All of the below listed software is, as of this writing, freeware. Vendors who do have “Pro” versions of their software have the tendency to try to hide the link to the freeware version in the hopes that you'll click on the "Pro" versions. Make sure you get the freeware versions, which are adequate, unless of course, you want to pay for the "Pro" versions.
http://www.lavasoft.de or
http://www.lavasoftusa.com to download/install/update then run the freeware program named Adaware and rid your system of spyware. You'll have to update and run it occasionally but if Spyware Blaster, ( second item down, ) does its job then adaware may not find anything new to delete.
http://www.enigmasoftwaregroup.com/jump7.shtml to download/install/update and run. It is SpyBot Search and Destroy which is similar to Adaware. You’ll have to update and run this program occasionally if Spyware Blaster doesn’t do its job.
http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/ scroll down to the Spyware Blaster link, ( which is freeware, )/download/install and update it then run it to stop spyware from getting on your machine before the fact. You'll have to update and run it occasionally.
http://www.panicware.com for the freeware version of Pop-Up Stopper/download/install/tell it to start with windows.
http://www.grisoft.com for the freeware version of AVG anti-virus software/download/install/update and run a scan. You'll have to update and run it occasionally.
http://www.zonelabs.com for the freeware version of ZoneAlarm which is a software firewall. It will stop a lot of the intrusions into your system.
http://freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Access_Control_Utilities/Empty_Temp_Folders.html has a program named EmpTemp 2.8.1 which, when configured properly, will delete all unnecessary files and make your computer more secure by deleting your internet, history, cookies, and temp files.
If you have Microsoft.NET framework installed you should go to
http://www.kalavath.co.uk to download and install then configure Ki-Washer. It has an additional feature that EmpTemp does not have in that it also deletes the *.dat files, ( which can still burn you even if the temporary internet files have been removed, ) in the Temporary Internet Files folders . It also has the added advantage of being able to “Keep” those files that are a necessity. However, the .NET framework is an absolute must or the program will not install. The .NET framework can be found at the Windows Update Site, which is here:
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp If you are concerned about spam email then you can go to the following link, scroll down to Mail Washer and click the Download link to download then install Mail Washer which is a program designed to let you check the email on your mail server before it ever downloads to your computer. You can then delete the email on the server before it gets to your computer.
If you are running WinXP then you may want to consider disabling Windows Messenger Service, ( not to be confused with MSN Messenger Service, ) if you are not on a corporate network whereby the dreaded system administrator sends messages to work stations using Windows Messenger then it can be disabled as follows:
Right-click My Computer/click on Manage/in the right-hand pane click the plus sign, ( +, ) in front of Services and Applications/click Services/look in the right-hand pane and scroll down, if necessary and find “Messenger”/right-click it/click on Properties/click the little down arrow to the right of the text box and click on Disable/click Apply/click the Stop button/Click Apply again, if necessary/click OK/at some point you may get a message telling you that you have to reboot/If you have already clicked on the Stop button then there is no need to reboot.
One or more of the above applications may give to you an error message that MSCOMCTL.OCX is missing. You can go to the following site to download either the zipped version or the unzipped version:
http://www.glrecordings.com/superyahtzee/mscomctl.html One or more of the above programs, upon attempting to install it, may give to you an error message that you are missing the Visual Basic Runtime Version 6.0 files. The Visual Basic 6.0 install file can be downloaded here, on the link named VBRUN60.EXE:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/Q192/4/61.ASP&NoWebContent=1 All of the above software has Help and/or Tour and Tutorial files that will assist you in learning how to operate and configure the programs.
Computer security is a major concern and you should be diligent in keeping the above programs installed, updated, run and scan your computer using the appropriate programs, where necessary, on a regular basis.
