The Cost of Being on the Internet
Connecting to the internet costs money. There is the cost of the hardware. There is the cost of the connection. There can also be the cost of fixing computers damaged by spyware and viruses. There is no way to completely avoid this risk, but there are legally free programs you can use to decrease the risk.
Browsers
Below are three major browsers that allow for extensive customization and better security. They also follow most standards which allows you to see the page as the designer intended. It is a good idea to have at least one of these on your computer.
Firefox
Firefox is the browser that really brought the idea of customization to the general public. People who would normally not think of adjusting anything, but the most basic settings have seen the advantage of Adblock Plus and Flashblock. The new personas in Firefox 3.6 allow for additional customization.
Google Chrome
Chrome vs. Firefox has become a frequent debate. Like Firefox, Chrome has a number of extensions and allows extensive tweaking. It is also known for loading pages quickly.
Safari
Apple’s browser Safari also has a Windows version. It has the large advantage of increasing supporting HTML5 and CSS3. Safari also has the advantage that developer mode can be used to test designs for an iPhone or iTouch.
Anti-spyware Software
Sadly, spyware is often included in so-called anti-spyware software and on sites that advertise anti-spyware software. Therefore, it is critical that you only download respected anti-spyware software. Wikipedia has a list of known fake anti-spyware programs. New spyware is discovered all the time so it is critical that you frequently update your anti-spyware software.
Ad-aware
While no anti-spyware program is perfect Ad-aware catches a substantial amount of spyware. The interface is easy to use and provides options including how to deal with any spyware found during a span. Users can choose between running a basic, extensive, or custom scan. There are also paid Plus and Pro versions with additional features.
Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
The quick scan takes only a few minutes which makes it perfect for times when you want to check for major problems, but do not have the time for an hour scan.
Spybot Search & Destroy
This popular anti-spyware program is recommended by PC World among other publications. It lacks some of the customization of Ad-aware, but it does a good job catching spyware. Neither Ad-aware nor Spybot Search & Destroy catch all spy-ware so it is a good idea to install both. Please note: It is important to check for updates at least once a week.
Cleaning and Maintenance
CCleaner
CCleaner has an easy to understand interface and allows you to choose which files you want to clean. The registry can be backed up before making any changes.
