IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW    How you can protect your computer from possible attack: There are many techniques that hackers use to invade your computer. Once they are in, there are a myriad of methods used to stop your ability to get rid of them.  As a computer technician, I constantly hear of clients' astonishment that they have a problem despite virus protection.  Often they simply don't realize that there are countless ways to grant permission for entry into your computer inadvertently.  Without going into painful detail, I will enumerate some of the ways to avoid these inadvertent invitations: #1. Avoid file-sharing programs. Music is the primary thing transferred through file-sharing programs.  The concept of file sharing is, "I'll share my files with you and you will share your files with me."  We were all taught from childhood to share.  In a perfect world, file sharing would be a great concept.  But until there are better safeguards, it should be avoided with folks that you don't know on the Internet.  Hackers have had a heyday using the ports of file-sharing programs to interlope into peoples' machines.  They have nearly a perfect place to do this since they are intruding into peoples' systems who are usually violating certain laws themselves, namely copyright trafficking.  Can you imagine people complaining to the authorities?  "Officer, somebody put a virus in my PC when I was downloading pirated music!"  This is probably why there hasn't been a true ground swell to stop the malicious program invasion. #2. Never register your software when you install it on your computer. The software makers would love you to believe that you must register in order to truly benefit from their programs.  In most cases, all registering does is grant the company permission to invade your space, so to speak.  They use terms like "updates," "warrantees," "special offers," and "assistance" to lure you into registering.  In nearly all cases, updates, warrantees, and assistance are available without registering.  It's simply part of the purchase. What about special offers?  Let me translate that term: "We want your permission to advertise to you via your computer and it's resources."  If it were just that one company that would use this avenue to advertise to you, it might be tolerable - that is, as long as you don't mind them using up your resources and slowing down your system. Unfortunately though, malicious programmers can exploit such ports into your computer. #3. Use a router if you have broadband Internet. There are malicious automatic processes out on the Internet that scan randomly over IP addresses. When a vulnerable modem is found, it will send any number of predetermined programs through that modem to the computer.  Voila!  Youre infected.  This process is interrupted when you have a router that the signal must come through.  It's no guarantee, especially as a singular means of protection, but it does make it much harder for random hits from automatic processes. #4. Assume nothing. With the convenience of today's software it's easy to become complacent about your protection.  For example: Automatic Updates. They can give you a false sense of security.  I have Automatic Updates set up on my PC, but I assume nothing.  I still manually go to the Windows Update site once a week.  Same with my virus protection updates.  I regularly have clients that have fallen victim to "assumptionitus."  They assume their automatic updates are protecting them when, in reality, it has somehow discontinued (there are malicious programs that will turn auto-updates off).  Parents assume that their kids are not going to sites that will cause problems (this assumption happens usually when they are allowed to have their own Username, which is often password protected.  This is a practice strictly forbidden in my household for technical reasons as well as parental reasons).  We could even assume that our virus subscription is current when it has actually expired.  I regularly get calls from customers shortly after the first anniversary of my last visit, not coincidental to the exact length of most virus protection subscriptions.  Remember, be certain of everything.  Assume nothing.

This section lays out the steps you should take weekly. If you have questions or comments, please drop me a line. The following measures will only work effectively if your system has been properly cleaned and configured. If you choose to implement the following recommendations, be aware that if you are not certain that your system is free of all viruses, trojans, malicious programs, spyware, and adware, you can possibly make things worse. These preventive measures are exactly that: PREVENTIVE. They are not intended for a system that is already infected. Otherwise, the implementation of these measures could trigger pre-programmed punishments that nefarious code writers put in place to hinder your ability to remove the offending programs. (This is one of the reasons that people develop a prejudice against certain virus protection programs. Things actually get worse and the user makes the wrong assumption that it's because of a lousy virus protection program.) If you are certain of your system's current purity, the following steps will be quite effective if performed manually once a week.  The entire regimen should only take a total of about 15 minutes when done regularly. Norton Internet Security Live Update: Double Click the Norton Internet Security Icon on the desktop and single click the LiveUpdate button. Then click Next when prompted and finally click Finish when prompted. Remember, do not implement Parental Control even if prompted to do so. Windows Update: Double Click the Windows Update Icon on the desktop.  It will automatically connect to Microsoft's site and begin checking your system for any updates that you need.  Then it will give you a choice between Express Install Updates and Custom Install.  Always choose Custom Install because it allows you to download hardware and software updates in addition to High Priority updates.  The rule of thumb is to install all updates, even if you think you dont need them.  When the installation is finished you may be prompted to restart. Anti-Malware: Double Click the Anti-malware icon on the desktop.  Click on tab labeled "update" and then check for updates.  When it's finished, click Ok and then go back to the "scanner" tab.  Select "perform full scan" and then click Scan.  Make sure that only the box labeled "C" is selected and then click "start scan."  After the scan, allow it to get rid of anything it finds. Anti-Spyware: Double Click the Anti-spyware icon on the desktop.  Before running a scan, click on "check for updates."  When the program finishes downloading updates, go back to the main window and click on "scan your computer."  Under Scan Location, check the box next to the drive labeled "C."  Then click Next in the bottom right corner and let the scanner run.  When it's finished a box will appear.  Click Ok.  Then click Next.  If the program found any threats, it will take care of them automatically. Finally, click Finish. Defragmenter: Double Click the Defragmenter Icon (If there is more than one hard drive listed, be sure that the "C" drive is highlighted).  Then click Defragment on the lower left-hand side of the page.  When it's finished, a box will appear.  Click Close.  Typically, a defragment should take about one minute.  If it takes longer, run it several times in a row.  Long defragments mean you're simply not doing it often enough.  My personal system is large and can be defragmented in 26 seconds.