PROTECTING YOUR COMPUTER WITH FREE DOWNLOADS
February 23, 1006
DOWNLOAD – what is that and how do I do it? To download means taking something from the internet and putting it on your computer. This is fairly simple to accomplish and we will download and install three programs that will help to protect your computer. Any time you download a program from the internet, if you are given an option, chose to save it to the desktop rather than choosing to run it. If you are not sure of the program, be safe and perform a virus scan on it.
Before we start, one thing MUST be on your computer. An active, up-to-date anti-virus program is an absolute must for any computer. These can be purchased and there are free ones that can be downloaded (that word again) and used free but we will not cover that at this time.
We will cover three separate programs, Zone Alarm, Spybot and AdAware SE Personal. There are various ways to obtain these programs but I will use Google to find them. If you have a Google search in your browser you can use that or call up www.google.com.
Zone Alarm Firewall
Caution, if you have Norton or McAfee Internet Security, do not use Zone Alarm.
1) In Google type in ‘Free Zone Alarm’. From the choices that come up, choose the one from www.zonelabs.com and you will get the zone lab home page.
2) You will see two choices there – 1) Scan for spy ware and 2) download free zone alarm. Since we are going to download a program for spy ware, click on item 2 for the free zone alarm.
3) On the download screen that comes up, chose ‘save’ and then be sure the next screen shows desktop and then click ‘download’.
4) You will see information on the progress of the download and when completed close all open windows.
5) Now on the desktop you will see a new icon for zone alarm (zlsSetup_61_etc).
6) Right click on the icon and chose to scan for virus. There should be no problem but is a good practice to do so.
7) Double click on the icon and chose ‘run’.
8) In the windows that follow, click ‘next’, put in your e-mail address and unclick ‘inform me’ then ‘next’. On the next screen accept the license and install. Fill in the survey and do ‘finish’. Select ‘yes’ to restart.
9) In the License Wizard be careful; select the item on the right, the other you have to pay for. Click ‘next’, ‘finish’, ‘finish’, ‘done’ and then OK to restart the computer.
10) When the computer is back up, you will have an overview that you can look at quickly.
11) The only setting to make in Zone Alarm is for Internet Security to be ‘Medium” in Program Control.
12) Close everything that is open with red X and click ‘don’t show’ and ‘OK’.
13) Close window and delete the installation file from the desktop.
14) A Zone Alarm emblem will show in the bottom right by the time.
Done with this for now. More later.
Spybot Search and Destroy
1) In Google type in ‘Spybot’. From the choices that come up, chose the one from ‘www.safet-networking.org/en/download’ and you will see Spybot home page.
2) There is an option to donate to the originator of the program but you do not have to do so.
3) Go to the download button and click it. It will take you to what is called a ‘mirror’ that services many programs. I like download.com but all are acceptable.
4) Click on the mirror that you would like to use and then click on the Spybot download now button.
5) On the download screen that comes up, chose ‘save’ and then be sure the next screen shows desktop and then click ‘download’.
6) You will see information on the progress of the download and when completed close all open windows.
7) Now on the desktop you will see a new icon for Spybot installer (spybotsd.exe).
8) Right click on the icon and choose to scan for virus. There should be no problem but is good practice to do so.
9) Double click on the icon and chose ‘run’.
10) On the windows that come up – ‘English’, ‘next’, ‘I accept’, ‘Next’ ‘next’, unclick all but ‘main files’, ‘next’, ‘next’.
11) Additional tasks – select ‘desktop icon’ and ‘SD Helper’ then ‘next’, ‘install’.
12) Last window – check ‘run Spybot’ and ‘finish’. Legal stuff - check ‘don’t share’ and ‘OK’, ‘next’, ‘next’, ‘next’, and start using.
13) Close window and delete the installation file from the desktop.
14) Double click the icon for Spybot on the desktop.
15) Chose search for updates. Zone Alarm notice. Click ‘remember this’ and then allow.
16) Listing will show for possible updates. Click on detection rules, English description, English help, English help for Tea Timer, Immunization Database and chose download updates. (note location – could have to change-I like See-Cure #2 Europe)
17) After update, chose ‘Search and Destroy’ on the left side and then ‘check for problems’. Will take about 5 min. to perform.
18) Any time you have updates, always ‘Immunize’ the system.
AdAware SE Personal
1) In Google type in AdAware (careful of the capital A’s). From the choices that come up, chose the one from www.lavasoftusa.com and you will see AdAware home page.
2) On the page you see ‘download now’ button. Click it. Then click same button on the next page.
3) On the download screen that comes up, chose ‘save’ and then be sure the next screen shows desktop and then click ‘download’.
4) You will see the information on the progress of the download and when completed close all open windows.
5) Now on the desktop you will see a new icon for AdAware. (aawsepersonal.exe)
6) Right click on the icon and choose to scan for virus. There should be no problem but is good practice to do so.
7) Double click on the icon and chose ‘run’.
8) On the windows that follow – ‘next’, ‘accept agreement’, ‘next’, ‘next’, ‘next’, ‘next’.
9) On the last screen – your choice but I prefer not selecting any and running myself.
10) Close window and delete the installation file from the desktop.
11) AdAware icon is now on the desktop. Double click it to open the program.
12) Click on ‘update’, ‘OK’, connect
13) Zone alarm notice. Chose ‘remember this’ and ‘allow’, ‘OK’, ‘finish’.
14) On installation it is a good idea to check for updates twice.
15) In window that comes up, click ‘check for updates now’, ‘connect’, ‘OK’, ‘finish’.
Now it is time to review Zone Alarm for settings.
1) Open your anti-virus and ask for updates.
2) Zone Alarm says new program trying to access the internet. Click ‘remember this setting’ and ‘allow’.
3) Close anti-virus program.
4) Double click Zone Alarm icon in bottom right of the screen.
5) Select ‘program control’ on left side and then the ‘programs’ tab.
6) You now see what programs are allowed on the internet. A check means it is allowed, a ‘?’ means ask before allowing or not allowing and a red ‘X’ is do not allow.
7) To change one of these, right click on it and choose what you want.
Further discussion if necessary.