A Firewall is to stop threats BEFORE they enter your computer

• Windows Vista / 7 / 8 users activate it inside the Control Panel (Windows Firewall)

• If using older Windows (like xp) – download Microsoft Security Essentials (free) or a free personal firewall from COMODO.com

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

Then you need an anti-virus product to kill the intruders that get thru the firewall. These products

have free versions:

● Microsoft Security Essentials (includes a firewall)

● AVG

● Avast

A FULL anti-virus scan weekly overnight.

Checking firewalls for Windows 7 / Vista, click Start Button in lower left corner, then Control Panel…

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

In the Control Panel (Vista / 7), view by Large Icons, find and click Windows Firewall…

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – September 7, 2012

If the firewall setting are not on, click on the left to change them

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – September 7, 2012

Make sure both Home AND Public firewalls are on, click OK (Vista / 7)

To recap setting firewalls but for Windows xp…

Again, click Start Button in lower left corner, then Control Panel…

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

In your Windows xp Control Panel, select the circled Windows Firewall…

Set your Windows xp firewall to “on”.

Occasionally there may be an app install you would temporally have to turn the firewall off, then back on.

To set Windows Updates (Vista / 7), click Start Button in lower left corner, then Control Panel…

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

Set to view to Large Icons and click Windows Update (Vista / 7)…

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

Click Change Settings (Vista / 7)…

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

Choose the 2nd of 4 options then click OK – explanation follows (Vista / 7).

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

Why the 2nd option?

The 1st option downloads the updates AND reboots – you could be in the middle of a 45-minute online application – not good.

The 4th option opts out of updates – unacceptable as we need these security updates.

I recommend clicking the 2nd or 3rd option, then installing as soon as you are not in the middle of something critical.

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

Check the System tray in the lower left – the balloon.

When the blue folder appears, click it to do updates.

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

Quickly illustrating the Windows Update for xp…

Again, click Start Button in lower left corner, then Control Panel…

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

In the Control Panel, click Automatic Updates…

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

Choose the 2nd option, then OK

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas

When you see a blue folder in the system tray (lower right on your desktop), click it to keep current on Windows security updates.

Trivia: Microsoft typically does their updates the 2nd Tuesday of the month after 3pm Dallas time.

It’s known as “Patch Tuesday”

Job Seeker's Defense Against Spammers – Sept 2012 – Chuck Thomas