Computer & Internet Security 101 for Windows Users

– Computer How to Series

Virus Protection - Anti-Virus Software

Every computer needs to have an effective up-to-date anti-virus software program installed such as: MacAfee , Symantect Norton or Microsoft Security Essentials

There are plenty of free anti-virus software out there that almost as good as the fee based ones.  One that stands out is:

Avira – A German Computer Security Company

Spyware Protection – Anti-Spyware Software

Every computer needs to have an effective up-to-date anti-spyware software program installed such as:

Macafee anti-spyware

Navarre Webroot Spy Sweeper,

Ad-Aware,

Microsoft Defender,

Spybot,

Here’s an article about these top 5 programs:

The Top 5 Anti-Spyware Programs, 2010

I personally use the one made by CA, and bundled with Yahoo Toolbar, which is pretty good too: http://download.cnet.com/Yahoo-Toolbar-with-Anti-Spyware/3000-12512_4-10310984.html

Internet Security Scan for Your Computers

These programs could find out the vulnerabilities that your computer has.

Symantec Security Check

http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=ESFOLLNKSGGNOLLFWVL

You could download it or just scan your computer instantly online.

I chose:

-       Security Scan (online) by click the Security Scan “start” on the left

It will start to scan your computer

-       You need to say yes to install a couple of add-ons or active x on the menu bar (just follow the instruction)

In the end, it will show you a result report

-       Expend into the detail page

I normally print the detailed result page into a PDF file and save the file into My Documents for a record.

Here’s the instruction on how to install a free PDF writer

Here’s a list for the top Internet Security software:

Top Internet Security Suites

Following is a very good article about the cyber security risks:

The Top Cyber Security Risks

http://www.sans.org/top-cyber-security-risks/#best-practices

The following security scan software is very good.  You could install it on your computer and scan your computer periodically.

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.1.1

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b1e76bbe-71df-41e8-8b52-c871d012ba78&displaylang=en

Download this x86 version if your Windows OS is a 32 bit version:

MBSASetup-x86-EN.msi

Download this x64 version if your Windows OS is a 64 bit version:

MBSASetup-x64-EN.msi

The best free security scan that I like is the following one:

ShieldsUP – made by Steve Gibson

It’s entre in the wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shields_Up

https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

You’d better to run all five scans:

-       File Sharing

-       Common Ports

-       All Service Ports

-       Messenger Spam

-       Browser Headers