Tip O'Tex Computer Club
November 2005 Newsletter
UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE
ANTI-VIRUS
This week, Grisoft put out several AVG updates. There has probably been a great deal of activity on the part of virus writers. Because one company is doing this, its logical to believe that they all are.
The best way to make sure you have ALL available updates - no matter what program you're using for virus protection, is to "check for updates" - and get all they're offering. Then reboot. Then connect to the Internet, open the anti-virus program and "check for updates" again. Keep doing that until you get a message telling you that there are no updates available. Only then can you be sure you have the best protection possible using your anti-virus program.
SPYWARE/ADWARE/MALWARE
Spybot Search and Destroy
If you're using Spybot Search and Destroy, make sure you have the latest updates. If you get updates, be sure to click on Immunize on the left side of the screen. If you're up-to-date, you'll be told that everything is already blocked. If you're told you need to immunize, click on the green plus sign on the toolbar, then wait until you're told that all known bad products are blocked. THEN go to Search and destroy, on the left side of the screen and click on "Check for problems" on the toolbar. While running, look down at the very left corner of the screen and you'll see "Running bot-check (xxxx/31110:" plus the names of the products its checking for. Don't be alarmed when you see TeenXXXX - that doesn't mean that your grandson has been on your computer, going where he shouldn't. It means that its checking that particular "product" to make sure you don't have it. If you don't see the 31110, but a lower number, you need to update. Be sure to have the program fix all problems. If you get the message "Congratulations" then you know you're doing some safe-surfing.
Ad-Aware
As with any program that protects you, be sure you have the latest update. When you're sure of that, click on Start. On the next screen, make sure the "button" is next to "Perform full system scan" and click Next. Again, let the program fix all the problems. If you want to keep your MRU (Must Recently Used) info, just don't put a check in the box next to it. You can look at what is in the MRU and selectively choose some of them to be fixed, leaving the others alone, by clicking on the "Negligible Objects" tab. But be sure to put the checkmark next to the box for "Critical Objects" on the Summary page before you click Next - and OK, to have the program do the cleaning for you.
If you want a good list of programs you shouldn't download, click here DO NOT INSTALL
