Confused about internet security and safety?? Help please!

Question

Okay, so I just got DSL on my computer...and I want my computer to be as protected as possible from spyware and harmful viruses and stuff. However, I'm not as educated as I'd like to be in that department. MY computer came with a year of Norton, but it has expired. What programs do I need to have on my computer to help protect me? And could you tell me what the programs are for. I've been using Mozilla browser, instead of Internet Explorer, hoping that this would help protect me, but lately I've been getting pop-ups from p**n sites and other stuff. Help me clean and protect my computer, please! I'm so confused!

Answer 1

you should get stuff like AVG free

http://free.avg.com/ww.download-avg-anti...

and a squared free

http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/down...

( if you don't want to spend alot.) they are both anti- virus and spyware.

or if you are willing to spend some money get norton again or i reccomend ZONE ALARM

http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/h...

it's like the top dog for anti virus and spyware. but if you decide to get Zone alarm update your computer with windows updates first because zone alarm has locked people out of there internet with a new update but now there is a one to fix it. zone alarm force feild is the best browser security yet!

Answer 2

There are two main things that you need to protect your PC, real-time Anti-Virus software and a two way firewall (inbound and outbound) to stop hackers you can get them both completely free, these two work well together on XP:

Comodo Pro (firewall)

http://www.download.com/Comodo-Firewall-...

Avast Anti-Virus 4.8 Home Edition

http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Editi...

Tip: Install Avast then Comodo because Comodo can sometimes interfere with Avast's installation, I would recommend changing Avast's default skin for the Vista style skin available from their website - http://www.avast.com/eng/skins.html

Comodo comes top in leaktests

http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewal...

You should only browse the internet using a limited account not an administrative account, if a virus infects your computer and you are using an admin account it can make critical system changes, but a limited account does not have the power to make critical changes so the amount of damage a virus can do is limited.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityf...

Would also recommend that you use a safer browser like Mozilla Firefox 3, and download additional anti-spyware software my favourite is SuperAntispyware: http://www.download.com/SUPERAntiSpyware...

Firefox 3:

http://www.mozilla.com

You should Install the McAfee SiteAdvisor add-on - when you search for something using Yahoo, Google or MSN, site advisor displays either a green tick (safe site), yellow exclamation mark (use with care) or a red cross (dangerous site) next to every result. http://www.siteadvisor.com/