Make your computer more secure while online

Here are my thoughts on make your computer more secure while online.

One of the most common questions I receive is how my home PC more secure when connected to the Internet. The second is how much will it cost.

The answer is that you just install some free software for your PC safer to access the Internet.

Most security vendors offer free versions of their popular products for home users. These free versions as well as the release versions. The difference is that you do not support, and other accessories to receive. The lack of support is not really a problem if you know how the vendors access the online support pages, or use the power of Google.

So what software I need PC security?

Firewall Software

First you need a software firewall. This monitors and controls all of the connections between the PC and the Internet. All programs to access the Internet from your PC must first obtain your permission and something online that you want to access your PC must also be enabled by you in advance, otherwise ignored.

Microsoft Windows XP + SP2 and Microsoft Windows Vista comes with a free firewall simply "Windows Firewall". For sure it is selected, go to Control Panel and double-click Windows Firewall and configure it. I never recommend to your PC to connect to the Internet without a firewall software to be activated.

There is great third party software firewall I use, also free, called personalfirewall.comodo.com Comodo Personal Firewall. Comodo gives more control to the Windows Firewall, but it is for advanced users.

Anti-virus software

Every PC should have antivirus software installed. Not a day passes without new computer viruses are discovered. There are many anti-virus products on the market, but my current favorite is AVG from Grisoft in free.avg.com. It also comes with an e-mail scanner.

Anti-Spyware Software

Spyware software that originally referred only to use your computer monitor, inform third parties. Today is a generic term "malware" that means the malware. Malware is a classification for software that is not necessarily a bad virus, and usually not eliminated by anti-virus software. Malware includes but not limited to: adware (software that serves ads annoying), browser hijackers (redirected to websites that never asked for), Trojan dialers (a program that hijacks your modem and connect to the premium rate numbers), key loggers (software that records the use of the keyboard) and fake security software (software that says that malware or viruses on your computer that does not exist and offers to remove for a fee).

The best free software remove spyware that I've found is Spybot Search & Destroy www.safer-networking.org. This software can detect known malware trying to install and remove already installed malware.

Browser protection

A web browser is needed to surf the web and there are several options available, but only one I recommend for safe navigation, Mozilla Firefox plug-in NoScript. Firefox is www.mozilla.com / firefox. Once installed, you can plug-in noscript.net NOSCRIPT / getit.

NOSCRIPT adds a toolbar to the bottom of the Firefox window. Now every time you visit a website, scripting is disabled. What this means is that no site scripting or display content that requires software such as Java or Flash to run, unless you consent.

The price you pay for this extra level of security of these web browser with missing content. You must give them the NOSCRIPT button options - and their third partner sites - license (temporary or permanent) to run scripts and access to Java or Flash.

Most of the malicious software on your PC access via your Web browser, a little extra work to surfing the net not to have to endure, especially if it means that the PC will be little more safe.