It happens to all of us at one point…

Has your computer ever had spyware? How about a virus, trojan, rootkit or malware? Have no clue what those things are? Don’t know how they got on your computer in the first place?

Well you are in luck because that’s what this post is all about today!

First let’s learn what those things are … (definitions from wikipedia.org)

Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user’s interaction with the computer, without the user’s informed consent.

Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner’s informed consent.

A Trojan is a piece of software which appears to perform a certain action, but in fact, performs another.

A Rootkit is a general description of a set of programs which work to subvert control of an operating system from its legitimate operators.

A Virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user.

Now that we know what we are dealing with and hopefully know why we don’t want them on our computer in the first place. Let’s talk about how to deal with them if we do think we have one on our computer.

I think one of the best free sites out there is geekstogo.com. Most of the site is a web forum but they have lots of useful information on there.

One thing I use a lot when my computer isn’t performing right is their Malware Removal post. Follow each step to check and remove malware and other threats from your computer. Follow each step because no single program removes every threat.

If you find that your computer still has malware after the forth step you can post a hijack this log to their forum. One of the geeks will let you know if you have any hidden malware or other threats on your computer the scans couldn’t find or remove. As well they will tell you how to remove them from your computer. It’s all free and very helpful.

I would say if you are going to post a hijack this log you should have a little bit more then basic knowledge of how to use your computer. If your VCR is blinking 12:00 or you barely know how to turn your computer on then … follow the steps up to step four before posting a hijack this log. If you computer is still not performing very well take it into some one and pay them to fix it for you.

So hopefully one way or another you have gotten the malware and other threats off your computer. But how did they get their to begin with and how can you stop them from getting back on your computer? Geeks to go also has a post on that too … Here is some of the stuff they say …

1. Watch what you download!! If you are not cautions about what you are putting on your computer then you are almost asking to get these threats. If it’s not a well known source it may not be safe to put on your computer – even if they say it is safe it may not be.
2. Make sure that Windows has installed ALL High-Priority Security Updates listed. And if you are unsure if they are then open up internet explorer go to tools > windows update (> and maybe products updates after that). You will be sent to the Microsoft update site … scan for any updates.
3. Set up a firewall on your computer. A firewall keeps a computer secure from intruders. It allows or blocks traffic into and out of a private network or the user’s computer. Try ZoneAlarm, Kerio and Sygate and not the built in one on Windows – it doesn’t block everything that may try to get in.
4. Always use an Anti-Virus product. Easy-to-use free A/V programs are AVG, Avast, and AntiVir. DO NOT install more than one anti-virus program. They will conflict, and provide less protection, not more.
5. For more information … Check out the full post here: How did I get infected in the first place?

That’s pretty much it … now you can fight back!!