How to Stay Clean from Malware:
Updated for 2008: As of 2008 I am recommending a simple plan for XP and Vista users to stay clean:
Install Service Pack 2 at a minimum and better yet SP3, Windows Defender and IE7 for XP.
For both operating systems (XP and Vista) Use a HOSTS file replacement, SpywareBlaster 4.0, CCleaner, and AVG free AV.
Use a firewall router if affordable and make sure you get all Windows updates and antivirus updates.
If you follow the guidelines above you will have a very slim chance of catching any pest.
Details:
I highly recommend XP users updating to Service Pack 3
I always suggest for large service packs from the web, that the user download and save the file and then run it. Don't run it while in your browser.
For extra security, XP users should download and
install
Windows Media Player 11
1.
SuperAntispyware, Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware
2007 (Freeware versions)
I only use these three programs to clean up a badly
infested machine and don't leave them installed for preventative measures.
Download links for SuperAntispyware, Spybot and Ad-Aware 2007...
http://www.superantispyware.com/
SuperAntispyware
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2471.html Spybot
Search & Destroy 1.5.2
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download506.html Ad-Aware
2007
2. Free alternatives to the built-in Windows tool Disk Cleanup tool.
I prefer CCleaner now since Cleanup! hasn't been updated in quite sometime.
CCleaner
is found here and is very fast on deleting temp files.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
Run it every day.
3. Proactive freeware program:
SpywareBlaster 4.1
Sets kill bits to
stop known bad MSIE ActiveX scripts from installing.
SpywareBlaster is an excellent low maintenance and low memory program that got a new facelift in March of 2008.
Pick it up and install it and then manually update it
once a week.
4. MVPS Hosts file at:
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
The MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one that prevents your
computer from connecting to hostile sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which
is your local computer. This is an easy way to prevent one of the most common
hijackings computer users will face on the Internet!
6. Don't forget keeping Windows updated. The automatic updates frequently fail
so run it manually once a week or when new updates are publicized.
Windows Live Update Page
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp
You can also start Windows Update by running Internet Explorer, pulling down
Tools on top Menu bar and selecting
Windows Update. Install ALL
critical updates! Always!
If the automatic LiveUpdate fails (and it is prone to on MANY machines) download
each patch manually from the MS advisory pages and install manually.
7. Keep your antivirus updated.
Free AVG Antivirus for home users:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/downloads-products/us/frt/0?prd=aff
8. For a free Microsoft firewall turn on the firewall in Windows XP Service Pack 2
and SP 3.
For most users the
firewall in XP is a very good tool in the arsenal against malware.
Also upgrade to
Internet Explorer 7 as it has significant security defenses
lacking in IE 6. IE7 is already pre-installed on Vista machines.
9. I also recommend a physical firewall (a vendor's true firewall router)
for users with broadband service. The one I use at home is an oldie, but
goodie...the
WGT624 from Netgear. This firewall router attaches to your cable modem or
DSL modem and then to your PC. It has wireless connectivity and 4 hardwire
Ethernet ports. Combine it with a Netgear 108 MB
WG511T
wireless card and you will really fly on your laptop! It hits 108
Megabits (double the regular 54 Megabit speed for regular 802.11 G cards) when
used with channel 6 on the WGT624 router.
10. Practice safe computer habits. Don't click on strange email attachments
thinking your AV will defend you. Usually it will. Sometimes it won't when a new
virus hits the Net and definitions take hours to create by the AV vendors. There
is only one defense that works 100% for the safe protection of your machine's
personal data and that is timely and accurate backups of your files. Hard drives
die, viruses ruin your files, and other bad things can happen (fire, theft,
etc..). Offsite backups are the best.
11. For users who can't get rid of their spyware and don't want to reformat
their hard drive: Try this malware analysis and repair tool:
Hijackthis 2.0.
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis/download
Don't try to use the tool
yourself for repair, but submit a log file to experts on web help forums devoted
to helping people with spyware problems:
http://russelltexas.com/malware/malware.htm