Tina Furlong

Personal

Resume

Hobbies

Email

Other Pages

Bookmarks

Pets

Fun!

Internet Security

But in the last several years, with the 'commercialization' of the Net and the growing insistance of companies for more and more 'targeted ads', web surfing has gotten slower and slower as more garbage comes down my phone line.

I also got tired of worrying who was rummaging around in my machine after I installed some 'free' software, or peeking over my shoulder as I was surfing the web.

Thankfully, the solutions are both inexpensive and easy to implement. (is free too expensive?)

OUTLOOK:
I use Spambayes (freeware) at the office. It seems to work well enough to handle most spam, and is pretty much bug free.

OUTLOOK EXPRESS:
Just don't; it's that simple. Too insecure.

I've switched to Mozilla Thunderbird at home.

Anti-Virus

http://www.free-av.com/

ZoneAlarm - the cheapest and easiest to use personal firewall software I've seen so far.  It's already caught several different "spyware" apps on my system, and helped me kill them off, or disable the reporting functions.

The next stop is Gibson Research; the MOST complete (if strident) supporter of internet privacy there is. The 'Shields Up!' page is the best way there is to check your system for security. He provides a VAST amount of information on spyware on his pages, and I highly recommend you visit. His freeware program, 'OptOut' was the first spyware removal program...however, it's not the best.

The out and out BEST spyware removal tool is Ad-Aware, at the LavaSoft website.

Spybot S & D

The second BEST spyware removal tool; finds stuff that AdAware may not.

Ok, now let's choke off the ads:

Using Mozilla also makes you immune to "drive by downloads", like Xupiter, AdGateway, CyDoor, BonziBuddy, SaveNow, Gator, etc... It also stops "Homepage Hijackers"...

Remote Control
If you have friends and family you have to help, use Crossloop