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Jan 16, 2009
Safe Browsing
This is a follow up to Sean’s wonderful post about some great tools for cleaning up your computer. If you haven’t read his article yet, check it out here.
Now that you have your computer nice and clean, lets try to keep it that way! All those nasty virus’s, spyware, and malware came through your connection to the Internet, whether that be from browsing the web or attachments in your email. AVG will do a pretty good job of keeping your email attachments safe. If you didn’t grab that yet, do so immediately.
As far as web browsing, there are a few tools you can use to keep you safe while you surf. And while we are at it, let's get rid of all those ad’s that bug you online.
The absolutely best tool I have found is to update your hosts file with MVPS. Now if you don't know what you host file is, don't feel stupid, most people don't. This will simply update windows to block unwanted websites. Most of the harmful website and ad’s that will wreck havoc on your site are included in that list. This isn’t a tool that runs on your computer or uses any resources, its a file that blocks those unwanted sites. So it keeps you safe with little effort and almost no resources. I have found it invaluable, a must have!
If you are on XP, you can download the file here, and just run the included .BAT file in the archive. If you are using Vista go to the main page and follow the special instructions.
Next, if you are using Firefox to browse the web, which I highly suggest, you can also download an add-on called AdBlockPlus. This little tool blocks most of the ads that the host file will allow through, and it does this right in your browser. You can get it here.
Finally, for the highest level of security, I would recommend using a firewall, just in case anything by passes all of these other systems. I recommend Comodo, it’s a free one that is very powerful. This will monitor ALL your Internet traffic, and stops anything suspicious or harmful. This includes all information going out or in from your system. You can find it here.
With all of these systems in place, it will be VERY difficult for anything nasty to get onto your computer. Good luck and safe browsing!
Posted by Jonmerlin on 01/16/2009 8:09 PM in Awesome, Geekery, Websites