canyousmellme wrote:
1 - reccomendations and tips for enhancing security
2- My dad burned a selection of files/photos/pdfs onto DVD before he re-formatted. How do I know these will be safe?
Thanks for all your help. Have you ever heard of such a bad virus?
1. I will post my ALORTKYCC in a minute.
2. Run a virus scan. But usually malware does not hide in this kind of data files (movies, music, pictures, documents).
We have seen a lot of malware here and your´s was not pretty, but not the worst either.
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Allright! Here follows my ALORTKYCC (Awesome List Of Recommendations To Keep Your Computer Clean):
1) Keep your Windows up-to-date. Windows Autoupdate should be ON (see Start >> Control Panel >> Security Center). An alternative way (but more time-consuming) is to periodically visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. Hackers are looking every day for new security holes. Microsoft keeps patching them. You cannot fall behind in this race, it will make your system vulnerable.
2) For your average daily computer activities, use a limited/standard user account, not an administrator account. If you use Vista/WIN7 do not disable User Account Control (UAC). You would be amazed to know how much malware can´t touch you if you deny it admin rights. Create a separate password-protected administrator account that you use for admin activities, like (un)installing software.
3) Use a good antivirus. There are various free ones, you cannot go wrong with either of the following three:
- Panda Cloud Antivirus. If you want your antivirus to be light on resources, I recommend Panda. Install without the toolbar.
- Ad-Aware Free Internet Security has received great reviews from leading security analysts.
- Avast! is a very complete antivirus, with modules like mailscanner and webshield.
4) If your computer has 1GB system memory or more, you should install a third party firewall, to replace the weak Windows Firewall. I recommend:
- Comodo Firewall. Install the internet security suite, but without the antivirus and without the Hopsurf toolbar.
- Online Armor. A very smart and user friendly firewall.
- Outpost Firewall is another rocksolid choice.
Note: you should run only ONE antivirus and ONE firewall. Running multiples of either is bad, it will cause slowdowns and/or conflicts.
5) Miscellaneous advice:
- Stay away from cracks and keygens (look here for the why). Get free software instead. Gizmo is an excellent source of freeware reviews.
- Navigate safely. Google Chrome is the safest browser available. However, Mozilla Firefox can be made extremely safe with the NoScript addon. Internet Explorer (always use the last version) can be made a lot safer with Spywareblaster (manual here).
- The WOT (Webs Of Trust) addon will help you to stay on reliable webpages.
- WinPatrol alerts you when changes are made in vital system areas. Especially good on light systems not running a third party firewall.
- Make sure you have ways to recuperate your operating system and vital other data if its gets frustrated by malware and/or other problems. A Windows setup CD and recent backups/disk images will be priceless, if you find yourself in an unexpected tight spot.
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