Great 'Easy Computer Security and Privacy Tips' Hunt

mkornblum

great minds think alike...

saffypooh

The easiest way to avoid being hacked into is to dump your Windows based PC and buy a Mac. Old or new, either is safe and, if you must use MS Windows, buy a new Intel Mac and you can boot into both operating systems. They are so safe the US Military (amongst others) use them.:rotfl:

Stumpy

mkornblum wrote: »

Use Anti-virus Software. I recommend AVG Anti-Virus (www.grisoft.com), also free. It is easy to setup and updates almost daily. Again, don't be tempted to upgrade to the paying one.

They also do a free anti-spyware as well:

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/20/lng/us/tpl/v5

ajuniper

Another vote here for Site Advisor (free download) which checks sites for whether they contain viruses and whether they send spam. It's an extra weapon alongside the normal anti virus, anti spyware and anti spam programs.

mkornblum

I forgot to mention: if you do need to go to 'dodgy' websites (for whatever reason) - make sure you turn off javascript while you are surfing.

nowtsquared

If you need to store important information on your PC you may want to look at this site http://freezip.cjb.net/freeware/
There is also a product called "Password Safe" that is very good.

Richard741

Use Spamfighter, I've been using it for about 18 months now & it's trapped over 6,500 spam emails to date. Every time someone running Spamfighter gets a spam email everyone else who is runninr Spamfighter will have that email automatically dumped into their Spamfighter file for disposal. Try it, its great & free to private individuals. http://www.spamfighter.com

jampton

saffypooh wrote: »

The easiest way to avoid being hacked into is to dump your Windows based PC and buy a Mac. Old or new, either is safe and, if you must use MS Windows, buy a new Intel Mac and you can boot into both operating systems. They are so safe the US Military (amongst others) use them.:rotfl:

Err whats the name of this site ?

I think you may have missed the point of the thead

It's hardly a money saving tip to suggest we spend a lot more money for very little benefit - don't bite my head off most of us just want to perform a few simple tasks for as little cost as possible.

If you want to buy a Mac then buy a Mac if want a proper computer then buy a pc

Reaper

One worry is internet cafes where you have no control over the PC and don't know if the previous person left a keylogger running which will record your bank username and password when you sign on.

It's easy to say don't use internet cafes but if you are traveling then you often have no choice. So here is something I just thought up...

As I understand it keyloggers are very good at recording your keystrokes but struggle to work out what you are doing with the mouse. So open up Notepad and write out the letters A-Z. Then use the mouse to copy and paste the letters required into your password box (or copy and paste the letters from any other web page).

I think that should be a lot safer unless anyone can see a flaw?

espresso

These smug self righteous sMAC heads always have to spout their drivel!