Search results matching tags 'Vista' and 'Spyware'

Et Tu, AVG?

mikehall — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Version 8.0 Is NOT compatible with SpywareBlaster or Spybot 'immunize' features. The AVG people are well aware of this and sent this e-mail to a user in response to problems encountered, suggesting the following actions..

Dear Sir/Madam,

According to your e-mail, we would like to inform you with that, the situation, which you have described is most probably really caused by using SpywareBlaster security application on your computer, which contains "immunize" feature. This feature is causing that, it will overwrite mentioned ActiveX registry entries by it's own values to avoid some spyware to overwrite these registry keys by malicious
values.

However, because the SpywareBlaster is overwriting the same registry values as malware, it is very hard to recognize, which values are overwritten by SpywareBlaster and which by real malware, therefore these registry entries are detected as infected. Generally (not even by our company), the use of more than one security system under the same operating system is NOT recommended because of possible conflict in their main parts, usually in the resident scanning system, etc. It could, unfortunately, cause unexpected failures to your system.

The situation, which you have described is caused by incompatibility between AVG and SpywareBlaster security application on your computer and we would like to recommend you to uninstall SpywareBlaster and all the other security applications from your computer (if you are using any) to avoid possible conflict situations between AVG and the other software.

We would like to inform you with that, if you will use AVG Anti-Virus network edition 8.0 on your computers and if it will be fully updated, then your computer will be protected against all of the latest viruses, spyware, Trojan horses and the other malware.

For more information about the situation, which you have described, we would like to recommend you to visit our FAQ on the following web page: http://www.avg.com/ww.faq.num-1198#faq_1198

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding, it is appreciated. Answers to the most common questions can be found here as well:
http://www.avg.com/faq/

Best regards,
David Streichl
AVG Technical Support

In fairness to AVG, I believe that SpywareBlaster and Spybot 'suggest' that other spyware detection programs can be responsible for problems when run alongside the competition. Certainly, this is the case when running more that one anti-virus solution.

The problem facing each and every computer user is simple enough. Who or what can be trusted to give 'full' protection against every exploit, past, present and future? We have all gotten so used to having to run multiple spyware solutions, and having to decide to scrap all but one is a difficult decision.

For me, the worst aspect is that AVG is slowly mutating from a small, nifty anti-virus solution into an invasive gargantuan a la Norton and McAfee.

Check My Sidebar For New Links To Secure Your PC

dgosling — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Please have a look at the new links I have added to the sidebar of my blog, to decide if the websites and programs may be useful to you, my readers.I am hopeful that these quick links to online information will help you keep your computers safe and healthy:

There is a new section “News” where I have added several links including my favourite site to help children surf safely on the internet. The theme and title are “Be Web Aware” and you can rely on it for safe topics and links appealing to children. There are many sites online that are setup to attract children and teenagers that you should be aware of. Know what your children are finding on the internet. Drop by and check it out, Web Aware will help your child/children remain safe online. Every computer a child uses should have parental controls activated, as there are many inappropriate websites that children find when they are surfing. If you have Windows XP on your system you can find Parental Control software that can be downloaded and installed at . If you have Windows Vista there are built-in Parental Controls for you to use. There are criminals on the internet looking for children they can exploit and you need to know if your child/children have come in contact with them, before they are exploited by the criminal element.

Another item in the “News” gives you a list of Anti-Spyware forums where you can get help with your PC, infected or not. Also included is a link to a forum where you can Stand-Up and Be Counted among those who want to fight back against the malware writers, and have changes made to the laws in their country that allow them to write malware with impunity. I have added a few new categories that include Security Information, Free AV Products, Free Firewalls, Free AntiSpyware Products, Free Rootkit and Trojan Scanners, Online Scanners and Anti-Trojan products and Free Security Tools that you can install on your system, as well as links to the original sites and blogs.

“Security Information” contains several sites where you can read reviews on the features and effectiveness of different AV products, AS products, and Firewalls. Also included are links to sites with information such as Rogue Software products that you should avoid, Steve Gibson’s site that is full of information about Securing your PC, as well as a link to a product called “Belarc Advisor” that will inventory all of your hardware and software.

