Welcome to Simple Productivity Blog! You may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. This will allow you to receive updates in your RSS reader every time new content is posted here. If you want to receive updates in your email, click on the envelope in the upper right corner, or use the "Subscribe" link below the blog title.
Please take some time to check out the content on the site. You may comment on any article by scrolling down and using the form at the bottom of all articles. Thanks for visiting!
Let’s just start this out by saying I know better.
But if it can happen to me, it can happen to you.
I was looking for a way to simplify my digital scrapbooking files, and I saw a link for software. This was software I had heard of before, and it came from a site I had used frequently. Right before I clicked on the link, the thought flitted through my mind, “I wonder if this is going to load me up with spyware?” And it did.
Out came my suite of tools. I use three, all free, and have had success with the combination. One tool isn’t enough; you will find that no one tool gets everything. So the best defense is to use a variety. Here are my three choices:
AVG
AVG Anti-virus provides an anti-virus/spyware removal tool. The free version, available for home use only, does not offer the flexibility of the paid version. Both, however, are excellent at catching viruses and spyware.
Spybot
Spybot is a great tool for getting rid of spyware. It is easy to use, and can be made to run in a way that automatically updates the software, runs the scan, fixes things, and if there were problems, run the scan again on startup. I like this tool because after I figured out how to automate it, I no longer have to think about it.
Adaware
Lavasoft’s Adaware is an excellent tool for getting rid of spyware and also not-so-malicious things that lurk in the computer, like tracking cookies. The free version can’t be automated, but it runs well.
I was lucky this time. My tools handled it, after 6 different scans and an overnight software exam. I know there are times when getting rid of spyware or a virus requires a reload. In fact, I just went through this at work, where my anti-virus got infected, and the removal trashed the system.
If you’re not using spyware protection/detection, now is the time to start. Don’t wait until the machine crashes!
Photo by jovike
![[Valid RSS]](/images/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
5 comments ↓
I would have to agree that having Spyware protection on your computer is essential. I had worked for a large computer company doing just what you have done (although, using different tools) and it amazed me how many of our clients were coming back time and time again.
Some good rules of thumb for “safe computing” are:
1) Always have anti-virus and anti-spyware running in the background. You can find free software, and many are good, but having the backing of a company is better. If your computer doesn’t come with a cleaning service, many paid anti-virus/spyware companies do.
2) Learn to use the tools you have. Most computer users are not comfortable manually editing the registry and using advanced diagnostic tools like the professional virus/spyware cleaners like myself. Learn how to perform a single-file scan. And do it. Every time. Every download.
3) Watch what you download. Watch what your kids download. Stop your kids from downloading everything. My son has a rule with the computer. He has to ask us every time he wants to download something.
4) Watch what sites you go to. I’m not just talking about “artistic” websites, but all websites. You can install McAfee’s Site Advisor to help you choose what are safe and what are not safe.
Simply put: Watch where you go, what you take, and know what to do in an “emergency”.
Surf Safe!
@Eli: Excellent comments! The only thing I would add is that you should never let your guard down. That’s what nailed me.
Exactly. Although, I have to admit that I have let my guard down and gotten caught before as well. That’s when I started getting interested in the whole “Malware” scene. Working on cleaning people’s systems certainly was an eye opener. Oh, the stories I could tell…
Ad-Aware is truly a great product. I used AVG for a while on my XP machines a few years back. I then tried Avast and it worked better it seemed so I stuck with it for about 2 years.
Im trying BitDefender now.
Great post by the way.
@Doug: I recommend taking a look at the AVG product again. They added some stuff with this last release that truly expands it. It does protect against malware and has a “link checker” that I find annoying but might be of use to others not aware of the dangers of the web.
It’s good to know of other products, though. It’s been my experience that no one product catches it all.
Comment Policy:
Comments on this blog are moderated. Rude comments will be deleted.
Leave a Comment