Here is a article I wrote on virus protection..
These days you have to keep your computer defenses up, or your computer will end up with Spyware, Malware, BHO (Browser Helper Objects which can be bad), or a Virus.
Before you install any of the applications I list below, be sure your operating system is up to date. If you are using Windows go to this website to make sure you have all the latest updates: http://windowsupdate.microsoft .com/
Many of us are looking for ways to keep our computers safe with out having to fork out a bunch of money. Many say free means it is no good, but I have been around computers since I was a kid, before the Internet is what it is today (talking Atari 400 was my first computer) and now I am a Computer Support Technician, so free does not always mean it is no good.
I remember when I first got windows 98, I never installed any sort of virus protection, or spyware protection, I surfed all over on the Internet. I told everyone, bah! You do not need all that protection, it will just slow your computer down.
Then it happened, I started getting viruses and spyware, and my computer hard drive had to be wiped several times to restore it so it would function properly. After having to take up numerous hours to restore the computer, and mounts of frustration, I started to realize that I needed to protect my computer, and I did not want to pay the prices I was seeing for many of the software packages in the stores. So I started looking for software that could protect and remove for the best price that worked. So below is what I found to work, and best of all for the best price, FREE!
I am not only recommending the software for spyware removal, but also for virus protection, and BHO, and malware, which all offer protection at the same time. So many people ask how do I get rid of this or that, pop ups, virus etc, I give them these links and it takes care of the problem then and also protects them for the future. I have the same set up on my 2 gaming PCs and have never had any virus or spyware problems to date.
1. SCANNING FOR SPYWARE AND REMOVING
http://www.lavasoft.com/produc ts/ad-aware_se_personal.php - Ad-Aware SE Personal
http://www.safer-networking.or g/en/mirrors/index.html - Spybot search and destroy
http://www.microsoft.com/athom e/security/spyware/software/de fault.mspx - Windows Defender Spyware protection for free
2. ANTI VIRUS PROTECTION
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/pro ducts-avg-anti-virus-free-edit ion/lng/us/tpl/tpl01 - AVG Anti Virus
http://housecall.trendmicro.co m/ - Trend Micro free on-line virus and spyware scan
3. PROTECTION FROM BHO (browser helper objects) SPYWARE/MALWARE
http://www.javacoolsoftware.co m/spywareblaster.html - Spywareblaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.co m/spywareguard.html - Spywareguard
If you install the software above, you should be running clean in no time, and if you are already clean, then installing the above will greatly protect your computer from harm. I have 2 computers with the above configuration and have not had any problems.
