Post by Ralph on Apr 25, 2008 2:41:25 GMT -5
I regularly do Tech Updates on the other board I Admin for and thought since one of our threads had gotten into the discussion of Anti-Virus programs I would cross post this from there.
Please note that I do not have any information on how/if any of these programs work on Windows Vista.
In my mind an OS needs to be around for a few years before I will risk switching from one to another.
For now I will stick with Windows XP Pro!!!
____________________________________________________
Due to many changes in the Internet as well as Anti-Virus and other Utility Protection programs (anti spyware, adware, malware, etc) I have changed a number of items over the past couple years which I use religiously to protect our systems here.
While I was always a staunch user of Norton/Symantec products I have discontinued the use of their newer versions and stopped the old ones when support has run out for them. I have found the newer ones to be very intrusive and cumbersome as well as slowing my systems down considerably.
I have also followed the continuing developments between Firefox and Internet Explorer and now run the Mozilla-Firefox browser on all our systems as well. I have found it to be more secure and much faster than IE in almost all aspects as well as more customizable too.
Firefox 3.0.1 Download - tinyurl.com/5vywuu
Keeping up with the security and maintenance of your PC is vital to not only being here on the board, but your piece of mind as well.
All the free links to the required software are posted at the end of the thread.
Ralph
Your Windows Firewall should be turned ON……duh.
SYSTEM PROPERTIES: Remote assistance should be set to OFF! This is the BIGGEST hole ever built!!!
Remote Desktop – If you don’t know how to use this correctly it should also be OFF!
System Restore – Set to 3 – 5 %. If you feel you need more, buy a backup hard drive and USE it.
INTERNET OPTIONS:
Temporary Internet Files > Settings > Check for new versions of stored pages > check Automatically; Amount of disk space to use > set to 1 MB.
General > Days to keep pages in History > Set to 0.
Privacy > Set to Med. High
Pop-Up Blocker > Set to High w/information bar notification of blocking (you can allow temporary pop ups by clicking on the bar)
Advanced > Don’t play around here unless you know what you are doing! Just make sure to scroll down and check Empty Temporary Internet files when Browser is Closed.
______________________________________________
These are just the basic flaws that can be corrected to help plug a few holes and keep you a little safer.
Now I will give you the Weekly System Maintenance schedule that we use religiously. This is recommended to all the customers I work with.
Microsoft XP Professional Maintenance Schedule:
This will work for other Windows OS's as well.
When leaving the Internet (or at least once daily):
START > SETTINGS > Control Panel > Internet Options – Clear History, Delete Files (check to include all offline content) > Settings – View Files – If browser cookie is present, it may be left. If more than just browser cookie is present, either delete all of them or delete all but browser cookie.
CRAP CLEANER > Analyze > Run Cleaner (click twice to remove all)
Weekly Maintenance:
Make sure to check for updates for all maintenance programs and for you Windows OS before running scans.
NOTE: Windows Defender and ThreatFire should both be set to scan your computer automatically when it is usually turned on, but idle.
Both of these programs will provide the same "real-time protection that AVG Free Anti-Virus does.
START > PROGRAMS > Smart Cleaner – agree – Search – Delete – CLOSE
Spybot Search & Destroy – Easy Mode – Check for Problems – (follow appropriate instructions) - CLOSE
Lavasoft Ad-Aware 2007– Scan Now – Use either Smart Scan or Full Scan – Quarantine any objects found - Finish & CLOSE when done.
___________________________________________________
Here are the links for downloading the appropriate security tools:
ThreatFire - www.threatfire.com/download/
Windows Defender - tinyurl.com/dyvaw
Note: If you are running a genuine install of Windows XP this will work for you provided you complete the Validation.
If you are running a "bootleg copy" you will be unable to download it
Spybot Search & Destroy - www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html
Ad-Aware 2008-www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
Crap Cleaner- www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
avast! Anti-Virus Home Edition (free)
www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
The following link is for the Symantec Security Site (parent company of Norton Anti-Virus). This link will enable to to use their server to scan your PC for virus's ( as well as security leaks).
At the end it will tell you what it has done or what you need to do.
security.symantec.com/
___________________________________________________
ADDED NOTE:
Be careful when downloading new programs/software/add-ons and even when installing new software/hardware on your PC.
Often times when doing so you will add new "boot up" programs to the PC's configuration without realizing it.
New toolbars that pop up in utilities or on your browser may be added without you knowing it.
Strange new icons may appear in the bottom right hand corner of your Windows Taskbar.
These are all programs that load when you bootup your PC and run constantly in the background slowing your PC down greatly.
