by David Hakala
Even though there are dozens of free antivirus programs just waiting to download, many people don’t install or use these vital protections. They have all kinds of excuses. What’s yours?
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April 11, 2009
Free Antivirus Download Options
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April 3, 2009
What You Should Know About the Conficker Virus
by Tina Gasperson
You’ve probably already heard about Conficker, the April Fool’s Day virus that was purported to take control of infected computers on that day in 2009. Experts say that the virus didn’t act in as widespread a manner as first thought, but the virus is still out there and may even be circulating in a mutated variety, so don’t let your guard down yet.
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January 25, 2009
What Is History Swatter and How Do I Get Rid of It?
by David Hakala
Q: How does one get rid of History Swatter? And, how did one get History Swatter to begin with? — Bill
A: To get rid of History Swatter and a bunch of other adware you undoubtedly picked up with it, run a scan with an antivirus program such as Avast! Antivirus or an adware remover such as Ad-Aware Plus. Both are free for non-commercial home users.
You probably got History Swatter by downloading MyWebSearch Plus, or by downloading any of several hundred free applications that bundle MyWebSearch as part of their super-duper deals.
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January 18, 2009
What to Do If Your Computer Has a Virus or Trojan Horse
by Tina Gasperson
The Internet can be a dangerous place for a desktop computer. Sometimes it seems as if there are viruses lurking around every virtual corner. The people who write the code that makes these evil programs run are always thinking of new ways to lure us into their cyber clutches. And unfortunately, sometimes we take the bait.
If you’ve been tricked by a nasty little bit of code and your computer looks like it’s down for the count, don’t despair. Most of the time you can fix it by following a few simple steps.
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January 14, 2009
How to Select and Install the Appropriate Antivirus Software for Your Computer
by Tina Gasperson
These days, it is completely unadvisable to go online without a currently updated antivirus application running on your Windows-based desktop system. An unprotected computer is vulnerable to all manner of viruses, spyware, and Trojan horse programs that can take over your system without your permission. These unwelcome bits of software enter your computer when you download and run infected applications or visit Web sites that inject the malicious code through your browser. A good antivirus program will run in the background as you browse, protecting you from immediate dangers, and will also scan your entire system on a regular basis, using information from the latest known threats. Your antivirus software can save you hundreds of dollars in repair costs, and reduce the stress associated with losing important files and information stored on your hard drive. So what can you do to insure that your system is protected by a good antivirus program?
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January 6, 2009
How Many Anti-Malware Apps Do You Need?
by David Hakala
When your computer becomes infected with “something,” you quickly learn that there are myriad applications that may identify and eliminate the threat – or may not. No single anti-malware application cures every ill, just as no one antibiotic is a panacea against all diseases.
Malware comes in as many species as biological bacteria and virii. Some varieties specialize in exploiting vulnerabilities in browsers, others in instant-messaging apps, still others in operating systems, and so on. Malware authors are constantly improving their wares in a never-ending arms race against authors of anti-malware apps. There is no One and Final defense against malware.
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