XP users need to use Firefox (or Chrome, which I do not like and is thought to have more security holes than IE) to keep their browsing experience as safe as possible. XP users should also consider upgrading to Windows 7 ASAP. If the computer is older than 4 or 5 years and has less than 1 or 2 Gigabytes of memory a new computer should be considered instead.

The best protection against getting infected is common sense. I have been infected twice in all the years I have been using computers and both of those times I KNEW I was doing something risky. Do not click on strange links from emails, even if they are from friends or relatives – they could be infected and the virus could be sending out social engineering emails on their own. Learn about social engineering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_engineering_%28security%29) and how it can affect you.

What about Facebook? It is generally safe but friend’s profiles can get infected and post links with text like “You can’t beat my high score” or “Check out how I lost 20 lbs on my latest diet” – things that are not personal to you or your friend. Do not click on stuff like that.

I hope this helps someone from getting infected Hope you have a safe browsing experience!

Dave

Doing your antivirus and Windows Updates is not enough
“This document is what the anti-virus and computer companies don’t want you to know”

This document gives you an overview on how to prevent computer hijackers from installing software on your computer. It does not stop all types of attacks; however is does stop the programs that are getting on your computer without your permission. These attacks are the most common and most prominent. This document helps you understand how and why these programs are getting on your computer. Anytime you install an application or add-on you are putting up a “wall” with potential holes in it. These “walls” allow the bugs in. Think of your antivirus software as the janitor. The janitor notices the attack coming through this “wall” and attempts to clean it up AFTER you are infected or it doesn’t even recognize it as a threat.

These are the most common current attackable “walls” that have holes in them.
These “walls” are applications that need updates and Add-ons to your browser that need updates

UPDATE THESE PROGRAMS AND STOP GETTING VIRUSES
Apple Quicktime Player (apple.com)
Java (look in control panel to update it)
Windows Internet Explorer (microsoft.com/ie)
Windows Media Player (windows.com/mediaplayer) (or launch Windows Media Player and check for updates)
Adobe Acrobat Reader (adobe.com) (or launch Adobe Acrobat Reader and check for updates)
Adobe Flash player (adobe.com)
Microsoft Office (officeupdate.microsoft.com)
Microsoft Windows (windowsupdate.microsoft.com)
GET ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE AND UPDATE IT TOO TO HELP REDUCE/PREVENT OTHER WAYS OF GETTING INFECTED

Other “walls” include ANY program you installed that could potentially be a “wall” with a hole in it, including your antivirus software. Even if you do not even use the software at all, it is a potential way for bugs to get into your computer. As a general rule, if you don’t use it, remove or uninstall it.

The following is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT information we don’t think about. If you never use one of the above programs listed and it is installed, then the bad guy can get his software on your computer without your permission by using one of these programs. This is how. You are on the internet. You search for something on the internet and happen to click a web site thinking it contains the information you are searching for and that site contains a malicious software. The web site that you visit does not ask you any questions. It simply opens your Windows