Decks top picks to keep your pc up and running
have an antivirus program they are many...this one I use and its FREE
1) Avg(runs in background on startup / always - do full scan once a month)
have a firewall program they are many...this one I use and its FREE
2) Privatefirewall (runs in background on startup / always)
Free standalone programs
3) CCleaner (after every browsing session /or just before turning off pc)
4) Spybot - Search & Destroy(once a month /when needed/trouble with programs on startup)
5) Malwarebytes (once a month /when needed )
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1) avg http://free.avg.com/gb-en/homepage
download and follow the instructions
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Privatefirewall
http://privacyware.com/personal_firewall.html
download and follow the instructions
The web may be free, but we all know that to safely bank online, buy music, software, or books, or even simply surf the web, there is a price to pay. To combat online threats, firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software have become essential investments for any home or business computer. These programs monitor and control system access and scan and remove your system of malicious or spying software.
But the range and sophistication of malicious software and hacking techniques is rapidly expanding and against which traditional software solutions do not provide a proactive defense. Now, Privacyware meets this need with Privatefirewall ― a proactive, multi-layered defense solution for Windows desktops and servers. What's more - Privatefirewall is absolutely FREE of charge - with no third party programs, tool bars, ads, or other piggy-back add-ons.
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3) CCleaner........(crap cleaner)
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
CCleaner is the number-one tool for cleaning your Windows PC. It protects your privacy online and makes your computer faster and more secure. Easy to use and a small, fast download.
This is a great free/fast program....I run it after I browsed the internet/or before I turn off(shutdown ) my pc
I would sort which cookies to keep on your PC first ,otherwise you will have to enter all your logins/passwords when you go to sites easy done thou...
You may choose to delete cookies for privacy reasons. Be aware, though, that some sites may forget your login data if you delete their cookies. Others will simply replace the cookie the next time you visit.
http://www.piriform.com/docs/ccleaner/ccleaner-settings/choosing-which-cookies-to-keep
By default, when you run the Cleaner, CCleaner deletes all of the cookies for all of your Web browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, and so on). There are two ways to keep cookies on your PC while still making full use of Ccleaner.
Option 2: To keep certain cookies on your PC
- In CCleaner, click the Options icon on the left.
- Click the Cookies button. The list may take a few seconds to load. This list displays cookies from all the browsers you have installed on your system.
- Cookies list in CCleaner.
- By default, all cookies are in the Cookies to Delete column. To keep cookies, move them to the Cookies to Keep column by selecting cookies and clicking the right-arrow button. You can select multiple cookies by using CTRL+click, or select a set of cookies in a row by clicking the first one and then SHIFT-clicking the last one.
CCleaner Tutorial by Majorgeeks.com
more tips/advice/help before running ccleaner
http://www.timeatlas.com/useful_utilities/free/ccleaner_removes_trash_and_tracks
Suggestions for First Time CCleaner Users
Below are some suggestions for people starting with this program. These are the type of suggestions I would give whether you're using CCleaner or a commercial application.
1. Read the beginner's guide the company posted on their website. It gives more information on the program. The company also has a forum area where people can post questions.
2. Find out which cookies you want to save before doing your first cleaning.
3.Always use the Analyze button before Run Cleaner. It doesn't take that long to glance at the analysis to see what will be deleted.
4. Don't go hog wild and delete everything on your first try. I would start with one category and see what the analysis shows.
5. Pay attention to the alert messages. I would be inclined to backup any registry entries if prompted.
6. Don't feel compelled to delete everything just because an option exists. If you're not comfortable with an option or don't think it would help, don't use it.
7. If you remove large amounts of data or files, defragment your hard drive.
If you're looking for free tools that can help clean your system or remove tracking information, this one is well worth your time. It's fast, clean and allows you the ability to decide what to remove. It may not have as many options as commercial programs, but it certainly alleviates your privacy concerns and clears the unwanted files from your computer.
How To Use CCleaner
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Spybot - Search & Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html
How To Take Some Startup Programs off Using Spybot
Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.
Tutorial
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/tutorial/index.html
** TIP
click on “MODE”(next to”FILE”) and select “advanced mode”
I really like the system startup
Spybot Search & Destroy: System Startup
Spybot System Startup
Spybot Search and Destroy can allow you to easily see what items are loading when Windows is started.
- From the left side of the Advanced Mode | Tools window, select 'System Startup'
- You should now see a screen similar to the sample shown below, that lists startup items specific to your PC.
- To prevent unwanted items from loading, remove the checkmark next to the corresponding entry in Spybot's list. Use caution and only remove those items you are certain are not necessary for the normal operation of the PC and desired programs.
*****TIP if you click on the bar on the far right with the 2 blue arrows on it ...it opens another window
and when in the scanning/ system startup menu it will tell you about what is selected in the mainwindow...(if need , virus etc....)
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5) Malwarebytes
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_Anti-Malware_d5756.html
Whether you know it or not, your computer is always at risk of becoming infected with viruses, worms, Trojans, rootkits, dialers, spyware, and malware of every kind. Malicious software is constantly evolving and becoming harder to detect and remove. Only the most sophisticated anti-malware technologies can detect and remove malicious programs from your computer. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware combines powerful new technologies designed to seek out, destroy, and prevent malware infections.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is an easy-to-use anti-malware application available in both a Free and PRO version. With over 100 million downloads, the Free version is well-known for its detection and removal capabilities, and the PRO version uses advanced protection technologies to proactively stop malware infections. Additionally, Malwarebytes offers a host of extra utilities as well as an approachable forum community to help you combat any piece of malware that exists in the wild.
Find out why IT experts, businesses and technical support centers all over the world employ Malwarebytes in their arsenal when fixing and defending their machines.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Tutorial by Majorgeeks.com