April 2005 to be exact.
Permission granted for copying, forwarding…. Not responsible for loss of sleep, hair, appetite, computer crashes and other maladies… all of which I have or had…
Browsers:
Most of the time I use Mozilla Firefox... http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
They just came out there newest version, Firefox 3. If you have been using an older version, go to their site and upgrade. The newer version is supposed to use less resources and work faster.
Another feature of firefox that I am starting to use is the add-ons. The one that I found useful is "Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer ". According to the writers...., If you use Firefox on more than one computer, you'll want Foxmarks. Install Foxmarks on each computer, and it will work silently in the background to keep your bookmarks synchronized. You can also log in to my.foxmarks.com to manage your bookmarks from any computer. Works great when you have a new computer and want to bring over your firefox bookmarks to the new computer.
Internet Explorer: I still mostly use this to update windows. I have upgraded it the latest version which is version 7. Most of the problems of previous version of its safety and vulnerability have been addressed and according to one radio show, it is o.k. to use.
In 2005, I advised you not to use Internet Explorer. As you can tell, I have updated that recommendation. Overall, I have been using firefox for so long that I am most comfortable with it. It is easy to use, has a lot of features that I am just starting to learn about.
Viruses, Worms, Hijackers, Spyward and other lovely things
From time to time, I have found a friends computer running slow, has pop ups, having a antivirus program and antispyware program that is out of date, not upgradeable or still running the original protections that came with their computer.
Recently it was another doctor in the same building. His office staff uses the internet as well as his medical software and never mentioned anything to him. His computer ability is that he can turn the computer on. I had gone up to see him and saw some unusual pop ups. One said that the computer was infected and you should click here to get rid of the infection. You guessed it, that was the infection. His antivirus had not been updated, upgraded for years. The antispyware program was the same.
So, the nerd in me says that I can't leave the computer like this. As a matter of fact, I had cleaned his computer a few years ago. His staff only noted that the computer was running slowly.
This is what I used to clean up the computer:
1. Avast. http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
This is a free program. They only require that you register it once a year. They will send you out an email to remind you. It is easy to use and self updates. I used it on one computer at home as a test for over a year and found that it worked well. I had no problems or viruses during that time.
2. SUPERAntiSpyware http://www.superantispyware.com/
Another free program. This one saved me awhile back, when something got into my computer and the programs that I was using did not get rid of it. Found it using a google search for the problem that I was having and it led me to a review by some magazine that recommended it.
I run this in the background and it self updates at start up.
I ran the two programs above a few times, made adjustment to the start up menu and he was back to a clean, smooth running computer.
Other programs that I use are:
Ad-Aware 2008: free version http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
I used to use this most of the time, however less since I started using Superantispyware.
You have to update it yourself if you select not to have it running all the time.
Microsoft Windows Defender: free
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
The only problems that I have had with this is that the only time it ever found anything was the first time I ran it. The other problems was that it seemed to slow down my older computers when installed to run in the background. I have removed it from most of my computers.
Eset Nod32: http://www.eset.com/
This is the antivirus program that I used on all my office computers. It is not free. However it is worth it. It is easy to use and install, self updates, and does not take up many resources. I recommend that you have only one antivirus program running at a time.
There are many antivirus and antispyware programs out there, my comments on a few:
AVG: used to use when free, have not tried since.
Norton: have used, have had problems with using this, its use of resources and trouble removing it from your computer. I say avoid at this time.
Trend Micro: have used the free online scan, do not know if it removes the infection if it finds any.
Panda: was my number one choice, until it started slowing my computer and interfered with the radio stations on line that I listened to . They have said that these problems have been resolved.
Spybot Search & Destroy: I used to use, worked well. Then I started to have problems running it on my older computers, so I stopped. It does get good ratings
Webroot Spy Sweeper: They used to have a free version. I used to buy this one, though, until it slowed down my computers. I expect they have fixed or addressed these issues.
Most people use whatever antispyware and antivirus program that came with their computer.
I suggest that you do some homework before accepting what came with you computer. My newest computer came with McAffee antivirus (may be a great program), however it had a 30 day trial period, so I uninstalled it and bought Eset Nod32 and installed Superantivspyware for free. Everything works fine. No infection or other lovely things. Chances are that even with the best precautions, you will get infected. Sorry. Remember that besides installing the programs, you need to make sure they are updated and oh yes... you need to run them periodically.
Firewalls- I assume most people are using either cable internet or internet thru your phone service. I have used both. You have dropped your dial up accounts? Besides new computers do not come with a dial up modem anyway. Back to firewall, get a hardware firewall, a Router, wireless router or not. I have used Linksys throughout my office and home. Recently I added a
Netgear adapter, worked seamlessly. Netgear and D-Link are other brands to consider. I do not recommend a software firewall other than the Windows firewall in the security setting of Windows should be on and set up.
Operating Systems
I am still using Windows XP, mostly professions in the house and office. My next computer, probably will have Vista. For those who think they can wait for the next Windows operating systems, approximately 2009, I have heard that it will be based after the Vista platform. So when it is time, it is time. My medical software company even says it is compatible with Vista.
I have even thought about going over to the dark side, yes, an Apple Mac....especially for use with my photography stuff that I do... They have told me that one comes with a 24 in screen and you can run both apple mac and windows vista on different sides of the same screen.
Your Email Addresses: Most people use the one that comes with internet service or the original one if the company is still around. My first was Prodigy... long gone. Second was @MSN.com, I still use it. I do not use the one from my internet service, though you have to have it set up.
I also have a number of free email accounts: it makes it much easier when and if you change internet services.
@yahoo.com a free account.... easy to use and you get to do the commercial... yahoooooo!!!
@pol.net (was physician on line) a free one now part of MedMD, medscape.com.
@iwon.com free, i use for junk
and one that has become my favorite, @gmail.com
I highly recommend a gmail account. In its beginning you had to be referred, however it is open to anyone now. This is the easiest to use. You also can get linked to other products such as
Picasa
- Locates and organizes all the photos on your computer.
- Edit and add effects to your photos with a few simple clicks.
- Share your photos with others through email, prints, and on the web: it’s fast, easy and free.
The only negative, slightly, thing that I can find with google email is that it reads your email. No, they do not sit there and read your mail. They really do not care what you write about. What happens is that a program reads the words and when you read your email on the side will be an ad or link. If the email talked about New York, there may be a link to a tour of New York, or New York hotels. I hardly notice these and rarely if ever click on them. If you are one of those
conspiracy people or think the government is watching you, this may not be for you. Most email programs and ads on the internet use some form of this. You just do not notice them.
If You Get Into Trouble
run you up to date antivirus and antispyware programs....
run a second antivirus and antispyware program... see free ones
run them until they come up clean...
pray to the computer gods....
scotch or valium my help
breathe
keep your childeren or yourself from downloading eveything, opening attachments and emails from those you do not know...
The above has worked for me, sorry, I can't guarentee free advise.... good computing!!!
Thanks to Jeff Levy and Leo Laporte for information that I learned from their radio shows over the years....
No comments:
Post a Comment