How to keep my new windows absolutely virus free and running at top s

[daoakee]

I am getting a new windows computer soon, and I have a couple of questions

1. What routine things do i need to do in order to keep it virus free and running at top speed?

2. What is the best no subscription antivirus prgram(s) (If one with a subscription is considerably better please let me know)

3. I really need to organize my hard drive, so is there an easy way to tell whats what?

4. Pretty much, how do i always keep my computer running like a champ and virus free?

Thanks for the help in advance!

P.S. I have run a windows computer before, but im currently on a mac

[daoakee]

I am getting a new windows computer soon, and I have a couple of questions

1. What routine things do i need to do in order to keep it virus free and running at top speed?

2. What is the best no subscription antivirus prgram(s) (If one with a subscription is considerably better please let me know)

3. I really need to organize my hard drive, so is there an easy way to tell whats what?

4. Pretty much, how do i always keep my computer running like a champ and virus free?

Thanks for the help in advance!

P.S. I have run a windows computer before, but im currently on a mac

Sorry I forgot to mention, it will be running windows XP

[jason.b.c]

1. What routine things do i need to do in order to keep it virus free and running at top speed?

2.

3.

4. Pretty much, how do i always keep my computer running like a champ and virus free?

Install Linux .. :lol:

Keeping windows virus free..? , isn't that a bit of an oxymoron..?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I have run all my computers with Windows (since 3.1), and I never had any virus, trojan, spyware, or other malware on my systems. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even know how to go about to get my computers infected...

There are two three parts to preventing malware infections

1. Behavioral: don't visit dubious websites; don't open suspicious mail; don't download unknown files; don't click on links you don't know where they lead to;
   
2. Defensive: install a good firewall; install a good anti-virus program; install one or more reputable anti-spyware applications;
   
3. Maintenance: be sure to install all security updates to all installed softwares; check http://secunia.com/software_inspector/
   

My current, free, software firewall is Comodo; I am very happy with it, after I recently got rid of ZoneAlarm.

I'm sure other members here can give you very good recommendations of free anti-virus and anti-spyware applications - I use mostly paid ones. The main difference between free and paid versions of most anti-malware programs is that the paid ones are fully automated: auto-update, and scheduled scans.

---

My current main computer is about 5 years old, has still the original Windows XP (+SP2) on it as when it arrived first, and I don't have any performance degradation at all. Aside from not letting Windows getting infected, I run CCleaner regularly, and I defragment my partitions from time to time. I also keep my startup programs clean, so that it won't run any unnecessary background stuff. Startup Inspector is a great tool for that.

[-pops-]

Pat Willener's advice is good.

I have built a number of computers and I always use AVG as my anti-virus program. There are paid-for and free versions. No need to pay, though, the free version is very much like the paid-for one and there is no loss of functionality.

A Useful add-on for Internet Explorer and Firefox is McAfee SiteAdvisor which give a "traffic light" rating to websites (Green: OK, Yellow: use caution, Red: avoid) it also works in conjunction with Google so ratings are seen on search pages click here. The link give the Firefox version but the IE one is only a click away on that page.

Don't load your computer up with junk programs (such as cover disks and freebies) which you know you are unlikely to use and when you do remove programs, use the correct procedure for doing so - preferably the program's own uninstall facility or Windows Add/remove Programs. Do not just search out a program in the files and delete it - this could cause all sorts of problems and leave loads of remnants around.

Best advice is not to get too pre-occupied with how your computer is running at the expense of doing anything useful with it. I'm not suggesting you would do this but one person I built a quite high spec machine for used it just for emails and writing a few letters. The rest of the large amount of time he spent on it was wasted by tarting it up, scanning for all sorts of unknowns and cleaning it inside and out - not advisable unless you know which is what.

