Keep YOUR Internet Access Clean and Safe!

Great!  You have your computer, you are connected to the internet!  Now you want to use it and NOT get messed with by the entire world of "evil hackers".  Yep, me too.

We have for you, on this page, a list of MUST have items and a few SHOULD have items.  All are part of making your internet experience better, and easier for you.

DO THESE FIRST - Every computer MUST have the following.  No exceptions.  And if you do these things, your will have much easier time of things.  And you will not help the "evil hackers" spread the grief.

• Update your computer.  I know, you just got it today or last week, or last month.  Its out of date, I promise.  Why?  Computer companies DON'T update them before they ship them.  I think its just wrong, but its a fact of life these days.  Do the updates for your Operating System (Windows XP/ME/2000/98 or MacOS  is your Operating System).  To update Windows and its variations, open the following link, follow the instructions there, and let it upgrade all your critical systems, and a few of the recommended ones. 
  • Windows Users use WINDOWS UPDATE                   
  • Apple Users!  MAC OS updates explained!
• Install a firewall.  Use the built in firewall.  Make the "evil hackers" work at messing with you.  WinXP has one built in, MacOS has one built in.  Find it and turn it on.
  •  MacOS instructions here. 
  • WindowsXP Instructions here
  • Or try a free Firewall, ZoneAlarm at Zonelabs
• Virus Filtering.  This is a biggie.  We block EMAIL borne viruses, but there are other ways to get infected, and all viruses these days are dangerous.  Either to you, or to others on the internet.  Gotta have a virus scanner running.
  • McAfee and Nortons if you want to buy one with Support at any computer retail store
  • Panda Active Scan for one time checking
  • Housecalls from Trend for one time checking
  • Stinger from McAfee , small download, one time checking
  • AVG Free Anti-Virus from Grisoft
  • Install and use Avast from alwil software, download it here
  • UPDATE YOUR VIRUS SCANNER WEEKLY.  Can't stress this enough.  The scanner we use on Email we update 4 times a DAY.  Viruses move VERY fast, and you can't just hope that yours will continue to work.

That concludes the GOTTA have it stuff.  Now on to the fix annoyances stuff.

• Pop-Ups from websites.  A normal popup from a normal website, open this page and do a few of these tests.  It will show you what an Internet Popup from a website is, and to stop them, install FreeSurfer and make sure its set to run on system startup.
  • Google Search bar has a pop-up stopper in it too  And gives you a nice search place right on your screen.
• Pop-Ups from Software.  ARGH.  This is the crummy stuff that comes from background tasks, and those wonderful things that everyone installs from clock setting tools to WeatherBug.  These are background tasks that not only kick their own popups at you, but then let the company that wrote them what websites you visit, and what things you click on.  Really.  Its called Spyware and its nasty stuff.  Get them cleaned from your computer, and block them using these tools.  READ THE INSTALLATION and HELP files on these, they can break things if you get too aggressive!
  • Ad-Aware
  • Spybot - Search and Destroy is my favorite - Download it HERE - Read the Tutorial HERE
  • Spywareblaster - Download it HERE - How to use it here
  • SpywareGuard - Download it HERE
• SPAM - Although we do filter SPAM, we have to be somewhat conservative on how we do it.  Some people would like to have a bit better handle. 
  • McAfee SpamKiller (costs $) uses the same technology we use here, but you can customize it for your personal tastes.
  • Make SURE you are using the built in Message Rules to get the best benefit from what we DO mark as SPAM.
  • Freeware SpamPal is great, but a bit complicated to use

Other Goodies for making the internet easier to use

• CallWave - works with your phone line to allow you to share a phone line with the modem.  For pay after the 30 day trial.
• More?  Send us suggestions!

Misc Links to security stuff and interesting security related sites.

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