Hello. If this is the wrong forum please correct me. I am beginning to get paranoid about the various occurrences of malware and how i/we have to continually fight the spectre off! The latest incidence is Pareto. Before that Adware.XXXX, i forget the exact name. Before that, something else again........ THE BATTLE IS ENDLESS! Does this come with owning a computer? I don't download demos etc. and generally try to keep my computer clean as much as humanly possible. Please give me your best advice to end this thing. Robert.

Robert. Check out the Mixed Bag forum for some more well-wishes for your birthday.

This was the right place to post your question. I'll let our experts here give you some good advice in answer to your question.

Its a constant battle. That's why every time you start a protection type program it asks to update the data base. The baddies have a new attack then the protection programs fight it in their database updates. I don't know how to end it as long as there are the baddies out there. The only thing I know is to run your protection programs once a month and keep all your important files backed up on an external drive.

Happy Birthday Robert...

I have Malwarebytes and it is consistently updating everyday... I had the free version for awhile but I decided to go with the paid version and I am very happy as it catches things that no other program has that I tried in the past.

robert grey, this is why you run something like Malwarebytes Pro along with your anti-virus program. I might spend 5 minutes a couple of times a month on security - mostly just telling my anti-virus to run a scan.

What are you using for your anti-virus program? How often do you run it? Do you have another program like Malwarebytes? How often to you have it run a scan?

I always tell people that the #1 protection on your computer is YOU, the user. You are the one who must be cognizant of what you are doing and where you are.

A few "don'ts." Don't ever download anything free - games or software. There are some safe free downloads, but they are few and far between.

Always check a download for "extras" that are already pre-checked for you. Never allow anything else to be foisted upon you. That's why it's often called foistware.

Use one of the simple tools out there such as WOT - Web of Trust. It's a free download - yes, one of the safe ones! - that is a browser add-on. It adds a little circle to your web searches. If it's green, it's most likely safe; if it's orange, use caution; if it's red, DON'T click on it.

RUN your anti-virus software. RUN your antimalware software. Don't expect them to magically stop everything. First thing to do when you see things is to run your Malwarebytes - do a full scan. Get rid of anything it finds. Then run your anti-virus software and do the same.

I have virtually never had malware and I have been a heavy internet user for over 20 years. A couple of things tried to get by from Facebook recently, but my Malwarebytes Pro stopped it.

Be careful, be vigilant and RUN your anti-virus and anti-malware software often!

WOW... I didn't know about that Web of Trust... I will download it... Drac do you have a link you can post here so I make sure I don't get the wrong link... Thanks !

Here you go... it's just a tool to help. Each individual is still the first line of defense against malware.

https://www.mywot.com/

Thank you, one and all for your very kind birthday greetings. Robert.

Hi Draclvr, is 'foistware' a name you thought up or is it worthwhile doing a Google on it? Robert.

No, it's just commonly use to describe the "free" software that some companies try to foist upon us when doing a simple update or downloading something. Far too often it's actually spyware or something worse. Ask.com is just one of the more common ones I remove from infected computers.

Foistware and How to Avoid It

Thanks Drac

Yes ask.com is loaded with malware.. I had to learn that lesson the hard way

Draclvr, Thanks for your input. I've always found you as an excellent source of reliable, important info, so I really appreciate it.
Sandy