Things I Do to Keep My Computer Spyware Free

I never really had any serious spyware problems. For some this may sound unbelievable but in fact it’s not so hard to keep your pc spyware free. And no, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on fancy products. Just follow a few simple rules and you should be fine. Here’s what I do:

1. I always have firewall, antivirus and antispyware software installed on my pc
2. I always keep all these applications updated.
3. I usually don’t browse warez, crackz or porn websites.
4. I never – and I mean never – accept any ActiveX installation from websites I know nothing or very little about.
5. I install Service Packs and Security Updates for Windows as soon as they are released.
   

When it comes about antivirus software there are a lot of options available and many of them are free. I use the free version of Avast on my laptop and the free version of AVG on my desktop pc. Both provide real time scan and are able to block and prevent a wide range of threats. I intend to discuss this in more detail in a later post so please let me know if you have any questions.

As I said a firewall is a must on any pc connected to the Internet. I go with the free version of ZoneAlarm but there are some other packages available, like the personal firewall from Kerio.

Keeping the security software updated is very important, especially with antivirus and antispyware. New spyware is released on the net every hour. Yes, that’s true. So in order to stay protected you need to get the latest updates from your antispyware company as soon as they are released. And hopefully they are released often enough to give you protection.

The so called “warez” or “crackz” sites are a common source of spyware. Even if it doesn’t look like, all these websites make money for their owners, in one way or another. And a good way of making money is by installing adware on people’s computers. As soon as you click a popup generated by spyware or adware they get a few cents. In other words, they are rendering your pc useless for a few cents. That’s why I avoid browsing such websites.

Security updates are very important. Spyware often exploits vulnerabilities in the operating system to invade your pc. That’s why is important to install every security update and service pack to patch as many holes as possible.

Actually, keeping your pc spyware free is not a hard task. Just use your common sense. And, if you got spyware on your pc don’t panic! You can find a lot of help on the Internet and you can clean up your computer without going to a repair shop.