The Free product sections include links to approved Free Antivirus, AntiSpyware, Firewalls and other security software products that can be used if you are unable to purchase the software. You require all of these products in this day and age, to keep your computer and yourself safe online. If you are able to afford one but not the others, then please download and install the free products so that you have one of each type of software. However, please remember that you should never have more than one Antivirus product or Firewall protecting your system because more than one will conflict with the other, causing them to be ineffective. You can have more than one AntiSpyware program as long as only one is setup as a resident program and the others used to scan your PC on a regular basis for malware. A regular schedule is recommended for a full scan of your hard drive(s) by each of the products you have. The reason that more than one AntiSpyware program is recommended is that they often have definitions for different infections. Online Scanners including Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Trojan, and Anti-Dialer, become very useful if you are questioning whether something has taken up residence on your system through email or other download. Often when a PC is infected, the onboard programs on your hard drive (antivirus and/or firewall) are unable to find the infection because those programs which you have relied on to keep your PC safe, have been compromised and no longer protect your system. If you think you have been infected an Online Scanner is needed to find and remove the infection. It is wise to run one or more Online Scans on a regular basis because the malware today is insidious and embeds itself in your system, often for a period of time before you become aware of it.

I always recommend that anyone who suspects they have a Malware infection, should visit one of the Anti-Spyware Forums and get help from the trained volunteers. Many of the malware infections we see today are very invasive, requiring sophisticated tools and the help of someone who has been trained in the removal of that specific malware so that permanent damage is not done to your files. Many of the removal tools used now, unlike the tools we used a few years ago, can damage your PC if not used properly, by someone who has been trained in their use.

I hope you find the new sidebar links useful as they are now easier to get to than they were when included in my articles.

Santa Brought You A New PC ... 30+ Days and the Clock Is Ticking...

dgosling — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Did you get a new computer for Christmas? If so, you have probably spent the time since Christmas exploring your computer and surfing the internet to find out what all this Internet fuss is about. Perhaps playing games, watching videos, exploring things you are interested in - hobbies etc., chatting with others, and generally looking around. In a word you’ve had fun with your new toy!

Included with your new computer are the OS (most likely Windows XP or Windows Vista), some Proprietary software from the manufacturer and some Trial software. Most manufacturers today no longer include disks containing the Windows Operating System, the proprietary software or the trial software that was on the hard drive of your new PC. In other words, the manufacturere gives you nothing with which to restore your computer to the condition it was in, when you first turned it on.

Instead of disks, the manufacturers provide you with a program that helps you create your own backup disks of the data on your PC when it was purchased. Many people procrastinate or ignore this procedure because they may not have the CD's or DVD's to use for the backup, and they are thrilled with their new PC and anxious to get online to find out what their computer has to offer. These disks are vital to your future computing needs because at some point in the future, you will have to reinstall everything your computer came with. This can occur when a problem arises with your hardware, software or as a result of a malware attack. However, if you haven't created these disks containing the original software, you will be left with a large, very expensive paperweight when your hardware fails, you are the victim of a malware attack, or you have one of a myriad of problems that requires you to reinstall all of your software.

The software included with your new PC, especially the Trial Software needs attention within a short time of starting to use your new PC. The operative word here is TRIAL, meaning that this software expires after 30, 60 or 90 days and on that date it becomes totally useless! New PC's usually have several trial programs, maybe Microsoft Office, a few games and a Security Suite. Buying Microsoft Office, the games and other trial software are a personal decision that will not affect the security of your new PC at this time. However, the Trial Security Suite Software will affect your security because during the trial you and your PC have been protected by a trial AntiVirus Program, a trial AntiSpyware Program and a trial Firewall as part of the Suite, for 30, 60 or 90 days. The Trial Security Suite has been your only protection from the evils of the internet including malware, rootkits, Identity Theft etc. for the specified length of time, and at the end of that time it becomes totally useless if it has not been either purchased or replaced. After just over 30 days of use you may still have time before the trial ends to ensure your PC is protected, preventing you and your computer from becoming a victim of the evils of the Internet. You may think I am exaggerating, but the results of studies have shown that an unprotected computer will become infected with some type of malware, in less than 5 minutes of exposure to the Internet!

