Antivirus
Lately several acquaintances have been assaulted by viruses! If I can help them I do... but others are way beyond help. Why? Because some have never even downloaded a trial version of an anti-whatever software! Or even OS security updates. I recommend downloading all updates from the windows website (if you have windows OS). In the updates they handle security issues as well as giving patches for particular pesky worms.
There are several good anti-virus and anti-spam software out there. Some are a little expensive, but most of them have the free trials or the home editions (Free!).
Here are a couple that I generally suggest to my clients and friends:
* AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition - http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/
[Free for homeusers. Has automatic updates to keep your computer safe from viruses. It will warn you if you've received a virus but you have to run the application manually.]
* Ad-Aware Freeware - http://www.lavasoft.com/support/download/
[Removes spyware from your machine. Free for homeusers. Noncommercial. Has automatic downloads to keep updated on new spyware]
* Get a Pop-Up blockers (because pop-ups things sometimes load viruses or worms in your internet browser's temporary files)- Netscape browser comes with one integrated and it's really good. Inter Explorer also has a bar add-on (although personally I don't like IE's as much). I rather use the Yahoo bar instead, it has been more reliable to me.
* Anti-Spam. Try not to mark your messages 'as read' in your mailbox (this is for programs like Outlook, Outlook Express, or Eudora). Soemtimes spam come with script attachments that run even if you just preview the message (or marked as read; ex. they subject are no longer bold, etc). There are several free anti-spam products that you can find at download.com. The one i've recently tried out is LockSpam ( http://www.lockspam.com/downloads.html ). It sorts my e-mail and puts spam directly in my trash. They have a 15 day trial version of the Pro product as well as a completely Free version (limited capabilities). If you only use Yahoo or Hotmail (or any other web-based e-mail) then those already have their spam-blockers, so no worries there. ^_^
Give them a try if you don't already have them (or any other similar product). If you like what they do you can then purchase the higher versions. However, even if you don't buy them, these never expire.
McAfee also offers a trial version of their software (McAfee is pretty good, one of my favorites) http://us.mcafee.com/root/package.asp?pkgid=100 but it expires after 90 days and then you need to purchase the license ($35). However, it is worth it. It comes with firewall, anti-spam, virus libraries, automatic updates, security updates, spyware detection, worm and script stoppers, etc. So you basically have all products in one.
I am not a big Norton fan because I find it a bit more difficult to understand (too hi-tech), however, I do have it in one of my machines and so far not a single virus either.
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And what is so 'just' being a housewife? I think it is the most difficult job of all. So much so that people cliche it. Much like a rocket-scientist. Everyone wants to be one but cannot be one and so use it only in idioms :-)
One might want to add programs like process explorer and autoruns to help keep tasks in check.
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