• http://www.download.com/Bazooka-Adware-and-Spyware-Scanner/3000-8022_4-10247782.html Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner - If all else fails do it by hand with this! It performs a very fast scan and gives you a step by step insruction on how to remove the little buggers.

Safer Browsers

Choose one (and only one) of these:

These are FREE programs I recommend nearly every weekend. All Windows users should download and use these to protect themselves against viruses and spyware.

• http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php AVG free anti-virus - every bit as good as Norton and not as intrusive.

• http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php AVG free anti-virus - every bit as good as Norton and not as intrusive. AVG Free Final Edition is out with some of AVG’s 7.0 features.
• http://www.free-av.com/ Anti-Vir - a new free anti-virus and looking very good
• Our sponsor, http://www.eset.com/ NOD32 from Eset - it’s not free but it’s the best Anti-Virus I’ve ever used.

• http://microsoft.com/spyware Microsoft’s AntiSpyware - excellent and free!

Also you can use http://www.netscape.com/ Netscape, or just as long as you stop using IE (Internet Explorer) for normal browsing the only reason you will needed it is to run Windows Updates and a few other things— Zkay

Check out a new online service http://auditmypc.com/ AuditMyPC which offers free security tests for your firewall, popup blocker, and a spyware scan, too.

• http://www.checkpoint.com Check Point

• http://www.checkpoint.com Check Point Firewall

Very good firewall for hardening your corporate network.

-Andy-

QLeo, is Opera just as stable and secure as Firefox is? What do you think?

Opera, like Mozilla and Firefox, is safer to use. My only problem with it is that is doesn’t support as many web pages as the Mozilla products do. Any browser that does not support ActiveX and ActiveScript will be safer than Internet Explorer. In this case, less powerful is better.

Must have security apps - For Macintosh

Just the one suggestion from this Mac user.

Leo writes

These are FREE programs I recommend nearly every weekend. All Windows users should download and use these to protect themselves against viruses and spyware…

• http://www.webroot.com/products/spysweeper/ Webroot Spysweeper - Not Free but removes alot of the spyware.

• http://www.webroot.com/products/spysweeper/ Webroot Spysweeper - Not Free but removes alot of the spyware.

IE-based web browsers are not safer (Avant Browser, Crazy Browser, iRider, Maxthon [pka MyIE2], NetCaptor, NeoPlanet, SlimBrowser) since they only offer alternative interfaces plus some of the extra features on top of IE. These “shell” applications are not new browsers. Under that new “skins”, however, deep down they’re still IE! And still subjected to IE targeted attacks. Same issue at {{AlternativeEmailClientToMsOutlook}} and {{AlternativesToInternetExplorer}}. Read more about IE at Wikipedia:Internet_Explorer Wikipedia. —{{~Kalic}}

Safer Browsers

Also you can use http://www.netscape.com/ Netscape, or just as long as you stop using IE (Internet Explorer) for normal broswing the only reason you will needed it is to run Windows Updates and a few other things— Zkay

tocauto?

Must have security apps - For Windows

These are FREE programs I recommend nearly every weekend. All Windows users should download and use these to protect themselves against viruses and spyware…

Anti-virus

• http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php AVG free anti-virus - every bit as good as Norton and not as intrusive. AVG Free Final Edition is out with some of AVG’s 7.0 features.

Spyware Killers

You should only use one anti-virus at a time, but it’s ok to have multiple spyware killers. In fact, I recommend it.

• http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/ AdAware - One of the first Sypware killers and still one of the best
• http://www.safer-networking.org/ Spybot S&D - My favorite. Use the immunize feature to protect yourself against future infection.
• http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html Spyware Blaster - Run this to protect Internet Explorer from browser hijacking

Alternatives to Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is not the safest browser to use - nor is it the best. I recommend one of these free choices based on Mozilla (Wikipedia:Gecko_layout_engine Gecko).

• http://www.mozilla.org/ Mozilla - Full featured, includes an e-mail program and web design tool
• http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ Firefox - just the browser. Small, speedy, and powerful. My first choice for web browsing.
• Also you can use http://www.netscape.com/ Netscape, or just as long as you stop using IE (Internet Explorer) for normal broswing the only reason you will needed it is to run Windows Updates and a few other things— Zkay
• http://www.maxthon.com/en/index.htm/ Maxthon - A new browser with many features, ad and popup blocker, this browser is recomended for experienced users.

Q What software firewall you do you think good Leo? I’ve been using http://www.zonealarm.com/ Zonealarm long since before broadbrand connect was the norm. — Paul Wan

Zonealarm is a still very good firewall, but it suffers from creeping featuritis. My new favorite, free, firewall is the http://soho.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm Sygate Personal Firewall. It’s very powerful and has proved reliable on my system.

