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5 Key Steps To The Most Effective Spyware Protection
By Pete Walker
Antispyware programs alone are insufficient to protect our computers and data from spyware. Not only are there rogue programs being marketed that fraudulently claim to detect and remove spyware, but a single blocker will not remove all spyware.
My own remover evaluation of popular antispyware programs shows the best will only remove around 50 percent of spyware. This figure will vary with the amount and types of presented to the blocker. For instance, another independent test has shown detection and removal at the 70% level.
My point is... if you have an antispyware program, and you have installed on your computer, then there's a good chance your software is not removing all of it. Current advice for home and small office users is to use at least two antispyware programs -- but more of that later.
Spyware can be installed and have its effects on our computers through a number of different routes. So, by plugging these holes in our system, we can reduce the amount and type of that does get through. This, in turn, means our blockers have a lighter load with which to deal. What now follows are five steps to plug those holes and ensure that we have the best protection against available...
1. Install A Two-Way Firewall
A number of programs use our Internet connection to send our data, such as our address book and financial information etc, to a third party. Other will connect to base and download more advertisements or other malware to be run on our PCs. Having a firewall that controls outward bound traffic, as well as inbound, will block and warn of this activity.
For those of you relying on the Windows XP firewall, you may already know that it only screens incoming traffic, so you are not protected against that is 'phoning home'.
2. Check Your Anti-Virus Blocks Trojans
Anti-virus (AV) software is not currently designed to detect spyware. However, most AV software is good at stopping viruses and worms that are carrying a payload.
There are a few AV programs that are very effective at stopping Trojan horses... often used as or to take control of PCs, turning them into zombie computers. By ensuring you have one of these top AV programs, you'll not only have the best performing software against viruses and worms, but also better protection against Trojans than provided by removers.
3. Patch Your System
Some types of infect computers through system vulnerabilities. Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Outlook and Outlook Express have frequent security flaws, so are attractive targets for and other malware. By regularly checking for fixes, known as patches, for these flaws across all your software programs, your system will be at its optimal security setting against and other malware.
4. Change Internet Explorer
Most of us use Internet Explorer (IE) as our Internet browser. However, IE has been consistently plagued with security flaws, as mentioned above. A number of these flaws are to do with ActiveX controls, which spyware, such as browser hijackers and dialers, have taken advantage of. Security was so poor with IE, that US CERT advised people to use a different browser
for their computer protection.
The new IE7 browser is currently under test and promises to offer more protection. While you're waiting, I'd advise you to try an alternative browser, such as Mozilla Firefox or Opera, which, although not security heaven, are more resilient against and other attacks.
5. Install Top Of The Line Removers
The final -- and mandatory -- step in protection is the installation of antispyware. As I said earlier, there are fraudulent antispyware programs out there and even with the best antispyware, there is a high risk that all will not be removed from your PC.
Part of the answer is to install at least two, reputable and tested commercial programs. I say "commercial" because the programs I have tested and recommend far outperform the freeware programs. I'm not saying don't use free antispyware. In fact, the second part of the answer is to install three -- or even all -- of the following...
Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spybot - Search & Destroy, Windows Defender, SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard.
Why? Although not as effective as the bigger-bucks-development of the top antispyware products, tests have shown they can pick up sometimes missed by their more affluent cousins. By combining two commercial and three free remover programs, running one each day and taking the previous steps, you'll have erected an optimized shield around your computer to guard privacy and online security against the worst of spyware.
By following these five key steps, you'll have the most effective protection currently available. Article Source: http://www.articles-galore.com Dr Pete Walker's website advises home/office users about the online dangers and their effects. Independent tests and reviews show what really works for your protection. See Spyware Remover Evaluation
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