IndiGenus
Here you go. These are what I use. Safe, effective, and best of all, all free. Only use 1 antivirus and 1 firewall, but the rest can be used for layered protection.
Also, here is a link to a great tutorial on reformatting and installing XP. It's from one of the experts in these forums.
http://spyware-free.us/tutorials/reformat/
Once you do that, use these to stay clean.
Use an AntiVirus Software - It is very important that your computer has an anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future. Here is a list of some free and evaluation versions to try: AVG AntiVirus
Avast Antivirus Home Version–Free
Antivir Personal - Free
Online Scanners:
Trend Micro Housecall
Use a Firewall - I can not stress how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. Here are some free and evalutation versions that provide
better security than the Windows Firewall.Sunbelt Personal Firewall
Outpost Firewall
For a tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some other available ones see the link below:
Understanding and Using Firewalls
Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site Frequently - It is important that you visit http://www.windowsupdate.com regularly or set your computer to receive automatic updates. This will ensure your computer has always the latest security updates available installed on your computer. If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical updates.
Install Spybot - Search and Destroy - Spybot: Search And Destroy with its TeaTimer option. This will provide realtime spyware & hijacker protection on your computer alongside your virus protection. You should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Using Spybot - Search & Destroy to remove Spyware , Malware, and Hijackers
Install Ad-Aware - Ad-Aware SE You should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software in conjunction with Spybot.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Using Ad-aware to remove Spyware, Malware, & Hijackers from Your Computer
Install SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster will added a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious programs.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
Install SpywareGuard - SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Using SpywareGuard to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
Use IESpy-Ad -
IESpy-Ad will block access to malicious websites so you cannot be redirected to them from an infected site or email. Instructions for set up and use can be found at the website.
Update all of your Anti-Malware programs regularly - Make sure you update all the programs I have listed and the ones you are currently running regularly. Without regular updates you Will Not be protected when new malicious programs are released.
Here is a great link to a post here on securing your PC after an attack.
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?show…mp;#entry257163
Also, here is a link to a great tutorial on reformatting and installing XP. It's from one of the experts in these forums.
http://spyware-free.us/tutorials/reformat/
Once you do that, use these to stay clean.
Use an AntiVirus Software - It is very important that your computer has an anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future. Here is a list of some free and evaluation versions to try: AVG AntiVirus
Avast Antivirus Home Version–Free
Antivir Personal - Free
Online Scanners:
Trend Micro Housecall
Use a Firewall - I can not stress how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. Here are some free and evalutation versions that provide
better security than the Windows Firewall.Sunbelt Personal Firewall
Outpost Firewall
For a tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some other available ones see the link below:
Understanding and Using Firewalls
Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site Frequently - It is important that you visit http://www.windowsupdate.com regularly or set your computer to receive automatic updates. This will ensure your computer has always the latest security updates available installed on your computer. If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical updates.
Install Spybot - Search and Destroy - Spybot: Search And Destroy with its TeaTimer option. This will provide realtime spyware & hijacker protection on your computer alongside your virus protection. You should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Using Spybot - Search & Destroy to remove Spyware , Malware, and Hijackers
Install Ad-Aware - Ad-Aware SE You should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software in conjunction with Spybot.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Using Ad-aware to remove Spyware, Malware, & Hijackers from Your Computer
Install SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster will added a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious programs.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
Install SpywareGuard - SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Using SpywareGuard to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
Use IESpy-Ad -
IESpy-Ad will block access to malicious websites so you cannot be redirected to them from an infected site or email. Instructions for set up and use can be found at the website.
Update all of your Anti-Malware programs regularly - Make sure you update all the programs I have listed and the ones you are currently running regularly. Without regular updates you Will Not be protected when new malicious programs are released.
Here is a great link to a post here on securing your PC after an attack.
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?show…mp;#entry257163
