1. Clean up your Browser
2. Install a Firewall
3. Install Anti Virus software
4. Install MRU Blaster
5. Install Anti Spyware software
6. Check your computer security
7. Check for viruses
8. Check for Spyware
9. Protect your Bank info

1. Clean up your Browser
Click Tools, Internet options - Then Delete your Browser Cookies, History and Temporary files

2. Firewall - Get a Free firewall
Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) includes the new Windows Firewall, which monitors and blocks inbound attacks only. Click Here

ZoneAlarm from Zone Labs - monitors inbound and outgoing threats Get it Here

3. Anti Virus software - Get a Free Anti Virus program (download Version 7.5)
AVG Anti Virus from Grisoft
You can configure this to scan your entire system for viruses at a specified time each day or week

4. MRU Blaster
FREE - Download and run this to detect and clean MRU (most recently used) lists on your computer
Get the MRU Blaster - freeware

5. Anti Spyware software
What is Spyware?

FREE - Download and run these three to rid your computer of Spyware.
(Always check if you're running the latest program version - the data update does not tell you that a version change is available. Check your version by clicking HELP.)
a). Ad-aware from Lavasoft
b). Spybot search and destroy
c). Microsoft Windows Defender (Beta 2)

6. Check your computer security with the following
PC-Pitstop - Run the full tests
Online scan - Also Run the Privacy Scan

Gibson Research Corporation - ShieldsUp
Scroll down on the page to the Hot Spots area, where you'll find the link to ShieldsUp. Be sure to go through each of the checks in the ShieldsUp section (File Sharing, Common Ports, etc.).

NOTE: Run steps 7 and 8 frequently.
I normally run steps 7 and 8 weekly. I run all 4 programs at the same time. In addition I also run step 7 (virus check) every 2 or 3 days.
Before you run step 8, do steps 1 and 4. This will cut down the no. of entries shown as spyware.

7. Check for Viruses
Run the AVG Anti Virus program you installed in step-3

8. Check for Spyware
Run the 3 Anti Spyware programs you installed in step-5 (for Ad-Aware and Spybot check for updates first)
Note: Sometimes Ad-Aware update doesn't work - see below how to update manually

9. Protect your Bank info
Read this - Latest phishing scam silent but violent
Then do this - How to disable Windows Scripting Host

Beware of the Newest Online Scamming Threat
Read this - Latest pharming scam

Examples of Credit Card Fraud Click

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Ad-Aware - How to manually update the definition file

In some circumstances, you may not be able to update the definition file by using WebUpdate. Reasons can include the server being too busy to process update requests, or proxy settings are not configured correctly in Ad-Aware. You can download the reference file manually using the following steps.
1. Close Ad-Aware
2. Download the latest definition file in a ZIP file from Lavasoft's website http://www.lavasoft.com at bottom- download latest definition file ie SE1R156 03.03.2007
3. Save it to a temporary location
4. When complete, unzip the contents of the file, either through your favorite ZIP utility or through built-in support in Windows, to the installation directory of Ad-Aware, which is usually C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE Personal\
5. Open Ad-Aware

You can then confirm the latest definition file is installed by looking at the Initialization Status on the main Status screen.