** I have just got a new pc, can I use it on the
Internet?
No, No, No !!! A new pc with out antivirus, personal firewall and with not patches installed will get infected with in 30-360 sec. So before you connect to the Internet you must have a firewall installed and enabled. And before surfing the net you must patch you computer and install all the programs listed below.
** What can I do to clean my pc for virus & spyware and
to stay clean?
Install these programs:
Install a Personal firewall
XP enable the personal firewall
Windows 9X or ME, NT4 and W2K: Install only one of the following Zone alarm std, Kerio or Sysgate they are all free.
Install a antivirus program
Avast and antivir they are free for personal use, or you can buy an antivirus program.
I want to buy a antivirus program, what should I take in to my considerations.
How often do the company publish a new virus definitions?
Some American companies are very late with definitions for virus and worms that are published during the European business hours.
Do the offer support can you get free email/web support?
Do the have a good knowledgebase?
Ad-ware remove tools:
Spy sweeper (Great commercial software 30 days trial)
Ad-aware (Free for personal use)
Spybot (Freeware)
X-Cleaner (Freeware - Stand-alone scanner)
Both Ad-aware and spybot have a downloadable definition file, so you can scan you pc offline.
This 2 programs can remove adware, spybot can also prevent some spyware from being installed – if you use the immunize feature in Spybot the program this will restrict access to more than 2300 website that publish spyware, virus and other malicious code.
Ad-ware prevention tools:
Spyblaster and spyguard can help not to get ad-ware.
Patching
Install the latest service pack and patch you computer use windows update and office update on a regular basis at least every month. Microsoft publishes patches the 15 every month, so I would recommend that you check a week after; that would prevent you from installing a patch with a bug. Also check if the other programs you are using has been upgraded www.securityfocus.com and www.secunia.com are two very good places to start.
What can I do more?
Most virus, worms, spyware and other malicious code are written for Microsoft’s browser and e-mail programs. So using an other browser and email program would actually help you, not because there are fewer bugs in this programs but because people are more interested in finding bugs in Microsoft’s products because Microsoft are so big and so many people are using Microsoft IE. So if a hacker or virus maker could find a bug in IE he or she could hit 80-90% of all windows users.
Use a non Microsoft browser like Firefox or Mozilla
Install regprot, is a little program that monitor and warren you about all attempts to write to the registry.
Install this cookie and temp cleaner, can be set to automatic delete temp and cookies every 5 min - 4 hours after you choice.
** Help I got infected:
Check that you antivirus program is working and up-to-date, you can download this test virus "eicar test string"
If you know what virus, worm or Trojan, most antivirus company publish remove instructions and removable tools. Try the big ones like Symantec, Mcafee and F-secure just to mention a few.
If you know it is a trojan try this trojan remover
If you don’t know what virus you got, there are a lot of good online scanners under "security check". And scan you pc, with several scanners. You can also use this downloadable scanner
Remember to write down the virus name the different scanners detect the virus as – especial if the scanner can’t remove the virus/worm/Trojan.
If this don’t help you can try this:
If you have licensed a commercial antivirus program the antivirus company may offer limit free support. I know Symantec have free web support.
You can also try one of the many antispyware/virus support forums on the Internet. See the links under spyware tools.
Spyware:
Scan you computer with all 4 spyware programs liste above, if this don't work download hijackthis and post you log on one of the many spyware/virus forums.
Important: No antivirus program or spyware program detect absolute 100% of all infections, most antivirus programs catch about 97.5-99,7 according Virus Bulletin. The best antispyware programs catch according to www.digi.no November 2004 catch about 75%. And remember - antivirus, trojanscannes and spyware scanners are all reactive, that means that someone actually has to get infected and report it, before they can make the medicine (definition file) - if you have a commercial antivius program and you got infected especial with an old virus REPORT it. The best thing you can do are to scan you computer with an online scanner from time to time with an online scanner from an other antivirus manufacture.