Try a online antivirus scanner and a online anti-adware/malware/spyware scanner in safe mode with network to clean up your computer BEFORE you download anything. This because the program you download can get infected.
Disable "System Restore" for Windows Me and XP, then restart your PC to clean your system restore points for viruses, spyware, adware etc.
Now restart in safe mode.
To get in safe mode Press "F8" upon bootup.
Select "Safe mode with Networking".
Go to Start – Run - type iexplore http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html Enter(ok).
Do a full system scan. If something is found, delete it, reboot and do the same again in safe mode with network.
When that scan does not find anything you reboot again in safe mode with network.
Go to Start – Run – type iexplore http://www.ewido.net/en/ Enter(ok).
Do a full system scan. If something is found, delete it, reboot and do the same again in safe mode with network.
**NOTE: Do NOT do anything else with your computer when scanning. This because you can start virus/adware/spyware/malware manually.
When no one of these scanners are showing anything you can reboot back to normal mode.
Turn on "System Restore".
Online virus, adware and spyware removal.
http://www.precisesecurity.com/antivirus...
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You need to get one antivirus program, one firewall and some spyware/adware/malware removers if you don't have it.
I use Norton Internet Security (antivirus, spyware, firewall, add blocker, mail spamfilter, pop up blocker etc) Ad Aware, Spybot and more on my desktop running XP Home SP2 with Firefox and Yahoo Toolbar with pop up blocker.
On my laptop i have Ubuntu 7.04. No security needed in Linux, but i use antivirus and firewall. Firefox is standard.
I have no virus, spyware, adware, pop ups etc on my computers.
Mozilla Firefox and Opera are safer browsers to use then Internet Explorer.
http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/produ...
http://www.opera.com/
Here are some free programs.
BitDefender Anti-Virus Free.
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en...
Avast Anti-Virus Free.
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.ht...
AVG Anti-Virus Free.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl...
Avast Virus Cleaner - free virus removal tool.
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cle...
Firewall Protection.
ZoneAlarm Firewall Free.
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/c...
Easy-to-use firewall blocks hackers and other unknown threats.
* Systematically identifies hackers and blocks access attempts.
Automatically makes your computer invisible to anyone on the Internet.
Use ZoneAlarm if you normally use Windows Firewall.
Disable Windows Firewall after downloading ZoneAlarm if it's not done automatically.
Ad-Aware 2007 Free.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_a...
Ad-Aware 2007 Free remains the most popular anti-spyware product for computer users around the world, with nearly one million downloads every week. Our free anti-spyware version provides you with advanced protection against spyware that secretly attaches and takes control of your computer, resulting in aggressive advertising pop-ups, sluggish computer activity, even identity theft through stolen bank details, passwords, and credit card account numbers. If you want real-time scanning capabilities, consider upgrading to Ad-Aware 2007 Plus for real-time protection against spyware, all the time.
SUPERAntiSpyware Free.
http://www.superantispyware.com/
AVG Anti-spyware Free.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/20/lng/us/tp...
Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirro...
AVG Anti-Rootkit Free.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/39798/lng/us...
AVG Anti-Rootkit is a powerful tool with state-of-the-art technology for detection and removal of rootkits. rootkits are used to hide the presence of a malicious object like Trojans or keyloggers on your computer. If a threat uses rootkit technology to hide itself it is very hard to find the malware on your PC. AVG Anti-Rootkit gives you the power to find and delete the rootkit and to uncover the threat the rootkit is hiding.
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. But the best part is that it's fast and contains NO spyware or adware.
http://www.ccleaner.com/
ClearAllHistory - clears browser history, cache, cookies, clipboard and remove other computer activity tracks.
http://www.clearallhistory.com/delete-pa...
**NOTE: Only have one antivirus program and one firewall installed on your computer.
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav...
Anti-adware/malware/spyware are ok to have more of.
Also scan with online scanners sometimes.
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home....
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols...
Also run Windows Update http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
and defragment you hardisk(s).
How To Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305781
MY SECURITY
Windows Defender
Windows Firewall
Avast anti virus
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-...
Spyware Blaster anti spyware
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownlo...
Spybot anti spyware
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/downl...
Firefox 3.0 web browser
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all...
Firefox Security Extentions:
Dr Web link checker
This plugin allows you to check any file you are about to download, any page you are about to visit with online version of Dr.Web anti-virus!
New menu item "Scan with Dr.Web" will appear on hyperlink context menu.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox...
Finjan multi blocker
Finjan SecureBrowsing alerts you when any malicious content in a webpage
that proactively alerts when you encounter a potential malicious content hiding behind links of search results, ads and other selected web pages.
is a free service that proactively alerts you to potential malicious content hiding behind links of search results, ads and other selected web pages. Finjan SecureBrowsing accesses each of the URLs in its current form on the web, and scans the relevant pages in real time using Finjan's patented behavior-based technology. Finjan SecureBrowsing then displays a safety rating next to each link it has scanned.
is a security extension for your browser that scans and classifies web addresses to provide you with safety rating of URLs before you visit them. Proactively alerting you to potentially malicious web addresses in links of search results, ads and other selected web pages, SecureBrowsing protects you from webpages that could be used to compromise your privacy and identity.
in searches [ google,yahoo,ect ] there will be green [ safe ],yellow [ caution ] and RED [ DANGER ] icons on each link
PAY ATTENTION HERE TO THOSE RED [ DANGER ] ICONS !
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox...
Blocksite website Blocker
* Privacy & Security
BlockSite is an extension, which automagically blocks websites
of your choice. Additionally, this extension will disable all
hyperlinks to these websites, by just displaying the link text
without the clicking functionality.
This extension should by no means be used for parental control
or access control purposes, just because it isn't secure and
can easily be disabled or even removed.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox...
Remove It Permanently
\Permanently hide content from web pages using the Context Menu.
Simply, click and "Remove it Permanently".
Now includes previewing of items before removal
I have found that MOST of my security problems were coming from sites like Washington Times,Salon,USA Today,ect.
they all have [ drive by ] flash ads that leave a pop UNDER when you leave the site.
R.I.P. when R.I.P. option remove from this domaim is used,those flash ads no longer are loaded.
you get a bar at the top of the page saying parts of the website were not loaded.
just click away and not worry about those flash tracking cookies anymore
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox...
Suggested Internet Options Security Settings:
control panel
internet options:
Advanced tab:
all unsafe/unsigned ActiveX disabled
unsafe authenticode disabled
Scriptlets disabled
File Prompting disabled
Access Across Domains disabled
Scripting Internet Explorer disabled
No Addressbar or status bar disabled
Launch Unsafe Applications/Files disable
Software Permissions high safety
Allow Statusbar update By Script disabled
Allow Websites Prompt for Info Using Scripts disabled
Privacy Tab:
advanced
override
allow 1st party cookies
3rd party [ spy/malware/tracking ] cookies BLOCKED
Firefox Options Security
Content:
check block pop ups
should pop ups get through [ and they will ],get the url and enter that in the load images section and choo