You've now had time to familiarize yourself with your new PC, have searched the internet, played a game or two, sent and received email and you now know how to enjoy your new PC. Now it's time for you to take a few minutes to make sure your fun continues without any unpleasant and nasty interruptions. Start preparing your computer for a safe and secure future with the following:

1. The first thing you need to do is make the backup disks of all the manufacturer’s software and the Operating System. The built-in software from your computer manufacturer only allows you to make ONE copy. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THESE BACKUPS, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RELOAD YOUR ORIGINAL SOFTWARE INCLUDING THE OS. Use the built-in backup software to make the only copy of your built-in software NOW. Then put the DVD’s, CD’s or other backup media in a safe place where they can’t be damaged. If you used DVD's or CD's, I suggest that you buy cases for the disks to keep them safe from dust and other contaminants

2. Your Anitvirus, Antispyware, and Firewall program as well as other offerings in the Security Suite on your new PC, are in most cases TRIALS. Assess each program that is trial software that came with your computer.

· Is it a Security Suite? If so you need to make a decision to either BUY it or REPLACE it as soon as possible to maintain continual protection, so that it does not expire leaving you unprotected.

· If you don’t like the Security Suite that was included with your PC, then check out the available Security Suites on the internet or individual programs Antivirus, Antispyware and/or Firewall. Download and install them before the trial ends and your security suite expires. You can always use the Windows built-in Firewall and a free Antivirus and/or AntiSpyware such as the ones from AVG, Antivir or Avast while you decide which Security Suite you like best that is easy to use. Free Security programs are available see my article Protection For Your PC

· Is it a program like Microsoft Office that you may not want or need? If it is a suite of programs like Microsoft Office, do you want it? Is it affordable? If your answers are yes, then buy the program. The most important protection for any program or suite is to set it up so that when there are updates, they will be downloaded and installed.

3. Setup your AntiVirus, AntiSpyware and Firewall Programs to update automatically when there are either updates to the program itself and for new definitions. Your computer is not protected unless it has the most recent definitions for your programs.

4. Set up Windows to automatically update your Windows Operating System when an update is available. If you set it up to notify you of updates, make sure you download them as soon as possible because it is likely the updates are to close a hole or vulnerability that has been discovered.

5. For your other programs, check each program for an update setting in the Options that will automatically update your program. If there is no update setting in the options, then go to the developer’s website and arrange to have them notify you when there are updates by email. You will then receive an email anytime there are updates to the program, and you will be able to go to the website, download and install the update as soon as you are notified.

6. You will also need to check for updates from the manufacturer of your computer because the proprietary software that came with your PC and usually major updates to the Operating System, will be available through them. Your hardware including your video card, audio system, modem, Ethernet card, in fact all of your hardware is operated by software ‘drivers’. Without these drivers your hardware will not function. Updated drivers are released regularly by your PC manufacturer. If by any chance you are unable to sign up to receive email updates, check the manufacturer’s website regularly. I suggest you use a calendar to remind yourself to check for these updates on a regular basis.

7. If you have any questions about your computer, the manufacturer of your PC should be contacted first. If you do not receive a satisfactory response to your question, some of the manufacturers have a forum where you can ask questions and receive answers. There are also many online forums where trained people respond to users questions. You will find them by using a search engine with the basic information in your question as the search string.

8. To prevent the loss of all of your personal files, you need to set up a schedule for backing them up onto a DVD or CD or other media. It is very important to have them backed up onto media that is not accessible to a malware attack or you will lose all of them if/when you have to format your computer.

Whether your OS is Windows XP or Windows Vista, it is absolutely necessary to complete the above. There are many ongoing activities that will keep your computer running well eg: Defragmenting the files on your hard drive which improves the speed of your computer. Current protection and security with up-to-date definitions is also necessary for a good online experience. Windows Vista is advertised, quite rightly, as the most secure Windows Operating System to date. However, the scumware writers keep busy creating more and more devious ways of infecting innocent users and their computers, to rob you of your positive Internet experience and make your life miserable. In many cases prevention is far more effective and much less trouble than cleaning up after a malware attack. Prevention involves keeping ALL of your software and hardware drivers up-to-date. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that your PC will remain clean but there is a far better chance of staying clean, if you follow the simple rules of protection and security.

