Secure internet service

Is there such a thing? Whenever I get a new computer, it takes the hackers about 5 minutes to take control of it. I Googled a search on a forklift parts manual and got this website called thedealershowroom.com it seems they sell mostly gun parts. When I try to log-into Ebay, I get an error message which reads the Ebay certificate is invalid and I might be logging on to a fake Ebay site. It seems others can take over and control the content you receive very easily.

Get a MAC

I use a Mac. It is an IBook G4.

I have had great luck with the Macs. We have had almost every PC hit, and have 10 Macs running now with no issues. There are only four PC left in my company.

What symptoms do you have?

That's kind of an oxymoron. I assume there isn't such a thing and surf accordingly.

I used to have the same problem. Just don't seem to have the problems on the Windows XP desktop computer but the Windows 7 laptop always has some adware or virus on it.The Windows XP also doesn't have anti virus on it. Othee thing is that there is a load of marketing crap, tirals, etc. loaded on a new computer. Seems that it causes half the problem.

"What symptoms do you have?"

"Tinfoil hat syndrome".

(quoted from post at 18:55:20 09/10/11) Get a MAC

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I love that! The reason that Microsoft is attacked so often is because they have the greatest part of the market, about 80% or more, the others are Intel based using a different OS or Mac . Why attack a few computers when you can attack most! You can look this up......last several times that they have looked for security issues with an OS Mac has had far more than Microsoft. About the only time Mac gets attacked is when they spout off about how few bot and viruses are aimed at Mac. Then some jerk will rewrite a virus to attack Mac. I have and have never had any problems with Microsoft OS systems except for ME. I've been running Microsoft sense 89. Decent anti virus and common sense is all it takes!


Rick

Norton Antivirus 2011 and the paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-malware. Be sure and do the Windows security updates.

Google "spybot". It is free and does a fair job of keeping things clean. Malwarebytes does too.

UltraDog is correct. No matter which operating system your using (Windows or OS X), surf carefully, don't open attachments in email, and run antivirus software (Microsoft Security Essentials is free for Windows and Nod32 is one of the best paid av programs). Make sure you keep the system updates current. If your run Windows 7 or Vista make sure you have updated to IE9. If not, use either the Chrome or Firefox browsers.

There is a free operating system call Linux. There are many variations of Linux and some can be run from your DVD/CD drive to try it out (live CD). Have somebody download the 'ISO' (I'd try Ubuntu or Knoppix) and burn it to a CD for you. Set your computer to boot from the DVD/CD drive and try it out. If you like it, install it (it will be faster than from the optical drive). If you don't know a lot about computers it would help if you could find someone to help customize it for you. You can even run most Windows programs with "Wine" added to the install.

At this year's Pwn2Own the MAC fell first. It took FIVE SECONDS for a MacBook running OS X and the Safari browser to be compromised, which was a little shorter than it took to hack the same brand last year. So much for $$$ to make you safe.

(quoted from post at 21:55:20 09/10/11) Get a MAC

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Just to add a worthless bit of trivia, the first viruses were written for the Apple II machines.

Hmmmm,

Sounds like someone doesn't quite know what he's doin'.

Allan

We wrote viruses in college long before Apple IIs were made. We
didnt know they were viruses, they just amused us at the time
because we could make our buddies programs fail or at least give
different results than intended.

To answer your question, yes there are very secure internet services. In fact there's even a "black" internet but you won't find much about it online.

But that doesn't matter to you because the problem is with your computer, not the internet service. Find someone who can explain how to reinstall the operating system and configure it to make it more secure. The main points being:

0) Configure your wireless router (if you have one) to use strong encryption
1) Set up a firewall (before you connect it into the network the very first time)
2) Set up a virus scanner (before you connect it into the network the very first time)
3) Set up a separate user account with very low privileges (you should never get online while on an Administrator account except when getting updates directly from Microsoft, which should be automatic anyway)
4) Don't use Outlook for your email

A good administrator will suggest other things, but these are the first steps.

Many IPS providers now offer a free anti-virus software to all their customers. The software reduces headaches for both the customers and the provider.

My provider lets us download the full suite from CA Technologies for free. It's a little slow on an older computer but it works well. Free anti-virus software also helps to cut costs in a household with multiple computers, compared to buying Norton anti-virus every year.

Check your home screen after you log in.

Do you know if Verizon provides this service? It appears to me that all of these viruses and malware come through your ISP and they could filter them out as well if not better than you and I.

I'm using Mediacom. I really don't know about Verizon.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a freebie from...well Microsoft. It does a good job of monitoring for viruses and spyware. Several IT guys say it is one of the better ones around. Still, also use other freeware programs such as Malwarebytes or Spybot S&D.

Noah W