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Strategies for Spyware Defense
1.
Install anti-spyware on your computer with two being better then
one (see article for suggestions).
2.
Update the anti-spyware regularly, weekly is best.
3.
Periodically (weekly) scan your hard drive for spyware.
4. Be
careful about downloading programs from unknown vendors.
5. For
help, call me at 678 522-1134.
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Want Your Computer to Operate Faster?
We all want our computers to work faster but how do you do this
without buying a new computer? Simple, add RAM! RAM
which stands for Random Access Memory and often referred to as
"memory" greatly affects the speed of your computer. That is the
more RAM, the faster your computer operates...that is to a point.
Assuming that you have a 32 bit operating system which if you do not
know, then assume it is a 32 bit system then rather you are using
Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Windows 7; the maximum amount is 4 GB.
Which means if you install 6 GB of RAM, all your computer will use
is 4 GB. Some computers will handle less RAM then the maximum that
your operating system can handle but you usually are safe in
installing up to 2 GB or RAM.
Adding RAM can be as simple as unscrewing a cover and sticking the
RAM in rather you have a laptop or a desktop. If you are going to do
it yourself, then it would be best to look up the manual for your
computer online and see how to install the RAM. If you are
uncomfortable opening up your computer, then a professional can
quickly do it. Do not know what kind of RAM to use, you can
use the Crucial Memory
Advisor™ tool to determine the RAM you need.
Often in laptops and sometimes in desktops, you will have to remove
one stick of RAM in order to install more because of the limitations
of slots available. For instance, you might have 512 MB of RAM and
want to add 1 GB (1,000 MB) more. If you have a laptop, the RAM
might be two 256 MB sticks of RAM with only two slots available.
Therefore you will have to remove one of those 256 MB of RAM to
install the 1 GB giving you a total of 1.2 GB of RAM.
If you want more information or help in installing extra RAM, then
email me at
steve@slusherstech.com or call 678 522-1134.
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Is Someone Spying on You?
If you surf the internet, the answer is
probably YES
No this is
not being paranoid for whenever you go on the internet, it is likely
that someone is going to try to spy on you. It might be as simple
as watching where you go so that those pesky pop-up adds can be
customized or as harmful as stealing personal information as passwords
and credit card numbers.
The
software that does this is called
Spyware and
studies estimate that 80% of all PC's are infected.
Adware is the
most common kind recording where you've been on the internet and without
your knowledge sending that information out to be used for advertising.
Other Spyware can record your keystrokes and transmit them across the
internet. Some of these look for specific patterns such as social
security and credit card numbers. The goal is identity theft.
How do
you know if you are infected and what can you do about it?
If your
computer is not protected by Anti-Spyware then you can be almost
positive that you are.
Anti-Spyware and Anti-Virus software are not the same though the
same program may contain both. There are many versions of Anti-Spyware
which you can get either for free or for at a minimal cost.. I
recommend three with two being free and one for less the $30.00.
PC Magazine recommends
Spyware
Doctor which is the most effective in preventing and removing
Spyware infections. You can download this at
PCTools.com. The other two are free with
the best being Windows Defender (free for now at least) which prevents
most Spyware from being installed on your computer. At Microsoft,
you can download a copy at
Windows Defender. You will first need to click on the Continue
button in order to validate that you are running a legal copy of
Windows. Unfortunately Windows Defender does not work with Windows
98 or ME, so if you have one of those versions then I would suggest
downloading
Spybot-Search and Destroy Unlike the others, Spybot does not
intercept Spyware before it is installed on your computer so you need to
run it at least weekly.
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| Be Careful When Using the Web in Public Places
Many airports, restaurants and other public
buildings have free wireless internet (WiFi)
(List of restaurants with free Internet) but be very careful
because your information can be intercepted and stolen.
There
are certain precautions you should take when connecting to a
public WiFi spot.
•
Before connecting, look around for a sign that advertises the
network you are connecting to and verify the network name
(SSID).
• Shut off your wireless card if you're not
planning to connect to the Web or another machine. It will
protect you from intrusion and save your battery life.
• Beware of the information you share in public
locations.
• Turn off shared folders. If you join a
malicious network, a hacker could easily load a malicious
spyware agent to follow you even after you leave the public
location.
• Run a anti-virus and anti-spyware program. |
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