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Protect Your Computer!
Viruses*Trojans*Spyware*Adware*Worms*Keyloggers
The Internet is a scary place if you are not protected properly. Hackers have tactics that can steal passwords and credit card numbers from your own personal computer with ease.
With all of the known threats out there on the Internet, nobody can be 100% safe, but we can help you get the most from your computer.
If you are tired of pop-up ads, have system 'bugs' that crash your programs and bog down your computer processor and bandwidth, or worried that someone is hacking into your LAN or wireless network, we can help.
At BugCop.com, we have developed a system that can clean and protect your home or business computer from all of the latest 'bugs', viruses, spyware, etc.
After many years of pop-ups, viruses, trojans, spyware, adware, hijackers, etc., we have gained a knowledge of what works and what comes up short in keeping our computers running smooth and hassle-free.
We had paid for most programs in the beginning years and found that we could get better results from some programs that were offered free of charge.
We learned the hard way, how to clean, repair and protect our computers by listening to the advice of the people that know and by our own experiences of testing and re-testing each program to our own satisfaction.
We now use only what you are about to download and use for your own computer.
The programs are out there, but who has the time to find and check each one of them to see what really works, what comes up short (paid OR free), plus learn how to set them up to use them in the correct way.
We have done this already and will help you download and use these programs. These programs have never let us down.
No ONE program can do everything, but these programs 'can and do' what they are supposed to do. Some compliment each other and find and fix what another one might miss.
We are including a virus protection program and a firewall program that beats anything we have ever paid for.
If you wish to give your computer a "True Stealth" rating (There is NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER that a port (or even any computer) exists at this IP address!) and to check your own firewall with a"LeakTest", this great site (GRC) is included as well.
Also included, are two extra programs. You can use one for a monthly checkup of your computer, plus a great information site. You can find out about anything computer related from the experts themselves, from a specific problem to building your own computer.
Many thanks to the people that make these programs available to the computer users world-wide. Please visit their sites often and if you see another program that they offer, be assured that you can do no wrong in using or purchasing them.
Some of these sites also have a "Donation" button. If you can ever send them a few dollars (or more if you wish), they will certainly appreciate it.
We are in no way stating that these are the ONLY programs available that are useful, but we are stating that these are the best we have used to date and will continue to use them.
NO computer ANYWHERE is 100% safe, but with these proven programs, you can be sure that you will have a clean, protected, free-running computer as it was meant to be.
First thing we recommend is to open your browser (Yahoo, Google, etc.), click on Tools, Internet Options and click on Delete Files, then click on Delete Cookies and finally click on Clear History. Close your browser.
Next, click on Start at the bottom, lower left of your desktop, go to Programs, Accessories, System Tools and click on Disc Cleanup, then click on Disc Defragmenter. Close that out.
We are listing these programs in the order that we use them, but you can use them in any order that you choose.
Also, one very important thing...UPDATE, UPDATE, UPDATE all of these programs as well as your Windows updates (Download Windows Updates).
Some of these programs can update automatically (AVG updates automatically every day) and some need to be manually updated, depending on how they are set up.
Any program not using the latest updates is a program that falls short on new problems that come out every day on the internet. You must update ANY program.
Now you can download the programs that have served us so well to keep our computers clean and running smooth and also protect against the many viruses, trojans, adware, etc. All of the following programs are easy to use with to the point directions.
We would not want to be without any one of these programs. They all have their excellent niches and compliment each other perfectly.
We choose to run all of these programs at least once a day. Some others prefer more or less (depending on use), but we would run all of them AT LEAST once a week.
We do recommend that you save each program to your desktop. When you are finished downloading all of the programs, right-click on your desktop, go to 'New' and click on 'Folder'. This creates a new folder to keep your programs all in one place.
Now 'drag and drop' each program that you have downloaded to that folder. Each program will be ready to use from one folder when you decide to run them the next time. You can name the folder anything you decide to, 'Clean', 'Programs', 'BugCop', etc. (Email us here at BugCop@mchsi.com if you have any questions)
MRU-Blaster
From Javacool software, MRU-Blaster is a program made to do one large task, detect and clean MRU (most recently used) lists on your computer (over 30,000 MRU items in detection database to date).
These MRU lists contain information such as the names and or locations of the last files you have accessed. They are located ALL OVER your registry, and for almost ANY file type.
By looking at these MRU lists, someone could determine what files you opened, saved, looked at, what their file names were, and much more! In many cases, the lists are displayed in drop-down menus automatically.
With additional plug-ins that allow you to clean out your Temporary Internet Files and Cookies, MRU-Blaster enhances the protection of your privacy!
CCleaner
CCleaner is a system optimization and privacy tool program. It removes unused files from your system, allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space.
It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history, but the best part is that it's fast (normally taking a second or so to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware!
The download is at the bottom-left of the page. We use the 'Cleaner' and 'Scan for Issues'. It also has a back-up feature that can be used if you have any question about a deletion.
From Trend Micro software, CWShredder finds and destroys all traces of CoolWebSearch. CoolWebSearch is a name given to a wide range of different browser hijackers.
Though the code is very different between variants, all are used to redirect users to coolwebsearch.com and other sites affiliated with its operators.
We use the stand-alone version of CWShredder, but it's also included in the new Trend Micro Anti-Spyware 3.0 if you prefer.
