YES! You CAN make your Windows PC MUCH more secure!

Windows is becoming notorious for being in the later stages of computer operating system AIDS. It's been HIV positive for YEARS and the latest release of Windows XP has the highest viral counts to date. If you want your PC to survive, I highly recommend you consider the following PROVEN suggestions. These suggestions have been implemented on MANY PC's and it has held off windows inexorable decline into non-usability (and reinstallation)!

Just in case you think I'm exaggerating, please keep in mind that among the security community - people in the know - they will tell you that Windows is the LEAST secure operating system. That's why our own NSA, our most security conscious government agency, uses a freely available version of LINUX - NOT WINDOWS - to run their systems! All over the internet, most ISP's also use Linux or Unix based servers to power the Internet!

So, without further soap boxing, if you want to secure your PC, you are strongly urged to implement the following instructions...

First - Absolutely DO NOT use:

• MS Internet Explorer
• MS Outlook Express
• MS Outlook (for email)
• Windows - use Windows 2000 Professional SP4, or Windows XP with the latest service pack instead. if you must use XP, then please be certain to get Service Pack 2 installed as soon as you can.  Vista is a disaster - its a Resource HOG, it's SLOW, it is designed to sell you a new PC with at least 4 gig of RAM, and even then, it sucks!
  

Second - To Secure your PC, DO the following:

Web Browser Upgrade/Replacement

Install the Mozilla Firefox Web Browser - Download Mozilla Firefox

• Make sure the "Block Popup Windows" option is enabled in Firefox.
• NOTE: There are lots of very cool Extensions and Themes for Firefox and Thunderbird!

Email

• Mozilla Thunderbird (The Mozilla email client, it's FREE) - Download Thunderbird

Web Proxy Therapy

Use Proxomitron as a www proxy - Download Proxomitron

• to use it, set up a Connection proxy setting on Firefox (above) AND IE to look to localhost port 8080
• put a link to Proxomitron in your Startup folder on the programs menu

Anti-Spyware Innoculation

Rid your PC of Spy and Ad ware

Run SpyBot and get rid of any spy/ad ware, as well as auto/start/run crap. - Download SpyBot.

Anti-Virus Shot

Install the AVG Anti-Virus program

it's FREE for personal use, and it auto updates, scans, etc. It works on everything - memory, disk, email, www, etc. Download AVG

• Change the settings to download virus signature updates more frequently! Change the update settings to check for the latest virus signatures to every 2 or 3 days, rather than the default 14 days.

Peer-to-Peer Transfusion

Peer-to-Peer File Sharing

If you wish to use a P-2-P file sharing utility, the only one that is FREE, completely absent of Spy and Ad ware, and uses completely open source networks is Shareaza

Instant Messenger

Download the FREE Instant Messenger Client, Trillian. This IM client handles ALL the IM services, and then some!

When you're done with all that, I can't imagine you will have any more problems with your PC for a while - IF you follow this advice carefully. This is a PROVEN formula, and is working on many systems for my family, friends and clients.

Some Final Caveats

• NEVER open .EXEcutable or VBS attachments to your emails, unless you are expecting something from someone you know. Even if you KNOW the sender, it could have been sent by a virus on their computer!! So Call them and ask before opening.
• DISABLE the display of imbedded Web pages in your email client. You don't need to see HTTP formatted email's anyway, it's just more advertising for Viagra and the like! - You might consider sending emails to people who send you HTML emails suggesting they not do that.
• Do NOT load programs like KaZaa (NEVER, EVER!!) and other peer-to-peer programs. With the exception of Shareaza, as they will pollute your PC with Spy and Ad ware.
• Disable Automatic application of Windows Updates (and any other automatic updates with the exception of your AVG virus program. There's an old addage, "if it's not broken, don't fix it!" You should only fix things that need fixing, and then, only at YOUR option. By all means, see if there are any updates, it's just that you should MANUALLY decide to apply the updates. Google them first to see if they break anything when applied - learn from others mistakes!
• While you're at it, disable the option in Window Media Player that sends information on all the things you watch with your media player to Microsoft. YES - it DOES DO THIS!! SpyBot will tell you how.

For the really bold and daring: Is there an alternative to Windows?

YES! If you really want to leave viruses, trojan horses, worms, and HIV positive Windows PC's behind, then become a Linux user and you'll never have to worry about this stuff any more. There are about 100,000 windows viruses out there right now. For all intents and purposes, there are NO linux viruses. If anyone wants more information on Linux, let me know, and i'll post some links for you. Take a look at this one for some detailed discussion of Linux on the Desktop.

My current personal favorite is Ubuntu Linux.  Check it out!  You can always dual boot your windows box just to see how it works!  There are literally thousands of FREE software programs that rival everything you need in the Windows world.

Good luck. I hope this helps you as much as it's helped my family and friends, fellow flyers, and many others, with their Windows PC's.

~ rg