NGO in a Box - Security Edition
VIRUS, ADWARE AND SPYWARE CLEANER TOOLS
Viruses are malicious programs that can do severe damage to your computer. Remember the Sasser virus that infected a few hundred million computers in a few days and cost the industry billions of dollars in damages? It transpired that a bored 18 year-old boy had written it as a prank. Now viruses and spam account for half of all Internet traffic. The latest new additions to this field of malice came about through spy ware and ad ware. Spy ware is often downloaded on your computer without your knowledge, when you are simply browsing the Internet or installing some other piece of software. It can serve any purpose in your computer, but some of these include recording the keystrokes that you make when typing (perhaps, when you are doing your Internet banking) or collating a list of websites that you visit and monitoring your activities there. Ad ware is similar, only it collates your personal/computer data for marketing purposes and can often be the cause of the many annoying pop-up screens that you see.
All in all, there are thousands of different viral programs replicated into tens of millions. For normal and safe computer operation you must install and regularly update a virus and spy ware/ad ware cleaner. The programs, shown below, have been tested to run in conjunction with each other on Windows platforms.
See also some references to the security materials:
Anti-Virus Tools
AntiVir
a free antivirus program for Windows computers. It has a resident component that monitors file movements for signs of viruses. It also allows you to scan your computer and repair files that have been infected. The program comes with a facility to automatically check the AntiVir website for updates to the virus definitions and download them. Updates are free. Includes a check for malicious dialler software (when downloaded, they dial high-cost international numbers at your expense). Also on CD is the latest Virus definitions file, which you can copy to the setup directory to save downloading it from the Internet.
Avast4
another popular free anti-virus program. New version of avast! antivirus kernel features outstanding detection abilities, together with high performance. You can expect 100% detection of In-the-Wild viruses (the ones what are really spreading amongst people) and very good detection of Trojan horses, all that with only a minimum number of false alarms.
Version/Date: 4.7.892 (25.09.06)
Licence/Price/Language: Freeware / No cost /
English,
Spanish,
French,
Russian
and other languages
Installation: Click on link above to install program. Choose all standard options. Once installed, you must register the free version. You will then receive an activation key. The activation key expiration is not limited, but the program updates will only be available for the next 14 months. After this period, it is necessary to re-register.
Manual: ngo@box
Home Page: www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
Note from Avast: Avast! 4 Home Edition is for home and non-commercial use only, both conditions should be met. Register for free here: http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php?lang=ENG If you are not eligible to use the Home Edition, you can download (and try free for sixty days) Professional Edition here: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_professional.html
Avast (stand alone)
A stand-alone version of the Avast virus and word cleaner. You do not need to install it, as it runs directly from the executable file. Small enough to fit on a floppy. However, it does not update itself, so you need to find the latest version on the website.
Adware & Spyware
Malicious software (including spyware and adware) continues to be one of the biggest sources of headaches. These programs can be automatically downloaded and installed whilst you are unwittingly browsing the Internet or can be packaged with other programs you install. From slowing down computer performance to the transmission of potentially sensitive information, malware is both annoying and potentially dangerous. A spyware program could be logging websites you visit or recording keystrokes on your computer to harvest your pass phrases. The 'SpyBot - search and destroy' program will find and eliminate known sources of spyware from your computer.
SpyBot
SpyBot's Search & Destroy can detect and remove spyware of different kinds from your computer. Spyware is a relatively new kind of threat that common anti-virus applications do not yet cover. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you didn't intentionally install, if your browser crashes, or if you browser's start page has changed without your knowledge, you most probably have spyware. But even if you don't see anything, you may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging that is silently tracking your surfing behaviour to create your marketing profile that will be sold to advertising companies.
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