Fix Your Computer, Already!

I know that not everyone is a CS major. Some say they aren't "technology savvy". Other people cite lack of funds. But whatever the excuse, we've all been there...one of our well-meaning friends or family members opens on the wrong 'funny' spam email and you have...you're own viral computer infection!

So I'd like to take this time to say you no longer have an excuse. If you have a PC, you have the ability to protect yourself easily and freely - and I'm gonna tell you how.

Step 1: Free Antivirus Software
Our winner: AVG

I've been using AVG ever since my free subscription to Norton ran out after I graduated college. And as much as I did like Norton, I have to admit I've actually had fewer infections while running AVG! AVG is one of the more user-friendly antivirus programs I've encountered. Once installed, the program will automatically check for updates on a daily basic, and allows you to set a regular scan session to check your computer for problems. Other than a barely perceptible slowdown while the scan is running (but hey - you can set your computer to do that, at say, 3am when you're probably asleep anyways), the program virtually runs itself quietly in the background.

Step 2: Free Firewall Software
Our winner: a tie between Zone Alarm and Online Armor

This is another example of the free thing being better than the paid thing with the extra bells and whistles. I used the full version of Zone Alarm for about a year, and the CPU usage was horrible. The free version, however, is more sleek and efficient, and does exactly what you need it to: control your incoming and outgoing connections.

Zone Alarm does need a little bit of patience; after installation, you need to 'train' it as to what programs you use and what access they have. Upon launching any internet related program, Zone Alarm will prompt to you accept or deny the connection. Make sure to click the "remember this setting for later" box, and in a few days, you'll be seeing few if any remaining prompts. In the future, then, when some malware does attempt to bury into your computer, you can use that Zone Alarm prompt to stop it in it's tracks!

The free version of Zone Alarm can still sometimes slow your computer or have unwanted interactions with some of the above programs - if so, I'd recommend Online Armor instead. I'm using this on my newest computer after a Zone Alarm compatibility issue. Online Armor does require a little more knowledge and doesn't provide quite as nice as an interface, but the speed and 'train-ability' of the program is excellent!

Step 3: Free Adware/Spyware Software
Our winner: a tie between Ad-aware and Spybot

Both programs offer step-by-step instructions on setting up and scanning your PC. And while both programs are very efficient and are updated on a daily basis, there is so much crap being released on the internet on a daily basis that I've found it useful to have both - on occasion, one program will locate harmful files that the other program doesn't have a definition for yet.

-----

So what are you waiting for? It's not like you have anything better to do on a Thursday night. Take two hours out of your evening and get your computer fixed. And stop sending me those chain emails. Even the ones without viruses are still stupid.