The_Matrix

PC World Editor's Review of a-Squared HiJackFree

No matter how much anti-spyware protection you've got on your PC, it's not enough. Spyware is notorious for being able to slip through the cracks of anti-malware software, and you're best off if you have more than one anti-malware tool on your PC. That's where this freebie comes in. Use it as a backup to your main anti-spyware program for extra protection.

It doesn't offer "live" protection like some other programs. Instead, use it to examine your system, to see if it's been infected, then kill the malware. It's a surprisingly powerful tool, and with far more features than we can cover here.

But here are the basics: Run it and click the Online Analysis button, and it will check your system for malware, and issue a report online. If it finds any nasties, it will tell you. You can then use the program to delete the malware.

There's plenty more here as well, including tools for viewing what programs are using your TCP ports, and examining programs that run on startup. For a free program, it's surprisingly powerful.

Click HERE (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64948/description.html?tk=nl_ddxdwn) to download

Thanks for the info Wizer.........from a Mac girl currently using a PC. 

I am not used to having to know and use this stuff......it's been very helpful finding this info.

Now, I wonder what else I need to run on this thing?

The basics

- a good anti virus program, I recommend AVG- available from Grisoft (free)
- a good firewall, there is one built into most Windows operation systems
- one or two spyware detectors such as spybot and maybe a few others that you download and run once a month or so
- make sure your Windows operating system has all the latest updates

There are several more detailed threads in this section that will tell you what you need to know and provide the links

I have AVG, asquare, adaware, whatever is built into XP.....

should I get spybot too?

Here's the thing..

All these programs are great, and you need more than one spyware/adware program to catch everything.

But if your system is filled up with running programs, then it's going to possibly slow things down more than the spyware it's trying to catch!

Best thing to do is choose one adware program, and Adware is a good one..keep it up to date, but yes, download spybot if you're so inclined and scan your system with it on a regular basis but only choose one adware program to run constantly. Also consider running the scan when you are finished with your computer for a few hours, maybe on the overnight.

The programs you mentioned aren't "built into XP" by the way. They were added to the installation by the manufacturer of your computer..which is ok, but they are not Microsoft products for the most part.

Thanks for the info........I am still learning here.........

and getting a bit better each day I think!  :kiss2:

Sure thing.

Any questions just ask..I'll get you squared away.

 :wink: