There are far to many sources of infection on the internet in today's world. The proliferation of Trojan horses, viruses, has become a plague, there are even sites that will tell you how to use a Trojan Horse to hack someone's computer. the person that does not at the very least have a good virus program on their computer is begging for trouble.
What a lot of people don't realize is that web site providers like GeoCities and Tripod, (which provide free web site hosting) are only two of the many sites that will attempt to place ad-ware or spy ware on your computer, change your browser to make them your home page, attempt in some way to alter your browser or track your web surfing habits.
Tracking your web surfing habits is big business and guess what, MSN is tracking you along with the best of them. All web browsers send out a Referrer Header each time you go to an internet site. This header contains a lot of information and may include your e-mail address, your credit card numbers and other information. The amount of information can be controlled by how you set your cookie control. Microsoft defaults to wide open (Ever wonder how that web site got your e-mail address so they could send you that spam mail?).
To turn off cookies in Microsoft Internet Explorer:
1. Left click tools
2. Left click internet options
3. Left click privacy
4. Left click advanced
5. Click box: Override automatic cookie handling
6. Set both first and third party cookies to block.
Note: Some site require cookies to function, if you trust them (Amazon, paypal, online banking, ect.) them set them up as a trusted site.
1. Left click tools
2. Left click internet options
3. Left click security
4. Highlight trusted icon and left click sites
5. You may have to unclick box: Require server verification (https:) for some sites
5. Add trusted site including https:// or http://
One of the most common methods of identifying you is through cookies and one of the most often used ways is the so called super cookie, which is located in Microsoft's Windows Media Player. Microsoft for what ever reason gave the web providers a perfect way to identify you. It is called a unique identifier and is defaulted on. Any internet provider that would like to know who you are will poll the media player (If you go to BCentral, a MSN site, you will first be diverted to another site that polls the WMP ID and then sends your to BCentral (This happens so fast your never know it). Internet providers share this ID information and it is the most often used method for tracking your .
To turn off the super cookie:
1. open WMP
2. Let click tools
3. Left click options
4. An options window will open
5. Go to internet options an unclick (remove check mark) the box for: "Allow
internet providers to uniquely identify your player"
Below are links to sites that have excellent FREE programs to help protect your computer for invasive programs.
There is no excuse for not having a virus program on your computer. Internet Security System offers an excellent FREE program for the home computer. I have used this program for several years and have been very happy with it. You can down load it FREE at:
A very good program to control and delete spy ware and ad-ware from your computer
Lavasoft - Ad-aware 6 Link goes to Cnet Download.com for actual download (It is the ultimate irony, but Cnet may try to put "Avenue A, Inc" on your computer, a form of ad-ware, so make sure you run the program as soon as you get it loaded)
JavaCool Software This site has some very good software, Check out MRU-blaster, it will keep your registers clean.
This site has some very good anti-spyware
programs. This is the only true SpyBot-S&D site and I highly recommend them.
This site is NOT the SpyHunter site and will not mess with your computer
or cost you money to remove.