First off you most definitely need an ANTI-Virus program
If you have one that came with the computer, make sure it's the newest and updated at least once a week!
If you do not have an Anti-Virus program, or its time to re-new, you might use the program by AVG
its is one of the better ones, plus it is FREE!
(thing is newest version has some not so good features)
AVG program =http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition
Install AVG Free, reading carefully as you go or you will end up with a free trial of
the paid version and also a Yahoo toolbar. Not too good. Install only the FREE program !
Another very good anti-virus is AVAST … (I'm using it now!) Get it here:
http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239-10019223.html?part=dl-AvastHome&subj=dl&tag=button
Next get Lavasoft's AD-Aware which can efficiently remove behavior-tracking spyware;
thus protecting your privacy on the Internet. Enhances your computer's performance by
protecting against bandwidth stealing programs.
Provides greater computer security by removing key loggers and other programs,
which put passwords, credit card numbers, and other vulnerable data at risk online
Ad-Aware SE = http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spyware differs from viruses and worms in that it does not usually self-replicate,
by design – exploits infected computers for commercial gain.
Typical tactics furthering this goal include delivery of unsolicited pop-ups advertisement,
theft of personal information (including financial information such as credit card numbers)
monitoring of Web-browsing activity for marketing purposes; or routing of HTTP
requests to advertising sites.
Spybot Search and Destroy SPYBOT program = http://www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html
And get Java Cools Spyware Blaster which prevents the installation of ActiveX-based spyware,
adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted software.
Also blocks spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox.
Restrict the actions of potentially unwanted sites in Internet Explorer.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Another one that is good is Malwarebytes :
http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&tag=button
Another one which seems to be better overall is SUPER AntiSpyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/
Download the FREE VERSION for Home Users
Yet another newer one (still free!) is A-squared
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool.
It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
Another fairly new (but good) is Glary Utilities
they say: It is a powerful and top all-in-one utility to fix,
speed up, maintain and protect your PC.
It optimizes the performance of your computer, solves problems,
protect your privacy and helps you to customize your system to suit your needs.
http://www.glaryutilities.com/
RECOMMENDED and again its FREE is Startup Control Panel, its is a nifty control panel applet
that allows you to easily configure which programs run when your computer starts.
It's simple to use and, it's very small and won't burden your system.
You can uncheck what you don't want to startup, and stop wasting resources !
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
Belarc Advisor builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, missing
Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, and displays the results in your Web browser.
http://belarc.com/free_download.html
Unpatched programs can lead to silent installations of malicious code simply by visiting
a web site, opening a PDF, a movie, or other "innocently" looking file types and content.
If you want to feel safe from drive-by-attacks and when opening email attachments,
then you need to get patching now, use the free Secunia PSI to test.
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/
Note: there are PAID versions and demo versions of many of these - get only the FREE version.
And only from the sources listed, as there are lots of fake ones
with names close to them, that are junk and actually may PUT spyware on !!!
MAKE SURE that you UPDATE each of these at least weekly and then run them !
Also read carefully on the install, and do NOT install stuff you don't want.. like TOOLBARS !