a guide to prevent viruses, spyware and other malware...very simple!

di ako magdidiscuss ng mga technical thingies masyado...hanap kayo ng forums na iba kung ganun ang hanap nyong info...
ang balak ko sa post na ito eh para makaiwas kayo sa virus and if ever magkaroon man kayo, malelessen nyo yung effect nun...

Security guidelines!

1. I'm not being brand-specific, but I highly suggest that you use Firefox as your browser... me powerful popup blocker siya, mas secure siyang maghandle ng forms and passwords, and generally hindi masyadong napuputakti ng virus ang firefox unlike IE.
2. Want a very secure anti-spyware software? Try Spybot - Search and Destroy, a very effective spyware detector/cleaner. This is absolutely free, easy to use, occupies a small space and useful if you really insist on using IE (kaw bahala kung mag IE ka pa rin :P)
3. Always update your antivirus (AND FIREWALL, MIND YOU), at least once every 3 days!
4. Please clear your history, cookies, fill up forms after using the internet. This prevents spyware from tracking you. You may also delete the files inside the "Temporary Internet Files" and "Temp" folder (not the folder itself). This folder may contain some suspicious stuff. You can clear that in IE under its Internet Options dialog box (a button there says Delete Files). In Firefox, it's much easier, as you can set it automatically after every session. VERY IMPORTANT WHEN IN RENTALS!!!
   
5. This is important (to emphasize, it will be in BOLD CAPS): NEVER EVER OPEN ANY LINK THAT LOOKS SUSPICIOUS,EVEN IF IT CAME FROM SOMEONE YOU KNOW. THOSE YM MESSAGES THAT SAY SOMETHING LIKE..."LOOK AT MY SUMMER PICS?...(BLAH BLAH) [LINK]" ARE PRIME SUSPECTS. MAILS SAYING THAT YOU WON THE LOTTERY, EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T JOIN, SOME PROMOTIONS FROM COMPANIES/PERSONS UNKNOWN TO YOU, AND EVEN MAIL FROM THOSE YOU KNOW, YET LACKS HIS/HER PERSONAL TOUCH SHOULD NOT BE OPENED. IF YOU INSIST, JUST ENSURE THAT ALL SECURITY IN YOUR PC IS ON. MANY VIRUSES HAVE BEEN CONTRACTED BY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW/DISREGARD THIS FACT. IN THE END, THEY ALSO SERVE AS UNWILLING TOOLS TO SPREAD MORE VIRUSES/SPYWARE. BE SECURE.
   
6. Please, stop browsing in dubious websites...some search results by google return trash pages...they can be distinguished when you see some terms like xxx, cracks, serial key in the search result. Judge whether a page is safe or not before clicking that link.
7. And if ever you contract a virus/spyware (remember, general guide ito. it will still be a case to case basis depending on your system)
1. HALT ALL BROWSING/MESSENGER/DOWNLOAD APPLICATIONS, OR IN GENERAL, ALL APPS THAT USE THE INTERNET. YOU ARE NOW INFECTED, AT LEAST DON'T SPREAD IT TO OTHERS.
2. This one is a bit for the advanced user: if you are familiar with Windows Task Manager (can be invoked by using the hotkey CTRL+ALT+DEL), kill processes with dubious names. If you are not sure, download Autoruns, extract and invoke Autoruns, Go to Options->(check each)Include Empty Locations,Hide Signed Microsoft Entries,Verify Code Signatures then Refresh(F5 ata). You will see a process list. If there is any process with a suspicious name, or the process ran from the Temp folder, most likely it is spyware. Delete the entry.
3. If you can't invoke Task Manager, then run Spybot. If it can't clean all the problems, allow it to run at next system startup. By that time, more or less you can access Task Manager. (This step may involve some restarts. If you are comfortable with Safe Mode, run spybot in safe mode...)
   
4. Try finding the faulty process (its directory path) and delete/quarantine it using your antivirus.
5. Repeat the said processes until you think your system is clean enough to work again. If not, backup and reformat...and be more wary of your security next time.
8. A tip: explore Spybot. It almost has everything you need to clean up your system. (Maybe i will post a spybot guide in the near future...)
   
9. Some more questions: try asking me in this blog and I may be willing to help...

And after all that, enjoy browsing the net...

It may be a net full of viruses and spyware,
But it is still a very beautiful net.
Be careful. Strive to browse happily.

(Pasintabi sa author ng desiderata, kamukha ng last 3 lines :P )