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Greetings from the LabTroll
www.labtroll.com
Have you ever tried to surf the web from your Windows computer and encountered uninvited popus, redirections, viruses, slow operation, or any manner of related annoyances? It may be time for some....
Tips from the LabTroll.
Note: The LabTroll recommends Linux-based operating systems. They can be test-driven without altering your current Windows OS by spinning-up any of a number of CD-Based 'Live' versions. Typical ones are LabTroll's favorite, PCLinuxOS (www.pclinuxos.com), Ubuntu (www.ubuntu.com), and Knoppix (www.knoppix.net).
Others can be found at http://distrowatch.com/
Now, for those of you who INSIST on using Windows XP:
Windows XP machines are inevitably the targets of malicious attacks. The tools to mitigate this are readily available. Everyone should use antivirus, antispyware, and firewall applications. LabTroll will address each in turn.
1. ANTIVIRUS. Use it. Keep it updated. Period.
There are no-cost antivirus applications available on the web. Labtroll's favorite is Clam Antivirus for Windows. It's released under the GPL (Free and Open Source), so it's free to download, install, use and distribute. It's located here: http://www.clamwin.com/content/view/18/46/ Once installed, make sure you update it and run a complete system scan. Note: Do not install until after you have un-installed any previous antivirus products. Running multiple antivirus products simultaneously on your system may cause undesirable results.
2. ANTISPYWARE. Use it. Keep it updated. Period.
Windows offers some antispyware products for free download. (Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool and/or Windows Defender). These products do not fare well in independent tests. LabTroll recommends using either Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html) or Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php)
Both are available for free download for personal use. Download one, update it, run a complete system scan, and repeat religiously once every week or so.
3. FIREWALL. The easiest thing to do here is to enable Windows Internet Connection Firewall. Instructions for use of Windows ICF are here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283673/
LabTroll's preference is to use an alternative firewall application. It's called ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp) Choose the bottom link labelled: 'I only want basic ZoneAlarm protection.' It is free of charge.
4. DO NOT USE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNT TO SURF THE WEB. Put another way, do not use an administrative account to surf the web. If your machine becomes the subject of a malicious attack while you're are logged in with an administrative account, your machine can be taken completely over by the attacker. Unless you are installing software or performing any other task which requires administrative privilege, use a 'limited' account (usually known as a 'user' account).
5. USE AN ALTERNATIVE WEB BROWSER. Internet Explorer is required by Windows Update for security updates and patches, but you can use an alternate web browser for most activities. LabTroll recommends using Mozilla Firefox, (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/) which can be downloaded free of charge. Using an alternative web browser can greatly reduce your risk to common threats. Download it. Use it. Keep it updated. Period.
Following the 5 tips above will go a long way to minimizing malicious activity on your machine.
Happy Computing,
LabTroll
As of: Jun 26, 2008
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