General: Tutorial, Keep your PC secure for Free!

[TcM]

Intro/Problem:-
Today security is a serious issue! and many companies are making tools for security like Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, etc.. but not everyone wants to spend money on these tools! So I made this tutorial how to keep your PC safe BUT with no cost! Well I formated my PC 11 or 12 times in 1.5 years! ALWAYS coz of Viruses! and I must say this is the best, free, and secure setup I ever made on my PC, for now no its clean and running smooth!

Solution:-
1.Well just a precoution for you, don't go on download.com and download EVERY tool that you see! coz many of them will load @ startup and your PC will slow down!

2.So for our setup we need to install an Anti-Virus, I would recommend AVG Free. Get it here:-
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
( Well I have the PRO edition but I had the FREE one and I must say they are basically the same! the PRO has some features extra but the FREE detects the same viruses! And an advantage is that the updates are frequently but small file sizes! like 10kb or so! ( excluding the first time you update after installation )

3.As a firewall I would suggest Sygate Personal Firewall its Free and Will NOT Block or Allow something without you pressing allow or block but there is an option so to remember that answer for that application and not annoying you!
Download it from here:- http://www.simtel.net/product.downlo...s.php?id=53687
I suggest you remove the setting that will display a small window near the time when it blocks something ( after you told it to block it ) to disable this goto :- Tools/Options/Press Ok and tick the "Hide Notification messages"

4.Well sometimes a msg box comes up and makes an advert/spam that is the "Windows Messenger Service"
Its something like this:-



If you installed Windows XP Service Pack 2 then you will not recieve this, but if not then follow these steps to disable it:-
a.Open the Control Panel
b.Click on "Administrative Tools"
c.Click on "Component Services"
d.Double Click on "Services(Local)
e.Scroll down and find "Messenger"
f.Now as Startup Type Select "Disable"
g.and Click the Stop button
h.It should be something like this:-



5.Ok now we need an Anti-Spyware I suggest these two:-
a.Spybot-S&D. Download it here : http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html
b.Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal. Download it here : http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-...bj=dl&tag=top5
Its better if you download these two coz one detects somethings and the other detects others! The Ad-Aware SE Personal I think that you can upgrade it to PRO so to have Real time protection enabled but thats not needed!!

6.If you don't Have Win XP Service Pack 2 then you need a pop-up blocker well search around there are alot of free POP-UP blockers!

7.To keep your Pc even more secure don't go on google and search for cracks! Alot of these cracks will have viruses attached with the Crack! and many sites like keygen.us will install a virus whn you enter that site!

8.Beware of p2p softwares especially when downloading games and softwares from them! ALWAYS scan them before installation!!

9.While on mIRC don't accept files being sent to you from users you don't know!

10.And our last step to keep your PC Clean and Fast download this software named "CleanUp!" download it here : http://www.stevengould.org/software/.../download.html

Conclusion:-
Well hope this tutorial will help you to keep your PC FAST, CLEAN and SAFE! Waiting for your feedback! If you would like me to add more steps post here and I will add them
So hear from ya ppl!!

[WingedPanther]

clamwin is another good antivirus, and Jetico Personal Firewall is a good firewall. Jetico is not as user-friendly as some others, but more vicious about protecting your system.

[TcM]

It seems that its still beta....