Goodbye Norton Antivirus

I was in the local Best Buy lustfully looking at the new Windows 7 laptops and overheard a conversation about antivirus programs.  The sales associate was trying to encourage the new computer buyer to get the extended anti-virus program so that she would be covered for the next three years. I wanted to butt in and say, “Don’t do it. Microsoft has a free anti-virus program available to download.

Microsoft Security Essentials is highly rated and FREE.

The one thing I don’t like about it is that it seems to run and take up lots of resources when I first start the computer. MSMPENG.EXE is the file that I find running under my processes and taking up 50% of my resources.  Here’s a link which discusses this problem (click here)

Note – this is such a hassle on my XP machine, that I got rid of it and went back to AVG Free 8.5
My Windows 7 machine seems to be fine with MSE.

Protecting the Kids with OpenDNS

One fairly easy and free way to protect the kids (and yourself) on the internet is to use OpenDNS as a way to connect to sites. It has parental controls with 50 filtering categories plus phishing protection. You can even make the changes on your router so that all computers in your house will be protected. You do need to create an account with OpenDNS, but that is easily done. I’m running it on my main computer to give it a test.

Conficker Test for Your Computer

Click on the link below to see if your computer is infected by the Conficker Virus.

(Conficker Test)

Free Antivirus Software

AVG Free is the program I use for my day to day antivirus protection. A comment by Steve from GRC however indicated that Avast Free discovered 50% more infections than AVG . Either way, I’d definitely install one or the other to help fight the bad guys.

Viruses and Malware – How to Get Them

If you want to get a virus or malware don’t do any of the below.

1. Use Windows Update – have it turned on to “Automatic Download and Install.”

2. Don’t run as an “Administrator.”

3. Use Sandboxie.com to sandbox your internet activity

4. Don’t click on links in email.
If possible only view email in “TEXT” mode.”

5. Use Firefox and the NoScript plugin.

6. Don’t open email attachments.

7. Only download files from sites which you know are safe.

8. Use a router as a firewall and turn on WPA2 encryption. Also turn on your Windows firewall. Make sure your router has a password. Turn off WAN. (This allows outside people to change your router settings.

9. Use some sort of Antivirus and Malware software.

10. Have a drive image backup, so that if you do get infected, you’ll have a way to get back to a clean restore. I use Acronis True Image, but there are others available also.

11. Don’t let your kids use the same computer that you use for banking and credit card payments.(more info)

12.  Turn off “AutoPlay” on your computer.

13. Turn off Universal Plug and Play on your Router.  On my router it is found under Advanced – Advanced Network – Uncheck the box “Enable UPnP”

14. Turn on “View File Extensions.”

Note – If you really want to be updated on the latest security threat, listen to Steve Gibson and his “Security Now” podcast. Here’s a link to his website: (click here)

Scanning for Malicious Software

One way to run Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool on your own terms is this simple task. Go to Start – Run and then type in mrt and then click on the “ok” button. The software starts and just follow it through the prompts. It gives you three options, either the quick scan or thorough scan or a quick scan and a folder you choose. I’d try the thorough scan at night while you sleep and see what it finds.

Sandboxie

I’m trying out a new program which “Sandboxes” your applications.
www.sandboxie.com

Note that there is a FREE version of the program without all the bells and whistles. The free version is OK if all you want to do is surf the web securely.

One example is that whenever I run Firefox it runs in a protected area so that even if I do visit an infected site, the changes are not permanent and in fact anything which might be changed is lost when I close Sandboxie. You can listen to a great podcast about the program at this link.

http://media.GRC.com/sn/SN-172.mp3