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Welcome To
The Better Systems Podcast!
 
February 20, 2010 Show Notes (PodcastIT004):
"What do Anti-Spyware, Anti-Virus, and Anti-Malware programs do?"
Spyware is a secret program that spies on your computer usage and
collects information. One example is called a "key logger". This
program collects your key strokes and sends them to the programmer
without you knowing about it. Another program is called a
"privacy-invasive" software. This collects passwords and other
personal information and also send the information back to the
programmer. Another program is called a "redirector". This program
takes you to another website altogether. Spyware is only of of the
many types of Malware. Anti-Spyware programs targets these specific
types of programs and can delete them or quarantine them for
checking later on.
A virus is also a secret program that can copy itself onto a
computer from another computer. This copying is called an infection.
Typically it is attached to some other software that you want. A
virus is also one of the many types of Malware. Anti-Virus
programs are usually specialized software that focus only on virus
programs and kills the
infection while trying to keep the program it was attached to.
Malware is a secret program that is malicious by nature. Two of the
common types were just mentioned. Another Malware is called a
"Trojan Horse". This is software disguised as one type of software
that you want, but is in fact another. This type cannot replicate
itself like a virus. Yet, another type of Malware is called a
"worm". A worm can replicate itself, like a virus, but doesn't need
to be attached to a program. Last, but not the least of the many
types of Malware is called a "root kit". This type camouflages
itself with several other programs that disguise the offending
program. These may pass Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware programs. An
Anti-Malware program that checks for root kits is best for general
malware prevention.
One Anti-Spyware, Anti-Malware, or Anti-Virus program will not be
able to protect you 100% against an attack. No one software will!
This is very important to understand. You need to have several
layers of protection. Combined, you will be able to put some armor
on your computer.
Better Systems Tech Tip: Download our suggested Anti-Malware
software for your system to help protect you. We suggest loading
three. The first is
Microsoft Security Essentials
that you should set up to be on all the time (aka "resident" or
"real-time protection"). This is a very good program and is free to
you. Another program is called
MalwareBytes.
This program is free for non-commercial use. Run this program every
other week. The third is
Super Anti-Spyware, also
a free program for non-commercial use. Run this program on the odd
weeks. Run all three programs upon first sign of infection. We
suggest the last two as malware programmers target the major name
anti-malware programs. I've seen a malware program attack a computer
that had a major named anti-malware program installed. It was turned
off by the malware program itself and infected several files and did
major damage. To get direct links to download these Anti-Malware
software, go to the show notes for this podcast at
www.houstonoutsource.com/podcastit.
Check Out Our Other Show Notes!
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