If you have been using the Internet for any length of time, and especially if you work at a larger company and browse the Web while you are at work, you have probably heard the term firewall used.
If you have a fast Internet connection into your home, either a Dsl or cable modem, you may have found yourself hearing about firewalls for your home network as well. It turns out that a small home network has many of the same security issues that a large corporate network does. You can use a firewall to protect your home network and family from offensive Web sites and potential hackers.

Basically, a firewall is a barrier to keep destructive forces away from your computer. In fact, that's why it’s called a firewall.

Although details may vary between packages, anti-virus software scans files or your computer's memory for certain patterns that may indicate an infection. The patterns it looks for are based on the signatures, or definitions, of known viruses. Virus authors are continually releasing new and updated viruses, so it is important that you have the latest definitions installed on your computer.

Once you have installed an anti-virus package, you should scan your entire computer periodically.


1.Automatic scans - Depending what software you choose, you may be able to configure it to automatically scan specific files or directories and prompt you at set intervals to perform complete scans.

2.Manual scans - It is also a good idea to manually scan files you receive from an outside source before opening them. This includes

*Saving and scanning email attachments or web downloads rather than selecting the option to open them directly from the source

*Scanning floppy disks, CDs, or DVDs for viruses before opening any of the files.


Each package has its own method of response when it locates a virus, and the response may differ according to whether the software locates the virus during an automatic or a manual scan. Sometimes the software will produce a dialog box alerting you that it has found a virus and asking whether you want it to "clean" the file (to remove the virus). In other cases, the software may attempt to remove the virus without asking you first. When you select an anti-virus package, familiarize yourself with its features so you know what to expect.


There are many vendors who produce anti-virus software, and deciding which one to choose can be confusing. All anti-virus software performs the same function, so your decision may be driven by recommendations, particular features, availability, or price. See the references section for a link to a list of some anti-virus vendors.

Installing any anti-virus software, regardless of which package you choose, increases your level of protection. Be careful, though, of email messages claiming to include anti-virus software. Some recent viruses arrive as an email supposedly from your ISP's technical support department, containing an attachment that claims to be anti-virus software. However, the attachment itself is in fact a virus, so you could become infected by opening it.

Spyware is a type software that performs certain tasks on your computer without your consent. This may include giving you advertising or collecting personal information about you.

Adjust internet explorer security settings. You can adjust your Internet Explorer web browser's security settings to determine how much or how little information you are willing to accept from a Web site. I would recommend that you set the security settings for the Internet Zone to medium or higher.

Use a firewall. While most spyware come or originate from web sites, some spyware can actually be placed on your computer by hackers. Installing a firewall or using the firewall that's built into Windows XP provides a good defense against these hackers.

Never click the agree or ok button 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 the window.

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

I don't know if this is the right section to post this in. If not please move to right section.

This is basically software that might help your computer speed up. I will give a description on each one that I am really familiar with. The main category will be in bold and the sub-categories will be in italics


Some firewalls that you can use for free are windows firewall and zone alarm.
Some Anti-virus software that are free are; avg and avast.




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Step 3: Download from websites you only trust. The best defense against spyware 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:

1.Only download programs from web sites you trust. If you're not sure whether to trust a program you are considering downloading, ask a friend or search google to see if there has been reports of that download containing spyware.

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Step 4:  Download and install an Anti-spyware software. Some Anti-spyware programs that I would recommend you use are; Spybot: Search and Destroy (Which is currently installed on my computer) and Ewido.

*Please be aware that Ewido is just a free trial.