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April 2, 2008
Today’s post is one that all Windows users should read (we would love to have all that traffic :-) ). If you want to keep Windows running in tip top condition, you need to take some precautions. Since Windows has a problems with spy-ware and viruses, you will need to have some programs in your arsenal to keep everything running smoothly. Lastly, it is always a good idea to fix problems in the registry as well as clear temporary files.
Whenever I install Windows on a computer, whether it is for me or for a friend, one of the first things I do is download and install the following programs.
1) AVG Anti-virus Free Edition – is one of the best FREE anti-virus programs I have ever used. I hate using some of those name brand programs, since all they seem to do is slow down your computer. If you think free anti-virus programs don’t provide the same protection as paid versions, you haven’t tried AVG Free Edition yet. AVG Free Edition has everything most users look for in an anti-virus program. For me, the biggest advantages are it is FREE and it protects my computer without slowing it down. Another great feature is AVG will automatically update with the latest detection information. AVG Free gives you options to scan any part of your computer as well as a complete scan that scans the whole system. If a virus is detected, you have the options to quarantine the item, try and heal the item, or simply delete it. You can set AVG to run in the background on boot-up so you wont forget to scan regularly. I however do not do this in fear that it will bog down my system. All-in-all, this program is top-notch and definitely worth a download, especially if the subscription on your name brand software has run out.
For more FREE products from the makers of AVG Anti-virus Free Edition, visit their website.
Another great FREE anti-virus program I recommend is AVAST Anti-virus, which has a 64bit version for FREE as well.
If you are afraid of using free anti-virus programs, look at the folowing articles.
- Free or Paid Antivirus, Any Difference?
- Free Antivirus Comparision
- How Good Are Free Security Programs
2) Spybot Search and Destroy – is a great FREE program to remove spyware. This is another program that merely protects your computer without slowing things down. Full system scans only take about 5-15 minutes depending on your system and what else is running at the time of the test. Spybot-S&D provides FREE updates to help detect new threats. However, the update is not automatic, you have to ask Spybot to check for updates. Spybot has a couple great features including a “Tea Timer” that monitors Windows and alerts you when a program is trying to edit your system. This can become very annoying when it notifies you every 30 seconds. However, this can be very helpful when trying to diagnose what program is causing your problem.
For more information on Spybot-S&D feature as well as a getting started tutorial visit their website.
3) HijackThis – is a FREE advanced tool for scanning and removing spyware. When you run HijackThis, it will scan your registry and hard drive and return a log of settings that may have been changed by spyware, malware or other unwanted programs. WARNING- this program is recommended for advanced users only. If you are unsure how to use the program or the meaning of the results, I suggest you post your log file on a support forum, where someone can suggest which entries to remove. Removing the wrong entries could render your computer unusable.
4) CrapCleaner – is a FREE system optimization and privacy tool. CCleaner removes temporary files allowing your computer to run faster, as well as free up hard drive space. CCleaner has the ability to remove temporary files created by Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Windows Media Player, MS Office, Nero and many more. It also erases your online activity such as your Internet history. With CCleaner, you can even repair your registry. One of the best features of this software is it allows you to backup your registry before making any changes to it.
For more information of CrapCleaner, take a look at Michael’s post “How to use CCleaner“.
Now its time to hear from you. What do you use to protect your computer from threats? Let us know in the comments!
Images taken from the following website respectively:
http://www.mgcr.com/images/AVG_Antivirus_System_logo.jpg
http://www.filehippo.com
http://www.moradnet.ca/images/SpybotSD_Logo.jpg
http://tweakers.net/ext/i/1183761414.jpg
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://ccleaner.com
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