AOL New Member HELP

COMMON SENSE!  NO installed program can replace common sense and caution!  Don't click on links in emails or IMs from strangers.  Don't go to web sites unless you know they are where you really want to go.  Watch your URLs carefully.  There is a big difference in writing to the President in going to whitehouse.gov and whitehouse.com. 

Then, protect yourself with three major components:  firewall, anti-virus, and spyware detector.

1.  FIREWALL  I use free Zone Alarm.  It has updates and I can allow any program I want to access the Internet.  Put the words FREE ZONE ALARM in your browser search bar, and you'll see several places where you can download it.  If you buy a program, it's only as good as the year you pay for.  Once that year is up, be SURE to pay for a renewal - or you won't get updates and that renders it useless.

2.  ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAM  I use free AVG.  It updates almost daily now.  Put the words FREE AVG in your browser search bar, and you'll see several places where you can download it.  If you buy a program, it's only as good as the year you pay for.  Once that year is up, be SURE to pay for a renewal - or you won't get updates and that renders it useless.  Norton and McAfee are the more commonly known ones.  If you are using AOL 9.0 Security Edition, you can download McAfee free.

3.  SPYWARE DETECTION I use free Spybot Search & Destroy.  I like it over Lavasoft's Ad-Aware because it allows you to Immunize your computer so that it doesn't come back.  Ad-Aware removes the adware AFTER it gets to your computer.  Once again, put the words FREE SPYBOT SEARCH & DESTROY in your browser search bar, and you'll see several places where you can download it. 

4.  ONLINE VIRUS CHECK Once a month, I use an online virus checker.  This is because sometimes a virus can "fool" your computer into thinking a file isn't a virus.  This check is independent from your computer.  It's called Housecall and can be located at www.http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Any questions? 

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• #1 Comment from bitsobluengray 
  11/27/05 10:33 AM | Permalink

  Sandy...  
  
  Tried the link you have for "housecalls" and it's an invalid link...    here's the correct one  http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
  
  Jayne
  www.bitsofblueandgray.com