The A,B,C's of computer protection P Keenan, What Travel Writers Say webmaster
This blog entry is intended to help The Niagara Blog readers deal with daily computer maintenance issues - at no cost! All suggestions by our webmaster involve freeware.
A. Browsers
1. Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser is the #1 hacker target because it has the most users. No browser is more secure than the next, but the key is to keep your operating system up to date - so attend to your Windows Updates.
B. Browser Helpers
1. Install SpyShelter: http://www.spyshelter.com/index.html
It monitors vulnerable computer areas to ensure that the most advanced key-loggers are shut down before they launch an attack against your computer. A key-logger is Malware, silently installed, that keeps track of everything you type. This is retrieved, your identity stolen or savings removed from your bank account.
2. Install WinPatrol: http://www.winpatrol.com/
WinPatrol sits in the background and warns of impending problems.
3. Install Spyware Guard: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
It protects against spyware.
C. Internet Connection & Anti-virus Recommendation
1. Never be hooked up to the internet without an anti-virus application installed and running. It does no good if not kept up to date as new problems develop daily, so set your anti-virus program to update automatically. I tried them all and finally settled on Microsoft Security Essentials: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
D. Update Applications
1. If running an old version of Acrobat Reader that allows you to read PDFs files, your computer is insecure. Visit Calendar of Updates: http://www.calendarofupdates.com/updates/calendar.html on a regular basis and see which of your applications have been updated.
2. Use the online Secunia Scanner (requires Java installed) to identify old applications: http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/
3. Install and run Sumo: http://www.kcsoftwares.com/index.php?sumo which goes through all your loaded software and flags those that need to be updated.
4. Eliminate hard drive files that you don't need. Temporary Internet Files take a lot of space on your hard drive. Every time you visit a site, a temporary file is created (sort of a shortcut) and when you visit that same website again, your computer loads these shortcuts instead of downloading them all over again from the internet. The website loads faster that way. These files can all be deleted safely.
In IE browser click on Tools, then Internet Options and under Browsing History click on Delete - there you can tick Temporary Internet Files and Cookies and click on Delete. Close the window by clicking Apply then OK.
5. If you've never done this before watch for a whole lot of files being deleted in the applet shown. Your next step is to clear your Recycle Bin. Right-click the desktop shortcut and use the Empty Recyle Bin. At this point you have probably deleted hundreds if not thousands of files and created large gaps of "empty space" on your hard drive so we now have to get everything continuous again and we do this by Defragging your hard drive.
E. Clean-up continued
1. Your computer comes with a defragger built in, but Auslogics Disk Defrag: http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/ does a much better job. Install and run it and your hard drive is now ready for the next step.
2. If your computer came with only one hard drive, your operating system and all your files are all located on the same hard drive and this could be a problem down the road as a virus or trojan could toast your computer and you then stand to lose everything, whereas if the operating system was set up on a partition by itself, you have a better chance of restoring your files. Download and install Easus Partition Master: http://www.partition-tool.com/
3. Run this software and create a new partition. Once finished and you have restarted your computer you can safely move all your files such as movies, pictures, text files, etc., to the new partition. NOTE: your operating system must remain on the root partition as well as any folders that were created when applications were loaded. So if you see a folder called Intel or Adobe or the like - leave them alone.
F. Imaging Your Hard drive
1. This section allows you to make a copy of your operating system on your root partition and allows you to save it in case you are ever forced to reinstall Windows because of a virus, trojan or hard drive failure. Download and install Macrium Reflect: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
When you start it up, the program allows you to create a boot CD/DVD which I recommend you do. As you will be imaging a very large set of files, you will need to use more than one DVD so this step is better accomplished if you have access to an external hard drive. If you don't have one, purchase is a worthwhile investment. When you run Macrium Reflect the second time to restore an image, you completely erase the contents of your root partition and insert the image you have just created, so, in effect, you are simply restarting where you left off when you took the image. Make sure that image is securely saved on your external hard drive as it can be a real time saver down the road if you have a computer that has been pooched.
G. What Do I Need To Run To Stay Clean?
There is no "one suite" of security tools that can keep your computer clean as Malware can slip through all your defences in so many ways - number one being the way you use your computer. Need an example? File Sharing is key in Malware being passed around without the user's knowledge. File Attachments in your email is another.
Accept the fact that some Malware is going to end up on your machine and combat that Malware by installing and running two spyware scanners that will identify and delete it. Again, these scanners are only effective if you keep them up to date. And run them often as their spyware definitions get updated on a daily basis!
Malwarebytes: http://www.malwarebytes.org/ and SuperAntiSpyware http://www.superantispyware.com/ are your two tools.
H. What Do I Need To Stay Clear Of?
Facebook is riddled with security flaws and "having a wall" and "inviting friends" is akin to putting your computer on a park bench at lunch time and letting anyone go through your business records.
I feel the same way about Twitter. Business owners looking to improve their status on the internet should stick to blogging and newsletters - you are then dealing with serious people interested in your product line, not somebody hoping to fill his "friend quota."
I. What do businesses need?
If you do not have a web page, get one. Sell your widgets to the world!
J. Is Your Computer a Zombie ?
This is a very important so read it twice! One security firm estimates that 80% of Spam is sent through zombie computers. One expert asserts that 1 in 3 infected computers is a zombie. Australia's communications regulator has reported that there are approximately 25,000 to 30,000 computers compromised by Malware every day in Australia. Obvious signs to check for are:
• Internet activity when you aren't yourself accessing the Internet,
• Slow machine response,
• Disabled virus checker,
• Unable to update virus checker
What to do? Unplug your computer from the internet immediately and unfortunately, the best way to proceed is to take your computer to a serviceman or power user who can delete the contents of your computer and give you a fresh start.
He'll be able to save your documents and pictures, but they will need to be "thoroughly checked" for hidden Malware - you don't want to reintroduce an infection on your newly loaded computer.
If you are fortunate to have someone who knows computers and you wish to save a lot of money by avoiding a computer serviceman - there is something called Remote Access Support. There are numerous freeware applications that will do this, but I suggest you use Team Viewer:
http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx If you are a Bridge player you can liken this to a game of Bridge - you are the Dummy and you sit back and actually watch your Partner play the hand. Your partner has complete control of your computer from his/her own computer screen and you can sit back and watch "the action" on your monitor as he/she goes about fixing your computer.
Freeware Summary
1. SpyShelter: http://www.spyshelter.com/index.html
2. WinPatrol: http://www.winpatrol.com/
3. Spyware Guard: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
4. Microsoft Security Essentials: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
5. Calendar of Updates: http://www.calendarofupdates.com/updates/calendar.html
6. Secunia Scanner (requires Java installed): http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/
7. Sumo: http://www.kcsoftwares.com/index.php?sumo
8. Auslogics Disk Defrag: http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/
9. Easus Partition Master: http://www.partition-tool.com/
10. Macrium Reflect: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
11. Malwarebytes: http://www.malwarebytes.org/
12. SuperAntiSpyware http://www.superantispyware.com/
13. Team Viewer: http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx
The above freewares run flawlessly on my Windows XP SP3 computer - POKO
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