It’s best to install virtual machine such as Microsoft Virtual PC or VMWare as it takes the place of a separate computer which is contained and easy to manage as it runs in our desktop. Using a separate computer, as we do with a virtual machine, we [...]]]> Install Virtual Machine – And Be Free!

By Robert Moekoe

It’s best to install virtual machine such as Microsoft Virtual PC or VMWare as it takes the place of a separate computer which is contained and easy to manage as it runs in our desktop. Using a separate computer, as we do with a virtual machine, we can do the followings without any fear or harm:

1. Test and run trials, suspicious and strange programs or software.
2. Experiment with suspected files.
3. Quarantine external files or software to make sure they’re safe.
4. Browse into suspicious or new untested web pages in a safe and isolated environment.
5. Smile when we actually got infected, as all we need to do is restore to the point where we want to be in the virtual machine, and start over if we like.

It is a very effective way of 100% protecting ourselves from any malicious threats.

After we install virtual machine, managing (i.e. creating, deleting and restoring) each machines can be done in a very controlled environment right on our desktop, thus making things very easy to do and safe at the same time.

We can test-run suspicious and strange files or software, browse into suspicious or new untested web pages in a safe and isolated environment of the virtual machine. Using this technique alone can eliminate most of the threats we all have been afraid of, namely virus-infected file, spyware, adware, hacker exploitation, and best of all, should any of those happen, we only need to restore to a desired state of the system without fuss.

So, why wait? Install virtual machine now…

This article is a part of the Ten Ultimate Computer Security Must-Do’s steps.

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ZoneAlarm Free Firewall blocks hackers from infiltrating your home PC by hiding your computer from unsolicited network traffic. By detecting and preventing [...]]]> How to Install and Prime ZoneAlarm^® Free Firewall

By Robert Moekoe
Zone Alarm Free is a firewall, that is, it is specifically designed to block access from outside of our system through the network, or internet.

ZoneAlarm Free Firewall blocks hackers from infiltrating your home PC by hiding your computer from unsolicited network traffic. By detecting and preventing intrusions, ZoneAlarm Free Firewall keeps your PC free from viruses that slow down performance, and spyware that steals your personal information, passwords, and financial data.

• Essential firewall protection
• Be invisible to others online
• New interface makes it even easier-smaller size keeps it light

Special Internet Offer for ZoneAlarm Antivirus Protection – Click here!

Tip: To get the Zone Alarm Free download, go to home link at the left corner, click on the [Download & Buy -> Free Downloads] dropdown menu.

A Good Firewall Is Not Effective, Unless You Do This:
Having the best brand such as Zone Alarm Free sounds like a good idea. But to tell the truth, that’s not enough. We have to gain more knowledge a bit about networking, computer security and network firewall. With those basics, then we can do the priming that a firewall should have to make it the most effective protection tool instead of just a system burden. We need to do at least a little priming right after the installation. But don’t worry; you don’t have to have all those basics because I’m going to show you just what to do in the following video about Priming Zone Alarm Free Firewall.

How to Prime ZoneAlarm^® Free?
There are a few things to do to prime the ZoneAlarm Free Firewall right after you install it. That way, you can work just as normally as you did before the installation, while you go on with the transition seamlessly. So that you can learn from what I have done, I embed the video here.

Or, you can go there yourself via this link:

http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en/anti-virus-spyware-free-download.htm

If you are about to use Zone Alarm Free, you should note that this is not an antivirus or an anti-spyware software. Zone Alarm Free blocks access from outside of our system through the network, or internet, to provide security against intrusions. This intrusion could be one of the many ways a virus, trojan, spyware or a worm can spread, but not limited only to this way. This means that you still need to have antivirus protection and other malware prevention measures ready on your system besides having Zone Alarm Free Firewall installed.

Are You Looking For A Comprehensive PC Protection?

You can seriously consider having the Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite, as it gives a comprehensive Protection for your PC, by providing:

• Network and Program Firewall (what you got in Zone Alarm Free Firewall)
• Operating System Firewall
• Antivirus Protection
• Anti-Spyware Protection
• Identity Theft Protection
• Wireless PC Protection

Otherwise, there are loads of other antivirus software to consider, there are even more Free Virus Protection out there, but be careful before you decide, read our post about Antivirus Download and free virus scan to make sure which one to have for the most of your security and investment.

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free antivirus protection

I’ve always wanted to have a computer system without any antivirus software but still invulnerable to any malicious attack whatsoever. Not that I want a free virus protection, but rather because of the system intensive nature of an antivirus [...]]]> Free Virus Protection with a Freeware Virtual System

By Robert Moekoe

free antivirus protection

I’ve always wanted to have a computer system without any antivirus software but still invulnerable to any malicious attack whatsoever. Not that I want a free virus protection, but rather because of the system intensive nature of an antivirus that turns me away from it. I’ve been trying this in years with various attempts without any success.

This is the time when I made a major change in the way I apply computer security software for my Windows platforms.

The ordeal began

A spyware virus infected my main peer-to-peer computer without any computer security software installed.

This spyware virus infected the system files in an IE6 internet session that I don’t exactly know when. At first I thought it was from a freeware I just downloaded and run.

But after quarantining it in a virtual-machine (this is another free virus protection in a way), I discovered that it was not the malicious software. So I had to trace the malware from the beginning of the system installation steps because it sure has attached itself to an installation application somewhere. I wanted to catch it “in the act” and remove it once and for all.

I gotcha!

I finally found the malware attached to an onboard AGP driver that was originally clean but now was infected because it was located in the hard drive.

So I cleaned up the disk, went through the process once again while skipping the AGP driver to conclude that it had a contagious virus as it showed that symptom.

At that time I didn’t use any computer security software let alone an antivirus protection to help me in this matter. So I didn’t have any virus identification that could have been done even by any free antivirus software.

After trying to go online (going online is the way to trigger the virus’s detectable action) BEFORE any drivers was installed, the virus was nowhere to be found nor would it come into action anymore.

Let’s try the last resort system configuration and test it

Before this incident, I didn’t want to use any computer security software nor internet security software at all (because of the system burden it will cause). And because of this, the system usually cannot prevail more than 6 months without getting infected by malware, as it was used intensively by many people in the office. But now, this is the turning point and I have decided to implement a permanent virtualization system no matter how.

Here goes the rest

free virtual system protection

After the virus was removed and all data had been cleaned up, I installed the system as usual, and installed Returnil System Personal Edition (a virtual system) as a free virus protection, all in the first (20GB) partition, which will be protected by the virtual system, leaving the rest of the hard drive for working data holder in the second partition. After installing all the system and software needed to be on the computer, I configure all working data folder of each of the software to the second partition.

When everything is ready and tested, I tuned up a bit here and there, do a little trimming in files leftovers, and I freeze the clean system. And there it is the computer security software of my choice: virtualization. I will post about this virtualization system in more details later, along with the step by step video on how I set up my system so I can still do everyday work while having a virtualization system on.

Also checkout my post on Zone Alarm Free Firewall, Top Ten Antivirus 2011 Review and Antivirus Firewall Software.

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