Hobbierz
3rd February 2005, 03:59 PM
[Article] Safe, Secure Windows without an Empty Wallet!
There are thousands of viruses out there for Windows that can harm your computer. I bet you already know that though. Your thought is, how can I protect myself from the crackers, hackers and virus writers throughout the Internet? In this article I will discuss two programs for Windows that will do just that - protect you and your computer.
Author: Richard Marx
Web site: credits
==Introduction==
Why should I protect my computer, you ask. Well, look at it this way: Would you want someone to get your vBulletin Admin Control panel password and kill your forums and database? I think not. So these two free programs will protect you from the hackers, crackers, and virus writers.
==AVG Anti-Virus==
Name: GriSoft AVG Antivirus
Cost: Free or $33.30 for two years (Pro edition)
Version: 7.0 (at the time of this writing)
Download: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
I have used Norton’s AntiVirus system in the past, and I have to say, that compared to Norton, AVG takes the cake. AVG is not only free (free edition), but you get access to the virus updates for free.
Features include virus scanning, email scanning (if you use Outlook or Eudora), and more. You can set the program to scan for viruses at any time or date. I have it set to 4AM, when I am usually asleep and the scanner can run in the background without interrupting anything. You can also set it to automatically update, which I have it set to when I am usually online, 6PM.
AVG is recommended by pretty much everyone I know, even by the Radio talk show host Kim Komando (http://komando.com/) (in the US)! If you need a simple, fast, easy to use, free AntiVirus software application, AVG Anti Virus is it!
==ZoneAlarm Personal Firewall==
Name: ZoneAlarm Personal Firewall
Cost: Free (for basic Features) $39.95 for Professional edition
Version: 5.0 (at the time of this writing)
Download: http://www.zonealarm.com (http://www.zonealarm.com/)
I’m sure you have heard about ZoneAlarm’s firewall package. ZoneAlarm has so many protection features, even in the free edition. Whenever you launch a program for the first time to access the Internet, it will ask you if you want to allow it to access the Internet. This is good if you have programs you don’t want to allow to access the Internet. It also asks you if a certain program can act as a server. Such as Apache, mySQL, run as a server and ZoneAlarm asks you if you want to allow/disallow the program to act as a server.
You can also engage or disengage an Internet lock, disallowing any program from accessing the Internet, until you disengage the lock.
ZoneAlarm is, and has always been, a great firewall. Like AVG, everyone I know recommends this application. If you do not have a firewall, GET ZONEALARM! Believe me, you will not be sorry.
==Windows Updates==
Link: http://windowsupdate.com (http://windowsupdate.com/)
You may already do this, but others may not. We need to take an effort to get everyone informed about Windows Update that we can, so that is why I am including this.
Periodically, Microsoft releases updates to the Windows operating system, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and other applications that they develop. These updates may or may not be critical, however, you should download the critical ones first, which if you do not, may leave your system vulnerable to an attack by a hacker, cracker, or virus.
If you are using Windows XP, you can set Windows Update to automatically update. How do I do this, you ask? Click on Start (or on your desktop: ) Right click on My Computer, and select Properties. Then, select the Windows Update tab, and select what time and how often Windows should update itself. Then click OK, and you are all set.
I recommend using Windows Update, as everyone does. Without it, Windows would be an insecure, bug filled operating system.
==Conclusion==
In this article I have outlined three tools you can use to keep your computer up to date, secure, and virus-free. I hope you have learned something from this article, but if you already use these tools, GREAT! Let your friends and family know about these tools that they can use to keep their system up-to-date.
All of these tools are great, and you need to use if you want to have a secure system, without breaking the bank. They are all free for the taking!
I wish you luck in keeping your system secure, and thank you for taking the time to read this article, and hope you make it a priority to keep your system secure and up-to-date!
©Copyright 2005 Richard Marx & http://www.vbulletin.nl/
Users are free to publish this article on their web site, as long as full credits are given and the copyright remains intact. For permission to publish it, send us a Private Message.
