Inspired by a number recent problems that various friends have had with
spyware, I thought I would make some basic recommendations on what to do. I
thought about sending everyone to Brian Livingston's Window
Secrets - but most of his recommendations require $$$ - fine for corporate
IT environment, but who wants to spend more money on their home computer.
Use a Mac or Linux - there are far fewer viruses & spyware currently
targetted at either platform. If you're using Windows then here's what I do (BTW
even Mac/Linux users need a hardware firewall and a spam filter):
- A Hardware firewall like the Linksys BEFSR81 or D-Link
DI-604 4-Port Broadband Router - protects your computer from inbound
attacks from internet.
- A Software firewall - Zone
Alarm (basic version is free). Its a pain to setup for the first few
days, but it will tell you when a new piece of software is trying to make an
outbound connection from your PC.
- Antivirus software - many excellent products are free for home use, I use
AVG from
Grisoft. Set it for automatic updates and run at least once a
week.
- Spam Filter - SpamBayes, installation
instructions and the FAQ. SpamBayes is better
than any of the commercial alternatives that I've tried including Cloudmark.
- AntiSpyware - None of the tools detect and removing everything. Brian's article shines in
documenting the threats. He recommends three tools: Microsoft
AntiSpyware beta, Webroot Spy
Sweeper, CWShredder
- use all of them. Update and run full scans at least once a
week. BTW CWShredder exists to defeat just one piece of spyware its
noxious variants: CoolWebSearch
- Browse the web with Firefox not Internet
Explorer (IE). A large amount of the spyware is installed surreptiously on
your machine when you browse websites. Firefox doesn't have the same
vulernabilities as IE - if only because its been developed since many of the
vulernabilities became well know. Firefox obviously has its own weaknesses but
with 5-10% of internet users they're not going to be widely exploited for a
while. Use IE only when forced by site that won't work in Firefox
- Updates - run a recent version of Windows (2000 or XP) and either turn
automatic updates on or use Windows update (requires IE :-) - look for it at
the top of your programs list on your start menu. BTW never trust a link
that you find to Windows Update on the web - it might not take you to the MS
site.
If you find your self hit by spyware Brian's article talks about
how to use Hijack This and where to ask for help.
Good luck