How to help prevent spyware
Spyware and other unwanted software can invade your
privacy, bombard you with pop-up windows, slow down your
computer, and even make your computer crash. Here are
several ways you can help protect your computer against
spyware and other unwanted software.
Step 1: Use a firewall
While most spyware and other unwanted software come
bundled with other programs or originate from
unscrupulous Web sites, a small amount of spyware can
actually be placed on your computer remotely by hackers.
Installing a firewall or using the firewall that's built
into Windows Vista and Windows XP provides a helpful
defense against these hackers.
Step 2: Update your software
If you use Windows Vista or Windows XP, one way to
help prevent spyware and other unwanted software is to
make sure all your software is updated. Visit
Microsoft Update to confirm that you have Automatic
Updates turned on and that you've downloaded all the
latest critical and security updates.
Step 3: Adjust Internet Explorer security settings
You can adjust your Internet Explorer Web browser's
security settings to determine how much—or how
little—information you are willing to accept from a Web
site. Microsoft recommends that you set the security
settings for the Internet zone to Medium
or higher.
To view your current Internet Explorer security
settings:
|
1.
|
In Internet Explorer, click Tools and
then click Internet Options.
|
|
2.
|
Select the Security tab.
|
If you use Windows Vista or Windows XP Service Pack 2
(SP2) and you use Internet Explorer to browse the Web,
your browser security settings for the Internet zone are
already set to Medium by default. Internet Explorer 7
also includes a number of features to help protect
against spyware and many other kinds of deceptive or
unwanted software.
Step 4: Download and install antispyware protection
Windows Defender protects your computer from spyware
and other unwanted software. Windows Defender comes with
Windows Vista and you can download it for no charge for
Windows XP SP2. For more information, see Windows Vista:
Windows Defender.
Step 5: Surf and download more safely
The best defense against spyware and other unwanted
software is not to download it in the first place. Here
are a few helpful tips that can protect you from
downloading software you don't want:
| • |
Only download programs from Web sites you
trust. If you're not sure whether to trust a
program you are considering downloading, ask a
knowledgeable friend or enter the name of the
program into your favorite search engine to see
if anyone else has reported that it contains
spyware.
|
| • |
Read all security warnings, license
agreements, and privacy statements associated
with any software you download.
|
| • |
Never click "agree" or "OK" to close a
window. Instead, click the red "x" in the corner
of the window or press the Alt + F4
buttons on your keyboard to close a window.
|
| • |
Be wary of popular "free" music and movie
file-sharing programs, and be sure you clearly
understand all of the software packaged with
those programs.
|