Which raises an important point. Anti-virus and firewall programs are very invasive. They have to be to get the job done. The programs I’ve recommended above are good and reliable, but as with any system level software they can cause problems on your machine. And since they’re free you can’t expect any support from the vendor. I’ve had good results with these programs, but your mileage may vary.

http://www.linksys.com/Products/image180/befsr41_v3.jpg
That’s why for most people I don’t recommend a software firewall. An Internet Wikipedia:router router like the Linksys http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=29&prid=561 Etherfast provides most of the protection of a software firewall without the relibility issues. If you’re using DSL a broadband router has the added advantage of replacing the software Wikipedia:PPPoE PPPoE dialer - which is convenient and can also improve reliability. Broadband routers are cheap, as little as $50.

We’ve had reports of installation problems with AVG Anti-virus. These are almost always caused by a virus infected system. Many new viruses and spyware programs block anti-virus installation. I recommend you scan your system for spyware and viruses before you attempt to install an anti-virus. There are several excellent free online virus scan programs for Windows (they require Internet Explorer by the way):

• http://housecall.antivirus.com Housecall from Trend Micro, makers of PC-Cillin
• http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/activescan.asp?Language=2&Country=63&Partner=1&Ref=EN-PR-AS-107 Panda Active Scan from Panda Software

There are others - please add them here.

• http://www.openbsd.org OpenBSD

• http://www.winpatrol.com WinPatrol from BillP Studios

Opera, like Mozilla and Firefox, is safer to use. My only problem with it is that is doesn’t support as many web pages as the Mozilla products do. Any browser that does not support ActiveX and ActiveScript will be safer than Internet Explorer. In this case, less powerful is better.

Must have security apps - For Macintosh

Just the one suggestion from this Mac user.

http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html Little Snitch: Network traffic monitor. Runs in background at startup. Once set up with ”rules” this a great app to prevent unathorised transmissions. Easy to configure. Nice interface in the System Preferences.
Linky: http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html

• http://www.maxthon.com/en/index.htm/ Maxthon - A new browser with many features, ad and popup blocker, this browser is recomended for experienced users.

• Also you can use http://www.netscape.com/ Netscape, or just as long as you stop using IE(internet explorer)for normal broswing the only reason you will needed it is to run Windows Updates and a few other things— Zkay

• http://www.winpatrol.com WinPatrol from BillP Studios

Although not an anti-spyware or anti-virus software, WinPatrol runs in your system tray to monitor any changes that spyware or malware can install or run while you’re surfing the internet, especially if you’re running Internet Explorer

• Also you can use http://www.netscape.com/ Netscape, http://www.maxthon.com/en/index.htm Maxthon, or just as long as you stop using IE(internet explorer)for normal broswing the only reason you will needed it is to run Windows Updates and a few other things— Zkay

• http://www.openbsd.org OpenBSD

• OpenBSD Firewall http://www.openbsd.org OpenBSD

• OpenBSD Firewall http://www.openbsd.org

• OpenBSD Firewall http://www.openbsd.org

• OpenBSD Firewall http://www.openbsd.org

• http://www.openbsd.org

Build yourself a dedicated UNIX Firewall using OpenBSD on an old PC. There are tons of manuals on there website.

Build yourself a dedicated UNIX Firewall using OpenBSD on an old PC. There are tons of manuals on there website. http://www.openbsd.org

• http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php AVG free anti-virus - every bit as good as Norton and not as intrusive. AVG Free Final Edition is out with some of AVG’s 7.0 features.

AVG Free Final Edition is out with some of AVG’s 7.0 features.

• http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/ AdAware - One of the first Sypware killers and still one of the best

QLeo, is Opera just as stable and secure as Firefox is? What do you think?

Opera, like Mozilla and Firefox, is safer to use. My only problem with it is that is doesn’t support as many web pages as the Mozilla products do. Any browser that does not support ActiveX and ActiveScript will be safer than Internet Explorer. In this case, less powerful is better.

• http://www.safer-networking.org/ Spybot S&D - My favorite. Use the immunize feature to protect yourself against future infection.
• http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html Spyware Blaster - Run this to protect Internet Explorer from browser hijacking

Internet Explorer is not the safest browser to use - nor is it the best. I recommend one of these free choices based on Netscape.

• http://spyblocker-software.com/IPB/index.php SpyBlocker Anti Spyware Software Forums

• http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html HijackThis Tool to find out if there is “hijack” software or advanced spyware on your system. Please read how to use. http://russelltexas.com/malware/faqhijackthis.htm FAQ for Hijackthis If you are do not have advanced knowledge about computers you should NOT fix entries using HijackThis without consulting an expert on using this program. If you have already run Spybot - S&D and Ad-Aware and are still having problems, then please continue with this tutorial and post a HijackThis log in our http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showforum=22 forums including details about your problem and we will advise you on what to fix. These are other message board’s that HighJack This post logs on. You will need to register and signup for these message board’s below to post your HighJack This log’s. They also can help you with your HighJack This log’s.

