Badware takes advantage of technical vulnerabilities and human behavior to find its way onto personal computers. While nothing can guarantee absolute security, the following steps can reduce your computer’s exposure to badware. At the bottom of this page, you will see links to websites with additional information.

1. Secure your operating system

Your operating system (e.g., Windows, OS X, or Ubuntu) plays a central role in managing the security of your computer. Keep it safe by:

• Installing security updates as they become available
• Using a built-in or third-party firewall
• Enabling file sharing only if needed, and then with security features (e.g., passwords) turned on

2. Keep up to date

Not just your operating system, but your web browser, toolbars, plug-ins, security software, and other applications all need to be kept up to date to patch “holes” that can let badware into your computer.

• Most software has an automatic update feature—use it!
• For software that doesn’t have such a feature, look in the menus (especially the “help” menu) for a manual “check for updates” option.
• If there is no update option in the software, check the vendor’s website to see if they have “patches,” “updates,” or other downloads intended to fix security vulnerabilities.

3. Install security software

Anti-virus, anti-spyware, and other similar products can be useful to detect, stop, and remove badware that has found a way onto your computer despite following the previous steps. Look for a product that:

• can detect both known and unknown viruses, spyware, and other badware in real time.
• has a low false positive rate.
• has been reviewed in established publications and/or tested by independent labs. Do not take the word of the product’s website or ads; instead, check the publications’ and labs’ websites for verification.

It is sometimes helpful to have a second product (from a different vendor) that you can run manually or on a schedule to check for anything that the realtime scanner may have missed.

4. Remove or disable unnecessary applications

If you find a piece of software on your computer useful, great! If not, why leave another avenue for an attacker to get in?

• Uninstall toolbars, plug-ins, and other software that you don’t use (note: if you might need the software in the future, be sure you have everything you need to reinstall it)
• Disable automatic startup for applications that you only use occasionally

5. Proceed with caution

Badware distributors love to find ways to trick people into installing their software. Here are a few tips to avoid being deceived:

• Avoid opening e-mail attachments or downloaded files unless you can verify that they came from a reputable source.
• Be wary of clicking links in e-mail messages. It may be safer to visit the site by typing its URL in to your browser or, if applicable, using an existing shortcut that you have to the site.
• Be alert to fake virus warnings, often within web browser windows, that encourage you to download, install, or purchase unfamiliar software.
• Heed warnings from web browsers, search engines, and security products that try to protect you from known or suspected threats.

Links for more information

You can find more personal assistance, or offer your own, in our BadwareBusters.org community.

The following sites aren’t ours, but we’ve tried to identify ones that are reputable and contain helpful content:

Microsoft, Apple, and the Ubuntu community, respectively, offer guides for securing Windows, Mac OS X, and Ubuntu.

Microsoft and Apple also both have pages explaining how to use their automatic update features.

Additional information about online safety for parents, teachers, small business owners, and other Internet users can be found at StaySafeOnline.org, the website of the National Cyber Security Alliance.

Consumer Reports offers an Online Security Guide with helpful articles and reports.