[AT] OT virus warning

[Len Rugen]

OK, this is getting worse than detergent oil....

Windows XP has a firewall built in, adding another service probably isn't necessary and just slows you down.  Just make sure that the XP firewall is turned on for the network interface you use.  (Win 2000 and prior don't have the firewall)

If you add a broadband router to share your cable modem (or other high speed interface) it probably has a firewall, turn it on to "offload" that work from your PC.  

Your modem light will blink for valid reasons even if the inbound traffic is later blocked by a firewall.  For example, my wild blue continually sends "who has" packets trying to reclaim IP addresses whose DHCP lease has expired.  

Watch for pop-ups that say "Click here to avoid infesting your pc".  DON'T DO IT!  The only thing you should click on those is the OUTER-MOST X-box to close the popup.  Clicking inside the box can allow malicious code to run on your pc.  

Firefox is an alternative browser to Internet Explorer.  It can be safer.  Mac's are probably infested less than PC's.  

Most home PC's that have gotten too slow to be usable are just full of crap-ware.  I've resorted to a re-format and reinstall and people are amazed at their "new" PC.  

The default settings for temp. internet files fills up a LOT of your disk.  Your anti-virus will scan these files and there may be 10,000's each time it does a scan.  Setting the disk cache SMALLER can make your PC faster.   
 
My dial-up is so slow it actually protects me from viruses, they never finish downloading :-)  


Len