Viruses and Malicious Software - How to Protect Your Computer by Eldon Martin
Malicious software, or malware, is likely the most widespread problem faced by computer users today. As a computer technician, I find that about three out of four jobs I do for home computer users are to remove malware in one form or another. Malware programs come in several forms: Spyware and... Many computer users try to protect their computers by installing anti-virus and firewall programs. ... Many computers with up-to-date anti-virus and firewall software arrive at my door infested with malware to the extent that they are unusable.

Protect Your PC with These Top Free Software Programs by Bill Adler
This is a dangerous world for a computer user- threats multiply by the hour designed to swipe your data, cripple your network, steal your identity and in general- wreck havoc. Fortunately you can arm yourself to battle these menaces with several top software programs. ... These hackers will steal your data, destroy your system or attempt to convert your computer into a “spam zombie” (remotely using your computer to send spam email) so using an effective firewall is a must. ... Now that we have anti-virus and firewall protection, let’s address a topic I hear more and more frequently: what...

2 Simple Tips to Prevent Spybot, Spyware and Adware Intrusions by Heather Moore
We've all heard the horror stories of identity theft, compromised PC's that become slower or unstable, lost or stolen data. Every home computer and office workstation connected to the Internet is at risk of being infected by a spybot, spyware, adware, torjan viruses and worms. ... You risk your PC, personal data and even your identity if you surf the web without spyware, adware and anti-virus software running on your system, and there are people trying to access all of that right now. ... There are high quality spyware remover, adware removal, anti-virus and firewall programs out there for...

Data Loss - The 7 Most Common Symptoms of a Failed Hard Drive by Jason Perry
If your hard drive is clicking or making grinding noises, you are experiencing system blue screens or system freezes, an error message greets you with ‘drive not formatted’ or ‘operating system not found’, or lastly you are in a never ending loop of computer reboots…there is a very good chance... Computer Keeps Re-Booting The most common reason a computer keeps re-booting over and over is because the boot sector has been hijacked by a virus that creates a continuous loop. ... It can be caused by a virus, a hard re-boot, a power outage or surge, disc partitioning utilities and sometimes...

Spyware: What It Is and How to Combat It by Dean Phillips
Spyware is software or hardware installed on a computer without the user's knowledge which gathers information about that user for later retrieval by whomever controls the spyware. Spyware can be broken down into two different categories, surveillance spyware and advertising spyware. ... And while anti-virus software like Symantec's Norton Anti- Virus or McAfee's ViruScan can offer some protection, one of the best ways to combat spyware is with anti-spy software. ... Advertising spyware logs information about the user, possibly including passwords, email addresses, web browsing history,...

Novice Security Guide For Windows Users by Mary Myron
Computer abuse occurs at least once in everyone's life. To some people it might be not of a great importance, but to others it could be fatal. Thus, there are a few basic things you should keep in mind if you leave your machine unprotected. First of all we are going to consider the most common... To prevent this, use a firewall and good anti-virus software. ... Malware is meant to infiltrate and damage a computer (regular viruses, worms etc). ... To protect your computer from spyware, use programs like SpybotS&D or Ad-Aware SE.

Keeping Your Laptop Safe and Secure by Elizabeth Lord
When people think of computer security they think of things like Trojan Horses, viruses, spyware, worms and other nasty things that hackers can send to you over the internet. No matter how many blocks you have in place, or how many firewalls you erect, though, there is a type of security that... Anti-virus programs should be installed and updated frequently. ... Do not think that your computer is talking directly to the computer on the other end of the line. ... A firewall program is not the same as an anti-virus program, but it is just as important.

One Step To Safer Computing by Jacob Loeb
As Mac users, we are greatly protected from some of the perils of the online world. To date, OS X has not suffered from any major Trojan, worm, Spyware, or virus. Vulnerabilities in OS X have been only theoretical exploits that are quickly patched, or are infections that relied on gross user error. ... I, as do many experts, discourage Mac owners from using an anti-virus program because they are unneeded. ... The last step before you click the “Create Account” button is to put a check in the checkbox marked “Allow user to administer this computer.” Now you have two administrator accounts...

Who’s Watching What You Type? by Robert Palmer
If someone entered your home, uninvited and installed numerous cameras and listening devices in order to monitor your activities, you would quite rightly be outraged. While such a situation, unless you are living in the Big Brother House, would be considered ridiculous, the same cannot be said... Thankfully anti-spyware/adware programs such as Ad-Aware (free) and WebRoot’s own offering, Spy Sweeper can clean up a PC and even help prevent further infections, but just like anti-virus software, anti-spyware software needs to be kept up-to-date to remain effective.

SpyBot.Com (SpyBot Search & Destroy Version 1.4) by Darren Miller
What Is Spyware, Adware, Grayware and Malware? ------------ SpyBot.com - To put it simply; spyware, adware, greyware, and malware, are files and programs, typically installed on your computer without your consent, and range from annoying to quite dangerous. ... How SpyBot-S&D Can Help You ------------ If you are concerned about being spied on, your Internet usage tracked, computer performance problems, people tracking what you type, and the possibility of become the target of fraud, then you need a tool that can pick-up where your anti-virus software drops-off.