1) Antivirus - We'll start with the most obvious one. Antivirus software is designed to protect you from threats trying to get onto your computer. Antivirus software actively scans to protect you from the latest threats. In addition to performing regular scans of your hard drive, it will usually scan websites and downloads. If you do not have an antivirus on your computer, Avast and AVG are the two free programs I recommend. Make sure you only have one antivirus program that is actively scanning your computer. Running more than one program will cause conflicts that may allow viruses into your computer.
2) Firewall - A firewall uses rules to determine which network connections to allow. Without a firewall, anyone who knows or guesses your internet address (known as an IP address) can send you messages. While we can't stop them from sending messages to your IP address, we can stop those messages from ever reaching your computer. Most firewalls are configured upon installation to work with your computer, but you may need to enter exceptions to allow programs to connect to the internet.
Fortunately, Windows has a built-in firewall that runs automatically unless it detects another firewall, so you probably already have a firewall running. To check your firewall settings or enter exceptions, simply type "Windows Firewall" into a search box. If you want to use something other than the Windows Firewall, I recommend ZoneAlarm's free firewall. Just like antivirus software, you should never run more than one firewall on a computer.
Fortunately, Windows has a built-in firewall that runs automatically unless it detects another firewall, so you probably already have a firewall running. To check your firewall settings or enter exceptions, simply type "Windows Firewall" into a search box. If you want to use something other than the Windows Firewall, I recommend ZoneAlarm's free firewall. Just like antivirus software, you should never run more than one firewall on a computer.
3) Emergency Cleanup - It doesn't matter how good your antivirus is, it will not catch everything. When something slips past your antivirus software and a full scan still won't catch it, it is time to call in some backup! These programs scan like antivirus software, but they do not actively scan everything in the background and they are designed to work alongside your primary antivirus.
My preferred program is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Malwarebytes is totally free (although it will offer you a free trial of its premium version). Hitman Pro is free to scan. If malware is detected, it will offer you a free 30-day trial license to remove it. If you have already used the 30-day trial once, you will need to purchase a license in order to remove any malware.
My preferred program is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Malwarebytes is totally free (although it will offer you a free trial of its premium version). Hitman Pro is free to scan. If malware is detected, it will offer you a free 30-day trial license to remove it. If you have already used the 30-day trial once, you will need to purchase a license in order to remove any malware.
4) Emergency Boot - Malware is continually finding ways to make it harder to remove. I dealt with a computer recently that blocked the download of just about any antivirus software. Fortunately, I already had software downloaded onto a flash drive! Recently, there has been an abundance of malware that stops the boot process. The FBI scam is the most notable example. Instead of booting to your desktop, your computer is taken to a screen claiming that your computer has been locked by the FBI and requiring a MoneyPak code be entered to pay your "fine".
These emergency boot programs will bypass your computer's normal boot process in order to allow you to run their scanner. My preferred emergency boot program is made by the same company that I recommend for emergency cleanup programs: Malwarebytes Chameleon. Both programs contain instructions on how to set up a flash drive with the software for your use.
These emergency boot programs will bypass your computer's normal boot process in order to allow you to run their scanner. My preferred emergency boot program is made by the same company that I recommend for emergency cleanup programs: Malwarebytes Chameleon. Both programs contain instructions on how to set up a flash drive with the software for your use.
5) Website Reputation - When you conduct a search on Google (or some other site), the pages are ranked in order of the search engine's perceived relevance to your search terms. However, there are companies that specialize in getting websites to the top of your search results. If these companies are able to manipulate search engines to get to the top of your results, don't you think that the bad guys know the same tricks to get their pages up there, too?
When you get a list of search results or even visit a site, do you know what pages are safe and what are not? Fortunately, there are products that specialize in providing analysis of pages. My favorite is Bitdefender Traffic Light. It will analyze each page you visit and give you a green light (appears safe), a yellow light (appears questionable), or a red light (not safe). The traffic light appears at the top of your browser window and also next to your search results. Bitdefender Traffic Light is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, but it is not currently available for Internet Explorer.
6) Ad Blocker - For years, I refused to use or recommend using an ad blocker. I felt that advertising was the price we had to pay for the availability of free content on the internet, and I still hold that opinion today. However, recent stories of advertising networks allowing malicious software to be transmitted through their ads has changed my opinion on ad blockers.
I now use AdBlock Plus to block advertising. It is available for all major browsers, and it offers a great compromise between my feelings on internet advertising and security by not blocking non-invasive advertising (the criteria for this determination is set out on their website). If advertising networks are not going to keep us safe, then we will have to take the necessary steps to do it ourselves.
7) Privacy Protection - Websites are getting sneakier at tracking everything you are doing online so that they can give you "relevant" ads. Recently, it was revealed that two of the most popular cellular providers were using "supercookies" that were difficult to remove in order to track users. It seems like everywhere you go, there is someone wanting to watch you.
To assist in protecting my privacy online, I use Blur (formerly DoNotTrackMe). This will stop secret data collection on your devices. It also has the ability to mask your email address with a disposable one and generate and store secure passwords for all your accounts. (I do not currently use the password feature and I rarely use the email feature. I primarily use it to block tracking.) Blur is available on all major browsers and also for your mobile devices.
When you get a list of search results or even visit a site, do you know what pages are safe and what are not? Fortunately, there are products that specialize in providing analysis of pages. My favorite is Bitdefender Traffic Light. It will analyze each page you visit and give you a green light (appears safe), a yellow light (appears questionable), or a red light (not safe). The traffic light appears at the top of your browser window and also next to your search results. Bitdefender Traffic Light is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, but it is not currently available for Internet Explorer.
6) Ad Blocker - For years, I refused to use or recommend using an ad blocker. I felt that advertising was the price we had to pay for the availability of free content on the internet, and I still hold that opinion today. However, recent stories of advertising networks allowing malicious software to be transmitted through their ads has changed my opinion on ad blockers.
I now use AdBlock Plus to block advertising. It is available for all major browsers, and it offers a great compromise between my feelings on internet advertising and security by not blocking non-invasive advertising (the criteria for this determination is set out on their website). If advertising networks are not going to keep us safe, then we will have to take the necessary steps to do it ourselves.
7) Privacy Protection - Websites are getting sneakier at tracking everything you are doing online so that they can give you "relevant" ads. Recently, it was revealed that two of the most popular cellular providers were using "supercookies" that were difficult to remove in order to track users. It seems like everywhere you go, there is someone wanting to watch you.
To assist in protecting my privacy online, I use Blur (formerly DoNotTrackMe). This will stop secret data collection on your devices. It also has the ability to mask your email address with a disposable one and generate and store secure passwords for all your accounts. (I do not currently use the password feature and I rarely use the email feature. I primarily use it to block tracking.) Blur is available on all major browsers and also for your mobile devices.
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