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Top 5 Tips to Avoid Viruses and Spyware

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Eric sent in his top five list of tips for downloading things safely from the Internet. My best advice is to remember that software such as anti-virus programs are your *second* layer of defense against malware. The #1 layer is YOU and your common sense. Here are Eric’s top 5 tips for safe Internet downloading:

Close all other applications while running a setup wizard If you have other applications running, it can cause the install to fail, or critical files to be corrupted… even making uninstallation impossible by normal means. Chris adds: This isn’t completely correct, however it is a good idea to quit other applications. Also, never run more than ONE installer at the same time.

Only download from trusted sites Don’t trust a bunch of random people on YouTube, for instance. If something screams out “free!”, it is likely a scam. Do some research, know what you’re downloading and the site you’re getting it from. Get recommendations from trusted family and friends, and even via some of the excellent computer forums online.

Don’t download anything from “dirty” sites You may be sitting there giggling by now, but adult sites are about 90% of the way computers get infected. Most every one of those sites has malware embedded in them, and even more when you download something from them.

Be careful using P2P programs Ahh, here is the other 10% of the malware. Peer to Peer file sharing. Be smart when downloading anything this way. Check the file sizes, and the titles. Seriously guys. If a file on a Torrent site (for instance) claims to give you Vista for free or turn your PC into a “psp” machine to allow you to game… do you REALLY think it’s true?

Make sure the company you’re downloading from is really legit There are many sites and companies out there who pretend to be Apple, or Microsoft, or any other number of reputable companies. Never download something that claims to be from them from somewhere other than their site, without making sure you know it really did come from them. Also, make sure the site you are going to download from has permission from the content owner to host the file for download.

Use common sense, do your research, and protect yourself. Happy safe computing!

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54 Comments

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Noobie or not this video should be watched by all. Sometimes i think people do forget the basic and need to be reminded. 5 Good points.

hey chris. just watched your video on youtube and i think that it is good for people to know how to be safe from viruses and things like that. When it comes to downloading for example if your looking for a program on something like limewire they should know that the software isn’t gonna be something like a coulpe kb’s but they should macke sure that the is right. Like games that can be ove 100MB but some on limewire or things like that can be 100KB and those bring viruses and things like that. Well just wanted to tell you my thoughts on the topic and i love your live stream and youtube videos. I tune in everyday.

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Great tips! I have a couple of friends who need to see this, then maybe they will leave those porn sites alone… lol

I use CNET’s download.com for my freeware needs.

Hey Chris, great tips for this video, some tips i knew, and some i just learned so thank you

- Know what software is supposed to be running on your system
- When you see unknown software running, Google it.
- Randomly browse your enabled services once in a while.
- If you MUST go to illicit sites, do so in a “Sandbox” virtual PC.

i’ve gotten a few viruses but i luckily got recover disks, yay for recovery disks!

This is a good one, yeah I tend to get my new tech toys as soon as they come out. I don’t like to wait I really like to show off stuff but I see how waiting could be a good thing. I did however wait on vista because everyone was saying it was **** so I just recently got it and I like it even though I use my mac book more though.

I haven’t had a virus/spyware on my computer for the longest time… and I attribute that to knowing, like tsilb said, what software I’m dling and where I got it from. One has to think that the older demographic are the ones getting all these viruses/spyware right?? I haven’t had that problem in such a long time. I do have adaware and AVG but never use them. Guess I am just lucky.

Always stay away from FREE! haha… nothing’s free.

well, i have a mac so i dont really need to worry about viruses

I dont have any virus protection and my computer and its fine! I think its because im staying off the sites that give me viruses and such and I don’t download very much

Another is to have a good anti virus. I wouldn’t recommended Nortan becasue its a resource hog and it will probably slow down your computer. McAfee is better. But ultimately its up to the user to protect it self.

Macs also get viruses

i’m really loving the top 5 tips, this was a great one i’ll share with some novice users

Common sense rules all… i use no real time protection software and i havent been caught once.

My system involves the use of a Xp install in VIrtual Machine… I don’t run any non trusted exes on my main xp and i run the non trusted exes in the virtual machine.

