Keeping Your Computer Safe - Lycoming College- updated 8-19-2004

Clean Up.  Using the antivirus product you have currently installed, get the latest update and perform a complete scan.  If you do not have current virus protection software we recommend that you install the AVG antivirus.   Don’t forget to record the serial number, as you’ll need it for installation. www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

Set it to continue protecting the system. 

Install Antispyware.   Install each of the antispyware products and run their scan functions as well.  No single spyware product will detect and stop all spyware.  We recommend that you run Spybot Search & Destroy as the tool for eliminating spyware. www.safer-networking.org  Spybot won’t catch everything,  therefore we recommend that you also load Lavasoft’s ad-aware and run the scan functions. www.lavasoftusa.com

When finished load Spy Sweeper from Webroot and set it to run at startup so that it can block spyware in real time. www.webroot.com

Get your computer patched.  Go to www.windowsupdate.com and install all the critical patches.  Do not install SP2 at this time

Tweak File Sharing Software.

• disable the server function of your file-sharing utility
• configure bandwidth settings as low as possible
• make sure your file-sharing utility does not automatically launch when you start up your computer
• disable the sharing function of your file-sharing utility

Train yourself.  Now that the computer is secure, be sure that you have understood what you did.   Bring up each of the programs you installed and show their basic abilities.  Work with the student to setup a schedule and demonstrate what the various protective programs look like in action.  If you don’t do this, the student may ignore them or turn them off.