Securing your system for free

Before installing any added protection, let's start by plugging the existing holes in Windows by visiting Microsoft Windows Update. Download and install all of the patches under Critical Updates and Services, I also recommend installing most if not all of the Windows updates. However, the Driver Updates section should be used as a last resort, when the manufacturer of your hardware does not have a functional driver available. Please note that from time to time an update may need to be downloaded and installed separately. Return to the update site until you have installed all of the patches relating to your machine. Microsoft releases updates the second Tuesday of each month. I would recommend running update the second Wednesday (or Thursday) of each month. If you are running Windows XP without Service Pack 2, backup your machine and install Service Pack 2.

A quick shot for what ails you...

There are a number of anti-virus tools and packages available on the web. "Which are the best?" is a matter of debate. In my opinion, the best are AVG Anti-virus from Grisoft, AntiVir from Avir and Avast from Alwil. Only install one! On top of being excellent anti-virus solutions, they offer free versions of their software for non-commercial use at home. The programs are ready to use after the customary download, install, restart, and update. A few basic settings can be modified on each, once up and running. Whichever antivirus you choose, update your anti-virus at least once a week. Both Avast and AVG have update options. AVG can be set to automatically update, but setup for email clients other than Outlook can be troublesome. Avast works with most email clients, but will need to be updated manually.

Get a second opinion...

Added 2005-08-27 Just because your antivirus of choice says you're clean, doesn't mean that it hasn't missed "something". It is a bad idea to install multiple antivirus programs, however there are a few free online scanners available. I recommend checking Trend Micro's Housecall, Panda Software's ActiveScan, and F-Secure Online Virus Scanner. Let's say that you sit down to update your security once a week. Why not run one of the following scans while your downloading your updates? Every week you could run a different online scanner. So over the course of a few weeks, you have had constant protection from your and second, third and fourth opinions.

I always feel like somebody's watching me...

The next major point to make is that even though you may not have encountered any virus attacks, your system and or personal information may be at risk from other programs hiding on your computer. To remove existing spyware and block future infections, you'll need three programs. (Note: Spyware is software which collects data about you, your browsing habits, and in some cases even your personal and financial information.) Typically spyware comes from unscrupulous websites and developers or as an unwanted add-in during installation of seemingly desirable software.

Removal and blocking software
1. Spybot Search & Destroy Removes existing spyware Prevents (re)infection with real-time monitoring Prevents (re)infection by blocking security holes
2. Spyware Blaster Prevents (re)infection by blocking bad cookies in Internet Explorer and Firefox Prevents (re)infection by blocking bad sites in Internet Explorer

--Begin 2005-10-16 Edit--

A neat trick with Spybot is that it can be configured to automatically start, update, clean and close. This can be useful, especially if you tend to forget to do regular maintenance.

Here's how!
1. Copy the Spybot shortcut to your desktop.
2. Right-click on the shortcut and choose properties.
3. Click the Shortcut tab.
4. Go to the end of the Target field.
5. Copy /taskbarhide /autoupdate /autoimmunize /autocheck /autofix /onlyspyware /autoclose to the end of the Target field.
6. Click OK
7. Move the edited Spybot shortcut to your Startup folder.

--End 2005-10-16 Edit--

Shields up! Red alert!

So now that you have your system cleaned and protected from malicious software, what's next? Protection from direct attacks by hackers. This is where a very special piece of the puzzle comes in. Suppose you had a security guard at home that worked for free. Essentially this is the what a firewall does. There are two basic types of firewall, software-based and hardware-based. While I highly recommend the use of a hardware firewall, many software firewalls can prove nearly as useful when dealing with small numbers of computers. For now we will focus on two software-based firewalls. For those of you with Windows 2000 and XP, you're in luck, sort of. XP has a built-in software firewall. To enable it click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Windows Firewall, then choose On (recommended) and click OK. My second suggestion is Zone Alarm PC Tools Firewall Plus. Only one firewall can be installed active at a time, but Zone Alarm PC Tools Firewall Plus can disable Window's built-in firewall. It is easy to install, configure, and use. There are more robust software firewalls available, but most of them have some fee applied and we're discussing free for now. Zone Alarm starts by blocking everything coming and going from your PC. When you use a web related program, ZoneAlarm asks if you would like to let it through this time, every time or never. Should you choose to let the program through this time only, it will prompt you when you start the program the next time. If you choose to always let the program through, you will only be prompted again if the programs changes due to updates or reinstallation. If you choose to never allow a program to connect to the internet, you will need to manually re-enable access for the program later, should you change your mind. I know this may sound a little complicated, but after a few days to a week the interruptions of ZoneAlarm will pass. Plus you can sleep better knowing that you have plugged many holes in your system's defenses. With the prices of hardware firewalls dropping lately, it may be worthwhile to consider PC Tools Firewall Plus.

Careful what you ask for...

So now you're all safe and secure, but some of the web pages you visit are slowing you down with their pop-up ads. What can you do about it? Many people use Google to search the web, but Google also offers a toolbar plug-in for Internet Explorer and Firefox. Not only does Google Toolbar allow you to search from the top of your browser window, but it blocks webpage pop-ups as well. You can even choose to allow pop-ups for specific sites, or individual clicks. Those of you with Windows XP SP2 and IE7 can use the new Interent Explorer pop-up blocker.

Make a switch

One quick final suggestion. Stop using Internet Explorer and Outlook/Outlook Express. Start using Firefox and Thunderbird. Firefox has tabbed browsing and superior security. Thunderbird has RSS feed reading and spam-blocking built-in.