Explanation of Spyware verus Anti-virus programs

So many of my clients think that because they have antivirus protection, that they are protected against spyware. This is so far from the case I can’t even tell you about the horror stories I have seen in the past few months. 

Can you purchase a spyware detection program that is stand alone from  your AV products? Yes, but they are not even fool proof. I have seen clients with Windows Defender from Microsoft fully loaded with hundreds of spyware. Trend, Norton, etc….they all are not spyware proof. 

I recommend that you learn how to not get the spyware in the first place, that will help immensely. Here are a few tips I took off Microsoft’s site and will add my own on…

• The best defense against spyware and other unwanted software is not to download it in the first place. Here are a few helpful tips that can protect you from downloading software you don’t want:

• Only download programs from Web sites you trust. If you’re not sure whether to trust a program you are considering downloading, ask a knowledgeable friend or enter the name of the program into your favorite search engine to see if anyone else has reported that it contains spyware.

• Read all security warnings, license agreements, and privacy statements associated with any software you download.

• Never click “agree” or “OK” to close a window. Instead, click the red “x” in the corner of the window or press the Alt + F4 buttons on your keyboard to close a window.

• Be wary of popular “free” music and movie file-sharing programs, and be sure you clearly understand all of the software packaged with those programs.

• If you get a pop up window that is asking you to pay for removal of spyware and tells you that you have spyware…that is spyware! If you get that window, I would do the Alt+F4 and restart your computer. That is the most easiest way to avoid having to touch that window. For the more experienced users, go to task manager and stop all the internet explorer windows running. That will close that window too. 

• If you child downloaded a program and you have had problems since then, it’s probably due to what they downloaded. Kids these days think everything is safe…”I learned how to do this at school Mom!”….from who? Their friends? The kids today are full of “I know more than you” stories and that is what is clogging your computer up with spyware! 

Remember to consider Calling That Girl if you notice your computer is being pudgy and is newer than 3 years old…more than likely it needs a computer cleaing/spyware clean up and we will get it blazing fast again!

Tags: Computer Repair St. Paul MN, Computer support St. Paul Minnesota, Saint Paul Computer repair

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