with them.

Do run Adaware and Spybot and Cleanup or Crap Cleaner once a week or if anything weird happens.(or your friend/child) uses your PC.

Dont assume that because you dont go anywhere bad, you are safe. You arent.

Take it for what its worth. I will answer tech emails but I am not your personal tech. I cant work wonders and I cant help you disinfect your PC (successfully)