I’ve been getting more requests as of late for an article to cover PC security. While user education is ultimately the best way to keep a PC running well, setting up the right protection before beginning your journey into Cyberspace will also help prevent problems from occurring in the first place.
Fortunately – getting the right protection doesn’t mean having to pay alot! Here is a list of FREE software that you can download TODAY to help keep your PC running in top notch condition!
- Change your default browser
Start by clamping down one of the most vulnerable spots on your computer – your internet browser. “Drive by downloads” and much malware enter in through browser vulnerabilities. Download one of these two browsers (or both!) to stymie this threat!
FireFox (Opinion: Better privacy / no Google spying)
http://getfirefox.com
Chrome: (Opinion: Faster overall performance, less buggy/quirky)
http://chrome.com
These browsers auto update w. the latest versions as they are released – making sure you’re patched against the latest vulnerabilities.
- Add an Ad-Blocker
Next, add an ad-blocker for your browser. Many ads are designed to be “clickbait” – causing malware / spyware to potentially be loaded. Eliminate this vector altigether by installing Ad Blocker Plus – available for either of the above browsers:
Adblocker Plus:
https://adblockplus.org
- Add Anti-virus, Anti-spyware, and Anti-malware programs
Next, since there’s no perfect defense, it’s time to add some memory resident program / scanners to shield against “bad” downloads in real-time, as items are being downloaded & stored onto your PC:
Malware Bytes
https://www.malwarebytes.org
Spyware Search and Destroy
https://www.safer-networking.
For Antivirus, read these articles for free anti-virus, and choose what you think is best!
http://mobile.pcmag.com/
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By having the protections above – a auto-updating browser, ad blockers, plus built-in defenses against bad downloads – we are several steps closer to keeping a PC running healthy.
Best of luck!