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Gday and Welcome to Tech Talk , Throughout my time in
Kalbarri fixing computer problems I have identified key problems with
general computer maintenance that can be rectified by the owner of a
troubled computer , For Windows XP and Vista only.
This Month I will be covering some ways to improve your
computer security , you will need to take this advice at YOUR OWN PERIL , I will
not be held responsible for any complications you may encounter.
Anti Virus
A virus is a malicious program
that is written with the intent of replicating itself by infecting your computer
and passing itself onto other computers. Computer Viruses can be transmitted via
email, networks, web sites, floppy disks, or CDROMs. They can open your computer
to remote access, delete important files, and steal your passwords or identity.
To combat and protect yourself from these threats you need Anti-virus software.
Common Features of Anti-Virus Programs
1. Preventing viruses from infecting your PC.
2. Detecting Viruses on Websites that you visit.
3. Detecting Email borne viruses.
4. Detecting Viruses on removable disks (CDs, floppies, USB devices)
5. Automatically update: All anti-virus products should check for updates to
their virus definition databases automatically on a daily basis
There are many virus’s out there can be downright annoying to extremely harmful
to your system , so it pays to have an effective anti virus to help keep those
nasties at bay , now the big question is should I pay for a subscription or use
a free anti virus , well my recommendation is if you are a home user and do not
use your computer for sole business purposes then the free ones like AVAST
and AVG are fantastic options.
It is important that you do not
have two or more anti virus programs installed at the same time as they can
conflict with each other, to remove a previous old anti virus program you will
need to go to
START / CONTROL PANEL / ADD AND
REMOVE PROGRAMS
and then remove the old anti virus
from there , to find these two freebies just google AVAST or
AVG
Just in is a new anti virus from Microsoft
Every Windows computer needs to have an anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-rootkit,
and anti-Trojan program installed. You can find several to choose from at your
local computer store for perhaps $20 to $100 or so. However, knowledgeable
computer users have successfully used free anti-virus programs for years.
Note: While all the free anti-virus programs do seem to
protect against viruses, not all of them protect against the other problems:
spyware, rootkits, and Trojans. The new program from Microsoft claims to protect
against all of those.
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), is now available for
Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Microsoft is officially releasing its
free, real-time consumer anti-malware solution for fighting viruses, spyware,
rootkits, and Trojans. MSE is yet another layer of defense the company is
offering to help its customers fight the threats that plague Windows PCs.
Note: "malware" is an abbreviation meaning "malicious
software."
Microsoft warns that MSE should not be installed alongside any other anti-malware
application.
I installed Microsoft Security Essentials on a Windows XP system. It has only
been running for a few hours and I don't have a virus testing lab so I cannot
vouch for its performance. A few producers of competitive anti-virus programs
have questioned its accuracy, but I would question their motives. After all, no
company wants powerhouse Microsoft to release a free product that takes away
their business! However, independent reviewers and testers have stated that
Microsoft Security Essentials works well.
Further help can be found at the
Kalbarri Telecentre with courses that may be run throughout the year.
Cheers Wayne Dewar
www.mykalbarri.com |
Mykalbarri
