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Tips and links to help you keep your computer running safely (that
do not cost anything).
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Net Zero -
Why spend $23.90/month on AOL? Get 
NetZero Platinum's fast, reliable internet access for only 9.95/month.
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| Everyone knows you need to be running up to date virus protection
these days. There are a few major players in the 'free' market, this
is the one I've found to be best (it usually finds virus's on
machines with 'paid for' anti-virus programs already installed). Download
here. |
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Microsoft XP Powertoys. These are from the MS site, although not
'supported' by MS. All that means is they are 'aftermarket' tweaks
that MS approves, but did not make. Some cool features! |
| Tweak-All.
This is a GUI tweak program for ALL versions of windows. Boot up
faster, optimize your internet connetion, etc. This is NOT from the
MS site. |
| Windows Media Player - how to turn off spyware: |
- Open the Windows Media Player
- Click the Tools menu and then click the Options command
- Remove the checkmark from the Allow Internet sites to uniquely
identify your Player checkbox
- Click Apply and then click OK
- Close the WMP and then open it again.
| Ad-aware. This software checks for and eliminates spyware on your
computer. Spyware is software installed when you install a program,
and behind your back it installs a communications module onto your
computer to relay information back to the host. There are several
popular programs software companies use to do this, this one will
catch all the known ones. Download
here, install, and read the directions. |
| Zone Alarm. This is pretty much accepted as THE best free (for
private use) firewall out there. It is easily configured, and does
its job. If you have an 'always on' connection (like DSL or Cable
Modem), you should be running a firewall. Scroll to the
bottom to find the free download. Download
here. |
| If you download a lot of software, this is a small program that
connects to a large database of software with known spyware
attachments. Open this little program before you download a freeware
or shareware program, type in the name, and it will tell you if that
program includes spyware. Download
here. |
| Back Orifice was a particularly nasty virus (trojan) that would
give someone else complete control of your computer remotely. This
program will tell you if it is on your machine, and remove it. Download
here. |
| This program is a different means to foil the communications
spyware. Instead of removing the offending dll's and registry
entries, it blocks the communications by using the hosts file to
divert communications to a non-existant address. If you are afraid
to delete the files that Ad-aware finds, you would alternately use
this. Download here. |
| Broderbund was using its own spyware, and decided to stop. If you
already have it installed from previous software, they offer a
utility to delete it from your computer. Download
here. |
| Great opt-out site. To keep you saturated with banner ads and
pop-ups and such, your computer stores cookies that tells
advertisers what banners to send. You can actually set a cookie for
various ad-servers to tell them to not send that ad at all. Follow this
link to this great site, and opt-out of everything you don't
want to keep getting! |
| Tax software. If you normally do your own taxes, hopefully you
have realized the MAJOR benefits of using TurboTax (or its kind).
But, save your $20 and use TaxAct for free! Same type of interface,
the only negative is you can't import your data from other tax
software (like TurboTax). Download
here. |
| Tired of paying $20-$30 for your ink jet cartridges? Tired of ads
you can't be sure of what they will really ship? For ink around
$5-$8 (black - color), that works just like OEM (I know because I
use it!) go
here. |
If you know of valuable sites / software that do great things for
your computer, that are FREE, to add to this list, email
me here. |
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