PC Help
Having problems with your PC? Cannot access the internet? Suspect you have a virus? Does your PC stop working, or start acting strangly after a while?Then, maybe you have a virus, or maybe several.
PC Acting Strangely, or Cannot Access the Internet
The first step is to do CTRL-ALT-DEL, and see if you have the MS-BLAST virus running.If you have, enable your firewall (Windows XP, see below), and end the process (by selecting it, and clicking end process).
Then download and install a free 'anti-virus program' straight away (also, see below).
If you cannot access the internet, especially if you get "wrong number" errors (often caused by dialer viruses), I'm afraid you'll have to purchase and install a commercial anti-virus program. They cost about £30 / 50 euros/dollars.
Install a Firewall
If you have Windows XP, this step is easy.
Start > Network Connections > (select a connection and right click) > properties > advanced
Select the firewall option.
If you have an older version of windows, or have XP and want to be extra safe.
Install Zone Alarm, its free for non-commercial use, and highly recommended.
Install an Anti-Virus Program - 1
Download and install the AVG Virus Checker. Its free for non-commercial use.Make sure you use it to 'update' (download new virus definitions) and scan for viruses regularly.
Install an Anti-Virus Program - 2
Two virus checkers are better than 1. Download and install AdAware.Its free for non-commercial use. Make sure you use it to 'update' (download new virus definitions) and scan for viruses regularly.
Be Very Careful when Reading Email
When opening email be very careful opening attatchments. JPG's and GIF's are safe (images). Be very, very suspect of anything else. The most successful viruses try and trick you into opening an attachment, which runs a program on your computer, installs the virus, and emails it to all the people in your address book.
In the latest version of Outlook Express, there is an option to disable the opening of unsafe
attatchments
Tools > Options > Security
Be Very Careful when Surfing the Web
Do not download any software unless its from a reputable source, e.g. Microsoft's website.Many porn website trick you into going to them (for example, by tricking Google into mis-indexing their pages), and then try and force you into downloading a Dialer (this dials a premium rate number instead of your ISP when you access the internet, leaving them rich, and you with a serious phone bill).
If necessary use CTRL-ALT-DEL to close the web browser window.
Be Very Careful when Downloading Software
That great game you've just downloaded might just also install some 'adware' or other virus.Adware is a 'virus' that leaves on your PC, sends information about which websites you visit to its writer's. They then send back ad's to appear in pop up windows, or even replace the ads in your existing browser windows.
Internet Explorer, Active/X, and Surfing the Web
Another good thing to do is set Active/X to 'prompt'. Active/X is a buggy Microsoft way of running programs inside web browsers. Sometimes this is fine (PDF files, streaming video), but sometimes its used by hackers to install viruses.
Internet Explorer > Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level
In the Active/X section,
Set to Disable : "download unsigned" and "not marked as safe"
Set to Prompt : everything else in the Active/X section
Check your Phone Bill
One type of virus are 'diallers' (see above). They hijack your modem, and dial premium rate phone numbers... If you think you have one, run an anti-virus program, and ask your telephone provider for a refund.Windows Update
Make sure you visit Microsoft's window's update site, and install all the critical updates.If you haven't done this before, it may take many hours using a modem, so break up the task, and select about '5 MB' worth of updates at a time.
Introduction