Internet Tools

Pop up Blocker
Eliminate irritating pop-up windows with this free program.

CWShredder 2.1
Eliminate an insidious pest that Spybot and Ad-aware can't stop.

WebWasher Classic
Eliminate banner ads and protect your personal information with this freeware.

Microsoft Antispyware Beta
Protect yourself from unscrupulous files that change your Internet settings and exploit private information.

BHO Demon
Disable harmful Internet Explorer plug-ins with a single click.

Internet Download Manager v4.01
Improve your download speed and avoid an incipient ulcer.

PC-cillin Internet Security
Protect yourself from hackers, privacy threats, viruses, and spam.

Download Accelerator Plus v7.1
Speed up your downloads with this free utility.

Sam Spade v1.14
Level the playing field against spammers with this network-query suite of tools.

Cookie Crusher v3.2
Selectively reject Web site cookies before they hit your hard disk.

Ad Aware SE Plus
Rid your PC of annoying adware and spyware, and take advantage of a host of proactive features.

Net Medic
Diagnose and fix Internet performance problems.

Spam Killer v4.0
Stop spam dead in its tracks and let the sender know about it.

Fire Eyes v1.0
Keep a keen eye on who's connecting to your computer.

iSpeed v3.55 Build 215
Frustrating with slow-loading Web pages? Increase the speed of your Internet connection.

Add yours..........

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Pc Safety

go to http://radiosplace.com/ and download this file CWShredder - 1.59.1 It is the second button down and says cwshredder.zip

Go offline to run it, click on "FIX" (not scan) and let it fix everything it finds.

Next, download and update Ad-aware SE (if you don't have it) and deep scan following the tutorial:
Install and how to use Ad-aware SE
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/foru...howtutorial=48

Ad-aware SE Download link
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download506.html
Just choose a link to download (#4 is quite fast).
If you do install it, a a wizard will start asking if you want to back up the registry, make a restore point, etc. Say yes to all of these except "scan now". You will want to update to the newest file definitions first. After you update, then do a full system scan. When the scan is done, read the list of problems and select those that you want to delete.


Spybot S&D download link

http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10122137.html

Follow this tutorial for Spybot s&D:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/foru...howtutorial=43

Please do this:

Turn off System Restore.
On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
Check Turn off System Restore.
Click Apply, and then click OK.
Reboot....restart your computer
Turn ON System Restore.
On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
UN-Check *Turn off System Restore*.
Click Apply, and then click OK.

Now you can go in and change your homepage to what you want it to be.

I have a couple of free programs that you might need

SpywareBlaster (<--update after downloading)http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2859.html and SpywareGuard:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/products.html
Spyware Guard is a real-time malware scanner

IE-SPYADS: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www...ce.htm#IESPYAD
Tutorial on how to use:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/foru...howtutorial=53

CookieWall:
http://www.analogx.com/contents/down...ork/cookie.htm

Read the tutorials and follow the directions...you should be just fine if you do as they say

If you open emails with attachments (even from a trusted friend), you're letting yourself in for the various trojans and worms
that love you. Play safe ...here are a couple online Trojan scans if you need them:

http://www.trojanscan.com/trojanscan/trojanscan.htm
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

And here are a few online virus scans:

http://security.symantec.com/ssc/hom...KVYRMHCGVRVRMN

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/licence.php

Please feel free to copy this post and post it where ever you think that it will do some good.

__________________

Are those download accelerators better than getright? Because I've used getright for ages now but I'm tired of the nag messages.

Also, rather than popup blockers and spyware killers, I always recommend switching off IE an onto Firefox - havn't have a popup or piece of spyware since