SpywareBlaster
From Javacool software, SpywareBlaster prevents the installation of spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Spyware, adware, browser hijackers, and dialers are some of the fastest-growing threats on the Internet today.
By simply browsing to a web page, you could find your computer to be the brand-new host of one of these unwanted fiends!
AD-Aware SE
From Lavasoft software, Ad-Aware SE is designed to provide advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, parasites, scumware, selected traditional trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components.
With the release of Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition, Lavasoft takes the fight against spyware to the next level.
Spybot
Spybot-Search & Destroy-searches your hard disk and Registry for threats to your security and privacy, an application to scan for spyware, adware, hijackers and other malicious software.
RegScrubXP
RegScrub safely cleans the Windows 2000 XP system registry. All changes made to the registry are fully restorable to it's original condition.
You can also sift through a list of file extensions, company names, startup programs, Internet Explorer history and uninstall programs to delete old files or unwanted programs.
Diskeeper Lite
Diskeeper Lite is a fully operational, manual-only version of Diskeeper. Diskeeper Lite can rapidly analyze fragmentation levels and detect them automatically.
This version includes the same advanced defragmentation technology used in the full version Diskeeper 7.0 and it runs on all Windows operating systems from 98 through XP.
All system managing functions and network controls are shown and explained.
This is a very fast and improved version of the disc-defragmenter on your computer now.
AVG
Virus Protection
From Grisoft software comes AVG, the best virus-protection program we have used. We have tried others and AVG has consistently found what they had not.
Great for email too and it doesn't take a lot of system resources to run.
ZoneAlarm
From Zone Labs comes ZoneAlarm, the best firewall we have used. It is leakproof and you can test your own version on another site we will show you shortly. You can also run this along with the Windows firewall if you prefer.
Pop-Up Stopper
Download Pop-Up Stopper
From PanicWare Pop-Up Stopper Panicware's Pop-Up Blocker, is a power ad blocker. This pop-up blocker features a powerful, yet easy to use interface which allows quick access to its wide variety of features.
These days, most all browsers have a decent pop-up blocker already featured, but just in case, we thought we would recommend a good one.
GRC
Gibson Research Corporation is a great site to teach, fix, prevent and warn of the many vulnerabilities in the computer world. They have some excellent paid, as well as a freeware collection.
If you have downloaded all of the programs on this CD, updated them and ran the programs for the first time, let's proceed to make your computer even safer.
Also, if you are running another 'firewall' (ZoneAlarm passed) than recommended here, you can run your personal firewall through a 'leaktest' to ensure that your firewall cannot be easily fooled by malicious trojan programs or viruses.
These first three utilities are very important and easy to do, just download and run.
UnPlug n' Pray As originally urged by the FBI, and still urged by prominent security experts, the UnPnP utility easily disables the dangerous, and almost always unnecessary, Universal Plug and Play service.
If you don't need it, turn it off.(For ALL versions of Windows)
DCOMbobulator allows any Windows user to easily verify the effectiveness of Microsoft's recent critical DCOM patch.
Confirmed reports have demonstrated that the patch is not always effective in eliminating DCOM's remote exploit vulnerability.
But more importantly, since DCOM is a virtually unused and unneeded facility, the DCOMbobulator allows any Windows user to easily disable DCOM for significantly greater security.
Shoot The Messenger Even before the latest DCOM/RPC vulnerability, many Windows users were being annoyed by "pop-up spam" notices appearing on their desktops. This intrusion is also facilitated by an exploitation of port 135.
Shoot The Messenger furthers the security of Windows by quickly and easily shutting down the "Windows Messenger" server that should never have been running by default in the first place.
Next, ShieldsUP! The Internet's quickest, most popular, reliable and trusted, free Internet security checkup and information service. Now in its Port Authority Edition, it's also the most powerful and complete.
Check your system here and begin learning about using the Internet safely. Follow the easy directions to check if you have any open ports and to make your own computer "Stealth Mode".
Finally, LeakTest ensures that your PC's personal firewall can not be easily fooled by malicious "Trojan" programs or viruses.
Thanks to this first version of LeakTest, most personal firewalls are now safe from such simple exploitation. A great way to check your firewall against leakage with easy to follow instructions.
PC Pitstop
PC Pitstop Computer checkup and diagnostics can help you detect and fix many common PC problems. The full PC tune-up should be your first stop. Literally, go to this site and click on the 'full PC tune-up' and follow directions.
Start by clicking on the key in the new member box (no need to sign up) and either create an account or test anonymously.
It tells you that you may need to turn off ZoneAlarm to complete the tests, but it has always worked for us without turning ZoneAlarm off, so we'll leave that up to you.
Computing.Net
Open Computing.Net
Computing.Net is a wealth of computer knowledge from the experts. If you are having a problem, you should consider using the many forums as a starting point.
With Tech Support, Specialty Forums, General Forums, Drivers, Software, How-Tos, Learning Center, etc., you have many choices available to you.
The Support Forums are the most effective technical support system used by Computing.Net to date.
There you have it, exactly as we use these programs. Having a clean, well-running and protected computer is now as easy and as fast as downloading these proven programs.
Run them every day or once a week. We know these programs will be just as useful to you as they are to us.
We constantly update with any new programs that we have proven to be useful and free to the user.
If you have any questions, email us here at BugCop@mchsi.com and we will do our best to give you an answer as quickly as possible.
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