You can discuss this article here (http://www.vBulletin-Fans.com/showthread.php?p=85684#post85684)
Hobbierz & Staff
There are thousands of viruses out there for Windows that can harm your computer. I bet you already know that though. Your thought is, how can I protect myself from the crackers, hackers and virus writers throughout the Internet? In this article I will discuss two programs for Windows that will do just that - protect you and your computer.
Author: Richard Marx
Web site: credits
==Introduction==
Why should I protect my computer, you ask. Well, look at it this way: Would you want someone to get your vBulletin Admin Control panel password and kill your forums and database? I think not. So these two free programs will protect you from the hackers, crackers, and virus writers.
==AVG Anti-Virus==
Name: GriSoft AVG Antivirus
Cost: Free or $33.30 for two years (Pro edition)
Version: 7.0 (at the time of this writing)
Download: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
I have used Norton’s AntiVirus system in the past, and I have to say, that compared to Norton, AVG takes the cake. AVG is not only free (free edition), but you get access to the virus updates for free.
Features include virus scanning, email scanning (if you use Outlook or Eudora), and more. You can set the program to scan for viruses at any time or date. I have it set to 4AM, when I am usually asleep and the scanner can run in the background without interrupting anything. You can also set it to automatically update, which I have it set to when I am usually online, 6PM.
AVG is recommended by pretty much everyone I know, even by the Radio talk show host Kim Komando (http://komando.com/) (in the US)! If you need a simple, fast, easy to use, free AntiVirus software application, AVG Anti Virus is it!
==ZoneAlarm Personal Firewall==
Name: ZoneAlarm Personal Firewall
Cost: Free (for basic Features) $39.95 for Professional edition
Version: 5.0 (at the time of this writing)
Download: http://www.zonealarm.com (http://www.zonealarm.com/)
I’m sure you have heard about ZoneAlarm’s firewall package. ZoneAlarm has so many protection features, even in the free edition. Whenever you launch a program for the first time to access the Internet, it will ask you if you want to allow it to access the Internet. This is good if you have programs you don’t want to allow to access the Internet. It also asks you if a certain program can act as a server. Such as Apache, mySQL, run as a server and ZoneAlarm asks you if you want to allow/disallow the program to act as a server.
You can also engage or disengage an Internet lock, disallowing any program from accessing the Internet, until you disengage the lock.
ZoneAlarm is, and has always been, a great firewall. Like AVG, everyone I know recommends this application. If you do not have a firewall, GET ZONEALARM! Believe me, you will not be sorry.
==Windows Updates==
Link: http://windowsupdate.com (http://windowsupdate.com/)
You may already do this, but others may not. We need to take an effort to get everyone informed about Windows Update that we can, so that is why I am including this.
Periodically, Microsoft releases updates to the Windows operating system, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and other applications that they develop. These updates may or may not be critical, however, you should download the critical ones first, which if you do not, may leave your system vulnerable to an attack by a hacker, cracker, or virus.
If you are using Windows XP, you can set Windows Update to automatically update. How do I do this, you ask? Click on Start (or on your desktop: ) Right click on My Computer, and select Properties. Then, select the Windows Update tab, and select what time and how often Windows should update itself. Then click OK, and you are all set.
I recommend using Windows Update, as everyone does. Without it, Windows would be an insecure, bug filled operating system.
==Conclusion==
In this article I have outlined three tools you can use to keep your computer up to date, secure, and virus-free. I hope you have learned something from this article, but if you already use these tools, GREAT! Let your friends and family know about these tools that they can use to keep their system up-to-date.
All of these tools are great, and you need to use if you want to have a secure system, without breaking the bank. They are all free for the taking!
I wish you luck in keeping your system secure, and thank you for taking the time to read this article, and hope you make it a priority to keep your system secure and up-to-date!
©Copyright 2005 Richard Marx & http://www.vbulletin.nl/
Users are free to publish this article on their web site, as long as full credits are given and the copyright remains intact. For permission to publish it, send us a Private Message.
You can discuss this article here (http://www.vBulletin-Fans.com/showthread.php?p=85684#post85684)
Hobbierz & Staff