• http://www.besttechie.net/forums/ BestTechie.net
• http://computercops.biz/forums.html Computer Cops » Security Forums
• http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/ Lavasoft - protecting your privacy
• http://forums.net-integration.net/ Net-Integration Forums
• SpyBlocker Anti Spyware Software Forums
• http://forums.tomcoyote.org/ TomCoyote Forums

• https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm#IESPYAD Resources - Ad Blocking Resources - IE Spyad stop unwanted crapware from being installed behind your back via “drive-by-downloads”; prevent the hijacking of your home page and other key Internet Explorer settings; shut down ActiveX, Java, and scripting, all of which can be employed to push obnoxious advertising on you and compromise your privacy and security; block cookies, which can be used to monitor and track your travels around the Internet; combat obnoxious script-based popups that clutter your screen and force unwanted advertising on you.
• http://www.safer-networking.org/ Spybot S&D - My favorite. Use the immunize feature to protect yourself against future infection.
• http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html Spyware Blaster - Run this to protect Internet Explorer from browser hijacking

Internet Explorer is not the safest browser to use - nor is it the best. I recommend one of these free choices based on Netscape.

• http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html HijackThis Tool to find out if there is “hijack” software or advanced spyware on your system. Please read how to use. http://russelltexas.com/malware/faqhijackthis.htm FAQ for Hijackthis If you are do not have advanced knowledge about computers you should NOT fix entries using HijackThis without consulting an expert on using this program. If you have already run Spybot - S&D and Ad-Aware and are still having problems, then please continue with this tutorial and post a HijackThis log in our forums including details about your problem and we will advise you on what to fix.

• https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm#IESPYAD Resources - Ad Blocking Resources - IE Spyad stop unwanted crapware from being installed behind your back via “drive-by-downloads”; prevent the hijacking of your home page and other key Internet Explorer settings; shut down ActiveX, Java, and scripting, all of which can be employed to push obnoxious advertising on you and compromise your privacy and security; block cookies, which can be used to monitor and track your travels around the Internet; combat obnoxious script-based popups that clutter your screen and force unwanted advertising on you.

• http://www.mozilla.org/ Mozilla - Full featured, includes an e-mail program and web design tool

• https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm#IESPYAD Resources - Ad Blocking Resources - IE Spyad stop unwanted crapware from being installed behind your back via “drive-by-downloads”; prevent the hijacking of your home page and other key Internet Explorer settings; shut down ActiveX, Java, and scripting, all of which can be employed to push obnoxious advertising on you and compromise your privacy and security; block cookies, which can be used to monitor and track your travels around the Internet; combat obnoxious script-based popups that clutter your screen and force unwanted advertising on you.

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm#IESPYAD Resources - Ad Blocking Resources - IE Spyad stop unwanted crapware from being installed behind your back via “drive-by-downloads”; prevent the hijacking of your home page and other key Internet Explorer settings; shut down ActiveX, Java, and scripting, all of which can be employed to push obnoxious advertising on you and compromise your privacy and security; block cookies, which can be used to monitor and track your travels around the Internet; combat obnoxious script-based popups that clutter your screen and force unwanted advertising on you.

• http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html CWShredder Takes care of many hijacking software - run if you get many pop-ups/redirecting pages.
• http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html HijackThis Tool to find out if there is “hijack” software or advanced spyware on your system. Please read how to use. http://russelltexas.com/malware/faqhijackthis.htm FAQ for Hijackthis

Thanks to my cousin, I have been using a great spyware detection program from Webroot Software called Spy Sweeper. There’s a free version, but I suggest you subscribe in order to receive the definition updates. They’ll give you one free update with the free version. The software as well as info on how to subscribe can be found at www.webrootsoftware.com. This program is so good that I uninstalled Spybot. It’s a bit intrusive, but for anyone who’s serious about protecting themselves and others on the net, this program is a must.

http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html

Leo, is Opera just as stable and secure as Firefox is? What do you think?

There are others - please add them here.

Must have security apps - For Macintosh

Just the one suggestion from this Mac user.

