The bad guys are out to get you. They want to gain access to your computer and steal your information. Or they want to add your computer to their zombie networks.
But there is software that will help protect your machine. And it won’t cost you a dime.
Firewall
One of the best protections is a firewall. It will make your computer invisible on the Internet. The bad guys won’t see it. Good firewalls also block outgoing transmissions so malicious software won’t be able to phone home with your information.
The firewall in Microsoft’s Windows XP is inadequate. It does not block outbound transmissions. But you can use software firewalls ZoneAlarm, Outpost or GhostWall.
Unfortunately, there are few free firewalls for Windows Vista. So you may have to use Vista’s built-in version, or buy one. Vista’s built-in firewall will hide your computer. And theoretically, it can bar outbound transmissions if something gets on your computer. But it is very difficult to configure, so I don’t recommend it.
Anti-spyware
For some, spyware has become a bigger nuisance than viruses. It slows your computer down. It can also track browsing habits and show pop-up ads.
Some spyware programs include keyloggers. These nasty programs record keystrokes or take snapshots of your screen.
You need multiple anti-spyware programs. Each defines spyware differently. Thus, one program won’t capture all threats. Unlike other security programs, anti-spyware programs won’t conflict with one another. I use three.
Spybot-Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware, Windows Defender and SpywareBlaster are good anti-spyware programs. Ad-Aware isn’t compatible with Vista.
Antivirus
Viruses used to get a lot of attention. Hackers focused on them, hoping for fame. But now their motives have changed: They want to make money. So attacks have become more discreet.
That doesn’t mean you can check viruses off your list of security concerns. New viruses emerge every day. So antivirus software is another piece of the puzzle.
AVG, Avast and PC Tools AntiVirus are good, free antivirus programs. PC Tools is one of my radio show advertisers. Set the software to scan and update automatically.
Web protection
Malicious websites are proliferating. They spread spyware, Trojans and viruses. Some will download malware without any interaction. Others attack your machine with malicious scripts.
It helps to know if a site is safe before you visit it. McAfee SiteAdvisor and GeoTrust’s TrustWatch are two browser add-ins that will help.
With SiteAdvisor, you see a site’s general rating in Google’s search results. More information is a click away. Ratings cover everything from spam to downloads. You can even read complaints about a site’s business practices. TrustWatch offers similar tools.
You’ll find links to these programs at komando.com/news.
Contact Kim Komando at gnstech@gns.gannett.com.
