Computeractive

Workshops
Stop your router being hacked
What you need: Avast Free Antivirus 2016; Any version of Windows (XP to 10)
Time required: 30 minutes
Avast’s latest free antivirus
(2016) is the fi rst version
to come with a home-network
scanner. Th is scans your
router and any connected
devices (for example, PCs,
tablets, phones, printers and
scanners), keeping them safe
from hackers.
It also lets you fi nd and
update obsolete drivers on
your PC, disable unsafe
browser add-ons and create a
rescue disk to fi x a corrupted
PC. Another new feature is a
built-in password manager
that lets you securely store
your passwords within Avast.
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STEP To download Avast Free Antivirus 2016, go to www.
avast.com, scroll down the page and click the blue Free
1 Download button 1 below Free Antivirus Essential.
Now run the downloaded setup fi le 2 , then click Install. When
the program loads, click Continue twice, then click the ‘No, I
don’t want to protect my Android phone’ link at the bottom.
Avast 2016’s new Smart Scan runs a quick, general check
diagnosing seven PC problem areas – including viruses,
outdated software and network threats. Click Run Smart Scan
to start the process.
STEP After the scan, you’ll see ticks beside those areas where
no problems were found 1 and crosses beside those
2 that need fi xing 2 . Click ‘Resolve all’ 3 . You’ll now see
more detailed information about the problems detected; click
Resolve to fi x them. If your PC is running slowly, for example,
then Avast may suggest downloading its (paid-for) PC
optimisation tool (Avast Cleanup). Instead, you should close the
window, then install and run the free CCleaner (www.snipca.
com/18760), which does the same job.
STEP In this new version of its software Avast has
redesigned the interface. To return to the
3 main screen at any time, click the Avast
logo 1 . Th e program has four categories along the top –
each containing a number of options. For example, to
run a detailed scan of your PC’s router and internet
connection, click Scan 2 , then click ‘Scan for network
threats’ 3 . Th is checks all the devices connected to
your home network. Click Resolve and follow the steps
to fi x any problems.
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9 – 22 December 2015