Tips to keep your PC clean

[Shaft]

The Internet is one of the greatest inventions; well in my opinion, but this great invention can cause great disaster. As technology and the exceeding of programming, more and more variants of malicious viruses, spyware, trojans, and ect are unleased to the Internet. To be honest with you, even if you have the lastest Anti-Virus, Firewall, "Blocker" with the lastest updates, your computer is still vulnerable. Not everything is perfect, but we can try can't we? I have came up with a few good pointers and tips to keep your PC clean.

Tip 1: Have you ever seen those pop-ups or advertisements that say, "You won a PS3" or "Who is this rapper?" I am sure most of you have. I know they are irresistible to not click, but try your best not to. These pop-ups or advertisements contain spyware and adware code that once click will be saved into your browser's cookies and history.

Tip 2: If you come across a website that isn't familar to your eye and it makes you install or download a file in order to enter the site, most likely the file contains malicious code that can harm your computer.

Tip 3: Like I mentioned above, even with the latest anti-virus or firewall, your computer is still vulnerable, but it is nice to have an anti-virus, firewall or anti-spyware tool that is updated in signature/defintion wise.

Tip 4: If you have an e-mail address and tend to read every e-mail you receive, you should becareful. Even if your e-mail provider has an anti-virus scanner, you shouldn't trust it. The file could be undetected, meaning that your anti-virus or security tool can't find the malicious code in the file, but is there. It is very easy to make a trojan or virus undetectable if you know how to hex and have a background in programming.

Tip 5: If you are using IE, Internet Explorer, I highly advise you to download FireFox or another web broswer. IE has many exploits, bugs and doesn't have a powerful way of blocking spyware and adware. I recommend you use Mozilla FireFox.

Tip 6: The ultimate tip is to be smart. It is like crossing the street; you must look both ways before you do. The Internet is the same.

I hope everyone gets a chance to read my tips and take them into consideration.

[Lyte]

Good tips! Thanks for adding them to our Security section! One can never have too many reminders!

Lyte

[dr911]

Also........if you are using IE....here is a way to block 99% of those "pop-ups".

Go to your "TOOLS"------>Internet Options----->Security--->Custom Level---->Scroll 2/3 of the way down & look for option "Scripting"....just disable the "Active Scripting" below the "Scripting" option.

For protecting your PC....another link here :PC Security !!!!

[Noner]

There are many programs also, that prevents advertisements and keeps your computer out of them. One of the best is Ad Muncher, which I am using myself too. It totally deletes all advertisements from your internet surfing and you dont so go to strange websites. It prevents a bit of your viruses, it's strange, that it's ad blocking program, but it may still help a lot in keeping your computer clean.

You can get it from here

[limainfinita]

I dont have antivirus installed in my computer.
I need my computer fast and antivirus and anti spy softwares turn pc little slower.

I use my computer to designing and talk with my friends
I dont visit to much sites, just 3 or 4 forums.

I dont accept any files from friends or any sites.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by limainfinita

I dont have antivirus installed in my computer.
I need my computer fast and antivirus and anti spy softwares turn pc little slower.

I use my computer to designing and talk with my friends
I dont visit to much sites, just 3 or 4 forums.

I dont accept any files from friends or any sites.

I wish you luck with that. All it takes is one slip with no protection and that fast and furious computer will only be furious.

I agree that common sense, which isn't too common with most users (not suggesting you), may be what's really needed to prevent problems. However, I'd never suggest that anyone connect to the internet in any fashion with zero protection.

[Noner]

Originally Posted by limainfinita

I dont have antivirus installed in my computer.
I need my computer fast and antivirus and anti spy softwares turn pc little slower.

I use my computer to designing and talk with my friends
I dont visit to much sites, just 3 or 4 forums.

I dont accept any files from friends or any sites.

It's not really about where you visit or what you do on your computer. It's about what network you are using and is your ip in hackers book. The hackers doesn't give you file, which you download and it brokes your computer only. They may hack your computer by passing to it, because you don't have antivirus or zone alarm. Also, they may have programs on your computer, which send all the things that you write with your computer including your bank account informations etc. You shouldn't take so big risk. Just get some light antivirus.

[Lyte]

I tend to agree. Going without any anti-virus is like walking outside naked! You don't have to go out dressed in a suit of armor but it's a good idea to have a little protection from the elements!

Lyte

[firestorm]

it only takes internet access to get a virus these days.

[cheapquality]

nice tips, now a days alot of tools to clean up the pc, but i do manually clean my pc. via windows disk cleanup, defragment etc...

[Dave]

Originally Posted by cheapquality

nice tips, now a days alot of tools to clean up the pc, but i do manually clean my pc. via windows disk cleanup, defragment etc...

I think the main idea of this thread was keeping your PC clean of malware, et al., not so much as defragging and disk cleanup. However, those are great things to do to keep that computer running well, but those won't take care of the malware.

Alot of cleaning of all types is necessary to keep that PC in tip top shape!