Keeping Your Computer Clean

[Draketh]

Alright, well, I'm a pc tech for a living, so I figured I'd write a little guide to help my fellow blades out.

Do you get popups? This is one of the telltale signs of spyware. Even if you don't have any signs, you probably have some kind of spyware. It comes into your pc on a daily basis no matter where you go.

To start out I would reccomend cleaning out your temp files at least once a week. To do this open up your explorer of choice, I'm going to use internet explorer as an example for this. Go to Tools > Internet options > click Delete Cookies, Deletes files (check the offline files box) and click clear history. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to keeping your computer safe.

Personally, I run scans about once a month. The best thing to start with is basic anti-virus. I've used norton for years and have recommended it to all the customers where I work and sold hundred of copies. You can get the basic anti-virus, system works, and internet security, all come with the anti-virus, with the latter of the two having extra options. The internet security is nice if you have kids, but thats about it. I find the extra options like site blocker, and firewall cause more trouble than they are worth. Especially the firewall, theres so much propoganda out there that preaches firewall. I haven't used one for as long as I can remember, and no hackers ever stole my identity, or erased my hard drive. In my experience, a poorly configured firewall causes a hundred more problems than they solve. One of my favorite things about norton, is I have a copy of the enterprise edition, and I have it set up to monitor every computer in my house from my main pc, any time a pc in the house get an alert, it pops up and tells me. It also manages updates and nightly scans for all the computers.

Next is spyware, like I said before, we all have it, just to varying degrees. I'm going to list some free and easy to use solutions for spyware prevention and detection.

Adaware - Easy to use, and does a decent job, get it here.
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-...ml?tag=lst-0-1

Webroot - This is my personal favorite, does the best job, free to try, but to get full functionality you have to buy it. I've bought copies of it for every pc in my house, and have no problems, download a trial here.
http://www.download.com/Webroot-Spy-...-10598648.html

Trend Micro - This company sells their software, but you can get a free scan and removal on their website here.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Pandasoft - Another company that sells their software but has a free scan, try it here.
http://www.pandasoftware.com/ <- Click the scan now button on the bottom left.

I use all of these in conjunction every day to clean pc's up, and 90% of the time, using all of these programs together, clear any problems right up. I'd also be willing to help anyone with any pc problems you might have. Post here or drop me a pm! Keep on toking blades!

[-mu]

And we can't forget Spybot Search & Destroy.

I don't use any of them, the only thing I need to keep my computer clean is Isopropyl swabs!

-mu

[ipack]

Um, get linux

[skidoo]

AVG + Windows Defender = never have to think about it again.

[Dark_Angers]

Or u could use Deep Freeze and never do computer maintenance for the rest of your life. No viruses, spyware, updates, malware, junk. You will be immune to anything. I say this with 100% confidence.

http://www.faronics.com/html/deepfreeze.asp

[Rasta_Man]

Originally Posted by ipack

Um, get linux

Linux is shit if you're a gamer -- trust me, I'd love to use anything but windows, if I could.

[weedzilla420]

i would recommend mccafe quickclean. it overrites all of your deleted files.

[Dark_Angers]

Originally Posted by weedzilla420

i would recommend mccafe quickclean. it overrites all of your deleted files.

That is not cleaning ur system that is securing it.


deleting over deleted files, just makes it harder to recover.

[G-MAN]

reformat every month lol

i know someone who does this

[Dark_Angers]

Originally Posted by G-MAN

reformat every month lol

i know someone who does this

Yep that works, but since I use Deep Freeze I don't need to

[weedzilla420]

well than, is there any software that overrites the deleted files on your comp?

[Le Grenouille]

I just want to add, AVG Free Edition is all the Antivirus most users need, and Norton is utter crap; it misses a lot of stuff.

CleanUp! is a useful tool, also, as it converts all the deleted temp files etc into free memory.

[RuffRat]

I want to add, alot of hardware faults in your computer is due to dust. Clean your components out requally, i do once a month.

I also do a Virus and Spyware Update every day, a Virus and Spyware scan everynight, and a De-Frag every month.

Keeps me sound for 99.99% of the time.

[-mu]

Originally Posted by weedzilla420

well than, is there any software that overrites the deleted files on your comp?

AnalogX's Super Shredder...

http://www.analogx.com/contents/down...stem/shred.htm

There are other applications like it, but that one is good, and free.

-mu

ps. the best way to prevent virii and trojans is to keep stupid people away from your computer. My workstation is kept 100% clean using this simple method.

[weedzilla420]

thanx 4 the link but i didn't see a link to dl'd the app. can you provide one please?