Well here it is, the second month of the new year and already we have had a huge virus outbreak.  This month I would like to cover some basic Windows security stuff with you.  There are plenty of free programs available to help you protect your PC from malware, spyware, adware, and viruses.  I have been telling you about the dangers of spyware for quite sometime now and lately it seems to be an even bigger threat than viruses are. 

Some of the newest malware and spyware is viral-like in its behavior, making it very difficult to get rid of.  I have 4 programs that I still use on a regular basis to clean systems.  There are other, more powerful programs out there but they also must be used very carefully by a trained professional or they can wipe out an entire system.   

AVG Antivirus Free Edition is a great FREE antivirus, it can be found at http://free.grisoft.com.  In my opinion, this antivirus although free, is much better than most commercial antiviruses on the market.  This program is just an antivirus, but it updates regularly and has a very good track record for catching viruses that both Norton and McAfee wouldn’t even notice.  If you want a more complete solution, I would recommend Trend Micro PC-Cillin Internet Security 2006.  This suite contains an antivirus, a firewall, anti-spam, anti-phishing, and wireless network protection all in one package.  You can get more information on this great product at http://www.trendmicro.com/en/home/us/personal.htm.   

Malware and spyware are getting tougher to remove everyday.  I use the new Microsoft Anti-spyware Beta1: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx, in  addition to Spybot Search and Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/, and Ad-Aware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/.  The Microsoft product is great but it is a beta, meaning it will eventually become a full release and may cost money, but it’s free for now.  Both Spybot and Ad Aware have been around for a few years and they just keep getting better, both programs are free for personal use. 

Another very important part of keeping your PC clean and safe is to make sure that you do regular Windows Updates when they become available.  If you have tried to do updates and Microsoft has told you that your CD key is not valid, you can enable automatic updates in your control panel and your computer will receive all critical updates and just prompt you to install them.  Either way I would recommend turning on automatic updates so you do not miss any important updates. 

All of these fixes are free, except the Trend Micro suite.  The latter is well worth the $50ish cost for the peace of mind it provides.  If you install all of the spyware programs and a decent antivirus and you have windows patched correctly, you should have a lot faster and safer system.