Virus/Trojan or Hardware? A Few Tips...

mikehall — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Your computer is acting up, and it's not always easy to tell. Some of the symptoms of a virus and/or Trojan are similar to what is seen as a hard drive sings its swan song.

Question #1.. Was it always that way? Most computers when first supplied work very well straight out of the box. If, for some reason, yours did not, then you would have taken it back, right?

If it worked well out of the box, this tells you that the OS and hardware were intrinsically ok. Unfortunately, problems occur in manufacturing of both elements, and both can fail for no obvious reason at all. When new, possible but not likely, hardware the most likely candidate.

When I ask you what you did or were doing at the point of failure, please do not throw your arms up in the air and say "IT WASN'T ME". I have seen and heard it all before.

A quick look in the ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS can say a great deal about one's computing habits. Appearances by Limewire, WinMX, Zango, MyWebSearch and others will help in the initial diagnosis, and also help squash protestations along the lines of 'it wasn't me' and 'I don't know how that got there'.

Virus and Trojans will attempt to stop any removal process or the seeking of help, so when one clicks on 'Help and Support' and nothing happens, suspect that something in there is doing its best to stop you. If it proves impossible to browse without being directed to some useless search engine, or one can no longer change the desktop scene, somebody is trying to spoil your fun. If your computer also slows way down, it is because it has become a reporting tool for your general computing, web surfing and online buying habits.

So what price now the desire for stupid animations in IM chat which made you agree to sponsorware, or believing that the web page managed to detect five trillion viruses in the space of two seconds, and unless you scan now with 'SupaDupaAntiSpyware', your computer will be compromised forever? Your mother doesn't have a computer, and your friend has neither web cam or video camera, so what made you click on the link in the e-mail that suggested either or both parties had uploaded compromising videos to a web site?

There are well known programs that can help you avoid the pitfalls, and when run alongside equally well known and respected anti-virus programs, will protect you. However, the responsibility to ensure that they work for you is entirely YOURS. Use of free versions will entail manual updates in most cases. Paid versions will almost always have some auto update feature. No anti spyware program ever seems to be a cure-all on it's own regardless of being free or not, so you will have to run more than one.

A personal note on Anti virus solutions.

I will admit to never having been a fan of Norton products, and nothing has changed in that respect. I did use McAfee in its early years, but both Norton and McAfee products have become as invasive as the stuff they seek to destroy. In what I see as an attempt to justify the cost, they both now supply a suite of applications which promise the world, and root like weeds, choking the system to death while delivering no better protection than anything else.

I have a shortlist of programs I think are ok, and it is exactly that.

Adaware
Spybot S&D
SpywareBlaster
WinPatrol
AVG
Avast
NOD32
Windows Defender
Hostsman

Bear in mind that hardware failures are not vindictive. Like anything else electrical, electronic and mechanical, breakdowns are inevitable either through deficient manufacturing, inept handling or age.

Assuming that you have covered yourself well with software protection, kept it all up to date et al, and your computer is starting to act up, maybe slow or intransigent at times, you should be looking towards hardware failure.

RAM has two problems. #1.. It can partially fail, rendering some memory addresses/locations out of reach of the computer. For the most part, the computer will seem to be ok, but as soon as something calls for a memory address that is no longer operable, strange behaviour may follow. This can be seen when installing an operating system, where the installation goes so far and then throws up that a file can't be read off of the installation media.

When this happens, there is a tendency to blame either the installation media itself or the optical drive reading it. Older optical drives can fail in this way, but if it was working ok before you decided to re-install the OS, there is a very good chance that it is still working. So why didn't the bad RAM show up before? Simply because the processes and programs you were running did not access the bad memory locations.

Installation of additional memory is #2. It has to be the right specification for your computer, that is it has to match the motherboard. In almost all cases, it should also match any memory already installed. Some mismatched configurations will not work at all, resulting in wild beeping sounds, and in other cases it will work but at reduced performance levels. If, after having installed additional memory of the correct matched type, you have strange things happening, run a memory test on both installed, and then one at a time, and in all memory slot positions. Two very good memory tests are:

Memtest86
Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Either need to be run more than once unless memory problems are found during the first pass, which says it all really.

