Windows Security
Free Software You should be Running
- www.grisoft.com - Anti-Virus Software
- www.zonelabs.com - Zone Alarm Firewall Software
- www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-Aware
- PC World Anti-spyware Tools
Windows XP
If you have Windows XP, download the 70- to 270-megabyte Service Pack 2. The new Security Center is an easy-to-understand status report on three important security features:
- Firewall, a shield against unsolicited data from the Internet
- Automatic Update, which lets Microsoft send you security patches over the Internet as soon as they're available
- Virus Protection. Alert only, no actually virus protection software
With the original Windows XP, the firewall's factory setting was Off and left open many of its ports. The Service Pack 2 firewall is turned on automatically, it's much easier to find and it doesn't open a port for a program until it has asked you for permission. Microsoft has also made it easier for you to track and manage which plug-ins you've installed in Internet Explorer. Some are useful, like the Flash plug-in that lets you view online animations. Others, though, are malicious and, before SP2, could install themselves behind your back (so-called drive-by downloads). Now you have to approve each installation in a pop-up dialog box.