So be careful loading new stuff. If you find these unwanted little "ditties" (such as Windows Messenger), they can be removed or tamed again. If you have problems with these let me know and I can walk you through the process of shutting them down.
Ralph
Please note that I do not have any information on how/if any of these programs work on Windows Vista.
In my mind an OS needs to be around for a few years before I will risk switching from one to another.
For now I will stick with Windows XP Pro!!!
____________________________________________________
Due to many changes in the Internet as well as Anti-Virus and other Utility Protection programs (anti spyware, adware, malware, etc) I have changed a number of items over the past couple years which I use religiously to protect our systems here.
While I was always a staunch user of Norton/Symantec products I have discontinued the use of their newer versions and stopped the old ones when support has run out for them. I have found the newer ones to be very intrusive and cumbersome as well as slowing my systems down considerably.
I have also followed the continuing developments between Firefox and Internet Explorer and now run the Mozilla-Firefox browser on all our systems as well. I have found it to be more secure and much faster than IE in almost all aspects as well as more customizable too.
Firefox 3.0.1 Download - tinyurl.com/5vywuu
Keeping up with the security and maintenance of your PC is vital to not only being here on the board, but your piece of mind as well.
All the free links to the required software are posted at the end of the thread.
Ralph
Your Windows Firewall should be turned ON……duh.
SYSTEM PROPERTIES: Remote assistance should be set to OFF! This is the BIGGEST hole ever built!!!
Remote Desktop – If you don’t know how to use this correctly it should also be OFF!
System Restore – Set to 3 – 5 %. If you feel you need more, buy a backup hard drive and USE it.
INTERNET OPTIONS:
Temporary Internet Files > Settings > Check for new versions of stored pages > check Automatically; Amount of disk space to use > set to 1 MB.
General > Days to keep pages in History > Set to 0.
Privacy > Set to Med. High
Pop-Up Blocker > Set to High w/information bar notification of blocking (you can allow temporary pop ups by clicking on the bar)
Advanced > Don’t play around here unless you know what you are doing! Just make sure to scroll down and check Empty Temporary Internet files when Browser is Closed.
______________________________________________
These are just the basic flaws that can be corrected to help plug a few holes and keep you a little safer.
Now I will give you the Weekly System Maintenance schedule that we use religiously. This is recommended to all the customers I work with.
Microsoft XP Professional Maintenance Schedule:
This will work for other Windows OS's as well.
When leaving the Internet (or at least once daily):
START > SETTINGS > Control Panel > Internet Options – Clear History, Delete Files (check to include all offline content) > Settings – View Files – If browser cookie is present, it may be left. If more than just browser cookie is present, either delete all of them or delete all but browser cookie.
CRAP CLEANER > Analyze > Run Cleaner (click twice to remove all)
Weekly Maintenance:
Make sure to check for updates for all maintenance programs and for you Windows OS before running scans.
NOTE: Windows Defender and ThreatFire should both be set to scan your computer automatically when it is usually turned on, but idle.
Both of these programs will provide the same "real-time protection that AVG Free Anti-Virus does.
START > PROGRAMS > Smart Cleaner – agree – Search – Delete – CLOSE
Spybot Search & Destroy – Easy Mode – Check for Problems – (follow appropriate instructions) - CLOSE
Lavasoft Ad-Aware 2007– Scan Now – Use either Smart Scan or Full Scan – Quarantine any objects found - Finish & CLOSE when done.
___________________________________________________
Here are the links for downloading the appropriate security tools:
ThreatFire - www.threatfire.com/download/
Windows Defender - tinyurl.com/dyvaw
Note: If you are running a genuine install of Windows XP this will work for you provided you complete the Validation.
If you are running a "bootleg copy" you will be unable to download it
Spybot Search & Destroy - www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html
Ad-Aware 2008-www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
Crap Cleaner- www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
avast! Anti-Virus Home Edition (free)
www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
The following link is for the Symantec Security Site (parent company of Norton Anti-Virus). This link will enable to to use their server to scan your PC for virus's ( as well as security leaks).
At the end it will tell you what it has done or what you need to do.
security.symantec.com/
___________________________________________________
ADDED NOTE:
Be careful when downloading new programs/software/add-ons and even when installing new software/hardware on your PC.
Often times when doing so you will add new "boot up" programs to the PC's configuration without realizing it.
New toolbars that pop up in utilities or on your browser may be added without you knowing it.
Strange new icons may appear in the bottom right hand corner of your Windows Taskbar.
These are all programs that load when you bootup your PC and run constantly in the background slowing your PC down greatly.
So be careful loading new stuff. If you find these unwanted little "ditties" (such as Windows Messenger), they can be removed or tamed again. If you have problems with these let me know and I can walk you through the process of shutting them down.
Ralph