[andsome]

All good sound advice, except possibly the Linux suggestion unless that is what you really want to do. A choice of a separate operating system is purely personal, and there is no need if you follow the precautions stated. You must make up your own mind on this, but really need to know what you are doing. If you want an excellent AV program that is very low priced and has a first class reputation then look at Nod 32, otherwise use free AVG as suggested. I have found after trying several firewalls, that Comodo suits me fine. In addition, I use Spyware guard, A Squared, Spyware Blaster and SUPERAntiSpyware. All can be found by Googling.

[andsome]

Has any of this been of assistance to you?

[Seshomaru Samma]

Install Linux .. :lol:

Keeping windows virus free..? , isn't that a bit of an oxymoron..?

Well, the Linux security model can be sort of implemented on Windows by running a limited-rights user.

What you do is install all the software you need and then go to control panel >users and change your user status to 'limited rights' (make sure you know the administrator password before you do this step). This can prevent some viruses from installing themselves as the limited rights user does not have the rights to install anything.

I use firefox with the no-script add-on ,this can prevent some websites from running malicious code on your computer, there is a similar extension for IE ,I think....

If you use IE go to the tools>options>security>internet

Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt

Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable

Change the Initialise and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable

If you use p2p applications such as emule or bit-torrent you must scan each downloaded file with a good AV before you run it.

and always back up your important data

[CurlyWhirly]

Keeping windows virus free..? , isn't that a bit of an oxymoron..?

In the 6+ years of owning a PC, I have only had the one virus and that was when I wasn't as security conscious as I am now :D

[andsome]

Keeping windows virus free..? , isn't that a bit of an oxymoron..?

In the 6+ years of owning a PC, I have only had the one virus and that was when I wasn't as security conscious as I am now :D

DITTO, except that in my case the virus was stopped in it's tracks by my AV program. I can only repeat that I would never recommend anyone to install a different operating system like Linux unless that know exactly what they are doing, and good advice is handy. I have nothing at all against Linux or anything else, but think it wrong to point people in that direction unless they are experienced computer users.

[jason.b.c]

but think it wrong to point people in that direction unless they are experienced computer users.

it was a joke, besides that , most if not of the viruses out in the wild are targeted at windows systems...

[CurlyWhirly]

most if not of the viruses out in the wild are targeted at windows systems...

Agreed but if you are using anti-malware programs along with a firewall (either hardware or software or even both) then you will be okay.

[Dencandy]

I agree with all this advice, as one who got badly mauled a few years back before I knew anything. Suggest you also read Gizmo's advice on layered protection which you can find here:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm

[Dencandy]

Sorry, also forgot "Optimize XP" at:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/OptimizeXP.html

[redrocket]

I am getting a new windows computer soon, and I have a couple of questions

1. What routine things do i need to do in order to keep it virus free and running at top speed?

2. What is the best no subscription antivirus prgram(s) (If one with a subscription is considerably better please let me know)

3. I really need to organize my hard drive, so is there an easy way to tell whats what?

4. Pretty much, how do i always keep my computer running like a champ and virus free?

Thanks for the help in advance!

P.S. I have run a windows computer before, but im currently on a mac

To run the OS in ram is another alternative to prevent infection of virus, once it occurs, just reboot the computer, the virus will be destroyed. Also you will experience the lightning speed to run in ram.

[july]

I am getting a new windows computer soon, and I have a couple of questions

1. What routine things do i need to do in order to keep it virus free and running at top speed?

2. What is the best no subscription antivirus prgram(s) (If one with a subscription is considerably better please let me know)

3. I really need to organize my hard drive, so is there an easy way to tell whats what?

4. Pretty much, how do i always keep my computer running like a champ and virus free?

Thanks for the help in advance!

P.S. I have run a windows computer before, but im currently on a mac

use the product like dislessangel that will solve all the problem as you tick out !

[Mike567]

You don't really need to be that experienced any more to use linux especially something ubuntu based, could run wubi to install ubuntu which is very user friendly and to install things you don't need the linux commands as it offers a list of programs and will install them at a click of your button.

I think people should be encouraged to try things other than windows plus for the time being it doesn't really need much security as the majority of viruses are targeting windows.

i say either use linux or image your hdd every week so you can always go back if you get a virus.