How to Stay Safer Online

So to understand how you can protect yourself against the malicious attackers looking to install their malware on your PC, you have to know what programs attackers are exploiting. Keeping your software up to date with security patches is vital. The top applications that attackers are having success with when it comes to running exploits on your PC include the following:

1. Java Runtime Engine (JRE)
2. Adobe Reader/Acrobat
3. Adobe Flash Player

It is also important to know that these aren't the only things you need to update. Microsoft updates are important. If you don't already have them set to automatically download and install, you should do this. Updating applications like iTunes, QuickTime, Firefox, just to name a few.

It is also important to have some sort of anti-virus installed on your PC and it should be set up to scan on a regular schedule and keep the signatures up to date. I also recommend that you install a great malware removal tool called Malwarebytes Anti-malware. Download and install the free version. You can find it here.

Lastly, your actions can go a long ways in keeping malware off your PC. Knowing if you should click or not IS a really big deal. If something doesn't look right it probably isn't.

These are just a few steps you can take to keep malicious software from being installed on your PC. Protect your family and your financial health from the cyber attackers. Stay safe out there.

Malwarebytes Rocks!

You may have had malicious software installed on your PC and you have done searching and found references to Malwarebytes Anti-malware tool. Everything you read about it is true. I recommend it to all my friends. If you don't already, click here to download it and install it. There is a free version but if you are finding that you browse to somewhat risky places on the Internet, then maybe you should purchase the paid for version which gives you better protection.

Below I've listed instructions on how to use the tool.

• After installing, double click on the Malwarebytes Anti-malware tool and you are
  presented with the Malwarebytes dashboard.
• Click on the Update tab (the third tab over). Click on the "Check for Updates" button to get the new signatures for MBAM. You need to do this step every time prior to running the tool.
• After the update is complete, then click on the Scanner tab (this tab is the first you will see when opening MBAM). Select the default scanning option (Perform quick scan) and then click on the Scan button. MBAM will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while, so I suggest you go and do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan. When MBAM is done scanning it will present you with a message box with an OK button. It will either tell you no malicious files found, or if it finds any malicious files, it will then allow you to view the results. Click the OK button.
• If infected files are found, you will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on the Show Results button. A screen displaying all the malware that the program found will be displayed.
• You should now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware. MBAM will now delete all of the infected files and registry keys. When removing the
  files, MBAM may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow it to do so. If the Quick Scan
  option actually found any malicious software, I always recommend that after you have removed and rebooted if needed, then repeat these steps but select the Perform full scan option. For sure this process will take longer because you are scanning your entire PC.

Let me know if you have any questions.