Some notes on the installation of anything inside a desktop case.

The integrity of most desktop cases is compromised as soon as you remove a side panel. Moving the unit around in this state can lead to twisting actions which may loosen cards in PCI, AGP and PCI-e slots and also memory, so before replacing side covers, always ensure that everything is seated properly. While you are reseating cards, you might also check to ensure that you have not loosened data or power cables. Do not ever apply excessive pressure while seating anything. If it doesn't fit easily, it is either the wrong part, slot, or the mode you are using. And one other thing.. always fix the side back properly!!

Hard drives can fail at any time and need not necessarily be old. Backup Backup Backup or risk losing it all. Bad performance can be down to cluster failure, improper handling (i.e. being dropped maybe or placed close by a strong magnetic force), excessive ambient heat inside the case, bad heat dispersion from the drive itself, a manufacturing fault, or misuse on the part of the computer user.

Programs and data will not forgive you for squeezing them into a tight space. Some of the utilities used to manipulate data and code will not only not forgive, they will sometimes give you a solid kick. Leave ample free space. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 15% free (this used to be the accepted limit for Windows Defragmenter to strut its stuff) , and more if at all possible. When my drives have only 25% left, I look to either dumping stuff I no longer use or getting a larger hard drive. Squeezing the use out of the very last cluster on the drive is a false economy

Before resorting to repair installs, changing random settings et al, run the less stressful tests as found on the hard drive manufacturer web sites. Do not run the really tough tests on a drive containing valuable data. Back anything important up first. If the hard drive tests come up with zero faults after extended running, just keep a watchful eye, and start software diagnosis procedures.

Optical drives have limited lives. A cleaner disc can be used much as one might on a domestic stereo unit, and can be purchased from stores selling computers and/or stereo. If the drive will not read properly after cleaning, replace the drive.

Power supplies are tough units, but here is a tip. If the computer starts up ok, but struggles to remain up and running when under a bit of pressure, take a look at the power light on the front of the case. Is it shining brightly, and maintaining its brilliance while the computer is working away. If it is not, replace the unit.

Computer hardware is quite resilient, and if given due consideration like cleaning the dust out, especially from the CPU heat sink and fans, will last a good few years.

Why are there no URLs in this article? Well, the way I see it is this. I have given you names of stuff that will help you. Use the same technique to find and download them as you did when looking for a P2P client and those annoying animated things.

Keeping parasites at bay..

mikehall — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMT

I would like to bring your attention to this subject.

Users of SpyBot S&D and SpywareBlaster will know that both applications essentially immunize a system against incursion by parasites, assuming that the parasites are known to either application.

There is another string you can add to your bow, and it is not so well known, hence the reason for this post. The next paragraph is taken directly from the MVPS Hosts web site..

"What it does ...
The Hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory (cache) at startup, then Windows checks the Hosts file before it queries any DNS servers, which enables it to override addresses in the DNS. This prevents access to the listed sites by redirecting any connection attempts back to the local machine. Another feature of the HOSTS file is its ability to block other applications from connecting to the Internet, providing the entry exists............."

I would like you to visit this web site, and read more about it..

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

OK. At the end of the document, there is a reference to a utility called HOSTSMAN. This little program makes installation and update of a HOSTS file so easy, and it works with Vista and XP.

You can get 'Hostsman' from here.....

http://www.abelhadigital.com/2007/06/hostsman-3040-released.html

Follow the advice in the first link, and set the update Hosts file to overwrite the old one. Also set the option to auto update the Hosts file in Hostsman options. This will get over the problem of you forgetting to do it.

If the Hosts file blocks the visitor counter or some such device that you can't live without on your web site or blog, Hostsman will allow you to easily edit the file such that you can re-instate the counter such that you can once again see it.

So what are you waiting for? You have a utility download and setup to perform.

