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1. Get a Netgear FVS318 hardware firewall. Low cost, SI firewall (NOT
just a simple NAT), 8-port switch, VPN, etc. Use it to protect your
entire local net. Yes, I know there are others, but I'm trying to get
a good, short list WITHOUT including all the reasons for these
choices.
2. Go to http://www.kerio.com and get their free software firewall.
Install it on EVERY computer on your local net. This is an excellent
firewall, but requires too much knowledge for most people to set up
properly. Unless you have a good working knowledge of Internet
security, go to http://www.geocities.com/yosponge/4firewal.html and
get the rule set that seems appropriate for you. (This site also
contains a lot of useful info on privacy tools and how to use them.)
3. Seriously consider NOT using Outlook or OE virusware. Buy or get
another email client. I prefer TheBat!, but there are other good ones.
The Opera and Mozilla browsers also do email in a more secure way.
Mozilla is about to split into a separate browser and email client (a
good idea IMHO).
4. Seriously consider NOT using Internet Explorer. Buy or get another
browser. The Opera and Mozilla browsers are good, and also include
email capabilities.
5. Get AV software. If you insist on using M$ virusware, you should
install the scanner option even though it will cause problems for many
people(not all, of course). If you do not use M$ virusware, it is
reasonably safe to avoid the scanner, and do manual AV scans
periodically (I do mine about weekly). Avoid Symantec and McAfee if
possible, although I prefer Norton over McAfee as long as the scanner
is NOT installed.
6. Go to http://security.kolla.de/ and get Spybot. It will remove many
problems from your computer(AV programs don't deal with these).
7. Go to http://www.moosoft.com/ and get The Cleaner. It will help you
with trojan problems that AV programs can't handle.
If you actually DO all of these, I suspect we will not likely hear
from you about a security problem in the future. You might like the
additional privacy and lack of obnoxious ads as well. :-)
Last, but not least, consider introducing yourself to Linux. Mandrake
Linux, in particular, http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ has become as
easy to install and use as Windows. A number of people have installed
it and do email, browsing, etc right out of the box. It even comes
with a FREE clone of M$ Office, as well as lots of other free
software. Almost NONE of the viruses, worms, etc that now flood the
net will be a problem. Even if you don't use it for all your needs, it
will introduce you to a good alternative to the M$ monopoly. Instead
of recycling your old computer, refresh it with Linux.
ztrader
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