Basic Windows Security
There have been a lot of systems hi-jacked by fake anti-virus/anti-spyware/anti-malware programs lately. You can do a lot to avoid these and other malware.
- Do not install anything unless it is really needed and is from a trusted source.
- Use a non-administrator account as your main account. Then think twice before typing in your admin password when asked for it. If there are programs that require admin right (like Outlook Express) then try to replace them.
- Check that your system is getting Windows Updates (there are a few every month and are listed in the Add/Remove Programs area of the Control Panel)
- Check that your antivirus software is up to date (varies with antivirus program). And know what your antivirus program looks like and how it behaves.
- Avoid Internet Explorer, use Firefox, Chrome, Safari or Opera instead (and keep them updated). It is not that Internet Explorer is insecure any more, but it is still the primary target for malware. (And all the others are faster!)
- Use the free Malwarebytes’ AntiMalware scanner (malwarebytes.org) to check your system occasionally and whenever things seem odd (remember to run it’s update function first).