Am I safe? (Viruses/Spyware)
June 17, 2008
The most frequent call we get at Computer Rooter is from people who suspect they’ve been infected with a virus. Sometimes these infections are so severe that the repair takes hours and is thus quite expensive. There are precautions you can take however to avoid getting infected initially:
1) Make sure you have recent anti-virus software and that it is up to date. Don’t assume that just because you bought an anti-virus application 2 years ago that it is still doing its job. Check the program and make sure that it has up to date virus definitions.
2) Anti-virus alone is not enough, you should have spyware/malware protection as well. Good products include Sunbelt Counterspy or Webroot Spysweeper. For those on a budget, Microsoft offers a free anti-spyware application called Defender (although this is not as good as the paid products mentioned, it is at least some basic protection).
3) Change your surfing behavior. Anti-virus and Anti-spyware applications aren’t flawless. Even with the best software it is still possible (although far less likely) to get infected. Follow these steps when you’re online:
- Do not open email attachments from people you do not know.
- Do not install plugins from websites that state “you must install this software to properly view this web page” (unless you know exactly what it is you are downloading)
- Do not visit X-Rated or Serial #/Crack sites as these are prime candidates for distributing infections
- If you do come across an X-Rated site via a pop-up or other means, do not click on any links or bookmark it.
- Do not download files from peer to peer file sharing networks such as limewire, emule, etc… Infected files run rampant on these networks.
Windows XP – Service Pack 3
June 5, 2008
Microsoft releases services packs for windows once every few years. Service packs typically offer some minor new features but mostly they encompass all hot fixes since the last release. If you are a windows XP user we recommend that you download and install Microsoft’s latest (and last) service pack for Windows XP – Service Pack 3. For a complete list of changes click here, or follow this link to download the release. You may also update your computer with Windows Update (check your start menu items for this update tool).
Computer Tips
June 3, 2008
At Computer Rooter our goal is to not only solve your computer problems, but to educate you on problem prevention. Check here often for self-help tips! If you are familiar with RSS feeds, you may also subscribe to our blog by clicking here.
