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| Preventing Spyware installation
on Windows XP with FireFox |
| Posted: 02-05-2006 | Views: 8 |
| Author: Bruce Hopkins |
If you are running the popular
Windows XP Operating System and your computer is connected
to the internet then you are susceptible to the installation
of unwanted programs known as Spyware. There are a few
measures you can take to help protect yourself from this
unwanted software. Spyware is a program that is usually
installed on your computer without your knowledge, these
programs can subject you to un-wanted advertisements in
the form of popups and some can even help in the stealing
of your identity. It has been reported that up to 90%
of all computers connected to the internet may be infected
with these types of malware programs.
You can take some steps to help minimize the risks these
programs pose to your computing environment. First is
to ensure you have the latest security patches for the
Windows XP operating system and ensure you have a firewall
such as the Windows XP firewall implemented. You should
have Windows XP Service pack 2 installed and unless you
have good reason you should let Service Pack 2 enable
all the default settings to protect your computer both
from SpyWare and other malware type applications such
as Viruses and security vulnerabilities.
Another measure you can take is to stop using Internet
Explorer as the application for your browsing. There are
other Internet Browsers available for free that do not
suffer from the same security vulnerabilities that have
plagued Internet Explorer. The Mozilla based Firefox browser
offers many of the same features that you get with Internet
Explorer, but because the Firefox browser is not as tightly
couple with the Operating system means it is less susceptible
to these security holes. Also because it is not a Microsoft
product, means it is not as large of a target as Internet
Explorer is. This is not to say the Firefox is not susceptible
to malicious code, it is, but the risk is less than the
more popular Internet Explorer Browser. Many users actually
star to like the features Firefox gives them once they
become used to the browser more than they like Internet
Explorer. The two can exist on the same system without
any issues so you can go give Firefox a try at http://www.getfirefox.com
Utilizing the Firefox browser along with applying the
latest updates to your operating system and ensuring you
have a firewall installed will greatly reduce your chances
of becoming infected with Spyware type applications. Now
you should still practice due diligence and be careful
of the types of web sites you visit as this will also
help you to prevent the installation of this type of software
on your computer. You should also remember the golden
rule in Information Technology circles. When presented
with a question about an action to take. If you are not
sure, then always answer No to the prompt you are being
presented with at the time. Make sure you understand the
implications of software installation before you install
anything on your computer.
This article
is free for republishing
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/ |
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