On a somewhat non-related issue you may want to go to the following site to download then install and configure the freeware program named framxpro.zip which will optimize your computer system memory:
http://sac-ftp.gratex.sk/utilmisc23.html You’ll need Winzip, which is a “shareware” program that can be used on a “trial” basis, to unzip the zipfile which can be found at the following site:
http://www.winzip.com One other note about spam and/or sites that would sell or share your personal information with other spammers:
Sometimes when visiting a site you are asked to “sign up.” They ask for your name, email address, home address, home phone number and similar information. Never, EVER fill out these forms with accurate information unless it is a site that you know can be trusted. For your name, misspell it. For your street address, misspell the street name or use the wrong address. For you telephone number, invent one.
( While it is a shame that I have to suggest doing things that are less than honorable, I feel that in this day and age of the internet that one has to “fight fire with fire.” )
Now, as for your email address the following is what I do and recommend to others to do:
Create a Yahoo email account. Do NOT use the same prefix as your valid ISP email address. Now, whenever you visit a site that says you have to “sign up,” then you can use the Yahoo account email address. Also, on many sites where you have to “sign up” there are usually little check boxes that are checked by default. Some sites try to hide these check boxes just as you would see “fine print” on some contracts. Sometimes there is more than one check box. One check box might indicate that “I want to receive updates from you.” The other might say, “Yes, it is OK for you to share my information with partner companies.” On those sites that have only one check box there is usually a double statement such as, “I want to receive updates and important information from you and I also want to receive information from partner companies.” Uncheck those boxes unless you want to receive the information. ( By keeping these boxes checked then you are, in essence, agreeing to receive spam and have no recourse…..you asked for “it” and they are going to see that you get “it.” ) In this way you won’t start getting spam on your “real” ISP email address. ( Note: The Yahoo account has to be checked less than every thirty days or it is deactivated. Also, if the inbox of the Yahoo account fills up it is deactivated. ) Therefore, you’ll have to check the account regularly to keep it active. However, it is a small price to pay to keep your valid email address clean of spam. Yahoo’s email program has a built-in spam filter and it puts all suspect email in the “Bulk” email folder. Don’t give out your Yahoo account to any of your known good contacts. In this way you know that any email you do receive is unwanted email and all you have to do is to delete all of it without even looking at it.
If you want to have an alternate internet email address that can be used in the event that you do not have access to your ISP account from a remote computer and that can be given to your known good contacts then create a Hotmail email account.
Most ISPs will allow you to have more than one email account. If push comes to shove you can always create a bogus email address on your ISP account that you never intend to check. You can also use that email address at sites where you have to “sign up.”
Don’t EVER store credit card numbers on your computer. Hackers can find them. Don’t EVER give random sites your credit card numbers unless you explicitly trust those sites. You can give credit card numbers at the sites of your credit cards or if the site address begins with “
https://” as opposed to
http://. The “s” denotes a Secure website.
Don’t EVER enable “File Sharing” on your computer unless you are on a network and simply have to share files.
You can also find literally thousands of freeware programs at the following sites if you click on the Freeware link at the site. You may want to “experiment” with the various programs available at those sites if you want to find programs that you like better than the ones I have suggested above:
http://www.webattack.com http://www.winsite.com At the webattack site the freeware programs are arranged by category.
At the winsite site you’ll have to do a little bit more reading.
If you want a good search engine that I think surpasses Google then go to the following site to download and install the freeware version of Copernic Agent:
http://www.copernic.com It has a feature that will let you search for “Exact Phrase” which Google lacks. I find that feature to be most useful. Copernice searches many of the major search engines simultaneously.
Finally, KEEP YOUR WINDOWS CRITICAL UPDATES UP TO DATE! KEEP ALL OTHER WINDOWS UPDATES CURRENT! KEEP ALL OF YOUR OTHER SECURITY AND ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE UP TO DATE! IF YOU ARE RUNNING WINXP KEEP THE BUILT-IN FIREWALL ENABLED!
I hope this helps you.
Great products, many of which I already use. I would add one thing to your list. Mozilla (or Firebird) should be used as a primary browser. They meet your criteria of free downloads, and they have the advantages of great cookie control and tabbed browsing.