Little Snitch: Network traffic monitor. Runs in background at startup. Once set up with “rules” this a great app to prevent unathorised transmissions. Easy to configure. Nice interface in the System Preferences.
Linky:
http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html

• Also you can use http://www.netscape.com/ Netscape or just as long as you stop using IE(internet explorer)for normal broswing the only reason you will needed it is to run Windows Updates and a few other things— Zkay

• Also you can use http://www.netscape.com/ Netscape or just as long as you dump IE(internet explorer) the only reason you will only needed it to run Windows Updatesand a few other things— Zkay

• Also you can use http://www.netscape.com/ Netscape or just as long as you dump IE(internet explorer) they only reason you will need to use it will be for Windows Updates-Zkay

Q What software firewall you do you think good Leo? I’ve been using http://www.zonealarm.com/ Zonealarm long since before broadbrand connect was the norm. — Paul Wan

Q What software firewall you do you think good Leo? I’ve been using http://www.zonealarm.com/ Zonealarm long since before broadbrand connect was the norm. — Paul Wan (Melbourne Australia)

That’s why for most people I don’t recommend a software firewall. An Internet Wikipedia:router router like the Linksys http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=29&prid=561 Etherfast provides most of the protection of a software firewall without the relibility issues. If you’re using DSL a broadband router has the added advantage of replacing the software Wikipedia:PPPoE PPPoE dialer - which is convenient and can also improve reliability. Broadband routers are cheap, as little as $50.

That’s why for most people I don’t recommend a software firewall. An Internet router like the Linksys http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=29&prid=561 Etherfast provides most of the protection of a software firewall without the relibility issues. If you’re using DSL a broadband router has the added advantage of replacing the software Wikipedia:PPPoE PPPoE dialer - which is convenient and can also improve reliability. Broadband routers are cheap, as little as $50.

http://www.linksys.com/Products/image180/befsr41_v3.jpg
That’s why for most people I don’t recommend a software firewall. An Internet router like the Linksys http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=29&prid=561 Etherfast provides most of the protection of a software firewall without the relibility issues. If you’re using DSL a broadband router has the added advantage of replacing the software PPPoE dialer - which is convenient and can also improve reliability. Broadband routers are cheap, as little as $50.

• http://housecall.antivirus.com Housecall from Trend Micro, makers of PC-Cillin

Q What software firewall you do you think good Leo? I’ve been using http://www.zonealarm.com/ Zonealarm long since before broadbrand connect was the norm. — Paul

Zonealarm is a still very good firewall, but it suffers from creeping featuritis. My new favorite, free, firewall is the http://soho.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm Sygate Personal Firewall. It’s very powerful and has proved reliable on my system.

Which raises an important point. Anti-virus and firewall programs are very invasive. They have to be to get the job done. The programs I’ve recommended above are good and reliable, but as with any system level software they can cause problems on your machine. And since they’re free you can’t expect any support from the vendor. I’ve had good results with these programs, but your mileage may vary.

We’ve had reports of installation problems with AVG Anti-virus. These are almost always caused by a virus infected system. Many new viruses and spyware programs block anti-virus installation. I recommend you scan your system for spyware and viruses before you attempt to install an anti-virus. There are several excellent free online virus scan programs for Windows (they require Internet Explorer by the way):

• from Trend Micro, makers of PC-Cillin
• http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/activescan.asp?Language=2&Country=63&Partner=1&Ref=EN-PR-AS-107 Panda Active Scan from Panda Software

There are others - please add them here.

Q What software firewall you do you think good Leo, Please post your recomendations.

• http://www.zonealarm.com/ Zonealarm - I’ve been using this software Firewall long since before broadbrand connect was the norm. (What are your views on this Leo?)

Zonealarm is a very good firewall, but it suffers from creeping featuritis. My new favorite, free, firewall is the http://soho.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm Sygate Personal Firewall.

• http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ Firefox - just the browser. Small, speedy, and powerful. My first choice for web browsing.

What software firewall you do you think good Leo, Please post your recomendations.

• http://www.zonealarm.com/ Zonealarm - I’ve been using this software Firewall long since before broadbrand connect was the norm. (What are your views on this Leo?)

• http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html Spyware Blaster - Run this to protect Internet Explorer from browser hijacking

These are FREE programs I recommend nearly every weekend. All Windows users should download and use these to protect themselves against viruses and spyware…

• http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php AVG free anti-virus - every bit as good as Norton and not as intrusive.

You should only use one anti-virus at a time, but it’s ok to have multiple spyware killers. In fact, I recommend it.

• http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ AdAware - One of the first Sypware killers and still one of the best
• http://www.safer-networking.org/ Spybot S&D - My favorite. Use the immunize feature to protect yourself against future infection.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html Spyware Blaster - Run this to protect Internet Explorer from browser hijacking

Internet Explorer is not the safest browser to use - nor is it the best. I recommend one of these free choices based on Netscape.

• http://www.mozilla.org/ Mozilla - Full featured, includes an e-mail program and web design tool
• http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ Firefox - just the browser. Small, speedy, and powerful. My first choice for web browsing.