Microsoft releases the Malware Removal Starter Kit

steveb — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 05:00:00 GMT

This is from an email I received this week from Mark Clagett over at Microsoft. Running into an issue today where I sent it to an end user so figured I would post it here as well. Thanks Mark for sending out the notice! - Steve ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thought you’d be interested in this new Solution Accelerator from Microsoft – it’s called the Malware Removal Starter Kit. It’s a free download from TechNet, and provides you with excellent guidance and tools to help you restore PCs infected with malware. Here’s a quick overview of what the kit can do for your organization. Suggest you take a look!

PCs Infected with Malware? Every day, adversaries attempt to invade your networks and infect your systems with viruses, spyware, and other malware. In other cases, employees can open the door to malware by visiting infected Web sites, opening the wrong e-mail attachments, or running macros that contain viruses.As an IT professional focused on security, you know the risks first hand. You’ve installed antivirus software and you keep your protection updated. Sometimes, though, attacks are successful, and computers get infected. And once they are inside the organization, malware outbreaks can spread with alarming speed, compromising or destroying mission-critical data or personal information. Restore Infected PCs with the Malware Removal Starter Kit!When you discover PCs that have been infected with malware and your current antivirus tools can’t solve the problem, where do you turn next? Is there a way to restore infected PCs without completely rebuilding them from scratch? The Malware Removal Starter Kit, the newest Solution Accelerator from Microsoft, provides free, tested guidance to help you combat malware attacks and restore infected systems—so users can safely get back to work. The kit shows you how to use the Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) to discover malware by performing a thorough offline scan of your computers, uncovering malware that may be hiding in the operating system. And once malware is located and identified, it can be quickly removed from infected PCs with a number of free anti-malware tools, like the Malicious Software Removal Tool from Microsoft.The Malware Removal Starter Kit answers questions like:

· What are the keys to a reliable, effective response plan to remedy malware outbreaks?

· How do I build a bootable CD that lets me perform offline virus scans?

· How can I discover and remove viruses and other malware hiding in the operating system?

· How does the Malware Removal Starter Kit augment Microsoft’s anti-malware strategy?

Key Benefits

The Malware Removal Starter Kit is:

· Effective: Helps you to uncover malware that’s difficult to expose.

· Flexible: Lets you use best approach for the specific problem you’re facing.

· Reliable: Provides guidance thoroughly tested by Microsoft security experts.

· Simple: Offers a solution that is easy to configure and use.

· Free: The Malware Removal Starter Kit is a free download from TechNet. Download the free Malware Removal Starter Kit

Accessing the kit is easy, and it’s free! Click here to learn more or to download the kit.

Spyware Removal..

mikehall — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Spyware has become a major player in compromising computers, and the situation is not going to get better any time soon. It can introduce viruses, trojans and worms, and attempt to send out information about you. It is the unwelcome guest and needs to be removed.

The worst of it is that you probably downloaded the spyware, albeit inadvertently..

Some basic steps to removing Spyware/Adware..

First step is to run a one shot virus remover.. I have found that Trend Housecall works for people.. download and run it..

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

.. select the 'online scan' and follow the directions given.

This takes a while to complete but is a necessary first step.

You will also need to download Spyware removal software.. Spybot and Adaware are available at these websites.. both are free.. download and run them.. don't forget to check for updates after you have started them..

Adaware SE - http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

.. And how to use it

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial48.html

Spybot S&D - http://www.safer-networking.org/

.. And how to use it

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial43.html

SpywareBlaster - http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

.. And how to use it..

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial49.html

NOTE.. FOR Windows 2000/XP users ONLY. Ewido online scan - http://www.ewido.net/en/ ..

The full installable program has been replaced by AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5 since the takeover by Grisoft

CWShredder will eliminate CoolWebSearch and variants.. there is a free download here..

CWShredder.. http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

To use CWShredder, simply start the program, use 'check for update' to make sure you have the latest version, then hit 'fix.' It will check your system against a list of current CWS variants, and fix any infections it finds.

You must also run a firewall and anti-virus program.. here are some links for you..

Zonealarm Firewall (free)..http://www.zonealarm.com .. recommended

AVG Anti-virus (free).. http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/ .. recommended

The weekly 'housekeeping' will not take long.. run Adaware, Spybot, and SpywareBlaster weekly, ensuring that you update them prior to starting a scan.