Keep your computer safe from viruses, spyware and hackers with free software

You wouldn’t dream of leaving your credit card in a public place with the PIN code or pinning your bank statement on a local notice board, yet many people are effectively doing just that by leaving their computer open to attack.

An increasing number of us use our computers for internet banking and to purchase goods over the internet, so our computer’s hard disk can be full of personal and financial information. This information could be stolen by a hacker and used to wipe out your current account or steal your identity.

If you have a broadband connection, your computer is probably connected to the internet for hours at a time giving hackers a huge timeframe in which they can gain access to sensitive information on your computer. By installing a few software applications you can help to protect your computer from hackers, viruses and spyware.

A firewall is software that runs on your computer, protecting it from other computers on the internet. If a hacker tried to gain access to your computer the firewall would detect the intrusion and block access. The latest version of Windows XP has firewall software built in, but a company called ZoneLabs produces an excellent free firewall called ZoneAlarm. It may be the best piece of software you ever install. Except that is for a virus checker.

A virus checker helps to protect your computer from computer viruses which can infect your computer in many ways. For example, if you receive an email from someone you don’t know and it has a file attached, don’t open it. The file could contain a virus which could infect your computer without you knowing. This virus could then attach itself to every email you send out or even wipe the entire contents of your hard drive.
Companies like Symantec and McAfee produce virus checking software, but there is also a free virus checker called AVG.

Many of the latest virus checkers also include spyware detection software. Spyware is software that covertly gathers user information through your internet connection without your knowledge. Spyware can monitor your computer and transmit information to someone else over the internet. Viruses and spyware can record every keystroke you make on your keyboard including user names, passwords and credit card numbers for instance. There are some excellent standalone spyware detection packages available. One of the most widely used is called Adaware.

Install the Adaware spyware detection software, AVG virus checker and the ZoneAlarm firewall and your computer will be much safer from viruses, spyware and hackers. And best of all, all three of these programs are free of charge for personal use.

Make sure that you keep your firewall, spyware detection and virus checking software up-to-date as new viruses, spyware and security vulnerabilities in your operating system are discovered almost daily.

If you suspect your computer is infected with viruses or spyware, or you would like advice on keeping your computer free from computer viruses, spyware and hackers email info@commatic.co.uk or telephone 0870 3218450