Web Safety Tips from Personal Tech PC Corp.
(www.personaltechpc.com/websafety)
PLEASE NOTE: Products represented below have been listed based solely on personal use, personal preference, and industry and community reparts and ratings. Your needs and preferences may differ. Products listed only represent a few examples of Internet-related software currently available to the public. Carefully evaluate all products before installation or making a purchase. As with all software, you must either know what you are downloading and installing and why before doing so or seek the advise of an experienced computer software technician.
Internet Browsers:
1. FREE - (Recommended) Mozilla Firefox version 3 (add McAfee SiteAdvisor & Browser Defender. See their links below.)
Download Page: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
FREE - (Recommended) Mozilla Firefox Extensions for Internet Surfing Protection Assistance
IE Tab - Download Page: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419
McAfee SiteAdvisor Download Page: http://www.siteadvisor.com/download/ff_preinstall.html
PCTools Browser Defender Download Page: http://www.browserdefender.com/download/index/version/ff/
Ad Block Plus Download Page: http://adblockplus.org/en/installation
2. FREE - Internet Explorer version 7 (add McAfee SiteAdvisor & Browser Defender. See their links below.)
Download Page: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx
FREE -
McAfee SiteAdvisor
Download Page: http://www.siteadvisor.com/download/ie.html
FREE -
PCTools Browser Defender
Download Page: http://www.browserdefender.com/download/index/version/ie/
Email
1. FREE – Mozilla Thunderbird version 2
Download Page: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/
FREE - Mozilla Thunderbird Extensions for Spam Protection Assistance
Spamato4Thunderbird Download Page: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/2738
Sender Verification Extension Download Page: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/345
Internet Filtering / Parental Control
1. FEEE - OpenDNS
Registration Page: http://www.opendns.com
2. FREE - K9
Web Protection
License Page REQUIRED: http://www1.k9webprotection.com/getk9/index.php
Download Link for XP: http://www.k9webprotection.com/download/k9-webprotection.exe
Download Link for
Anti-Spyware Protection Assistance
1. FREE - ThreatFire - 24/7 Malicious Behaviour Scanner and Monitor
Download Page: http://www.threatfire.com
2. FREE -
Spyware Terminator - 24/7 Mal-ware Scanner and Monitor
Download Page: http://www.spywareterminator.com/dnl/landing.aspx
Anti-Virus Protection Assistance
Computer
Security Suite with Identity Protection Assistance
1. PURCHASE - McAfee Internet Security Suite
Download Page: http://us.mcafee.com/root/package.asp?pkgid=272
2. PURCHASE - McAfee Total Protection
Download Page: http://us.mcafee.com/root/package.asp?pkgid=274
Ad-hoc Deep Computer Cleaning Assistance*
FREE** - Hitman Pro
Download Page: http://www.hitmanpro.nl/hitmanpro/
Download Link: http://hitmanpro1.dyndns.org/strider2/link.aspx?name=download
* - Use this tool on an infected machine then install at least one anti-spyware and one anti-virus tool.
** - This tool includes optional components which require purchase after trial.
On
the screen below, Webroot Spy Sweeper and PC Tools Spyware Doctor are
trial-ware and are needed for cleaning during the trial period.
On the screen below, check Trend Micro Sysclean or McAfee VirusScan if you do not have it on your computer.
On the screen below, make sure Messenger service is disabled. This does not affect Windows Live Messenger.
On the screen below, click START. This is a long process any may take up to three hours to complete.
Wireless
Router Security Setting
WORSE OPTION: WEP (DO
NOT USE! UPGRADE YOUR WIRELESS DEVICE!)
Best Option 1: WPA2 Personal with AES
Best Option 2: WPA2 Personal with TKIP
Best Option 3: WPA Personal with AES
Best Option 4: WPA
Personal with TKIP
KEEP WINDOWS UPDATED - Vista
From the Vista Desktop, do the following:
Click START.
Click ALL PROGRAMS.
Click WINDOWS UPDATES.
In the laeft pane, click CHECK FOR UPDATES.
KEEP WINDOWS UPDATED - XP (Home, Media Center, & Professional)
Open Internet Explorer (NOT FIREFOX)
Windows Updates Link: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
Click CUSTOM
Install ALL UPDATES
Recommended
Internet Explorer Settings
Known safe web surfing habits
* - For some bank, school, and insurance web sites, use the “Third-party Cookies” setting “PROMPT” the first time you access the site. Once it works, change the setting back to “Block”
Unknown surfing habits
* - For some bank, school, and insurance web sites, use the “Third-party Cookies” setting “PROMPT” the first time you access the site. Once it works, change the setting back to “Block”