Post by WalksInSpirit on Aug 21, 2005 2:22:56 GMT -5
Maruawe!
Since a few people we know have been having problems with viruses, I thought I'd do a post here about them, and share some free tools that will help safeguard your computer from viruses & spyware. (Also, for people using Windows 2000, I am adding information on the Zotob.A Worm & the patch Microsoft is offering to safeguard against infection. Please scroll down for that information.) I have also added some routine maintenance tips below. From time to time, folks have a hard time staying connected while in chat. This can be caused by these maintenance problems I'll address below.
First, we all know not to open attachments from people we don't know. And even with attachments from people we know, we still must be careful. They could have a virus and not know it.
Second, we must run a good anti-virus software, like McAfee or Norton. These are equally as good.
Third, we run a good anti-spyware software. Microsoft has a new one, and it's free. We really like it. It blocks the spyware before it gets on your computer. It's called Microsoft Windows Defender (Beta). You can get it by clicking on the hyperlink. Actually, we run two anti-spyware programs. The second is Ad-Aware SE. It's free also. You can get it by clicking on the hyperlink.
Fourth, and finally, we run a good firewall. ZoneAlarm is one of the best firewalls around, and it's free. We have been using it for a while now. You can download by clicking the hyperlink.
For those of you who are running Microsoft Windows 2000, the Zotob.A Worm is now on the loose. It only affects the Windows 2000 based operating systems. Microsoft has issued the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-039 Security Patch to help prevent infection from the Zotob.A Worm. Click on the hyperlink to read more about the Zotob.A Worm, and to download the Security Patch from Microsoft.
To keep your computer running at it's optimum, (and to avoid being disconnected from chat servers) there's a couple of things I recommend doing daily. The first is to delete your Temporary Internet Files. If you have Windows Operating System, this is done by going to Start, Control Panel, and double-click on the Internet Options icon. When the box pops up, look halfway down. You'll see "Temporary Internet Files." In that section, click on the "Delete Files" button. Also, go ahead and click on the "Delete Cookies" button. This is the second suggestion I make for daily maintenance. Cookies are small packets of information deposited on your hard drive by every website you visit. So, it is easy to see how your computer can get bogged down after a while of not getting rid of them! "temporary Internet Files" are files from websites you visit, such as graphics, that are stored locally on your hard drive to speed up the loading of websites you visit. Again, it's easy to see how your computer can get very cluttered, very fast!
One more thing I recommend doing is defragmenting your hard drive at least once every two weeks, if you are an avid[/u] internet user, or once a month if you don't use your computer as much. To do this, go to Start, My Computer, then, click the right mouse button on the icon for your hard drive (in most computers, this is C:). It will most likely say "Local Drive." In the menu that pops up, click your left mouse button on "Properties." A box will pop up. You'll see a button that says "Disk Cleanup." Go ahead and click on that. When the Disk Cleanup is finished, go back to that box, and click on the "Tools" tab. Then, click on the "Defragment Now" button. Another box will open up. When it does, you will need to click on "Defragment" again.
These steps should keep your computer secure and running smooth. Hope this helps![/size]
Since a few people we know have been having problems with viruses, I thought I'd do a post here about them, and share some free tools that will help safeguard your computer from viruses & spyware. (Also, for people using Windows 2000, I am adding information on the Zotob.A Worm & the patch Microsoft is offering to safeguard against infection. Please scroll down for that information.) I have also added some routine maintenance tips below. From time to time, folks have a hard time staying connected while in chat. This can be caused by these maintenance problems I'll address below.
First, we all know not to open attachments from people we don't know. And even with attachments from people we know, we still must be careful. They could have a virus and not know it.
Second, we must run a good anti-virus software, like McAfee or Norton. These are equally as good.
Third, we run a good anti-spyware software. Microsoft has a new one, and it's free. We really like it. It blocks the spyware before it gets on your computer. It's called Microsoft Windows Defender (Beta). You can get it by clicking on the hyperlink. Actually, we run two anti-spyware programs. The second is Ad-Aware SE. It's free also. You can get it by clicking on the hyperlink.
Fourth, and finally, we run a good firewall. ZoneAlarm is one of the best firewalls around, and it's free. We have been using it for a while now. You can download by clicking the hyperlink.
For those of you who are running Microsoft Windows 2000, the Zotob.A Worm is now on the loose. It only affects the Windows 2000 based operating systems. Microsoft has issued the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-039 Security Patch to help prevent infection from the Zotob.A Worm. Click on the hyperlink to read more about the Zotob.A Worm, and to download the Security Patch from Microsoft.
To keep your computer running at it's optimum, (and to avoid being disconnected from chat servers) there's a couple of things I recommend doing daily. The first is to delete your Temporary Internet Files. If you have Windows Operating System, this is done by going to Start, Control Panel, and double-click on the Internet Options icon. When the box pops up, look halfway down. You'll see "Temporary Internet Files." In that section, click on the "Delete Files" button. Also, go ahead and click on the "Delete Cookies" button. This is the second suggestion I make for daily maintenance. Cookies are small packets of information deposited on your hard drive by every website you visit. So, it is easy to see how your computer can get bogged down after a while of not getting rid of them! "temporary Internet Files" are files from websites you visit, such as graphics, that are stored locally on your hard drive to speed up the loading of websites you visit. Again, it's easy to see how your computer can get very cluttered, very fast!
One more thing I recommend doing is defragmenting your hard drive at least once every two weeks, if you are an avid[/u] internet user, or once a month if you don't use your computer as much. To do this, go to Start, My Computer, then, click the right mouse button on the icon for your hard drive (in most computers, this is C:). It will most likely say "Local Drive." In the menu that pops up, click your left mouse button on "Properties." A box will pop up. You'll see a button that says "Disk Cleanup." Go ahead and click on that. When the Disk Cleanup is finished, go back to that box, and click on the "Tools" tab. Then, click on the "Defragment Now" button. Another box will open up. When it does, you will need to click on "Defragment" again.
These steps should keep your computer secure and running smooth. Hope this helps![/size]
