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I received the following message from a friend. Has anyone tried any of these? are they really as good as they sound? I'm already running Norton Antivirus on my system and I'm wondering if I need to do any more of this. Linda Strauss, Librarian lstraus1@optonline.net Tottenville H.S. Library 100 Luten Ave, Staten Island, NY 10312 (718) 356-2220 ext 2054 Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment on the smallest amount of caring - all of which have the potential to turn a life around --Leo Buscaglia The publisher of a local website here in New Hampshire ( http://www.seacoastnh.com/ ) asked me to pull together a list of five simple, free things people can do to help shore up their defenses against viruses, worms, Trojans, and the like. The information is basic, but I thought it might be useful to some readers here, or perhaps to friends or relatives who may not be as up to speed on safe surfing as you are: Tens of millions of computers are currently infected with viruses, worms, trojans, spyware and other malicious software. If it's on your pc, this evil software can damage your system or invade your privacy. It's a bad situation, but it's also totally--- and I mean virtually 100%--- preventable. No one ever has to suffer from this kind of data loss or privacy invasion, because the tools and information exists to make yourself safe. In fact, there are free tools that can get you almost all the way to total safety. These free tools, coupled with a small amount of effort--- we cover the techniques for making yourself safe in my newsletter, for example--- effectively "bolt the door" to your PC so nasty software either can't get in at all, or if it does, gets rooted out immediately, before it can do any harm. Here are 5 FREE ways to improve your PC's protection: 1) No one antivirus package by itself can be 100% effective against all viruses, worms, and Trojans, 100% of the time. It makes sense to use two different tools from time to time, so they can double-check each other. For example, here are two FREE online antivirus scans that can check any system in minutes: http://www.symantec.com/securitycheck/ and http://www.pcpitstop.com/antivirus/default.asp 2) If you discover a virus, worm, or Trojan on your system, most of the major antivirus sites (like http://www.symantec.com ) offer free step-by-step instructions for removing the pests. Better still, many also offer free automatic pest-removal tools. For example, see the free Worm/Virus removal tools halfway down the page on the right at http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/ 3) Although they may also catch other kinds of evil software, antivirus tools focus on mainly on viruses. Other free software tools may be better at seeking out other forms of malicious software on your PC: For example, PestPatrol ( http://www.pestpatrol.com/promo/langa/0506.asp ) has a free download that searches your hard drive for something like 25,000 kinds of spyware, hacker tools, and other unwelcome additions. And Ad-Aware ( http://www.lavasoft.nu/ ) has a free tool that detects and removes "spyware" that can covertly gather information about your online activities and secretly send it to a distant web site. Once your system is clean of all types of malicious software, keep it that way by running the tools listed above periodically. Then, do the following: 4) You can help prevent nasty software from ever making it onto your system in the first place with a good, free software firewall such as ZoneAlarm ( http://www.zonealarm.com/ ) or Sygate Personal Firewall ( http://soho.sygate.com/products/shield_ov.htm ) 5) Help ensure that any evil files that do make it onto your system are nipped in the bud before they can do any harm with good antivirus software. You can download a free full-blown antivirus software package from http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_index.htm =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST, etc.) send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors: http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=