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Protecting your computer

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by lacy304

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What is the best way to protect your computer from any tracking devises used by anyone online?
Catherine

10 replies

by bfilmfan

Run anti-spyware programs and remove the trojans, backdoors and malware that is allowing them to monitor your system.

Microsoft's Anti-Spyware Beta is free for download.

by dmiles

1)Internet security would be secured by using a firewall to protect from intrusions

2)Intranet security would be a totally different story,because the security could be in placed to montior the workers productivity and also to monitor unwanted sites personnel are visiting.

by willcomp

Previous responses are correct, up to a point. I am assuming this is for a PC not tied to a business network.

There are 4 basic things you need to reasonably protect your PC.

1. Anti-virus software with updated definitions. AVG free is very good and price is right. Available at grisoft.com

2. A good software firewall such as Zone Alarm. Free version is available at download.com.

3. Adware/Spyware detection and removal software. Install at least 2 different programs. All of these are good and free. Microsoft Anti-Spyware beta, Ad-Aware SE, and Spybot S&D. Available at microsoft.com and download.com.

4. Last, and certainly not least, Windows automatic updates to plug security holes.

These are the tools. Good practices are also helpful. Don't install software from popup ads, don't use P2P file sharing software, and stay away from "adult" and hacker web sites.

Dalton

by bhunsinger

Install a firewall, Zone alarm is the one I use, that stopps traffic both ways , and do not say yes to any traffic that you do not understand.

by elliot_b85

Zone Alarm, SpyBot Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware, and Webroot's Spysweeper are all great for protection on your PC. I've heard Spysweeper 3.5 is pretty good, its also PC Magazines Editor's Choice this month. Norton Internet Security is great, although its about 70 bucks. I would also recommend not getting Nortons anti-spyware package, I heard it wasn't that thorough. Hope this helps.

by poettone

There is only one way to do this currently:

Run a Linux variant workstation:

Now I know this wasn't what you were looking for, but windows from the beginning has been unable to block/stop/prevent this sorta activity. and there is no software made that will 100% without fail that will prevent whats new tomorrow..

However the sterotypical methods described previously are you best bet at this point. Also XP service pack 2, with security/privacy set both to max in IE will prevent most of this, but it basically disables your online access. Turning the setting on to no run anything unsigned is another method as well.

Basically, we are so naive to think we are not being tracked on our own machine under Windows anyway, as Microsoft has methods in place that track every movement on your machine anyway and the only way to prevent it is in the coding..

I wish you luck..

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