I have a Computer running utorren 24/7/356/1 year. Now had it running for 2 years non stop, and its good. so if someing happed to it, its okay. BUT the thing is, I don’t run downloaded software on it, it runs it over network on other computers so douse computer may have problems.

I really think the biggest and important thing youve forgot is to not use hacked/warez type software. Its easier to pay or else youll pay!

Great list! though i dont really understand closing all other programs. You know most dont do that and things dont happen

Your best anti-virus: common sense. And just to be safe, i like Norton 360. most people complain it slows down your computer, but thier thinking of norton 2006 package, witch does suck.

just dont download anything u dont need….and make sure it is legal(if it is legal than there will probly be no virus)

I agree that these are very good tips to follow. I learned some of this the hard way because of a few experiences I had in the past where I got some really bad viruses (and whatever else got into my system) from downloading questionable files and visiting less than friendly websites.

thank you so much, i dont know how i would function technically without your videos.

Nice tips. I luckily have not yet encountered a virus (at least a serious one) and these tips might help me keep it that way.

Some of those i knew,But wow If i knew the ones i didnt know maybe i wouldnt have had to reinstall vista last month as i got the biggest trojan ever, i had a virus closing explorer.exe and had to use safemode so i learnt my leeson.

CAn you get viruses and spyware on PS3 or Xbox360 internet? Sorry if Im wrong here

Use Vista, I’ve been using Vista for a year…since Feb, and I’ve not had a single instance of Spyware and Virus on mah machine for that period!

I once got a virus from Limewire…It said an urgent update…

limewire is bad many downloads on it contain viruses and if your firewall sucks your skrewed once you download limewire there are tuns of hackers trying to get to your udp/tcp ports, you wont even have to be on the internet to get a virus

and another thing that pisses me off, zwinky and smileycentral has their own fake commercial so they can get kids to download their programs that contain mws or it could contain other viruses

people who make viruses should be killed.

I agree, Cause Why the hell do people make ‘em anyway? are they trying to ruin computers? WTF is wrong with these people!?!?

I’m not talking **** about hackers (they made ipods) but the people who just make you really pissed and your computer gets slow and you can’t do **** so it’s like dude what is the point besides trying to steal peoples credit card number and bankrupting them.

and MAKE SURE you have efficient anti-virus software!

-Larry

guys YouTube is running painfully slow on my computer and I’m supposed to have a fast processor and internet connection! whose fault is it then???

your getting hacked! just throw your computer out of the window and hope that works ;O

CheateRsz (1 day ago)

your getting hacked! just throw your computer out of the window and hope that works ;O

^ oh yah that sounds reasonable, good advice! :) ^

It’s true, I mean. It’s the same as asking why people kill other people, but that can sometimes be useful under the right circumstances. BUT VIRUSES HAVE NO USE.
WTF?

call GEEKSQUAD THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO
JUST GO TO BESTBUY AND ASK FOR THEM

Whats your computer speck n internet spec?
You may not have enouth RAM or a fast hard drive speed?

That’s easy! You’re running vista.

Some advice. Download antivirus and scan downloaded files.

heres a trick if you want to know if a website is safe. run ur anti-virus, anti-spyware then go to the website for a while, then run the anti-virus and anti-spyware again. if you dont have anything, its probably a safe site.

I download all the time movies, software games the works.. but you just have got to know what your download. use commen sense..

lol i was reading the comments the whole time… i mean the comments on the bottom of the vid

Geek. You look funny. You have a small face. GEEEK!

lol lol lol lol

HEY KIDS LOOK AT THAT STINKY ASSHOLISH G-E-E-K!!!

1/5

Have a nice day.

P.S. I make viruses.

Wow beaton-OFF-94..lol ADMIT it..you know you want him to push his disk up ur drive slot ryte? LOL~~! Better yet how’bout i RAPE you with an AXE handle..ill make it nice n slow and you’re gona love every stroke hmmm..=] you can be my ***** of ******* =]

this is a great video great advice i’m gonna embed this video in my friendster to let my friends know how to use their computer’s safely thank’s chris and eric.

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