Protecting Your Computer From Malware

Online Scanners
I would recommend a scan at one or more of the following sites at least once a month.

http://www.nanoscan.com
http://www.pandasoftware.com/actives..._principal.htm
http://www.kaspersky.com/kos/eng/par...avwebscan.html

AntiSpyware

AntiSpyware is not the same thing as Antivirus. Every PC needs a good Antivirus program.
Different AntiSpyware programs detect different things, so in this case it is recommended that you have more than one.
You should only have one AntiSpyware running all the time; the other/s should be used "on demand" on a regular basis.
Most of the programs in this list have a free and paid versions,
it is worth paying for one and having "realtime" protection, unless you intend to do a manual scan often.
Spybot - Search & Destroy <<< A must have program

It includes host protection and registry protection
A hosts file is a bit like a phone book, it points to the actual numeric address (i.e. the IP address) from the human friendly name of a website. This feature can be used to block malicious websites

MalwareBytes Anti-malware <<< A New and effective program
a-squared Free <<< A good "realtime" or "on demand" scanner
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0 <<< A good "on demand" scanner, for private noncommercial use only.
superantispyware <<< A good "realtime" or "on demand" scanner

Prevention

These programs don't detect malware, they help stop it getting on your machine in the first place.
Each does a different job, so you can have more than one
Winpatrol

SpywareBlaster sets killbits in the registry to prevent known malicious activex controls from installing themselves on your computer.

Formerly known as IE-SPYAD, adds a long list of sites and domains associated with known advertisers and marketers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet Explorer.

This little program packs a powerful punch as it blocks ads, banners, 3rd party Cookies, 3rd party page counters, web bugs, and many hijackers.
For information on how to download and install, please read this tutorial by WinHelp2002.
Not required if you are using other host file protections

Internet Browsers

Microsoft has worked hard to make IE.7 a more secure browser, unfortunately whilst it is still the leading browser of choice it will always be under attack from the bad guys.
Using a different web browser can help stop malware getting on your machine.

Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:

From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
Click once on the Security tab
Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
Click once on the Custom Level button.

Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
Change the Initialise and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.

Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.

If you are still using IE6 then either update, or get one of the following.

With many addons available that make customization easy this is a very popular choice
NoScript and AdBlockPlus addons are essential

Cleaning Temporary Internet Files and Tracking Cookies

Free and very flexible, you can manage your cookies in real-time and choose which cookies to delete or keep.

Also PLEASE read this article.......So How Did I Get Infected In The First Place

The last and most important thing I can tell you is UPDATE.