UPDATED 27 AUG 2005 0617

First, make sure your version of windows is up to date by visiting http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com if you have a legit license. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ONE, PURCHASE ONE OR BUY A NEW PC WITH WINDOWS PRELOADED.

Second, install Microsoft Anti Spyware. I have had problems with Spybot Search and Destroy a long time ago, so I don't use it. I used Giant Anti Spyware, which was before Microsoft bought out Giant.
URL: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx

Third, install a virus scanner. There are free ones, so theres no excuse for not having one.

AVG - www.grisoft.com - used in the past, is a very good scanner with free updates.

ClamWin - www.clamwin.com - I recommend this because clamscan is a very good UNIX virus scanner (for mailservers/webhosting), and this is a port to the Windows platform. Free updates.

HouseCall - http://housecall.trendmicro.com - Has anti-virus, security scan and spyware scan, plus it's an online scanner, so you can run a scan whenever you want, and don't have to install any software.

Fourth, do not trust executables (programs, games, etc.) on p2p. A virus spreads by infecting other executables, which could be in that user's shared folders. You download and install the program, you get yourself infected. Also, I have heard rumors that people are making hacked versions of software for p2p that will take over people's computers.

Don't believe me, the software was FlashFXP and I have seen an infected version of Trillian floating around.

What benefit does a person have sharing software with you. He has more to gain by inserting a backdoor/virus/trojan, whatever on your computer. Plus, if it says the program is virus free, the file still might be infected by an unknown backdoor/virus/trojan. People who write such programs regularly change their versions to get around virus scanner detection.

Only trust freeware, shareware, and commercial programs from their respected websites and from authentic third-party websites like www.download.com or www.tucows.com

Fifth, stop using Internet Explorer.
Use Opera www.opera.com, Firefox www.getfirefox.com, or Mozilla www.mozilla.org. - that will stop a lost of the spyware from installing from the Internet, because spyware seems to be easier for people to download on Internet Explorer by ActiveX or "drive-by" downloading.

"Drive-by" downloading is when you are prompted to download and install something before you can "view" some material. This is popular on lyric pages, more "grey" areas on the Internet, and on porn sites. These "viewers" are normally spyware or dialers, which can reconfigure your dialup to dial expensive overseas porn which you find out by a large phone bill.

If you decide to use Internet Explorer (for whatever reason), please install BHODemon - http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3550.html

BHOs are browser help objects, which is an Internet Explorer only feature *cough*mistake*cough* that allows something like Google Toolbar, Yahoo Toolbar, etc. to install in Internet Explorer to help you browse. Spybot Search and Destroy plus Adobe Acrobot Reader are both examples of legit BHOs. Bad BHOs can be keyloggers, password stealers, generate popups, etc. generally nasty stuff. BHODemon takes care of it.


TRY THIS FOR MAXIMUM PROTECTION ONLINE


Download Privoxy Here. Privoxy is a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for protecting privacy, modifying web page content, managing cookies, controlling access, and removing ads, banners, pop-ups and other obnoxious Internet junk. Privoxy has a very flexible configuration and can be customized to suit individual needs and tastes. Privoxy has application for both stand-alone systems and multi-user networks.


Privoxy is easy to install. Double-click the exe and let the setup run. When you are done, configure your web browser to connect to localhost and port 8118 as your proxy server.

It makes the Internet run so much smoother. The greatest thing about Privoxy is that it knows when websites have IE exploits on them to attempt to mess with your computer, and Privoxy will prevent you from going to that site. However, you can ignore Privoxy and go anyway if you're on Firefox/Mozilla/Opera.


moderator: please make this thread sticky.