security tech tips

Its important to note there are more and more irritating threats to our computers these days. We need to be super vigilant and careful about our workstations and home PCs.

Here are some IMPORTANT tech tips to note:

1. I remember suggesting a few years back to use Trend Micro's Housecall (a free online scanner). Now Kaspersky has won the best anti-virus and anti-spam software battle for 2007. Please use this free online scanner http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner. If you detect anything, run Symantec to clean it. If it cannot clean, download the client version of Kaspersky.
2. Spywares have an effect on ur net privacy and slows down ur internet connection. First of all, spyware or adware progs are installed on ur system (most of the time w/o ur permission or knowledge) to monitor ur net behavior, return back some sensitive data or spam emails. Careful of the pages you visit. Try to start with my blog page everyday... u will be safe :-)
3. I also suggested a few years ago (still recommend) that u use Ad-aware and Spybot Search and Destroy for this, their both free and effective: www.lavasoft.nu and www.safer-networking.org
4. I would also recommend using a Net browser other than Internet Explorer. IE regardless of its version is prone to attacks coming from spywares and is very vulnerable. I recommend using Firefox (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/).
5. Please update your Windows Patches and Service Packs (click Start>Programs>Windows Update)
6. Uninstall any freeware, Google toolbar, Yahoo toolbar or unauthorized software from your PC
7. Run XP Defrag and Checkdisk once a week
8. Please ask if dunno
9. Pray that Step 1-7 is completed successfully :-)

Cheers and Happy New Year all :-)